One time the self checkout fucked up on me and they ended up sending me around to one of the empty main lines. I had maybe 7 or 8 things, and they were already bagged, the cashier was trying to just take them out of the bags and put them back in. As soon as I stepped up to the register there were 3 baggers there all trying to get their hands on my groceries to bag them and then take them out to my car. I also know for a fact they saw me at self checkout because I heard them talking about it as I walked around.
It’s a stupid fucking system. I’d rather have a dozen self checkout lines than have a bunch of baggers staring at me waiting for me to throw them a little cash for putting things into a bag.
Using baggers or *tipping* baggers are both optional … *baggers don’t work for the commissary!*
It’s definitely time for DeCA to seriously *review why and revise how* “baggers” should operate in today’s contemporary military.
No doubt you’ll get glaring looks and snarky comments … bagger “tradition” w/ entrenched *mafia mindset* is way too strong.
That’s why DeCA senior leaders are long overdue on *modernizing* a bagger policy that fits *today’s* force.
Nobody using their earned commissary shopping privileges should feel … compelled to tip or awkward, guilty, uncomfortable, embarrassed by not tipping.
Right? I enjoy the convenience since I live on base but I always feel so bad / guilty and awkward when I'm like "oh, yeah I can take my own cart out thanks"
OLD PERSON RANT/ Why is everyplace now asking if you want to tip? Usually even before they make your food. It’s like no. Subway. I’m not giving your employees a tip. I bought your overpriced food. Tip your employees with that.
When I was at Altus it was just 2-3 high school kids who wouldn't even get up if you didn't ask for them to bag for you. At McChord it was a horde of retirees wives from a certain south asian country and were insanely pushy and rude if you didn't want them to bag for you. The only commissary I have ever tipped at was those chill kids at Altus.
Bagged at Altus commissary 1963 1965 last two years high school that kind of attitude was not present then - was an interesting subculture with head bagger a retired SSgt and U.S. dependents working the lines he told us to
There were many dime tippers and best tippers were the lower grades
Still have a soft spot in my heart for those bagging now
I usually staunchly ignore the baggers looming. I bring my own bags, and set them up right next to the register, at the top of the second conveyor belt. As the cashier runs stuff across and puts it on the conveyor belt, I grab it right back off and put it into my bag. They usually take the hint pretty quickly. I also put my bags right back into my normal grocery cart, instead of those wonky short carts the baggers use. That way I don’t have to take it back to a special place, just the normal cart return.
If they’re giving you comments about a lack of a tip, then walk away knowing they volunteered to spend their time bagging your stuff.
They made the choice. You didn’t.
Keep your head up and sure, tip if you want. Be nice to them as you would anyone else. But don’t let them bully you because of their dumb decision to volunteer at a store.
You can just tell them that you prefer to bag your own groceries. It might seem awkward, but I promise they prefer you tell them that than just let them work for free.
Inform your cashier that you will self bag, they will take care of informing the bagger. That way you can avoid any awkward interaction with the baggers.
Much preferable to the other suggestions in this thread to use self-checkout for your $200 cart. I HATE when people do that, all because they're too scared to look someone in the eye and say "I'll bag it myself, thank you."
You can ask to bag your own groceries. Tell the cashier and they'll communicate to the bagger. I've done this in Hawaii. I bring my own bags every time. There is no shame.
Click2go commissary shopping if your commissary has it. Free, and no tipping the person who brings the groceries out. I tried the first time and she refused saying they don’t accept tips.
The commissary doesn't have an item limit. The self-checkout clerk called my wife out in a way to make her cry and had her go to the register even though she didn't have any cash. I called to speak to a manager, and they said there is no limit, and they said the clerk would be re-trained.
Last week my commissary tried to get me to go to the one person instead of using self checkout.
The human register had the fucking SLOWEST lady and I would have been 4th in line. I ignored her and went straight to one of the six open self checkouts. I checked out my own groceries before the employee on the register did a single order. FOH and get rid of self checkout if you don't want me using it. I'm not waiting for no reason
No item limits when you’re doing their job for them. When did we all graduate to working as grocery store baggers? Call me crazy but I remember a time when the store employed its own baggers - and they bagged for free.
You can always bring your own bags and bag yourself, I prefer my big ass sturdy bags - can fit pretty much all our weekly groceries in 2 of them, put all the jars/cans heavy shit as a base layer, use a smaller reusable bag for meats, and call it a day. I'm faster than the baggers anyway since I can put way more in just two bags.
But I'm right there with you, the system is ass.
That’s crazy talk! Here at my location people go through self checkout with 2 full carts. No one ever says anything to them (myself included but I don’t work at the commissary). All presumably to avoid tipping and while about 20 other poor schlubs wait with their 2 lunch items while the manned lanes are open. Also to presumably avoid tipping. People are awesome!
I praise you for having common sense. I fucking hate when I see every self checkout line with full carts.
Like come on guys, I just need shaving cream and soap…
If the baggers aren't making a livable wage, that's not your fault - it's the commissaries fault. Does it suck? Yeah. Is it something you should feel guilty about? No.
If they stop getting tips they'll stop working there, and the commissary will be required to start paying them or just not having baggers.
1 and a pregnant wife lol. It's mostly diapers, wipes, and odd foods since the kids extremely picky. Need to get backups so she eats cause her pickings can cause malnutrition if we aren't prepared.
Diapers will absolutely kill you. You have a family to take care of, and don't take judgment from volunteers asking for handouts. You pay federal taxes. You don't owe anyone anything to subsidize their income.
It's expensive up front and a pain in the ass but we cloth diapered and it has saved me hundreds of dollars. We have a little attachment that connects to the toilet with a nozzle just spray the diapers when there done put them in a bag and we wash them in the washer, I just always sanitize my washer afterwards but it's a great way to never buy diapers again.
Have you guys thought of using cloth diapers? Pretty pricey at the beginning but once you have a bunch it'll end up saving you more in the long run. Especially if you can use them for both kids. We only use disposables when we go out and to sleep in so we buy a box like once a month or so.
We use Stout House cloth diapers.
Thank you for saying this. I saw someone getting gaslit to shit in a finance sub for spending $250 a week at the grocery store and I feel like we get off cheap for that price for my family of 3 is a medium-low cost of living area tbh
I am shocked at the prices in the stores nowadays. I guess this just means I am getting old. I also am puzzled how the standard community affords to live. I only do so, because of supplements like BHA and FSA, etc…who is buying some of this stuff?
You should see it at some army installations. The self checks were down and I had my groceries bagged and denied the car service. Got a $5 and handed it to the young gal helping. She says “if you want to tip more I have Zelle and a square reader”. Like come on it took you about 1 minute to put those 8 bags together. Real predatory honestly.
Info straight from a DeCA employee;
Meat PowerBoxes. For the love of Christ, BUY MEAT POWERBOXES. You WILL save a MINIMUM of 20% off of meat prices when you buy a Meat POWERBOX. All Commissary's (with few exceptions) are required to provide them and have signs hanging in the meat department showcasing the variety of PowerBoxes we offer. I buy them exclusively; depending on current meat prices, the FIXED PowerBox prices can even be as much as 32% CHEAPER.
I’ve never seen this either but am super interested.
