Is affees a fraud?

[ThE Truth]

On april 1st a federal smokers tax was instilled. How is it that if affees is tax free they also raise their prices about $1.25 a pack? The price of cigaretts did not go up the tax did. Is affees a a fraud?

[Ex-Shopper]

AFFEES has always been a fraud. While stationed in Europe in the early 80's I needed some bath towels. The ones they sold, were of course, the best. The problem was unless you were a Major or Senior NCO, you could not afford them. Yeah, they may have been discounted from what they would have cost on 5th avenue, but I did not need $30 towels in the barracks when I made $600 a month, I needed $5.00 towels. My mother had to go to Kmart and buy towels and mail them to me. Even with postage, they were a heck of a lot cheaper than AFFEES. This was just an example. AFFEES is ok on some things, but you will see many GIs shopping a Wal-Mart instead, for both groceries (Commisary is no great bargain either) and for general merchandice. I however do agree that the Commisary has a better variety of stuff from all over.

[ThE Truth]

the commisary is great. Its not owned by affees.

[Ex-Shopper]

ThE Truth wrote:

the commisary is great. Its not owned by affees.

I know the Commisary is not connected to AFFEES. My point was, I can usually save money shopping at off post grocery stores. The Commisary and PX are not the major benefits that they are touted to be, and yes the Commisary claims to be tax free, but it has a SURCHARGE which is tantamount to a tax. KY is tax free (and surcharge free) on food items. I like the commisary better for selection of products but off post stores are better for ease of access, location and price.

[Absent]

Ex-Shopper wrote:

AFFEES has always been a fraud. While stationed in Europe in the early 80's I needed some bath towels. The ones they sold, were of course, the best. The problem was unless you were a Major or Senior NCO, you could not afford them. Yeah, they may have been discounted from what they would have cost on 5th avenue, but I did not need $30 towels in the barracks when I made $600 a month, I needed $5.00 towels. My mother had to go to Kmart and buy towels and mail them to me. Even with postage, they were a heck of a lot cheaper than AFFEES. This was just an example. AFFEES is ok on some things, but you will see many GIs shopping a Wal-Mart instead, for both groceries (Commisary is no great bargain either) and for general merchandice. I however do agree that the Commisary has a better variety of stuff from all over.

Just wondering, did you try buying them off base or at another base with a bigger PX. When we were there I took the shuttle to larger bases that had better selection and also checked out the local markets.

[Inquirer]

Absent wrote:

<quoted text>
Just wondering, did you try buying them off base or at another base with a bigger PX. When we were there I took the shuttle to larger bases that had better selection and also checked out the local markets.

I was at Ramstein AB, there really were no bigger bases. Also many things on the economy were no bargain either. The towels were just an example, the PX/BX system tended to carry things that senior NCO and Officers wives wanted, not what the average GI needed. They had stuff Like Hummels, crystal, etc. Basic necessities at a good price were hard to come by.

[SSG]

did you know that alot of the product at affees are donated by the companies. They are things that are discontinued items that has been pulled off the shelves in other stores and given to affees with the intent that soldiers well be given a break, But affees is ran by a company that cares more about profit margins than the troops it serves. I have not shopped in them for about 10 years now. Walmart is not any better but a least they don't run on the pretense that they are giving the best deals to us. If you shop around you can find better deals on the same stuff. Even after you pay taxes you can still get things cheaper than affees