[nomadicpixie]

The Commissary sale cycles run differently than regular grocery stores. We can’t just get a sales flyer in the mail each week and easily pick out the sales. Because of this couponers at the Commissary need to always pay close attention to available sales lists, sites, and flyers in order to best predict pricing changes. Here is a breakdown of the main Commissary sale types:


1. Commissaries.com Saving Aisle
This is sale that runs for two or three weeks and runs from a Thursday to a Wednesday (for example Thursday May 12th to Wednesday June 1st). The sale items and their prices can be found on commissaries.com under the “What’s on Sale” tab. You must provide your SSN to see the prices, but the discount percentage can be seen without logging in. This is a long and extensive list and will follow the listed dates for the discount. *Note it is against Commissary policy to copy/paste this list with prices to the internet. Go here: http://www.commissaries.com/log_in/h...ings_aisle.cfm , log in with yourname, SSN, and Birthday. Then pick your Commissary at it will list all the sales items, UPC code, percentage off, and sale price.

2. Manufacturer Initiated Sales
Large Manufacturer’s will set up sales for their products at the Commissary on a regular basis. These sales generally last 15, 30, or 45 days. The items on sale can typically be seen on their military website or in the Maxi Saver or Coupon Connection (found at the link below or in the flyer area of your Commissary).

3. 1st and 16th
Prices for some items will change on the 1st and the 16th, and most of these changes cannot be seen in writing (though some will coincide with #2). The price changes will be consistent for all Commissaries and a few (but not all) can be seen in the Maxi Saver. Generally if you see an item change price on these dates you can assume they will remain on sale until the next payday.

4. Random
There are some random and inconsistent price changes in the commissaries that cannot be predicted and may not be consistent in all Commissaries. These can consist of Manager’s Specials, clearance, close-outs, Wacky Wednesdays, and other seemingly random price drops/hikes. These can be the most frustrating for couponers because they cannot be predicted, and we cannot assume a sale price at one Commissary will translate to the same sale price at another Commissary.



Now armed with an understanding of the Commissary sale types we can then working on finding these lists and flyers. Here are links to places that commonly list sale items:

Commissaries.com
Saving Aisle Savings Aisle – Commissaries.com

Military Sales Flyers
Military shoppers Military Commissary DeCA Specials
Maxi Saver and Military Saver MAXI SAVER Group, Inc.HOME Page

Manufacturer Military Websites
Conagra ConAgra Foods Military Commissary Site - ConAgra Foods
Kraft http://www.kraftbrands.com/kraftmilitary/
Kellogg’s Kellogg's Military Foodservice
Quaker Your Commissary Insider
Coleson Foods Coleson Foods, Inc. - Commissary Gateway

[flocolan]

I have a question. If you print out the list of sales from commisaries.com and brought it to Walmart do you think they would honor the price comparison that they say they do?

[nomadicpixie]

From what I have heard price matching the Commissary prices at Walmart is very much a YMMV scenario. Some stores will price match the Commissary, and others say since the general public can't shop there then its not a competitor so they won't match it. I think more Walmarts will not versus those that will. But you can try and see what your store says.

[flocolan]

Well thank you for replying. I have been cutting coupons for years but am really getting serious about saving money. I dont want to stockpile stuff I just am tired of handing over hundreds of dollars. This is a great site and I am so glad I stumbled on it.

[sunnyjin]

This is a really helpful post

[gerlie]

we asked walmart if they will price match the commissary here in VA but unfortunately, NO!!sucked, but thats fine because I love shopping at the commissary anyway

[akitalover]

Thank you so much! This is very helpful! Since we live about 30 min from the base, it is not easy to get over there to view prices.

[Dtanton]

This is a great post!

Sent from my iPad using AFullCup

[EStimpert]

This post is GREATLY appreciated! Thanks so much.

[grandmamichelf]

Cool beans! New sales are up at the commissary web page listed above. On sale from June 2nd - June 15th. I love knowing this. I should have known this a long time ago, but hey, now is cool.

[akitalover]

Originally Posted by grandmamichelf

Cool beans! New sales are up at the commissary web page listed above. On sale from June 2nd - June 15th. I love knowing this. I should have known this a long time ago, but hey, now is cool.

Where's the webpage above? Thanks!

