DoD opening online PX purchases for anyone honorably discharged

[Sam1]

This is cool, right now you can only buy if you are active duty/retired/service connected disabled.

http://popularmilitary.com/veterans-soon-allowed-shop-military-online-exchanges/

[Ted S.]

I mean why wasn't this a thing before? BTW, IMO PX doesn't seem as competitive outside of tax free since AAFES took it over, but TBF I haven't been on since my dependency ended.

[DWARREN123]

I have not found many deals at the PX in a long while. Cheaper to shop at many other places, especially for firearms and related items.

[Omega]

The only thing I like about the PX is that they will price match any competitor.  But I was disappointed when they told me you had to be active duty to purchase weapons there though.  The PX has been AAFES since I can remember, and except when I was overseas,  it has not been competitive since Wal-Mart came along.  And now I hear they or Wal-Mart may take over the commissary, a place which really does compete with the off post food stores.

[xsubsailor]

 I questioned the pricing at our Navy Exchange and was told they had to stay within 10% of the outside store prices.

I've never understood why the Army/Air Force PXs could sell weapons and ammo but not the Navy. (I guess we're not to be trusted  )

[Luap]

Naw, Peeps don't want they stuff wet. That be why.

 

[monkeylizard]

Navy guns are measured in inches and that stuff just takes up too much shelf space.

[Sam1]

9 hours ago, xsubsailor said:

 I questioned the pricing at our Navy Exchange and was told they had to stay within 10% of the outside store prices.

I've never understood why the Army/Air Force PXs could sell weapons and ammo but not the Navy. (I guess we're not to be trusted  )

I haven't been in one for 14 years now, they used to be stupid cheap.  Guess that's not the case now?

[Raoul]

I was in the one at Ft. Knox last year. It was pretty pathetic.

[Grand Torino]

They sure ain't close to what they used to be. I don't see many things in there that make them competitive at all. 

[monkeylizard]

It's a useful system for bases/posts in the middle of nowhere (Twentynine Palms, CA for example) with few places to go off-base. Otherwise you can find better and/or cheaper elsewhere. Still, if you live on base/post it's convenient and generally well-priced.

[buck1032]

About the only thing we buy at the PX is my wife's make up. Its about half price compared to out here on the local economy. We do beat up the commissary about twice a year though.

[enfield]

I doubt that the DOD can manage 20 million new ID's, but if they do, it'll be my very first veteran benefit.  I've never qualified for one before.  The gubmint makes sure that not all veterans are treated the same.  It creates discord and keeps the vets from joining together and marching on Washington again.  :D

 

Edited August 17, 2016 by enfield
felt like it

[monkeylizard]

How do handgun sales at AAFES/NEX work? Does a person have to be assigned to that base/post (or at least one in the same state) to buy? If a veteran, do they have to reside in the state? Or does AAFES/NEX have some special form of dealer license that can sell to anyone who qualifies to shop there?

Since Ft. Campbell crosses states, can residents of either state purchase handguns there even though the PX is on the Kentucky side? I seem to recall a thread some years ago where it was said that soldiers assigned to Ft. Campbell can purchase from any dealer in either state. Is that true?

It doesn't impact me either way, I'm just curious.

[buck1032]

My understanding is you have to be under orders to that state to purchase firearms at an AFFES, that's what I was told when I looked into that last year at Red Stone Arsenal.

[Omega]

36 minutes ago, monkeylizard said:

How do handgun sales at AAFES/NEX work? Does a person have to be assigned to that base/post (or at least one in the same state) to buy? If a veteran, do they have to reside in the state? Or does AAFES/NEX have some special form of dealer license that can sell to anyone who qualifies to shop there?

Since Ft. Campbell crosses states, can residents of either state purchase handguns there even though the PX is on the Kentucky side? I seem to recall a thread some years ago where it was said that soldiers assigned to Ft. Campbell can purchase from any dealer in either state. Is that true?

It doesn't impact me either way, I'm just curious.

Don't know about anywhere else but at Ft Campbell's PX you have to be active duty and assigned here.  As a vet you can't buy one at the PX, no matter what your state of residency is.

And yes, active duty can buy in KY or TN off post.

[DWARREN123]

They were made to sell within a certain percentage of off post stores and that knocked them out of being a good deal.

[btq96r]

10 hours ago, monkeylizard said:

It's a useful system for bases/posts in the middle of nowhere (Twentynine Palms, CA for example) with few places to go off-base. Otherwise you can find better and/or cheaper elsewhere. Still, if you live on base/post it's convenient and generally well-priced.

Yup.  I remember when the PX at Fort Campbell got a major upgrade.  I was thinking what a waste it was for Campbell, when they could have done that for a base like Fort Polk, Fort Irwin, Fort Huachuca, or Fort Bliss where it would have made a much bigger difference.  Aside from the convenience of taking kids to the food court, there isn't anything in the PX that can't be had at one of the four Walmart's in the Fort Campbell area. 

[Patton]

I have found some nice furniture deals at AAFES in the past, but otherwise you can shop around and beat their prices.

[R1100R]

In my opinion, you're not missing out on much. On high dollar items the PX can be completive. This is according to my wife !! The PX hasn't been truly competitive in years. I also understand that this is for online shopping only and their website is a pain in the but to navigate.  Commissary is another story, use it often.

BTW Ft Bliss has a serious complex for the PX. It includes a outside walking mini mall with a lot  of the stores and restaurants you see off post. But the downside is they are not covered by the tax free exemption.

 

[NextExit]

AAFES was great back in the "pre-WalMart" days.  There wasn't much in Sumter, SC so shopping on base was cheaper than driving to Columbia.   And in Germany, depending on the exchange rate, it was cheaper on base.  (Besides, there was no point in buying 220v electronics or a PAL TV that would only work in Europe )  IMHO, with WalMart, Amazon, eBay, etc, I don't feel the need to go back.   

[Dustbuster]

i purchased a rifle when i got out at aafes at lejeune w no issue, when i was in okinawa we all bought some bad ass stereo equipment that literally rivaled pro sound companies in the us... througj catalog sales at the px. i think this is good as the px is sometimes the only thing around that can make u smile. ill shop there for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk, its either this or smoke signals!

[Grayfox54]

They make it sound like they're doing us a big favor. But I think in reality, they're just expanding their customer base so they can make more money. Anytime .gov does something that looks like it benefits vets, look for the real reason.