Selling Girl Scout Cookies!

[monorailsilver]

In Ct we get a whopping 75 cents per box. I have about $100 in my account right now and I will get just over $400 for cookies as only 12 of the 15 girls sold and only 3 over 100 boxes. I thankfully only had about 20extra boxes and I will buy about half since I didn't order any from my dd because I knew we'd have leftovers and I am good with the 3 tagalongs left, yum! So I put the remaining 20ish extras on her order and she will get the stupid stuffed animal because of my volunteer work! I wish I thought to do this the previous years. Oh well! My dh figures he can sell the rest at his work about a week after he delivers the cookies.

I told my troop I'd do cookies if someone else runs the troop but still no takers.

For those that have to pre order, what if you don't sell them all? I know we have to pay per box which totally stinks because again that is troop money and at over $1 for badges that adds up.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Interesting article: http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/cityofate/2013/03/girl_fight_girl_scout_cookies.php

 

[The Mystery Machine]

For those that have to pre order, what if you don't sell them all? I know we have to pay per box which totally stinks because again that is troop money and at over $1 for badges that adds up.

You have to pay it for the cookies, no exceptions. It just comes out of the profit if you cannot sell them all.

 

[Disneyland1084]

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

Just a little vent I have! I went to the cookie mom's house yesterday to pick up more cases. She explained how we're not suppose to set up booths until the 27th. I asked if it would be ok to do one in front of our house. Her exact words were "That should be ok." After school today my DD set up a table and after only a few minutes a lady came by and bought ALL THE BOXES and even donated $40 to the troop on top of that. I then email the cookie mom and she said "That's great your DD sold all the cookies, but you aren't suppose to set up tables until after the 27th. It's considered a lemonade stand." She's nice and I know she isn't the one making the rules, but my G-D!

 

[MSLRAC]

For those that have to pre order, what if you don't sell them all? I know we have to pay per box which totally stinks because again that is troop money and at over $1 for badges that adds up.

The girls themselves just take the cookies that they halve orders for and the extras that the troop had to order to make full cases (plus more that were ordered for booths) go to our first cookie booth. Neither of my girls troops have ever been stuck with any leftovers.

Just a little vent I have! I went to the cookie mom's house yesterday to pick up more cases. She explained how we're not suppose to set up booths until the 27th. I asked if it would be ok to do one in front of our house. Her exact words were "That should be ok." After school today my DD set up a table and after only a few minutes a lady came by and bought ALL THE BOXES and even donated $40 to the troop on top of that. I then email the cookie mom and she said "That's great your DD sold all the cookies, but you aren't suppose to set up tables until after the 27th. It's considered a lemonade stand." She's nice and I know she isn't the one making the rules, but my G-D!

I'm not sure what you're upset about. She told you a booth in your yard was fine but that booths don't start until after the 27th. It's not after the 27th yet.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I'm not sure what you're upset about. She told you a booth in your yard was fine but that booths don't start until after the 27th. It's not after the 27th yet.

I'm not upset, just annoyed with all the rules regarding cookie booths. I misunderstood the cookie mom, it's my own fault. When she said no cookie booths until after the 27th, I asked if it would be ok to do it in our front yard. She said that would be fine. I meant doing it BEFORE the 27th, she meant AFTER. No big deal.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

You have to pay it for the cookies, no exceptions. It just comes out of the profit if you cannot sell them all.

 

[MSLRAC]

I'm not upset, just annoyed with all the rules regarding cookie booths. I misunderstood the cookie mom, it's my own fault. When she said no cookie booths until after the 27th, I asked if it would be ok to do it in our front yard. She said that would be fine. I meant doing it BEFORE the 27th, she meant AFTER. No big deal.

I guess I don't get why are annoyed either. There are rules to make things fair for the girls. You should have been informed of those rules when you signed the permission/liability form. If you weren't for whatever reason then ok but you have now been told at least twice that booths start after the 27th and yet you set up another booth before that date. I get that you have extra boxes of cookies. I've been there, done that, and literally have the cookie mom t-shirt to prove it. But you move those cookies when you deliver your pre-orders or you do door to door sales with your daughter. If you still have some left when booth time hits then you move on to getting rid of them at a booth. And honestly, my girls have been in two SU's now and neither one allowed for single girl booths so be thankful that you can even do that but wait until after the 27th.

