Defense Commissary Agency
Corporate Communications
1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800
Tel: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105 DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105
FAX: (804) 734-8248 DSN: 687-8248
www.commissaries.com
Release Number: 61-21
Date: August 17, 2021
Media Contact: Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist
Tel.: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
E-mail: kevin.robinson@deca.mil
‘How are we doing?’
Customers can evaluate their benefit through
annual Commissary Customer Service Survey starting Aug. 23
By DeCA Corporate Communications
Military customers worldwide will have the opportunity to evaluate their stores through the annual Commissary Customer Service Survey (CCSS) starting Aug 23. To read the story on the DeCA website,click here. To see it on DVIDS, click here.
FORT LEE, Va. – Military customers worldwide will have the opportunity to evaluate their stores through the annual Commissary Customer Service Survey (CCSS) starting Aug. 23.
The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) survey will be available for 10 consecutive shopping days ending on or before Sept. 8, depending on the commissary’s operating schedule. Customers will be able to take the survey at the commissary entrance area before they shop.
“This CCSS allows us to benchmark commissary performance during a fixed period of time,” said James Taylor, chief of DeCA’s store operations division. “We’re committed to delivering a premier customer experience in every store, and this survey platform continues to be a powerful tool to help us do that.”
Customers will be asked at random to participate in the survey which evaluates areas such as customer service, pricing, savings, product availability and selection, cleanliness, store layout, and produce, meat, grocery deli and bakery quality.
After agreeing to participate, customers will be presented with three options:
- Scan a QR code and take the survey on their own mobile device
- Have the store employee ask the questions and enter responses in the store’s iPad
- Or personally complete the survey on the store’s iPad
Commissary associates will use disinfectant wipes to sanitize the iPad between uses, and provide gloves to each customer electing to use the store device. The precautions are part of the safety measures used during the 2020 CCSS cycle to help prevent COVID-19 exposure.
“Care will be given to continuing social distancing measures,” Taylor said. “We are working with our associates at each location to ensure the proper safety protocols are in place.”
Last year, more than 20,000 shoppers rated the commissaries an overall 4.46. The score is based on a 5-point scale, ranging from 1, “Poor,” to 5, “Excellent.” Customers gave commissaries high marks for helpful and courteous employees, store cleanliness and layout, and convenient hours.
In addition to the annual CCSS, DeCA also employs ForeSee, a robust survey platform that gives commissaries a real-time snapshot of patron feedback throughout the year, accessible at the link provided on the bottom of every purchase receipt.
“These surveys give our customers opportunities to determine how effective we are in delivering their commissary benefit,” said Brian Myrick, management and program analyst. “We use the data from their responses to help improve their shopping experience. In effect you can say they’re helping themselves by participating.”
-DeCA-
I always love to shop at the Maxwell AFB Commissary. I have shopped here for over 20 years so I have seen lots of changes.
I visit the Patrick AFB commissary mostly to support the military and continue getting the brands/products I am accustomed to after 30 years in the Army. However, I have found that the prices are not always better than commercial stores and lately the availability of items is lousy. We drive 90 minutes each way to shop there and it is very frustrating to come home without everything on our lists. Also I have had bad experiences with the produce…spoils within days of purchasing. So I’ve resigned to buying packaged products and fresh meats only. Also my Commissary Rewards account will not work to access coupons. As I age, I fear that I will have to drop my love for the commissary and resort to local shopping as this particular location is declining and not worthy of the time/effort to shop there.
I have noticed that the products in the commissary have diminished over the years. Noting the selection has been limited. The pricing has increased that most of the commissary items can be purchased in town for less.
OUR commissary here in Pensacola, FL is the worst of the lot…When an item is out of stock, it takes sometimes weeks or months to restock… I have complained about this issue several times but it seems my complaints have gone unnoticed… Prine example is Pepto Bismol NONCHEWABLE tablets have been out of stock for more than a year…WHY??? Did you geniuses at HQ delete them as a line item?????
