I have heard stories about NEX workers "hiding" items that are about to go on sale or helping their friends get access to things they set aside before a sale, but I've never experienced it. 
Just before Christmas an apparent example of this presented itself.
The Beatles Rock band video game was suddenly reduced to an unbelieveable price. Out of nowhere a woman whips in with one of those carts the workers use to stock the shelves. Those carts are not available to customers.  She dumped almost every single game onto this cart. Seriously, this was ridiculous. How many kids does this woman know?  We didn't get one of the games because apparently we were not part of the NEX mafia that takes care of its own.
We approached the manager who was no help. Heck all they had to do was put a limit per customer and that would have given people a fighting chance. Only a fool would  think it was a "coincidence" that this woman had a NEX cart only workers use and just "happened" to be right on the same isle just the same moment they lowered the price.
It isn't right and the NEX needs to monitor this type of activity and cut loose people who are using their jobs for "insider" access to sale items.

Omg I think I saw that person- well I saw the cart outside as I was walking to my car- and did a double take- there were no less than 5 Beatle Rock bands with the big pink NEX sticker on them. Who the heck can play 5 Rock bands at once? And you're right, it wasn't a normal cart, she had one of the ones the store uses to move big stuff.

You people need to whip out cell phones & start posting pictures online. Maybe someone, somehow will be shamed into taking action. This has been going on, to my specific knowledge, for at least 20 years. Ridiculous.

Yeah those things will be put on ebay or sent to the "country of origin" of the Mafia members for resale. I wonder if that is what happened when they had the $100 Xbox sale. It is so common that this type of thing happens I didnt even bother to go over there and look, cause you just KNOW you wont get one.

Please call the Inspector General and report this event. The most direct option is DSN 312-288-2346 (CNIC IG).
Only the people that witnessed the act can report it. This is criminal, and defrauding the sailors and families of the oft referred to "benefit" of the NEX. My wife had the same problem with a good deal on a DVD/LCD TV combo, reported it to the manager and got nothing but mouth breathing in response. Don't waste your time there, think it is time to clean house and your type of observation is extremely valuable in restoring integrity for a while.

We all know calling can be a real pain, so you can also reach the IG at - CNIC_IG_HOTLINE.FCT@navy.mil

I wish I had thought to take a photo. The cart was outside by the ATM line, I had to dodge it. At first I thought it was NEX employees delivering goods, but then I saw the big "purchased" Stickers on them all.

Posted By Tirani on 12-31-2010 10:36 PM
I wish I had thought to take a photo. The cart was outside by the ATM line, I had to dodge it. At first I thought it was NEX employees delivering goods, but then I saw the big "purchased" Stickers on them all.

Yeah, I think we need a "Wall of Shame" section of JB.  There are many other discussions that suggested posting photos: People parking in the "moms" parking spot who are not moms.  Uniform infractions.  NEX abuse.

But then I suppose Adam would get in trouble for "good order & discipline" infractions if he allowed this.

Oh yeah ThaiGuy I am sure he would get in trouble. The person who is being "shamed" would anonymously complain, and the base would say "we have appropriate channels to report this kind of thing", and that would be the end of that cause it makes the base look bad. I think we are all aware there are channels to report stuff, but with no action seen as a result of reporting, people just dont even bother anymore. As you have said not like this is a secret, it has been going on so long that the people doing it now are second generation offenders.

Maybe what needs to be done is somehow but a ration on said items...In Korea, you have a special card to shop and you are limited to how many of one said item you can get.
This is BS.....I was in the nex asking for the liquid stuff you put in a humidifier and I was told we had it out...and I said when for one hour b/c i haven't seen it and I visit on a regular basis...so now I order online or beg my mother to buy for me at walmart and mail it over....
This is ridiculous and I am sick of it....I don't have family down there and I don't ship to anyone else....all items purchased at the nex are for my family members living here with me....
But I do think the wall of shame is a good idea....at least so you can email it to the appropriate people
getting off my soap box now

Posted By Jenn on 01-01-2011 5:55 PM
Maybe what needs to be done is somehow but a ration on said items...In Korea, you have a special card to shop and you are limited to how many of one said item you can get. 

Be careful what you ask for...  Yeah, they could ration stuff, but there's a huge downside to that.  There are many times when you might have a legitimate need for something, then they say sorry, it's rationed. 

