Girl Scout cookies advice UPDATE Post #109

[brookmey]

Just found out today that DD's Brownie troop cookie mom ordered way too many cookies and the troop has 570 boxes left to sell. We have 1 more cookie booth on Saturday, but it's highly doubtful that we'll sell 500 cookies! She's considering splitting up the cookies amongst the 7 girls to sell, but I know for us, that's not a good idea. DD has asked all the neighbors and has asked every person we can think of. I'm now trying to brainstorm more ideas of who to sell to.

One idea I have is to spread the word at DS's soccer practice that his sister is selling if anyone is interested. DH is the coach and doesn't think it's a very good idea. He doesn't want anyone to feel obligated to buy, but my thinking is what's the harm in just mentioning it, in case people are interested? Is that inappropriate or would it be OK to try? I'm the team mom and have to send out the snack list, I was thinking I could include a blurb at the end of the email and make it clear there is no obligation. But, at the same time, I don't want to offend anyone or cross a line with the soccer parents.

We're also having a garage sale on the 17th, so I was thinking DD could set some cookies up on a table to try to sell more.

Has this ever happened to any of your troops? What did you do to sell the leftover cookies? Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I am not a girl scout, but I do have an idea about how to get rid of cookies.

Do you live near a college campus (the bigger, the better)? See if you can't set up a table outside the library/dining hall/student center/dormitories (call and check permission first) during the afternoon to sell cookies. College students LOVE cookies and have trouble turning down cute little kids.

 

[cabanafrau]

I would have a talk with the leader about checking with the GS neighborhood managers or counsel to try and secure another couple of booth slots. 570 is a tremendous surplus, particularly if your troop is 7 girls? I certainly don't envy you. I think DD's troop is approx. 19 girls at this time & she worked an extra booth last weekend & there are 2 more this coming weekend because they are trying to sell an extra 350-plus boxes in order to reach a higher profit margin. It's going to be down to the wire to see if they can do it, but we do not have anywhere near that amount in inventory. Leaders are on standby, picking up what's needed at the cupboard as the sale progresses.

Possibly your leader can get in touch w/ other troops in the area to see if any of them can take some of the surplus off your hands? IMO putting out a note to the soccer team is liable to ruffle more feathers than it's worth. A few casual mentions is probably okay, but I'd leave it at that.

Good luck!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Umm...because of a parent's mistake, everyone's having to sell an ADDITIONAL 80 boxes of cookies? I don't think so. I would contact the council and see what can be done -- I think they may take back whole cases. That's an exorbitant amount of extra cookies to have ordered -- it seems like common sense when there's only 7 girls.

Back to your question -- spreading the news to the soccer team that you have LOTS of cookies to sell wouldn't be pressuring, and as a parent on the sidelines I wouldn't mind buying a couple of boxes.

 

[Princess_Meghan <3]

I second the idea of selling cookies on a college campus if possible- we had a troop come to our school and set up outside our cafe, and the line was huge! This is the first time they've done that, and I know a lot of people who were really excited. The school added a blurb to our weekly e-mail telling us that they'd be there.

 

[Imzadi]

What did you do to sell the leftover cookies? Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated!

Maybe you could try to sell them to some lesbian organizations. Many of them were probably recruited when they were Girl Scouts.

 

[brookmey]

A college campus is a good idea, we have a community college in town, so I'll suggest that to the troop leader. I didn't know we could get more cookie booths, I'll ask the leader about that as well. Thanks for those suggestions! Spring break is next week so the girls will have their days free as well as weekends.

The cookie mom said that if we don't sell these cookies, we cannot return them to the council or have the council buy them back. If the cookies aren't sold, the troop is out the money. This is DD's first year in Brownies, so I'm not familiar with the whole cooking selling thing yet, but I have a hard time understanding why the council won't buy back extra cookies. But, according to DD's troop cookie mom, they won't do it, so we're stuck with them.

 

[brookmey]

Maybe you could try to sell them to some lesbian organizations. Many of them were probably recruited when they were Girl Scouts.

 

[Navychica]

My dad and another dad were both Cub Scout leaders of the same troop one year, and they both submitted the same order... 700 extra boxes of popcorn.

Selling them at colleges is a great idea. I also know there are programs where people can purchase them specifically to send to deployed soldiers; maybe you could look into that?

 

[luvmy3]

A college campus is a good idea, we have a community college in town, so I'll suggest that to the troop leader. I didn't know we could get more cookie booths, I'll ask the leader about that as well. Thanks for those suggestions! Spring break is next week so the girls will have their days free as well as weekends.

