The Exchange (formerly known as Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES)) is a joint military activity with a dual mission to provide quality merchandise and services to the military and their families at competitively low prices and to generate earning which provide dividends to support morale, welfare, and recreation programs.
In support of this mission, The Exchange sends up to four money-saving offers to military shoppers’ mobile phones each week. These offers are executed through an exclusive partnership with CrossLink Media which began in 2008. By 2010 the program was expanded from seven installations to 120 retail stores nationwide.
Exchange customers opt-in to the program by texting the keyword “AAFES” to 95613 from their mobile phone. Once opted in, participants receive regular texts with exclusive money-saving offers. Coupons are redeemed by entering a promotional code during the checkout process at http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ or while at a retail store. They can even redeem the code by providing it to a catalog representative over the phone.
The Exchange utilizes the CrossLink Media’s proprietary messaging system, MessageLink, to schedule the date and time for future messages. The MessageLink interface allows for multiple scheduled messages at once and enables updates as necessary. It is an easy way to manage the numerous offers presented to their mobile subscribers.