Bagger-free checkout lanes at your commissaries are quite the hot topic.
In response to a recently published article about these checkout lanes, many readers wrote comments with their opinions on having baggers or not. Don’t panic if you didn’t read the article yet. DeCA, the Defense Commissary Agency that oversees commissaries, is not doing away with baggers at this time. They are simply adding bagger-free checkout lanes at commissaries because customers asked for this option.
We asked for your opinion on having your groceries bagged and there wasn’t a shortage of answers.
DeCA does a lot of listening. When customers make suggestions for changes at the commissaries, they really do take them into consideration. DeCA’s vision is to
Understand our Customers and Deliver a 21st Century Commissary Benefit.
They want to know what patrons would want to see changed or improved upon at their commissaries. When they had shoppers ask for bagger-free checkout lanes, they responded. Commissaries across the country started offering bagger-free checkout lanes alongside the traditional checkout lanes.
Commissary managers receive input from shoppers on a daily basis.
DeCA is always listening to your suggestions. They want to improve your shopping experience at the commissary.
One of the popular requests is to increase the natural and organic section. Many Americans are becoming more health conscious. They read nutrition labels and want to know that what they are buying is healthy. There are grocery store chains that offer large natural and organic sections and some that have made the transition to offering only these products. If commissaries want to compete for customers, they’ll need to meet these needs.
Along the same lines, there are millions of Americans that have special diets. Food allergies are prevalent. Patrons have said that they would do more shopping at commissaries if there were more options available for these special dietary needs.
Dairy allergies for example are very common now. While commissaries offer dairy-free products, their selection is still very limited. Shoppers have asked for a larger selection to include dairy-free cheese, yogurt and sour cream. Customers have also said that there are very little wheat- and soy-free options in the frozen foods department.
Another suggestion that has been made to help commissaries keep up with today’s shoppers is to add online ordering for curbside pickup. Many grocery stores now offer this option. Online ordering, like Click2Go, is a huge convenience to be able to order your groceries and simply pick them up.
If the commissary wants to attract more shoppers, online grocery shopping is a sure way to get them.
What many patrons who have suggested this do not know, is that there are commissaries already testing this out. The pilot test done at these commissaries turned out to be so popular that the program is going to continue at those facilities. Hopefully, DeCA will roll that option out to more commissaries in the near future.
One last request is to offer home delivery of groceries from commissaries. Many people have turned to Amazon Fresh and Peapod for their needs. Having groceries sent right to your home would certainly be a 21st century shopping experience.
Home delivery would be a huge undertaking for commissaries of course, but it would bring a large customer basis to the wonderful commissary benefit that veterans have earned. Shopping at the commissary is a great benefit that many veterans and their families are not taking full advantage of. Adding home delivery would increase the number of people using the commissary benefit.
DeCA is always listening to your suggestions. They want to improve your shopping experience at the commissary. Many additions and changes have been made over the years thanks in part to patrons talking to the management team at commissaries.
If you have a suggestion, speak up. Your voice could be the one that makes the changes happen.
Many people are now diabetic(including my wife), but the commissary selection of sugar free products is very limited. This causes us to have to buy sugar free products elsewhere. Offering a broader line of sugar free products would greatly increase your sales.
I definitely agree. We need more Sugar Free products.
Better prices; I have been shopping at Safeway on Fridays and much less at the Commissary as their prices are better. I shop at the commissary perhaps one a month when I used to go there several times a week! Roasted whole chicken at the commissary $8.49 and at Safeway on Friday $5.00 Ice cream at Safeway is better priced and more variety
I would love to see better produce at my commissary: Scott Air Force Base
We have horrible produce, I’ve purchased onions with worms inside them, sweet potatoes that were rotten inside, same with potatoes.
I go to the local stores and pay more, but at least the quality is great.
I agree, Dee. I am at Scott also and the produce is awful. I usually make a trip to Aldi’s for my produce but sometimes can’t and end up with substandard produce that I end up throwing away. It’s disgusting. Don’t know why they can’t get it fresh.
Roxanne have you let the Produce Manager or Store Director know about your concerns? They can contact their supplier and the Base Public Health Inspectors to get the issue resolved
Did you let the Produce Manager or the Store Director know about the issues with your produce? They can contact their supplier and the Base Public Health Inspectors as well
Roxanne and Dee have you let the Produce Manager or Store Director know about your concerns? They can contact their supplier and the Base Public Health Inspectors to get the issue resolved
I’ve found stocking issues the past few months. Quite a few shelves are empty, no matter the day I go, meaning I either go without the product or I go elsewhere to get it (at a higher price).
Also not liking the removal of a lot of items, some of which have been replaced with that in-store brand (Freedom’s Choice, is that it?) I tried that brand of block cheddar cheese and was not impressed. Taste was mediocre and it crumbled into bits when I tried to slice it. Other items, I don’t like the major brand they still carry.
On the plus side, I have noticed a marked increase in worker friendliness, asking if I am finding everything ok and walking me to items if I need help, or just smiling and saying hi as we pass. The store itself is clean and bright and I generally have a pleasant shopping experience.
