All honorably discharged U.S. veterans will soon be able to shop online at all military exchanges

[rasbridge]

Starting November 11, 2017, Veterans Day, all honorably discharged veterans will be able to shop online at all military exchanges.

 

To qualify for participation in the Veteran’s online shopping benefit, you must be an honorably discharged Veteran of the United States Armed Forces. This includes the United States Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard as well as the Air Force Reserve, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve and National Guard.

This is quite a benefit considering that you will receive exclusive military pricing on name brand products, all purchases are tax free, with free shipping options. Veterans will also be able to apply for a STAR credit card and all purchases made with the card receive free shipping! The STAR card also earns reward points that can be applied to future purchases. You can also use any other major credit card however only purchases over $49 receive free shipping. Still a great deal.  Purchases from the exchanges can save veterans a lot of money when you consider there are no taxes and in most cases free shipping. They also match competitor prices.

Your first step is to verify your military service at https://vetverify.org. They ask you for your date of birth, name, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. I received my verification confirmation immediately. According to the VetVerify site, “Only authorized customers can shop online exchanges. To validate eligibility, VetVerify needs the last four digits of your social security number, date of birth and last name to compare against the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) database. If a match is not found with this information, then a full social security number will be requested to conduct a more detailed search.” Your military  records may not have been digitized yet so they recommend you begin the verification process now.

This benefit does not provide access to on-base exchanges, you will only be able to shop online at the following sites:

• Army & Air Force Exchange https://www.shopmyexchange.com
• Navy Exchange https://www.mynavyexchange.com (NEX Navy Exchange)
• Marine Corp Exchange http://www.mymcx.com

 

There are some limitations; you can’t purchase certain items such as cigarettes or alcohol, military uniforms, guns or ammunition.

 

Source:  http://fedretire.net/veterans-sign-up-now-to-shop-at-military-exchanges/

[Airstream_Bill]

Appreciate the post.  Their Sign up page evidently has a few problems that need to be resolved.  Their data base of Veterans is not very good for Vietnam Veterans.  I tried to sign up and got this.  https://www.vetverify.org/missinginfo.xhtml

I posted this on a Vietnam Page and members of that Page had the same problem that I had.  Maybe they will get the sign up page fixed in the near future.

[rasbridge]

On 10/5/2017 at 5:54 AM, Airstream_Bill said:

Appreciate the post.  Their Sign up page evidently has a few problems that need to be resolved.  Their data base of Veterans is not very good for Vietnam Veterans.  I tried to sign up and got this.  https://www.vetverify.org/missinginfo.xhtml

I posted this on a Vietnam Page and members of that Page had the same problem that I had.  Maybe they will get the sign up page fixed in the near future.

"VetVerify.org uses information from the Defense Department's Defense Manpower Data Center to verify a veteran's status; veterans will receive notification of their acceptance as online shoppers or, if their records are incomplete, will receive guidance on the steps they can take to update those records."

https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/military-benefits/2017/06/05/veterans-can-register-now-for-chance-at-early-access-to-online-military-exchange-shopping/

[rasbridge]

Your questions answered about the new veterans online shopping benefit

By: Karen Jowers    July 10 

 

 

 

More than 95,000 people visited the military exchanges' VetVerify.org website in its first month, seeking to register for the new veterans online shopping benefit that starts Nov. 11, officials said.  
 

All honorably discharged veterans will have access to the online exchanges as of that date. VetVerify is the first step in the eligibility process. 

Some veterans will be chosen as "beta testers" and will have access to the online stores before Nov. 11; the earlier veterans complete the verification process, the better their chances of becoming beta testers, according to officials with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, which administers the verification for all the military exchange services.  

Veterans who register through VetVerify.org will receive notification of their acceptance as eligible online shoppers or, if their records are incomplete, will receive guidance on the steps they can take to update those records.  
 

 

Officials were not able to provide information about how many of the 95,000 verification attempts have been successful. About 13 percent of the site's visitors have been chosen as beta testers, AAFES spokesman Chris Ward said, and others who registered for verification already were eligible to shop. 

 

 

Officials started the verification process early in preparation for at least 13 million people who will be newly eligible to shop online at the exchange. Until now, online military exchange shopping was available only to active-duty, reserve and National Guard members; retirees; 100 percent disabled veterans; the dependent family members of those individuals; and certain others.  
 

Online pricing can be seen only by those who are authorized to shop at the exchange websites: www.shopmyexchange.com; www.shopcgx.com; www.mymcx.com; and www.mynavyexchange.com.

Military Times and the exchanges continue to get questions about the VetVerify website and the new shopping benefit. Here are a few frequently asked questions, and some answers, supplied by AAFES. 

Q. Is this site a phishing scam? 
 

A. No. VetVerify.org is a shared service for all the military exchanges with the sole purpose of supporting the newly approved veterans online shopping benefit. VetVerify.org uses data from Defense Manpower Data Center, which holds the most comprehensive dataset on veterans, to verify eligibility.  

Q. Do I qualify if I served for four years, or if I was in the reserves, or if I'm on disability? 

A. All honorably discharged veterans and those with a general (under honorable) discharge can shop their military exchanges, through the veterans online shopping benefit, beginning on Veterans Day.

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Q. Can my spouse (or other family member) shop? 

A. No. The new benefit is specific to veterans with honorable and general (under honorable conditions) discharges. 

Q. Does the veterans online shopping benefit extend to shopping at the commissary? 

A. No.  

 

Q. What if my service can't be verified? 

A. There may be further information needed, so you will need to submit a digital copy of your discharge paperwork to be reviewed for eligibility. After you submit your verification form through VetVerify.org, you will be prompted to upload the necessary paperwork. 
 

Q. Who should I call if I have problems with the verification process? 

A. The VetVerify.org customer call center, toll-free, at 844-868-8672. 
 

Q. Why does VetVerify ask for my entire Social Security number? 

A. VetVerify is required to obtain the last four digits of your Social Security number, date of birth and last name in order to validate and authenticate shoppers. If a match is not found with the minimum information, then the Social Security number is requested for a more detailed search. Social Security number is the unique identifier by Defense Manpower Data Center data. When customers visit the website of their favorite online exchanges for the first time, however, they will create a new username to be used as the unique identifier with the exchange. VetVerify has taken appropriate measures to safeguard your personal information.  

 

Source:  https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/mil-money/2017/07/10/your-questions-answered-about-the-new-veterans-online-shopping-benefit/