I only shop at the commissary. I don’t even think of shopping anywhere else. It’s an old habit really. It’s not as though, since I live off-base, it’s the closest grocery store to me. I grew up shopping at the commissary and I’ve always gone there for the prices.
But the other day I only needed a few things, so I ran into the local grocery store…..talk about your ‘shock and awe’!
Do you have any idea how many varieties of cereals there are? No, scratch that, how many variety of puffed rice cereals there are in the real world? It’s simply too much. I didn’t know whether my nose needed to be lotioned, medicated or simply pampered in luxurious silk! I was gonna do a bit of covering the gray, but came out of the color aisle with more than I went in with! GADS!
I can’t decide whether I like all the choices. The commissary has all my basic needs covered and I appreciate that. It’s no nonsense shopping the way my mother did it and with probably very similar choices! I ended up getting the same brands I would normally have gotten at the commissary and paid a lot more for the convenience of shopping close to home – except for the great ‘price leader’ they had on milk!
I’m not sure what it says about my personality. Lack of willingness to take risks, set in my own ways and uncomfortable around new experiences. But I think I’ll give myself a good long time before I step into that shopping nirvana again! I need to mentally prep myself for the sensory overload!
Do you prefer the commissary or the local grocery store?
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Overall I prefer the commissary. The prices are generally good and the surcharged is less than the local tax rate.
I admit though that I do get a bit frustrated sometimes at the lack of variety. I cannot do all of my shopping there b/c they do not carry everthing that I like or need to purchase. I go to a local store twice a month for the items I cannot purchase at the commissary and for the few items that are cheaper, even with the local tax rate.
I even did that overseas!
While is SD I did most of my shopping at the commissary. I worked at a super walmart so did shop there also. Especially for HBA items. Our commissary was very limited on those items. My shock was when I came home to Philly for the year and had to shop here. Yes I Love that I can get all the stuff I grew up on but the prices are way high. Can't wait to get to Tyndall. Hope they have a good commissary. I have been to Mcguire's once but it's pretty far just for food but thiers is huge.
I prefer to shop off base. True the commissary is cheaper but ours has poor selection, is always crowded, and is currently undergoing renovation. I prefer to do my shopping in an environment where I can hear myself think, get great customer service, and don't constantly get run over by other people and their carts! I got myself a discount card at the shop I normally go to and that helps alleviate some of the extra costs. I'm willing to shell out the difference for the ease and comfort of shopping off base.
Tyndall has a nice commissary. We stop there and buy groceries when we go to Panama City Beach.
Tyndall has a nice commissary. We stop there and buy groceries when we go to Panama City Beach.
Shopping at our commissary is an experience. It's retiree central around here. We are completely outnumbered, so it's all in the timing. You try to go when the retirees have gone home for their mid-afternoon/pre-dinner nap. Otherwise, we are subjected to oxygen tanks in the cart and the retiree it's connected to left the cart in the middle of the isle to check out a product, so you can't get around him/her. The isles are not wide enough to accommodate the traffic tie ups that they create. I recently had a retiree nudge her way in front of me at the checkout line and actually asked if she could cut in front of me (she was already 1/2 way there) because "I'm crippled" Umm, ok – if she's so crippled, how'd she manage to shop all by herself and now that she's standing in a line not moving, she can't hack it? Hmmmm. Yeah, ok. Of course, there are some nice little ol' ladies and men, but for the most part, they are pushy and rude. They vie for that precious handicapped parking spot in front of the commissary and will literally sit in the middle of the parking isle waiting for the owner of that car in that spot that they want to come out of the commissary. I'm serious! They have their blinker on, waiting for the car to pull out, and the owner of that car isn't even there!!! Nevermind that there's open parking just 3 spots away! I'm not kidding! They constantly hit stop signs and the handicapped parking signs on the base cause they are so old, they really shouldn't be driving anymore. Our commissary and BX parking lots exceed the American's With Disabilities Act requirements for handicapped parking and they STILL complain there aren't enough. Umm, last time I checked, this is an active duty installation! And yet, anytime you venture out to the commissary or BX, you think you're visiting a retirement village! And I live on base!!! There are times I'll drive 15 minutes out of my way to the local Fred Meyer just to have a calm shopping experience! At least there, it's a fair mix of people of all age groups. And the general population of retirees are nice and friendly! By then, I'm more than willing to pay the extra money. My sanity is worth it!
About a year or so ago, our commissary installed 4 self-help scanners for 15 items or less. So, now I will buy just 15 items at a time so that I can get in and out of the commissary quickly and with my sanity in tact. If I have to go back everyday, I'll do it just to avoid the headache of our commissary overrun by retirees! LOL!
