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Shopping & Shipping Tips for Rural Alaska
This is the place to find favorite shopping tips, and strategies. Each of us have our favorite little things we have discovered over the years, and new options are popping up all the time. None of the links here are "endorsed".
Some of these are common knowledge in rural teaching circles. All are proven time and money savers, and should help make your adjustment to rural Alaska a great deal easier.
This is simply a starter list of tips and tricks for shopping in rural Alaska. At the bottom always possible, but much more expensive.
- Research your community and shipping alternatives before you make major purchases
- Know your airline luggage limits, as excess baggage is expensive.
» New Changes to Alaska Airlines Baggage Policy, & Fees:
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/www2/help/faqs/CheckedBaggage.asp
Effective July 7,2009, Alaska Airlines will charge per bag. 1st Bag $20 (USD) one way, 2nd Bag $20, 3rd Bag $20, (<50 lbs) for in-state travelers ONLY! The 4th-6th bags are $50 each. If the bag is overweight (51-100lbs), so you can pack an extra 49lbs. of goodies for a $50 fee. Of course, this doesn't apply beyond your Alaska Airlines "hub" city (Bethel, Nome, Barrow, etc.). If you change to a smaller "bush" airline, they treat the "excess" bag(s) differently.
- You may want to mail your suitcases from Anchorage, and travel with boxes of meats or other perishables, as you never know how long the mailed boxes will be sitting in frigid airline cargo spaces or overheated storage units.
- Know how to pack to meet the U.S. Postal shipping requirements
- » The Airport Post Office in Anchorage is no longer open 24 hours – Now closed from midnight – 6:00 a.m. and holidays!
- Sharing is caring – Before ordering food and other merchandise from outside the village check around and find others that need some like items. Today there is lot of merchandise that you can purchase from the warehouse stores that comes in packages (example canned fruit and vegetables in 12 packs) that can be shared among several people saving all of you some hard earned money. Shipping: Did you know that a large majority of the rural schools and grocery stores ship using the USPS Bypass Mail Service to send their frozen meat and vegetables, chilled and dry groceries. It's cheaper then air freight, usually faster and all the merchandise gets delivered to your home or school. Bypass mail saves you money. All you need to do is have a min. amount of 1100 lbs, (the average families order from Sam's Club is usually around 325 lbs) use a approved bypass mail contractor. This service is availble to almost every village in Alaska. Go to USPS Bypass Mail for further information or contact your local post office.
Bush Shopping Strategies
Although things have improved dramatically in terms of rural Alaska shopping options since the 1980's and early 1990's, your first year or two in the Bush is still going to go more smoothly if you plan ahead!
There are several basic approaches you can follow to prepare for you first year. Which one is right for you depends partially on what village you are headed to, the size and composition of your family, and your consumption habits and patterns.
You have three basic choices for how you order your basic items: traditional grocery shippers; on-line retailers, or do-it-yourself shopping trips to Anchorage or Fairbanks.
As you decide which of these methods to choose, remember that Anchorage and Fairbanks are both very expensive places to stay during the summer tourist season. During June through August, make sure you calculate a value into your cost equation that includes at least $130 per night for a hotel, the cost of a car or van rental at about $65 or more per day, postage, tape and mailing boxes or tubs.
No matter what option you use, check what your vendor charges to ship your purchases to your village. Shipping can range from the actual cost by mail with no handling fee to handling and air freight charges that total several times the actual purchase cost of what you are buying! Always compare costs on shipping carefully between stores or websites.
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Option 1: Order Your Staples & Supplement! Pros:
Cons:
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Some teachers place a large order of basics before coming to Alaska, usually through one of the major bulk Bush grocery shippers like Span Alaska (now owned by parent company of AC Stores)(see below) (hint: mail order prices are high but barge orders are reasonable but only sail in the summer), and then buy things to supplement as needed. This can be used in combination with the Guerilla Shopping Experience below.
Smart teachers want to shop at the Anchorage Costco and Sams Club so they can see what selection and brands they carry. By shopping their own orders they save money and get more of what they want. They then leave the purchased merchandise at the warehouse store and leave instructions to have one of the local expeditors package and send their merchandise out to them. Always ask the store supervisors which expeditor they would suggest to use.
