DALLAS – Whether stationed at home or abroad, servicemembers can expect to find the same, or very similar, prices at Army & Air Force Exchange Service facilities worldwide.   

Known as pricing parity, this practice ensures Exchange prices are established centrally.

“While there may be some slight price differentiations that occur with items purchased locally overseas, per Department of Defense policy the Exchange doesn’t increase prices in order to cover shipping or other higher operational costs,” said Exchange Senior Enlisted Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Tony Pearson. “No matter where they are called to serve, it is our goal to bring Soldiers, Airmen and their families the same products, at the same cost.”

Despite the Exchange’s efforts to price consistently, a few exceptions can occur.

“There may be some price differences between locations in the continental United States and overseas for categories such as gasoline, alcohol and tobacco,” said Pearson. “These prices are set based on Department of Energy benchmarks, or local surveys, established by DoD directives.”

Additionally, prices for some convenience and frequently purchased items may be lower at different locations based on local promotions or surveys. To ensure prices on these same items overseas are consistent with those servicemembers would expect to see at home, overseas prices are set at the average surveyed CONUS price.

Servicemembers and their families worldwide can learn more about Exchange policies by visiting http://www.shopmyexchange.com/CustomerService/ .

— 30 —

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint non-appropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff.  The Exchange has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with quality merchandise and services at competitively low prices and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military morale, welfare and recreation programs. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com.

###

Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Chris Ward, 214-312-2714 or [email protected].

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014 at 11:03 and is filed under Press Release. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.