Action line 80703 - Blackmarketing

  • Published
  • By Anonymous
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Complaint:

My question is about Black-Marketing. It seems that we are always being told that we can only buy a certain amount of certain products (i.e. personal hygiene products, dog food and baby products) but this doesn't apply to the Turkish people who shop at our BX and do not have a ID card.

It seems as if AAFES is actually contributing to Black Marketing. I observed two instances where there was wrong-doing in a AAFES facility. Three individuals, two Turkish women who used to work at the souvenir stand in the food court, who seem to just hang out at the BX now, and the gentleman that works at the cell phone place buy not two Old Spice Deodorants but six of them.

Of course the cashier was Turkish and they seemed to be having a friendly conversation and she rung them up as I stood there and watched. Yes I could have pointed out that it was wrong but after I left they would have purchased them anyways. The other one is a well known person from Aydins Furniture store buying stuff at the Shopette.

Also if the base is so concerned about Black Marketing why is some of the TAF allowed to go in and shop without regard to what they buy and how much of it. I have seen where it was about five or six people that were shopping with TAF personnel and had carts just loaded with stuff. Its very frustrating to know that retirees can't shop in some places here on base and they served their country, the Turks did not.

I have seen where it is recommended that we say something to the manager and make them aware but either he isn't hearing the complaints or he doesn't want to deal with the problem. Maybe the cashiers should be trained on how to turn away customers who aren't authorized to shop and maybe the Turkish General should be asked to tell his folks that they are not authorized to shop in our AAFES facilities.

Another resolution is to do what I have seen at other BXs, which is when you get to the door of the BX you have to show your valid ID card to go in. If you don't have a valid ID card you have to be signed in by someone who is and they are responsible for that individual.

It's unfair to tell us we can only buy a limited amount of stuff and then say it's okay for people who are not authorized to shop there and buy whatever they want of whatever quantity and can do so without any problems. I understand this is their base but AAFES is our facility and our only facility to shop for things we need.

What can or will be done so that maybe we will not have this problem anymore?

Response:

Thank you for highlighting this issue; it is one we continually monitor. Blackmarketing is a crime and punishment by Turkish and American authorities is severe. In Turkish courts, the punishment can be up to 15 years imprisonment.

There are two primary ways of combating blackmarketing: education and enforcement. We educate by the methods you've mentioned: CAC, news articles and newcomer's briefings, to name a few. We enforce by checking ID cards at the time of purchase, with the exception of those in uniform, this procedure replaced the ID card checker/ greeter position. Initial training on this procedure is conducted with each new hire and periodic refresher training is provided to all staff members. I have initiated another round of training to ensure we maintain complete compliance with this law.

If you observe a cashier not asking for identification or selling to an unauthorized shopper, I ask you notify the management immediately. Please provide as many details as you can. Remember some Turkish personnel are authorized to shop at the BX, including the 10th Tanker Base commander and his spouse, and Turkish dependents that are authorized ID card holders.

Blackmarketing is a serious crime that impacts us all. Thank you for sharing our interest in eliminating it.