COMMISSARY: FAQs, DECA Policy, Helpful Sites and Info

[PMFan]

Add yours tips, links

Let me know if a link is dead

YMMV: Commissary accept internet printables, but not for FREE items and coupon must have a scanable barcode.

DECA website includes links to several printable coupon sites
Commissaries.com - Links (http://www.commissaries.com/links.cfm)

Overseas shoppers can use expired coupons up to 6 months.

DECA Newsletter
http://www.commissaries.com/documents/news/news_2005/deca05-05.pdf (missing page 1 for some reason)

Enter Sweepstakes, links to printable coupons
MilitaryShoppers.com - Military Shoppers provides coupons, discounts, contests, commissary specials, and special offers for the active, retired, or military guard families (http://www.militaryshoppers.com/main.asp)

Sales Flyer
MAXI SAVER Group, Inc. (http://www.maxisavergroup.com/main.php?do=money_saver)#
Military Life.com - User Log-In (http://www.militarylife.com/shopping/monthly/)
Military Life.com - User Log-In (http://www.militarylife.com/shopping/sale/commissary.asp)

On sale this week
Military Commissary DeCA Specials (http://www.militaryshoppers.com/onsalethisweek/index.htm)

Sales
Unilever Military Life.com - User Log-In (http://www.militarylife.com/shopping/special/unilever/)
Masterfoods Military Life.com - User Log-In (http://www.militarylife.com/shopping/special/masterfoods/)
Del Monte Military Life.com - User Log-In (http://www.militarylife.com/shopping/special/delmonte/default.asp)
Conagra 404: Page Not Found (http://www.conagrafoods.com/b2b/military/index.jsp)
Nestle 404: Page Not Found (http://www.conagrafoods.com/b2b/military/index.jsp)

Comissary locations, floor plans, email store director, other good info
Commissaries.com (http://www.commissaries.com/)

Military Life Couponer List
http://www.militarylife.com/shopping/store/

$top for $aving$ Military Flyer
Military Life.com - User Log-In (http://www.militarylife.com/shopping/monthly/#1)

MaxiSaver Coupons
MAXI SAVER Group, Inc. (http://www.maxisavergroup.com/main.php?do=maxi_saver_issue)

Printable coupons for military - requires registration
Military Life.com - User Log-In (http://www.militarylife.com/shopping/coupons/)

Coupon Use FAQ
Commissaries.com - Coupon Use (http://www.commissaries.com/documents/contact_deca/faqs/coupon_use.cfm)

Prices change right before the 1st and 16th - WHY ?
Commissaries.com - Prices of Commissary Items (http://www.commissaries.com/documents/contact_deca/faqs/prices_commissary.cfm)

What is the surcharge ?
SURCHARGE FAQ (http://www.commissaries.com/documents/contact_deca/faqs/surcharge.cfm)
Q: Why does DeCA make me pay surcharge on my commissary purchases?
A: Surcharge is applied to the total value of each commissary purchase because the Congress has mandated collection of surcharge (currently 5 percent) to pay for commissary construction, equipment and maintenance.
All surcharge dollars collected are returned to commissary patrons in the form of continually improved commissary facilities. The amount of surcharge applied to a commissary sale transaction is shown as "SCG" on your sales receipt.
Q: I used a lot of coupons to reduce my bottom line cost, and think that I paid too much surcharge.
A: if the total value of your order BEFORE coupon deductions is $100, surcharge is applied to this $100 total ($100 x .05 = $5). If you use $50 worth of coupons, your bottom line total will be $100+$5 surcharge=$105 - $50 coupon value=$55.
Surcharge is applied to the total value of a commissary purchase BEFORE coupon deductions to comply with the legal requirement to apply surcharge to the total cost of all goods sold in commissaries.
Q: Can I check sale prices online ?
A: Yes! https://www.commissaries.com/log_in/html/savings_aisle.cfm
login with last name, ssn and dob required to view the list.

Q: Can you use coupons at the case lot/tent sale
A: Yes

Q: Can I use a 'military only' coupon off base ?
A: Check with your off base store

Q: My commissary has self-checkouts. What happens with overage coupons?
A: The attendant has to over-ride coupons exceeding the item amount or the "up to" coupons.