Commissary. One time I shopped off post, just to see if there really was a difference. I made it through one aisle before I abandoned my buggy after the "shock and awe" of the prices. The commissary can get crazy for sure but no more than the civilian store so it's a wash on that aspect. I just time my shopping for the off peak hours (non-payday weekend, first thing in the am) and it works ok. I do shop for produce at a farmer's stand though, the commissary lacks in that department.
We usually shop at Walmart. I'm just not brave enough to go shopping at the commisary here…I can only stand getting hit by carts or having small, unattended children step on my feet so many times. And the Walmart here has very similar prices to the commisary, with a bigger selection.
I love the commissary. Selection is sometimes limited, but the prices are great!
As for one comment about the retirees: there are many at my base as well, they more than earned their right to benefits and they live close to bases to utilize those benefits. Being active duty is honorable, but so is being a retired servicemember and/or spouse.
If you ever become a retiree's spouse, you will likely complain about all of those disrespectful young active duty spouses! Isn't that normal for each generation?
They deserve their benefits and our respect. We will all be old someday too!
I live less than a mile from a Walmart and about 15 miles from the commissary, so I usually head to the Walmart. I also am a morning person, so I like getting there long before anyone else. I too have battled the retiree crowd and prefer to pay a little more to be closer and less crowded. But that's just me.
Commissary. I really have missed regularly shopping at the Commissary since we have been doing recruiting duty. We actually go down to Hanscom to shop a few times a year. I make it worth the drive for sure and it is nice to be on base for a little while.
I also like to build relationships with the employees at the commissary when stationed on base. At Grand Forks we got to know the "meat" lady really well, she even knit a blanket for our daughter when she was born. I miss that sort of thing. Looking forward to commissary shopping again.
ElisaW – I agree with you that retirees have earned it – but they didn't earn the right to be rude and pushy. For that matter – neither have active duty. But when I'm nice and polite and haven't given them any reason to be rude to me and then they are, that's what I'm talking about. As I'm sure all commissaries have this stated policy that from certain peak times, anyone in uniform has priority. Our active duty men and women typically do not move to the front of the line due to the rude comments that the retirees say to them. An active duty co-worker of my husbands went to the front of the line and a retiree read him the riot act for doing so. Anytime an active duty member is close behind me – I usher them up in front of me and they are so thankful and shocked!
One active duty member asked the wing commander in our base newspaper if a parking spot close to the front of the commissary could be designated for 15 minute parking for those, like he, who just need to get a couple items during a break or lunch break from work. That was 2 years and a wing commander ago and though it was promised, never got done.
Security Forces rarely, if ever, stop them for traffic violations because inevitably they will take their complaint to the Security Forces flight chief and right or wrong, they'll get their way.
The thing about it around here is that the base heavily relies on the large retiree population for revenue that they go overboard in some respects to where you scratch your head and wonder if you are on an installation or nursing home.
We are from a state that has no active duty installations, so when he retires, we'll go back home and will return to our civilian lives with a pension and tricare and be thankful for those benefits alone. :)
We are stationed here at Camp P and I like shopping both the commissary and off-base. I get all my basic stuff at the Commissary but I like getting all my meat and produce off-base. If you only go to the Commissary then yes you will be shocked at all the different choices that are out there from breads, meds, and produce. :)
i really like shopping at our commisary but i also do it on non payday weeks and early in the am. the retiree's arent too bad (they routinly stop to coo, cuddle, and hold my baby, which i think is adorable, and it really makes their day) there is alot of them. and sometimes, yes, they are slow but i find its the 'soccer mom' types that are most likely to hit you with their cart chasing after one of their runaway kids down the cereal aisle.
i cant stand walmart, too big, too bright, too confusing. i went to the food lion once out in town (commisary is closed on mondays) and man did i have sticker shock! so i do 90% of my shopping at the commisary or PX. anything i cant find i'll order online. taking the baby for a shopping trip that lasts more than an hour from start to finish isnt in the best intrest of anyones ear drums and i wont subject others to that, so i do alot of online shopping
Comissary all the way here in Germany!! The German MWST (tax) just went up to 19%, so it would never be cost effective to shop for groceries off post here unless you were getting a large quantitity and the store would reimburse the tax – they all don't to that, though.
The manager will try to get you any product – as long as it is available in the comissary system, they will get it for you. There are yellow cards to fill out at the store – ask the customer service folks or go to the manager's office for the forms.
We have greaat service here – never crowded. After moving from northern VA/DC area where I spent most of our grocery dollars in local stores, I really notice the savings. We're talking about a savings of a couple of hundred dollars a month for our family of 4.
I will shop the fresh market downtown on saturdays when I can. THat produce is superior to the comissary's – and more expensive, too. But sometimes you just want the variety of apples or better tomattoes.