We got a new commissary last year and the layout is absolutely awful. I find myself going there less and less. Instead of having all of the bottled water–plain flavored, etc in one aisle, part of it is on one side of the aisle, then you have to go to the next aisle for the rest of the water. Same for pet food. Instead of one aisle for pet food the have dog food on one side of one aisle, go around the corner to the next aisle to find the cat food, other pet supplies and treats are scattered throughout. It’s that way for many other products too. Even the employees hate it.
They need to ask the everyday shoppers for their opinions.
Must be Jax. I totally agree!
We have just gone through annual rearrangement of the commissary. Many many already know what row their items are on. One of the commissary managers told me that it was to promote sectional items, bull. Another manager said it was to make shopping easier, bull. If you polled shoppers you would find out that most shoppers know exactly where the items are, until you rearrange everything. STOP MOVING EVERYTHING.
I would like to see a commissary in western New York. We live in Finger Lakes region and the closest commissary to us is 3 hours away!
I love being able to buy foreign imported products from Germany and other parts of Europe. Each Christmas season I look forward to buying a fancy tin of Lebkuchen. I still have this years tin with a few of Lebkuchen left to enjoy. It reminds of Christmas overseas.
Ft Sill commissary shelves are usually empty. Products that I could get a year ago, I have to go to Walmart and usually cheaper. Ft SIll cashiers are not one bit friendly, no smiles, no hellos, no thank you. Great service and full shelves, help in the aisles at Sheppard AFB. I have been shopping at Ft Sill and Sheppard since 2009
We have the same problem at Warren AFB, most of the time the produce has been frozen or kept too cold and when we go to use them they are bad inside and out. When you are on a limited income you can not afford to throw food away. Therefore, we buy our fresh produce at a local store. We travel 70 miles to use the commissary and we buy better at the local store for about the same amount of money. Variety in the frozen vegetables department would be welcome.
I now shop a a Commissary in Las Vegas. I have over he years been assigned to many other places here in CONUS and in other countries. The one thing I have found that is to me the best is finding items from all over the US that fit everyone’s tastes. I am originally from NJ yet here in NV I can still get some items that I could only get in the NY-NJ area if I was shopping public. N,E,W, or S there always seems to be something for your home tastes.
If I was to ask for any improvements to my Commissary it would be for more diabetic food items, wider isles to better accommodate wheelchairs, scooters, and walkers, and more big basket electric carts for the 100%’rs to use, I can get by without these things, although it sure would make life easier for those of us disabling injuries.
Thanks for asking for my opinion.
Since I married my husband 49 years ago, I have enjoyed saving money while shopping at the commissary, but with the changes now, I am buying more elsewhere. There are many products that I use that the commissary no longer carries. One example is clear lawn and leaf bags. Our city does not pick up lawn debris unless it is clear bags and all the commissary carries is black bags. I asked at customer service about it months ago and they said that many others had also done so, but nothing has changed. I am forced to go to other stores to get the items you no longer carry which means it takes me more time and money to get my shopping done. Please listen to what customers say about bringing back items that are missed. Thanks.
Go to McClellan Commissary in Sacramento,Ca. Would love to see better produce. Too many times the onions and apples are bad when cutting into them. Most of the time I buy produce at Sprouts as their produce and prices on certain things are cheaper and better. I also have noticed certain items I have purchased are no longer there.
Chas. A.F.B. is where I shop. I would love to see you selling Butterball Turkey poultry. Years ago they used to carry them and I guess the contract was up and another company started selling the Turkey and Turkey parts. Since that time I purchased Turkey wings twice and each time the oversized wings were tough and huge, and no matter how long you cooked them they remained tough.
Butterball wings are tender and small (we considered them, baby turkey wings and I’ve been purchasing them from WalMart who started selling them last year.
Will you ever sell them in the commissary in the near future? I do hope so.
I love the commisary. Shopping at commisary for 43 years. There are a few items they dont carry. The saving on meat prices is really good. Please keep commisary open . Love the baggers always friendly.
I have shopped at VAFB in Lompoc, CA. for many years, and I love shopping there.
I have no complaints. The prices are wonderful, food selection very good,, and baggers and checkers very pleasant and helpful. My husband and I are retired so the lower prices and help from baggers is very much appreciated. Too.
And lastly, I am proud of the years my husband served our country, and grateful for these commissary privileges he has earned.
I hate it when the commissary stops carrying the items that I regularly buy. The companies haven’t stopped making these items but the commissary has just up and stopped carrying them. When I ask why these items are no longer for sale in the commissary I am always told some vague answer that somebody in Washington is responsible for stocking the shelves at the Fort Drum Commissary. Right. Now I shop elsewhere because you forced me to.
Fresh produce, instead of produce that rots in 2 days after you purchase it. Surcharge is crazy and higher than the state taxes. Prices at the commissary in my area are 90% of the time higher than the grocery stores. Gluten free and dairy free products are very limited. Due too all of these limitations I shop the commissary 2 times a year now and that is tops. They limit themselves on serving my family of 6-10 mouths being fed each week. If my family ate processed microwave meals the commissary would be the perfect place to shop, but i stick to 95% whole and organic foods.
