AAFES shoppers to receive A+ savings in back to school 101

Published July 29, 2008
By Army & Air Force Exchange Service Corporate Communications

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- DALLAS - Students (and parents) from Kaiserlautern, Germany, to Ft. Knox, Ky., are readying for the return to school. A major part of prepping for the new year will include back to school shopping and the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is ready to help military Families get back to class, for less.

"Clothes, school supplies and even electronics are, of course, tax free everyday at the exchange," said AAFES' Chief Marketing Officer Richard Sheff. "While numerous states have begun instituting 'tax holidays,' military shoppers aren't subject to the restrictions and limited savings opportunities associated with these one-time offerings as 'no tax' shopping is available year round at their nearest BX or PX. In fact, this year AAFES facilities in states with 'tax holidays' will match local sales tax percentage discounts during these time frames, by category, to help ensure BXs and PXs are delivering the 'extra credit' military shoppers have come to expect."

AAFES locations in Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington D.C. will effectively double the exchange's tax-free benefit, offering an additional percentage off (equivalent to the local sales tax rate) to the already low AAFES prices.

For example, an Airman buying an item on the Virginia Department of Taxation's list of tax-free items during the first three days of August (Virginia's designated "tax holiday") at the Langley AFB BX will see an additional 5 percent (Langley, Virginia's sales tax rate) discount on all qualifying items.

In addition to taking extra measures to strengthen the exchange benefit in "tax holiday states," BXs and PXs have begun rolling out discounts on this year's "must have" fashions and supplies. These special buys will move to the head of the class on July 25th as a 24-page circular chock full of discounted lunch boxes, backpacks, shoes and more hits AAFES exchanges across the globe.

The mathematics lesson in smart shopping will continue through August as laundry bags, storage containers and anything else a student may need to get back to school not only will be "tax free," but discounted up to 40 percent.

"AAFES' buying staff has done its homework over the past year and we're ready to pass the savings lessons on to military Families," said Sheff. "Even though we've crammed to deliver the best 'back to school' shopping experience possible, we're always prepared to match the lowest local price to ensure authorized shoppers are getting the best value for their 'back to school' dollars."

Additional details concerning AAFES' "We'll Match It!" program <http://www.aafes.com/docs/price.htm> as well as links to upcoming "back to school" sales and specials <http://odin.aafes.com/this_week/default.asp> are available at www.aafes.com <http://www.aafes.com> .