Well I must be the odd ball, I don't like the commissary. I like selection and the commissary here doesn't have much of anything. I usually shop at Dillons. I've also had problems with the meat every time we try buying it at the commissary, goes bad after one day in the fridge. Prices aren't that different than anywhere else around here. I also don't see the savings on the sales tax with the surcharges they charge. Last but not least the customer service is very lacking (if you don't like your job, QUIT, don't take it out on the customers), we do have very nice and respectful retired soldiers (and spouses)who shop all around the area. That's just me though, one of my best friends a huge commissary shopper, drives 15 minutes to get there, when Dillons is 5 blocks from her house.
I really miss a commissary being "right" there. We are stationed in Atlanta, and our commissary is very small, very limited, open M-F only and often my hubby will pick up milk after work, but its only about 25cents cheaper than where we live. We moved south of the city for the schools,and I really miss it, but it's not worth the drive and gas!! You don't realize what a great a benefit it is, until you don't have it down the street anymore. While traveling home during the holiday's, we stopped at Ft. Knox, and I was in heaven with their commissary and got so many bargains and deals. I know the commissaries are not perfect, I just dont think you can beat the price on certain things.I can't wait to get back to a normal post atmosphere!
I shop at the commissary here.. They have everything I need and it is just down the street.. Going to any other grocery store requires leaving base, going across town and hoping I can find a spot.
They have been renovating the commissary here and it is now much bigger with a little more selections.
I miss the Commissary!!!!!! I live 3 hours from the closest one and I now have to shop at Walmart. I don't mind it so much b/c there is more variety and the prices aren't too bad. BUT… I still miss the savings I get at the good ole Commissary!
ElisaW, I agree with your comments whole-heartedly. We live in an area with a very large number of retirees. During the rare times when I may get frustrated with their actions, I remind myself that one day soon I too will join their ranks. Bless them for their service to our country and bless me with more patients!
My shock and awe moment came when I stopped by a local grocery store for just a few items. Over $80.00 later I had a pit in my stomach and was kicking myself for not braving my crowded commissary. It was an expensive lesson to learn!
I shop both. For snacks and such it's the commissary, but the surcharge needs to go away. There is no tax on food off post why is there this "tax" on post? I feel I am paying the same amount with that surcharge, so it's just where I feel like shopping that day :)
well cindi we must live on the same base, and shop at the same commmissary. ours is overflowing with retirees. i always walk in there with a positive attitude, but end up leaving stressed out and mad. and it's because of how people are while shopping. at least now we know how not to be when we're retired!
I shop off base now because I live about 20 miles from the closest commissary. I figure that I pay about the same price at Walmart or SavaLot than at the commisary because their prices are comparable and I dont save gas driving over and back since they are within a mile of my house.
I shop both, but usually it's the local store. Either Walmart or Food Lion are the closest. (I miss Publix from "back home" in Florida tho.)
We live off post, and only have 1 car, so I don't see the sense in taking hubby to work, coming back home, then leaving and going BACK on post to go to the commissary. Especially when I have other things on my to-do list, and I could just go to Walmart which is right next to all the other places I need to go that day.
However, the commissary is RIGHT on the way home when I'm picking up the hubby at the end of the day, so if we do need something, I can always stop there.
I have never really seen much of a price difference between the commissary and walmart, but I guess I haven't really been REALLY viligant about it either. Just trying to get in and get out and on with my business.
I am saddened by the negative comments made about the retirees. Anyone can be rude and disrespectful. It was proven by the comment. Some day I will be among the ranks of the retired spouses, and I will have earned the privlage by sticking through 20+ years of the military lifestyle, as they did. By the way I am a commisary shopper!
src – it's too bad you misread my comments regarding the retirees here at my base. All I was doing is reporting the facts of life around here. Trust me, you don't have to go further than your next door neighbor to hear story after story about what they went through at the commissary here. You even mention you are off to the commissary and you'll be given that, "oh geez – good luck" look. Just stating the facts, ma'am.
I only go to our commissary here on base when it is absolutely neccessary and either very first thing in the morning or after 18:00. It is extremely busy and people are always in my way. I too must be from the same base as angelemily55 and cindi_2570. All the spouses and active duty that I know on this base dread to go to the commissary. It is overcrowdwed and yes, the retirees do seem to always be in the way and rude. We usually try to go as a family and have one of us on 4 different aisles to pick up "what we have to have". This way we can get in and out in a more descent amount of time.