Prices are generally not bad if you order in bulk. If you order from a catalog or one of the on-line services, you might be able to save more money than those who buy only from the local store or a regional hub. (See http://www.schneidlers.com/peter/advice/shopping/overview.htm for price comparison.)
The trade off is you need to spend some time figuring what you really use and need that will not spoil in transit. (Check on bypass mail rates for 1000 lbs or more) You can only carry frozen meat or other perishables a few times a year, but you can order the non-perishable staples (rice, pasta, canned goods, boxed prepared foods, Halloween candy, etc.) ahead of time at great savings.
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Option 2: The Guerilla Shopping Experience Pros:
Cons:
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Some long time teachers in the Bush swear by Guerilla Shopping, and I have personally spent many an hour engaged in this rather unique activity. Even if you do order the basics ahead of time, you'll want to know the rough Guerilla Shopping techniques, as you will find yourself in Anchorage or Fairbanks or another regional hub at one time or another.
Seasoned Bush residents always travel with tape, markers and perhaps even labels to make sure that no opportunity to fill a box or cooler goes wasted!
The Usual Scenario
You are either on an overnight layover in Anchorage or Fairbanks, and have only a few hours to buy as much as possible. You know you will return to the village for a couple months, maybe longer, without another chance to get fresh stuff or necessities at prices like this. What's a guy or gal to do?
Well, here is a quick list of tips:
- Shop with a plan or a list, or you'll be ineffective!
- Boxes / rubbermaid tubs, packing tape and markers – have them with you.
- Keep packing and/or shipping limits in mind at all times. Pack as you shop if possible.
- Mail suitcases – you need fresh produce and fresh meat more!
- Coolers are useful as luggage both in the summer to chill, and in the winter to protect produce from cold.
Shopping On-line
On-line shopping is probably the method most Bush teachers use to buy things. Even grocery orders on-line are getting increasingly common.
It's important to shop carefully to make sure you don't end up paying hidden shipping fees when shopping with on-line vendors. Sometimes you will find a great special on-line, only to be told upon checkout that shipping "outside the United States", or "outside the Continental United States" is not possible.
Although everyone has their favorites, some of the best on-line sources for rural Alaskan are those that periodically offer free or reduced shipping.
The list of recommended sources at the bottom of the page will have many more shopping resources that Bush residents use.
Please try to make in state purchases when ever possible. It's good for the state economy and it shows the community that you as a teacher care for Alaska and support the people that live here.
Buying Bulk Groceries
Many people buy their bulk groceries just a few times a year. A common approach in coastal villages, or along major rivers is to order a few large shipments by barge from Seattle or Anchorage.
There are some communities, however, where placing a major order for the year results in significant savings, so check with your district before you go.
On Atka Island in the Aleutians, for instance, there used to be just one or two barges a year. There was no dock (there is a dock now), and if you missed that arrangement, you were limited in what you could have sent on the one mail flight a week.
It was essential for teachers on Atka to coordinate grocery shipments well in advance. There are fewer communities with these limits than there used to be, but make sure you ask your district before you make assumptions. Some other communities in the Aleutians get weekly barges all winter, and you can even order fresh produce all winter. So, it really is essential to ask questions before you shop.
Shopping for a big order once, twice or three times a year is a bit of an art. Maybe someone will post tips to this page on the best way to estimate quantities. You will make mistakes. Count on it, and just assume there will be a margin of error to your calculations the first year.
There are several alternatives for bulk items that depend on what strategy you are using – the three basic approaches are traditional grocery shippers, on-line retailers, or spending the time and money to shop for a few days in Anchorage or Fairbanks.
One alternative that some seasoned teachers (Save money by using Bypass Mail Service) use is to pool their orders together and then send then all to Anchorage store. The store pulls each order, charges each person for their merchandise. A expeditor picks up all the orders together. And all the packages will be sent out together. The bypass mail service has a min weight requirement of 1100 lbs, you can send all groceries including dry, chill and freeze. (Cheaper then air freight) You usually get all the merchandise delivered right to your house or school. Call one of the expeditors listed on this page for further information. Try Express Yourself Expeditors or JB Bush.