 

[frostedpink]

I'm kind of sad to read all the negativity about GS

My DD is a Daisy this year and she's really enjoyed the experience so far. We signed up to sell 100 boxes of cookies and I'm confident that we'll meet that goal.

DD has made some great new friends and is always asking me when her next meeting is.

 

[MSLRAC]

I'm kind of sad to read all the negativity about GS

My DD is a Daisy this year and she's really enjoyed the experience so far. We signed up to sell 100 boxes of cookies and I'm confident that we'll meet that goal.

DD has made some great new friends and is always asking me when her next meeting is.

Don't be discouraged! I've been a GS mom for 5 years so far. I've gone from troop leader and troop cookie mom, to a SU Coordinator/Specialist and SU cookie mom, to just a Daisy and Junior (soon to be Cadette) mom. I'm not going lie, there have been times that it has been non-stop mama drama and other times when the paperwork and rules were overwhelming but for the most part, it has been awesome and my girls (and myself) have made some great friends and memories.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I guess I don't get why are annoyed either. There are rules to make things fair for the girls. You should have been informed of those rules when you signed the permission/liability form. If you weren't for whatever reason then ok but you have now been told at least twice that booths start after the 27th and yet you set up another booth before that date. I get that you have extra boxes of cookies. I've been there, done that, and literally have the cookie mom t-shirt to prove it. But you move those cookies when you deliver your pre-orders or you do door to door sales with your daughter. If you still have some left when booth time hits then you move on to getting rid of them at a booth. And honestly, my girls have been in two SU's now and neither one allowed for single girl booths so be thankful that you can even do that but wait until after the 27th.

The cookie mom didn't inform me of the rules when I picked up the first orders. The second time she did. I asked her then if a table in front of our house would be ok. She said yes, and I thought she meant in front of our house before the 27th would be fine. Just a misunderstanding.

 

[monorailsilver]

I'm kind of sad to read all the negativity about GS

My DD is a Daisy this year and she's really enjoyed the experience so far. We signed up to sell 100 boxes of cookies and I'm confident that we'll meet that goal.

DD has made some great new friends and is always asking me when her next meeting is.

Don't be sad. The girls love it! It's this mom that doesn't. I swear it was free babysitting after school for some...mainly the one child families. It was those same 1 child families that moan the few times I have had to cancel meetings because my life is more important and things come up. It's the same 1 child families that don't sell any cookies yet they like the free babysitting-I don't collect dues and rely on the cookie money. Ok wait, I a.so have multiple child families that don't sell cookies and use it for free babysitting who am I kiddng!

But yes the girls love it. My dd was miffed when I told her this was going to be the last year. But I am not in love with Girl Scouts and its ways/rules. I refuse to camp yet I have parents that would love for their dds to do the overnight and I have always said in all my emails that anyone can do it, yet no one has. Actually I had one mom offer this year with her dh but she just tore a ligament in her knee so she is out. I told that mom she would need another non related adult, female and that her dh could not sleep in the same cabin and that her son can't come->it's not cub scouts which is family friendly oriented.

There are times when I feel it takes me a week to plan a meeting, between planning, buying and gathering supplies, making sure it works, yeah it's a lot. So my suggestion to you is to offer to run a meeting for the leader or part of it.

 

[frostedpink]

Don't be sad. The girls love it! It's this mom that doesn't. I swear it was free babysitting after school for some...mainly the one child families. It was those same 1 child families that moan the few times I have had to cancel meetings because my life is more important and things come up. It's the same 1 child families that don't sell any cookies yet they like the free babysitting-I don't collect dues and rely on the cookie money. Ok wait, I a.so have multiple child families that don't sell cookies and use it for free babysitting who am I kiddng!

Wow. Lets just say that it's a good thing this is your last year being a troop leader.
And I am a "1 child family" and we've sold the most cookies out of our troop and I've never thought of it as 'free babysitting'.

