Click2Go

Will Commissaries Be No-Cashier Stores in the Future?

09/14/2018 By Amanda Marksmeier

One afternoon I found myself on post with time to spare. After I grabbed a coffee and checked out the thrift store I wondered over to the commissary to pick up a few items.

We live 45 miles from post so my trips to the commissary are usually scheduled and mapped out to make the greatest use of my time and money. On this day I just happened in, deciding I would stroll through the aisles until something piqued my interest.

As I walked up and down the isles I noticed a larger than normal number of shoppers but it wasn’t until I attempted to check out that I realized my mistake.

It was payday. And as all military spouses know a visit to the commissary on payday can carry the same frenzy as shopping on Black Friday or Christmas Eve.

To help alleviate some of the frenzy DeCA is considering innovative technology that could put an end to long checkout lines.

DeCA Considers No-Cashier Store Technology

Recently Amazon launched, a first of its kind, no-cashier store in Seattle. Amazon Go allows customers with the app to select items and simply walk out.

The technology used can tell when items are removed from shelves and placed in your basket.The store uses cameras, the app and barcodes to monitor shoppers, charge accordingly and automate payment upon the shopper exit from the store.

Shortly after leaving the store, the app charges the customer’s Amazon account and emails the shopper his or her receipt.

DeCA is considering implementing similar technology in commissaries.

This concept could be a valuable time-saver for service members during the post-PT breakfast hour and lunchtime rush. Patrons can quickly select items and head back to work without waiting in long lines.

Busy parents would also benefit from a no-cashier shopping experience. They could quickly purchase last-minute dinner items, after-game snacks or cupcakes for a birthday party.

The no-cashier option is a wonderful alternative to traditional checkout lanes.

Instead of No-Cashier Stores, I Want Grocery Delivery Services

In my opinion, in addition to the no-cashier option, the commissary should consider grocery pickup and delivery services.

If they truly want to eliminate long checkout lines, eliminate the need for patrons to physically visit the store.

In my area, the big box stores offer grocery pick-up. This system allows shoppers to order weekly, monthly or daily supplies online, schedule a pick-up time and pay for items all from the comfort of their homes.

One downfall with this method (in my experience) is the pick-up times are never convenient.

They usually do not have pick-up times available the same day, so shoppers must order groceries a day or two in advance. This would be OK, except for those times when you need milk, bread and eggs in an hour and can’t make a trip to the store.

Related: Dear DeCA, Please Expand the Click2Go Program

My favorite option is grocery delivery. This is an amazing time-saver. I order groceries from the delivery app, select a delivery time, usually within an hour or two and pay for my purchase. Groceries arrive on time and I use my time to take care of more important things like catching up on work or relaxing with a good book.

Oh, did I mention, most services deliver wine too!

There is a fee associated with these delivery services, which I happily pay, considering it a convenience fee.

One downside to grocery delivery service is sometimes store sales and loyalty cards apply to the purchase. If you are an extreme couponer or on a tight budget this may not be best the option for you.

Time will tell if DeCA will decide to implement this technology and/or alternative processes to improve the shopping experience, but I believe they are moving in a positive direction by acknowledging issues and seeking alternative solutions.

If DeCA adopted a no-cashier technology, would you be more likely or less likely at shop at the commissaries?

Why the Commissary Bagger Topic Struck a Nerve

04/16/2018 By Kimber Green

Bagger-free checkout lanes at your commissaries are quite the hot topic.

In response to a recently published article about these checkout lanes, many readers wrote comments with their opinions on having baggers or not. Don’t panic if you didn’t read the article yet. DeCA, the Defense Commissary Agency that oversees commissaries, is not doing away with baggers at this time. They are simply adding bagger-free checkout lanes at commissaries because customers asked for this option.

We asked for your opinion on having your groceries bagged and there wasn’t a shortage of answers.

DeCA does a lot of listening. When customers make suggestions for changes at the commissaries, they really do take them into consideration. DeCA’s vision is to

Understand our Customers and Deliver a 21st Century Commissary Benefit.

They want to know what patrons would want to see changed or improved upon at their commissaries. When they had shoppers ask for bagger-free checkout lanes, they responded. Commissaries across the country started offering bagger-free checkout lanes alongside the traditional checkout lanes.

Commissary managers receive input from shoppers on a daily basis.

Why the Commissary Bagger Topic Struck a Nerve

DeCA is always listening to your suggestions. They want to improve your shopping experience at the commissary.

One of the popular requests is to increase the natural and organic section. Many Americans are becoming more health conscious. They read nutrition labels and want to know that what they are buying is healthy. There are grocery store chains that offer large natural and organic sections and some that have made the transition to offering only these products. If commissaries want to compete for customers, they’ll need to meet these needs.

Along the same lines, there are millions of Americans that have special diets. Food allergies are prevalent. Patrons have said that they would do more shopping at commissaries if there were more options available for these special dietary needs.

Dairy allergies for example are very common now. While commissaries offer dairy-free products, their selection is still very limited. Shoppers have asked for a larger selection to include dairy-free cheese, yogurt and sour cream. Customers have also said that there are very little wheat- and soy-free options in the frozen foods department.