For buying your staples, or the things you know you are going to need over the year, it is wise to think big. The bigger the quantity you order, the lower you cost.
One of the most common misconceptions about the cost of living in Alaska is based on the idea that the local store price of core grocery items are what teachers actually pay. They usually don't pay those prices, except when they run out of something, or want to splurge.
Most teachers don't buy a jar of Ragu at the local Alaska Commercial store, but order a couple of cases of Ragu from a catalog, on-line, or when they are in "town" and can pack and ship themselves.
Getting Fresh Produce
Don't do without. Get your fresh produce. It's worth every penny, and is getting fresher and less expensive to obtain.
Surprisingly, many Alaskans use coolers to ship fresh produce, or when they travel by plane, but not to keep them cold. Quite the opposite! The coolers protect lettuce and other fragile produce items for a short while from the extreme cold in the plane's hold, belly pod or wing locker and so on when the winter temperatures arrive.
Check with people at your site if they have Circle Farms delivery. They mail in produce on different schedules depending on what you ask for.
Dairy Products
Back in the old days, we had to use powdered milk most of the time. The most common brand, still commonly used in the Bush, was called "Milkman". Things changed with the introduction of sterilized, shelf safe milk in the early 90's.
Real Milk
If you order several cases of sterilized, shelf safe "Real Milk" in pint containers, the cost is not all that outrageous. It will be more expensive than a grocery store in Pittsburgh or Minneapolis, but the net cost is not all that much higher than in Anchorage or Fairbanks.
Whole Milk
Whole milk is far easier to get than it once was, but is still quite expensive by Lower 48 standards. A gallon of milk in some village stores can be over $12, and you need to watch those expiration dates. But, a gallon of whole milk at Fred Meyers on-line today is $2.99, plus shipping.
Gallons of milk are treated like perishable produce for shipping purposes.
And, contrary to what my mother told me, yes, you can freeze milk!
Powdered Milk
When I first moved up to Alaska, my family could only get "Milkman", a powdered milk substitute that you mix with water. There really is no need to do this to yourself any longer, and I don't recommend it. Some friends of mine STILL order it. Go figure.
Wine, Beer & Spirits
Alcohol shipping can very tricky, this is one item that is important to get right, as making a mistake can land you in serious legal trouble!
Under the "Local Option" rules of the Alaska Alcohol Beverage Control Board (ABC), many Alaskan communities are "dry" or "damp".
In "dry" villages alcohol sale or posession is illegal. In "damp" villages the sale alcohol is illegal, but residents can possess it. In addition, some villages that do allow alchol possession have very specific limits on how much you can bring in each month, or other controls on possession and consumption. A "wet" village has no legislated restrictions on alcohol sale or consumption.
* Alaska Local Option List
* Local Option Map
Do villages take this seriously? Very much so. Some search all visitors on arrival at the air strip. Others do not search arrivals. But, even if others in a "dry" village drink, as a school employee your behavior is scrutinized very carefully in the community.
Fair Warning!
Alcohol abuse in rural Alaska is a significant problem, and you need to be sensitive to this when considering a move. Drinking alcohol where it's illegal, or smuggling alcohol into a village will at a minimum reduce your effectiveness in that community, and could create re-certification problems. It will probably cost you your job. Oh, and you could also be arrested and fined. Don't even think about it. If alcohol or nightlife are really important to you, please think about going somewhere else.
Don't buy from bootleggers, or make "homebrew" from yeast in a dry village. And, never, ever, ever send alcohol through the mail to a village! This will get you arrested. Make sure that your friends and relatives back home don't decide to send you any wine or spirits as a gift!
Are There Options in Damp Communities?
Yes! If it's legal to drink alcohol in the community you move to, you do indeed have some options. Shipping glass is expensive by air freight, so some prefer to buy cans of beer rather than bottles, or boxed wine instead of bottled.
It's easiest to order while you are in town, but if you have an account set up in advance - and in person - liquor stores can ship to you by air freight. It must be marked as alcohol, and the stores are very careful, and require an account on file, photo identification, and original signatures on all orders that must match the ID for you they have on file. Faxed orders are not possible.
