topic Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it. in Community Chat

Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

Mominohio — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 19:33:10 GMT

It's time for Girl Scout cookies yet again, and it got me to remembering some things in the news for the last couple of years about just how much the troops don't get from the sale of the cookies.

On a quick search, (some of the info several years old) it appears that the troop gets maybe 50 to 60 cents per box sold. Considering they are going up to $5 a box in some markets this year, I don't find that to be very lucrative.

I'm definitely no business major, but I have often felt that I'm really not helping them much with the purchase of a box of cookies, and for all the work and effort, couldn't they be doing something more profitable. I do realize they sell in very high volume, so make money by that volume, but still, it would seem better to just donate money to the organization, and have that full amount go to the cause.

Anyone else ever feel that they, too, are more lining the pockets of the manufacturer than helping the scouts?

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

CouponQueen — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 19:35:59 GMT

My aunt used to be a Troop Leader and I thought they made a lot more then that?

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

Qwackertoo — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 19:36:48 GMT

If the two girls across the street from me who have been selling me Girl Scout Cookies were to approach me this time, one's a senior and one just graduated (the one I always bought from) . . . I'd just write them a check for fifty bucks and say keep the cookies or keep the money . . . don't need the cookies and would rather them have the money.

Other fund raisers for sports, cheer, band, even years gone by elementary school wrapping paper & misc. have much better % of sales earned for their cause than that.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

brii — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 19:39:33 GMT

I was GS leader. I was shocked how much per box the troop gets to keep. Some girls sold hundreds and hundred of boxes and it added up.

I would just donate to the troop. The boxes of cookies have gotten smaller too.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

circles — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:04:33 GMT

I heard how little they get......many many years ago....at that time it was about ten cents a box....I thought it was outrageous...pressuring the troops to sell for such a small return...how they find this acceptable is beyond me...

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

luvmyteddy4 — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:22:27 GMT

I wish I could find a girl scout, they must have all grown up around here. Kmart use to have the girls in the store but they closed. I miss my thin mints.

I went to their website and put my zip code in. They are going to be at Walmart and a few other stores starting February 19th.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

chickenbutt — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:33:08 GMT

I think the last time I purchased them they were somewhere between $1 and $2 a box. I used to see them outside the grocery store but I feel like I heard that they had to stop that. I could be wrong. My memory is faulty.

As for the subject at hand - it is truly sad that the vast majority of the money goes elsewhere. That just doesn't seem right to me either.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

insomniac — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:34:34 GMT

It's a similar situation for boy scouts/cub scouts and the over-priced popcorn they sell each year.

It's definitely a better idea to write a check directly to a local group.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

Peaches McPhee — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:45:28 GMT

Here's another thing: even if the troop gets, say, 10%, the other 90% goes to some other unit in Girl Scouts, right? National or regional offices that support the troops? There must be some value and benefit there.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

Mominohio — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:49:16 GMT

On 2/4/2015 Peaches McPhee said:
Here's another thing: even if the troop gets, say, 10%, the other 90% goes to some other unit in Girl Scouts, right? National or regional offices that support the troops? There must be some value and benefit there.

I've read conflicting things about the national getting money from this. Some things I read specifically said they did not, but I'm sure I don't know the actual truth.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

Qwackertoo — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:50:09 GMT

On 2/4/2015 chickenbutt said:
I think the last time I purchased them they were somewhere between $1 and $2 a box. I used to see them outside the grocery store but I feel like I heard that they had to stop that. I could be wrong. My memory is faulty.

As for the subject at hand - it is truly sad that the vast majority of the money goes elsewhere. That just doesn't seem right to me either.

Seems like they've been 3.00 for last 20 years and last year or maybe year before they jumped to 3.50. Still a ripoff for the girls. Especially IF they have to take their turn sitting at the table outside the grocery store in February in below freezing weather. I'd write a check.

But we QUIT Brownies and we usually never quit anything . . . after daughter caught Strep and the other Mother "let" her attend the "bridge" ceremony knowing she was sick. That poor kid, parents in their leather Denver Broncos starter jackets, 1,000.00 looking camera and that poor kid was in almost RAGS . . . her poor little tights looked like they had been laying in a ditch in the dirt for weeks. Poor kid. The volunteers and meetings, people never followed through and did what they said they were going to do. I was less than impressed.

After that we stuck with paid activities like dance, ice skating, horseback riding and Upwards Basketball and Soccer for son.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

Chrystaltree2 — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:56:08 GMT

....they are $4 a box in my area; I bought two boxes Friday and put them on the cookie platter we had for our Super Bowl party. I only care about the cookies; I leave the high finance to others....

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

beckyb1012 — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:04:21 GMT

On 2/4/2015 Chrystaltree said:
....they are $4 a box in my area; I bought two boxes Friday and put them on the cookie platter we had for our Super Bowl party. I only care about the cookies; I leave the high finance to others....

Same here. I remember selling actual boxes of cookies in my wagon door to door for .50 cents a box. A couple years later they started the order form first. But they are pricey when you consider there are not that many cookies to a box.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

lulu2 — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:16:38 GMT

I would have thought they'd be the same price everywhere. I have not seen any this year but they've been $4.00 a box around here for awhile now. Personally I think they are awful.

When I was a brownie in the late 1950's they were $.40 a box.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

DoneTryin — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:32:13 GMT

The last few years, I've just been giving them a cash donation. That way, the troop gets all the money.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

raven-blackbird — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:35:17 GMT

having been a troop leader I can tell you this................the money the girls make is what's used to buy all the camping gear needed for their camp outs.........at least that is what we used ours for, since we were a new troop........every year you can add to what you need, or it be used for other functions...................................................raven

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

madzonie — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:36:07 GMT

A friend told me that they are selling gluten-free cookies at $5 a box. I can't verify that.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

madzonie — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:39:39 GMT

On 2/4/2015 lulu2 said:
I would have thought they'd be the same price everywhere. I have not seen any this year but they've been $4.00 a box around here for awhile now. Personally I think they are awful.

When I was a brownie in the late 1950's they were $.40 a box.

And I'm sure there were more cookies per box! I sold them as a Brownie & Girl Scout in the late 50s into the mid 60s, and I think they might have been a much as 50/75 cents or even a dollar a box in the 60s....but again for a lot more cookies.

I was shocked at how small the boxes were when my hubby brought some home last week.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

daisyk — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 22:38:43 GMT

My daughter was a Girl Scout until last year. They earned $1.00 per box for themselves which wasn't bad. The cookies aren't as good as they used to be, this is true, but it's still a good cause for many.

Re: Girl Scout Cookie Time, and a question to go with it.

RetRN — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 22:40:43 GMT

They are $3.50 a box in my area. Just purchased two boxes on Saturday.