Another suggestion that has been made to help commissaries keep up with today’s shoppers is to add online ordering for curbside pickup. Many grocery stores now offer this option. Online ordering, like Click2Go, is a huge convenience to be able to order your groceries and simply pick them up.

If the commissary wants to attract more shoppers, online grocery shopping is a sure way to get them.

What many patrons who have suggested this do not know, is that there are commissaries already testing this out. The pilot test done at these commissaries turned out to be so popular that the program is going to continue at those facilities. Hopefully, DeCA will roll that option out to more commissaries in the near future.

One last request is to offer home delivery of groceries from commissaries. Many people have turned to Amazon Fresh and Peapod for their needs. Having groceries sent right to your home would certainly be a 21st century shopping experience.

Home delivery would be a huge undertaking for commissaries of course, but it would bring a large customer basis to the wonderful commissary benefit that veterans have earned. Shopping at the commissary is a great benefit that many veterans and their families are not taking full advantage of. Adding home delivery would increase the number of people using the commissary benefit.

DeCA is always listening to your suggestions. They want to improve your shopping experience at the commissary. Many additions and changes have been made over the years thanks in part to patrons talking to the management team at commissaries.

If you have a suggestion, speak up. Your voice could be the one that makes the changes happen.

What changes would you like to see at your commissary? Tell us in the comments section.

Commissary to Expand Online Ordering Program…Soon

08/21/2017 By Veronica Jorden

Picture this. You’ve just returned from a much-needed (and well-deserved) vacation. The fridge is bare. The pantry is nothing but dusty, empty shelves. You’ve got enough laundry to clothe a small village, a stack of mail the size of the Chrysler building and all you can think is, ” I need a vacation from my vacation.”

As you sit trying to muster up the energy to take care of your suitcase, you glance over at the kitchen and your oldest is standing in front of the refrigerator, doors open, eyeballing a stick of butter. Your spouse is rummaging through kitchen cabinets, mumbling something under his breath about starvation. After several unsuccessful deep drawer raids, he turns, holding up a packet of soy sauce and a bag of crushed cracker bits before declaring the obvious.

“We need to go to the commissary.”

And while a trip to the commissary promises everything you need to keep your family fed, the thought of navigating the aisles and elbowing for position in line sounds about as much fun as a root canal.

If only the commissary offered the option to shop online.

If only you could let your fingers do the walking and send in a list of your must-haves for the week.

If only someone would gather all of the things you need, bag ’em up and have them waiting for you when you got there.

Does such a magical service exist? Could “going to the commissary” ever really be as easy as pulling up to the curb and popping the trunk?

Commissary to Expand Online Ordering Program

There aren’t definitive start dates for the online ordering program expansion yet, but the idea already has lots of people looking forward to the option.

If DeCA follows through on plans to expand their curbside pick-up services, you might just be in luck.

Currently, the commissary curbside pick-up program, called Click2Go, is only offered at 3 stateside commissaries. But, as part of DeCA’s continuing efforts to keep the commissary system operational and moving toward sustainability, this convenient service may be coming to a commissary near you soon.

Folks at Fort Lee, Offutt Air Force Base and Travis Air Force Base already know the ins and outs of the Click2Go program. Launched in 2013, the original pilot program was only supposed to last for one year. But due in large part to the astounding positive reception, the program was extended at those 3 locations indefinitely.

Initially intended to help encourage shoppers under 35 to use the commissary more often, the program saw success with older shoppers as well, proving convenience really doesn’t have an age limit. Almost all products available in the commissary are available on Click2Go, including items from health and beauty, deli, freezer and meat/seafood departments.

Currently, the program charges no fees, has no minimum purchase requirement and no tip is required for Click2Go employees.

Can you use coupons? You bet. Payment is tendered at pick-up so you can take advantage of both coupons and sale prices.

Better yet, you can shop 24 hours a day and pick from a list of available pick-up times most convenient for you. You can even place an order up to 6 days in advance.

There are no definitive dates on the expansion and there is already talk of charging a small fee for the service (much like at grocery chains across the country), but the idea already has lots of people looking forward to the option.

Just think, in the near future, instead of trying to figure out how to make a meal out of ketchup, stale corn flakes and pickles, you can use that 2-hour layover to place an order, and just swing by the commissary on your way home.

What do you think of DeCA’s plan to expand the online ordering program at the commissaries? Would you use it?

Finding Answers to Your Commissary Questions

04/28/2017 By Kimber Green

This year commissaries across the globe are celebrating 150 years of service. They have come a long way since then. In its humble beginning the commissary was merely an officer-only benefit allowing them to purchase goods at cost. Since then it has expanded to an indispensable benefit for all service members, retirees and their families.

You may have questions about this military benefit and finding answers has never been easier.

DeCA, the Defense Commissary Agency, manages all commissaries. They have a newly improved website, commissaries.com, where you can find the answer to many of your questions.

Commissary Locations

Do you know where your nearest commissaries are? Each time you PCS or are on vacation, instead of going to a commercial grocery store, look at commissaries.com to find commissaries near you. You can search by city and state or the ZIP code. There’s an alphabetical listing if you know the name of the military installation as well. You can even get step-by-step directions to the commissary right on the website.