I am always telling myself that I will be a retired spouse one day and try to stay upbeat, but I find that even then I leave the commissary frustrated because I was unable to maneuver down needed aisles to get the items I went to pick up. In fact My husband use to laugh at me because the commissary "just can't be that bad, you've used it without problems on other bases" That's when he also started going with me….now he sees this commissary just isn't the typical. I feel I must add that an individual, no matter who they are must be respectful to receive respect and I truely don't go into the commissary to be rude
but some of the people at our commissary seem to take out whatever bothers them on other shoppers.
We've lived overseas for more than half my husband's 16 years in the Army, and the thing I always missed the most was the "Supermarket." Specifically, where I live, it's Publix. Ah, the fresh produce, the pre-made deli items, salad-in-a-bag, FOUR AISLES OF FROZEN FOODS!
But, I have to say, now that I have kids, I don't really like shopping in a "real" grocery store. Who knew that Dora and Superman loved so many different kinds of cereals and snacks? Sometimes, less is better.
Jan
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Wow! I never expected this kind of response! This was fabulous! I have to say, I'm surprised so many shop off-base. Need to address the husband on this one – perhaps I'm missing a lot out there!
I, personally, love retirees – though I've had my fair share of less than happy interactions! They are my source of hope! I love that someday I'll be there, wading through the aisle WITH the spouse and be able to look at the haggard faces of the active duty spouse with small kids in tow and smile at their excreciating experience, knowing that I don't have to shop with small kids anymore! I really look forward to this day! I love the little cubs, but they do make shopping a challenge – no matter where you shop!
But let's get back to the important stuff here! You all really seem to think that shopping on the economy is better, even for meat?!?!?! That's amazing!
I'm with Jan though on the "how many items of food can Dora and Superman support?" theme! Sometimes less is better. While I admit that I may venture forth into the sensory overload more often now (coupons in hand!), I have to say our meat prices beat the pants off the local grocery store – not to mention cereal prices! EGADS!
I'm with ya, GBear!! I took my sister to the commissary with me once when she was visiting and she was stunned at the price difference, especially on meat. I think the commissary continues to be a great value all the way around.
Marjorie wrote: "I shop both. For snacks and such it's the commissary, but the surcharge needs to go away. There is no tax on food off post why is there this "tax" on post? I feel I am paying the same amount with that surcharge, so it's just where I feel like shopping that day :)"
According to my base newspaper, the surcharge we all pay goes towards renovating and/or building new commissaries. This is reason enough for me to continue shopping our my commissary.
I'm fine with the retirees…it's the "Asian Mob" that controls the baggers that really tans my hide! I HATE not being able to speak English to the person loading groceries into my car…same with the cashiers at the BX. I swear 95% of baggers/cashiers are Asian…what's up with that?
thewifey – LOL – we must be at the same base! We have a large asian and south pacific islander presence here as well – not just as retiree milspouses, but as well as the baggers and checkers at the commissary, the checkers at the BX, and hairdressers at both the beauty salon and barber shop at the BX mall. It's more than likely just the area of the country, much like the large hispanic population down in California. As I try to strike up a conversation with a bagger on the way to the car and quickly realize I can't understand her broken english, I just smile and nod. I find the asian AAFES employees in general to be respectful and pleasant. We've been here 4.5 years and they've come to recognize me and the kids and enjoy interacting with them at the checkout line.
The first time my fiance took me to the commissary, I thought I'd come to the Magic Kingdom! Great selection, great meat, great prices — I nearly got teary-eyed when I saw they carried bread from my favorite Chicago bakery.
Granted, we were living in a tiny town with terrible, terrible, terrible shopping, so that may have colored my perception. Now that we're near a big city again, I don't beg my sweetie quite so hard to take me on post. :-)
I guess I must be the only person around who shops at the same commissary as I do, because while the prices of meat are great, I have yet to purchase meat that wasn't already going bad. So, I shop elsewhere for that.
The one problem I have with the baggers is that they can't take no for an answer. If I only have a few items in my cart, I am capable of putting them on the conveyer and carrying them to the car by myself.
I wish the baggers were an option at our commissary, not a given. But anytime my husband has suggested and insisted on taking our groceries to our car by ourselves, we either get a look of confusion or disgust (because then they don't get their tip). But, when we're able-bodied, we both prefer to do it ourselves. They have a tip jar for the 15 or less items lane because in that lane you DO take your own groceries, so why don't they have that option for all lanes? This is why I now use the 15 items or less self-serve scanners and come back every day if I have to. LOL! :)
I hate the awkwardness of tipping baggers at the commissary. Here in Hawaii they are rude to my husband and I most of the time they give you stink eye and talk about you in their foreign language, filipino/ thai. No matter what you tip them $1 or $5 they give you a dirty look and walk off mumbling curses under their breath. I've had a few run the cart into my ankle and not say a thing. Now we don't tip them anything if we get bad service.