Groceries

I got to ring up and bag my own groceries yesterday. I decided to run out to the Base Commissary and buy some milk, Sunkist orange soda, and gala apples. I've developed a real liking for orange soda lately and have been making the soda machine folks at work rich. I like the taste of gala apples and the Base Commissary has the best price on them. Compared to other places, the commissary can save you a $1 a pound on them. I also wanted to see if they had any luncheon meat ends for sale. Luncheon meat ends are the leftovers from the loafs and rolls of luncheon meat the delicatessen sells. I like to munch out on them. The Commissary sells them $1.29 a pound which is more half the price the local Giant supermarket sells them for ($3 a pound). The only problem with the luncheon meat ends is other people like them too. It's always hit or miss with trying to buy them. Sometimes I get lucky and sometimes I don't. Yesterday, I didn't.

They have good prices on other items as well. I was able to buy Louis Rich turkey breast for $1.50 a pound and 7 ounce bags of Gibbles cheese puffs for 72 cents each. Whole milk is only $1.76 a gallon. In my opinion, one of the best benefits I have from serving in the Air Force is being able to shop at the Commissary. It can really make a difference on the food bill.

Back to ringing up my own groceries, I think it was last year the Commissary introduced a new service where you could ring up and bag your own groceries. I think they did it as a way to save money. This way they don't have to pay for a cashier for four check-outs or the baggers. I would guess for the customer, the benefit is they get out of the Commissary quicker. For me, I just wanted to bag my own groceries and take them out to my car. I guess I was in a cheap mood and didn't feel like tipping the bagger 50 cents a bag. It was an interesting time. I'd always wanted to try out one of those scanners and get to weigh my own apples. The only problem I had ringing up my own groceries was when I tried to move groceries I'd bagged. The sensor would pick it up and the person who overseas the four positions would have to reset the alert. Overall, I thought it was a neat service. I definitely plan to use it again when I visit the Commissary again.