(context of post: CPO retiree, 24 yrs USN (mostly Jacksonville FL), now working in Charleston SC.)
NEX/Commissary facilities vary greatly from place to place. NAS Jacksonville is in the final stages of a major rehab/addition project to both and will be fairly first class compared against outside department stores/major chain grocerys I’ve shopped.
The tax angle has already been addressed, so I won’t continue that point except to add that there are savings on high ticket items if the NEX will meet outside prices for a particular item; most in the US will meet or beat an outside price.
One side note: If you’re looking for a truly top-of-the-line “Class 6” store (or equivalent) the USCG exchanges simply can’t be beat. I’m amazed at the quality of selection at the very small exchange here in Charleston.
Demo, in my experience, both overseas and INCONUS, they have baggers, even in the friggin’ express line, who expect donations. Personally, I’m more than happy to tip a bagger who wheels my stuff out to my car and loads it, but I won’t tip one whose job (in the express lane) it is to put eight items into a plastic bag.
Anyway, I’ve found that overall, I do save some money if I shop at the commissary, but if I shop wisely on the outside (taking advantage of supermarket sales and buying store brands for certain items), I can almost break even. Which is worth not having to drive all the way to base and back.
They expected a tip because they didn’t get paid any other way. Tips are (or were) their SOLE compensation for bagging. If you don’t want to tip, bag your own goods.
I’ve shopped in PX’s all my life. My Dad has been active duty Army my whole life so we always hit the PX for pretty much anything we need. For a few years though I was without an ID card so I had to shop in other stores and let me tell you I did not like it! The PX offers name brand items at great prices, yeah there might be cheaper items at your local Wal-Mart but it’s not the top of the line model like at the PX. You get great items at great prices. I shop there all the time.
As for the commissary, I don’t shop anywhere else because it would just be throwing my money down the drain. Yeah I have to tip my bagger but I do that at a normal grocery store too. Since I was at my commissary just yesterday I can tell you they have amazing prices compared to anywhere outside. Again, they offer name brand items but they offer them for less. They have these new Bargin Value Items too. Since I am goofy and as always forgot something major while at the commissary I ran to my local grocery store to pick it up. At the commissary, I can get a bag of 40 chicken nuggets for $4.50, at my local grocery store I got a box of 12 for $3.99. That was the grocery store sale price too! So I’ll keep fighting all the lines of the commissary and tipping my baggers happily
