Category Archives: Commissary

Since I am new to commissary shopping, I decided to dig up some answers to some questions that I have been having.  Hopefully they will help you out as well.

Do commissaries accept coupons?
Yes. Commissaries accept most types of coupons as part of purchase transactions in accordance with the terms and conditions stated on a coupon.
Commissaries CANNOT accept “in-house” coupons issued by commercial grocery stores or supermarkets.
Patrons who wish to use coupons as part of a purchase transaction must buy the item(s) indicated on a coupon, and-except in foreign overseas areas-must use a coupon prior to or on the expiration date stated on a coupon.
Commissaries located in foreign overseas areas accept coupons up to six months after the expiration date stated on a coupon.

Do commissaries ever have “double coupon” or “triple coupon” promotions like those offered by commercial stores?  
No. The “double” or “triple” coupon promotions offered by commercial stores involve doubling, tripling (or otherwise increasing) the face value of a coupon. Commercial stores who offer these types of promotions get paid by the coupon issuer only for the face value of a coupon, and have to absorb the costs of “doubling” or “tripling” coupon face value in their pricing and profit structure.
Because commissaries are required by law to sell goods at prices set only high enough to cover the cost of those goods, commissaries make no profit from which to pay the costs associated with “double” coupon promotions.
Additionally, DeCA cannot use funds provided for the operation of commissaries to support such promotions, because law strictly prescribes the uses of these funds, and “promotional support” is not among the allowable uses of these funds.
Commissaries do occasionally offer a different type of “double coupon” promotion than described above. For these promotions, manufacturers or other coupon issuers agree that commissaries may accept more than one coupon on the purchase of an item, and usually supply large numbers of coupons to patrons in the commissary in support of such promotions. These “double coupon” promotions involve doubling the number of coupons accepted on the purchase of an item, but DO NOT involve doubling (or otherwise increasing) the face value of a coupon.

May I use coupons in combination on the purchase of an item in a commissary?
“No, customers may use only one coupon per item in DeCA commissaries. Even coupons without “exclusionary language,” such as “NOT TO BE USED WITH ANY OTHER COUPON, ” “NOT TO BE USED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER,” “ONE COUPON PER PURCHASE,” etc. , may not be used in combination on the purchase of an item. This policy is in line with the policies of other DoD resale activities and our commercial counterparts.”

Can I use coupons generated from the Internet in a commissary? 
Yes, commissaries gladly accept Internet or home-printed coupons provided they meet the following requirements – the coupons must have a typical barcode and Product Identification Number (PIN) or GS1 DataBar. A Dot Scan Barcode may appear below the expiration date, but is only required if stated on the coupon, e.g., “Do not accept without a Dot Scan Barcode below the expiration date.” Internet coupons cannot be accepted for free products, however, “Buy One Get One Free” coupons are acceptable if they meet all other requirements.
Procter and Gamble (P & G) does not authorize Internet coupons for any of their products.
  
 Do I have to use bagging/carryout services and tip a bagger for providing these services?
Baggers work for tips only, however, you may choose not to use bagger/carryout services at all.
(Good to know!  When I went last week they acted as if you had to use a bagger and I would rather bag my own groceries and take them out to my car and save a couple of bucks!) 

Why does DeCA make me pay surcharge on my commissary purchases?
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.