Beer prices no Joke

[JsPop1]

This is my letter to AAFES.;

To whom it may concern,

First let me introduce myself, my name is Bob and I live in Okinawa Japan.

Over the last several months many people stand around and talk about the outrageousness of the price of gas. I will concur, especially since there is to federal tax, state tax or even sales tax imposed on it. No matter how you slice it, AAFES is price gouging and spinning it to make it sound good.

That is not why I am writing. I am writing about the clearly overlooked beer issue. Yes I am serious. AAFES over the last 6 months has systematically raised the price of beer to where it now stands at $17.30~$19.00 a case. By beer I am referring to Bud Light and Budweiser, Anheuser-Busch Products. Miller beer has been on sale for two years. (I’m told that is about to change by the way). I talked to the AB representative here and he told me AAFES is still only charged $7.80 a case for AB beer, add 20 cents or so for bottles.(It’s been this way for almost two years) They are tacking on roughly ten dollars a case for every case they sell. That is an astronomical amount of profit that AAFES is making from its men and women in uniform for supporting their country.

The most amazing part of this story, and I swear its true is that when Anheuser-Busch met with AAFES Pac Rim a week or so ago, they asked how they could get away with this and AAFES replied that no one has complained. Well I’m complaining, AAFES consider this the first complaint and all of my friends, please do so as well. Even if it is brief or just copy and paste this one, please send them something and pass this along to everyone you know. As I mentioned, Millers price is about to go up too, so everyone will be affected.

PS. Feel free to check out the details of my story. For the sake of privacy I will not mention their names, but if you are interested in checking then it won’t be hard to track them down.

The bad news is that you need to be able to log onto AAFES website to use their customer comment form the good news is that you can click on ICE for any base and click down to an AAFES shopette or class six to forward this.

PLEASE DO SO!

I hope to have a nice cold one with all of you soon.

Bud Light Swear Jar, its F*****G Funny:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5zhP4sMzHN0

In a related note, I went to Foster Class six today. Bud Light $14.80 a case. Coincidence?

[dk]

Welcome to the forums JsPop. Glad you could make it. And glad you got around to posting this on our forums. :) I'm looking forward to reading the responses you get.

I edited your paragraphs just to make this a little more readable just because I really like what you're doing with this post. :) I hope it's not a problem. I don't usually edit people's posts but I really like what you have to say here.

And that commercial had me and my dad laughing so hard at my office this afternoon.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Good luck on your campaign, JSpop.

And welcome to the forums.

[JsPop1]

Thanks for the welcome guys!

[DoctorP]

If you picked up a copy of the S&S for Monday, it had a large page 3 story about the increase in beer prices at AAFES.

Story Here! (http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=46759)

[TheNoNamedOne]

Any criticisms and suspicions about it like we have seen here? Did they address the hostile reaction to it?

[DoctorP]

Any criticisms and suspicions about it like we have seen here? Did they address the hostile reaction to it?

There was a little. One man was quoted in the article, and they compared the AAFES prices with those of NEX. Not a great story, but at least it put the information out there for others to see.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Well, as long as my Corona off base doesn't rise much higher in price. Sorry for all you on base shoppers, but still you are getting a great bargain compared to us.

A few years ago we went to eat at the Kadena Marina, and I just about crapped when I saw on the menu that a Corona was like $1.50. Went back a few more times for the cheap Corona, but stopped going because they didn't have any full course set dinner that was vegetarian. Had to keep ordering the little dishes of beans, potatos, or whatnot. I think I got more calories from the Corona.

[DoctorP]

Well I don't buy beer on base anyway...but I used to! The only time I buy it now is if we are having a big party. But with prices rising, I can almost buy it cheaper in town.

I've pretty much switched from beer anyway.

[JsPop1]

She did a pretty good job in her article trying to keep it unbiased.
I understand how you guys can feel, I've lived here for twenty two years and have only worked on base for the last eight. I didn't plan to be forty and pissed off about the prices of beer on base. But after awhile, something happens then you do this then that and next thing you know you work on base with a 401K. If you can avoid it, I wish you well!

