Shopped BX for Tires or Batteries la...

Author Message   Dave Nosek Intermediate Member Username: Waterman15 Post Number: 62 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 134.215.253.245 Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 02:42 am:    If you really look at it most of the time items purchased at AAFES/NEX are usually a pretty good buy. Most of there merchandise it considered top of the line and while it may be pricy the same item at for example Best Buy will probably cost more. Add into that sales taxes etc and I still think the BX/NEX is at least worth looking at. Also you are helping keep things like the MWR faculities which we have all used at one time or another viable and available to everyone in or retired from the military.   John David Brooks Senior Member Username: Johnb6597 Post Number: 447 Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 72.235.3.35 Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 01:36 am:    AAFES is not the exclusive source of funding for DoD MWR activities. Each individual PX/BX/NEX certainly contributes to that installation's MWR program, but it's a subsidy...it's not the entire base MWR budget. Big subsidy, perhaps, especially at larger installations where the retail sales are fast and furious, but not the sole source of MWR funding. If that were true, all MWR programs and activities would be free. We know that's not the case. The theory that MWR financial goals drive AAFES pricing policy doesn't "smell" right. I'm not saying it's untrue (I really have no idea and don't care to further research it), but it sure doesn't sound right. I wonder what AAFES' and NEX's official replies would be to a Senatorial inquiry regarding their contributions to the DoD MWR program and how their prices are connected to those contributions...   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6475 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 01:11 am:    I don't think the Exchanges will ever be shut down, for the simple reason that their profits fund MWR. If that source of funding disappeared, what would replace it? However, I learned a few years back while chatting with a retiree who was a volunteer member of the local council that advises the base PX, that the MWR funding actually amounts to the tail wagging the dog -- MWR tells the exchange how much money they think they need in order to operate for the next year, and then the exchange executives set the markup on the prices at a rate they think will produce that amount. This is why you can often beat the PX/BX/NEX price at Walmart, Costco, BJ's, Sam's Club, Target or K-mart, and why the same item at the Commissary, even with the 5% surcharge, is sometimes startlingly less expensive than at the same base's exchange. (In my innocence I had always presumed that the PX markup was standardized, and MWR simply had to accept and operate their programs according to whatever amount they got.)   John David Brooks Senior Member Username: Johnb6597 Post Number: 446 Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 72.235.3.35 Posted on Monday, June 21, 2010 - 09:36 pm:    Nothing beats AAFES and NEX for convenience if you're living on-base and need a few inexpensive items on occasion; however, when buying bigger, more expensive items, they simply cannot consistently compete with online retailers like Amazon and Zappos, nor with brick-and-mortar stores like Wal-Mart, even when you factor-in sales taxes (where applicable). It won't happen in the next 5 years, but it wouldn't surprise me if 10 years from now they start shutting down the entire AAFES/NEX system in favor of giving everyone a locality-based COLA as a cost-savings initiative. I love AAFES and NEX for their on-base convenience, but they are almost irrelevant in today's competitive retail market.   Jack T. Paxton Senior Member Username: Jpaxton Post Number: 872 Registered: 07-2003 Posted From: 24.27.231.67 Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 07:52 pm:    This is another situation where the AAFES has problems. I consume an adult beverage called Famous Grouse scotch whiskey...nothing fancy, no single malt, just that. I have been consuming this since about 1980. I had to fight the ABC board in North Carolina to start purchasing it. When I moved to Florida I found it at the Class VI stores in Patrick and MacDill and regularly used them until recently. Famous Grouse has become a very good seller worldwide even though it is considered bar scotch in Scotland. As such, the prices have escalated. In the past several years I have seen it go from $21.90 for a 1.75 litre bottle to (last week at MacDill) $39.99.) At the same time, it was selling in Clearwater (15 miles) at $24.99. Many times when I would go to MacDill it was sold out. I questioned the buyer last week and she said AAFES restricted them from carrying large amounts of inventory so they had to charge for whatever they could buy in 3 or 4 case lots. Yes, the Class VI does allow challenges and, yes, I could challenge and buy it for $24.99 but it was the principle of the thing. They simply cannot purchase a pallet, say, even though they know it will sell out. The only option I have is to call and order a case, then make the challenge. Ridiculous!   