Buying Commissary for a Loved One at Clemens Unit: eCommDirect Rules, Limits, and Stock Caveats
Want to buy commissary items for someone at the Clemens Unit? You'll need to go through TDCJ's eCommDirect system. Here's what trips people up most often—who can order, how frequently, and why items on the price list sometimes don't show up.
eCommDirect (through Texas.gov) is the only approved online package program for TDCJ inmates - including those at Clemens Unit. Other "inmate care package" sites you might find online won't be accepted. Phone orders aren't an option either, so you'll need to complete your purchase through the website.
Only one eCommDirect purchase per inmate can be completed per day. If multiple family members want to help, coordinate ahead of time. Pick one person to place the order - otherwise you'll waste time or get locked out waiting to try again.
Expect delivery within five business days after TDCJ receives the transaction details from Texas.gov. That's the typical timeline, not a guarantee. Unit security issues or staffing problems can push delivery back.
Not everyone can place an eCommDirect order. You must be on your loved one's Approved Visitation List or on the Approved Phone List (which requires registering your phone with Securus). If your order won't go through, check with your loved one about your approval status first.
Stock caveat: TDCJ’s commissary price list notes that some items on the list are not available at every commissary location. Even if you see an item listed, it may not be stocked at the Clemens Unit when your order is processed.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Confirm you’re an approved sender (on the Approved Visitation List or the Approved Phone List through Securus).
- ✓ Coordinate with family so you don’t exceed the rule of one eCommDirect purchase per inmate per day.
- Order with a cushion - delivery is typically within five business days after TDCJ receives transaction details from Texas.gov, and delays can happen due to unit security or staffing.
- Call the unit before you make plans around timing - information can be updated daily (and multiple times on visitation days), so a quick confirmation before you travel or count on a specific schedule can save you a wasted trip.
Order taking longer than expected? Unit security and staffing can slow things down even when you did everything right. If a specific item doesn't arrive, it may not be a mistake - TDCJ's price list warns that some items aren't stocked at every location. For a clear answer on a particular order, contact the unit or eCommDirect support and ask about that transaction and item availability at Clemens.
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