Can we split this off and have a commissary bitch thread? Why the hell is that place closed on Mondays?
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Commissary - Love it or Leave it.
- Thread starter pourts
- Start date
Can we split this off and have a commissary bitch thread? Why the hell is that place closed on Mondays?
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
So Monday can be "Retiree-Free" day?
I nominate LTJG Haji to head DECA.
I nominate LTJG Haji to head DECA.
Do single guys really go to the commissary? I go there like once a year, if that. It's a low-rent alternative to a normal grocery store and my time (and money) is better spent at the Safeway where I don't have to stand in line, tip the baggers or look at the monstrosities that some of you call spouses. BTW, what asshole came up with the one big line for checkout concept? How about we follow the business model the rest of the grocery world employs. Come to think of it, does this enterprise make money? If not, it(and the NEX) should be the first in line for the chopping block before ANY combat capability. Why is the military in the restail sales business in the first place?
Brett
I hate it. Produce blows, getting run over by snot nose brats with shopping carts pisses me off, and the food is a step down from the piggly wiggly. Shit can it and build a gym the same size.
phrogpilot73
Well-Known Member
When I was single, I used to shop at the Commissary. I had to drive past it on base to get to the gate, and I lived 10 minutes away from work. Food Lion was my other alternative - and the Commissary was much better. Now, the nearest base is 20 min away, and Harris Teeter is 5-10 minutes. Harris Teeter does double coupons all day (sometimes triple), and if I shop smart I can make it as cheap as the commissary - only with better selection. As an example, clipping coupons and keeping track of the VIC & eVIC specials, I saved $99.09 on my last bill.
Completely agree - close 'em all down and give everyone a Sam's club / Costco card....at least the food wouldn't be a day away from being rotten and I wouldn't risk my life being run over by 27 retirees in their riding mower-esqe shopping carts
I will disagree with all of you. I use the commissaries at Hickam and Pearl every month. The food quality and selection is fine and the prices beat the hell out of grocery stores in Hawaii.
The price savings at the commissary go a long way to helping the junior enlisted guy with a family, espically in a high cost of living area.
The price savings at the commissary go a long way to helping the junior enlisted guy with a family, espically in a high cost of living area.
phrogpilot73
Well-Known Member
That's because you're a crochety old retiree who gets bent out of shape when we go the wrong way down the aisles...
+1 - this is key, and why I agree with HAL that they shouldn't be closed. Between the commissary and exchange, and smart shopping - our Sailors and Marines can actually do OK.
I'm with HAL. I've always been able to find what I want and the prices are pretty dang hard to beat, especially on meat.
The only thing that has annoyed me is when they are closed on Mondays, but luckily the Jax comissary is open everyday.
The only thing that has annoyed me is when they are closed on Mondays, but luckily the Jax comissary is open everyday.
The Commissary does not make money, they sell everything at cost with a 5% surcharge that "pays the cost of capital investment, utilities at U.S. stores, and some supplies (such as paper bags and cash register tapes)". Overall though it still costs the DoD to the tune of $1.3billion a year to pay for the salaries of the employees and a few other costs so in reality they actually lose money. It is interesting that while the study I linked is from 1997 it clearly showed that those who frequent the Commissary the most are retirees as well as more senior NCOs and officers. I would not be surprised of the numbers haven't changed much, except for maybe more retirees.
While commissaries overseas are a no-brainer I think the ones in CONUS need to be looked at pretty hard. In some more rural or 'underserved' areas it may make sense but in many it seems to makes little to no sense, like the DC area where every base has a commissary and with hardly a junior E in sight much less someone who looks under 45 at best or in Whidbey where the one there was just plain depressing last time I went. God forbid you try and cut them though, both Senators in Maine wanted to keep the Brunswick Commissary open after the base closed (PDF). Not many junior Es left there after the base closes.........Same thing with the DoD-run schools in CONUS (all but one in the south), Rumsfeld tried to cut them soon after he came in and got significant pushback. Why the hell are we still in that business?
I never shopped there stateside. Like Brett, I didn't think saving 3% was worth the drive, the time, or the headache. Here, I have little choice, though here the commy sucks even more. It's literally 50/50 whether the loaf of bread I buy is going to come pre-molded, and they perpetually run out of yogurt within hours of it arriving, yet other stuff sits on the shelf long after it has expired, so clearly they have no idea how to deal with inventory.
I used the self-check to avoid the bagger mafia. Prices may be 8% lower than civilian, but once I pay the service charge and then give the bagger their extortion money, suddenly the savings aren't quite what was promised.
I will say I like the single line, though they don't do that here. It saves you from getting stuck in line behind the little blue hair who pays by check, which she doesn't even begin to start filling out until everything is rung up; uses 48 coupons, 37 of which end up not applying to things she's bought; then changes her mind and sends someone back to switch out the milk that she thought was on sale for the one that really is. And all this while 19 people have zoomed through the next register over.
I used the self-check to avoid the bagger mafia. Prices may be 8% lower than civilian, but once I pay the service charge and then give the bagger their extortion money, suddenly the savings aren't quite what was promised.
I will say I like the single line, though they don't do that here. It saves you from getting stuck in line behind the little blue hair who pays by check, which she doesn't even begin to start filling out until everything is rung up; uses 48 coupons, 37 of which end up not applying to things she's bought; then changes her mind and sends someone back to switch out the milk that she thought was on sale for the one that really is. And all this while 19 people have zoomed through the next register over.
fattestfoot
In it for the naked volleyball
I used it when I was single, and mostly bought meat when I was married. We'd load up for grilling at the commissary, and get everything else out in town.
The thing I hated the most, like Brett mentioned, was tipping the baggers. Kind of defeats the purpose of saving a bunch of money when you've gotta tip the bagger a few bucks. I also don't understand the one line thing. I've only been to one commissary, but apparently that's a common theme to them all? It really sucks.
The thing I hated the most, like Brett mentioned, was tipping the baggers. Kind of defeats the purpose of saving a bunch of money when you've gotta tip the bagger a few bucks. I also don't understand the one line thing. I've only been to one commissary, but apparently that's a common theme to them all? It really sucks.
Personally hate it, but I'll caveat that with the fact that I'd shop at Whole Foods if I could. I have tons of gripes with quality of produce, meats, and selection. I can forgive a lot of that if the hours were better and I didn't have to dodge the baggers after checkout.
I'm sure they make sense OCONUS, but CONUS, there are always better options.
I'm sure they make sense OCONUS, but CONUS, there are always better options.
When I was at Atsugi, I shopped there all the time. Though I still did some of the shopping out in town. INCONUS...not a freakin chance. I've been twice since I've been back in the states and I refuse to go again. The selection sucks, prices aren't that much better and the hassle/suck factor is huge. I'll gladly shop at Public and Whole Foods.