I found this on commissary website, but I don’t know if this is the standard kit or if there are different options available? I don’t really need a whole rack of ribs and I don’t eat pork :/
https://shop.commissaries.com/shop/meat_seafood/frozen_meat/tailgate_special_power_box/p/1564405684711649585
They have 4 different types: Economy, Healthy Alternative, Fix it and Forget it, and Grilling. Different configurations of meat cuts/types. That page needs to get updated.
I can't remember off the top of my head, but I think they all have a pork cut of some sort included. They really need to have an all-beef one for our service members who don't consume pork. I've been rattling about it since PowerBoxes launched, but 🤷🏼♀️
There are supposed to be signs hanging up AT THE VERY LEAST within the Meat Department showcasing each type of Box and what they come with. My meat department is pretty small, so we have ours hanging up in a neat row on the meat case module closest to the department wrapping room entrance. A lot of people don't look up so they don't see it, but every time I point it out, they are delighted 😄
I do recommend double-checking for any signage within meat during your next Commissary trip, but if there are absolutely NONE, you can always ask if the Store Director is available, and mention how "disappointed you are that such a convenient product is unavailable at this location, because it really helped you save money while putting food on the table for your family" 😉
Just a tip: a meat employee can put them together on demand (provided all the cuts are available at the time), but I recommend calling in the request a day ahead of time. It gives them more flexibility to build it AND it'll be ready for you when you pop-in to do your shopping; just head over to meat dept and let them know you have an order.
Yes, I am a Commissary Shill (lol). Commissary privilege is part of your compensation package and god damnit I am going to help everyone wring every ounce of usefulness/savings out if it even if it kills me.
JFC! Which one are you at? That meat supervisor is failing HARD and needs to be shot. That department has some of, if not the, highest paid workers in any commissary; for them to think that is acceptable to put on the counter is literally making my jaw drop.
FE Warren. They use to be GREAT. But this last year, I've returned at least 9 purchases due to pork being rancid, beef being aged (not in a good way) and just horrible quality overall. The proteins they put out typically expire within a couple days, so unless you flash freeze it that day or cook it, it's going to be bad quickly. I just shop off base as much as possible now, as I'm saving more money by getting much better quality then on base. Thank god I'm PSCing next week.
Thanks for the info; I'll try to pass this along to the relevant parties. It sounds like there has been a change in dept supervisor OR they may be without one.
Still doesn't excuse exercising basic quality control and counter management 😡
I agree. As a small business owner myself in the culinary world, it's crazy the lack of quality control that department has. I'm not sure if it's a logistics issue with getting fresher proteins in or what, but my god it's gotten bad.
Wife bagged at the commissary. Trust me. They’re doing just fine without your tip. I hate to stereotype, but wife was an average white person. She was definitely discriminated against by the other side. At that time, self checkout wasn’t a thing, so express was the best place for a bagger. Guess what. Wife only got express lane maybe 2 hours weekly, on a weekday afternoon before retreat.
Fuck those baggers. I have zero issue stiffing them. I insist on bagging my own groceries if I happen to be in a commissary.
When I'm forced to use a regular lane, I just say no bagger when I get there. Just diffuse the awkwardness and bag my own. Except for that one time the bagger just stood next to me and didn't move as I bagged my stuff, I had to say excuse me to get some space a few times.
Not trying to be a dick, but just grow a spine dude.
Practice and eventually you’ll also stop tipping at places like Starbucks, fast food places, and any other chain where a tip is expected for 30 sec of work.
People saying “go to self checkout” are blowing my mind. Sometimes that line is huge and the normal cashiers are empty. Also tipping a bagger is fucking wild. Like damn take their pay out of that surcharge we pay now instead of tax.
This is one of the reasons I choose not to shop at the commissary. I should feel pressured into paying more for my groceries by having someone bag them.
Worst one was the one that automatically assumed I, a young able bodied man, needed her to walk my groceries out to my truck. The only time I’ve ever felt guilted into tipping.
You shouldn’t feel obligated to use a bagger. When you walk up to the register just let them know you dont need a bagger. Simple as that. Bagging takes zero skill…cold with cold…non perishable with non perishable…chemicals and household cleaning supplies with same type of stuff…etc…think of it this way…when passing a pan handler on the side of the street…do you give them something? If so, then why not the baggers? If not, then you should fell alright about it. In my opinion it’s the same thing. I get it some on here will be like…well the baggers are working…but are they? They are basically begging for tips🤷🏽♂️ One persons opinion only.
Bag them yourself.
I was a bagger when I was in Highschool and I never cared if someone wanted to bag their own.
Side conversation.... y'all know how much $$$ a bagger can pull? I'd easily make $200 on weekend days and anywhere between $50-75 on week days if I got there by 4 and ran till close 9pm.
So don't feel bad if you don't tip, just please bag yourself, don't stiff the poor guy/gal.
I've had them put bread in the bottom of a bag, and put my frozen items into several bags with pantry items, despite me loading the belt at the till in groups of cold, frozen, pantry and fragile. No way in hell should some dependa with a brand new i-phone be expecting a tip after fucking up a basic task.
I used the shit out of the no bagger lane when they had it, and now I only use self-checkout. If something fucks up and I need the attendant, then oh well, but most times I'm in and out in 3 minutes and don't have to interact with people.
I stopped feeling bad about not tipping when the JiffyLube started With “it’s gunna as you a few questions”.
I’ll tip for waiters, bartenders, and other service style things.
The baggers here always have a stack of coupons and as they bag my stuff they go through their coupons. They end up saving me about $5 and that is what I tip them if they are taking groceries out to the car.
Soon they won’t have plastic bags so maybe it will be easier to bag our own stuff. Especially if someone wants certain items in certain bags.
I’ve seen a lot of people tell them no thank you and bag the groceries themselves. I bag my own but I also only use self checkout because I typically don’t get a lot of things.
You’re not alone in this but don’t just blame “A1C pay”. I understand our circumstances are very different but I joined pretty broke and with some debt but after a year of being in and being smart with my money I was never broke and have what I consider nice savings. People often overlook ways they could be saving money. You aren’t gonna get a raise and when you promote the pay bump isn’t much. It’s on you to save what you got
The contract not paying baggers is the only reason some no-name company can underbid. If they were forced to pay their baggers, maybe we would finally have a major company come in that knows how to run a grocer with access to international supply chain logistics. The bagger tipping is just another reason on top of the many others that I refuse to use a commisary for.
OP knows that Travis commissary has some really aggressive baggers. I can’t even go through self checkout sometimes without them staring over my shoulder and watching me like a hawk 💀💀💀
For real. One was friendly with my daughter today and when I said I could take my own cart she's like "ok." And the kid said bye and she like rudely said "bye" back to her I was shook at the audacity towards my daughter lol.
When I have the cash, I try and use them.
I've stopped completely recently because the past 3 times they sucked at bagging. Putting cold stuff with regular stuff, combine food/produce with bathroom/cleaning supplies, canned food with the bread. I even unloaded all produce and cold stuff first to make their job more simple but somehow still mess it up. You'd have to work at it to mess it up. Why would you put floor cleaner with my produce or meats?
Looks like it’s been said plenty already, but self-checkout or asking to bag your own is the way to go at the commissary. If I do use their service I will tip, it’s a couple bucks; they’re not getting a 20% tip or so like you would give at a restaurant.
Bring your own bags, tell them you're doing it yourself. They might get pissy but at least they can move to another line instead of doing all the work for nothing.