It would be so much better if people would just follow the rules, esp the employees.  Don't set stuff aside for friends & staff, and don't buy stuff for resale which is HUGELY illegal.  Two or three very public busts along these lines would go a long way towards solving the problem.

I could see if she was buying two maybe three --for family, ya' know? Buy five plus? C'mon, we all know what's happening there.

I blame management. They can't be blind to that crap ALL the time. The customers know it's going on, so...

Maybe not post a picture here but at least take one and send it in with your complaint. A picture with the story should hopefully have them take notice more because they know you're not embellishing in anyway and there is proof other here-say.

Posted By Elizabeth on 01-01-2011 8:46 PM

Maybe not post a picture here but at least take one and send it in with your complaint. A picture with the story should hopefully have them take notice more because they know you're not embellishing in anyway and there is proof other here-say.

that's a real good idea. Plus you could post the details here (without the pic) and tell who you reported it to (Fraud, Waste & Abuse or whatever), then post any response you get from them. Maybe there'd be a way to clean up the community that way.

I was thinking along the same lines, Thaiguy. People should post what they complained about and any response they get about it. Maybe one day we'll have a high level management read the thread and get pissed enough to try to do a major crackdown --proof all laid out in one nice thread.

They shouldn't be allowed to purchase items at the NEX. Both of my parents worked for AAFES on post back in the states and they're not allowed to purchase items. Both of them were in the service prior to working there and didn't complain. I have no sympathy for them.

This is apparently true, I was told this by another customer, that the best way to know when stuff is going on sale is to look behind the customer service counter where they put the stuff that they want to purchase or hold it for their friends. So reporting to a manager is a waste of time because they know very well what's going on. It's very unfair.

I was in the kids store the other day and a group of ladies were stocking one of the ladies tells the other "oh i like that put it back in the box so i can get it" then they saw me and no more clearance came out. I'm just wondering is this why I hardly ever find any baby clothing on clearance ?

You bet sweetie! and when they have sales on coach, guess, and any name brand items.

Thai~According to my friend, the ration is nothing crazy and everyone who qualifies gets a card...you buy what you need for your family and no more...but I think it's on things like tooth paste and other hygiene items...apparently toys aren't on ration...but I kinda like the idea...I should not have to spend extra money on simple items and ask my mom to mail them to me...cost me and her three times the amount when we are done...Ebay has become my friend and that's very sad....I see it happen in the commissary as well...I mean realy people, how much of one item do you really need? I only have so much storage and trust me it's not nearly enough to stock pile even a month's supply of things for a family of 5.

Here we go again. Has somebody reported this to IG or the waste, fraud and abuse people? Sitting around complaining about it isn't going to get anywhere.

The nex mafia has no souls.

Ration cards would be a pain in the ass. We had them in Europe and it really is a hassle. Even for hygiene items. Often they are out of what i use so when I find an item I like in stock I buy quite a few because God only knows when they get it back in stock.
Why punish customers?

How about punishing the workers who "SAVE" things for their "friends"?

Most of the directors of programs read this site. I have no doubt NEX executives read this site. Time to actually DO SOMETHING about the mini mafia you have going on in the Yokosuka NEX.

Posted By hippies smell on 01-03-2011 7:28 PM

Most of the directors of programs read this site. I have no doubt NEX executives read this site. Time to actually DO SOMETHING about the mini mafia you have going on in the Yokosuka NEX.

I don't know what these senior managers are afraid of.  In fact, the mafia has been around for over 20 years, it CAN be broken but it would take firm resolve and commitment. Anyone tackling this issue would become the Hero of Yokosuka -- if they could survive the employee harassment/discrimination claims that would be sure to follow.

Have any of you ever worked retail?

Well I have in the past. I think one of the benefits of working for a major dept store, is to be able to reap some of the benefits with discounts, and holding a few big ticket items during the holidays aside for employees first. It happens everywhere. All over the states, especially during the holidays.

I used to work for Circuit City way back in the day. I remember new items coming in and all the employees getting 3-5 of them off to the side for their friends, family members, etc... Did I think it was wrong? No... Do I think its wrong that it happens onbase? No...

Things like that happens.

Certainly a novel way of looking at it. Of course, when there's only one game in town (NEX) with generally limited inventory, it's a huge shift in power. It's not like you can shop around at Target, Walmart, Best Buy, etc. Also considering the Exchange is a community resource -- not a for-profit, private enterprise. NEX is not intended for the personal advantage of the employees and their friends who may or may not be authorized patrons. It is here specifically for the benefit of all authorized members of the community.

