Why commissaries don’t double coupons Published Sept. 13, 2007 By Lynda Valentine AAFES Media FORT LEE, Va. -- Commissary patrons continually ask one question: "Why doesn't the commissary 'double' coupons like civilian grocery stores do?" The answer is simple: Commercial stores operate at a profit by marking up the grocery items they sell. By law, commissaries must sell items at cost - not for profit. If a shopper redeems a manufacturer's coupon for 25 cents and a commercial store doubles it to 50 cents, the manufacturer pays the store only the value of the coupon, which is 25 cents. The additional 25 cents comes out of the store's built-in profit margin. Many local stores can double coupons, knowing that while they may lose money on a few items, they make up the difference in their overall markups. DeCA, however, has no such profit margin to make up the difference for a doubled coupon, so commissaries honor only the amount on the coupon that the manufacturer will rebate. Many patrons confuse the commissary surcharge with profit. The 5-percent surcharge, added to a shopper's total purchase at checkout, is mandated by Congress and used only to build new commissaries and renovate existing ones. DeCA cannot use the surcharge fund to purchase groceries for resale or to pay the salaries of commissary employees. Neither can it be used to offset costs associated with doubling coupons. During National Coupon Month this September, the Defense Commissary Agency wants to remind all patrons that their commissary gladly accepts manufacturers' coupons for the products it sells. For more information about using coupons at your commissary, or to find coupons online, log onto DeCA's Web site at: http://www.commissaries.com.