Heavy staffing, extra signage and deep values will be evident Black Friday weekend (Nov. 25-27) — the official start of the 2016 holiday shopping season — in the Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). Ads and promos for the big weekend were released early enticing holiday shoppers like Army Sgt. Crissy Ehmer.

“My eyes are already on electronics: a PlayStation4 and a television,” Ehmer said. “The best deal that I got last year was a TV for $199 that was regularly almost three times that price. I also didn’t have to pay any taxes on the purchase. My advice to people is to get to the stores extra early to take advantage of both the savings and the benefit.”

JBM-HH AAFES General Manager William Shoffner and Marine Corps Exchange Retail Director Mary Walls said both stores’ buying teams have been working “feverishly” over the last 12 months in an effort to stay up to date with what’s currently popular on the market, and also offer the best price to customer.

Hot items to buy this year at AAFES include big screen televisions, laptops, electronic tablets and wireless headphones, Shoffner said. However, sales on boots and ladies handbags will provide shoppers additional options.

“Electronics usually dominates Black Friday in our stores, but apparel also sells well,” he said. “And for the hard to shop for customer, we offer a great selection of gift cards.”

Customers should expect limited quantity items and door busters. AAFES will not give rain checks for Black Friday items that sell out at any time during the weekend. But there is guaranteed price matching.

“We match prices year-round,” Shoffner said. “Price matches of $10 or less are matched on the spot with no ad required for identical items, and we will match anything over $10 with an ad. If you find it, we will match it.”

MCX is offering “all day” door busters to customers during Black Friday weekend. New this year, MCX unveiled “Customer Appreciation Week” (Nov. 14 – 19); six days of demos, gift card give-a-aways and promos for customers who plan to travel out of the National Capital Region during Black Friday weekend. There will also be four-days of “beat-the-rush” specials and scratch-offs Nov. 23 – 27 in conjunction with Black Friday.

“For the people who will be out of town over Thanksgiving weekend, we offered them competitive bargains and prices early on everything from electronics to fitness,” Walls said.

For people who plan to stay in the NCR they can expect bargains on electronics, appliances, housewares and children’s toys at the MCX.

“Customers can expects the latest, greatest things in those departments,” said Walls.

The MCX will not give rain checks for items that sell out and price matching will only be honored on Friday Nov. 25.

Hiring for the holidays

Both AAFES and the MCX are offering job opportunities just in time for the holidays. The need for new hires is the result of both continuous recruitment and seasonal hiring for the busy holiday shopping season.

The MCX is specifically looking to fill approximately 15 sales associate positions at Henderson Hall, said Walls. Pay will be between $9 to 9.50 per hour. To apply or to learn more, visit http://www.mccshh.com/hrjobs.html.

AAFES entry-level positions at either at the main store or the Express/Class Six at Fort Myer will also start at $9 to 9.50 per hour. To learn more or to apply, visit https://odin.aafes.com/employment/EXCHANGE_EMPLOYMENT/HTML/start.html.

AAFES is open on Black Friday from 4 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Nov. 25, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 26, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 27.

The MCX is open on Black Friday from 5 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Nov. 25, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 26, and 10 a.m. to 6p.m. on Nov. 27.

Pentagram Staff Writer Arthur Mondale can be reached at awright@dcmilitary.com.