Commissary Hours and Services, Including Case Lot Sales

All commissaries have their own page on the website. You can find store hours and services offered as well as special events such as case lot sales. It’s always a great idea to check their site before you go to an event as weather can cause cancellations.

Do you know about Click2Go? If you are near the commissaries at Fort Lee, Offutt Air Force Base or Travis Air Force Base, they have a special program known as Click2Go. You can order your groceries online and choose the time you want to pick them up. Then just head to the commissary and pay when you get them.

Don’t forget your coupons. You can see the weekly flyer online and clip coupons. Once you’ve picked up a Commissary Rewards Card at one of your nearest commissaries, you can go to commissaries.com and register it. From there you can clip digital coupons and have them added right to your Commissary Rewards Card. There’s no need to print and cut coupons any more. Simply have the cashier scan your card at check out.

Not sure what to make for dinner? There is a recipe section on commissaries.com. There is even a section with recipes specifically tailored for kids. Save a bit more money by choosing a recipe under the “Thinking Outside the Box” section. This page has recipes that use ingredients that are on sale that week.

Getting Your Commissary Questions Answered

There is a huge section for frequently asked questions on commissaries.com. Want to know how pricing works? You aren’t alone. You can read about how prices are determined, how they change and how savings are determined.

Many patrons have questions about the surcharge. You can find your answers at commissaries.com. The money is used to maintain and improve facilities. You can see a list of commissaries slated for construction as well. Fort Belvoir and NAS Jacksonville recently held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new commissaries at those military installations.

Did you know commissaries will be introducing a private label soon? You can stay on top of the latest news and changes with the commissary at commissaries.com.

While you’re there, you might want to read about the variable pricing test that is happening at 10 commissaries. The Department of Defense is always looking to improve your commissary benefit. Make sure you keep up to date with these changes.

Have you checked out DeCA’s improved website, commissaries.com?

Dear DeCA, Please Expand the Click2Go Program

08/29/2016 By Michelle Volkmann

If I had the option of going inside my commissary or shopping online for groceries with curbside pickup, I would opt for the convenience of the curbside pickup. Every. Single. Time.

That’s why when the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) announced the pilot program for Click2Go, the commissary’s online shopping and curbside pickup program, I was doing my happy dance inside my kitchen. Sure, DeCA was doing the pilot program at only 3 locations – Fort Lee, Va., Travis Air Force Base, Calif. and Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., but I was convinced that my commissary at Fort Detrick, Md., would be next in line.

Turns out my happy dance was a little premature.

Currently DeCA doesn’t have any plans to expand the Click2Go program, but the agency also doesn’t have any plans to eliminate the program.

I feel like it’s one of those military moments of “It is what it is” logic. It’s good for the people stationed at those 3 locations that offer Click2Go. But for the rest of us, don’t hold your breath.

Yet this optimistic commissary shopper isn’t giving up on her hope for Click2Go. I believe in the success of the Click2Go program and maybe all DeCA needs is a little nudge of positive reinforcement. Well here it is.

3 Reasons Why DeCA Should Consider Expanding the Click2Go Program

Convenience for Commissary Shoppers

I truly want to shop at the commissary, but sometimes pesky excuses get between me and its sliding doors.

Here’s an example of how these mental roadblocks go down inside my head:

I need to go to the commissary but…

I don’t have enough time to go and pick up my daughter from school.
My baby is napping. I really don’t want to take him out of his car seat.
It’s raining.
It’s snowing.
I don’t have cash to tip the baggers.
It’s payday. That place is going to be a zoo.

If I had the option of Click2Go, I would jump over those mental roadblocks with this simple phrase –

I’ll use Click2Go.

Boom. Mic drop. Done. No more excuses not to go the commissary.

Competition with Other Curbside Pickup Options

Click2Go isn’t the only curbside pickup game in town. You, like me, most likely have other curbside pickup options in your city. Many national grocery stores offer this service and many military spouses are taking advantage of this convenience.

That’s money that should be going to the commissary. But it isn’t. Why? People will pay for convenience. If the Click2Go program was expanded to more commissaries, more patrons could have the best of whole worlds –convenience combined with the competitive pricing offered at the commissary.

Listening Earns Loyalty

Every time I see a military spouse posting on Facebook that she’s “in love with the curbside pickup” at another store, it’s a sign that DeCA needs to expand its Click2Go program.

Customers are looking for a curbside pickup option, no matter, where they shop. When MilitaryShoppers asked commissary patrons what types of changes they would like to see at their commissary, they said that they want to see the Click2Go program expanded to more commissaries.

Making changes based on customer feedback earns customer loyalty. We know that the Department of Defense and DeCA are these massive government agencies and 9 times out of 10 we feel like our opinions don’t matter to the leadership. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if DeCA embraced this trend in convenient shopping options and expanded its Click2Go program? They already developed a pilot program. The pilot program is working. The pilot program is continuing at those 3 locations.

Now we just need to see it at 284 locations. Is that too much to ask?