Lester Green Advanced Member Username: Rtgreen5 Post Number: 327 Registered: 03-2007 Posted From: 24.60.242.66 Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 02:32 pm:    John D: Discount Tire Direct does the same thing. They have a list of favored installers throughout the Country and they provide hazard insurance, rotation and lifetime balancing as well. I recently bought four Dunlops for my daughter's car and they shipped them directly to the nearby installer and my daughter had the tires mounted and balanced there. I checked the prices around and they gave me the best deal. No sales tax was involved as I recall. When Tire Rack has a sale on a particular tire, their prices may be better. The problem with Costco and Sam's is that they are not everywhere and when a tire emergency arises while on a trip, etc., you have to solve the problem on your own and MAYBE you will get an adjustment from them at some point. With the list of installers throughout the Country that these internet tire providers have, I believe that one has more flexibility in using them.   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4692 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 86.45.26.68 Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 08:07 am:    Another option is tirerack.com - ship tires to local dealer and have them installed.   Paul Beam Member Username: Paul_3 Post Number: 48 Registered: 09-2006 Posted From: 75.60.183.250 Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 12:57 am:    Last week I picked up a tire price list from the Coast Guard Exchange in Galveston. It looks like they are still in the tire business. No mounting mentioned and I did not ask. The price list seemed to be a list for Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly. The Navy at Corpus Christi did not mention sales tax when I called, said could have them in 24 hours if in warehouse. I will find out more details when I am there on the 4th. Can't believe mount and balance is just$7.50. Road hazard is $17.95.   E.L.Fink Intermediate Member Username: Yahootie Post Number: 138 Registered: 08-2009 Posted From: 75.247.169.197 Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 12:02 am:    I have to agree with Larry, I have used Discount Tire for the past 5 years. They have fixed all my tire issues. I left Sam's because of poor service, flat fixing, tire rotation, and re-balancing problems. My experience with Firestone is 10 years old. I had a problem of tires walking on the rims. They refused to re-balance the tires, nor make adjustments. elf   John David Brooks Senior Member Username: Johnb6597 Post Number: 437 Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 72.235.3.35 Posted on Friday, June 18, 2010 - 11:01 pm:    Been using discounttires.com for 8 years now and have never had a bad experience with them. Good selection of tires at great prices.   Bill M Member Username: Billemoore Post Number: 40 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.5.53.31 Posted on Friday, June 18, 2010 - 09:11 pm:    Wasn't gonna but can't resist. I purchased four tires not long ago. After pricing at AAFES (Firestone) COSTCO povided same tires with all the extras (lifetime balance, rotation etc) for $100 less. Not my first unplesant experience with AAFES/Firestone. Similarly, recent contracting of temporary lodging by the Army is similarly disturbing - $50 room one day, same room $150 (plus tax)next day is rediculous! My real concern is for young troops who seem to be being gauged on things like car service and temporary (leasure) lodging. Where does it stop?   Larry W. Carnes Senior Member Username: Larry Post Number: 1172 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.40.19.90 Posted on Friday, June 18, 2010 - 03:56 pm:    I think AAFES made a horrible decision in allowing Firstone to take over the Tire & Battery department. Not sure about the rest of the country, but here in El Paso the Firstone on Ft. Bliss has the highest prices in town on alignment. Their prices on tires don't seem like much of a bargain, either. And as Paul stated, they also charge Sales Tax. I'll take this opportunity to plug an outfit called DiscountTires.com. I bought a set of B.F. Goodrich from them last month and was very satisfied with the service. They have free USP shipping to your home and their prices beat Sam's Club. You do have to find someone to mount & balance the tires when they come in. WalMart and Sams charge about $12 to $15 per tire to do it, whether you buy the tires from them or not.   Mike Engelmann Intermediate Member Username: Markmartin6sc Post Number: 111 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 79.233.37.110 Posted on Friday, June 18, 2010 - 05:20 am:    affes is overate and overpriced.   John G Advanced Member Username: Windjammer_john Post Number: 314 Registered: 02-2008 Posted From: 97.112.135.13 Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 07:38 pm:    Went to Peterson AFB BX a couple of weeks ago to purchase windshield wipers for our vehicles, which were on sale in the flier that is mailed out. When I ask for the wipers which they did not have was told that the gas station would probably have them BUT the gas station is no longer part of the AAFES. So I went to Advance Auto and purchased them there and they installed them free of charge while I purchased them.   Carole G Advanced Member Username: Greengal Post Number: 279 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 68.205.151.181 Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 06:26 pm:    Costco or Sam's might just be the best place to get tires and batteries. We bought tires at Costco and received free tire rotation and balancing for the life of the tires. Plus they have $70 off their already discounted major brands of tires at Costco when you buy 4 tires.   Paul Beam Member Username: Paul_3 Post Number: 47 Registered: 09-2006 Posted From: 75.60.180.138 Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 06:13 pm:    Called the Randolph and Lackland BX today and found that the Tire and Battery department is contracted to Firestone. A discount is given to offset the sales tax but it appears that you will just be paying it in the overall sales price. The vendor is going to make his profit.