FAQ - Does the Commissary
1. double or triple coupons? No
2. price match? No
3. allow overage ? Yes!!
see directive here: http://www.commissaries.com/inside_deca/publications/directives/DeCAD40_6_JN2007.pdf
4. accept manf catalina coupons ? Yes as long as it does not say 'redeem ONLY at storey xyz'
5. accept competitor coupons (manf coupons with redeem at xyz store wording) ? Yes, as long as it not say 'redeem ONLY at store xyz'.
6. accept one "military only" AND one manf coupon on ONE item ? No, DECA policy is one coupon per item. In rare cases, the vendor may allow more than one coupon per item as a special promotion but this is a rare exception.


SPECIAL ORDERS (S.O.):
If your commissary does not normally stock a certain item but ANY commissary does, then you can place a S.O. for that item:
See customer service for special order form or email your store director
You will need the item name and UPC#
You will need to order at least one CASE of item and you will be obligated to purchase
You cannot prepay for the special order
You pay the price it is when it comes in even if you ordered it when it was on sale

If your store DOES normally stock the item you want to S.O., then all of the above applies except you can order 1 or more EACH vice case and I do not believe you are obligated to buy the entire S.O. - check with your store to confirm this.

[hotcouponmama]

www.army.com has been a good resource for me. I like the travel section in particular - really helped let us know what offers were our there and we saved a bundle!

[PMFan]

sorry, i don't have anything specifically addressing this question.
maybe Jackie will see/answer this since she is a cashier........

ok anyone have a letter from Deca about using a $ off coupon with a BOGO coupon? I have a friend having issues with this. I don't have any but have had a few arguments over it then got my way. I would like to have a Deca letter about it. If no one has one I guess I will email them. Thanks

[Jackee]

ok anyone have a letter from Deca about using a $ off coupon with a BOGO coupon? I have a friend having issues with this. I don't have any but have had a few arguments over it then got my way. I would like to have a Deca letter about it. If no one has one I guess I will email them. Thanks

Hi Mara,

Unfortunately, I don't have an exact answer for you either. In fact, even in our store there is dissent among the approving persons as to whether or not this is legal according to the coupon fine print. The wording is gray and can be interpreted differently.

If you look at from the manufacturer's intent, using two coupons can be seen as double dipping. Their intent with the BOGO is to get you, the consumer, to try their product. This is the intent with the cents off one as well. Using two makes them lose money twice on a sale. Their view is that each coupon gives the consumer something for their purchase, one being something free and the other is $$ back, and each coupon says you can only use one (one coupon per purchase fine print).


The way we (coupon users) see it is that the BOGO is, literally, if we buy one, at any price (on sale, regular or with a coupon), then we get one free. According to our theory, the BOGO coupon does NOT say that we cannot use a coupon on the one that we are purchasing. We think-- the cents off coupon is matched with the one we are paying for and the BOGO coupon is matched with the free one. Each coupon has a product that it is matched with so that is one product per coupon and we are not violating the "one coupon per purchase" fine print.

These are, of course, my own personal statements. I don't even think it is up to DECA to say one way or another. It should come from the manufacturer. DECA is bound by the wording on the coupon and if it is vague then, who knows?!!!

My best answer is to email the manufacturer or hopefully find a person/cashier who reads it your way.

Jackee

[kurlisola]

My personal feeling on the buy 2 items, use $/1 & then bogo for the other, is that its wrong because the coupons say not to be used in conjunction with other coupons. That said, everyplace I go seems to allow it & most everyone here says their stores allow it, so I do it. I guess it is a gray area & the manu need to address it if they feel it is a problem. I don't think the poster will get satisfaction with the manu though. Some of their reps are just as coupon unfriendly as some of the cashiers I've dealt with.