Once you have an account established with a liquor store, there is still a monthly maximum on the amount they will send to you that depends on which community you live in.
Why is it so difficult? The potential for abuse is high. A single illegal bottle of cheap vodka, for example can sell for $100 or more profit in some villages.
Hazardous Materials Shipping
Many people don't realize how some common household chemicals and products can be considered hazardous, but they are by air carriers. These items can almost only be obtained locally in the village store, or have to arrive by barge.
Some villages, of course, don't have barge service, and most do not have this option in the winter months.
Examples of difficult things to ship out to the Bush:
- Household bleach
- Household cleansers (some kinds)
- Paint
- Propane
- PAM cooking spray
- Alcohol (see section above)
Shopping & Shipping Services
There are several small companies in Anchorage that serve Bush residents by offering shopping and shipping services.
Alaska Bush Service (www.alaskabushservice.com) - This is an Anchorage company that provides shopping and shipping services to the Bush. They have a catalog, will shop Costco and mail it out to you. You can call and request that they purchase from specific stores. Their fees vary based on services provided. (requires minimum $700 order).
Alice Tucker says: I have ordered prom and graduation food and flowers from them with great success and have found their personal service to be outstanding.
JB Bush Expeditors (800-478-7234, fax 243-5744, or just email your list to jbbush@gci.net) – They generally shop Sam's Club and Costco. If you want to shop at Sam's yourself, you can leave your items in your cart and they'll take care of it from there. No website, no catalog. Fees vary depending on whether you place your order with them or do the shopping yourself or have Sam's do the shopping.
Express Yourself Expeditors (www.expressyourselfexpeditors.com) – providing shopping, packaging and shipping services to people that live and work in rural Alaska and beyond. Specializing in Costco Wholesale/Sam's Club merchandise. We offer three different service levels: Self-shops (you shop yourself), Express Yourself Shops for you or you have Costco or Sams Club do the shopping for you. We offer shipping by parcel post (cheapest what most people use for non-perishables), air freight (for perishables and over size items) and Bypass Mail. If you will be shopping at Costco Wholesale/Sam's Club and would like us to ship your merchandise then when you go to pay for your merchandise just ask the cashier for an Express Yourself order form. You will need to fill it out and leave it with your merchandise. Express Yourself will then pick it up, inventory the order, package and then deliver to the carrier of your choice. Our fees vary depending on service requested. Questions, please call 1-800-248-4419, Mon-Fri (9am-5pm). Pay by major credit/debt card or bank transfer. We are a USPS approved Bypass Mail Contractor.
Mailbox Groceries Alaska (www.mailboxgroceriesalaska.com) – Your #1 online grocery store covering all of Alaska. Our new online catalog with over 1800 items was developed just for busy people like yourself. It's easy to find things, with major brands, the right sizes and fair prices. We are your connection to Anchorage. All listed prices* for non-perishable merchandise include the new postage rate (parcel post) delivered to zip codes 995,996 and 997. All listed prices* on freeze, chill and over size items include delivery to Ted Stevens Intl. Airport only. They do not include any transportation from Anchorage to your location. Our friendly customer service staff will be happy to make all air freight arrangements to have your merchandise delivered to your location. Any questions give us a call 1-800-248-4419, Mon-Fri (9am-5pm). Pay by Quest card, major credit/debt cards and bank transfers. (*merchandise prices are subject to change without notice)
Anchorage: Grocery Stores
Carr's, of course, the Safeway of Alaska. All over Anchorage.
New Sagaya is home to a fantastic selection of Asian grocery needs. Also the best store in the state for buying really good, fresh seafood. Located just south of Old Seward and 36th and also on the corner of Minnesota and 15th, I think. Not a store you'd expect to find in Alaska. More of a Seattle or Bay Area feel.
Anchorage: Meats & Seafood
Mr. Prime Beef
7521 Old Seward Highway
Anchorage, Alaska 99518
907-344-4066
Simply the best butcher shop in Anchorage. Many Bush teachers will order from nowhere else, inlcuding the webmaster at ATP. These guys will pack your order (with a day or two notice) to travel as baggage, or ship out to the Bush. Great weekly specials that are only available for pickup. Excellent quality meats, poultry and seafood. Recommended.
