If I had the option of going inside my commissary or shopping online for groceries with curbside pickup, I would opt for the convenience of the curbside pickup. Every. Single. Time.
That’s why when the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) announced the pilot program for Click2Go, the commissary’s online shopping and curbside pickup program, I was doing my happy dance inside my kitchen. Sure, DeCA was doing the pilot program at only 3 locations – Fort Lee, Va., Travis Air Force Base, Calif. and Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., but I was convinced that my commissary at Fort Detrick, Md., would be next in line.
Turns out my happy dance was a little premature.
Currently DeCA doesn’t have any plans to expand the Click2Go program, but the agency also doesn’t have any plans to eliminate the program.
I feel like it’s one of those military moments of “It is what it is” logic. It’s good for the people stationed at those 3 locations that offer Click2Go. But for the rest of us, don’t hold your breath.
Yet this optimistic commissary shopper isn’t giving up on her hope for Click2Go. I believe in the success of the Click2Go program and maybe all DeCA needs is a little nudge of positive reinforcement. Well here it is.
3 Reasons Why DeCA Should Consider Expanding the Click2Go Program
Convenience for Commissary Shoppers
I truly want to shop at the commissary, but sometimes pesky excuses get between me and its sliding doors.
Here’s an example of how these mental roadblocks go down inside my head:
I need to go to the commissary but…
- I don’t have enough time to go and pick up my daughter from school.
- My baby is napping. I really don’t want to take him out of his car seat.
- It’s raining.
- It’s snowing.
- I don’t have cash to tip the baggers.
- It’s payday. That place is going to be a zoo.
If I had the option of Click2Go, I would jump over those mental roadblocks with this simple phrase –
I’ll use Click2Go.
Boom. Mic drop. Done. No more excuses not to go the commissary.
Competition with Other Curbside Pickup Options
Click2Go isn’t the only curbside pickup game in town. You, like me, most likely have other curbside pickup options in your city. Many national grocery stores offer this service and many military spouses are taking advantage of this convenience.
That’s money that should be going to the commissary. But it isn’t. Why? People will pay for convenience. If the Click2Go program was expanded to more commissaries, more patrons could have the best of whole worlds –convenience combined with the competitive pricing offered at the commissary.
Listening Earns Loyalty
Every time I see a military spouse posting on Facebook that she’s “in love with the curbside pickup” at another store, it’s a sign that DeCA needs to expand its Click2Go program.
Customers are looking for a curbside pickup option, no matter, where they shop. When MilitaryShoppers asked commissary patrons what types of changes they would like to see at their commissary, they said that they want to see the Click2Go program expanded to more commissaries.
Making changes based on customer feedback earns customer loyalty. We know that the Department of Defense and DeCA are these massive government agencies and 9 times out of 10 we feel like our opinions don’t matter to the leadership. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if DeCA embraced this trend in convenient shopping options and expanded its Click2Go program? They already developed a pilot program. The pilot program is working. The pilot program is continuing at those 3 locations.
Now we just need to see it at 284 locations. Is that too much to ask?
Click2Go sounds like a God-send, it would surely work for me.! We have horrible winters and a large retiree population…which makes it hard for some to get out and shop the commissary.
I know that our local Walmart has this service as well as Sam’s Club One poster did mention that it’s a dis-service to faithful commissary shoppers not to have this option at all stores…we’re giving money to the local grocers which we could use on the military installations for MWR activities.
Hopefully, DeCa and DOD will consider implementing this service at all locations.
It is a such a time saver, but it only works for “planners.” You have to allow them at least 6 hours to fill the order before you can pick it up. Watch out for closing times for the commissary or days they may be closed when you place your order too. If you order something on 6:30 pm Sunday night, and your commissary is closed on Mondays, you have to wait until Tuesday to pick it up. For some people that’s perfect! For other people who wait last minute to get needed items, it can be challenging.
We just left Offutt and I used the program maybe 6 times. It worked great for placing the order and having my husband pick it up after work and bring it home. But after using it for a short time, I forgot about it! I had to be really organized to sit and order it all online ahead of when I would need stuff. Sometimes life gets busy and I don’t remember 6 hours ahead of time to order items. I am sure other people used Click2Go, but I rarely saw people picking up things when I went down there. I think maybe the 6 hour window was the drawback for folks other than me and my family!
That said, I hope they DO expand the program to other locations. Maybe if it grows bigger they can find a way to fill orders in just a couple hours! I love that you can hand them all your coupons, and/or your Commissary Coupon Card and pay them right from your car. You also find out then if they were out of something or had to substitute something in your order so you can change it up some if you need to.
If you do use Click2Go and you buy produce through it, be sure to specify that you want un-bruised, or really red apples (or whatever applies to what you’re purchasing) in the notes section of your order or they are liable to bring you the first thing they grab.
The program is an awesome idea, it just needs a little tweaking but unless more people start using it at locations that they are running the testing at, I don’t see them expanding it to other places sadly!
Living in the Fort Lee vicinity I have not tried the program, but it has no attraction to me. I would like to see the Fort Lee Commissary stay open on Sunday’s. The Norfolk area has several commissaries open on Sunday’s. Why can’t Fort Lee be open on Sunday’s and one of the commissaries there be closed. I’m retired, but do not know anyone who has used the program. On rare occasions I do see someone walking thru the commissary apparently filling an order. From my perspective I do not support the program. It might be great for active duty folks, especially where both adults are working
Understand.
I haven’t used it at any Commissary. But u absolutely would use it if it were at mine! I use Harris Teeter’s and Peapod. I’d prefer to use the Commissary but they’ve forced me to go elsewhere. Come on DeCA! Get with the times!
I think that would be great [click2go] even when I get too old to drive would be great to have
[ Click2Go}
I would love to be able to use the Click2Go program it would save me a lot more time to get my other errands done before I have to leave town. It is far enough just to get there.
I would love to be able to use Click2Go and buy all of my groceries at the commissary rather than using Walmart’s curbside pickup service. Being in a wheelchair, I have to find someone to go with me to the commissary to push the cart and to reach the items that are on the upper shelves. Yes, yes,yes!! Please bring Click2Go to Pensacola FL.
I would love it.
Would be really nice to have takes time walking through the larger than a football field commissary in San Diego.
I would love it. I don’t drive anymore so whoever takes me has to do it all. This way I can order and just go with my driver and pick it up.