[JsPop1]

BTW, I just sent her another email, I hope she does more with it.
Pretty Quick turnaround I think, if you look at when this all started!

[TheNoNamedOne]

I've lived here for twenty two years and have only worked on base for the last eight. I didn't plan to be forty and pissed off about the prices of beer on base. But after awhile, something happens then you do this then that and next thing you know you work on base with a 401K. If you can avoid it, I wish you well!

What a great line! Seems almost like an epiphany.

Good post JsPop! Love the honesty.

[mikersoft]

Sorry to bump a 6 month old thread, but I'm concerned about the availability of good beer on Okinawa. No offense to Bud & Miller drinkers, but they are not my "cup of tea". Since I left Okinawa 12 years ago, I've become quite a beer connoisseur (see pic of my beer fridge). ;)

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/mikersoft/IMG_2843_2_1.jpg

I may relocate back to Okinawa next year. Is there good beer to be had? I still like Orion. IMO, it's a decent beer for a lighter style. However, I'm hoping to keep drinking a variety of beers. Cost is not a huge concern for me since I prefer quality over quantity.

-Mike

[Muku]

I may relocate back to Okinawa next year. Is there good beer to be had? I still like Orion. IMO, it's a decent beer for a lighter style. However, I'm hoping to keep drinking a variety of beers. Cost is not a huge concern for me since I prefer quality over quantity.

-Mike


Altec....has a good supply of foreign beer here in Okinawa....pricey but good.

[ja_Patriot]

Your collection seems to be concentrated on micro-brews. I've seen and drank here Corona, Heineken, Grolsch, Lowenbrau, St Pauli, Becks, Bass Ale, Guinness, and even Belgian trappiste beers, etc.. You won't get thirsty.

[ryukyuboi]

I don't buy alcohol or beer except for others. At one time, buying alcohol at the Camp Shield's package store was the cheapest place around.

[hankypanky]

beer prices are going up out in town to. the liquor store where we buy our booze had beer prices go up last month, then you just have to pass on to the customers. guess it goes together with the price of gas.

[mikersoft]

Your collection seems to be concentrated on micro-brews. I've seen and drank here Corona, Heineken, Grolsch, Lowenbrau, St Pauli, Becks, Bass Ale, Guinness, and even Belgian trappiste beers, etc.. You won't get thirsty.

Some of those aren't bad. I know the amount micro-brews in Japan isn't even close the U.S., but each time I've been back to the Tokyo area I've seen more (Hitachino Nest Beer is one that comes to mind). I wonder if some of them make it down to Okinawa.

-Mike

[Mad Hatter]

I could name or have seen not a one of the beers in your "beer box"

[Go-Shay]

I may relocate back to Okinawa next year. Is there good beer to be had? I still like Orion. IMO, it's a decent beer for a lighter style. However, I'm hoping to keep drinking a variety of beers. Cost is not a huge concern for me since I prefer quality over quantity.

-Mike

Mike have you ever considered brewing your own beer? We used to brew some pretty tasty beers.

[ja_Patriot]

Some of those aren't bad. I know the amount micro-brews in Japan isn't even close the U.S., but each time I've been back to the Tokyo area I've seen more (Hitachino Nest Beer is one that comes to mind). I wonder if some of them make it down to Okinawa.

-Mike


The ones I mentioned which I drank in Japan aren't microbrews but are all top seller brands in their own right which you can find in most supermarkets or liquor stores in the USA.

The only recognizable beer in your fridge is Amstel light but I think I can see Pete's Wicked & Saranac varieties. There are only a couple of small scale microbrews in Oki. One is can Nihide which is pretty good. The other is Helios which I haven't tasted.

However, in addition to the imports, the major Japanese brands have pretty good mainstays and seasonal beers with different degrees of malted flavors and brewing processes. You know that beer is 95% water, and the rest for (Japanese tax classification and consumer pricing purposes) is a "declared" combination of malt, hops & other ingredients. I'm sure you'll find your taste sated rather well on the island.

Cheers.

[okisteve]

I agree - even without the small microbrew selection, the Japanese beers offer a good choice.