[akitalover]

nm I found it...duh!

[Lenae]

Thanks!

[grandmamichelf]

Since these sales are only good through the 15th, we should see a new list on the 16th, right? Wonder if they'll have some really good sales because of Father's Day and then the 4th of July? I hope so. I am due to do my "big" grocery shopping on the 29th, but I could always use a little something extra if the price is right.

[grandmamichelf]

Oh my goodness! Tons of good sales! And let me say this, I am so stocking up on Cheerios!! My DH eats Cheerios like they were going out of business. I looked and the 14 oz is on sale for $1.99 and I have some $1/1 coupons! I'm not done looking through the sales list for my commissary either. That was just on the first page.

I am so grateful to have found this place!!!

[akitalover]

Quaker Military Website states there are Oh's for .80 under their events and promotions.
When I went to the commissary last week, they were not .80 as well as the other products they said were .80...can any one explain what I'm seeing wrong? OR do I need to print it out and point out the mistake at the commissary?
Thanks!
Events and Promotions from Your Commissary Insider

[nomadicpixie]

Originally Posted by NewbieWannaBe

Quaker Military Website states there are Oh's for .80 under their events and promotions.
When I went to the commissary last week, they were not .80 as well as the other products they said were .80...can any one explain what I'm seeing wrong? OR do I need to print it out and point out the mistake at the commissary?
Thanks!
Events and Promotions from Your Commissary Insider

Very interesting! We don't have those items in my store so I have no idea. But it says good through August 31. I think it wouldn't hurt to print it and ask someone at your cashier about it. Either the Commissary or Quaker made a mistake - the problem is figuring out which one!I do know that we have the Quaker Bars from that rack in the June sales at .80 cents. So I'm betting your store didn't mark it down.

Random side note - I really wish they has those products here!!! Those could make some rockin deals if the coupons have no size limit. So jealous!!

[akitalover]

Originally Posted by nomadicpixie

Very interesting! We don't have those items in my store so I have no idea. But it says good through August 31. I think it wouldn't hurt to print it and ask someone at your cashier about it. Either the Commissary or Quaker made a mistake - the problem is figuring out which one!I do know that we have the Quaker Bars from that rack in the June sales at .80 cents. So I'm betting your store didn't mark it down.

Random side note - I really wish they has those products here!!! Those could make some rockin deals if the coupons have no size limit. So jealous!!

I know! Even at .80 it is great! I LOVE Oh's cereal!! I'm planning on going to the commissary today. Hopefully I'll do a better job at finding some deals for everyone. I don't know how you find so much, nomadicpixie!

[appbran22]

I stumbled on the commissaries.com website by accident the other day trying to find the floor plan or aisle layout for my commissary. I told my DH, "I have found the holy grail of saving at the commissary" Wish I had found AFC months ago it would have been so helpful.
Thank you!

[QClippinMama]

WOW! I am so glad I found this thread!
Printed off all 26 pages of sales and going to go through my binder and do my match ups!
Visine is on sale for $3.03 here and I have {2} $2/1 making it only $1.03 ea!
Hubby uses Visine for Contacts every single day... so needless to say we buy a bunch of it.
Thanks for all the great links, adding to bookmarks!!

[michstar]

Is anyone else having a problem loading the commissary's website? The last 2 times I tried, nothing came up- like it didn't even exist? I've tried it on different computers & different browsers with the same results???

[Snarg]

Originally Posted by michstar

Is anyone else having a problem loading the commissary's website? The last 2 times I tried, nothing came up- like it didn't even exist? I've tried it on different computers & different browsers with the same results???

Happens all the time to me.

Either later on today or sometime tomorrow I will post a guide that explains how to save the Savings Isle to your computer in an easy to sort list :) This works great for those who get a sporadic connection to commissaries.com.

[kypovan]

Thanks for this info!

[michstar]

Originally Posted by Snarg

Happens all the time to me.

Either later on today or sometime tomorrow I will post a guide that explains how to save the Savings Isle to your computer in an easy to sort list This works great for those who get a sporadic connection to commissaries.com.

Thanks, it worked fine the next day. I wonder if it is just unavailable as they are changing the sales, because it was the first day of new sales promotions? Which of course, tends to happen around the 1st & 15th when I start to plan my grocery list!

[tmmyers23]

very informative