Buying Popcorn From Boy Scouts
I stopped at Fred Meyer earlier, and noticed on my way to the WAMU ATM that a Boy Scout was selling popcorn. I thought maybe I’d buy some. Then I had a tussle with myself about whether I really wanted my money to go to the Boy Scouts. Their official policies are anti-gay, and there are other things I don’t like about them too. But I decided, based on personal experience, that they do more good than harm, and as a lifelong member of the Girl Scouts (who, by the way, are NOT anti-gay) I know how important the sales can be for the kids.
I bounced up to the table with my cash in hand. “What have you got?” I inquired, smiling. Then I looked at the pictorial price sheet on the table.
$15 for a package of microwave popcorn, with 15 individual packets inside. $30-40 for large tins of popcorn. I wanted to just back away at that point, but after voluntarily approaching the table and speaking up, felt I couldn’t. I ended up buying the cheapest item, which was a very small tin of caramel corn with peanuts for $8.
Aside from the prices, I was shocked that the young man in the Boy Scout uniform did not say one word during the whole transaction. His parents did everything. And he was a teenager — taller than I am. If you are involved in Girl Scouts, you know that we are told this should NEVER HAPPEN. The cookie sale isn’t just about making money; it’s also about the girls learning skills, like dealing with the public, making change, etc. Adults are NEVER supposed to do the selling. We get in trouble if we get caught doing it.
So, I’m sorry, Boy Scouts, but I won’t be buying any more popcorn. I’ll be waiting for the Girl Scout cookie sale. The price is going up in Oregon and Southwest Washington; next year they’ll be $4 per box, but I don’t think that’s too outrageous, given the quality, and it’s comparable to the price of many store-bought cookies. I also know for sure that it’s an organization I can believe in.
Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington will begin taking orders for cookies in January 2009. For other areas of the U.S., you can check here for availability. Outside the U.S.? You may be out of luck. Sorry!
This post has 8 comments
October 4th, 2008
I’m all about Girl Scout cookies. The boy scouts seem to have turned into a title not a method to prepare boys to become responsible men. The anti-gay thing really ticks me off too, especially with how they always want to use public buildings for their events.
October 4th, 2008
At my school the parents of Boy Scouts (i.e. my fellow teachers) are the ones doing the selling.
October 4th, 2008
And yet another reason why I won’t support the Boy Scouts. Thank you!
October 6th, 2008
It reminds me of that joke, “it’s terrible, but at least the portions are large” — except in this case, it’s not terrible, but expensive and the portions are small and the motivations are unclear at best and unwelcome at worst . . .
October 6th, 2008
That shouldn’t happen. When I was a Cub Scout leader, our boys sold the popcorn but they were to be the ones doing the selling. Parents could go with them but only to watch for safety. I think you ran into a family that didn’t do it right.
The popcorn is top quality. Mine lasted for years. It is far superior to anything you can buy at the store. The problem is the quantity it is bundled in. If they packaged it in smaller quantities, it would be more affordable.
I still get GS cookies. I do it for the girls. I buy them then give them away. I’m an adult GS member so I still support them with cookie sales but I won’t eat them. Four dollars isn’t bad. They’ve been $4 and over in California for years. The troops are allowed to set their price over a minimum so, depending on the council, they can be anywhere from $4 to a high of $4.50 in areas of California where I bought them as recently as last year.
October 6th, 2008
My experience was different. A young boy about eight years old came with his mom. His mom made him do all the talking. He explained what he was doing and why, told me I could pay now or later, showed me where to sign and made the sale.
Last spring I bought girl scout cookies. Three girls were there with two parents at a table. the parents gave me the options, signed me up and took the cash. All the girls did was hand me the cookies. They never said a word.
Perhaps it depends of the troop/den or perhaps on the parent who goes with the child.
October 6th, 2008
Corina and Tom, you’re right, of course there are people who do things well and people who don’t. Sigh. I’m generally a rule-follower. Which means I’m a mean leader; I make my girls stand up, talk to customers, etc., even though they always complain.
I could tell them they’ll be glad I did it someday, but I won’t.
October 7th, 2008
You’re not a mean leader. You’re a good one. The rules are there for a reason. I’m a rule follower too. I made sure I got the boys to do it all themselves (and my girl scouts, too!). I made sure the parents knew they were not to do it for them and they were not to take the order sheets to work for them, either.