Selling Girl Scout Cookies!

[MSLRAC]

I am a troop leader...last year thank goodness because Girl Scouts is a crock these days...too many rules!

Our sales here in CT were in January. I just submitted my troops order (no one wanted to be cookie mom...go figure!) 2 weeks ago and they arrive in 2 weeks. Cookie booths are for that next month but I am not doing one since I am quitting after this year and no one volunteers to help.

And they are $4/box here except the gluten free that are $5.

As a former Service Unit Coordinator, I can tell you that most rules have been created for the safety of the girls or because of the actions/behavior of a parent. The SU that we used to be part of has super strict cookie rules now because two years ago, we caught numerous cookie moms/leaders embezzling.

I know. If we were allowed to stay at the park selling the cookies, we could have easily made $500. Don't the Girl Scouts want to earn money????

It's not about the money. There are rules to follow on many levels when it comes to cookie booths. The rules are there to make things as fair as possible for the girls and to protect them. But with cookie booths you also have to follow local ordinances and rules your SU has put in place about locations.

Wait... what?

Cookie seasons vary by service units/council (area) and so do the prices. They are anywhere from $3.50-$5.00 and that price is set by the service/council.

 

[aprilgail]

$3.50 here too. We don't do any pre-orders, but we have to buy full cases of every cookie. So if we only sell one box of something, we still have to buy a case of 12. Booth sales are used to sell the extras. I have never heard of a girl doing a booth sale alone. That is a troop thing, with minimal parental involvement, and needs to be pre-approved by the place they are selling in front of. We used to sell in September which was so much nicer, and easier. The weather is terrible here now (like 3 feet of snow terrible) and people don't want as many sweets after Christmas as they did in the fall.

We were never allowed to do booths as individuals, it always had to be the whole troop! We also don't have to buy full cases for presale or for booth sales, if we need 10 cases and 10 boxes then that is exactly what we get. If we are doing a booth sale and we take 5 cases of each cookie and only sell 3 1/2 cases of each all the rest gets returned to the service unit and we only pay for what we sold. If you could not return them we never ever would have done any booth sales, that would be crazy to take that chance.

 

[monorailsilver]

As a former Service Unit Coordinator, I can tell you that most rules have been created for the safety of the girls or because of the actions/behavior of a parent. The SU that we used to be part of has super strict cookie rules now because two years ago, we caught numerous cookie moms/leaders embezzling.

It's all the paperwork that go with the rules. I feel like I cant pee with out filling out a trip report. This isn't about cookies, it's about Girl Scouts in general.

I refuse to do any troop trips or any volunteer work because of the paperwork. No one has volunteered to take over my troop after this year and I wonder why. And really I have to pay to get insurance for parents or any siblings that may attend my meeting...never did and never will. I don't want to do camporee this year because I have to fill out how many forms for that? My co leader wants to. I may just say ok it's all up to you and you can fill out the forms and make sure the parents fill everything out.

It is not fun. Every SUM I go to they beg to take girls from other towns (we are a 3 town SU). Um...no let those parents who want their kids in it run it but then we get the parents don't want to. Wow, shocker!

It is very discouraging. And then the badges changed, really? There were some fun badges when my oldest was in brownies, now they are not so fun.

 

[aprilgail]

It's all the paperwork that go with the rules. I feel like I cant pee with out filling out a trip report. This isn't about cookies, it's about Girl Scouts in general.

I refuse to do any troop trips or any volunteer work because of the paperwork. No one has volunteered to take over my troop after this year and I wonder why. And really I have to pay to get insurance for parents or any siblings that may attend my meeting...never did and never will. I don't want to do camporee this year because I have to fill out how many forms for that? My co leader wants to. I may just say ok it's all up to you and you can fill out the forms and make sure the parents fill everything out.

It is not fun. Every SUM I go to they beg to take girls from other towns (we are a 3 town SU). Um...no let those parents who want their kids in it run it but then we get the parents don't want to. Wow, shocker!

It is very discouraging. And then the badges changed, really? There were some fun badges when my oldest was in brownies, now they are not so fun.

When they changed the whole program is when the kids started dropping like flies. They made us buy books that each kid had to fill in and work on each meeting, the kids all said "forget it, this used to be fun but now its like school". They really ruined the entire program.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

The prices are set by the contract your local council negotiates with your baker.

