Consumer Watch: Electronics ordered online can be picked up at exchanges worldwide - Military Money, Navy Money, navy pay, pay charts - Navy Times

Consumer Watch: Electronics ordered online can be picked up at exchanges worldwide

Just in time for the holidays, authorized exchange shoppers have a way to ship items containing lithium batteries overseas, such as computers, cameras, watches and other electronic products.

Customers can order these items online at www.shopmyexchange.com and arrange for them to be picked up at one of 36 exchanges in Afghanistan, Belgium, Germany, Guam, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

These items will be shipped by FedEx, so officials say shipping times will be much shorter than in the past. The policy that allows free shipping for items that cost more than $49 applies to these items, too.

As always, customers in all service branches are authorized to shop through this exchange online store.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service has been working on a way to help troops and families get these items overseas since May, when the U.S. Postal Service banned the overseas shipment of lithium batteries and electronics that contain lithium batteries in accordance with international agreements.

About 80 products on the AAFES website qualify; they are marked with a “Lithium Ship to Store” logo that you can see once you click on the item.

As of this writing, officials were working to create a list of qualifying products for customers looking specifically for electronic items that can be shipped overseas, AAFES spokesman Chris Ward said.

After selecting the product to buy, shoppers choose the country and the exchange where they would like to pick up the item. A customer service associate at that overseas exchange will email the shopper when the order arrives, officials said.

Extended holiday gift returns

If you give a gift that doesn’t fit the recipient’s style, size or taste, you’ll have more time to return it if you bought it at a military exchange. All the exchanges will accept items for refunds or exchanges through Jan. 31.

Marine Corps Exchange: Items bought from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 qualify for the extended return deadline. Computers must be returned within 45 days from date of purchase.

Navy Exchange: Items bought from Oct. 28 to Dec. 24 qualify; applies to purchases made either at brick-and-mortar stores or through www.myNavyExchange.com. Customers should bring the receipt as well as any packaging materials. If there is no receipt, refunds will be placed on a Navy exchange gift card.

AAFES: Items bought from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 qualify; applies to purchases made either at a brick-and-mortar store or through www.shopmyexchange.com. If there is no receipt, refunds will be placed on an exchange gift card.