Aren't U.S. military commissary meat depts supposed to be non profit? That means no one cares about the gross. No worries about losing money (or getting in trouble from a bad boss) on anything you want/need to throw away. No manager will be mad at you if you try to save a customer money by not allowing her/him to overbuy an expensive item. Everything is fresh and cheap. One of the good things about being in the military. I guess since they don't pay you very well, it's the least they can do. OTOH, it can open doors for a great job in the future. 

      I visited the Moffett Field Commissary (Mountain View Ca.) last year. All the beef was USDA Choice, and somehow, the prices were below our cost! I guess when you have that much buying power and a desire to not make money, that's what happens. 

The ground beef was still run through the extruder/popper (what do you call it?), but after a few posts over the years, no one else here knows what those are. What about now?

Chad wrote:

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Yes they are non profit except for a surcharge 5% which goes to pay for new stores or remodels. I think in the meat department you are still supposed to keep your total shrink below a certain percentage. 1% I think. What I like is 40 hours punching a clock and two days off in a row. One weekend day off which means your off either Friday and Saturday or Sunday and Monday. I've never had two days off in a row but of course everyone in my department does.

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 My brother worked as a bagger at the commissary in Holy Loch Scotland in 1975. (the base is now closed, the Tender and dry dock are long gone). All the baggers worked for tips. No real pay. This might have had something to do with laws about foreigners working in Scotland? I'm not sure, but I think most of the rest of the commissary employees were locals. 

Thanks a lot guys, yes the hamburger looks like little bricks, but is fresh. The meats were mostly choice. No lunch-meat to worry about, did not see any chicken in the cooler, only beef and pork to cut, I think. The boneless pork is pre-cut, rest you cut. Looked pretty, but has the juice in it (yuck) This is only 24 hours a week, (40 hours the rest of the year) and less money, but may open doors on base, I have a B. S. in manufacturing. I hate my full time job driving an hour to be a yarn qa manager, ****ty management. They are getting a remodel on base, going to a multi-deck case, out with the coffin. This is 15 minutes from home-gonna go for it, step out and take a chance, knowing nothing will change if I don't do something, days off in a row sounds humane, wish me luck, thanks again all of you. 5 guys no chicks, lol.

Trave, or newbernbears, if you get a chance, could you take a picture of the ground beef popper and post it here?

newbernbears wrote:

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Anyone work at a commissary on base? Some jobs are Part-time, 24 hours per week, GS/05 what do you think about it?

Thanks!

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 what is GS/05?

a commissary can be a promise land for meatcutters,,,

I worked with one cutter that came from a commissary (based closed in northern maine)
he said he was instructed to not make more than 5% margin,,,imagine that!!
and he said they don't whip you at all and pay and benefits are great!



its a great place to work so long as it doesn't close



on the BUTCHERS facebook page there is a cutter from Nevada and he loves it at the commissary

if I were interviewing with them,,,,and discussing pay,,,id aim,,very high,,,,,i think there is quite a range,,,but it can be expedited

I remember going to the commissary a lot as a kid. There was "bad check day" (day before payday) where it seemed like every person on base was grocery shopping that day. Huge lines, 20 registers humming, it was wild. A guy that works with me also is part time at Ft Campbell commissary and he loves it. They only cut beef and pork, poultry is all pre-pack and company reps stock all smoked and frozen meats. He says they cut 60-80 boxes of beef everyday .

Mainemeatman wrote:

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a commissary can be a promise land for meatcutters,,,


I worked with one cutter that came from a commissary (based closed in northern maine)

he said he was instructed to not make more than 5% margin,,,imagine that!!

and he said they don't whip you at all and pay and benefits are great!




its a great place to work so long as it doesn't close




on the BUTCHERS facebook page there is a cutter from Nevada and he loves it at the commissary


if I were interviewing with them,,,,and discussing pay,,,id aim,,very high,,,,,i think there is quite a range,,,but it can be expedited

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Thanks a lot, maybe Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune won't close, I live between them

newbernbears wrote:

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I GOT THE JOB !!!!!!



I start Monday at Cherry Point MCAS.

I will let you know how it goes !!!!!!

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 I hope you like it. 

Geronimo wrote:

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Sales, is the "ONLY" Place that you receive "WHAT YOUR WORTH" I Laugh when I hear "Non-Profit" Someone always "PROFITS" . its call them. Who are to "LAZY " to make something for them selves ~ I always say: There is no sum of zero!

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I have no idea what the above means. Did you write this in a non English language and then have it translated at an Internet site? Often, the translation when done at an Internet site makes no sense. Some things still need to be translated by a real person. 

Geronimo wrote:

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It was a response. To working for the government. A job is a job! The statement of they not care if there a profit? One way to fill a "hole" is put Phil in it! LOL

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 I think one reason for the low profit goal at the commissary is that they want low prices for the people who shop there. Military people don't get very good pay. The low prices at the commissary compensates for that a little bit