Anchorage: General Merchandise
Costco Membership Warehouse
Sam's Club #6601 – South Anchorage, near Dimond Center Mall
8801 Old Seward Highway
Anchorage, AK 99515-2021
Fax: 907-344-6509
907-770-2910
Like Sam's Clubs anywhere, and they have a great Bush Order Department that takes orders on the web, by phone or in person.
Walmart Stores
Walmart Bush Orders – There are two Walmart stores in Anchorage, but the one near Dimond Center Mall also has a Bush Order department. They also have a Bush Order Pharmacy at this location.
Prices and selection at Alaska's Walmart stores are mostly the same as other Pacific Northwest Walmart stores. There may be minor price difference, but for the most part, you can shop at the Walmart back home to get product part numbers and prices, and then submit your order to the Anchorage store on your way through town to have things shipped via their Bush Order department. This is very useful if you are only going to be in Anchorage overnight, or for a short time.
Wal-Mart South charges you a 10% fee (plus shipping) if you have them pack and ship your order. Another alternative is to bring in your own packing containers and mail the items from the business counter of the store. I did this today(11/22/06) and it was wonderful to not travel to the post office. You are not limited to shipping materials from Wal-Mart and can ship anything through this business center. Be careful with this service. After shipping about 200.00 worth of postage, I did the math and found out the upcharge was 25%. The local store refunded my overage, but I am waiting on hold to find out whether the price will change on this.
Wal-Mart South Anchorage (Near Dimond Center Mall)
8900 Old Seward Hwy
Anchorage AK 99515
(907) 344-5300
(800) 833-2874
Email: wmtbush@wal-mart.com
Wal-Mart Mid Town (Near Sears Mall) – Does not do bush orders.
3101 A Street
Anchorage AK 99503
(907) 563-5900
Anchorage: Pet Supplies
GRRdwood Pets and Green Goods
148 Holmgren Place, Unit #2
Girdwood, Alaska
783-0226
This pet store specializes in natural and organic pet food, treats, and toys. If you contact her from your village, she'll ship out your food to you.
Anchorage: Fast Food Fixes
Pizza, Chinese or Subway sandwiches are a real treat thing to hand carry back on the plane, or have delivered for a mid-winter pick-me-up. Here are some of our favorites:
Moose's Tooth Pizza
3300 Old Seward Highway
Anchorage, Alaska
907-258-2537 – Allow an hour for orders!
Very, very popular California style pizza & brew pub with an amazingly poor website. They have great pizza, and a funky atmosphere. Recommended. Huge lines, but worth the wait!
Pizza Olympia
2809 Spenard Rd.
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 561-5264
Great pizzas & Greek food! Located right across from REI, and not far from the airport. Their complete menu is online.
» Little known fact: You can duct tape two large pizzas together, and make a handle out of tape. This, or almost any fast food fix, can be a "carry on" for your flight to the village.
Anchorage: Liquor Stores
Brown Jug Warehouse
4140 Old Seward Highway
Anchorage, Alaska
907-563-3008
800-478-2413
Fairbanks: General Merchandise
Sam's Club #6603
48 College Rd.
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Fax: 907-451-4814
907-770-2910
Walmart Stores
Prices and selection at Alaska's Walmart stores are mostly the same as other Pacific Northwest Walmart stores. There may be minor price difference, but for the most part, you can shop at the Walmart back home to get product part numbers and prices, and then submit your order to the Anchorage store on your way through town to have things shipped via their Bush Order department. This is very useful if you are only going to be in Anchorage overnight, or for a short time.
Wal-Mart Fairbanks – Bush Order
537 Johansen Expressway
Toll Free: 877-451-9921
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Fax: 907-451-9930
On-line: Grocery Stores
Mailbox Groceries – Anchorage based Bush grocery company with a website for on-line orders. Prices include postage within Alaska.
Sam's Club On-line Bush Orders – Bush order desk for Sam's Club. Prices subject to handling fee, plus shipping.
Span Alaska Sales – The best known of the Alaska Bush grocery shipping companies. They're based out of Washington state, and all prices include postage within Alaska.
