It's Cub/Boy Scout Popcorn time again...

[minniebeth]

We love the popcorn that the Cub and Boy Scouts sell and they make a good profit for their troops and councils through it. We've sold for many years now but this year it just doesn't feel right with the way the economy is...sell to your family! (Granny is on a fixed income) sell to your next door neighbors! (moved, house is sitting empty), sell to your neigbors down the street! (house is in foreclosure)
I really am not trying to have a doom and gloom attitude about this, but it just all seems a frivolity when so many are struggling just to make gas and food ends meet.
I know people can say no thanks, but the pressure on these boys is intense. My scout does it more for the credit that can help defray some of his camping costs, something that defiantely helps keep costs down for us.

What do you all think? Are these the expenses that you are cutting out in this climate or would you still welcome the request? I'm just trying to figure out how much energy/effort to put into these sales with my DS....
Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

My boys are Scouts, too and what my experience has been is that some people look forward to popcorn sales because they buy it for gifts or for themselves, either because they like it or because they were Scouts themselves and want to support the organization. I personally can't stand the stuff and don't even buy from my own kids. I wouldn't push it on anyone, but if there's someone you know that really likes it then it certainly doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I'm probably not the best one to talk because I'm not fond of popcorn (or any other "donation" solicited as an overpriced product). My scout is not actively selling popcorn though this year. I figure if anyone really truly wants it, they know he's a scout and will ask. I just can't justify adding to anyone's money worries though for popcorn.

(Waiting for my district executive to swoop in and whack me with a walking stick...)

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Tell me about it. DD is in Kindergarden now and we are selling cookie dough at $15 a piece, now this week we are having another fundraiser, a jog a thon. Sorry but I just cant hit up family and friends twice in a matter of 2 weeks. Just not acceptable to me. Oh and picture day was last week too. Plus $15 for cookie dough is pretty steep IMO.

 

[GJM]

My DS sells it and I am not a fan of the popcorn. I will probably buy, my mom and I think they have on the order form where you can order and send it to the troops. I might do that, I still have popcorn left from last year.

 

[Echo queen]

I have 2 scouts myself, many of the parents asked if they could just give a donation instead of sell popcorn which I am all for. My sons school is selling the cookie dough $15 and over priced Christmas candy and other junk too. I just take them to work and let the people in my dept. know that it's there. Times are tight and I don't want to pressure anyone. Good luck.

 

[njziggy]

I hate popcorn season ! Both my kids are scouts too. I have them participate in the Blitz sales outside the local grocery stores (I hate it but, it is manditory). My older son might go door to door with friends- with popcorn in hand- simply because he is planning on Ciganka & Forestburg. I refuse to do all the sales that the schools have. Our PTA is more than happy to get a donation of $20 instead of my kid selling the junk- they actually make more money & save effort.

 

[disneymomto5]

I don't have the popcorn, but my kids are in football and they have to sell raffle tickets. They HAVE to sell them (so we're told), and they're $10 a piece. I have hit up my neighbors, my Mom's work, my parents, and my husbands work place and still have 10 tickets left. Nobody wants to spend that much on a raffle (I don't blame them), but I sure as heck don't want to end up buying them all. My husband says we're not obligated to do that but each team says we have to sell them. I just don't know.....

 

[D&D's Mom]

I don't know what council/district/state you are in, but selling popcorn is NOT mandatory. If your troop tells you it is, then it is the troop's mandate, not the BSA. It is an encouraged fundraiser, but not mandatory.

 

[DisneyMomJen]

We buy the popcorn every year and wind up throwing it away. I think it is extremely overpriced. At least Girl Scout cookies are somewhat reasonable and everyone enjoys eating them. The boys we buy from are in our neighborhood and their father has been out of work since May. I would hope that this family realizes that times are hard and they shouldn't be sending their kids out to ask others for money. If the popcorn was less costly I would have no problem purchasing, even if it does wind up getting thrown away. $13 for a TINY container of popcorn! I think I will just give a donation this year instead. I never have my kids ask others to buy anything. I have to pay so much for my own 4 kids activities and it is hard to have to keep shelling out money for others. About 2 years ago an 18 year old came to our door demanding that we give him $80 so that he could go to Japan for travel baseball. I politely said that we could not do this at that time since we just had to pay for 3 of my own kids travel fees. It was scarey how enraged he got. I probably should have called the police.

