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  • Report:  #269887

Complaint Review: AAFES PatriotPC PCUniverse

AAFES PatriotPC PCUniverse Jacks Prices To Rip Off Veterans Don't delivered promised goods and jack up prices on veterans Boca Raton Florida

  • Reported By:
    Iowa Park Texas
  • Submitted:
    Fri, August 24, 2007
  • Updated:
    Tue, October 23, 2007
  • AAFES PatriotPC PCUniverse
    504 NW 77th Street
    Boca Raton, Florida
    U.S.A.
  • Phone:
    561-953-0390
  • Category:

ANYBODY THAT CARES ANYTHING ABOUT HOW OUR GOVERNEMNT IS TREATING VETERANS SHOULD READ THIS. Many military customers might be ordering products through AAFES.com (the military's exclusive store) because they they don't charge sale tax (and shipping in some cases), but it pays to do price comparisons. Don't get screwed by AAFES just because you think you are getting a military benefit. Here's why, and LISTEN UP: I ordered a wireless router through AAFES, supplied by their supplier "Patriot PC," apparently the military department of "PCUNIVERSE." Backordered, backordered. Finally, they tell me the product "may be discontinued" (thats why I haven't gotten it yet), and they instructed me to find something comparable to that item in their product line (bait/switch, false advertising).

You can check this out yourself!!!!!

So I find something throough PCUNIVERSE.com, item #S0154621, that sells for $46.13. When I run a search on the exact same item from the department that sells to military customers (PatriotPC) it sells for 2,188.45 !!!!!!!!! Thats one hell of a markup, sales tax exemption or not.

********It makes me wonder exactly how many more products they are trying to con service members into paying outrageous prices for.**************

So far, there have been many items from AAFES (and their "partners") that I could buy for much, much cheaper elsewhere. Don't be fooled into thinking you are getting a "military benefit from the goverment" by shopping at AAFES. Do some research and don't get RIPPED OFF.

Had
Iowa Park, Texas
U.S.A.

3 Updates & Rebuttals


Had

Iowa Park,
Texas,
U.S.A.

Where's the logic?

#4Author of original report

Tue, October 23, 2007

Aafes obviously pulled the best price comparisons for that example, while the first one was completely at random. The point is this.

1. random samples don't PROVE anything. A full statistical database comparison would. Now which one of us is better equipped to provide that? Me or AAFES?

2. Aafes never refuted the fact that the item that brought this all to my attention was marked up astromonically. And no mention of it being a mistake: "we'll fix that. Our bad" or anything. --just a yeah, well thats the way it is.

My argument stands.


Jon

Waxahachie,
Texas,
U.S.A.

Words from an AAFES Employee.

#4UPDATE Employee

Thu, October 18, 2007

That's funny, here is some I found... just random routers.

I'm including the shipping fee and tax (for my state) on the PCUniverse totals. There is not tax or shipping costs when ordered through PatriotPC.

Model Name PatriotPC PCUniverse
1.WRT350N $168.63 $196.60
2.WAP4400N $158.98 $169.02
3.WDA-1320 $39.58 $45.73
4.WKPC54G $53.99 $61.22
5.WBR-1310 $43.97 $58.13
6.WPN824NA $80.44 $84.02

I didn't pick out specific ones... and so far... all the prices on Patriot have been lower than Universe. So in conclusion... for the most part, you save money by shopping through AAFES... yeah, there are some items that will differ in price but that is why we have Price Matching.

And for the hell of it... a really high end router:

Model:
AS535-8T1-192-AC-V

PatriotPC:
$26307.26

PCUniverse:
$35296.97


Had

Iowa Park,
Texas,
U.S.A.

Random Query Results Show a Rip Off Trend

#4Author of original report

Fri, August 24, 2007

I did a random search on 15 items in only 1 category: Wireless routers.
13 out of 15 items were priced to charge a service member (DBA PatriotPC) more than they charge the average customer (aka PCUniverse). They are endorsed and work jointly with AAFES.com, the military-controlled and regulated store for servicemembers. Their motto is "Proudly Serving Those Who Serve Proudly." While I found no price fluctuations as large as the first, this is only a random sample of hundreds or thousands of products being sold to military members and endorsed by the federal goverment. You be the judge as to how well they stand up to their motto:

Item PCUNIVERSE PATRIOTPC
S2776186 $390.83 $407.63
S3468352 $387.45 $380.60
S3468354 $381.08 $378.43
S2751420 $607.26 $630.28
S2751418 $607.26 $630.28
S2776186 $390.83 $407.63
S2767704 $337.53 $369.94
S2952418 $4,714.07 $4,824.90
S2952419 $4,005.18 $4,099.42
S3017067 $3,721.63 $3,809.24
S3079993 $2,829.98 $2,878.10
S2255280 $2,682.25 $2,721.04
S0154621 $46.13 $2,188.45
S2821657 $1,623.82 $1,702.96
S1208297 $429.39 $441.88

(Sorry about the formatting, hope its readable)

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