The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) is trying out a new curbside pickup program at three commissaries. Like civilian grocery store programs, you can order your groceries online and pick them up at the curb. During the test period, there is no additional charge for this service. Also, during the test period, there is no minimum order. I think this is amazing. When I had babies and toddlers, I knew the location of every gas station where I could buy milk without stepping more than 12 steps from my car. If I lived in one of the test locations, I would be all over this service. Especially if it had happened 10 years ago!
The program began on 10 July 2013 at Fort Lee, Virginia. Travis Air Force Base, California, will start offering this service on 20 August 2013, and Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, will join the test on 24 September 2013.
Of course, there are some drawbacks. It is possible that the selection of deli, meat, seafood, and bakery items may be limited. You must place your order at least four hours before you want to schedule your pick-up. Most importantly, because of the ever-changing prices at the commissary, prices in your online basket will be estimates. Your actual price may go up or down before you pick up your order, though that is unlikely to happen for same day orders.
There will be limits on payments, as well. For curbside pickup, only credit cards or debit cards that can be processed as a credit card, will be accepted. Cash, checks, debit cards, and WIC/EBT vouchers will not be accepted at curbside. That could change in the future, but will remain true during the test.
From the comments at SpouseBUZZ and on the DeCA Facebook page, it looks like a lot of people are interested in this service. What do you think?
