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Annual Commissary verses Major Grocery Retailers Price Comparison of as of Apr 04, 2022, in West Central Florida (MacDill AFB in Tampa vs my local Wal-Mart, Publix, Winn-Dixie and Costco (Costco Meat Comparison only, no other goods).
Here's what I found: on Over-all prices (goods other than meat) vs MacDill's Commissary:
The Commissary is 1% HIGHER than my local Walmart, 19% lower than Publix and 18% lower than Winn-Dixie overall. All the mentioned local "Commercial Grocers" are within a 1.5 mile radius from my house in Valrico, FL.
Using meat prices only to include Costco: The Commissary meat prices are 30% lower than Wal-Mart, 51% lower than Publix, 54% lower than Winn-Dixie, and 16.5% lower than Costco (Costco is 7 miles from my house).
Metrics:
1. Commissary's total price overall INCLUDES the surcharge.
2. No taxes were applied to the Commercial Grocers to make it fair.
3. Items compared are name brand/size/qty only; if there were 2 stores with the same product and one without, said product was excluded from survey.
4. Total items surveyed: 38 (9 meat, 28 non-meat), with approx. 20 kick-outs due to missing product.
5. I Did not check Fresh Fruit/Veggies, Bread, Milk, etc., because unless you are feeding the 2nd Martine Division, buying bulk quantities for such leads to waste in my house at least. I will purchase those items when needed.
6. No beverages compared due to numerous item sales and discounts for bulk/normal purchases. I did however, note that while Soda prices are all over the place, buying 35 can flats at Costco is a much better deal that you normally find in at the grocery stores. For instance, a flat of 35 Cokes at Costco comes to .38cents per can, where as a 6-pack of can/bottles at the grocery stores runs a normal price of approx. $6.50 or $1.08 each. My advice, if you don't want to bulk up at Costco is to watch for the sales; prices fluctuate too much and too often for an accurate comparison.
7. If you are feeding the 2nd Marine Division (i.e. 2 or more teenage boys who always bring the friends over after school, 1 daughter and the wife, and you have the space, freezer and refrigerator capacity to spare, buy your paper products, long-lasting staples, possibly your meats as well, and beverages at Costco, along with incorporating a Commissary run for meat and other non-meats products. I do this every other month and manage to keep the big expenses down to under $300 for the 2 months and these types of products (only the wife and I at home anymore).
Consider your fuel prices; if you have to travel let's say 50 miles or more one-way to shop at a Commissary, current fuel prices require balancing cost savings verses your vehicle mpg and fuel prices. I live within a 38mile round trip distance from MacDill and I will not drive there to pick a few necessities that I missed previously when I have a local, clean and nice Publix approx. 1/4 mile from the house. Obviously, if you're spending big money, say $150 plus each time you go grocery shopping, the more you spend in bulk at Costco and the rest at the Commissary, those savings should make fuel costs for the drive almost moot.
8. Current supply system shortages I noted: Lamb (good luck finding quality Lamb; the Commissary had it last Saturday at $22 a pound), TP and Pasta types.
I hope this helps! 'Til next time.
Here's what I found: on Over-all prices (goods other than meat) vs MacDill's Commissary:
The Commissary is 1% HIGHER than my local Walmart, 19% lower than Publix and 18% lower than Winn-Dixie overall. All the mentioned local "Commercial Grocers" are within a 1.5 mile radius from my house in Valrico, FL.
Using meat prices only to include Costco: The Commissary meat prices are 30% lower than Wal-Mart, 51% lower than Publix, 54% lower than Winn-Dixie, and 16.5% lower than Costco (Costco is 7 miles from my house).
Metrics:
1. Commissary's total price overall INCLUDES the surcharge.
2. No taxes were applied to the Commercial Grocers to make it fair.
3. Items compared are name brand/size/qty only; if there were 2 stores with the same product and one without, said product was excluded from survey.
4. Total items surveyed: 38 (9 meat, 28 non-meat), with approx. 20 kick-outs due to missing product.
5. I Did not check Fresh Fruit/Veggies, Bread, Milk, etc., because unless you are feeding the 2nd Martine Division, buying bulk quantities for such leads to waste in my house at least. I will purchase those items when needed.
6. No beverages compared due to numerous item sales and discounts for bulk/normal purchases. I did however, note that while Soda prices are all over the place, buying 35 can flats at Costco is a much better deal that you normally find in at the grocery stores. For instance, a flat of 35 Cokes at Costco comes to .38cents per can, where as a 6-pack of can/bottles at the grocery stores runs a normal price of approx. $6.50 or $1.08 each. My advice, if you don't want to bulk up at Costco is to watch for the sales; prices fluctuate too much and too often for an accurate comparison.
7. If you are feeding the 2nd Marine Division (i.e. 2 or more teenage boys who always bring the friends over after school, 1 daughter and the wife, and you have the space, freezer and refrigerator capacity to spare, buy your paper products, long-lasting staples, possibly your meats as well, and beverages at Costco, along with incorporating a Commissary run for meat and other non-meats products. I do this every other month and manage to keep the big expenses down to under $300 for the 2 months and these types of products (only the wife and I at home anymore).
