Why should I store at the commissary?
It seems a lot of people avoid the commissaries for whatever number of reasons or are inwards back upward of them for the "Government shutdown," in addition to Military.com's 2013 article, "Commissary Cuts Remain Likely"), dissimilar exchanges which operate on non-appropriated funding. The prices at the commissary also reverberate a 5% surcharge on each purchase. Question in addition to answer on the DeCA webpage, "why does DeCA brand me pay a surcharge on my commissary purchase?"
According to the DeCA Working Capital Fund Fiscal Year 2000/2001 Biennial Budget Estimates Operating Budget, page 3, "Commissary operating hours in addition to days are determined yesteryear sales, patron demographics, in addition to local installation needs. Due to funding limitations, commissaries are opened upward an average of 48 hours a week." The same study estimates on page 22 that an average grocery store is opened upward roughly 117 hours a week, but to compare the differences betwixt commissary hours in addition to average grocery store hours. While the commissary oftentimes has express hours, they by in addition to large opened upward their doors a one-half hr earlier the cash registers are open. This is rattling convenient for me when shopping amongst the kids. I tin give notice attain my shopping when the commissary is nonetheless relatively empty in addition to acquire to the cash registers correct when they open, making for a speedy depository fiscal establishment check out. Even so, the express shopping hours are oftentimes inconvenient for my family. The commissary opens later on than most other surface area grocery stores. On weekends when nosotros are making large pancake breakfasts in addition to run out of an ingredient, it is oftentimes earlier the commissary is open. Or when my married adult man calls on his agency dwelling from schoolhouse in addition to I desire him to swing yesteryear the commissary for something, it is oftentimes when the commissary is closing or correct before, forcing him to purpose a different grocery store. And but similar the Chick-Fil-A police (anyone else only crave Chick-Fil-A on Sundays?), nosotros inevitably take away something from the commissary on the solar daytime it is closed.
The previous quote from the DeCA Working Capital Fund Fiscal Year 2000/2001 Biennial Budget Estimates Operating Budget
brings upward a rattling valid point: "Commissary operating hours in addition to days are determined yesteryear sales, patron demographics, in addition to local installation needs." This is where the responsibleness falls on us, the commissary shoppers. If nosotros aren't shopping at our local commissaries, the hours volition proceed to acquire cutting in addition to commissaries volition proceed to close. While the commissary is non the vital lifeline for us hither inwards South Carolina every bit it was for us inwards Hawaii, shopping at CONUS locations helps keeps OCONUS locations afloat, balancing out the commissaries non-profit budget. How of import are these commissary locations to military machine families? This article on Hawaii News Now, "Milk Prices inwards Hawaii Go Up" yesteryear Beth Hillyer, outlines the prices of milk inwards Hawaii, "The highest cost nosotros found on Oahu for a gallon of whole milk was $8.99 on sale for $7.49 if you lot take away hold a value card. The cheapest was Costco for $4.99 per gallon." This article apparently doesn't include commissary prices on milk, but you lot tin give notice run into how shopping at an average grocery store inwards Hawaii for the basics starts adding up!
So where attain I stand upward on commissary prices? Do I mean value that they are always much less than shopping out inwards town? Here inwards South Carolina, no. For the volume of our household unit of measurement shopping, nosotros become to Costco (read my post, "Family diet verses household unit of measurement budget"). In general, Costco has lower prices on to a greater extent than of the staples of our family grocery list than my local commissary. Do I mean value the commissary inwards full general has lower prices than an average grocery store hither inwards South Carolina? Yes, particularly when loss leaders are non on our listing in addition to nosotros are but getting those in-between Costco trips items or pocket-size portions of things nosotros couldn't purchase at Costco (fresh herbs, for instance). Do I mean value that dealing amongst the "hassle" of the commissary is worth supporting this service to military machine families? Absolutely.
Here are a listing of mutual complaints against the commissary-- many of which are my ain complaints when compared to an average grocery store-- in addition to how I bargain amongst them to proceed to back upward this service:
1. They attain non offering online grocery shopping.
I dearest online grocery shopping, every bit I've mentioned inwards several previous weblog posts. Where nosotros alive inwards South Carolina, at that spot are no local grocery stores convenient that offering online grocery shopping, hence this genuinely isn't much of an number for me. If I had to select betwixt shopping at the commissary or placing an gild online amongst Harris Teeter... I mean value it would go a much harder alternative for me. As is, I take away hold the alternative to either become inwards to a local grocery store or to become into our commissary. I commonly select the commissary, unless it is closed or pay day.
