Commissary officials have extended their online ordering pilot program, featuring curbside pickup at three commissaries, through the end of this year.
Then they'll evaluate whether to expand "Click2Go" to other commissaries.
The program launched at Fort Lee, Virginia; Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; and Travis Air Force Base, California; in the last half of 2013, allowing customers to place orders online, then pick them up at the commissary curb.
"Usage indicates Click2Go is very popular with the intended audience of 18- to 34-year-olds," said Kevin Robinson, spokesman for the Defense Commissary Agency.
Users report that the Click2Go service makes it much more convenient for them to use their benefit, Robinson said. Those in the 34-to-54 age group also have increased their visits to the commissary by using the online ordering capability, he said.
Since the pilot program began, more than 18,500 orders have been placed, totaling more than $1.94 million in sales. The average order is about $104.70.
In addition to people who don't have the time or desire to shop in a commissary, the service could benefit those who find it difficult to navigate the aisles — a pregnant mom with another young child who shops while her husband is deployed; or an older retiree with health issues.
DeCA is working on other initiatives, including putting two "customer service ambassadors" in each store. Selected through nominations from their peers, these folks will be the main points of contact in stores for any customer and employee feedback. All employees also are in line for training on the basics of customer service and engaging more with shoppers.
PenFed surcharge-free ATMs
The number of surcharge-free ATMs for Pentagon Federal Credit Union members has risen by 43,000 since that credit union joined the AllPoint Network. PenFed members now have access to over 55,000 ATMs worldwide. These cash machines are in places PenFed members already visit as part of their daily routines, such as retail outlets, grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies.
In addition to cash machines in the U.S., the Allpoint Network offers about 12,000 locations in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and Australia. Stores with an Allpoint ATM display a green Allpoint logo.
Allpoint Network resources:
*Allpoint ATM locator for Android: http://bit.ly/Android_Allpoint
*Allpoint ATM locator for iPhone/iPad: http://bit.ly/iPhone_Allpoint
*Allpoint ATM locator for Windows: http://bit.ly/Windows_Allpoint
Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.