[ezzie65]

I had a similar situation as far as what would be considered "double dipping" or even triple dipping for that matter but the manager (who I know personally since I'm a vendor at the commissary) didn't seem to mind because she didn't say a word as she rang out my coupons. Here's how my deal went: There were 3 coupons,
#1buy Planters nuts get FREE Bakers dipping chocolate
#2 save $2 on baking nuts when you buy Jell-o no bake pie mix
#3 save .55 on Jell-o no bake pie mix.
So I bought .69 Planters Nuts + 1.29 Jell-O no bake pie + 1.50 Bakers dipping chocolate= 3.48 + .17 (5% commissary upcharge) -2.00 - 1.50 -.55 = .40 profit x 10 = $4 profit. So I had 30 items I paid -$4 for. Actually my bill with all of my other deals was $165.70 - 137.10 in coupons= 28.60 total, sweet deal huh? I hope all you thrifty shoppers out there know that "overseas" duty stations get coupons sent to them from the continental US. This includes AK & HI. You might have to do some research on where you get them. Such as ours go to the Community Center and Airman Readiness Center. Sweet little old ladies (and young ones too I'm sure) from different groups such as the Daughters of Jewish War Veterans clip coupons and send them "overseas" since the amount of coupons we get here are minimal/limited. If you have any questions feel free to PM me or post it here, although I'm not sure I've posted enough to be able to get PM's yet...

[PMFan]

yes you can use coupon on sale items at the commissary and BX.

you can also use coupons when you price match at the BX.

i'm not sure about the BX bogo policy but what you were told it true for most stores so that is most likely true.

Hi! I'm a coupon newbie. Can someone tell me if the commissary lets you use coupons on items that are on sale? What about the BX (I realize they are separate entities)?

I talked to a BX manager the other day about coupons. When asked (hypothetically) about BOGO deals, she told me that I couldn't use a coupon on the one I was for which I was paying. Any veteran couponers know if that's true? Thanks!

[caranicole]

Does is make a difference how I'm getting the BOGO? For instance, I know I probably can't use a BOGO coupon and a manufacturer's coupon on the same item. But what if the BX has a special offering a product as BOGO? Can I use a coupon then since it's the only coupon I have? I ask because they have my foundation as BOGO next week, and I have $1/1 Revlon coupon. Obviously the BOGO is the better bargain, but it would still be nice to save a buck!

Thanks!


yes you can use coupon on sale items at the commissary and BX.

you can also use coupons when you price match at the BX.

i'm not sure about the BX bogo policy but what you were told it true for most stores so that is most likely true.

[PMFan]

this scenario should be no problem at any store:

item x
item x
- $x/1 item x (off the one you DID pay for)
- item x store bogo sale

i've also done the following - though YMMV

off base (not exchange):
item x
item x
- bogo manf item x
- store bogo sale item x
= free

item x
item x
- $x/1 manf coupon
- $x/1 manf coupon
- item x store bogo sale


Does is make a difference how I'm getting the BOGO? For instance, I know I probably can't use a BOGO coupon and a manufacturer's coupon on the same item. But what if the BX has a special offering a product as BOGO? Can I use a coupon then since it's the only coupon I have? I ask because they have my foundation as BOGO next week, and I have $1/1 Revlon coupon. Obviously the BOGO is the better bargain, but it would still be nice to save a buck!

Thanks!

[PMFan]

if your store accepts competitor coupons, ask them if they'll take military manfacturer coupons.
I was curious if you can use the manufacture coupons you find at the commissary that say military store at other stores??

[PMFan]

ok, was able to ask my fav cashier today !!

1. hit QTY key
2. input the qty of like product (or like coupon*)
3. press enter
4. scan product (or coupon)

*if the qty of coupon does not work, then try entering a lower number in step #2.
for example, you have 25 of like coupon, if 25 does not work, repeat steps above three times using qty of 10, 10 and 5.

[PMFan]

not sure what system my store has though it's fairly new.

no key required for the six 4/1 monistat for $24.
for the 15 3/1 KY, she split into 3 scans in groups of 5 ($15 each)

hth

There are dollar amount limits that are in effect for entering quantities of coupons. I believe it's $15 or $20, and after that a manager's key is needed to approve.

[PMFan]

key strokes print out

[InItaly]

I notice price changes both up and down, but never can seem to figure if there is a certain day or not. Anyone know?

[deepseamommy]

I have noticed the same thing. Couponmom's approach to logging each weeks price to see when the lowest comes around does not seem to apply here. Prices seem to stay fixed indefinitely. Is there a pattern?