Yes Adam, I have worked in retail...extensivly...at multiple chain retail establiments....at Christmas. I can tell you that it was a termination level offense to shop while at work or outside of normal store hours. You were required to "punch out" and change out of your uniform during normal business hours for a break, or come in on your day off to go and shop. WHen shopping, you had to follow the rules that customers followed. Meaning you could not bring unpurchased items into the back room or use a store dolly to haul your lot around. Loss prevention tracked the employees and I saw one person fired. If it was a hot item, you might not get fired but you were highly encouraged to only buy one. But hey, that was 5-10 years ago, I'm sure businesses have warmed up to the idea of employee's being more important than customers...

Posted By McSpouse on 01-04-2011 7:43 AM
Yes Adam, I have worked in retail...extensivly...at multiple chain retail establiments....at Christmas. I can tell you that it was a termination level offense to shop while at work or outside of normal store hours. You were required to "punch out" and change out of your uniform during normal business hours for a break, or come in on your day off to go and shop. WHen shopping, you had to follow the rules that customers followed. Meaning you could not bring unpurchased items into the back room or use a store dolly to haul your lot around. Loss prevention tracked the employees and I saw one person fired. If it was a hot item, you might not get fired but you were highly encouraged to only buy one. But hey, that was 5-10 years ago, I'm sure businesses have warmed up to the idea of employee's being more important than customers...

I totally have to agree with your statement here. I as well worked in retail and it was policy that you could be terminated for shopping on the clock, placing unpaid items in the back or behind counters for yourself or others, and also to purposefully hold off on markdowns until your family/friends were present. I as well have seen people fired for this very thing. I for one have major problems with this exchange....not just with items being saved but with their id check policies and alarm policies. I think in every aspect they and their families/friends are treated differently. I just think this behavior would be unacceptable in any other department store, but for some reason it is widely accepted not just at this exchange but those of the 10 other bases I have lived on or visited in the past. Shame on the Mafia!

I have seen these things as well, This is ridiculous. I am sure since the NEX is a Navy run establishment there is sure to be a massive amount of instructions behind it. Someone should ask to see their SOP. or see if its posted online some. When you bring this to some ones attn bring the rules with you. I have been in the navy 4 years and have learned that the rules work both ways. And they only hurt the person who doesnt know

The policies that McSpouse mentions are very common-sense, focused on the precise problems at the NEX. MANAGERS, ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?? WE KNOW YOU'RE HERE. WE KNOW YOU'RE READING THIS!!! If an employee wants to stock up on a good deal, they can clock out on their lunch break, shift uniform, and shop to their hearts delight. Properly enforced, this is about as fair as it can get.

@Missy: "it is widely accepted not just at this exchange but those of the 10 other bases I have lived on or visited in the past." I'm sure this is true at the bases you have visited; I'd just like to go on record as saying I have seen NO evidence of it at the MCEX in Iwakuni. I have no idea how or why it is different here, but I've never seen any such complaint. It's little things like this that make it so nice to be stationed in Iwakuni.

I think the little Mafia at the NEX and on the boats need to be stopped.

I worked on base in food service in Everett and had a problem with the "mafia" there. I complained to my supervisor, which was part of the mafia, to his supervisor which was also part of the mafia. I eventually found a new job with the city and quit my Navy job because of their lack of helping one who was not one of them.

I think it's awful that people would do this at the NEX or any store for that fact.

If you get caught, it should be severly punished and the loss of ever working at a NEX again.

It's like shoplifting, because in a way you are "stealing".

Shame on the mafia.

It may happen in stores in the states, but THEY are NOT subsidised by the govt and considered a BENEFIT to those customers who are eligible because of their service to the nation. Plain and simple. It is wrong.

Do NEX employees get a discount? Like I got 20% when I worked retail --they should, right?

My daughter works for the NEX. Employees do not get a discount. Some employees are also ID card holding family members authorized to shop at the NEX. I'm not saying the NEX doesn't have issues, just remember some of the employees are also dependents and have a right to shop too.

The employees may have a right to shop there just like anyone else,,, but they DO NOT have the right to grab or set aside things before they are on sale giving them an unfair advantage over other eligible customers. All eligible customers should have an EQUAL chance to take advantage or sales or limited items. The NEX is subsidized for ALL of us not just the Nex mafia.