 

[kimmar067]

.....a bit off-topic, but I visited the Yankee Canadle shop yesterday and they are featuring Girl Scout cookies scents....OMG, the Thin Mint one smells EXACTLY like the cookie!

 

[clori]

I'm still confused. Has the op asked people who know the policies like the service unit coordinator if she can set up a table for just her own daughter? I don't think that is allowed here since booth sales are for the whole troop and always have a few kids per shift as well as at least 2 adults.

I also find it sad that girl scout leaders think of girl scouts as babysitting. Our meetings are not at school or even in the afternoon. I have 2 girls in 2 different troops and both sets of leaders know they can easily get parents to stay and help if they ask up before the meeting. Yes not all parents can but some can and will. Siblings are included at special events. For instance younger dd's troop did a cooking program at a local bakery/fast food place that charged x price for up to x people. The xtra spots were opened up to siblings who were the right age for the program providing parents stayed in the area. I think we had to pay for siblings and scouts were free.

Younger dd's troop went camping last summer but girls had to go with a parent. Since we all brought our own tents fathers and siblings were allowed though most siblings did not come by choice.

 

[kimmar067]

I'm still confused. Has the op asked people who know the policies like the service unit coordinator if she can set up a table for just her own daughter? I don't think that is allowed here since booth sales are for the whole troop and always have a few kids per shift as well as at least 2 adults.....

 

[Disneyland1084]

I'm still confused. Has the op asked people who know the policies like the service unit coordinator if she can set up a table for just her own daughter? I don't think that is allowed here since booth sales are for the whole troop and always have a few kids per shift as well as at least 2 adults.

That's not it at all. She's already signed up for the booth sales with her troop. The cookie mom gave us extra boxes for my DD to sell on her own. The cookie mom didn't go over any of the rules, so I assumed DD could sell them at the local park since there wasn't a No Soliciting sign. I wasn't aware that we had to wait until AFTER the 27th to do that until a troop leader from somewhere else told me. I didn't think a stand in front of our own house counted since the cookie mom wasn't clear on the rules. She went over them with me AFTER we sold some at the park.

 

[JanaDee]

That's not it at all. She's already signed up for the booth sales with her troop. The cookie mom gave us extra boxes for my DD to sell on her own. The cookie mom didn't go over any of the rules, so I assumed DD could sell them at the local park since there wasn't a No Soliciting sign. I wasn't aware that we had to wait until AFTER the 27th to do that until a troop leader from somewhere else told me. I didn't think a stand in front of our own house counted since the cookie mom wasn't clear on the rules. She went over them with me AFTER we sold some at the park.

They are very strict on the date. Absolutely no selling before then. It doesn't matter if it is in your own driveway or not....which is one of the big reasons we left GS. All the stupid rules and regulations from the councils sucked all the fun out of GS. Her leaders were great, but out of the girls that bridged with DD, none of them are still in GS.

 

[Ceila]

I also find it sad that girl scout leaders think of girl scouts as babysitting. Our meetings are not at school or even in the afternoon. I have 2 girls in 2 different troops and both sets of leaders know they can easily get parents to stay and help if they ask up before the meeting. Yes not all parents can but some can and will.

I'm pretty sure it isn't the Leader who feels that way. I've worked with enough kids' groups to know that some parents don't really care about what the activity is, as long as their kid can be there and not be at home. Those are the parents who complain about things but never, ever offer to help with anything. I believe that's what the PP meant when she referred to babysitting.

It's great that your girls' troops have a different dynamic. My daughter's did, too, and I was one of the leaders from K-4 and the only leader in grade 5. We had awesome parents and lots of help. However, I am not naive enough to think that every troop is like that.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well since we are sharing our past "cookie strategies" (I was in GS for 12yrs), what we would do is delay delivering OUR orders (leader girls) until cookie booth time.

Then we would sell those orders at the cookie booth, plus we we get the popular sellers as extras, and then go back and refill our orders to deliver to our customers.

Then we would have another booth to try and get rid of the extras after that.