Consider your fuel prices; if you have to travel let's say 50 miles or more one-way to shop at a Commissary, current fuel prices require balancing cost savings verses your vehicle mpg and fuel prices. I live within a 38mile round trip distance from MacDill and I will not drive there to pick a few necessities that I missed previously when I have a local, clean and nice Publix approx. 1/4 mile from the house. Obviously, if you're spending big money, say $150 plus each time you go grocery shopping, the more you spend in bulk at Costco and the rest at the Commissary, those savings should make fuel costs for the drive almost moot.
8. Current supply system shortages I noted: Lamb (good luck finding quality Lamb; the Commissary had it last Saturday at $22 a pound), TP and Pasta types.
I hope this helps! 'Til next time.
Food/Chow
Shopping
Commissary
Economics
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Well I have a commissary right near me and only stop there occasionally for convenience. Prices are not that much better and most of the time they don't have what I need. Meat is pretty good but sometimes hit and miss. Produce is alright. Where I save money is paper goods like paper towels and Toilet Paper etc. They run sales every so often and when they do i stock up. Otherwise I go to Kroger.
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PO1 John Johnson
Do a price comparison, say pick 30-40 items of equal size/qty, which you can do without spending a dime other than fuel costs for travel and see how it comes out. You may or may not be surprised at the differences in total cost, and if the Commissary prices are significantly higher (say 5% or more) higher than your local grocery stores, I'd be respectfully asking the Commissary Officer just what's going on here?
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Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth
PO1 John Johnson - Unfortunately I have asked out Commissary leadership that very question before and they just shrugged it off and gave me the we'll look into it answer...plus our checkers at this commissary (not all but most) are rude and just nasty. One day a while back I went to get some TP. There wasn't a sign about the limit so I grabbed for or five packs while they were on sale. Went to self checkout and the woman yelled across at me you can only get two can't you read the sign. I turned and asked her I don't think you are yelling at me cause there isn't any sign. She yelled back yes there is well I said let's go and you can show it to me. we looked for about 2 minutes and she couldn't find it and then there was this handwritten notice under the napkins across the ails on the bottom rack that read limit two on paper products until further notice. She stopped and said see I told you it was here. I also had a full cart of groceries...went back up to the front and asked for the Manager and this woman disappeared in the managers office for about 3 minutes and then the manager came out and said there is a sign you only get two she done told you there is a sign and a limit and you only get two...I told her I didn't need to see her about the TP i needed to see her about her employees attitude...then she got attitude so I said well have fun putting these groceries up and I walked out the door. and now I only stop for last minute stuff if my wife calls...that's it.
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Anderson AFB commissary the cost of beef is $8.99, cost is just like outside or more. paper products is lower, if it's in stock.
But, the self service check out, is stupid and very slow, for every item you scan, you have to place the items in a bag, and can't remove the items from the bag shelve. Try fit all your items on the small shelf is stupid, and can't fit.
I'm told I can't place the items that I had scanned and put in a bag back into my shopping cart, because of theft prevention.
I asked the girl watching me scan, "How can anyone steal an item, when you are watching them take the item out of their cart, scan it, put it in a bag, and try to put the item on a shelf that doesn't fit all the items. End of story
But, the self service check out, is stupid and very slow, for every item you scan, you have to place the items in a bag, and can't remove the items from the bag shelve. Try fit all your items on the small shelf is stupid, and can't fit.
I'm told I can't place the items that I had scanned and put in a bag back into my shopping cart, because of theft prevention.
I asked the girl watching me scan, "How can anyone steal an item, when you are watching them take the item out of their cart, scan it, put it in a bag, and try to put the item on a shelf that doesn't fit all the items. End of story
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When I 1st got my new access card, I took my, never been to the commissary, second wife to Arnold AFB to look around. That was before this inflation started. I just read some of this to Her and she wants to go look again. It's only about 10-12 miles.
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SGT (Join to see)
PO1 John Johnson I'll add this. There are a couple of people locally that buy unclaimed freight/mail and Amazon return pallets at auction. I'd hazard a guess it doesn't happen only where I live. Then resell the contents on a local FB forum at well below MSRP, we sometimes can pick up cases of paper products for pennies on the dollar. I've gotten some pretty cool electronics in this manner also. Just be aware that not all shopping trips have to be at the "store".
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PO1 John Johnson
SGT (Join to see) - Just remember that what I'm seeing in the Tampa area may not be what you're seeing in your local area.
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PO1 John Johnson
Per the current inflation crisis, I noted that last year when I conducted my survey: Wal-Mart non-meat items were 7% less than the Commissary vs 1% lower now, Publix and Winn-Dixie were approx. 25-27% higher than the Commissary vs 18-19% higher now. Meat prices at Wal-Mart were approx. 16% higher vs 30% now, Publix and Winn-Dixie were 35% higher vs 51-54% higher now. Largest increases are in beef prices, along with "specialty" meats such as Lamb, Veal, etc. Even my go to Latino Markets can't get Lamb in any quantity, much to my chagrin. CostCo bulk canned goods and paper products, for which you'll need significant extra storage, beat the Commissary by about 5% but since I didn't need any, I window shopped them rather than do a price comparison.
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