2. Their depository fiscal establishment check out organisation is ridiculous.
Well, I agree. I attain non similar the large ole' 1 draw system. My friends without kids order me it moves fast. Standing inwards that 1 draw amongst all 3 of my kids is nigh every bit much fun every bit taking the boys amongst me to the hospital on base of operations (which I also do). Since our boys are hence immature (5-years quondam in addition to 3-years old), I solve this yesteryear going early on inwards the day, arriving when they opened upward the door, nigh one-half hr earlier the registers open. I've fifty-fifty taken them all on pay day-- totally unintentionally. I acquire our shopping done in addition to am either the get-go or mo soul inwards line. When I only take away hold 1 or 2 items I need, arriving early works swell also because I tin give notice go get-go inwards draw for self-check out in addition to nosotros genuinely are inwards in addition to out.
3. You take away hold to tip the baggers.
Maybe I'm frivolous, but this doesn't genuinely bother me. I never take away hold cash, hence I'm ever glad I tin give notice asking cash dorsum when I depository fiscal establishment check out. I by in addition to large don't similar the baggers coming out to the machine amongst me. The mini van is impossible to charge groceries inwards amongst the stroller inwards the dorsum in addition to our toddlers are ever a hot mess to charge up. Most of the time, I have them charge my groceries dorsum into my shopping cart in addition to lay a tip inwards their jar. The $1-$5 doesn't experience similar a large bargain in addition to the times I take away my hubby's machine without the kids, I similar having my groceries loaded upward for me.
4. The commissary is so... dark.
Yeah, it isn't brilliant in addition to fancy similar Harris Teeter or Whole Foods. But neither is Costco. It may non take away hold the upscale look, but it does the job. This is our quaternary duty station; we've shopped at all different types of grocery stores across the country. The commissary but genuinely doesn't bother me.
Surcharge is applied to the full value of each commissary purchase because the Congress has mandated collection of surcharge (currently 5 percent) to pay for commissary construction, equipment in addition to maintenance. All surcharge dollars collected are returned to commissary patrons inwards the shape of continually improved commissary facilities. The amount of surcharge applied to a commissary sale transaction is shown every bit "SCG" on your sales receipt.What just does this surcharge pay for? From the DeCA Working Capital Fund Fiscal Year 2000/2001 Biennial Budget Estimates Operating Budget, page 2:
Surcharge Collections represents a 3rd major root for funding commissary operations. Surcharge Collections is a trust fund primarily funded yesteryear a 5 pct surcharge applied to patron sales at the check-out counter. This fund was established hence authorized patrons portion responsibleness for overall costs of commissary operations, including commissary supplies, equipment, utilities at CONUS locations, data management equipment in addition to support, in addition to commissary construction program. This fund also receives revenue from prompt payment discounts, the sale of used cardboard in addition to equipment, in addition to services provided to others.Page 3 of the same report outlines the differences betwixt CONUS in addition to OCONUS commissary locations in addition to the absolute importance of OCONUS locations to military machine families:
OCONUS in addition to remote locations cost to a greater extent than per dollar of sales than CONUS locations, using nigh 45 pct of available appropriated fund back upward to create 22 pct of sales. These commissaries are to a greater extent than expensive because operating in addition to back upward costs inwards unusual in addition to remote locations are higher. Many locations service small-to-medium military machine populations amongst smaller sales in addition to higher fixed costs. Additionally, at that spot are pregnant back upward costs incurred inwards providing U.S. nutrient products in addition to household items to overseas locations, e.g., shipping of $156 1 1000 1000 inwards FY 2000.
...In spite of these cost considerations, commissary operations overseas are efficient in addition to effective because DeCA’s infrastructure provides economies that are non achievable yesteryear other alternatives. The commissary organisation is also instrumental inwards reducing cost of living allowances (COLA) overseas yesteryear providing low-cost groceries.
