Seasonal Priorities

[TheFreud]

Okay, AAFES makes NO sense to me.
NONE.We have been here for 4+ years. My daughter is now 6. She doesn't remember having ever sat on Santa's lap and told him what she wants. She hasn't been able to do so since she was 2 in the states.

I went into the BX a few days before Halloween. The walls were already littered with wreaths and shiny ornaments.... by October 29th.

I know AAFES is all about the almighty dollar. I know that. Would it be such a stretch to pay one of those temporary or seasonal employees to have an in-store Santa Claus? I don't know about other OCONUS locations, but here in the KMC, the kids have very few and far between opportunities to sit in the Big Guy's lap.... They can go to one of the 2 or 3 days he is at the shopette, stand inline for HOURS...  maybe if mom and dad know (or blow) someone they can get in on the "breakfast with santa" thing at the community center. Odds are, the majority of kids who don't have super-soccer moms don't get to sit in Santa's lap. Seems to me a handful of guys would make a big difference to the families. Instead of 2 chances and hours of lines... they can stand a chance to get in on a classic holiday tradition.
Pretty much every retail store stateside has a guy in a big red suit in a chair in the store. WTF AAFES?! You'll put out those Christmas toys before the costumes for Halloween, but it has never occurred to you to put a Santa Claus in the bigger of the stores from Thanksgiving to Dec 24th? Not all locations- just the big ones... Vogelweh, Ramstein...?

Even AAFES in the states has weekend Santa Clauses. I saw them at the Nellis BX. They were there Thurs-Sun from 10 am until 5 or 6 p.m. I think y'all are too busy thinking about your bonuses to think about the little things that make it not quite such a chore to walk into your stores this time of year to buy the crap you peddle. Might be nice to take home a picture of little Suzy and Bobby with Santa... before they get to old for it, and miss out because they had the misfortune of being stationed in Germany.

This is one of those issues that stabs close to the heart, and I am sure other shoppers agree. It's good business and good holiday spirit. Think about it.


p.s. I am not going to take my kids to see a Santa that doesn't speak english, so don't try to placate me with the "go on the economy" thing.

[wwalker]

Adapt and overcome.  In 4+ years, I am surprised that you did not take advantage of the void at AAFES.  Find an English speaking male to dress as Santa, set up a chair, get a Polaroid camera, and go into business for yourself at the PX.  I think AAFES calls them concessionaires, and AAFES would provide a place for your small business, advertise for you, and only take 10% of what you collect.  Why has some entrepreneur not already done this at your PX? 

During my 3 tours in Korea, we had guys standing in line to volunteer to play Santa at the community center, at the elementary school, at the local orphanage, and even at the PX.  The PX manager was so grateful that he would treat Santa and his elves to lunch everyday.

Don't get me wrong.  I have my issues with AAFES, but at the same time, I do not expect them or any other DOD organization to hand everything to me on a silver platter.

Just my opinion. 

[aw]

After 4+ years in Germany, I would think your 6yr old daughter who be able to speak as much German as any other German child.  You would be surprised at how much English the "local economy" Santa may speak.  Unless you expect them to discuss the meaning life, it does not take much to speak to a 2 yr old, 3 yr old, 4 year old, etc. 

I have 4 kids and all of them spent at least 10 years overseas before they reached 18.  Memories of visiting the "local economy" Santa is part of being stationed overseas.

Did you ever think of buying a simple Santa suit, having a family friend dress up for a family photo?  Your family could return the favor for that family and many others.  You could take an unlimited number of photos, not stand in line, and it would be memorable for your daughter.

I agree with wwalker that sometimes we have to look for a solution rather than waiting for somebody else or some organization to solve it.

[Stop_Your_Crying]

Well TheFreud, think you got slapped on this one. We here at out exchange had over 12 visits with Santa and FREE photos, sponsor by AAFES but it involved our three military communities with volunteers. AAFES provided the area, the chair, the decorations and a very nice Santa suit and nice little gifts for the children from November up to the day before Christmas. Getting people to play Santa was easy. As the others pointed out, you should not look to one organization to handle your Santa needs, the sprit of the thing should be a community event. This is not the USA will all the malls, we are the US military and a special breed for all we do, from the solider, airmen and the families involved. Think you barked up the wrong tree on this one.

Happy Holidays to all!!

