I sat and listened to a US Senator observe that the federal gov't already runs a grocery system, and it's very efficient. The operation? DoD's commissary system....on all US military posts/bases.
I sat and pondered over the success...having used it for forty-odd years.
First, each building was constructed with fed-funds....not privately financed.
Second, there's no problem in theft. You can ask any commissary manager.....they will note that there might be a minor amount stolen, but it's like 1-percent of what a typical US privately-run grocery would have.
Third, the utility bill? Well...heat and electricity....are paid by the post/base. That bill is not passed onto the consumer.
Fourth, as for the consumer getting a good deal....well, it's not like you'd think. You can walk onto the Tacoma privately-run grocery situation, then onto McChord AFB....to find obvious similarities. There's probably a 5-to-8 percent price difference...at best....with the obvious savings at the Commissary.
I used to be the snacko of our shop at Ramstein...running the soda fund. As I quickly discovered....if you get the on-sale discount schedule....shopping heavily on certain weeks of the month, you would find the BIG savings. Example? A case of Coke at least once a month would drop to 60-percent of the normal cost. So I'd go in and buy ten to twelve cases. Same story for Pop-Tarts.....you'd find them about every six weeks....with 25-percent off.
My blunt view? If you were fairly consumed to show up on a schedule, and avoid normal pricing...yeah, you might be able to buy $150 of groceries for $100.
The sales tax thing? Well...that's also a part of this story. You don't pay taxes at the commissary. So there's that savings....but you do pay a 5-percent operations 'fee' to over employees.
I'm not saying the Senator is wrong....but the Commissary is only successful because of certain built-in features.
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