Anyone Shop At The Base Commissary?
Decorating By chrissy410 Updated 24 Aug 2006 , 2:58am by pilesoflaundry
I'm kind of checking around to see where you can get the best prices for things like your crisco shortening and powdered sugar, maybe cake mixes. I've also had many different opionions on using the generic store brand of powdered sugar vs. c & h or imperial. I don't directly have access because I'm no longer a dependant but my father is retired military and he or my mom can shop at the commissary for me. My mom doesn't mind picking up things for me now and then. I would like to have a ready supply of necessities needed for cake decorating so I don't have to go shopping everytime I need to bake which is what I've been doing. I'm taking course I right now and I plan on signing up for course 2 in September.
I don't konw about the commissary, but I do like C&H sugar a lot better than the generic brands. I find that they are less clumpy and just work better. Also if I am doubling a batch of buttercream, you can just use the whole 2 lb bag of C&H but not necessarily with a no-name brand.
Just my two cents!
Happy baking.
I hated shopping at the commissary, but I wasn't shopping for cake suppiles. THere are issues within the DECA system that I noticed and it just ticked me off
Sorry for hte rant, I just get hot under the color about it!
Rachel
It was never my favorite place to go except for some of the deals you can grab. I hate the lines the most! If you are a patient person thats one thing but I want to just get through the express line and go home. Luckily my mother works on base so its convenient for her to stop by during her lunch break if its worth it otherwise I'll just stock up at walmart.
I MISS the commisary so much....Yes, the lines were long but I saved so much money there vs. going to a regular grocery store.
For cake supplies I wouldn't think they would have much more than your regular grocery store. I bet the sugar and cake mixes are about the same price maybe a little cheaper but no tax, and they do add that stupid little surcharge at the end though...
I used to love the commissary, lately it's going down hill. I only shop the case lot sales or once in awhile when I only need 1-2 things and I'm on base anyway I will grab them. In general I avoid the place, the one here often has expired food and the produce isn't that good and I don't even want to get started on the system in general.
I've noticed cake mixes are about the same as in town. I buy all my sugar and flour in bulk at sam's so I haven't done a cost break down vs.the commissary. It varies too much to consistently get a deal there, one week x, y and z are on sale but a, b, c are sky high and it seesaws so it can be a pain searching out the deals.
I really like shopping at the commissary, it is better than shopping at WalMart, that is for sure!! AS far as prices, I would have to say they pretty much match WalMart, but of course no tax. I just really hate WalMart so I stick to the commissary. I have never really noticed a differance in my powdered sugars, I just buy whatever is cheapest, they all seem to work the same to me.
I shop at the commissary all of the time. Only it is no longer a drab, unorganized place- it is nice ,new and remolded- there are always at least 15 lines open at ours-
But alas it did come with a price- all of the prices went up!!! I only buy my oil there all my other things I get at Sam's because it is cheaper-
One more thing- do you know why all of your comissaries looked and treated customers the way they did? Because our US military is enlisted and don't have a choice where their families shop, sometimes- So they can be treated like sub citizens and nothing will be done about it!!!
my husband is headed to Iraq for the fourth time but can't get a shopping cart with four working wheels- go figure!!!!
haha that's my rant for the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My parents hardly ever shopped at the commissary even when we lived on post because they said the prices weren't all that great. They were both brats too and they talked of a time when things were WAY under what you could get them for anywhere else. My mom tells me you can thank your local buisnesses for that bit of troop support, they complained and pressured the military into raising prices so people would shop off post more. I'm not sure exactly how true that is but she spent her whole life with the military so it probably is.
Seems like a rotten thing to do when you look at enlisted pay and shows how much the buisnesses really care about the troops.
I live on Ft. Campbell and while I like the commissary I don't think the prices for cake mix and baking things are that much lower than Walmart. I just get things at whatever store I'm at.
I love going to the commisary. I'm in San Diego, Ca. and this one is never really that busy. It's more crowded than the grocery store, but well worth it.
Twins5485
We just got to Ft. Campbell about 6 weeks ago, and already my husbands gone. 
Welcome to Clarksville/Ft. Campbell
Sorry about your husband already being sent away. Hopefully you will enjoy your time being here... I've been here pretty much all my life, my dad was in the military for 31 yrs..
You never know maybe we will run into each other... If you ever need any help with anything regarding cakes feel free to get in touch with me... I don't know it all but I would be willing to share what I've learned off this site...
Cassandra
Twins5498
Thank you. I've been married to the military for almost 8 years, but I still miss him.
