Home Depot has begun taking over military exchange store sales of major appliances.
Customers of shopmyexchange.com can now get Home Depot's selection of major appliances tax-free plus a 1% discount.
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service, known as AAFES, announced May 18 that sales had begun, and Home Depot officials confirmed the 1% discount to Military.com.
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The appliances are available through the site's Home Depot-branded section.
In the exchanges' physical stores, Home Depot showrooms will first appear at Fort Moore, Georgia; Fort Cavazos, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph and Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The showrooms will ultimately roll out to 60 AAFES exchanges in the continental U.S., Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Navy Exchange stores are also expected to shift sourcing and delivery of major appliances to Home Depot this year.
The extent of the showrooms will vary according to the size of the exchange, but Home Depot's "entire assortment" will be for sale on the website, AAFES spokesperson Chris Ward told Military.com.
Home Depot's popular 10% military and veteran discount on most products does not extend to major appliances.
The selection now available to exchange shoppers includes washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, built-in microwaves, ranges, cooktops, ovens and hoods. Home Depot itself will fulfill the orders and handle delivery.
The appliances will be available exclusively for delivery -- with the delivery cost calculated according to Home Depot's usual method based on size, weight and other factors, Ward said. Exchange shoppers will not be able to pick up their appliances at a Home Depot store.
AAFES' announcement characterized the new development as a "collaborative effort" between Home Depot and the exchange service meant to improve the quality of life of service members, veterans and their families.
The deal means exchange shoppers will have more major appliances to choose from, AAFES Director and CEO Tom Shull said in the announcement.
Customers will access the new discount program through the exchanges' stores or websites, not directly from a Home Depot store or Home Depot's website. The deal is available to veterans and their families, active-duty troops and their families, and all other authorized exchange shoppers.
Ward said most exchange stores will continue selling their existing inventory of major appliances until they sell out, at which time they'll transition to a Home Depot showroom. AAFES aims to have the 60 showrooms in place by October.
The military exchanges opened to more than half a million new shoppers in 2021 when the Defense Department extended shopping privileges to about 600,000 civilian employees.
-- Amanda Miller can be reached at amanda.miller@monster.com.
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