Posted on 12/13/2019 8:19:24 AM PST by Signalman
Update: Veterans can now verify their online shopping eligibility at VetVerify.org. The Exchanges are also accepting some veterans as beta testers before opening the doors to all veterans. See updates below for more information.
Would you like to be able to shop on the online military exchanges and enjoy tax free shopping, military discount pricing, and other benefits? Then read on. Your wish is about to come true!
Like all retailers, the Army and Air Force Exchange (AAFES) and the Navy Exchange (NEX) are looking for ways to improve their business model. But unlike many other retailers, better business for AAFES and NEX means better quality of life for military members, as some of the profits are distributed back to the military community—to the tune of around $300 million annually.
Due to the changing environment and force reductions, the Defense Department’s Executive Resale Board voted to allow online access to honorably-discharged military veterans. This is scheduled to go live on Veterans Day 2017 and could return upwards of an additional $100 million to the military communities.
Currently, only active duty servicemembers, members of the Guard and Reserves, military retirees, 100-percent disabled veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and the families of these groups are eligible to shop at AAFES locations, either online or on-base.
Note that this new benefit only includes allowing veterans to shop online, not at the physical stores located on bases. There is no current proposal to allow veterans to shop at on-base locations.
Typo. This article was dated 2017. Still good information for those vets who were not aware of this.
Beginning Jan 1, 2020, veterans who possess a Veterans Health Identification Card, VHIC, will be able to access and use commissaries, post exchanges and MWR facilities.
I looked into this last year. The only benefit I could see was supporting AAFES, rather than Amazon.
On examination of the preceding sentence, that’s reason enough for shopping at AAFES online!
Well how exactly do AAFES and the military exchanges stack up against Amazon and Walmart?
I would guess Amazon and Walmart outclass the military stores
in savings and selection.
I know a couple who buy meat at the military commissary (or whatever it’s called). It’s a LOT cheaper than regular stores. I don’t know about other stuff.
At minimum there is no tax on AAFES purchases.
Otherwise comparable.
I signed up last year and get sales fliers via email.
I have great interest in the price/quality of Commissary shopping and will discover that after the new year.
Anyone here currently shop the commissary?
If you limit yourself to ‘sales’ at AAFES, then you can outprice Amazon and Wal-Mart. Beyond that, there just isn’t that much of a savings.
I walked into one BX last year after the holidays....they’d thrown winter boots up on sale (30-percent off). They had some heavy duty winter boots which would have been in the $130 range at Amazon, and were selling them for around $90.
Years ago, at the end of summer, they had the $12 t-shirts up for sale...around $6.
The thing is, you have to be aggressive, follow their sale brochures, and only shop for discounted items.
Very easy to sign up. Thanks
Commissaries can save you quite a lot on your grocery buying. Of course, some of that savings will be reduced depending on how far you live from a commissary and how many people in the family. When my kids were younger and living at home it made more sense to shop at the commissary. For me, its a 60 mile round trip and buying only for the wife and I. So while we still go to the commissary we don’t go as often.
Only way for you to find out is drive to a commissary and check the prices.
Funny - didn’t know about this law til the VA sent me an email late last year!
Been to the commissary and BX every week since Jan 1. Wife loves it. After 20 years its nice to get my privileges back!!!
Another thing this Vet has to thank President Trump for!!!
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