The commissary organisation is critical inwards supporting military machine members in addition to their families overseas. This military machine population does non take away hold adequate alternative shopping available. OCONUS commissaries are to a greater extent than than a house for acquiring groceries. They are an essential "life-line" of the overseas military machine community in addition to their character of life.The full general dominion of pollex is that shopping at the commissary volition salvage you lot on average 30% than what you lot would pay at an average grocery store. The commissary also is rattling coupon friendly. Overseas commissaries fifty-fifty take away manufacturer coupons half dozen months yesteryear their expiration date. For the consummate coupon policy at the commissary, depository fiscal establishment check out this link: "The National Military Association's article, "Protecting Our Commissary Savings," states:
A military machine household unit of measurement of 4 saves $4,500 a yr when regularly using the commissary. Multiply that average savings yesteryear the number of military machine families who purpose the commissary in addition to you lot run into how effectively in addition to efficiently the $1.4 billion [appropriated funding] is used.In the About.com USMilitary "What the Recruiter Never Told You" Part xiii Military Commissaries in addition to Exchanges article yesteryear Rod Powers, he compares commissary prices amongst WalMart Super Store prices:
In training for this article, I visited a local Wal Mart "Super Store," in addition to bought $103.57 worth of groceries. I in addition to then made a listing of the items I bought in addition to traveled to Patrick AFB... At the commissary there, I priced the exact same items. According to DeCA, my commissary mouth should take away hold been around $70.00. Had I genuinely purchased the items, my mouth would take away hold been $85.52. Tack on the 5 pct surcharge, in addition to it would take away hold been $89.79. I won't count the bagger's tip, every bit Commissary baggers non only handbag your groceries but take away them exterior in addition to charge them into your car. That's worth every penny of the tip, inwards my opinion. My full discount would take away hold been 13.3 percent.Tipping at the commissary is subjective. I typically attain non acquit cash. However, when checking out at the commissary, I tin give notice asking specific dollar amounts of cash dorsum when paying amongst my debit card. The terminal fourth dimension I went to the commissary I requested $10 cash dorsum inwards the shape of 1 $5 in addition to 5 $1. The baggers at the commissary go solely off of tips in addition to are non authorities or commissary employees. I by in addition to large lay $1-$2 inwards the jounce if I attain non take away hold the baggers take away my groceries to the machine in addition to nigh $5 for a normal grocery charge if they do. $2-$5 is by in addition to large considered acceptable when tipping at the commissary. Often times I tip to a greater extent than over holidays or when I take away hold an exceptionally large or cumbersome load. Using the self-checkout at the commissary does non require tipping.
According to the DeCA Working Capital Fund Fiscal Year 2000/2001 Biennial Budget Estimates Operating Budget, page 3, "Commissary operating hours in addition to days are determined yesteryear sales, patron demographics, in addition to local installation needs. Due to funding limitations, commissaries are opened upward an average of 48 hours a week." The same study estimates on page 22 that an average grocery store is opened upward roughly 117 hours a week, but to compare the differences betwixt commissary hours in addition to average grocery store hours. While the commissary oftentimes has express hours, they by in addition to large opened upward their doors a one-half hr earlier the cash registers are open. This is rattling convenient for me when shopping amongst the kids. I tin give notice attain my shopping when the commissary is nonetheless relatively empty in addition to acquire to the cash registers correct when they open, making for a speedy depository fiscal establishment check out. Even so, the express shopping hours are oftentimes inconvenient for my family. The commissary opens later on than most other surface area grocery stores. On weekends when nosotros are making large pancake breakfasts in addition to run out of an ingredient, it is oftentimes earlier the commissary is open. Or when my married adult man calls on his agency dwelling from schoolhouse in addition to I desire him to swing yesteryear the commissary for something, it is oftentimes when the commissary is closing or correct before, forcing him to purpose a different grocery store. And but similar the Chick-Fil-A police (anyone else only crave Chick-Fil-A on Sundays?), nosotros inevitably take away something from the commissary on the solar daytime it is closed.
The previous quote from the DeCA Working Capital Fund Fiscal Year 2000/2001 Biennial Budget Estimates Operating Budget
brings upward a rattling valid point: "Commissary operating hours in addition to days are determined yesteryear sales, patron demographics, in addition to local installation needs." This is where the responsibleness falls on us, the commissary shoppers. If nosotros aren't shopping at our local commissaries, the hours volition proceed to acquire cutting in addition to commissaries volition proceed to close. While the commissary is non the vital lifeline for us hither inwards South Carolina every bit it was for us inwards Hawaii, shopping at CONUS locations helps keeps OCONUS locations afloat, balancing out the commissaries non-profit budget. How of import are these commissary locations to military machine families? This article on Hawaii News Now, "Milk Prices inwards Hawaii Go Up" yesteryear Beth Hillyer, outlines the prices of milk inwards Hawaii, "The highest cost nosotros found on Oahu for a gallon of whole milk was $8.99 on sale for $7.49 if you lot take away hold a value card. The cheapest was Costco for $4.99 per gallon." This article apparently doesn't include commissary prices on milk, but you lot tin give notice run into how shopping at an average grocery store inwards Hawaii for the basics starts adding up!
