Selling on AAFES.
AAFES, known to shoppers as The Exchange, has served the United States military community since 1895, on base and online at shopmyexchange.com. e-tailize prepares and presents your case, then runs catalogue, translation, stock and orders from one workspace.
- Case prepared for the Exchange Marketplace team
- Catalogue imported
- Item numbers, copy and images mapped
- Stock and orders in sync
- Listings live on shopmyexchange.com
How do you start selling on AAFES (The Exchange)?
AAFES runs its online Marketplace as a partner program with two models: revenue share drop ship, where the shopper stays on shopmyexchange.com, or a Specialty Store that drops back into the same cart. Both carry a one time setup fee, contract terms agreed per partner, and exclusive value for authorized customers. e-tailize prepares and presents your case, then runs catalogue, content, stock and orders from one workspace.
AAFES at a glance.
The essentials of the marketplace in one table, before you dive deeper.
| Market | United States military community, worldwideActive duty, reserve and retired personnel plus families. The online store reaches more than 33 million authorized customers. |
|---|---|
| Models | Revenue share drop ship or a Specialty StoreDrop ship keeps the shopper on shopmyexchange.com; a Specialty Store falls back into the same cart. |
| Setup | USD 1,500 one timeThe same setup applies to both models. |
| Monthly fee | USD 0 on drop ship, USD 50 on a Specialty StorePublished in the Exchange Marketplace partner brochure. |
| Transaction fee | USD 0.31 per transaction on a Specialty StoreNo per transaction fee is published for drop ship. |
| Commission | Set in your affiliate contractNo standard percentage is published, so we never quote one. |
| Product data | Copy and images per item, each with an Exchange item numberVendor management currently runs through Radial. |
| Program | From EUR 249 per month, the fee follows your new revenueFree exploration call first, cancel any month. |
Six reasons to pair AAFES with e-tailize.
A community that shops its own store
The Exchange has served military shoppers since 1895. Its online store reaches millions of authorized customers ordinary retail never sees.
We know what this channel looks for
We present your brand in the terms it uses: assortment, exclusive value, service levels and the numbers.
Exclusive value is part of the deal
Partner offers are made for authorized customers, so pricing and assortment need a plan before anything is published.
One PIM for all your product data
Item numbers, attributes, copy and images stay consistent on every next channel.
Stock, orders and returns in one flow
Orders route into your own process, stock stays in sync, returns follow your agreed terms.
The same base, 200+ marketplaces
What you prepared for AAFES starts the next channel. Expanding becomes a choice.
Five steps. ~ One prepared case.
- 1
We prepare and present your case
We build the assortment, the exclusive value and the numbers this channel wants, then take it to the Exchange Marketplace team.
✓Assortment reviewed✓Case built✓Case presented - 2
Settle the model and the terms
Pick drop ship or a Specialty Store, then agree revenue share, discounts and returns.
✓Model chosen✓Terms agreed✓Fees clear - 3
Import your catalogue
Bring your products into the PIM, the base for every channel.
✓Products imported✓Images loaded✓Categories recognised - 4
Make your content Exchange proof
Map copy, images and attributes to what item creation needs, so pages pass.
✓Copy delivered✓Item numbers assigned✓Preview checked - 5
Go live and grow
Publish, then run stock, orders and returns from one screen.
✓Listings live✓Stock in sync✓Next channel chosen
Sell almost anything. Almost.
What the assortment looks like
National brand merchandise, well beyond what fits in the shops on base: computers, electronics, apparel, watches, sports and home.
What gets checked before you go live
Partner offers are for authorized customers only and must carry exclusive value. Every item is created in the Exchange systems with copy, images and an item number.
Questions sellers ask about AAFES.
What does selling on AAFES cost?
Both partner models carry a one time setup of USD 1,500. Drop ship has no monthly fee. A Specialty Store costs USD 50 per month plus USD 0.31 per transaction. Example: 400 orders in a month is USD 50 plus USD 124, so USD 174 in platform fees. Commission is set in your contract, so no public percentage exists. The e-tailize program comes on top, from EUR 249 per month.
Which partner model should I choose?
With drop ship the customer stays on shopmyexchange.com and you ship the order. With a Specialty Store you run your own store pages and the transaction falls back into the Exchange cart. Drop ship has no monthly fee, a Specialty Store does.
Who is allowed to buy on shopmyexchange.com?
Only authorized customers: active duty, reserve and retired personnel, dependent family members and others as authorized. They pay no sales tax online and get free standard shipping offers, so the price a shopper compares here is not the one you know.
What product data does AAFES need?
Every item is created in the Exchange product systems with its own item number, plus copy and images you supply. Vendor management currently runs through Radial. In the e-tailize PIM those attributes, texts and images sit in one place and feed every channel.
What is MILITARY STAR and does it cost me anything?
MILITARY STAR is the private label credit card of The Exchange, with over 2 million account holders who tend to spend more per order. Accepting it carries a flat 2.5% merchant fee, which belongs in your margin calculation.
How long does onboarding take?
The brochure targets four to six weeks for item creation and technical onboarding once terms are agreed. In practice the timing follows your data: complete copy, images and attributes move fast, incomplete ones do not. That is what we prepare up front.
Why go through e-tailize instead of arranging it yourself?
We know what this channel looks for and present your brand in those terms, then the software runs catalogue, translation, stock and orders. Whether your brand gets in here, and whether it is worth it, is what the free exploration call is for.
AAFES's setup, in plain English.
For AAFES and every other channel you work with one e-tailize program. You pay along with the revenue we build together, not per product. The Exchange charges its own platform fees plus commission.
The exploration call and the marketplace scan are both free. The program starts at €249 per month, paid at signing, and the fee follows the new marketplace revenue we create together. Cancel any month.
We get
you on AAFES.
Book a free exploration call: you see right away where your range has potential here and what it can earn. The fee follows the new revenue we create together, so we only win when you win. And after AAFES? Another 200+ marketplaces.