The prices at the commissary here are terrific. My dad is retired military and I often have my mom pick up cake mixes, sugar, flavorings and other things for me. Especially the mixes! I can always get them for at least a dollar cheaper than the regular stores, unless there's a good sale (which is usually only around the holidays). I use sweetex, instead of shortening, though and they don't carry that...so I have to pay an arm and leg at the local cake supply.
Mickig 
The prices at the commissary here are terrific. My dad is retired military and I often have my mom pick up cake mixes, sugar, flavorings and other things for me. Especially the mixes! I can always get them for at least a dollar cheaper than the regular stores, unless there's a good sale (which is usually only around the holidays). I use sweetex, instead of shortening, though and they don't carry that...so I have to pay an arm and leg at the local cake supply.
Mickig
How much are cake mixes in your area? You said you can get them about a dollar chearper than at regular stores..I was just wondering because here in TN, the most I have eer paid for a cake mix is $.98 at Wal-Mart and I thought that was high. 
HI, military wife for 6 years now! And I have to say, I used to love the commissary while stationed in Pt. Mugu CA, used to save a LOT of money; now here in VA is not all that great, for some reason I find the prices to be almost the same as Super Walmart ($0.88 for DH cake mix) and believe it or not, the commissary is more busy than Walmart . I also live off base so what I might save at the commissary in taxes alone might be less than what I spend on gas to get there... I live 2 blocks away from the Walmart. 
I'm ready to move to NAS JAX, FL, can't wait to check the commissary out, might be a good one! 
Anybody in JAX??
It really depends on the area I've found. I think if you live in an area with a higher cost of living the commissary/bx/px is great. If you live in a cheap area it's similar to town. No there isn't tax at the commissary but there is a 5% surcharge so if the price is the same as walmart/other grocer it's actually cheaper in town if you live in a no food tax state.
I've seen more cake stuff at the bx/px too I'm happy . I've saved a lot shopping at the bx/px, no matter where I've lived.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the commissary. We have two here in the area. Both are good. One has higher prices than the other on their meat, so I shop at the cheaper one when I can. They are both WAY cheaper than the stores in town. Milk at the Com is 1.66 for 2 % out in town it is 3.98
I can get hamburger for 1.90 for a pound to pound and a half where at safeway/albertsons it is almost five bucks for the same thing. Even after you add the 5% it is still way cheaper for the most part. Cake mixes for us is 1.00 same as walmart, most other things walmart is a lot more expensive. It drives my sister crazy, because when I go into a regular store I am always saying things like, " oh my gosh, how do people live in the "real" world. How can they afford to eat?????" So I guess it just depends on where you live. I buy all of my cake mixes, oil, etc at the commissary. I will only buy C&H sugar though. The rest just don't cut it. I am sure not all commissaries are the same though. Does it matter what branch of the military they are for? Does each branch get its own funding for the Nex and the Commissary? That could be part of where the differences lye. I have only ever shopped the ones in bremerton/bangor and groton. So I don't have a lot of varrying experience.
*I got an email from my out to sea hubby today!! WOOHO!!!!*
The prices for cake mixes and powdered sugar are pretty much the same at the commissary and Wal-Mart. It's more expensive of course at the other grocery stores unless there is a sale. Still when you go through as many boxes and bags, a difference of 32-30cents is pretty big. I can't complain. I save a lot on my groceries at the commissary, but if I need something and don't want to make the half hour drive there, Wal-Mart can match the prices (I echo the dislike of going there though).
Jennifer293, here in the Detroit area cakes mixes go for $2.19 to $2.29. 89 cents would be considered a steal and they'd probably put a limit on how many you could buy. I can get them, though, at Target for $1.29 sometimes.
Mickig
Lord have mercy....that is awful!! 
I am sure not all commissaries are the same though. Does it matter what branch of the military they are for? Does each branch get its own funding for the Nex and the Commissary? That could be part of where the differences lye. I have only ever shopped the ones in bremerton/bangor and groton. So I don't have a lot of varrying experience.
I think that all commissaries are the same because my husband is in the Army but we are stationed at an Air Force Base right now. Everything, including the prices, seems to be the same
Jennifer293, here in the Detroit area cakes mixes go for $2.19 to $2.29. 89 cents would be considered a steal and they'd probably put a limit on how many you could buy. I can get them, though, at Target for $1.29 sometimes.
Mickig
Sweet Jesus!!! I was complaining to my dh the other day that I never see them on sale for .69 anymore and had to pay .88 each for some. This was at walmart btw. I see them for $1.20-$1.30 at target (not a super target, just a small aisle with overpriced stuff) or at albertson's they are a bit high but I can still get them under $1 at walmart/commissary. I'm very lucky then.
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