New Commissary Shopper Savings Plan Released
Anytime Congress Critters go mucking about in my hard-earned benefits, I’m paying attention. The new retirement options don’t affect me, but I am a frequent flyer at the local base’s Exchange and Commissary. The Commissary’s pricing scheme now is cost +5% to pay for expenses incurred, but that may soon change. A new “variable pricing” plan is being trotted out at select stores as a trial balloon.
“The variable pricing rule was included in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, signed by former President Barack Obama SCoaMF late last year, in an attempt to decrease the $1.3 billion in taxpayer funding the system receives annually.”
Somehow, I knew that customer service wasn’t a consideration, and the cost burden will fall on the military families. Thanks, Barry.
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Category: Politics
Household Six moved on from the Commissary some time ago. Shopping there is limited to items not commonly available in town.
We have found that it is already not competitive on price, so changing the formula is not going to help.
I hope their trial fails and our new POTUS calls bull on the whole mess. There are still some items that are better price and quality at the Commissary – quit screwing with our benefits that we earned. Maybe, just maybe they should make the members of Congress have to use them – bet DECA would get millions in funding all of a sudden and the crap would suddenly cease. They make it sound like the 1.3 billion is the cause of the national debt!
I guess I am lucky living in Atlanta where there are no military, bases,reserves,or retirees. They closed the commissarys back when they shut down Ft Gillem, and Ft McPherson so it isn’t a benefit anymore. Nearest one I know of is Ft Benning and that is 250 miles round trip, eating up any savings in gas. I used to save lots but now I use Sam’s Club and the local grocery stores.
Hmmm, I would have thought the Air Force Commissary down at Robins AFB in Warner Robins would be closer than Ft Benning in Columbus.
But maybe not. Just a thought.
From downtown Atlanta, WRAFB is indeed closer. But only about 10 or so miles.
Depending on where you are in Metro Atlanta, it may be quicker to get to Benning.
This link might help:
https://www.commissaries.com/store_locator.cfm
I’m not familiar with the Atlanta area, but I believe there may be a couple of commissaries within striking distance.
We drive the 50 miles to Vandenberg AFB, to buy the European coffees my wife loves (ironically, despite my 26 Army years, I detest the horrid taste of coffee…but I did come to love cigars, so there’s that), and I hit the BX for ammo, cheaper, than I can get in our many local gunshops.
We used to do the majority of our pantry shopping there, but the “comparison pricing” rule passed a few years ago, to allegedly be less competitive with the local economy, and even base gas prices not much better, cannot beat Costco, which is 4 blocks from my house.
Keeping my fingers crossed, that the new minds in charge, will see military members and family getting screwed over this 0bama-nable Act.
Yo AW1ED, shopping at the Commissary is an earned privilege which I like the sound of much more than “benefit”. Suggest all use the correct lingo in talking to those who have never served so they get it. That would be two out of four Aransas Congressman and one out of two Senators; and I guarantee, all are on our side veteran or not. I would include the exchange but seems they are opening or trying to open it to everyone who ever thought about serving ad their momma.
Also, we make the 100 mile round trip to Little Rock Air Force Patch a couple of times a month and the bride says the Commissary offers values. Can’t much say the same for Class Six anymore. Unlike other states, Arkansas does not have a Costco but we do some shopping at Sam’s Club which is restricted on wine sales. The LRAFB Commissary is an older store and nothing like Fort Lewis, Benning or Barksdale but complaints are rare.
Earned benefit or privilege both work for me, CM. I refuse the term “entitlement” though. I am not entitled to anything I didn’t earn.
“Thanks Barry” for signing a bill developer and passed by a republican controlled Congress.
Hardly a veto-proof Congress, Lars. Barry got exactly what he wanted.
No. Congress got exactly what they wanted. Barry just did not stand in their way.
This was a congressional bill drafted and passed by a republican confess.
Oh bullshit. Barry was more pissed about GITMO staying open, and has an eight year track record of emasculating the military.
While I agree that both sides of the aisle have sucked over the last several years, I thought that Barry had a “phone and a pen”, so he could pretty much do what he wanted. I guess he didn’t WANT to.
HEY Babbles McButthead, let’s not forget that during the “Blowjob Willie” years that administration suggested getting rid of DECA altogether.
Haven’t had easy access to a commissary in a few decades. And can’t remember exactly when (maybe late 70’s?) the truly competitive prices made traveling more that a few miles to one much less than cost effective. That said, it was always fun going to one because there used to be so many products that just were not available in the local stores. Not so these days.
So, while I sympathize with everyone who will be negatively impacted should this raise grocery prices for you, not much else I can say about it.
About 45 minutes to Naval Support Facility Everett one way and 60+ (on a good day) to Joint Base Lewis-McChord the other. Don’t get to the commissary or BX much anymore.
And I am not defending Obama. He is too moderate.
But putting the blame for not blocking the action of a republican Congress is bullshit.
Blame the shitbags in Congress.
Trump would have signed the same damn bill.
I guess we’ll see, but I doubt that Trump is anything like Oblowme.
And “Obama was too moderate”??? Holy $h!t,, did you sleep through the last 8 years?
President Trump’s predecessor a MODERATE? DUDE, what do they add to the water there at UC Berzerkely, 100 octane retardohol?
That you call Obama “moderate” tells us everything we need to know about your ideology.
Neither party cares a damn about military, veterans, and their families. They are all talk but constantly cut , freeze, and rollback benefits when they think almost nobody is paying attention.
And almost nobody is ever paying much attention unless some politician decides to pretend to care about veterans to shame another political faction for not caring enough.
While I don’t disagree with you, I will say your diatribe is definitely very un-Berkley, dude. Aren’t you supposed to be railing against the military industrial complex?
There a few that care. Very few, but a still a few. Usually veterans themselves.
Hey Babbles McButthead, WHICH of the two major political parties does ALL it can to gut the Military? Which one is known for rallying against the same? I’ll give you three guesses but the first two don’t count.
Too bad reality does not concur with you. In your plane of reality that might be the case, but the republicans have a much better, though not perfect track record of siding with us.
Wish I even had a local Commissary anymore.
Ours was shuttered during a BRAC shoved down the local economy’s throats where they threw away Billions to save Millions,
90% of the land they promised would be”quickly turned over” is still behind locked gates totally unused some 6 years later, unless you count the thriving Deer population that moved in totally unchecked.
Nearest one now is over an hour away.
Pass.
Wegmans, Costco and BJ’s is ~10 min away.
The only reasons I can see for using commissary are if they carry something out of the ordinary or its the nearest thing.
I think that just like enlisted clubs, they can’t compete with competition just outside the gate.
I used to live not even a mile from the San Onefre Commissary on Pendelton. Tried it once or twice, but other than it being closer to pick up odds and ends I did all my shopping at Ralph’s in San Clemente.
If the Five Sided Puzzle Palace/military want to save money, then shut down most commissaries and PX/BX/etc within the US. Especially if they’re within 20 miles of a Big Box or other local store.
Only real savings from the exchange system is sales tax. DM does have a nice gunshop though!