This damn mask mandate is totally unnecessary…
The Commissary at NAS Pensacola is a joke. The shelves are bare, everyday items are in short supply. The meat dept is lacking in product and the lack of cashiers? Well why are there only two/three opened? Perhaps a change i Management is in order.
My experiences in the commissary have been wonderful. The people are friendly and helpful. The food and products or fresh with expiration dates that reach far into the future.. It is a pleasure to shop there
The lunch meat department had a great assortment of “German style” lunch meats.. They have all been discontinued. Why?
I have signed up for coupons and never receive any. The only coupons on website are for pet food ( don’t have any) and chips.
Very happy with the Ft.Leavenworth commissary! It is Well organized, well stocked, and clean.! Employees helpful and pleasant! Prices are reasonable! I am 82 years old and have been shopping there since 1967!
I’m so thankful our Commissary at McClellan Park has upgraded all of their registers. However, now at the self-checkout, you cannot write a check?????????????? Can this please be fixed????????????? Otherwise, I feel we have hard workers folks who do all they can to make our Commissary great.
Thank you!
Let’s be real here. Of course you got a 4.46 score, when the survey isn’t easily accessible to everyone. Also who in their right mind is going to tell the commissary employee with the iPad, that the store in question has expired HBA, and dairy on the shelf, along with their employees are just walking around gossiping amongst them selves, instead of stocking empty shelves. Prices are higher than out the gate in a lot of instances, with off base BOGO’s and adding coupons. The Commissary really isn’t worth the trip it once was, it no longer saves the young GI’s the money it used to. I get so frustrated going to Hurlburt Field’s Comm. anymore, I’m not sure why I keep subjecting myself to thinking things will change.
I shop at Ft. Dietrick in Frederick, MD and I have to check dates on every item I purchase. I have found expired dates on many items. It takes me a lot of time to shop due to having to check on dates. Please have someone check on this. Thank you.
Commissaries Produce Section here on JBER is very expensive. Fruits and Vegetables cost way more in the Commissary than they do in the Walmart store here in Anchorage.
Please make it easier to locate, find and filter the Rewards card coupons. And stop trying to ad items to a mysteriously s online cart every time I manage to add a coupon to the Rewards card.
I wonder why so much sales area in produce is taken up by pistachios? I never see anybody putting them in their baskets. And what’s with the price of beef? I don’t even look at tenderloin steaks any more.
On August 25, Pensacola Corry Commissary, I saw a woman I know to be a checkout clerk park in the handicapped spot closest to the store’s exit doors and then saw her at work inside. Really? Take up a handicapped spot for however many hours her shift is??? That’s a bigger waste than the reserved white star spot that is always unused. Yup, I have a handicapped parking permit, and yup, I often have a much longer walk than it would be from the handicapped spots if they weren’t already in use..
MANY prices are too expensive for us. We can do better shopping at Walmart or Smith’s. At these stores there is no tax on food or any surcharge. And we do not have to pay for bagging.
The Commissary prices have become less competitive in recent years.
Many items (especially organic) have been eliminated. In general organic food (etc.) is
healthier for the active duty folks as well as retirees!!
I dedicated 42 years to my country because the value proposition of my retirement benefits were compelling. Yet the commissary has continuously declined in value and quality. We drive 60 to 70 miles one way to get to our Commissary at MCB Quantico. For the most part we buy most of our groceries there; however, it’s frustrating to see our favorite brands and specific products get dropped or remain un stocked without any explanation or recourse. In my experience the commissary comments cards are useless. Because I achieve a very successful career and rank I call directly to the DECA senior staff because when I engage the store staff they deflect or defer to “the Headquarters” or the regional buyer. Your civilian competition has direct access feedback between customers and store managers and stockage issues.
Now regarding the annual survey…this is the 21st century and the technology exists for DECA to reach out to every customer virtually. I was looking forward to doing the survey but there is no access other than at the store. That is not a truly representative survey and will likely result in skewed results.