Yes, some areas still sell for $3.50 and some are up to $5. The areas that sell for $3.50 have lower costs of living and the girls earn less per box.

It also depends on what the council depends on the cookie program to provide for their members. If their camperships, financial aide, camp programs, year round STEM programs, etc come from cookies then that factors into the cost.

There is also just the plain old cost of living rise directly from the baker. More income to pay their employees better, fuel costs, shared health care expenses, etc.

The biggest thing I wish the public at large would understand is that we leaders, volunteers, parents, etc have very little control over the choices corporate Girl Scout makes. The girls you see, their leaders and parents are trying to provide the best possible from a volunteer driven organization.

To answer the question at hand : no, you can't just go and set up where-ever you want. There are specific guidelines in place that must be followed.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

As an outsider looking in, this entire thing just seems a little nutty. Blackout dates, territories.... sounds like the mafia.

That is a good way to describe it.

As far as other fundraising, have to watch those blackout dates as well.

Also getting things donated that is a joke as well. The council's do not want to risk their donations from corporations. Plus corporations may need official letterhead to donate.

So basically you need to sell cookies to fund your troop and thus starts all the rules with the councils.

 

[already]

The girl scouts don't do presales here. They get the cookies and then sell them.

The cookies in our area are $4.00 a box and according to the leaders, the troop only gets 25 cents per box sold. There is a movement in our area to only buy a few boxes if you enjoy the cookies and then donate the money you would have spent on more cookies to the actual troop so that they actually get the money for all the work they do.

It is pretty much like slave labor for these girls just to pay the salaries of the corporate higher ups.

I am sure that when the executives realize that their minions are actually raising money for their troop, they will enact more rules regarding accepting donations. They might be in place now, but if they are, the troops are still accepting the donations happily.

This was actually prompted by the example of the schools going to a successful direct donation model rather than having the kids sell wrapping paper and other junk.

The direct donation to the troops is also in answer to the disgust many have for the CEO who is said to be spending recklessly, making almost $400,000 in salary, but cutting the girls programs and making them tighten their belts.

 

[MSLRAC]

It's all the paperwork that go with the rules. I feel like I cant pee with out filling out a trip report. This isn't about cookies, it's about Girl Scouts in general.

I refuse to do any troop trips or any volunteer work because of the paperwork. No one has volunteered to take over my troop after this year and I wonder why. And really I have to pay to get insurance for parents or any siblings that may attend my meeting...never did and never will. I don't want to do camporee this year because I have to fill out how many forms for that? My co leader wants to. I may just say ok it's all up to you and you can fill out the forms and make sure the parents fill everything out.

It is not fun. Every SUM I go to they beg to take girls from other towns (we are a 3 town SU). Um...no let those parents who want their kids in it run it but then we get the parents don't want to. Wow, shocker!

It is very discouraging. And then the badges changed, really? There were some fun badges when my oldest was in brownies, now they are not so fun.

I can see both sides of the paperwork and new badges. I totally understand why they changed it and require it all but I also hate it. That's part of why when we switched SU's that I took on a much lesser roll. I simply do not want to deal with it. As for the insurance, the parents are supposed to register and pay for that themselves and it is well with every penny in my book. My oldest daughter suffered an injury at a meeting and the insurance quickly and without any hassle paid out $15,000 toward her medical bills.

 

[aprilgail]

. And really I have to pay to get insurance for parents or any siblings that may attend my meeting...never did and never will. .

We did not allow siblings at meetings nor parents--that cut out any injuries happening to them! We did not allow tag a longs on trips either.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

We do not allowed siblings or un-registered parents either. Nor do we allow tag-a-longs or really ever have any parents attend any trips, the girls need time away from their parents and to bond as a group.

 

[2Kds2K9]

Already, you are spot on. I was cookie mom for two years and after doing all the work and paperwork for our troop, I've decided that I will just donate money directly to the troop selling cookies. GSA requires that if a troop wants to do any type of fundraiser, they must sell cookies. The last year my DD did GS, our troop sold cookies, but weren't die hard about it. We made much more money doing other fundraisers with much less work all around.