 

[mrsklamc]

Wow. Weird about the 18 year old. Our entitlement society I guess.

We buy 2 cans every year, and will again this year. But one can is rationed out all year, because I have a chocolate caramel corn problem.

 

[GJM]

I agree it is expensive and I don't think it tastes that great. We will not be asking anyone to buy I will buy probably a box or 2 as will my mom.

 

[mamalle]

have never tried it but fundraisers in general I dont feel are going to be as profitable anymore with the economy- thats just the way of life.. my kids sold cookie dough and wow! $16-$18 a pop. I hated asking family, etc and dd sold 15 total this year. ds didnt even take his out. Between school supplies, pics for soccer, cheerleading and school pics- I had a hard time spending $32 on cookie dough but I did. Now Im hit with candles to sell for cheerleading to pay for their bus ride to competition since we didnt get anywhere near our $1500 business sponsorship- Like that was a surprise to anyone. Things are tight everywhere right now..

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I am going to buy because my best friend's son is selling but I don't like the popcorn. I wish they sold something else - the cookie dough would be great- just in time for Christmas!
I can make popcorn so much cheaper than buying that big tin. ugh. oh well - good cause I keep telling myself.

 

[bonybroad]

Our troop doesn't sell the popcorn. We sell strombolis (locally made, so the money stays here!) and last year we raised enough money for our entire troop to go to camp. They cost $2.50 a piece, and are frozen. People bought a TON of them because they were practical.
We have a fairly small troop (15 scouts, I think) and I was very proud of them!
My husband is cubmaster, so he was THRILLED that we didn't even need a second fund-raiser.
I hope that we can do as well this year!
As far as other fundraisers with the $15 cookie dough and ridiculously priced gift wrap, I throw that stuff directly in the garbage. I refuse to even ask anyone to pay those prices.

 

[czycropper]

AND in our area it's also Girl Scout Cookie season!!! I have two Girl Scouts and I'm saying the same thing to them-it's going to be harder with the economy. Of course, my 8 yo doesn't understand but the 10 yo does.

My DH is an Eagle Scout and he can never say no to a scout selling the popcorn - we buy the caramel corn tins and they are really good!

 

[LisaNJ25]

I have 2 scouts myself, many of the parents asked if they could just give a donation instead of sell popcorn which I am all for. My sons school is selling the cookie dough $15 and over priced Christmas candy and other junk too. I just take them to work and let the people in my dept. know that it's there. Times are tight and I don't want to pressure anyone. Good luck.

I am gs leader and we are doing the same thing. its nuts/magazine season. My daughter is going to sell some( have to get that patch right lol) but I will offer my parents the option to make a donation also. $20 cash donations equals a $200 worth of sales for my troop. Cookies on the other hand are more reasonably priced and the sell like crazy. Our profit is better also.

I ordered Boy Scout popcorn for the first time last week. I was shocked at the prices. I still cant believe I spent $18 on popcorn. Since I am involved in GS's I wanted to help out this kids pack.

 

[nunzia]

I buy it because we always support scouting and I want to help out the kid who always sells to us. All our kids were in scouts, and we appreciated those who helped, so we continue to do so. At least they sell a good consumable, not that garbage most schools sell. That drives me nuts..just ask for a donation instead of charging $8.00 for a little roll of wrapping paper.

 

[DawnM]

We do the sales standing outside of a store. I refuse to go door to door, although I may hit up the 2 families with girl scouts who hit us up last year!!!!!

Honestly, for those of you who said you buy it and throw it away.....please consider just donating the difference.....I think scouts get 50% profit? Just give the 50% to the troop directly. That is what I am considering this year. Last year I bought about $150 worth and gave it as gifts.

Dawn

 

[MinnieForMe]

It's very expensive so we end up buying some ourselves instead. I hate asking others for money. This year our troop has decided against selling it.

If you call the district office, you can get a waver to open the boxes of popcorn and sell them individually. It's not as bad asking someone to buy a $1.00 bag of popcorn as oppose to a $10 pack. In the past, Walmart has let the troops set up a table in front and the kids sell the popcorn this way.