AAFES and Military Exchanges to Allow Veterans to Shop Online starting Nov. 11

[What_Exit]

@x-ray_vision

Was someone at Amazon reading this thread? The price just went down to $357.46. :eek:

It would not shock me if Amazon has a bot that looks for posts like above. And sometimes reacts based on algorithms they’ve devised.

[Bear_Nenno]

And these televisions here https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN85JU7100-85-Inch-Ultra-Smart/dp/B00VB9MM5A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1508429595&sr=8-2&keywords=samsung+4k+80" are ONLY $200 at AAFES. With free shipping. That’s way better than Amazon, who has it over-priced at $5444.94. I sure would like to get it from Amazon if only they’d lower their price to match AAFES.

I SAID I’D LIKE TO BUY IT FROM AMAZON.COM IF ONLY THEY’D LOWER THE PRICE TO $200 LIKE AAFES!!!
(fingers crossed)

[Slash1972]

I soooooooooo hope that works!

[Chefguy]

@Bear_Nenno

I can’t imagine how it will benefit anyone. Amazon has much better prices and variety. I’m always amused when AAFES access is lumped together with other “benefits” of service. That might have been true before Wal-Mart, but it certainly isn’t true anymore. And with Amazon… it’s not even a consideration. The only benefit AAFES offers is convenience due to proximity to my house. Plus getting American stuff while visiting or living overseas. AAFES convenience stores are much better than stopping at an S-Oil or ESSO, and that’s not even considering the fact that gas is 1/4 the price.
But for online shopping? I couldn’t imagine ever finding something cheaper at aafes.com than from amazon.

AAFES used to have a policy of price matching. Did they stop doing that? I have no close access to a military PX since moving to Oregon in 2009, so I don’t know what the current policies are.

[Slash1972]

Here are the current price matching rules

From a quick glance, the online store will price match on-line retailers including Amazon.

[x-ray_vision]

@Slash1972

Here are the current price matching rules

From a quick glance, the online store will price match on-line retailers including Amazon.

Yup.

Online retailers for ShopmyExchange.com are limited to

Navy/Marine Exchanges, Academy, Amazon, Auto Zone, BabiesRUs, Barnes and Noble, Bass Pro, Bath & Body Works, Bed Bath and Beyond, Best Buy. Cabelas, Crutchfield, CVS, Dell, Dicks Sporting Goods, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Home Depot, HP, JC Penney, Kmart, Kohl’s, Lenovo, Lowes, Macy’s, Michaels, Newegg, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Niemen Marcus, Nordstrom, Office Depot, O’Reilly Auto, Pep Boys, Petco, Petsmart, Sears, Staples, Target, Tiger Direct, ToysRUs, Victoria Secret, Walgreens, Walmart, Wayfair, Sam’s and Costco Warehouse Clubs.

https://www.aafes.com/exchange-stores/price-match/

ShopmyExchange.com offers free shipping for most items over $49*. That means for taxable items over $49, ShopmyExchange.com is usually the way to go (unless you need something really quick).

• Sometimes shipping is free when under $49 and sometimes it’s not even when over that price:

Military Discounts On Top Brands, Women's Clothing, Fitness, Electronics |...

[That_Don_Guy]

I know it has been about 20 years since I have been in a military exchange, but aren’t active DoD civilians allowed to shop in the physical locations, with restrictions (I think “no alcohol or tobacco”)?

[Exchange]

Currently, only 20-year “retired” and 100% disabled Veterans (and all active-duty, National Guard and Reserve military personnel) are eligible to shop military exchanges. Expanding online exchange shopping benefits is a modest recognition of honorable and general under honorable discharged Veterans’ service to our Nation, especially since the vast majority of Veterans who served honorably do not meet the 20-year criteria to retain lifetime exchange benefits. The Veterans online shopping benefit represents a low-risk, low-cost opportunity to strengthen funding of Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs in support of service members’ and their families’ Quality of Life.

[Exchange]

@Slash1972

Here are the current price matching rules

From a quick glance, the online store will price match on-line retailers including Amazon.

If the products is shipped from Amazon (not 3rd party), then our online store will certainly price match.

[Slash1972]

Holy Crap, AAFES has joined the Dope!

[What_Exit]

@Exchange

If the products is shipped from Amazon (not 3rd party), then our online store will certainly price match.