Isn't Nihede owned by an American?

I tried Helios at the place in Naha by the same name - quite good. I like that they don't go overboard with the hops, which ruins a few microbrews for me.

Where can I buy the Belgian ales? I know they are expensive but ... wow.

[DougP]

What I like about the beers off base: The Japanese ones,

1. Prices aren't too bad.
2. 500ml cans
3. No wussy under 5% crap beers
4. I have yet to see a Japanese beer that's over a month old at the grocery store. Try that at the shoppette.:D

Seriously though the beer I buy tastes great, is 5% or greater and was usually made within a week or two of purchase.:)

[Bones]

As posted by JsPop1:

Hmm, I wish that I had read this earlier. Might have saved you some embarrassment.:rolleyes:

Over the last several months many people stand around and talk about the outrageousness of the price of gas. I will concur, especially since there is to federal tax, state tax or even sales tax imposed on it. No matter how you slice it, AAFES is price gouging and spinning it to make it sound good.

Check your spelling for one.

... especially since there is to federal....

This concerns your primary message to AAFES:

That is not why I am writing. I am writing about the clearly overlooked beer issue. Yes I am serious. AAFES over the last 6 months has systematically raised the price of beer to where it now stands at $17.30~$19.00 a case. By beer I am referring to Bud Light and Budweiser, Anheuser-Busch Products. Miller beer has been on sale for two years. (I’m told that is about to change by the way). I talked to the AB representative here and he told me AAFES is still only charged $7.80 a case for AB beer, add 20 cents or so for bottles.(It’s been this way for almost two years) They are tacking on roughly ten dollars a case for every case they sell. That is an astronomical amount of profit that AAFES is making from its men and women in uniform for supporting their country.

1. AAFES is a business. And a business exists to make money.

While they appear to make a huge profit from their earnings on the surface, a lot of the money that this business is making, is returned to the consumer, which would be any AAFES patron.

A lot of the things that you took for granted back in the states, are funded by AAFES. If you get deployed to a combat zone, AAFES will be there, to help you relax after a mission, or at least provide some of the basic services that you would be accustomed to back in a non-combat environment.

The price of gas, is determined by sending out a team of surveyors, and they gather information about the cost of gas within your living area. The average is computed, and somebody determines the price of gas on-base, as compared to off-base.

2. As far as the price of beer goes, you're making yourself out to be an alcoholic. Of all of the other prices that would be of concern, your focusing on beer. Yeah it's cheaper back in the states, but the price of shipping that beer over here, as with any other merchandise, is passed onto the consumer.

Before you ask, I'm not an AAFES employee. Used to be, but gave it up to come home to Okinawa.:D

NBTP

[DougP]

Sounds like the usual AAFES jargon to me.:D A man should have the right to bitch about the prices of anything. Why the hell should he be happy with the AAFES price hike on beer, gas or anything else? Who likes paying more for the same amount or for less? No body that's who. Quite frankly I'd rather have a Walmart or Target. AAFES could disappear and I wouldn't know the difference.

[Bones]

As posted by DougP:

Sounds like the usual AAFES jargon to me. A man should have the right to bitch about the prices of anything. Why the hell should he be happy with the AAFES price hike on beer, gas or anything else? Who likes paying more for the same amount or for less? No body that's who. Quite frankly I'd rather have a Walmart or Target. AAFES could disappear and I wouldn't know the difference.

I pretty much agree with you Doug. You can complain about anything that you want to.:cool:

People these days, could pretty much save a lot of money on gas by modifying their driving habits.Buy a smaller car (I've actually seen registered "Yellow Plates" on-base), but for the most part, the people who complain about gas prices drive large vehicles, and they tend to have a "lead foot" once they leave the base.:rolleyes:

The new people in the military, make a heck of a lot more money than I did, at their age. So, I was just thinking along the lines of if your paycheck is not big enough, try to cut back on your spending.

On the other hand, we could save a lot of money by focusing on the requirements of the guys/gals, within a combat environment. When deployed, just bring the basics, no family, no toys, and when you leave, you leave with what you came with.

