Do you still shop on post?
I'm lazy (hate traffic), and hate going North of the Nisqually river so I rarely go on post. Lately I've had a bunch of doctors appointments which brought me to post. I've noticed that it costs more for the most part to shop on post. Gas is at least $.10 higher per gallon. The food at the commissary is about the same as WINCO, but then they throw in the surcharge (tax), and the tips for the baggers it really wipes out any savings. Also they have no "generic" brands. The only thing I found cheaper was Mama Mia's pizza crusts. Most of the stuff in the PX I can get on Amazon cheaper. They occasionally have a sale on guns w/o sales tax that can be a bargain. Let's put it this way, I have had the guy that is in charge of the PX Gun Dept come to Cabela's to buy a gun.

Also to be fair all veterans (not just retired/active) can access AAFES on line which can be pretty good. Last year I got a 50" TV for $300 free shipping on black Friday. The biggest saving on post is booze, so Canadian Mist is $14 instead of WA $26.

Any thoughts from my fellow vets?

Wife's grandpa is in his late 70s and still did almost all of their shopping at JBLM commissary until they moved down to Oregon

It was never worth it for me when I was married. Single- if the post didn’t have it, I didn’t need it except US Cav.

Same point here for the most part. I buy stuff when on sale or only if convenient. Most of the time I don't save money and the selection is not good in my opinion.

Two exceptions....

One is alcohol! Hell with WA and that stupid liquor tax. Liquor is way cheaper on post.

Second, is anytime I buy a gun online, I ship to the on post FFL and don't have to pay the taxes.

Where are you finding gas cheaper than on post?

Every where! ARCO $2.84, PX $2.94.

OK, I'm the dummy here.
How do I get on base?
Former Navy from last century.

Stupid question:

If I'm on base can I walk in and buy something without showing ID?

I've been on base a few times to work on things but always assumed I couldn't buy anything.


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JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. --
A standard Washington State Driver License or ID Card can no longer be used to get a visitor’s pass for access to Joint Base Lewis-McChord or the Yakima Training Center starting April 1, because neither complies with Real ID Act of 2005 requirements

Snowflake State

http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/News/Artic ... ge-for-no/

Why do you want to go on base after hearing about the sucky prices?

Must have active, or retiree ID.
New rules allow veterans to buy online.

When I was active, I never found anything cheaper on base. And frankly being on a military base feels extremely oppressive. NO GUNS ALLOWED (well, you can't carry or have one loaded and all must be registered and stored in 100 pieces scattered in your trunk and no ammo within 100 feet... ).

The only exception is here in Washington -
1. Liquor. If you are already on base, stock up on liquor and save about 30% off the state imposed taxes.
2. Gun transfers. The gun shop doesn't charge the state tax imposed - I don't recall the details now but I had a few ordered and delivered there and avoided the state sales tax.

But those fees are nominal and only real savings if you are nearby or already heading there.

When I was active, I NEVER shopped on post after I found out how expensive it was. The px never had anything that was cheap, but they did have things other places ran out of because of popularity, i.e. newest ipod, xbox, etc. If course those were always full price.
The only deal up here in WA is the alcohol. Bought like 4 bottles of Johnny blue for $180/pop without tax. I thought it was Christmas. If course it was my buddy who had to buy it because he was the one with the active id

Oh right, there was also that ak47 I bought for $300 or something ridiculous in Alaska and that h&k usp 45 for $450 when I was in Texas. [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23]


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I'm just talking about buying a snack or lunch. Do they check on everything?


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The restaurants don't check. The shoppettes do. Swing by the food trucks, jimmy johns, food court, whatever and your fine. Just no gas station or PX.

No, but why would you want to pay more? Foot long Subway $8 on post, $6 off post