So where attain I stand upward on commissary prices? Do I mean value that they are always much less than shopping out inwards town? Here inwards South Carolina, no. For the volume of our household unit of measurement shopping, nosotros become to Costco (read my post, "Family diet verses household unit of measurement budget"). In general, Costco has lower prices on to a greater extent than of the staples of our family grocery list than my local commissary. Do I mean value the commissary inwards full general has lower prices than an average grocery store hither inwards South Carolina? Yes, particularly when loss leaders are non on our listing in addition to nosotros are but getting those in-between Costco trips items or pocket-size portions of things nosotros couldn't purchase at Costco (fresh herbs, for instance). Do I mean value that dealing amongst the "hassle" of the commissary is worth supporting this service to military machine families? Absolutely.
Here are a listing of mutual complaints against the commissary-- many of which are my ain complaints when compared to an average grocery store-- in addition to how I bargain amongst them to proceed to back upward this service:
1. They attain non offering online grocery shopping.
I dearest online grocery shopping, every bit I've mentioned inwards several previous weblog posts. Where nosotros alive inwards South Carolina, at that spot are no local grocery stores convenient that offering online grocery shopping, hence this genuinely isn't much of an number for me. If I had to select betwixt shopping at the commissary or placing an gild online amongst Harris Teeter... I mean value it would go a much harder alternative for me. As is, I take away hold the alternative to either become inwards to a local grocery store or to become into our commissary. I commonly select the commissary, unless it is closed or pay day.
2. Their depository fiscal establishment check out organisation is ridiculous.
Well, I agree. I attain non similar the large ole' 1 draw system. My friends without kids order me it moves fast. Standing inwards that 1 draw amongst all 3 of my kids is nigh every bit much fun every bit taking the boys amongst me to the hospital on base of operations (which I also do). Since our boys are hence immature (5-years quondam in addition to 3-years old), I solve this yesteryear going early on inwards the day, arriving when they opened upward the door, nigh one-half hr earlier the registers open. I've fifty-fifty taken them all on pay day-- totally unintentionally. I acquire our shopping done in addition to am either the get-go or mo soul inwards line. When I only take away hold 1 or 2 items I need, arriving early works swell also because I tin give notice go get-go inwards draw for self-check out in addition to nosotros genuinely are inwards in addition to out.
3. You take away hold to tip the baggers.
Maybe I'm frivolous, but this doesn't genuinely bother me. I never take away hold cash, hence I'm ever glad I tin give notice asking cash dorsum when I depository fiscal establishment check out. I by in addition to large don't similar the baggers coming out to the machine amongst me. The mini van is impossible to charge groceries inwards amongst the stroller inwards the dorsum in addition to our toddlers are ever a hot mess to charge up. Most of the time, I have them charge my groceries dorsum into my shopping cart in addition to lay a tip inwards their jar. The $1-$5 doesn't experience similar a large bargain in addition to the times I take away my hubby's machine without the kids, I similar having my groceries loaded upward for me.
4. The commissary is so... dark.
Yeah, it isn't brilliant in addition to fancy similar Harris Teeter or Whole Foods. But neither is Costco. It may non take away hold the upscale look, but it does the job. This is our quaternary duty station; we've shopped at all different types of grocery stores across the country. The commissary but genuinely doesn't bother me.
And hither are some links to assistance amongst your commissary shopping:
The weblog "Commissary Deals" teaches you lot non only how to coupon at the commissary, but tips you lot off to electrical flow deals! Learn the commissary's coupon policy, how to navigate commissary sales, in addition to how to brand the most of illustration lot sales. New to couponing? Check out the Getting Started: Learn to Coupon tab. This website is seriously a treasure trove of useful links (check out the Categories in addition to Topics carte du jour on the correct mitt side of the page!).
Note: I've mentioned it before, but I am non a couponer. I know many people coupon which is why I provided the links for couponing at the commissary. I salvage coin when doing our household unit of measurement grocery shopping yesteryear sticking to our listing in addition to minimizing our trips to the store. :)
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