I don't enjoy door-to-door Girl Scout cookie solicitation

[Lex]

by complete strangers. The kid was cute but her mother stood on my porch with her hand on her hip like I better sign up for some cookies. WTF?

I politely declined, on principle mainly, now that I think about it.

(I don't really mind being asked by friends, family, or co-workers, and I usually buy this way.)

Am I just being too grumpy about this?

[shraby]

1. I don't like to see children used in this

way. Schools do it too, and some parents let their children go out with a couple more kids with no adult. Not good.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. No

ever since I found out that the kids selling these cookies only get to keep a fraction of the profits, I don't buy the cookies at all. If a kid who I know asks me, I simply give a monetary donation to the troop. That way, I know they get all of the money.

[Lex]

4. Hmmmm . . . I wondered about this aspect too.

Good to know. My niece is the Girl Scouts and I typically buy a couple of packages just to be a good auntie, and will continue to do so.

I guess I had a sneaking suspicion that the money all goes to some central national Girl Scout location!

[sandnsea]

9. Thank you

I usually do both, cuz I can't resist the cookies!

[Droopy]

3. How can you turn down Girl Scout cookies?

A little girl and her younger brother came up to my door and asked me if I wanted to buy some. They knew that I was a Kerry supporter from my yard sign and bumper sticker. They were talking about how stupid Bush was and how much it sucked that he won. I couldn't resist! I bought 4 boxes.

I probably would have bought if they hadn't been talking about Kerry, but it made me feel better about my purchase.

[Lex]

6. You're assuming I don't buy them at all, which isn't true.

I buy them from my niece and from the kid of a co-worker.

I think the door-to-door solicitation by people I don't know at all is just plain annoying.

[LiberalEsto]

5. As a former Brownie leader

I feel door-to-door solicitation of ANY type is too risky for kids. There are too many wackos out there.

As the victim of many years of PTA, sports & school activities fundraisers, I think it's exploitation to make kids solicit funds by selling stuff OR by panhandling money. There are better ways to raise money than by turning our kids into salespersons. I also think it's crummy to exploit friends, neighbors and co-workers with these idiotic fundraisers.

BUT I will buy Girl Scout cookies any time I can. There is nothing like a couple of Samoas and a glass of milk. MMMMMMMmmmmm!

[sandnsea]

7. Yes, you are

Learning about money and budgets and basic sales and interacting with others is a good thing for kids. When you're asked by the people you mentioned, it's usually the adults doing the asking which takes away the whole purpose of the cookie sales in the first place. The kid learning to contribute to their own activities. The mother may have had a bad attitude, but that's her problem.

Although, I don't like the method the Girl Scouts uses to distribute the profits. I actually support a $20 donation to the troop, rather than the purchase of the cookies. Most people don't know the details though, so the cookie sales are still the best money maker for the girls.

[Lex]

11. No, my niece asks me and the co-worker's daughter asks me.

So they are still interacting with me directly.

[sandnsea]

15. And they know you

And they know you likely won't say no. Which is part of the learning experience.

What about kids who don't have relatives in their area? And a parent with only a couple of co-workers? They shouldn't be able to sell more cookies if they want to? What's so different about them? I can't believe you're really that annoyed by a couple of knocks on the door every year.

[Lex]

21. I'm sure everyone who does door-to-door soliciting

has a rationalization for it.

Many neighborhoods are so tired of constant door-to-door solicitations that they have neighborhood restrictions about it.

[sandnsea]

29. Adult solicitations

Not kids. :eyes:

[Deja Q]

16. Yup, early indoctrination into capitalism ensures they'll addicts for life

n/t

[sandnsea]

19. Ooooh, evil capitalism

They should bake cookies and give them away. Oh wait, they couldn't do that without money to buy the ingredients. Some people really need to get a clue.

[barackmyworld]

8. but they're SO GOOD

I wish I could find them easily

[Lex]

13. They are good cookies, undeniably.

Yummy.

[Deja Q]

17. But for the price. It's been said, but where does that money go?

And if everybody knew, would people still buy the cookies?

[NYC Liberal]

22. I always thought they funded camping trips and whatnot.

At least, that's what the money from my Boy Scout fundraisers go to.