NBTP

[DougP]

Funny thing is I don't drive a car anymore and I complain about the gas prices.:D That and when I wasn't making any money as a private and gas was still a bit under 1 buck per gallon.. life just seemed better.:) Oh well must be the American in me.:D And beer... well hell, its supposed to be cheap that's why its called beer and not wine.:thumbup:

[Asshat]

As far as the price of beer goes, you're making yourself out to be an alcoholic. Of all of the other prices that would be of concern, your focusing on beer. Yeah it's cheaper back in the states, but the price of shipping that beer over here, as with any other merchandise, is passed onto the consumer.

Only an alcoholic would complain about beer prices eh? Last I checked, there wasn't a maximum amount of beer one could drink. It isn't germane to the topic anyway.

“After nearly 112 years of service, this command believes that market-based pricing is one of the best ways to ensure American troops find prices they would expect to find if they were living in the United States,” an AAFES statement from headquarters in Dallas said in response to a Stars and Stripes query about beer prices."

What does this AAFES comment mean? That they are raising the prices to get people used to what they 'will" be paying in the US?

If they are a business, then perhaps the supply of the services AAFES supplies should be contracted to a government agency who is not in the buisness of making money.

I wont miss much if they don't fund the NAF. I can do without the Christmas Fests, the Flightline Fairs, and the pristine on-base clubs being built. Most of the single military folks can too.

[chiefk]

As posted by JsPop1:

Hmm, I wish that I had read this earlier. Might have saved you some embarrassment.:rolleyes:



Check your spelling for one.



This concerns your primary message to AAFES:



1. AAFES is a business. And a business exists to make money.

While they appear to make a huge profit from their earnings on the surface, a lot of the money that this business is making, is returned to the consumer, which would be any AAFES patron.

A lot of the things that you took for granted back in the states, are funded by AAFES. If you get deployed to a combat zone, AAFES will be there, to help you relax after a mission, or at least provide some of the basic services that you would be accustomed to back in a non-combat environment.

The price of gas, is determined by sending out a team of surveyors, and they gather information about the cost of gas within your living area. The average is computed, and somebody determines the price of gas on-base, as compared to off-base.

2. As far as the price of beer goes, you're making yourself out to be an alcoholic. Of all of the other prices that would be of concern, your focusing on beer. Yeah it's cheaper back in the states, but the price of shipping that beer over here, as with any other merchandise, is passed onto the consumer.

Before you ask, I'm not an AAFES employee. Used to be, but gave it up to come home to Okinawa.:D

NBTP

AAFES has gone downhill in the last 20 years and it is now a worthless benefit except for convenience overseas. Their prices are grossly inflated on just about everything. Tell me what does the price of gas off base have to do with anything about the price on base? This survey stuff is a bunch of crap! In the states they now do the same thing with the price of cigarettes and beer. The price AAFES charges has nothing to do with their cost of goods or labor, just how much they can rip off the GI for and get away with it.
By the way AAFES does not pay any shipping charges from the states to Okinawa for their merchandise so don't use that as an excuse for their rip off prices.
AAFES was not invented to be a business to make a profit but rather a service to underpaid GIs. That is why it is subsidized by taxpayer dollars on overseas shipping costs. I am now retired and living in the states and do almost all shopping downtown since Wal-Mart and other stores beat the BX prices 99% of the time. I spent 13 years in the Far East between 1968-1990 and the BX used to be a real good deal for us, but no more. I would say that it was in the 80's when it started going bad and now is awful. They should close down the whole operation and turn it over to Wal-Mart!!

[FDokinawa]

Friend of mine had to do one of those manditory "meetings" with a general that came to okinawa a few months ago and someone asked him about AAFES and the gas prices. General pretty much said that AAFES is doing to help fund the war.. and if you think about when they started changing their polices on both gas, beer, cigeretts and other commonly bought items. It makes sense.. a lot more than the crap they've been trying to tell us.

[Galina]

very interesting. just found it. beer is more expensive in the u.s than there. okinawa. but then this thread might be 10 yrs old so blah.