[PMFan]

no real pattern that i know of

Prices change right before the 1st and 16th - WHY ?
Commissaries.com - Prices of Commissary Items (http://www.commissaries.com/documents/contact_deca/faqs/prices_commissary.cfm)
I notice price changes both up and down, but never can seem to figure if there is a certain day or not. Anyone know?


I have noticed the same thing. Couponmom's approach to logging each weeks price to see when the lowest comes around does not seem to apply here. Prices seem to stay fixed indefinitely. Is there a pattern?

[ctmrichard]

Wow, thank you all so much for all of this info. I had no idea the commissary was OBLIGATED to pay you overage! For anyone else wanting to print this to carry with them please refer to the first post of this thread. Then look on page 40 very bottom and page 41 very top. Specifically Letters N and Q.
I also didn't know you could redeem bottle caps at the commissary. This is the best website with the greatest people. Where else would you be able to communicate with other military families about using coupons on base?
Thanks everyone for sharing!

[mommyto3angels]

Question: what kind of bottle caps can you redeem and for what?
Is this right?Help with this scenario,please?
I bought 10 3pkg Marcal paper towels with the FREE up to $4 Q, and the coupon scaned for $3, but than the casheir went and adjusted every coupon down to $2.29.I did not say anything in there but than when at home I was thinking that is like adjusting the coupons full value down to the price of the item, in wich case it is against the DECA policy, isn't it?

[tivaclare]

If the coupon says "Up to" and the actual price of the item was 2.29, then the cashier did the right thing.

[mnmbug7]

Question: what kind of bottle caps can you redeem and for what?
Is this right?Help with this scenario,please?
I bought 10 3pkg Marcal paper towels with the FREE up to $4 Q, and the coupon scaned for $3, but than the casheir went and adjusted every coupon down to $2.29.I did not say anything in there but than when at home I was thinking that is like adjusting the coupons full value down to the price of the item, in wich case it is against the DECA policy, isn't it?

She did the right thing only if there was an area to write the price of the product in.

Here is what the directive states:

g. If the coupon states that the value is up to, but not to exceed a certain dollar amount and provides a space for the cashier to write in the cost price of the item, the customer will be given credit for only the actual cost of the product.

[dlearyous]

The link is dead to this one -

DECA Newsletter
http://www.commissaries.com/document.../deca05-05.pdf (missing page 1 for some reason)

[angithor]

Question -- was told at Ft. McPherson, GA commissary today that they will not accept smartsource coupons???? It was a smartsource coupon from a blinkie (found at Publix). Anyone have this issue?

[PMFan]

i'm quite sure the policy reads that the coupon must say "manf coupon". blinkies do not have this wording on them.

i just re-read the policy. para 7-3 does NOT have this stipulation.

only that the coupon must say coupon.
http://www.commissaries.com/inside_deca/publications/directives/DeCAD40_6_JN2007.pdf

what was your store's reason for not accepting the coupon?


Question -- was told at Ft. McPherson, GA commissary today that they will not accept smartsource coupons???? It was a smartsource coupon from a blinkie (found at Publix). Anyone have this issue?

[hrborn]

They have blinkie machines in my commissary :biggrin:.

[PMFan]

that is interesting and good to know!

still waiting to hear from PP on exactly why her store refused to accept them...

They have blinkie machines in my commissary :biggrin:.

[pmorse]

Did anyone ever find out the decision on whether or not you can get cash back when you have overage? Is it in the deca policy yes or no somewhere? thanks

[pmorse]

ok. my commissary is saying that they can't special order an item because it is not carried in their region but I know commissaries in other regions carry it. Can they order it and where does it say that they can so that I can show them or do I need to just email deca? I think they would order it if they knew how but what do I say? thanks

[hrborn]

I had that problem at the Grand Forks Commissry. They explained it to me but I can't remember all the details of it. They are only authorized a particular list of items based on what size store they are.

BTW--I was trying to order the Huggies flushable wipes.


ok. my commissary is saying that they can't special order an item because it is not carried in their region but I know commissaries in other regions carry it. Can they order it and where does it say that they can so that I can show them or do I need to just email deca? I think they would order it if they knew how but what do I say? thanks