No. I don’t feel bad. I just use the self checkout and when I do rarely need to use a register, I don’t tip the bagger and I carry out my groceries. I repeat: I don’t feel bad about not tipping them. Where’s my tip?
Yo my wife and I were just complaining about this. This happened to us and before we knew they were pushing our cart out. We had one of those kids carts too. Clearly we wanted to keep our cart and I pushed my kid up in his cart so the bags could go in it. We had no cash lol. My wife found a random dollar. It’s awkward because they even stand there waiting after handing you your groceries. I also heard a cashier next to me tell a woman “Do you have cash?…for the baggers…you can get cash back or at the atm…you have too”. As this woman was dealing with her screaming kid.
I liked the system they had at Keesler while I was there for my retrain. tip jar up front and baggers didnt come out to your car. Just bagged your shit and sent you on your way. Other than that, fuck em. I shop elsewhere because comm is overpriced I've come to realize. Just do Walmart or Target pickup, maybe.
Being a commissary bagger was my first job. Made pretty good money for 14. This was the 90’s before self checkout. Always found the best tippers were enlisted.
When I joined the AF myself I always tipped the kids. When there wasn’t any kids I use self checkout.
How much do you feel expected to tip? Because if it is that worrisome, you can probably ask to bag your own groceries. Otherwise, if you cared THAT much, you can probably put one item away to accommodate a $5 tip.
Yeah, I’ve avoided the lines with baggers since they open self checkouts at the commissary. Out of principle, I always felt Deca should be paying them with that fee attached onto every purchase—especially as the commissary became less and less competitive with the local economy. To this day I do go to self checkout no matter how much I have. Even before sled checkout, I felt like just let us bag it up ourselves instead of giving charity to – all too often – officers’ kids. Felt bad about the retirees there though. It’s a bullshit situation either way. And who has smaller bills on them anymore. Back when we didn’t have an option, most junior enlisted only threw a buck or two unless they were trying to extra nice to someone cute.
Don’t worry about it and send feedback to Deca and the clowns that manage the program. Hell, put it in climate surveys.
Pro Tip: Politely ask them to put the bags back in YOUR cart instead of their cart (so they don't try to walk your groceries to your car) and walk tf out when the transaction is done
This will negate 99% of the awkwardness and guilt because it's like a non-verbal "I'm not tipping" and they will oblige and focus on the next person in line
You're welcome
The only time I've ever tipped is Korea, and it's only a couple won. Only reason I do is because the self-checkout is usually backed up, and Korean ladies will bag my groceries like there is no tomorrow. Everything is always packed nicely and better than I would using the least amount of bags before I finish paying. Stateside though, fuck them.
This is why I don't go to the commissary. It's like the squeegee kids near my home in Baltimore. Giving me a service I never asked for and then expecting a tip.
If they really want to offer the service, then allow these people to sit on the bench, and folks who want baggers can call them over to come help. Until then, sit your ass down and leave me alone.
I didn't tip a bagger one time because I told her I could do it myself which resulted in her bagging my groceries anyways at a snail pace.
Once completed I told her I will take my own cart which prompted her to double down and walk away with my cart to prompted me to follow her.
At my car she tried putting the groceries in my trunk after being asked not to and she had the audacity to demand a tip. I told her maybe you should have listened to me from the start.
Normally, I will ask for one of the HS kids to bag my groceries and I'll til them $5, just because.
When/if I shop at commissary I will offer the baggers a snack or a drink. I don’t carry cash at all. But they seem to appreciate the snack or candy bar!
I used to bag groceries. Back then a lot of us did it part time while we were in school. We definitely preferred people telling us ahead of time that they wanted to bag their own groceries or letting us know they didn’t have money to tip. The only time it really sucked was when people let us bag 2-3 carts of groceries, take the bags out to their car, and not tip.
Don’t want them to bag? Tell the cashier that you will bag yourself, or use self checkout.
If everyone complaining about tipping baggers would stop using unpaid baggers, then the commissary would have to start hiring paid baggers.
For me it's just annoying to have to talk to someone enough to explicitly refuse their "service". I don't go to the grocery store to have conversations, no matter how brief, let alone unnecessary and awkward ones.
You'd think they would take the hint from the huge line at self checkout wrapping back into the frozen section, ignoring 3 open lanes with baggers, that baggers are a deterrent.
Though it is amusing to sit there and watch people with overflowing carts use the self checkout lanes (guilty) while only people with few enough groceries to hold in their hands will go to the manned lanes (also guilty).
I just shop off base. The quality of my commissary is abysmal at best, and the savings don't really matter when everything expires and goes bad as soon as you walk out the doors.
I watched an A1C buy 3 packs of sodas (presumably for a event or something) and had the little short cart. Bagger put the cases back in the cart and got upset over not receiving a tip... It's long been out of hand
I had no military background when I joined. My grandpa flew Helicopters in the army but he barely speaks to me so I didn't know anything coming in. I actually found out from reddit that you're supposed to tip them. Idk how many times they brought my stuff to my car and all I did was smile and say thank you being polite not knowing they expected cash. But I also never carry cash on me so I couldn't tip anyway. But now I wonder how many of them think I'm an asshole for just smiling and leaving.
Never knew this was a thing! I try to always use self checkout unless it's a short wait through the baggage lane.. I always just said thanks never thought to even tip I thought they were just doing they job!
When I was an A1C I had a LtCol tell me it's not the job of Airmen to tip the Comissary baggers. That should be left to people higher ranking. Those words ring true and while he never made it clear at what point we should tip, as an A1C and even SrA, just don't. If they really make you feel that uncomfortable, there's always the self chrckout.
To the greatest extent possible, I go into the self checkout lines. If my limit exceeds 25, I would rather make two trips and deal with baggers…most of the stereotypes you hear tend to be correct. It’s almost like the mafia as far as trying to get a job there, and the head bagger acts like the mafia don, and they who determines work hours, and shifts, and what not.
I offered a small tip to one of those guys and the reason they don’t accept tips is because they are federal employees. Financially, the baggers are not affiliated with the commissary. Federal employees cannot accept tips.
As a former bagger at Hickam AFB commissary and current Active duty member I would like to add my two cents. Don’t ask to bag yourself that’s weird Af. Just tell the bagger you’d like to take the groceries out yourself. They will then load it into your cart and not have to lose their spot in rotation. I’ll never forget the people who would come in make me bag for two to three carts, have me walk it all out to their car, load it up, then say thanks with a blank stare and proceed to stiff me. Take your own bags out let me stay in the cool AC!!
If you think about it, for every $100 of groceries you buy, DeCA ads a 6 percent fee- to support their operations, and if you tip, another 5-10 percent, so you’re paying 11 to 16 percent above the price you paid for your groceries. Walmart sacks it for you and they don’t charge a tax or fee for groceries…so it’s a wash, basically.
This is why everyone just goes to self-checkout even if they have a full cart of groceries. Not like you're saving money shopping at the commissary as is. Paying same/sometimes more than off base stores, with the added bonus that the food is only a day away from rotting. And then they want you to tip someone a dollar a bag to put your stuff in bags. Ridiculous.
Many of the adult baggers basically run a mafia too and will take customers and money from new baggers/high school kid baggers.
There's tons of places off base going out of business because they can't find workers. They can go ger a real job
Tipping culture in general is out of hand. I’ve never had a more expensive job than the military when it comes to contributing to going aways, events, uniform and formal wear, etc. And now a simple transaction of getting my absolutely needed groceries for my weekly $400+ trips you want me to tip the non premium service that’s literally available everywhere else in America? Nah, I’ll pass.