[sandnsea]

31. They'd probably give to the troops

Which as I said elsewhere, is what I do. It's been a while, but IIRC, about 2/3 goes to the cookie company itself. So if a box were $3.00, the Scouts get about $1.00, let's just say. Of that about 35 cents goes to the troop. The other part goes to national which pays for both national and state organizations. That money goes for upkeep on scout camps, materials, program development, salaries, advertising, etc. The cookie sales make the most overall money for the troop, but it isn't the best percentage per sale back to the troop fundraiser they have. But it is definitely the best fundraiser for Girl Scouts as a whole. Alot of the state/national spending is very necessary, but alot of it isn't, imo. I remember in Montana the state head made about $65,000 a year, which at the time was about what the governor made. My figures are probably off somewhat, it's been a long long time. But that's the basic gist of it.

[curse10]

10. I wish someone would come to my door

When I was a brownie and junior I'd go door to door with my mom in my neighborhood. I made top sales in my troop (usually 500+ boxes).

Now I have to go out and actively look for a troop who sets up a booth somewhere.

[democracyindanger]

12. Sort of

I hate being bothered by door solicitors, regardless of what they're selling. But the idea of Girl Scouts going door-to-door is fine by me. I went door to door when I was a kid for walkathons and bikeathons. There's a lot to learn from it.

[NYC Liberal]

14. Unfortuneatly (or maybe fortunately)

I don't get people at my door because I'm in an apartment building.

When I sold chocolates for my school a while back, I only sold to friends and family...I didn't go door-to-door even though that's what a lot of people did.

[Bouncy Ball]

18. You answer the door?

I just don't answer. Just because a phone rings or a door is knocked on doesn't mean I have to answer it.

That takes care of that! LOL!

Don't feel bad. It is perfectly within your right to politely decline. No biggie.

[Bronco69]

20. I just can't say no to those cute little faces.

My two neighbor girls come to my door with their mom and they look like they're doing the most important thing in the world. I even told their mom that the reason I support the Girl Scouts is because about a year or so ago some right wing group accused the Girl Scout organization of promoting liberalism, feminism, and lesbianism. If a right wing group disapproves of the Girl Scouts then, count me as a supporter!

[curse10]

24. GSA is a very liberal organization

Which is why I try to support them when I can (in fact, this thread has inspired me to look into volunteering with my local chapter). The GSA openly accepts girls and leaders from the glbt community. They encourage girls to be strong women when they grow up. I'll gladly buy a few boxes to support an agenda like that :-)

[barb162]

23. no; I don't like it every time the doorbell rings it is someone looking

for money. The girlscout parents should be supporting the group, NOT ME.

PS A few days ago, 3 teenage boys came to my door looking for money re their high school (so they said). The high school is 30+ miles from here with about 15 suburbs in between. I couldn't believe it

[Catbird]

25. Times change

When I was much younger, I sold Girl Scout cookies door to door. I learned they were very good. I also learned that I was no good at sales, which is not a bad thing to learn.

I wouldn't let a scout go around door to door to strangers these days, and I haven't seen one at our house in years. I don't know if the dangers have changed, but the perceptions and expectations certainly have.

By the way, Grasshoppers (I think I have the name right.) are a fine substitute for the mint cookies if you can't wait a year for the next sale.

[DawgHouse]

26. I don't like it either

The girls around here are usually working from posts outside the grocery stores. Sometimes the little girl across the street comes over when she's working on a school fundraiser and I don't mind that because I know her.

[fluffernutter]

27. most of the time i hate solicitation, but with the GS, i don't mind

actually, the little kids in our neighborhood selling things for school or band or whatever don't bother me because i'm used to them, it's the ADULT door-to-door solicitors i can't stand. so i know where you're coming from, it sucks to be disturbed in your own home by some shmo who doesn't take no for an answer.

[Bobbie47]

28. This year my daughter troop

only sold at the neighborhood caravan in front of a local store, all

the troops here do this and can sell door to door. This year we

decided to only do the caravan, the girls have to do at least one of

the events. Even with me being involved with my daughter's troop, I

never let her sell door to door.

[Historic NY]

30. My co-workers seem to have a contest who can get to the rest to buy

them. Sometimes you forget which one you told you'd take a couple of boxes from. Then again them chocolate mints can last for a while in the freezer.