Welcome to the Straight Dope and thank you for the clarifications.

[Melbourne]

I know I’m late to the party, but this is, actually, a question I’ve wanted to ask for the last 30 years: what is the difference between a veteran and a retiree?

[x-ray_vision]

@Melbourne

I know I’m late to the party, but this is, actually, a question I’ve wanted to ask for the last 30 years: what is the difference between a veteran and a retiree?

. MILITARY VETERAN:
. A “veteran” is a person who served in the active military, naval, or air
service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than
dishonorable.

. MILITARY RETIREE:
. A military retiree is any former member of the uniformed services who is
entitled, under statute, to retired, retirement, or retainer pay. Examples
include, but are not necessarily limited to, spending 20 or more years in
the military or permanent retirement by reasons of physical disability.
. All military retirees are veterans, but not all veterans are military
retirees.

http://www.veteransresources.org/forums/threads/difference-veteran-or-military-retiree-or-both.2917/

[x-ray_vision]

The above definition of MILITARY VETERAN is incomplete as it omits some Reserve and National Guard members:

Until now, Guard and Reserve personnel were considered veterans only if they served in a federalized capacity for more than 179 days other than training. Even a reservist who attended regular training and drill for two decades, but never was federalized, could not claim to be a veteran. Now, Guard and Reserve members will be recognized as veterans if they serve honorably for 20 years.

http://ameriforce.net/reserve-national-guard-finally-get-veteran-status/

[Slash1972]

Even with that definition, a Guard member could serve in the Guard for 19 years, deploy to a war zone, fight for 178 days and get sent home and separate from the Guard, and STILL not be considered a veteran? That doesn’t seem right.

[Melbourne]

@x-ray_vision

…

Thanks. I’ve had family members who were veterans and family members who were retirees. The vets had no interest in further interaction with the military, and the retirees didn’t want to defend their entitlements: neither group wanted to discuss it.

[x-ray_vision]

@Melbourne

Thanks. I’ve had family members who were veterans and family members who were retirees. The vets had no interest in further interaction with the military, and the retirees didn’t want to defend their entitlements: neither group wanted to discuss it.

Just to clarify, because of your phrasing, the retirees are also veterans.

[FoieGrasIsEvil]

@Balthisar

Lowes? Cool! I can finally use the newly-added “veteran” designation on my license. Although the link seems to indicate that I have to “sign up” for something. Probably worth it for big ticket items, and even so, worth going to Lowes when Home Depot is so close. I wonder if it stacks with coupons?

This comment piques my interest, as I’ve never seen anyone refer to Fliegerhorst Kaserne online before. You were stationed there, or you were there with your parents? I was stationed there from about June 1992 to June 1994. That big GCA radar under the radome belonged to me. (Given the number of people who’ve cycled through Fliegerhorst versus the number of welding engineers in the world, I run into the latter all the time, and never the former).

Holy shit! You just missed me. I was in the 333rd FA in HQ platoon as a 13F (forward observer). We were a radar counterfire battery and us 13F’s had very little to do other than constantly PMRC our vehicles and TA-50, pull motor pool and UP guard duty, and drink a lot of beer during sergeant’s time while bowling.

The Army I was stationed with in Germany from 1989-1992 was very different than the one I trained with and left behind in the US. Very laissez-faire, lots of drinking, tons of out of shape senior NCO’s, etc.

Radar platoon was constantly deploying to the field while my platoon did nothing. I eventually became a PAC clerk as a PFC/Spec-4 and played D&D video games on Army computers all day.

[Loach]

@Slash1972

Even with that definition, a Guard member could serve in the Guard for 19 years, deploy to a war zone, fight for 178 days and get sent home and separate from the Guard, and STILL not be considered a veteran? That doesn’t seem right.

Yes that’s true and in many cases they are not considered veterans. Hell in New Jersey I was active duty for 4 years and the state didn’t count me as a veteran for civil service because I spent Desert Storm in Germany. That changed 10 years later when I deployed with the National Guard but I no longer needed it. Depending which definition and which benefit some of it certainly is not fair.

[x-ray_vision]

@Bear_Nenno

And these televisions here Amazon.com are ONLY $200 at AAFES. With free shipping. That’s way better than Amazon, who has it over-priced at $5444.94.

It’s down to $5100. We’re getting there.