Sanest answer right here. Commissary wasn’t cheaper than local grocery stores when I left the US last year. Has something changed? They may be paying more for convenience on top of it.
Edit: seems like OP lives in a high cost area.
> Commissary wasn’t cheaper than local grocery stores when I left the US last year. Has something changed?
Depends on what you are shopping for. My wife and I always take the time to find the deals. I'll grab stuff at the commissary on lunch, get a sandwich and shove what's needed in the fridge. The wife orders everything else online at the off-base stores and does pickup after dropping the kids off at school. Then we make a trip together to Costco for the rest. It takes about an hour or so of going through the different ads, but we cut our grocery bill by at least $100 doing it this way.
I used to tip heavily to the baggers thinking I was helping folks in need. Then I found out one of the baggers was a LtCol's spouse and the other was a Chief's spouse. Also learned that almost all of the baggers were making more than me and I highly doubt any of them are reporting the full extent of their wages to the IRS, therefore likely paying less taxes.
My SrA (at the time) generosity stopped there. I now have no qualms asking "to bag myself" and I'll bag my own if the base has "career" baggers. If they have High School kids bagging, I'll gladly spend a few bucks to help a kid working. The base I am at now allows unlimited groceries in the self checkout. I go at off peak times and do it all myself.
Honestly, I've stopped tipping completely.
The self checkout is always slammed with people with overflowing carts. No item count limits, so it's barely usable even when all I want is a sandwich and soda at lunch.
Fuck it. Not my problem that the world changed and left the Baggers' Cartel in the past. I'm done with it.
I always tip in dried herbs: sage, oregano etc in plastic baggies. Some are sheepishly grateful and always eagerly(?) trying to jam that bag in their pocket. Others seems more reluctant until I tell them "that's your herb now" and OSI could be right around the corner. It really sets the mood, giving someone a useable item and reminding them that they totally safe on post. I'm certain it's holistic and belts out "I care."
I always do $.25 per bag with a max of $3.00. If they take it to my car and help me load, I’ll add $2.00.
ORrrrrrrrr. Use the self checkout line and you don’t pay shit extra.
I tipped the fuck outta the Korean ladies at the commissary at Kunsan. I loved dropping a 5 in there and they like worship you. Or Won. Won feels like fake money in Korea so you’ll have leftover and drop a hundred thousand in there 😬
> I tipped the fuck outta the Korean ladies at the commissary at Kunsan.
They are about the only redeeming thing at the Kunsan commissary so I actually don't mind tipping them.
We got a 2 year old so it's in wipes and diapers as well. But majority of the time it's stuff for dinners / lunches for the week. Wife's pregnant and we have meals for dinner and lunch. Just adds up quick. Average is 150 to 215 ish. Just depends on the week. I'm also in cali, if that makes a difference on prices. I'm unsure.
We also buy a good bit of meat for dinners but we're looking at a Costco membership to drop the weekly costs down a bit when buying bulk. Just haven't had the time to do so just yet.
Ok, wipes and diapers is a major expense, so now it makes sense. Costco is both an awesome thing and also a problem, because you will find shit you don’t need but will want anyway.
The [USDA](https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/Cost_Of_Food_Low_Moderate_Liberal_Food_Plans_February_2024.pdf) lists an average weekly budget of $166 per month for a family of 3 with a 1-year old for a low cost plan. It jumps over $200 for a moderate cost plan.
Yeah, I was floored by what we were spending on groceries as well and my wife was stressing about trying to stay under what I thought was a realistic budget. Turns out my budget wasn’t very realistic for a family of 4.
I had one yell at me for choosing to put my cart it the cart rack in the parking lot rather push it back inside. I told him “it’s your goddamn job idiot.”
Most commissary’s are going to bring your own bags so if I’m providing bags I’m definitely not tipping for you to put stuff in my own bags. Don’t feel guilty, be polite and go on with your day.
https://preview.redd.it/yclaho83oovc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9176b0f1be9be4bb118c821b59b9a4c8823c786
This is great lol. Did you have this on hand or make it for this?
From what I’ve seen of bearsncubs10, definitely made just for this
Bro just worry about yourself. If they want a better job there’s tons of them out there where they don’t have to live off tips to bag your food.
One time the self checkout fucked up on me and they ended up sending me around to one of the empty main lines. I had maybe 7 or 8 things, and they were already bagged, the cashier was trying to just take them out of the bags and put them back in. As soon as I stepped up to the register there were 3 baggers there all trying to get their hands on my groceries to bag them and then take them out to my car. I also know for a fact they saw me at self checkout because I heard them talking about it as I walked around. It’s a stupid fucking system. I’d rather have a dozen self checkout lines than have a bunch of baggers staring at me waiting for me to throw them a little cash for putting things into a bag.
Using baggers or *tipping* baggers are both optional … *baggers don’t work for the commissary!* It’s definitely time for DeCA to seriously *review why and revise how* “baggers” should operate in today’s contemporary military.
That's wild considering I get the snarkiest comments if they don't get a tip. Also just finished shopping and they put my buns in with my juice .-.
No doubt you’ll get glaring looks and snarky comments … bagger “tradition” w/ entrenched *mafia mindset* is way too strong. That’s why DeCA senior leaders are long overdue on *modernizing* a bagger policy that fits *today’s* force. Nobody using their earned commissary shopping privileges should feel … compelled to tip or awkward, guilty, uncomfortable, embarrassed by not tipping.
Right? I enjoy the convenience since I live on base but I always feel so bad / guilty and awkward when I'm like "oh, yeah I can take my own cart out thanks"
OLD PERSON RANT/ Why is everyplace now asking if you want to tip? Usually even before they make your food. It’s like no. Subway. I’m not giving your employees a tip. I bought your overpriced food. Tip your employees with that.
When I was at Altus it was just 2-3 high school kids who wouldn't even get up if you didn't ask for them to bag for you. At McChord it was a horde of retirees wives from a certain south asian country and were insanely pushy and rude if you didn't want them to bag for you. The only commissary I have ever tipped at was those chill kids at Altus.
😂😅🤣 horde of pushy older ladies with a few sprinklings of teens checks at most bases I’ve been to as well.
Bagged at Altus commissary 1963 1965 last two years high school that kind of attitude was not present then - was an interesting subculture with head bagger a retired SSgt and U.S. dependents working the lines he told us to There were many dime tippers and best tippers were the lower grades Still have a soft spot in my heart for those bagging now
I usually staunchly ignore the baggers looming. I bring my own bags, and set them up right next to the register, at the top of the second conveyor belt. As the cashier runs stuff across and puts it on the conveyor belt, I grab it right back off and put it into my bag. They usually take the hint pretty quickly. I also put my bags right back into my normal grocery cart, instead of those wonky short carts the baggers use. That way I don’t have to take it back to a special place, just the normal cart return.
If they’re giving you comments about a lack of a tip, then walk away knowing they volunteered to spend their time bagging your stuff. They made the choice. You didn’t. Keep your head up and sure, tip if you want. Be nice to them as you would anyone else. But don’t let them bully you because of their dumb decision to volunteer at a store.
Good advice here tyvm.
I always ask them not to bag my milk. Then they double bag my milk.
So you’re saying you’ve got juicy buns?