[Moose]

I hate to have to take the side of AAFES who i really do hate, but yea I think they are right on this one.  So they don;t provide a santa free of charge for your kid to sit on, so what.  I'm single and actually kinda sick of AAFES and other military organizations catering to the needs of dependants.  Quite frankly you don't deserve anything, and I'm kinda tired of yall thinking something is owed to you because your husband is in the air force.  How bout instead of wasting money on a stupid Santa for some spoiled dependants we spend that money on some hot Christmas dinners for the single guys who haven't seen their families for 5 years, or you know what, even better just give me a price break on the things i need most like soap, shaving cream and razors all of which are drastically over-priced...or maybe it's more important for some dependant to see a middle aged guy n an obviously fake santa suit which even the kids don't buy as being legit...yep sounds like a plan to me....

[TheFreud]

12 visits...in 3 stores... for a community of 30K? Wow- y'all really went out of your way....

Note the comment about 2 hour lines. Keep your free photos and get someone to park their ass in that chair from Thanksgiving until Christmas eve. Santa shouldn't be like a leprechaun.

[Stop_Your_Crying]

Moose, get a girl friend and chill out. Not the militarys fault you been to cheap to go see your family. 5 Years, thats a 180 days of leave if you haven't seen your family.

[Disgruntled]

How about getting deployed so often you can never get leave? Or having your leave canceled at the last minute for an emergency? Nice way to talk to the guy contributing to your salary, man!

AW, by his own post on another thread, SYC says that the concessions have to pay 15% or more to AAFES. Most short term concessions where I am are paying closer to 20%, depending on the products they offer.

[Stop_Your_Crying]

Dude , you do not know me, I am retired U.S. Army, 21 years. I have been in involved in over 5 major conflicts or mini-war that the US has been involved since 1980 when I joined.
Every unit that returns get a mandatory 30-day block leave ( I can only quote Army). So he had his leave time, just just chose to not see his friends or relatives. Plus, he is a volunteered, this comes with the job when you join to be a solider, so if a emergency came up for the unit, you solider on. Point is, the boy got leave, he just chose not to use it wisely.

Correct on the concession, some go as high as 25%. Remember, AAFES provides the space, the power, sometime the kiosk they use if needed and signing if asked for or needed. Pretty fair rent agreement I would say.

[Moose]

geez, I didn't realize Iwas worth fighting over... Anyways yes I do have a gf and yes I have taken leave in the last five years, just never over the holidays a) its hard to get approved casue everyone wants to do it and b) ever priced a planes ticket to japan and back during christmas pretty outrageously rediculous... but thats obviously not AAFES fault.  All I was saying is how bout throwing the single guy a bone or two once in a while we do make up a pretty big chink of the service but pretty much get screwed over in pay and base services.  It was maybe four or five years ago I read an article in either the Stars and Stripes or maybe the okinawa paper I can't remember.  But anyways it basically said AAFES used to be run for the enlisted, they had major price breaks on everyday stuff... razors..soap... everyday stuff that everyone needs.  Now the price breaks are on big ticket items like furniture and high end electronics.  It's actually cheaper for me to buy my razors in an off base store in JAPAN which is an exremely expensive country than to buy them on base... Dont get me wrong i like big TVs and Stereos as much as the next guy but would much rather be able to save money on stuff I need everyday than big expensive stuff I cant even fit in my barracks room.....

[TheFreud]

Way to go on the thread jack.

I would prefer a price break on everyday stuff too! I get razor blades on ebay where people sell bulk lots of them for 20 bucks, instead of 10 dollars for 4 blades. So long as you have an APO/FPO address, you just need to find someone who ships using USPS.
Being one the of shoppers of the "big tickets" items... I got news for you- there are no big discounts there either.
We found a digital camcorder... it was marked down- they had put up a whole display for the sale... so we got it. Thought we got a smoking deal.... when we got home we looked it up online- found out that it was a discounintued model and AAFES was selling it for $100 bucks more than we could get it for from 5 or 6 retailers.
They aren't saving you money everyday- they are screwing with you- and taking advantage of the fact that you have no where else to go... and probably won't do the market research to find out they are bending you over daily.
I am an expert at finding things online that you need, without taking it up the poop chute- if you'd like some help, let me know.

[Moose]

No argument there, I have definately noticed that also...AAFES sells last year's technology for this years price....