eCommDirect Explained: How to Buy Commissary Items for Your Loved One at Garza East

eCommDirect is TDCJ's online commissary purchasing program. It lets approved friends and family buy commissary items for eligible inmates. Garza East inmates can receive these purchases as long as the inmate is eligible under TDCJ rules and the buyer is an approved contact.

Spending limits are set by quarter, not by individual order. You can place multiple orders in the same quarter, but your combined total can't exceed that quarter's cap. The quarterly maximums: January through March is $70, April through June is $70, and July through September is $70. October through December has a higher limit of $95 (the Holiday Spend period). If you want to send a little extra, the October to December quarter is your best window. The other three quarters stay at $70 each.

Fees vary depending on what you're doing. For commissary purchases, there's a $3.75 transaction fee. Deposits cost $2.50 plus 2.25% of the deposit amount. If you make a deposit and a purchase together, the combined fee is $3.75 plus 2.25% of the deposit. So your total cost looks different depending on whether you're only buying items, only depositing, or doing both at once.

To check whether a product is available through eCommDirect, look at the TDCJ commissary price list. Items marked with an "E" are sold on the eCommDirect website. If you're unsure about something specific, check the current price list and look for that "E" marker.

eCommDirect purchases are only available for eligible inmates under TDCJ rules. If you're not sure whether your loved one at Garza East can receive eCommDirect purchases right now, contact the unit directly.