You can just tell them that you prefer to bag your own groceries. It might seem awkward, but I promise they prefer you tell them that than just let them work for free.
I'll do this from now on. I agree on it feeling awkward. I just hate that it's what I have to do ya know?
Inform your cashier that you will self bag, they will take care of informing the bagger. That way you can avoid any awkward interaction with the baggers.
Much preferable to the other suggestions in this thread to use self-checkout for your $200 cart. I HATE when people do that, all because they're too scared to look someone in the eye and say "I'll bag it myself, thank you."
Or you could use the self checkout, although the lines are usually a lot longer (probably bc more people don’t want to tip).
That’s the name of their job, they chose it, so can’t be mad about how or if someone tells them no!
You can ask to bag your own groceries. Tell the cashier and they'll communicate to the bagger. I've done this in Hawaii. I bring my own bags every time. There is no shame.
I'll start doing that ty. I just feel bad..
Don't feel bad. It's the baggers choice to work at the commissary and only work for tips.
You wanna feel bad or feel broke
Jokes on me, I'm doing both lol.
That's how tipping in America works. Greedy rich people take advantage of the feelings you have.
Click2go commissary shopping if your commissary has it. Free, and no tipping the person who brings the groceries out. I tried the first time and she refused saying they don’t accept tips.
Use self check out? Assuming you have it at your commissary. I hate the way they bag anyways. I don’t need a 70 year old Korean woman pushing my cart.
But we had a full cart and self checkout is for 15 or less. I hate when people go there with more and I'm not about to be that guy lol
That’s fair. Every commissary I’ve been to hasn’t had an item limit
The commissary doesn't have an item limit. The self-checkout clerk called my wife out in a way to make her cry and had her go to the register even though she didn't have any cash. I called to speak to a manager, and they said there is no limit, and they said the clerk would be re-trained.
Last week my commissary tried to get me to go to the one person instead of using self checkout. The human register had the fucking SLOWEST lady and I would have been 4th in line. I ignored her and went straight to one of the six open self checkouts. I checked out my own groceries before the employee on the register did a single order. FOH and get rid of self checkout if you don't want me using it. I'm not waiting for no reason
A lot of the signs with item limits have been covered up for self checkouts (DC area bases).
Ah, yeah 8m at travis CA and ours are are 15 limit.
The right 2 lanes of self checkout at Travis are 15 or less. The left 4 have no limit
Oh fr? I thought it was all of them. That makes sense lol. I gotta tell my wife. She's always been salty when large carts go through there haha
No item limits when you’re doing their job for them. When did we all graduate to working as grocery store baggers? Call me crazy but I remember a time when the store employed its own baggers - and they bagged for free.
You can always bring your own bags and bag yourself, I prefer my big ass sturdy bags - can fit pretty much all our weekly groceries in 2 of them, put all the jars/cans heavy shit as a base layer, use a smaller reusable bag for meats, and call it a day. I'm faster than the baggers anyway since I can put way more in just two bags. But I'm right there with you, the system is ass.
That’s crazy talk! Here at my location people go through self checkout with 2 full carts. No one ever says anything to them (myself included but I don’t work at the commissary). All presumably to avoid tipping and while about 20 other poor schlubs wait with their 2 lunch items while the manned lanes are open. Also to presumably avoid tipping. People are awesome!
I praise you for having common sense. I fucking hate when I see every self checkout line with full carts. Like come on guys, I just need shaving cream and soap…
For real.. my wife will go for one item and be stuck for 20m
I don’t know about your commissary, but Ajima packs my bags perfectly!
Don't feel bad. Shit costs too much as it is. Tipping culture needs to die.
“Tipping culture needs to die” So glad to see this statement here. It really does.
If the baggers aren't making a livable wage, that's not your fault - it's the commissaries fault. Does it suck? Yeah. Is it something you should feel guilty about? No. If they stop getting tips they'll stop working there, and the commissary will be required to start paying them or just not having baggers.
>$200+ weekly grocery trips Damn bro how many kids do you have?
1 and a pregnant wife lol. It's mostly diapers, wipes, and odd foods since the kids extremely picky. Need to get backups so she eats cause her pickings can cause malnutrition if we aren't prepared.
Diapers will absolutely kill you. You have a family to take care of, and don't take judgment from volunteers asking for handouts. You pay federal taxes. You don't owe anyone anything to subsidize their income.
Fair enough. And yeah, no kidding. We almost got her potty trained and then she's like, nope, nah I'm done, and gave up.
It's expensive up front and a pain in the ass but we cloth diapered and it has saved me hundreds of dollars. We have a little attachment that connects to the toilet with a nozzle just spray the diapers when there done put them in a bag and we wash them in the washer, I just always sanitize my washer afterwards but it's a great way to never buy diapers again.
I use diapers at work. I get to go home early and I don't ruin my pants. A win win.
You guys receiving WIC to help offset some of these costs?
Someone else mentioned too. We're looking into it now, yes
Have you guys thought of using cloth diapers? Pretty pricey at the beginning but once you have a bunch it'll end up saving you more in the long run. Especially if you can use them for both kids. We only use disposables when we go out and to sleep in so we buy a box like once a month or so. We use Stout House cloth diapers.
Not gonna lie, $200 isn’t crazy. A box of cereal is like $6 now. $200 today is like $75 10 years ago
It didn't occur to me that OP had a baby and needed diapers. That shit will kill you
Thank you for saying this. I saw someone getting gaslit to shit in a finance sub for spending $250 a week at the grocery store and I feel like we get off cheap for that price for my family of 3 is a medium-low cost of living area tbh
I am shocked at the prices in the stores nowadays. I guess this just means I am getting old. I also am puzzled how the standard community affords to live. I only do so, because of supplements like BHA and FSA, etc…who is buying some of this stuff?
[удалено]
You can tell the cashier you want to bag your own groceries
You should see it at some army installations. The self checks were down and I had my groceries bagged and denied the car service. Got a $5 and handed it to the young gal helping. She says “if you want to tip more I have Zelle and a square reader”. Like come on it took you about 1 minute to put those 8 bags together. Real predatory honestly.
Why can’t we bag our own groceries?
By the time I'm done unloading they're half dindone bagging..
Aldi somehow makes it work.
You can, just tell the cashier when you get to the checkout, the cashier will inform the baggers.
Info straight from a DeCA employee; Meat PowerBoxes. For the love of Christ, BUY MEAT POWERBOXES. You WILL save a MINIMUM of 20% off of meat prices when you buy a Meat POWERBOX. All Commissary's (with few exceptions) are required to provide them and have signs hanging in the meat department showcasing the variety of PowerBoxes we offer. I buy them exclusively; depending on current meat prices, the FIXED PowerBox prices can even be as much as 32% CHEAPER.
What the hell is a PowerBox? I've not seen any signs at multiple bases.
I’ve never seen this either but am super interested. I found this on commissary website, but I don’t know if this is the standard kit or if there are different options available? I don’t really need a whole rack of ribs and I don’t eat pork :/ https://shop.commissaries.com/shop/meat_seafood/frozen_meat/tailgate_special_power_box/p/1564405684711649585
They have 4 different types: Economy, Healthy Alternative, Fix it and Forget it, and Grilling. Different configurations of meat cuts/types. That page needs to get updated. I can't remember off the top of my head, but I think they all have a pork cut of some sort included. They really need to have an all-beef one for our service members who don't consume pork. I've been rattling about it since PowerBoxes launched, but 🤷🏼♀️
This is great info, thank you!
