Posted on 07/23/2017 7:53:37 AM PDT by rktman
Honorably discharged veterans from all branches of service will soon have extra cash in their pockets.
Veterans who receive an honorable discharge will be able to shop tax-free at Army and Air Force Exchange stores online, where they will be able to get the same discounts as active duty military personnel, the Associated Press (AP) reports.
“It’s a modest benefit, but it can save you thousands of dollars a year,” said Exchange CEO Tom Shull, an alumnus of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, who embarked on a career in retail after serving for a decade in the U.S. Army.
“Veterans value the cost savings and what they can do to support the military,” Shull added.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Don’t bother. I got an early preview and found that Amazon matches or beats them every time.
Am I interpreting this correctly, in that this is an expansion of the benefit to everyone who has served, in addition to those who are active, reserve, or retired?
Same here.....served over 30 years ago....my records went up in some fire....I’ve held onto my DD-214....I was Navy but that shouldn’t matter....
Well, I looked into the fire thing and apparently mine were safe but still can’t get any more out of them. Got out of the Navy in 1970. Lucky I kept my DD-214 in any case.
AAFES is a relic from the past and should be retired. At least on domestic military bases.
It was proposed a few years ago to help the mil exchanges survive. Glad to see it finally come to fruition.. I believe there has been a change in leadership, but it seemed stalled nonetheless.
Prices.. well iirc, it’s not like they compete with Walmart. But for electronics, sure.
I like the galt tax exemption, even if I have two pay a few more cents.. just because the taxes are always misused.
As a vet, I will be looking into this Tuesday... sharing it with my veteran brothers and sisters in arms,
Getting on base would be the largest obstacle. For those of us that have a CCW, one would have to leave the weapon at home before entering the base. Anyone that enters the base today has to have a background check so this is also a problem.
Man, that’s the LEAST they can do for our soldiers.
I would argue they shouldn’t have to pay any sales or property taxes at all - anywhere. For life.
Lol, are you sure it shouldn’t matter.. I was in training with Navy 16 weeks. When the Drill said, all navy personnel fall out to the rear of the formation.. we knew.. it was time to get dirty. :)
...check with the DAV...they will work to get them for you
I wouldn’t get all that excited. Other than being tax-free....you don’t save that much.
If you do watch for sales...like for watches, cameras, etc....you might find some exceptional deals. But on regular daily prices, there’s no real savings. I would advise to get on the mailing list with them for weekly or monthly sales, and pay attention to what is listed.
Example: I got a pair of water-proof winter boots that typically sold for $125 at the BX (would have been near the same price via Amazon), but some spring weekend sale dropped them to $75, and they still had them out on Monday morning...unsold, and they dropped them another $15 (exceptional deal at $60).
I have Amazon and it was great!
I say WAS because Amazon now ghas an “agreement w/ the Post Offive which results in that I no longer get great delivery service by UPS!!!!!
Instead, IF you live in a condo, townhouse, etc.—my amazon parcels are handed off to the post office and much later in the day that UPS I find them in the gangboxes that the PO provides a block away and I have to hump my Amazon prime parcels back home rain or shine...my old geezer @$$ just doesn’t appreciate this for some reason—why? aside from $ wouls a great outfit like Amazon even get involved w/the prime world-class inept outfit like the PO???
Never Mind!
The PX used to be the biggest store in the world so the “Army Air Force Exchange” is still probably the largest. I like it. It may not be open to all Vets until November.
Only works if your info has been digitized - mine apparently not done. There is not easy work around. If your info is digitized you are good, if not you are in limbo ... usual state of affairs for most vets.
This is another source of information.
Would that include Class VI stores? Do they still have Class VI stores?
If they can get on post/on base.
My finding as well. Amazon beat every price, even Walmart does. Base Exchange is not a deal at all.
You are mostly correct. Navy Exchanges, for example, are required to offer their products at a price not to exceed 10% less than available on the local market. They also tend to offer the best of everything which can exceed the price of mid-grade products available on the local market. The real advantage of Exchange shopping is not having to pay sales tax, which in some areas can exceed 7+%. The other advantage to Exchange shopping is that a substantial percentage of their income funds Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) activities on base that are available to all active duty, retired and reservists and their families. Bowling alleys, golf courses, child care facilities, etc.
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