My friend needed cyan ink for her printer and an NEX clerk offered to sell her some from her private stash. She whipped opened her desk drawer and it was filled to the brim with the ink cartridges that were not available on the shelves.

Posted By AimHigh on 01-22-2011 10:22 PM
My friend needed cyan ink for her printer and an NEX clerk offered to sell her some from her private stash. She whipped opened her desk drawer and it was filled to the brim with the ink cartridges that were not available on the shelves.

Whaaatttttttt? Please tell me that was reported.

of course it wasn't reported. people would rather sit on this website and complain. and the base superiors would rather just sit back, lurk, and do nothing.

Re the Ink... ARE YOU KIDDING!! Seriously??? They are ALWAYS out of my printer ink. I would be so mad if this was true.

A while ago the NEX had a sale on a certain Nikon Camera. The NEX Advert said it went on sale on XXXXX day, so I I got there on that day and was the first or second customer in the store and went straight to the Camera section.
I asked the Pinoy working there if I could see that Nikon Camera. He said "It's sold out".
How can you sell out of an item 1 minute after it goes on sale. That was a classic case of the NEX Bamboo Mafia hooking each other up.

LMBO@ciscowyse....I see it all the time with the Mafia or other cultures....most of the time I have to order online b/c it's sold out in the store....by the time it gets here I have paid twice the amount that what the store was charging...I so would have reported that Nex worker....that's just wrong and to think they could run their own little store...I mean really?

By Mafia I am guessing you mean Pinoys?
Yes, its sad but true they have gotten so entrenched in the NEX.
That's why I take my business elsewhere. I am sick of them.
The NEX loves cheap labor which is why they hire the "fake Japanese" for many MLC positions.
By "fake Japanese"I mean the Pinoys that married Japanese and got a Permanent Residence Visa and now qualify as "Japanese".
The benefit for NEX being they don't need to pat COLA, etc.
I think they should sack the lot of them and hire people that are genetically Japanese for MLC positions....... I mean it is their country after all.

He just visited old threads just to bash the Filipinos. LOL @ genetically Japanese. I hope your not in the Navy since it is pretty obvious that you are racist.

Chuckles,
I am not "racist" at all. I do find it funny that Filipinos have most of the jobs at the NEX and food courts and you call me racist for pointing out that fact.
However, I do dislike individuals or groups that cut backroom deals with people of their own race and generally take a xenophobic attitude toward  hiring, promoting etc.
This doesn't seem to be only my opinion, but shared by more than a few other people on Yokosuka.
It's fairly safe to say that the majority of workers at the NEX and food courts come from one geographical location.
I find that rather odd and I don't care if they come from the PI or from Denmark or Zimbabwe. If you have one of those groups getting all or most of the jobs then red flags need to be raised.

Regarding your snipe about "genetically Japanese".
What's wrong with Japanese being hired over non-Japanese/Foreign Permanent Residents as MLCs?
Did you forget which country Yokosuka is in?

Posted By Ciscowyse on 09-12-2011 6:33 PM
Chuckles,
I am not "racist" at all.
However, I do dislike individuals or groups that cut backroom deals with people of their own race and generally take a xenophobic attitude toward  hiring, promoting etc.
This doesn't seem to be opinion of others but more than a few people on Yokosuka.
It's fairly safe to say that the majority of workers at the NEX and food courts come from one geographical location.
I find that rather odd and I don't care if they come from the PI or from Denmark or Zimbabwe. If you have one of those groups getting all or most of the jobs then red flags need to be raised.

Did you just get dumped by a Filipino girl?  Just curious since every post I have seen you make made reference to Filipinos in general.  But on to the point, I agree that the service at the American Grill was pretty bad, the women were too busy jibber-jabbering to take orders half the time, so no sweat on my brow that they are gone.  In the main NEX and the Fleet-Rec, I have had no problems with any of the workers there.  Guess I have been lucky so far.  The Autoport is crap, but I think it is more of an afterthought.

Posted By AegisFC1 on 09-12-2011 6:42 PM

Did you just get dumped by a Filipino girl?  Just curious since every post I have seen you make made reference to Filipinos in general.  But on to the point, I agree that the service at the American Grill was pretty bad, the women were too busy jibber-jabbering to take orders half the time, so no sweat on my brow that they are gone.  In the main NEX and the Fleet-Rec, I have had no problems with any of the workers there.  Guess I have been lucky so far.  The Autoport is crap, but I think it is more of an afterthought.