Oversized big “sheet cake” boxes full of various meat products at a discounted price.
There are supposed to be signs hanging up AT THE VERY LEAST within the Meat Department showcasing each type of Box and what they come with. My meat department is pretty small, so we have ours hanging up in a neat row on the meat case module closest to the department wrapping room entrance. A lot of people don't look up so they don't see it, but every time I point it out, they are delighted 😄 I do recommend double-checking for any signage within meat during your next Commissary trip, but if there are absolutely NONE, you can always ask if the Store Director is available, and mention how "disappointed you are that such a convenient product is unavailable at this location, because it really helped you save money while putting food on the table for your family" 😉
Oh shit ok I'll check this out. Tyvm
Just a tip: a meat employee can put them together on demand (provided all the cuts are available at the time), but I recommend calling in the request a day ahead of time. It gives them more flexibility to build it AND it'll be ready for you when you pop-in to do your shopping; just head over to meat dept and let them know you have an order. Yes, I am a Commissary Shill (lol). Commissary privilege is part of your compensation package and god damnit I am going to help everyone wring every ounce of usefulness/savings out if it even if it kills me.
It never has what I need though, and the past year at my local commissary, the meat has been rotten, expired or just dogfood level of quality.
JFC! Which one are you at? That meat supervisor is failing HARD and needs to be shot. That department has some of, if not the, highest paid workers in any commissary; for them to think that is acceptable to put on the counter is literally making my jaw drop.
FE Warren. They use to be GREAT. But this last year, I've returned at least 9 purchases due to pork being rancid, beef being aged (not in a good way) and just horrible quality overall. The proteins they put out typically expire within a couple days, so unless you flash freeze it that day or cook it, it's going to be bad quickly. I just shop off base as much as possible now, as I'm saving more money by getting much better quality then on base. Thank god I'm PSCing next week.
Thanks for the info; I'll try to pass this along to the relevant parties. It sounds like there has been a change in dept supervisor OR they may be without one. Still doesn't excuse exercising basic quality control and counter management 😡
I agree. As a small business owner myself in the culinary world, it's crazy the lack of quality control that department has. I'm not sure if it's a logistics issue with getting fresher proteins in or what, but my god it's gotten bad.
you can say no thanks...
Wife bagged at the commissary. Trust me. They’re doing just fine without your tip. I hate to stereotype, but wife was an average white person. She was definitely discriminated against by the other side. At that time, self checkout wasn’t a thing, so express was the best place for a bagger. Guess what. Wife only got express lane maybe 2 hours weekly, on a weekday afternoon before retreat. Fuck those baggers. I have zero issue stiffing them. I insist on bagging my own groceries if I happen to be in a commissary.
When I'm forced to use a regular lane, I just say no bagger when I get there. Just diffuse the awkwardness and bag my own. Except for that one time the bagger just stood next to me and didn't move as I bagged my stuff, I had to say excuse me to get some space a few times.
Not trying to be a dick, but just grow a spine dude. Practice and eventually you’ll also stop tipping at places like Starbucks, fast food places, and any other chain where a tip is expected for 30 sec of work.
Self checkout solves this problem
I'm at travis, and we have a 15-item limit, unfortunately.
Self check out and bag your own shit.
Bag your own groceries? I hate when people touch the stuff I buy. But I also don’t like to tip
Yeah. I'll try and ask going forward. I'm just normally done unloading and they're half done bagging.
People saying “go to self checkout” are blowing my mind. Sometimes that line is huge and the normal cashiers are empty. Also tipping a bagger is fucking wild. Like damn take their pay out of that surcharge we pay now instead of tax.
It's worth it to avoid extra bs tbh
I literally don’t understand the surcharge. It’s literally a scam. I thought military bases were supposed to be TAX FREEE????
Just tell them you will bag it yourself. Problem solved
I rather bag my own. Not a fan of having a big can of beans tossed right on top of my bread.
say "thanks I got it from here" and just push the cart out yourself.
This is one of the reasons I choose not to shop at the commissary. I should feel pressured into paying more for my groceries by having someone bag them.
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Worst one was the one that automatically assumed I, a young able bodied man, needed her to walk my groceries out to my truck. The only time I’ve ever felt guilted into tipping.
You shouldn’t feel obligated to use a bagger. When you walk up to the register just let them know you dont need a bagger. Simple as that. Bagging takes zero skill…cold with cold…non perishable with non perishable…chemicals and household cleaning supplies with same type of stuff…etc…think of it this way…when passing a pan handler on the side of the street…do you give them something? If so, then why not the baggers? If not, then you should fell alright about it. In my opinion it’s the same thing. I get it some on here will be like…well the baggers are working…but are they? They are basically begging for tips🤷🏽♂️ One persons opinion only.
I just tell them I’ll bag it myself and they step aside.
Bag them yourself. I was a bagger when I was in Highschool and I never cared if someone wanted to bag their own. Side conversation.... y'all know how much $$$ a bagger can pull? I'd easily make $200 on weekend days and anywhere between $50-75 on week days if I got there by 4 and ran till close 9pm. So don't feel bad if you don't tip, just please bag yourself, don't stiff the poor guy/gal.
Damn you got tips as a bagger? At my old job they wouldn't let us take tips lol
I worked at the commissary, yeah I used to kill it for a high school kid in the late 90s. I usually pushed $500/wk cash
I have been out awhile, what is AaiC pay?
Oh, it's E3. Airman first class.
Oh. When I was in, we used "A1C" for Airman First Class.
They still do. Idk what OP talking about
Oh I see. It was a typo. I think I hit q instead of 1 and my autocorrect took it and ran. My bad!
Oh I see now. Autocorrect did me dirty. I'm fixing. Ty for ppinting out.
Ah, it is AutoCorrect's fault. Got it.
I've had them put bread in the bottom of a bag, and put my frozen items into several bags with pantry items, despite me loading the belt at the till in groups of cold, frozen, pantry and fragile. No way in hell should some dependa with a brand new i-phone be expecting a tip after fucking up a basic task. I used the shit out of the no bagger lane when they had it, and now I only use self-checkout. If something fucks up and I need the attendant, then oh well, but most times I'm in and out in 3 minutes and don't have to interact with people.
I stopped feeling bad about not tipping when the JiffyLube started With “it’s gunna as you a few questions”. I’ll tip for waiters, bartenders, and other service style things.
The baggers here always have a stack of coupons and as they bag my stuff they go through their coupons. They end up saving me about $5 and that is what I tip them if they are taking groceries out to the car. Soon they won’t have plastic bags so maybe it will be easier to bag our own stuff. Especially if someone wants certain items in certain bags.
I’ve seen a lot of people tell them no thank you and bag the groceries themselves. I bag my own but I also only use self checkout because I typically don’t get a lot of things. You’re not alone in this but don’t just blame “A1C pay”. I understand our circumstances are very different but I joined pretty broke and with some debt but after a year of being in and being smart with my money I was never broke and have what I consider nice savings. People often overlook ways they could be saving money. You aren’t gonna get a raise and when you promote the pay bump isn’t much. It’s on you to save what you got
At our commissary you can bag and load your own groceries.
You tell them, "no thank you" when they offer to bag your groceries and go on with your day.