Walmart Bush Orders – Bush order desk for Walmart Anchorage. Prices subject to 10% handling fee and shipping.
Amazon Groceries – Amazon used to ship groceries to AK but at this time, they no longer do.
Fred Meyer Groceries – Good prices and a great variety. Shipping charges are high for fresh or frozen.
Natural Pantry – Natural and Gourmet foods
On-line: Meats & Seafood
Mikes Quality Meats – Wholesale Meats
On-line: General Merchandise
Amazon.com – You can find just about anything here, and if you order more than $25 of goods, shipping is FREE(!!!) and surprisingly fast.
Drugstore.com – For toiletries, vitamins, household cleaners, etc., this is the place to shop – prices are very competitive. Free shipping when your order is over $50, but beware that their shipping is very slow, sometimes taking up to 10 weeks.
On-line: Pet Supplies
Alaska Mill and Feed – This pet supply store (mainly food) has a good variety and low shipping costs.
On-line: Winter Clothing
We get many questions about outdoor and winter clothing. This is natural, as many mentally picture Alaska as a winter wonderland, and teachers moving up are frequently from all parts of the United States. You will need something to first arrive in, and then choose winter clothing. It seems that consensus of educators already here is mostly to wait until you arrive to get the "real" winter clothing you will need.
Here information from BSSD that talks a little about clothing:
» BSSD's Moving Information – Recommends talking to your principal first.
As someone who bought a bunch of gear that I could not afford before I came up, and then saw that cold weather gear rot in storage for years, I'd agree. Alaska has several very distinct climate zones, and you will need local knowledge to buy appropriately.
I'd recommend the following Alaska Starter Kit for arrival, and get what else you need when you are here. No matter where you go, this will get you there and probably through the first two months of school easy:
- Parka shell – Uninsulated, waterproof ($150 - $300)
- Polarplus or wool sweater – Soft, polypro material ($35 - $150)
- Lightweight glove liners – Polypro, or "Mechanix" gloves ($10 - $30)
- Light polypro stocking cap or waterproof hat ($10 - $30)
Tip: It's wet most places in July & August. Cheap rain boots are easy to find in Anchorage. Many prefer Xtratuf Neoprene boots. Lightweight polypro underwear is another good thing to consider for the first couple of months.
In fact, I wear a similar setup most of the year up here in the Bering Strait region for day-to-day moving around the village, with the addition of Patagonia midweight polypro underwear in winter. I only wear the real winter gear, and pac boots from late November until about end of February or early March, or when travelling by small plane.
If you are doing outdoor activities during the main thrust of winter, such as snowmobiling, skiing, ice fishing or snowshoing, all of these activities usually have fairly specialized clothing. Your fellow teachers will fill you in.
If you are determined to buy before you come up, here are several online companies that I see lots of boxes from at the post office...and that I've dealt with:
- Cabela's Outfitters – Good selection, good shipping. Regular clothes, too.
- REI – Another favorite up here. Lots of choices, good shipping. Store in Anchorage if you want to touch before you buy. Regular clothes, too.
Here are some personal recommendations of vendors I've used over the years for winter clothing:
- Sierra Trading Post – Great prices, closeouts and bargains
- L.L.Bean – Great winter gear. I got a down parka here for under $100, and it kept me warm all winter. If you get their credit card, shipping is always free.
- Campmor – Oodles of quality gear, good prices, ships US Mail(!)
- Weaver & Devore – Excellent "Canada Goose" connection for serious winter! Prices are in Canadian dollars. Cheaper than Anchorage when shipped by Canadian Postal Service. I bought the "Snow Mantra" from them, and put a thick wolf ruff on it, as is common here. I love it!
Alaska stores that ship outdoor gear to the Bush, and that I've used successfully many times:
- Big Ray's – Fairbanks store with good gear, ships US Mail. Their lines included Alaska favorites like Carhardt insulated coveralls, bunny boots, and a "made for Alaska" value line for kids called "Activ 8".
- 6th Avenue Outfitters – Anchorage outfitter with great gear. Got my Carhardt Extreme overalls embroidered for $10 extra. Ships US Mail. This store also carries the Alaska Activ 8 line my own kids grew up in.