Nope, Didnt' get dumped by a Filipino..... why? Did you? I dated one a long time ago though.
Most of my posts on here have been directed in the same general direction due to the fact that there was some "drama" concerning them today at the NEX.
I did a search on this forum for NEX and found several threads, not started by me, concerning the NEX, Filipinos, bad service etc.
Like anyone else on here I am allowed to post my experiences and opinions.

The service at the American Grill was bad and should have been dealt with sooner since I know several individuals that put in ICE comments months ago and no action was taken that rectified the problem until recently.

The main NEX and commissary I and several folks I know have had problems as stated in other posts and threads.

Ihaven't had any issues at the Autoport yet..... 

Oh my, it's time for The Commodore to chime in here with a few words of wisdom. I will make every attempt to not be too verbose. In my travels throughout the seven seas I have often noted that MWR's and NEX's on all the military bases face a similar problem, to wit: they tend to employ the local populace with low-paying, entry-level, low-skill, positions. Then they put them in charge of all the money! You do the math and you will find that the temptation is always there, stealing is wrong, and the racism is entirely unnecessary my good JB peeps. It's a "supply-demand" situation for employers in the available people in the hiring pool. They just have to conduct more spot-checks, audits, increase security cameras, maybe even revert back to the Security Guy walking around. That is all ...

Posted By Ciscowyse on 09-12-2011 6:52 PM

Posted By AegisFC1 on 09-12-2011 6:42 PM

Did you just get dumped by a Filipino girl?  Just curious since every post I have seen you make made reference to Filipinos in general.  But on to the point, I agree that the service at the American Grill was pretty bad, the women were too busy jibber-jabbering to take orders half the time, so no sweat on my brow that they are gone.  In the main NEX and the Fleet-Rec, I have had no problems with any of the workers there.  Guess I have been lucky so far.  The Autoport is crap, but I think it is more of an afterthought.

Nope, Didnt' get dumped by a Filipino..... why? Did you? I dated one a long time ago though.
Most of my posts on here have been directed in the same general direction due to the fact that there was some "drama" concerning them today at the NEX.
I did a search on this forum for NEX and found several threads, not started by me, concerning the NEX, Filipinos, bad service etc.
Like anyone else on here I am allowed to post my experiences and opinions.

The service at the American Grill was bad and should have been dealt with sooner since I know several individuals that put in ICE comments months ago and no action was taken that rectified the problem until recently.

The main NEX and commissary I and several folks I know have had problems as stated in other posts and threads.

Ihaven't had any issues at the Autoport yet..... 

You are correct, you are allowed to post what you want on here, communist China this is not.  It just appears to me that you are generalizing all Filipinos as lazy or untrustworthy, which you know not all of them are.  But if you want to keep going on then what ever floats your boat.  

Ding, ding, ding, Mr. Commodore.

Posted By Commodore Perry on 09-12-2011 6:54 PM
Oh my, it's time for The Commodore to chime in here with a few words of wisdom. I will make every attempt to not be too verbose. In my travels throughout the seven seas I have often noted that MWR's and NEX's on all the military bases face a similar problem, to wit: they tend to employ the local populace with low-paying, entry-level, low-skill, positions. Then they put them in charge of all the money! You do the math and you will find that the temptation is always there, stealing is wrong, and the racism is entirely unnecessary my good JB peeps. It's a "supply-demand" situation for employers in the available people in the hiring pool. They just have to conduct more spot-checks, audits, increase security cameras, maybe even revert back to the Security Guy walking around. That is all ...

I will agree with most of what you say, however, the customer service in the NEX Yokosuka has to be the worst I have ever encountered in Japan..... and I have been to all the NEX stores in this country.

Posted By AegisFC1 on 09-12-2011 7:00 PM

You are correct, you are allowed to post what you want on here, communist China this is not.  It just appears to me that you are generalizing all Filipinos as lazy or untrustworthy, which you know not all of them are.  But if you want to keep going on then what ever floats your boat.  

Hmmm never said they were lazy or dishonest....... your words not mine.
I have MANY Filipino friends from Misawa to Okinawa and more than a few agree that Yokosuka NEX/Commissary has some "unusual" hiring practices.