[Cathleen_38]

Good thing I don't drink as much as I used to!! I'll save money instead of spending it when I get there. It's just a matter of time and money.

[Cathleen_38]

what's the price of Orion Beer and San Miguel? when I was there it was like
Y100 per a bottle. I'll bet it's ten times that amount now.
FYI - Orion Beer is $3.00 a bottle at Trader Joe's in the states.
that's pretty high for a bottle of beer when you go to a bar,
the average beer is 1.75 or less depending on where you go,
in the states. Okinawa I imagine is much different.

[chiefk]

Friend of mine had to do one of those manditory "meetings" with a general that came to okinawa a few months ago and someone asked him about AAFES and the gas prices. General pretty much said that AAFES is doing to help fund the war.. and if you think about when they started changing their polices on both gas, beer, cigeretts and other commonly bought items. It makes sense.. a lot more than the crap they've been trying to tell us.

How in the hell does AAFES selling gas at a high price and putting the profit into their employees pay and retirement accounts have anything to do with funding a war??
What a bunch of crap answer!!!
I wish i would have been at that meeting, this old crusty Air Force Chief would have put the General on the spot.

[a_bjyrd]

I think this a good issue to address...

[FDokinawa]

How in the hell does AAFES selling gas at a high price and putting the profit into their employees pay and retirement accounts have anything to do with funding a war??
What a bunch of crap answer!!!
I wish i would have been at that meeting, this old crusty Air Force Chief would have put the General on the spot.

I'm sure that General and all AAFES employees will deny that was ever said. The government probably told AAFES.. "we need more money, make it happen." and matching stateside gas and beer prices was the easiest thing they could come up with. You really think millions of dollars is going to MWR?

[FDokinawa]

what's the price of Orion Beer and San Miguel? when I was there it was like
Y100 per a bottle. I'll bet it's ten times that amount now.
FYI - Orion Beer is $3.00 a bottle at Trader Joe's in the states.
that's pretty high for a bottle of beer when you go to a bar,
the average beer is 1.75 or less depending on where you go,
in the states. Okinawa I imagine is much different.

Again, you might really want to stay in the states if you think $3 a beer is expensive. You pay $3 for a coke at most bars over here.. average for a beer is probably around $5.

[a_bjyrd]

lol yeah it is way to expensive to go out to the bars here....not sure how much it costs to buy a case though

[chiefk]

I'm sure that General and all AAFES employees will deny that was ever said. The government probably told AAFES.. "we need more money, make it happen." and matching stateside gas and beer prices was the easiest thing they could come up with. You really think millions of dollars is going to MWR?

I don't thiink the money is going back to the US treasury. It is going somewhere though, maybe high paid AAFES executives?? Nobody cares though so nothing will happen! It's just a shame that the GI is the one getting ripped off.

[Asshat]

Fund the war....what a joke. Seriously though, they are doing a good job of funding NAF. NAF agencies are the only entities associated with the US Gov who aren't hurting financially.

[FDokinawa]

I don't thiink the money is going back to the US treasury. It is going somewhere though, maybe high paid AAFES executives?? Nobody cares though so nothing will happen! It's just a shame that the GI is the one getting ripped off.

it might not be going to buy bullets or trucks, but im sure that all the new Burger Kings and PX's in Iraq wernt paid for by the military.. they were paid for by us via higer gas prices.

I just wish they would tell us the real reason they are messing with the gas priceses and stop feeding us that BS about getting sticker shock when you change duty stations and go back to the states.

[mikersoft]

Mike have you ever considered brewing your own beer? We used to brew some pretty tasty beers.

I've thought about it, but it's always been too easy to keep the fridge stocked with plenty of tasty brews. That may change one day...

-Mike

[saleof9]

<3An Southern BBQ/Steak/ribs type of place with a micro brewery (house brew) of a lager and a either a dark lager or an ale depending on the season. I wouldn't go in with the idea of making money, but I would try to break even-my time being free.

Not that I haven't thought about this before. The initital investment isn't so bad, it's the recurring costs while building up a customer base that would be financially tasking.