MRE prices

[Button_Jockey]

So, I only started buying MREs a few months ago. I buy military MREs off of ebay. I've seen an incredible price hike in these few months! The first case I bought was about $40, now I can't find them under $60. Most are priced at $80 and only show stock photos of the product. Is this fluctuation normal with the military rations or is this unusual? Do the prices fluctuate with national/ world events typically, or is this possibly due to increasing popularity of MRE consumption?

[housil]

Do the prices fluctuate with national/ world events typically, or is this possibly due to increasing popularity of MRE consumption?

My personal opinion from outside the US, peoples "prepare" for oncoming summer trips (hiking), hurricane season etc. Nobody needs them in winter.

[RockyRaab]

Those prices are way below what meals sell for in military commissaries. Which means that they are a lot like a $500 Rolex -- either stolen, fake, or otherwise bad.

Current production, properly stored MREs cost about $7.69 at my local base, and that's probably true Army/Air Force wide. A case is 12 times that, or $92.28. TOTMs are $4.69 each or $56.28 a case by the way. They don't sell FSRs or MCWs in the commissary.

[sourwes]

RockyRaab is correct, MREs cost the government almost $100 a case. Rations from eBay are a gamble, I've got good ones and bad ones...I'ts a gamble. I keep the military issue rations for my stockpile and APack or Sopackco for everyday eating...

[Icon]

I've been buying Sopako for $20 a case, up to $30 for the other civilian type MRE's. I would love to find some military for $40.

[OtisRNeedleman]

Those prices are way below what meals sell for in military commissaries. Which means that they are a lot like a $500 Rolex -- either stolen, fake, or otherwise bad.

Current production, properly stored MREs cost about $7.69 at my local base, and that's probably true Army/Air Force wide. A case is 12 times that, or $92.28. TOTMs are $4.69 each or $56.28 a case by the way. They don't sell FSRs or MCWs in the commissary.

Yup, was at the commissary this morning and saw a case of MREs for $101 and change. No cases of TOTMs seen, but plenty of single meals, both TOTMs and MREs.

[emtsarah]

Excuse my ignorance but what are TOTM's? I was in the military, oh so long ago I won't say for fear of outing my age, but I never heard of TOTM's. When I was in we didn't have MCW's or LRP's either.

[FREMONT]

I've been buying Sopako for $20 a case, up to $30 for the other civilian type MRE's. I would love to find some military for $40.

Where do you get your Sopako cases? I would love to find a decent case that cheap.

[FREMONT]

Excuse my ignorance but what are TOTM's? I was in the military, oh so long ago I won't say for fear of outing my age, but I never heard of TOTM's. When I was in we didn't have MCW's or LRP's either.

They're training MREs. They contain less content than the standard issue MRE and are primarily used for reserve troops. LRPs have been in for a while actually, Steve1989 did a video on one made in 1977 not to long ago. The precursor to the MCW was the RCW.

[RockyRaab]

The main page of this site has good descriptions of just about every kind of ration available. Good reading.

We had LRPs in 1971. They were called LRRP for Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol back then. Different packaging and less content than now but the freeze-dried entree was the same. If our flight schedule didn't coincide with meal hours at the commanding general's mess (or we didn't feel like getting dressed for it) we pilots often ate a LRRP or MCI back in our quarters. I liked the LRPs much more than the MCIs.