I shop in the Luke AFB, AZ Commissary. It’s clean and pretty well run now, before it was hunt and find the items you wanted. Just don’t like that Durcell is no longer in the stores. We do have a nice commissary and workers.
Yes, Duracell! Why did they quit carrying Duracell batteries? Does anyone know? I have to buy them at Wal-Mart now. I refuse to buy substandard batteries!
On numerous occasions and more frequently than not the Gunter commissary has “Extra Savings” items that only show the discounted price. I’ve pointed this out to several employees but week after week it goes unchecked. We also have continued problems with expired items on the shelf particularly in the refrigerated section.
Have more friendly cashiers. When you use coupons they make you feel guilty.
I also shop more on the outside for produce that are a lot fresher and cheaper.
During Christmas I would like to see different products.
Have more prepare meals to go
I never liked the addition of 5 % of your total bill. I feel like I am being taxed on my food purchases at the commissary. The 5% fee should have already been figured into the cost on the shelf and not in addition to your total bill. I try to use coupons just to offset the 5%, which works out sometimes just getting even.
Produce is very high for what you get. While $1.79 is a great price for an Artichoke….but when the artichoke is so soft it’s not worth it. Prices all around are high. For instance a small bottle of something say is 2.00 the large is 5.00 a little something wrong with the math there. Yes, I know. The Vendors are responsible for pricing. Really? The Commissaries need to be more competitive if you want to stay in business. I’ve even seen active duty in Safeway and Fry’s (Kroger).
To continue: I have been shopping at the Commissary since 1970. While the prices are high at Ft. Huachuca and the Commissary can blame the vendors or who ever, we are very grateful for the Commissary. Especially for dry products. But even the prices on these have gone up and, at times, are better at Wal-Mart. The veggies are bad. Last week my husband and I went to the Commissary to get some fresh veg. I love bok choy. couldn’t get it because it was not only limp but the leaves were yellow. Someone said in the comments above that had worms in onions. I’ve never encountered a worm but I have encountered an onion that was rotted inside but was firm and pretty on the outside. I thought all produce and meats were inspected before being put out? What happened to that?
I can not figure some people out with so many bad things to say but still like shopping at the commissary!! i do not shop often but when i do i love my commissary!! that will not change,
I absolutely love the no bagger lane. I love havi g the option to bag or not to bag.
The commissary at Langley AFB had a kiosk to place your deli order. You selected your deli items & a ticket was printed. Then you could continue shopping & pick up your order before checking out. At Ft. Eustis a deli employee would write down your order, give you a # & you could return to pick up your order before checking out. A kiosk would have served the Ft. Eustis commissary well as the deli employee could be working on preparing orders instead of taking time to write down what the customer needs.
Now we are at Ft. Bragg & both the north & south commissary have you take a # and the wait time can be 20 min or more depending on time of day, to place your order & wait while they prepare your order. ALL commissaries need the ordering kiosk. It saves the customer time (can finish shopping while order is prepared) & also keeps the deli employee from having to re-ask the customer what is needed if there is a large quantity needed. The customer order will be printed out w/type of deli product & amount needed. Saves time for both customer & deli employee. And at larger installations, it is a much needed tool.
I would like to see something done about the parking issue. As a mom whose son was almost run over in a parking lot, it really troubles me to see a ridiculous amount of empty “reserved” spots. Meanwhile there are mothers with little children and handicapped people having to park out in the middle of no where. It makes no sense and puts people at an unnecessary risk. If it is just me, I don’t care, but if I have my kids, no matter how old they are, I try and find something closer. They are teens/preteens now, but once it almost happens to you, it makes you more aware of the issue and you never forget. I am still nervous about having my kids in any parking lots. We did everything right. He was holding my hand. He was on the inside of me. The lady just didn’t see us and backed up. Luckily, I was able to grab my son so he was only bumped by the car. She felt horrible and I was in shock. It cold have turned out much worse for all of us. This woman wasn’t even distracted. She just didn’t see us. These days, people are more distracted than ever, putting others at risk. Please, please reconsider the way it is set up.
I shop at the Fort Stewart Commissary, and have been a customer on and off since 2002. I purchase the product Aria, it is a Women’s Wellness Protein mix located in the aisle with the vitamins and allergy free items. I recently had run out and now can no longer purchase the product, because you now switched to the newest product that they offer. Let me tell you why this is a big deal to me and possibly other customers, the Aria that I need to purchase is Soy-Free/Vegan. The new Aria that is now on the shelf now includes Aloe Vera, but that is not the bad part, It Contains Soy. I am allergic to Soy. I am not suggesting to stop selling the new version, but I am asking to eliminate 1/2 and stock the other version as well. That would be very much appreciated.
We need better air conditioning at pur commissary, customers are constantly complaining about how hot it is in the store especially ay the front in. They are sweating just to unload their cart at the checkout.