Am I The Only One Without a Schedule?

[va32h]

DD has been trying to deliver her Girl Scout cookies, and the whole experience has become an ordeal. No one is ever home, or if they are home, they aren't free for five whole minutes to receive their cookies.

At first I thought they were just trying to get out of completing the purchase, but no, they insist that they really want their cookies, but they will only be available between 2 and 2:10 on a Thursday two weeks from now, or some other insane time.

Some of these customers are stay at home moms, most of whom do not even have school age children! But lunch is at 11:30 on the nose, and no, they can't have someone come to the door at lunch because that would disrupt the schedule. Then there's clean up time and potty time and nap time and directed play time, and it would just be "too stimulating" or disruptive to have a guest show up at a time when some other activity is planned.

Some are couples who must have their "couple time" in the evening, and no, they can't spare five minutes because that would disturb the intimacy they are trying to create.

Or else everyone has an activity every day after school and they don't get home until bedtime.

I have actually mailed cookies across town, and had the customer mail a check.

I don't know if people are just too rigid these days, or antisocial, or what. But I've got 99 boxes of Girl Scout cookies that I will most likely end up paying for myself, as I cannot get them delivered or paid for in time.

 

[EthansMom]

I had to pre-pay for my GS cookies. I'm sure that if I'm not home, the local GS would just leave the cookies on my doorstep.

Maybe next year, you could get everyone to pre-pay? Also, I'd just tell anyone who is home, but not "available" at a reasonable time, that any cookies not claimed by X date will be sold at the local grocery store, Walmart, etc.

 

[MoniqueU]

Yeah I don't get anal retentive over scheduled people either. I really don't.

 

[Planogirl]

I avoid schedules like the plague so you'd find me.

Why not have them come pick up their cookies if you know them? Then they can schedule it with you.

 

[daisyduck123]

The last year that my DD was a scout, we ended up having to pay for one family's cookies because they were never home to receive their 2 boxes. We decided that the next year we would collect the money when the people ordered or we would not sell anyway.

I was thrilled, when the next year, after 4 or 5 years in scouts, my DD decided to quit...and I was one of 2 camping moms in the troop!!

 

[MAKmom]

I was cookie mom for DD troop last year. UGH. The leaders opted out of the sale. It is such a pain. The troop does not make that much money. Most parents end up buying all the cookies like I did.

 

[Mimi Q]

I would make time to get my Girl Scout cookies.

 

[figment52]

What you just described is exactly why when I order I give them a check right then. My scheduling issues are not the sellers fault or responsibility and I make it easy for them.

If someone comes to me I'll buy from them and prepay. If I can't arrange delivery/pickup I am out the cookies, they are not out the money.


Besides, there are always cardtables set up somewhere and I just can't seem to walk bu those either - Frozen thin mints are ideal on a hot summer day.

 

[va32h]

Well Planogirl, I certainly have plenty of cookies, since you are available to receive deliveries!

For some reason our council does not permit the girls to collect money upfront. They are actually told not too. I don't understand why...other than it gives the girls more opportunity to lose the money before delivering!

I actually did just get an email from one woman who will be home on Wednesday, so that's five boxes gone.

Even if it weren't a money/deadline issue, I really can't imagine scheduling my entire day down to the minute. Lunch is at 11:30, fine, but no one's going to starve if the first bite is actually taken at 11:35.

 

[Planogirl]

Well Planogirl, I certainly have plenty of cookies, since you are available to receive deliveries!

Heehee!!! It's tempting but I've already gotten mine and my waistline is paying for it.

I know the kind of people that you're talking about though. I see them constantly going back and forth and it's insane how many things they plan out. I prefer my life to be way less complicated.

 

[disykat]

That sounds nutty. My family has always liked to follow sort of a schedule, but if we're home I consider us interuptable. I can't imagine that they can't take 2 minutes to answer their door and hand you a check!

 

[EthansMom]

For some reason our council does not permit the girls to collect money upfront. They are actually told not too. I don't understand why...other than it gives the girls more opportunity to lose the money before delivering!

Honestly, in that situation, I wouldn't have my child participate in the cookie sales! I would just donate some money to the troop -- even if it's donated "off the books", it beats running people down to get your money.

I should mention, however, that I have issues with GS cookie sales from my childhood. I was a brownie back in the 70s and we were told that if we sold X cookies, we could go to summer camp. Excellent! My parents helped me sell the required number of cookies and then we were told that I was too young for the summer camp. There was nothing about an age limit on the literature that we'd been given. I was not a happy camper and neither were my parents. Girl Scouts and I decided to part ways.