The cookie mom said that if we don't sell these cookies, we cannot return them to the council or have the council buy them back. If the cookies aren't sold, the troop is out the money. This is DD's first year in Brownies, so I'm not familiar with the whole cooking selling thing yet, but I have a hard time understanding why the council won't buy back extra cookies. But, according to DD's troop cookie mom, they won't do it, so we're stuck with them.

Okay, I would have a huge problem with my troop being out the money for 500 boxes of cookies, because that could completely wipe out troop funds depending on what you have in the account. Its been years since I was a GS leader, but I know we could return ours to the council, as long as they were full cases. Whatever extra single boxes we had we were responsible for selling, which wasn't ever a problem. I would contact them and find out for yourself, I hope that your cookie mom just misunderstood.

 

[ChickieToo]

I've been a leader for 8 years. I know our council will take back entire UNOPENED cases of cookies. If the cases haven't been opened you may be in good shape. Just make sure no one breaks open the boxes.

Call your council today.

 

[winesis]

Maybe you could try to sell them to some lesbian organizations. Many of them were probably recruited when they were Girl Scouts.

This is not funny - just plain RUDE!!

Your cookie mom should be contacting your service unit to return these extra cookies. (And your leader should be looking for a new cookie mom.) There is no reason why she would need to order so many. Our cookie mom makes a pick up before each cookie booth so we don't have many extras. Our service unit arranges meetings for troops to pick up/drop off extra boxes. I thought the extra 11 boxes we have was a lot!!

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

Oh boy, as a past cookie mom I really feel for you. As another poster suggested, contact your council and see if any other troop can take some off your hands. Then, I would see if you can get any other booths. Are they popular cookies, or the ones that don't sell so great?

 

[luvmy3]

This is not funny - just plain RUDE!!

Relax, it has to do with another thread.
And, it is pretty funny if you have read it.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Okay, I would have a huge problem with my troop being out the money for 500 boxes of cookies, because that could completely wipe out troop funds depending on what you have in the account. Its been years since I was a GS leader, but I know we could return ours to the council, as long as they were full cases. Whatever extra single boxes we had we were responsible for selling, which wasn't ever a problem. I would contact them and find out for yourself, I hope that your cookie mom just misunderstood.

to the bolded. And I would make sure that you have a new cookie mom next year. I can't believe that she wouldn't have noticed probably doubling the order!

 

[ehstrojette]

as a cookie mom and leader I dont understand why she took so many cookies and not schedule the booth sales to sell them. I have 20 girls and we sold 4600 boxes. I went to the cookie cupboard every week so we would have overages. I would ask if she can schedule some at dollar general or your local grocery store and sell as much as you can. you will have to pay council their part and you will lose out on the troop profit. Hit up the same people you sold them to and let them know it is their last chance to buy for the year. when does your sale end? ours ends this sunday

 

[mickeyboat]

I would see what I could do about scheduling another cookie booth or two. Perhaps a troop had to cancel for some reason and you could have their spot.

College campuses are a great idea, but we find that many college students do not carry a lot of cash. We hooked up with a sorority at our local college which was able to allow students to put their purchase on their meal cards. We sold a ton of cookies!

We found that some people who had ordered from us just didn't order enough, so they asked for more. It would not hurt to put a message out there that cookies are still available. Facebook is a good way to do that.

If you do sell at the soccer game, make sure you have the cookies with you so that people can take them with them then - impulse buy.

Also if your local service unit (ours are called communities) has an email list or some sort of website where you can post, leave a message that you have extra cookies. It would save someone a trip to the cookie cupboard if they can get them from someone else.

Council will not buy back cookies because pre orders are considered sold boxes. Our council maintains a cookie cupboard that we can use for extra sales and cookie booths. We can take from the cupboard and bring back cookies we don't sell without having to commit to selling them.

Finally make sure you don't overlook your Gift of Caring. There a many people who would not buy cookies but would donate them. Make sure at your cookie booth there is a big sign advertising the Gift of Caring and where the cookies are going to.

Good luck! That's a lot of cookies.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Set up a table at the ball game.
Ask if you can set up a table at the entrance to the grocery store

 

[Kellydelly]

Last year my daughters' troop ended up with a surplus that they "gifted" to the girls. Each brownie was given I think 3 boxes, there were only about 17 girls in the troop. I can't imagine having over 500 boxes of cookies too many . Someone needs to hustle and set up more cookie booths, it is your best option to sell them, I don't think it should be on the individual brownies to be stuck selling an extra 80 boxes.

 

[Mkrop]

You could ask the soccer league if you can set up a booth, I know many people did that for our school basketball games, but then the troop is through the school.

Also I just saw a shoutout from a cookie mom on FB offering to bring the cookies to anyone locally who was interested.