Living in the DC area, I had the opportunity to visit GSA Headquarters downtown. Once in the office I looked at my co-leader and commented "So this is where the cookie money goes."

I was also upset that when you go to the GS store for supplies, the prices are full price. There are no discounts for the troops. It's the only place I have ever paid the full retail price printed on the book. Yes, you can go to other paces to get discounts on supplies, but you would think that the "official" store would offer the best pricing for troops. Again, just a money maker for GSA.

Overall, I will say my DD had a great experience with GS. But, I agree that the amount of rules imposed by GS and the amount of paperwork AND time required by volunteers to attend classes to be certified in various tasks, is going to be the downfall of GS.

OP, you should have received and signed a large sheet, in triplicate, outlining the rules for selling cookies. Good luck to your DD.

 

[JanaDee]

They're still $4.00 a box here, and have been available two weeks. DH bought some in front of a grocery store, then more from a co-worker's daughter. Gotta love those thin mints.

Keebler Elves make a great thin mint cookie...available all year round.

 

[MSLRAC]

Keebler Elves make a great thin mint cookie...available all year round.

They also make a Caramel DeLite cookie. Keebler and ABC (one of the GS cookie bakeries) are subsidiaries so it's pretty much the same cookies but they cost less and you get more cookies per package.

 

[kamik86]

When I was in scouts I was an older scout. I honestly think we didn't follow half the rules.

We did the big ones for cookies, and camping trips that we would get caught on.

However we went out for ice cream on about 1/2 our meetings. I'm assuming there is probably a trip report for us being driven to an ice cream place... becasue when we did stuff with the younger girls they needed a permission slip to walk across the street to lunch. We never bothered.

 

[JanaDee]

They also make a Caramel DeLite cookie. Keebler and ABC (one of the GS cookie bakeries) are subsidiaries so it's pretty much the same cookies but you they cost less and get more cookies per package.

Yup, cheaper, more of them and available any time I want them.

 

[Thing 1]

i agree with flighless duck. I bet I had 20-30 FB friends that are the PARENTS of these girls asking people to buy cookies. My rule is I will buy from girls only and they have to ask me them self. Is that not the whole point;to teach these girls to be self-assured leaders? Our church used to have a huge troop so I would buy one box from each girl that asked and anything over 3-4 boxes I just did the check the box to send to troops. Now there are a lot less girls and I only ended up buying two boxes. We were at Wal-mart Sunday evening and there was a troop outside. It was 25 degrees and windy and they were in the shade. Not a good parenting choice. No one was stopping as they were just trying to get into the store without blowing away or freezing!! I will buy from booths IF I happen to have cash which is not too often. I like what girl scouts is all about, but the boxes have less cookies, the cookies get smaller and the price goes up every year.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

I will say this about enjoying those Grashoppers and Coconut dreams.

Girl Scouts as a corporation did not protect themselves against the baker they used. I highly doubt that they ever thought their own baker that bakes the cookies would sell them out to Keebler.

Follow this :

Kimberly Clark is the parent company of Keebler
Kimberly Clark is the parent company of ABC baker

 

[Disneyland1084]

Keebler Elves make a great thin mint cookie...available all year round.

OMG I had those once and honestly couldn't tell the difference.

 

[theworldneedscolor]

There have been Girl Scouts selling cookies all over my college's campus the past three weeks. At first I was excited because I could buy cookies, and it seemed like a smart idea on their end. But once they started camping out in the dining hall, I started to get a little annoyed

 

[monorailsilver]

We do not allowed siblings or un-registered parents either. Nor do we allow tag-a-longs or really ever have any parents attend any trips, the girls need time away from their parents and to bond as a group.

I have kids so they have always had to come because I held my meeting after school. I wasn't going to send them home alone on the bus. Siblings only come if their parent is helping. Most moms who are troop leaders do the same-after school and their other children usually come.

Parents need to attend some trips to drive. My troop was 18 kids and now 15 and I couldn't shove them in the back of my car.

Thankfully I am counting down. May/June I am done. Yay! Someone who loves it and thinks is wonderful can run it. My friend keeps asking well who is going to run the troop. She is the one that made me start up and told mem he would help but she never comes because of her son. Um...I went when my kids were attached to my hip. I keep telling her I don't care, it's not my problem.