Army & Air Force Online Exchange: Honorably Discharged Veterans Access Starting 11/11
Calling all you active military members and veterans!
Starting November 11th, 2017, all honorably discharged veterans will have online access to the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES)!
According to reader, Aly, “this is a huge deal because unless you retired with the military, you would not have the privilege of tax-free shopping. Now, all vets will have the lifelong benefit and be able to use the exchange online, price-match, and get a military star card if they want to avoid shipping fees”.
Check out this Press Release for more information.
Not familiar with AAFES?
The Exchange offers products in every category and the same national brand merchandise found in brick-and-mortar stores. Online shoppers pay no sales tax (awesome!) and enjoy free delivery when using a Military Star Card or when their online purchases total $49 or more.
(Thanks, Aly!)
Wowsers! This is fantastic! Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome Debby!
Now if only the commissary would do the same thing… Lol
Sorry! This is stupid question … My husband is a Navy veteran. Can he also use this?
Yup. And I hear if you ever had a star card ( that’s what the army called the credit card) you could shopping there now.
too bad they don’t open it up for ex-wives of veterans. Many of them sacrificed a good part of their lives to the military life and don’t qualify for anything once they are no longer married to the service member.
The Exchange is a for-profit store. They rarely have really good deals, especially online. I’m glad they are giving this option to more people but I don’t think it’s worth much.
Think it depends on your exchange. Our px here has awesome deals on out of season clothes … They typically go down 50-75% then i stack it when they do the buy more save more deals (ie 2 items you get an additional 20%, 3 items you get an additional 30%, all the way up to 50% additional). Which makes alot of clothes $2 and $3 with no tax.
They can only shop online though.
SO EVEN WITHOUT THE STAR CARD IF WE PURCHASE $49 WORTH THEY WILL SHIP THE PURCHASE.? THAT WILL HELP THOSE WHO AREN’T NEAR A BASE.
Home Depot also offers a military discount, but they don’t advertise it. You just have to show your military ID or VA card to get the 10% discount.
I made a purchase recently at my Home Depot and the employee told me that they only give a 10% discount on certain days.
We had the same experience. Lowes, however, honors veterans by giving a 10% discount any day of the year. You can guess where we do our shopping!
I think it might vary by location. We’re a military town & can get the discount every day.
Hopefully this is the beginning of non-retired (but honorably discharged) veterans receiving more benefits and recognition. It’s frustrating that like many others who served, my husband is recognized as a veteran but we don’t qualify for things like discounted theme part tickets, many of the Veterans Day benefits, etc., all because he didn’t retire and doesn’t have a retired military ID card. It’s as if service members who serve and make the same sacrifices as all others but don’t retire aren’t worthy of a few discounts and perks here and there.
I completely understand! My husband was medically discharged with a purple heart and even with a veteran ID there are hardly any “deals” unless retired or active duty. It makes me sad to know that so many served and aren’t recognized as they should be.
Just some information about the “tax free shopping”…if you live in a state that has a use tax law, you as a citizen of that state more then likely have an obligation to pay in use tax for the items that are taxable after you receive them to your state. So really those items are still taxable.
The Exchange, as a U.S. Government instrumentality, is immune from state and local taxes unless the immunity is waived by an act of Congress. Most (but not all) sales by exchanges are free of state and local sales or VAT taxes as the sales take place on U.S. military reservations (exceptions include gasoline sales in the U.S. and sales by concessionaires licensed by the exchange). Exchanges are normally located on military reservations and, as a result, do not pay rent or tax for the use of land. Exchanges’ tax-exempt status (as instrumentalities of the U.S. Government) also reduces certain operating expenses.
Its great that all veterans are being able to use this. Some Vets didn’t retire but spent time in combat zones and didn’t get the benefits of all.
Thank you so much! Can’t wait to do some Christmas shopping. 😊🤗
IS THIS PX OFFER A BRAND NEW DEAL.? IS IT A PERMANENT.? I’M 74 AND ON SOCIAL SECURITY. SOUNDS GREAT. I DON’T KNOW WHERE THE CLOSEST PX IS TO BAYTOWN, TEXAS.