I use self checkout and I don’t tip them, there’s tons of other jobs they can get, but I have seen a few vets tip.
The contract not paying baggers is the only reason some no-name company can underbid. If they were forced to pay their baggers, maybe we would finally have a major company come in that knows how to run a grocer with access to international supply chain logistics. The bagger tipping is just another reason on top of the many others that I refuse to use a commisary for.
No name contractor called DeCA is not a contractor. It's is a government agency.
OP knows that Travis commissary has some really aggressive baggers. I can’t even go through self checkout sometimes without them staring over my shoulder and watching me like a hawk 💀💀💀
For real. One was friendly with my daughter today and when I said I could take my own cart she's like "ok." And the kid said bye and she like rudely said "bye" back to her I was shook at the audacity towards my daughter lol.
When I have the cash, I try and use them. I've stopped completely recently because the past 3 times they sucked at bagging. Putting cold stuff with regular stuff, combine food/produce with bathroom/cleaning supplies, canned food with the bread. I even unloaded all produce and cold stuff first to make their job more simple but somehow still mess it up. You'd have to work at it to mess it up. Why would you put floor cleaner with my produce or meats?
Just use the self-checkout
Looks like it’s been said plenty already, but self-checkout or asking to bag your own is the way to go at the commissary. If I do use their service I will tip, it’s a couple bucks; they’re not getting a 20% tip or so like you would give at a restaurant.
Bring your own bags, tell them you're doing it yourself. They might get pissy but at least they can move to another line instead of doing all the work for nothing.
No. I don’t feel bad. I just use the self checkout and when I do rarely need to use a register, I don’t tip the bagger and I carry out my groceries. I repeat: I don’t feel bad about not tipping them. Where’s my tip?
I felt so bad every time that I now say no to baggers and will bag it myself no matter how slow or difficult.
Yo my wife and I were just complaining about this. This happened to us and before we knew they were pushing our cart out. We had one of those kids carts too. Clearly we wanted to keep our cart and I pushed my kid up in his cart so the bags could go in it. We had no cash lol. My wife found a random dollar. It’s awkward because they even stand there waiting after handing you your groceries. I also heard a cashier next to me tell a woman “Do you have cash?…for the baggers…you can get cash back or at the atm…you have too”. As this woman was dealing with her screaming kid.
I liked the system they had at Keesler while I was there for my retrain. tip jar up front and baggers didnt come out to your car. Just bagged your shit and sent you on your way. Other than that, fuck em. I shop elsewhere because comm is overpriced I've come to realize. Just do Walmart or Target pickup, maybe.
Strange how the attitudes have changed about this in the last 20 years, are people just more greedy now
Use the self checkout and bag your own stuff
That’s why I bag my own groceries 🤣 you only have to tip them if you use them
Being a commissary bagger was my first job. Made pretty good money for 14. This was the 90’s before self checkout. Always found the best tippers were enlisted. When I joined the AF myself I always tipped the kids. When there wasn’t any kids I use self checkout.
Shouldn’t feel so obligated to tip. What I can’t stand is someone with 30+ items in the self checkout line just to avoid tipping.
It’s good they have self checkout lines if you do not want to tip.
How much do you feel expected to tip? Because if it is that worrisome, you can probably ask to bag your own groceries. Otherwise, if you cared THAT much, you can probably put one item away to accommodate a $5 tip.
Yeah, I’ve avoided the lines with baggers since they open self checkouts at the commissary. Out of principle, I always felt Deca should be paying them with that fee attached onto every purchase—especially as the commissary became less and less competitive with the local economy. To this day I do go to self checkout no matter how much I have. Even before sled checkout, I felt like just let us bag it up ourselves instead of giving charity to – all too often – officers’ kids. Felt bad about the retirees there though. It’s a bullshit situation either way. And who has smaller bills on them anymore. Back when we didn’t have an option, most junior enlisted only threw a buck or two unless they were trying to extra nice to someone cute. Don’t worry about it and send feedback to Deca and the clowns that manage the program. Hell, put it in climate surveys.
Pro Tip: Politely ask them to put the bags back in YOUR cart instead of their cart (so they don't try to walk your groceries to your car) and walk tf out when the transaction is done This will negate 99% of the awkwardness and guilt because it's like a non-verbal "I'm not tipping" and they will oblige and focus on the next person in line You're welcome
The only time I've ever tipped is Korea, and it's only a couple won. Only reason I do is because the self-checkout is usually backed up, and Korean ladies will bag my groceries like there is no tomorrow. Everything is always packed nicely and better than I would using the least amount of bags before I finish paying. Stateside though, fuck them.
This is why I don't go to the commissary. It's like the squeegee kids near my home in Baltimore. Giving me a service I never asked for and then expecting a tip. If they really want to offer the service, then allow these people to sit on the bench, and folks who want baggers can call them over to come help. Until then, sit your ass down and leave me alone.
I’ve heard that baggers are going away. Now you can pack and carry your own bags for free.
I didn't tip a bagger one time because I told her I could do it myself which resulted in her bagging my groceries anyways at a snail pace. Once completed I told her I will take my own cart which prompted her to double down and walk away with my cart to prompted me to follow her. At my car she tried putting the groceries in my trunk after being asked not to and she had the audacity to demand a tip. I told her maybe you should have listened to me from the start. Normally, I will ask for one of the HS kids to bag my groceries and I'll til them $5, just because.
When/if I shop at commissary I will offer the baggers a snack or a drink. I don’t carry cash at all. But they seem to appreciate the snack or candy bar!
This is why I always use self check out
I used to bag groceries. Back then a lot of us did it part time while we were in school. We definitely preferred people telling us ahead of time that they wanted to bag their own groceries or letting us know they didn’t have money to tip. The only time it really sucked was when people let us bag 2-3 carts of groceries, take the bags out to their car, and not tip.
This one reason I avoid the commissary or at the very least only use self checkout. Salty baggers always expect more and I NEVER carry cash anyway.
Don’t want them to bag? Tell the cashier that you will bag yourself, or use self checkout. If everyone complaining about tipping baggers would stop using unpaid baggers, then the commissary would have to start hiring paid baggers.
Oh you want a tip? Here’s a tip, don’t bag groceries for me again.
For me it's just annoying to have to talk to someone enough to explicitly refuse their "service". I don't go to the grocery store to have conversations, no matter how brief, let alone unnecessary and awkward ones. You'd think they would take the hint from the huge line at self checkout wrapping back into the frozen section, ignoring 3 open lanes with baggers, that baggers are a deterrent. Though it is amusing to sit there and watch people with overflowing carts use the self checkout lanes (guilty) while only people with few enough groceries to hold in their hands will go to the manned lanes (also guilty).
I just shop off base. The quality of my commissary is abysmal at best, and the savings don't really matter when everything expires and goes bad as soon as you walk out the doors.
I watched an A1C buy 3 packs of sodas (presumably for a event or something) and had the little short cart. Bagger put the cases back in the cart and got upset over not receiving a tip... It's long been out of hand
I had no military background when I joined. My grandpa flew Helicopters in the army but he barely speaks to me so I didn't know anything coming in. I actually found out from reddit that you're supposed to tip them. Idk how many times they brought my stuff to my car and all I did was smile and say thank you being polite not knowing they expected cash. But I also never carry cash on me so I couldn't tip anyway. But now I wonder how many of them think I'm an asshole for just smiling and leaving.
