Navy Annapolis Commissary — Local services in Contiguous United States

This is a small store. They are understaffed due to budget cuts. While there are many empty areas on the shelves, it’s not all the staff’s fault. They have a contracting company (Pride) who are supposed to stock a lot of the items. They can only stock what is shipped. The warehouse sends out what they can when they get it in. Do not blame management or the store workers! They can only do what they can do. The meat department has a new manager and they are clean and well stocked. Although they leave a little too much fat cap on some of the meat cuts. The produce department is going through a transition and will get it together soon. They are all still figuring it out. If you ask, they will get produce out of the back if you don’t like what you see. There are awesome store workers who will stop whatever they are doing to go find a product for you even if they aren’t working in that area. They have assigned areas and it’s not their job to stock out the milk or frozen if they are working in produce or doing their after their working hours vendor stocking. The cashiers can be a little slow at times and the front end supervisor needs to learn to open more registers when they have a line, even if they have to jump on to clear the line. It irritates me when I see people complaining about a store that is a privilege to shop at. Not everyone can shop there as you have to be part of the military community and be a valid ID card holder. Be happy we have it. It is appropriated funds and Congress can take it away if and when the budget calls for it. Keep it in mind that you can also have your individual access revoked if you show cause. I have been allowed to shop at the commissary and NEX/PX/AAFES system for over 40 years. Never take it for granted and cut them a little slack. Especially now when you have people who are clearing out the shelves because of the current crisis. Don’t blame the workers/Management. Blame the hoarders who only think...

I usually do some shopping here and some out in town. A few things to touch base on that I've noticed.

Always check the exp dates, typically I find a few items that are expired, so for someone who is in a rush they may not see it. The vegetables and fruits are usually hit or miss, usually more miss than anything. I've just stopped buying those here and prefer out in town.

The baggers are super nice. I've chatted with a few of them as we walk to the car. My biggest concern is that they have to split a portion of their tips with the head bagger. How does that even make sense? What if that head bagger isn't there? He still gets a portion of their tips. Most of those baggers are school aged children who are saving their money. This is 100% absurd and should absolutely be stopped.

For the people complaining about self-check out on Mondays, be happy that they're open on Mondays. They weren't always opened. If you don't want to scan your items yourself (and "not get paid for it") then you are more than welcome to go to another store. No one is making you self-check yourself out. That's your decision. Most of us appreciate the commissary just being opened on the day they are were...

Remember Tom Peter's bestseller "In Search of Excellence," in which he profiled companies that excelled in customer service while increasing their bottom line? I recalled this business Bible last week when I returned home from the Annapolis Naval Commissary and couldn't locate a grocery bag. I phoned the store, was given Customer Service and a patient woman asked which check-out I used and who put the groceries in the car. She checked with the employees; no luck. She then gingerly suggested that I search my car "one more time," although I had insisted I had covered every inch. "Please come back and we'll take care of you," she concluded, as warmly as if she were inviting me to Thanksgiving dinner. You know the rest: Of course, the missing bag was in the CRV, in full view. The point is: Great customer service. No accusations. No apologies needed or given (she's likely heard this story before). But a quick offering to "take care of me," left as good a taste in my mouth as all the treats in their gourmet bakery and other super selections." Way to go...