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Show 14 HBRop? July 23. 1998 Enlisted comment on commissary shopping, service FORT LEE, Va. (AFNS) Enlisted service members cleared the air about AAFES changes layaway policy commissary hours, food stamps, crowded stores and a host of other matters they brought up when the Defense 30-da- stringent refund policies for com- y puters than for other product categories," continued Fair. "We needed to bring AAFES in line with industry ? standards." s 90-da- y layaway doesn't make good business Response: Sometimes the DeCA many military families that use them. I merchandising plan elf increasing sales encourage service members to uselhe through product displays runs co- programs because they are taxpayers a who have helped pay for them. B to what customers want ntrary ' relaxed shopping environment, unhur-;rieIssue: Can the commissary change by other shoppersfnegotiating i through crowded aisles. We're conits hours?'T,he hour aren't coni t '"''' d - stantly working on merchandising.exe-- : venient to my work "schedule. cution toensure a smoother shopping flow. v..,. , Response: Each store basicallyhas " r I ' y ; a set amount of hours they can be open because of funding constraints; however, operating hours can be scheduled to efficiently fit shopping patterns. Commissary officers survey customers to help determine the best operating hours, and will change their hours when customer demand warrants. Talk to - '- '. y low-co- payments to the (Air Force) Services' (Agency) quality-of-lif- e programs," said Steve Fair, senior vice president, AAFES Sales Directorate." "After extensive research, we found our competitors seldom offer computer layawaysand they have more monitors, peripherals or software. Refunds on these items can be made for 14 days, a change from the previous policy. "With the volatility of the computer market, in terms of frequent phase-outand new product rollouts, a face-to-fa- . sense, especially as we are responsible for protecting AAFES' dividend DALLAS (AFNS) The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is changing its layaway and refund policies for computers and related items. As of Aug. 2, AAFES will no longer offer layaway service for computers, Com- missary Agency sergeant major asked them, "What do you think about the commissary?" Sgt. Ma. Clevola Fedak completed a tour of six commissaries in Texas and Oklahoma last month in what was the first of a series of trips for meetings with enlisted service members. "We know the commissary is used a lot by retirees, but our future rests with the young soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines," Fedak said. Tm'finding out what they like or don't like about the commissary; and then we'll see what we can do to make the commissary the marketplace of choice for enlisted service members." Fedak met with groups of enlisted shop. members at Lackland and Randolph" "Shoppers vote with their .pocket-Ai- r ForceBases and Fort Sam Hous-- - b'ooks. If they don't like a store, they ton in Texas, arid .at Tinker- AFJ5 and-- go somewhere else.I understand-that- . Fort Sill iff" Oklahoma. OveraHjHr-i- f But I ask enlisted shoppers to t least comments.about the commissary wereSfealk to the store manager or .commas-verfavorable. Fedak, who advises the sary officer first before giving up on DeCA director about enlisted shopper shopping at their commissary. We look matters, said most of the unfavorable like a store and operate like a store, comments could be cured by more cus- but we're a benefit so our commitment tomer involvement. goes beyond just selling groceries," "I told them the commissary exists she said. active-dutmilShe offers the following tips based primarily to serve the itary population. The commissary ben- on comments she received: efit is part of their paycheck. We sell Issue: Aisles are crowded with groceries as a form of military compensation. If you don't shop shoppers. the commissary, you're not getting the full benefit of your compensation," Response:Commissary aisles crowded Fedak said. with shoppers means we are serving Because the commissary is a bene- our customers. Find out from the comfit, Fedak said service members have missary staff about the best times to a right to voice their comments to shop. Avoid paydays. the commissary officer when there's Issue: Too many product displays something they don't understand or like about the commissary where they create congested aisles. Issue: Do stateside commissaries accept food stamps and the Spe-- ; cial Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, vouchers? Response: Commissaries in the United States accept food stamps and WIC vouchers. Young enlisted members with families should take time to learn as much about the programs as they can. Some people might feel embarrassed to use such programs, ' but our cashiers and store workers are trained to be courteous and professional to all shoppers. st the commissary officer about the last customer survey results. It might be time for another. T Fedak regularly visits commissaries as part of her job. She also serves as DeCA's liaison with the senior enlisted chiefs of the armed services. She wants to know what enlisted service members think about their commissary. She can be contacted by at i Food stamps and WIC help young -:- fam- ilies meet their needs, and there are "fedakchhqlee.deca.mil." -- 1 ( f" (WffiSE$ 5 MM SA1ES.4 SEHVKEfl i i I f nay 2jQNorth I Plain City V f i I Ogden 1 MiViti'filitVIMB 111 wiuara i RUSS CARRIQAN MOTORS, INC. Brigham 308 E. 125 N., Morga- n- AAA KnlK M r II 1 MM EaEt-E- , "ed,,' I trim j I Chrytltf DAVISOI Plymouth Dodo Mh 10 CSp - 645 NO. VEHICLES-M3-227- ' I Ogden -J- yWno- 2810 WASHINGTON BLVD. 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