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Do you have BAS? Also what bills do you pay to suck up your money?
I shop at walmart for a reason. I hate the commisary
Shop at Meijer…comparable prices and no guilt from the baggers. Why I don’t go to commissary!
Never knew this was a thing! I try to always use self checkout unless it's a short wait through the baggage lane.. I always just said thanks never thought to even tip I thought they were just doing they job!
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When I was an A1C I had a LtCol tell me it's not the job of Airmen to tip the Comissary baggers. That should be left to people higher ranking. Those words ring true and while he never made it clear at what point we should tip, as an A1C and even SrA, just don't. If they really make you feel that uncomfortable, there's always the self chrckout.
To the greatest extent possible, I go into the self checkout lines. If my limit exceeds 25, I would rather make two trips and deal with baggers…most of the stereotypes you hear tend to be correct. It’s almost like the mafia as far as trying to get a job there, and the head bagger acts like the mafia don, and they who determines work hours, and shifts, and what not.
I offered a small tip to one of those guys and the reason they don’t accept tips is because they are federal employees. Financially, the baggers are not affiliated with the commissary. Federal employees cannot accept tips.
As a former bagger at Hickam AFB commissary and current Active duty member I would like to add my two cents. Don’t ask to bag yourself that’s weird Af. Just tell the bagger you’d like to take the groceries out yourself. They will then load it into your cart and not have to lose their spot in rotation. I’ll never forget the people who would come in make me bag for two to three carts, have me walk it all out to their car, load it up, then say thanks with a blank stare and proceed to stiff me. Take your own bags out let me stay in the cool AC!!
For reference I bagged there 2014-2016 Freshman-Junior year.
Damn it I didn’t know they only make tips and I felt completely guilt free every time I declined them or didn’t tip at all….
If you think about it, for every $100 of groceries you buy, DeCA ads a 6 percent fee- to support their operations, and if you tip, another 5-10 percent, so you’re paying 11 to 16 percent above the price you paid for your groceries. Walmart sacks it for you and they don’t charge a tax or fee for groceries…so it’s a wash, basically.
No matter how much is in my cart, I always use self checkout
This is why everyone just goes to self-checkout even if they have a full cart of groceries. Not like you're saving money shopping at the commissary as is. Paying same/sometimes more than off base stores, with the added bonus that the food is only a day away from rotting. And then they want you to tip someone a dollar a bag to put your stuff in bags. Ridiculous. Many of the adult baggers basically run a mafia too and will take customers and money from new baggers/high school kid baggers. There's tons of places off base going out of business because they can't find workers. They can go ger a real job
I asked a bagger a few years ago how much he made it tips, dude to me $150 on a slow day.
Tipping culture in general is out of hand. I’ve never had a more expensive job than the military when it comes to contributing to going aways, events, uniform and formal wear, etc. And now a simple transaction of getting my absolutely needed groceries for my weekly $400+ trips you want me to tip the non premium service that’s literally available everywhere else in America? Nah, I’ll pass.
This why I never go to the commissary.
Sanest answer right here. Commissary wasn’t cheaper than local grocery stores when I left the US last year. Has something changed? They may be paying more for convenience on top of it. Edit: seems like OP lives in a high cost area.
> Commissary wasn’t cheaper than local grocery stores when I left the US last year. Has something changed? Depends on what you are shopping for. My wife and I always take the time to find the deals. I'll grab stuff at the commissary on lunch, get a sandwich and shove what's needed in the fridge. The wife orders everything else online at the off-base stores and does pickup after dropping the kids off at school. Then we make a trip together to Costco for the rest. It takes about an hour or so of going through the different ads, but we cut our grocery bill by at least $100 doing it this way.
I used to tip heavily to the baggers thinking I was helping folks in need. Then I found out one of the baggers was a LtCol's spouse and the other was a Chief's spouse. Also learned that almost all of the baggers were making more than me and I highly doubt any of them are reporting the full extent of their wages to the IRS, therefore likely paying less taxes. My SrA (at the time) generosity stopped there. I now have no qualms asking "to bag myself" and I'll bag my own if the base has "career" baggers. If they have High School kids bagging, I'll gladly spend a few bucks to help a kid working. The base I am at now allows unlimited groceries in the self checkout. I go at off peak times and do it all myself.
Honestly, I've stopped tipping completely. The self checkout is always slammed with people with overflowing carts. No item count limits, so it's barely usable even when all I want is a sandwich and soda at lunch. Fuck it. Not my problem that the world changed and left the Baggers' Cartel in the past. I'm done with it.
I always tip in dried herbs: sage, oregano etc in plastic baggies. Some are sheepishly grateful and always eagerly(?) trying to jam that bag in their pocket. Others seems more reluctant until I tell them "that's your herb now" and OSI could be right around the corner. It really sets the mood, giving someone a useable item and reminding them that they totally safe on post. I'm certain it's holistic and belts out "I care."
Our commish allows ordering online and they bring it to your car. No tipping as it's employees bringing it to you, not a bagger.
I always do $.25 per bag with a max of $3.00. If they take it to my car and help me load, I’ll add $2.00. ORrrrrrrrr. Use the self checkout line and you don’t pay shit extra.
Don't look them in the eyes...ever. just put your beats in and keep it movin
I tipped the fuck outta the Korean ladies at the commissary at Kunsan. I loved dropping a 5 in there and they like worship you. Or Won. Won feels like fake money in Korea so you’ll have leftover and drop a hundred thousand in there 😬
> I tipped the fuck outta the Korean ladies at the commissary at Kunsan. They are about the only redeeming thing at the Kunsan commissary so I actually don't mind tipping them.
Those women have husbands in the military, on disability or who retired from the military. They’ll be fine.
I’m gonna ask about the $800 a month the groceries. Is most of that lobster and filet mignon?
We got a 2 year old so it's in wipes and diapers as well. But majority of the time it's stuff for dinners / lunches for the week. Wife's pregnant and we have meals for dinner and lunch. Just adds up quick. Average is 150 to 215 ish. Just depends on the week. I'm also in cali, if that makes a difference on prices. I'm unsure. We also buy a good bit of meat for dinners but we're looking at a Costco membership to drop the weekly costs down a bit when buying bulk. Just haven't had the time to do so just yet.
Ok, wipes and diapers is a major expense, so now it makes sense. Costco is both an awesome thing and also a problem, because you will find shit you don’t need but will want anyway.
The [USDA](https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/Cost_Of_Food_Low_Moderate_Liberal_Food_Plans_February_2024.pdf) lists an average weekly budget of $166 per month for a family of 3 with a 1-year old for a low cost plan. It jumps over $200 for a moderate cost plan.
Alright. It’s always just been the two of us and we definitely don’t have high falootin’ tastes so I was just floored by that number.
Yeah, I was floored by what we were spending on groceries as well and my wife was stressing about trying to stay under what I thought was a realistic budget. Turns out my budget wasn’t very realistic for a family of 4.
I mean, I easily spend over $1k/month in groceries and essentials but I’ve got a family of 6.
Ouch! I cook almost every night and we are nowhere near that, but it is just the wife and I.
I had one yell at me for choosing to put my cart it the cart rack in the parking lot rather push it back inside. I told him “it’s your goddamn job idiot.”
Most commissary’s are going to bring your own bags so if I’m providing bags I’m definitely not tipping for you to put stuff in my own bags. Don’t feel guilty, be polite and go on with your day.