Scammed by the Girl Scouts!

[red-beard]

My troop did paper drives where we went out and knocked on doors for old newspapers. But the big money maker was firewood. Some place donated tree trunks. We cut and split the wood, turned it into firewood. Then we went door to door selling firewood. It was by the face-cord! The best part was that 1/2 the money earned was for use by each scout. It could be used for summer camp, buying a tent, camping supplies, etc. The troop arranged for discounted equipment and this was a way the less fortunate kids to pay for/join the trips. It was well setup.

I have read that the Girl Scout cookie thing makes TONS of money for the cookie company.

[red-beard]

Yep, they are made by Elves...Keebler

Deconstructing The Girl Scout Cookie - CBS News

In 2006, the cost per box was $0.85 and the sell price was $3.50

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

I think that practice may be "local" to your troop/council. The GS around here are still doing take-order style sales (I have to wait for my cookies).

Same here.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

It's mostly in jest Jim. While I think it's a pretty slick move on their part, we'll probably be able to sell the bulk of them. I'll take care of the rest! Unless they are those weird ones with coconut in them, then I'm screwed.

I'll take those off your hands next time I make it up north.

[968rz]

My wife is a troop leader, they already finished pre-selling and picked up the sold cookies Saturady for delivery so unless it's a local thing you were scammed.

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

My darling 5-year old daughter is in her first year of Girl Scouts. My wife now hopes it is her last. It's GS cookie time, they had their kickoff meeting on Saturday. My wife and daughter come home with 165 boxes of cookies, with my wife totally fuming. Seems that they have changed their sales model to allow "immediate delivery" of cookies, which sounds all well and good. The only problem - they give you cookies, and whatever you don't sell is yours. So now the GS are guaranteed that each little girl sells at least 165 boxes of cookies, one way or another. Pretty brilliant from their end, looks like daddy is going to be gaining some weight.

Don'tcha just love, (GREEDY), capitalist. Anything to make a buck. Your young lady is learning at a very early age.

[strupgolf]

Glad we don't have that kind of stress here. I just bought 5 boxes and signed the paper she gave me. Same thing, different year. Hope you sell your's.

[Hard-Deck]

I'll buy some cookies from you and pay shipping to give them to my troops. PM coming.

[David McLaughlin]

My wife, a Lowe's employee, just insisted that I post...
Take your daughter to your local Lowe's store and set up at the exit vestibule. Lowe's allows the scoits to sell on their property and from what she says, they sell well. Just get a verbsl permission from the store manager and sell your heart out.

[vangndy]

If you're looking for a place to donate them, my platoon in bootcamp received a package of about 20 boxes for Christmas. We never found out who sent them but those were the best Thin Mints I ever had. Yes my platoon was spoiled.

[gsmith660]

The leaders are not happy with this at all my daughters troop wont stick the parents they have bought back the unsold cookies and are selling them on warm days. My daughter sold all hers and is pitching in to sell others that didn't get theirs sold.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Snapper33

I'll buy some cookies from you and pay shipping to give them to my troops. PM coming.

Originally Posted by vangndy

If you're looking for a place to donate them, my platoon in bootcamp received a package of about 20 boxes for Christmas. We never found out who sent them but those were the best Thin Mints I ever had. Yes my platoon was spoiled.

Cookies are on me gentlemen. PM me a shipping address please.

[Noah930]

Very classy of you, Matt.

I just asked my wife, as our daughter is a Daisy like yours. The 165 minimum is something devised by your troop leader. It's not a Girl Scouts regulation. So speak with the troop leader or leave your troop. Join another one or form another.

PS: Let me know if you've got any leftover Samoas, as Mrs. Noah would only let me oder one box from our daughter. Diet schmiet.

[Hads930]

Something I just thought of, there was an option on my daughters form to buy virtual boxes that get sent to the troops. Tell them you will bring them the cash for virtual boxes instead of the actual ones to sell. You would have no problem selling virtual boxes for our troops here.

[aigel]

Haha, I feel for you Matt. This is a pet peeve of mine. I would much rather cut a check for my kids fundraising than help them peddle prepackaged junkfood and trinkets. If some of it would at least be home made / involve arts and crafts or cooking / baking? Sad thing is that many of the school junkfood fundraisers have "prizes" that the kids get if they reach a certain revenue. Good luck explaining to your offspring how daddies check will go much further - and in return they don't get a prize.

The best fundraiser to date was a carwash. The girls flag down the cars on the road, and the dads wash them in the back. LOL! Seriously - nothing needed but some car wash supplies and people would donate generously.

George

[azasadny]

I've said it before and I'll say it again... the whole "get the kids to sell stuff as a fundraiser" is a scam...

[gacook]

Originally Posted by vash

thanks for the warning.

i expect the scout mom/dads to start making the rounds in the office soon.

how much of the money actually make it to the girls these days?

None of it. My girls are both in GS, sell the ridiculously overpriced cookies (and like Jim, we get boxes up front and are stuck buying ourselves whatever the girls don't sell), and every year I pay a ludicrous amount in fees just for attendance, plus every event they do (camping, etc.) we have to pay for that, as well. I have never seen a dime of what the girls rake in for GS from their cookie sales ever go back to the troop.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by azasadny

I've said it before and I'll say it again... the whole "get the kids to sell stuff as a fundraiser" is a scam...

Yup. And I don't see it teaching them a positive message either. Trying to sell overpriced crap to friends and family isn't a life lesson.

[gacook]

It is if they're planning on a future in sales

[Crowbob]

You guys should back off on the cookie sales thing the GS do. At least they're good at it. The GS have a seriously dysfunctional property management system.

GS camps are closing all over the place. Selling 'em off instead of making them work. Less and less GS experiences, more and more GS marketing.