Girl Scout Cookie Season Q & A for Parents

I gave the opportunity for my parents  and any leaders in a group I am a apart of to let me know what questions they had about cookie season and told them I would use this platform to answer. I know many parents have the same questions so here you go! 

* This will be continuously updated throughout the cookie season as needed so all Q & A's are in one place or I may do another post and link here. This is for your benefit. *

Questions Asked and Answered here:  
--> Don't see a question answered here? You have let me know and I will answer and add it here! 
1) How does ordering cookies work?
2) Money is due when?
3) If family/friends from out of state order from our scout, are we responsible for shipping to them or is there an option to have them delivered directly to that customer?
4) Can I get cookies at the meeting? 
5) Council ran out of cookies. Can I still get 3 cases of Thin Mints? 
6) Why do I have to sign the parent permission form in order to receive my daughter's order card? Can't you just give it to me & I'll sign it later because I have someone who wants to buy from her now?
7) Can I do a booth with both my daughters?
8) What is a mother/daughter booth? Is it exactly what it sounds like? Just you & your daughter running the booth? Do the proceeds go to the troop or to your daughter? 
9) (This is from another leader, but good to answer). I know you just moved 3000 boxes of cookies into your garage, and I missed the original pick up time but can I come get our pre-order? My girl really really wants to go around tomorrow. 
10) When does the order need to be turned in? Why does my scout get so little for selling so much? 
11) Can I donate the cookies in girl scout names and not have to pay the money for the cookies?
12) Can I do a booth on my own?
13) What is "Cookies on the Go"?
14) How is Cookies on the Go different from Troop Booths?
15) Should I really carry the order form or cookies with me at all times?

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1) How does ordering cookies work?

A: People let you know what they want, and what kinds. You will fill out the Initial Cookie Order Form here on the blog (Troop 5823 only!) to let me know how many of what kinds. If you want to order extras to carry with you, which is recommended, that add those as well. After the Initial Cookie Order, I put them in. On 9 Feb 2016, I will go and pick up all our pre order cookies- that is, the cookies for your girls and for the booths. After that, you will come pick up what you have asked for. If you want cookies afterwards you can ask for them from me anytime you need them. 
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2) Money is due when?

A: Money is due as you get it. This means, bring it to meetings, pay it like you do your dues (so check, cash, pay pal). It is important for the troop because we get our cookie money taken out in waves. This means that if we don't have money in the account for cookie season and money is taken out, that puts us in a bad spot both with the bank and with council. So turn the money in as you get it! 
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3) If family/friends from out of state order from our scout, are we responsible for shipping to them or is there an option to have them delivered directly to that customer?

A: Yes. We in GSCNC do not do direct online ordering. That has pros and cons but to me, mostly pros. Shipping from the site is usually more for smaller quantity. Also, priority mail can be a good option depending on how many. You can ship them on your own dime or have your customer help with the shipping. They can donate cookies as well or directly to the troop. 
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4) Can I get cookies at the meeting? 

A: This is very dependent on if I am able to get cookies to the meetings. What is best is to come after the meetings to get cookies or arrange a time. 
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5) Council ran out of cookies. Can I still get 3 cases of Thin Mints? 

A: No. We are only able to get what is at cookie cupboard within council. This is why pre orders can be important. 
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6) Why do I have to sign the parent permission form in order to receive my daughter's order card? Can't you just give it to me & I'll sign it later because I have someone who wants to buy from her now?

A: It is council rules that you sign the permission slip before selling cookies. Really, this is to your advantage to read it and know what is expected of you and the troop during cookie season. This is part of that. They want parents to know they are responsible for what cookies they take. The council takes this very seriously. That is why we need you to sign something before you sell cookies. If someone wants to buy cookies from her now, usually during pre order, that is fine, but I won't put the order in for your daughter until I have that signed.

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7) Can I do a troop booth with both my daughters?

A: Yes, but a registered person has to be there. If you are using troop change, doing a troop booth (not a personal one on your front lawn), then you need to be registered. That person is held liable for what happens during the cookie booth-- including watching girls, dealing with the money, etc. This is really not that big of a deal. If you want to be there with your daughter, that is fine by me as long as a registered person is there. 
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8) What is a mother/daughter booth? Is it exactly what it sounds like? Just you & your daughter running the booth? Do the proceeds go to the troop or to your daughter? 

A: Troop booths, at say, a place like Safeway are not only a mother/daughter booth. Excluding extreme circumstances where that may accidentally happen (say someone does not show up for the booth to help) booths realistically need to be 2-4 girls. A mother daughter booth is done on your own and would not have anything to do with the troop. The proceeds always go to the troop. The boxes get credited to your daughter. 

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9) (This is from another leader, but good to answer). I know you just moved 3000 boxes of cookies into your garage, and I missed the original pick up time but can I come get our pre-order? My girl really really wants to go around tomorrow. 

A: You need to pre arrange cookie pick ups. I will likely be doing a sign up for this. If you need to pick up your order outside of this, that is dependent on my availability as well as yours. If something comes up truly I will be more flexible. Honestly, generally speaking, as long as I am home, it should be fine. 

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10) When does the order need to be turned in? Why does my scout get so little for selling so much? 

A: For 2016, by the 2nd January meeting (19th). If you have money, bring it. The council sets up prizes not troops. I am thinking of doing troop prizes to encourage the girls and for fun. If your daughter sells a decent amount, between the patches she gets for cookie season from council and the troop, it will be a lot of patches. So, if she actively participates, she will earn a lot.
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11) Can I donate the cookies in girl scout names and not have to pay the money for the cookies?

A: Believe it or not, this happened. NO! You are responsible for the cookies you take. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. And if you don't pay, the troop is forced to let council know this. If that happens, council will not hesitate taking you to collections. Don't be that person. 
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12) Can I do a booth on my own?

A: You need to contact me and work this out. Sometimes finding booths on your own is fine but you need to let me know so I can put it in and get it approved (IE: to make sure someone is not already set up to do a booth there). Email me, the troop leader to coordinate this. 
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13) What is "Cookies on the Go"?
Cookies on the Go is when you throw cookies in your backpack, your stroller, in a wagon, whatever you fancy and walk around and sell them. 
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14) How is Cookies on the Go different from Troop Booths?
Troop booths are a fixed location that the council has worked to get for us and is us standing in front of a business for an X amount of time, usually 2-5 hours. Cookies on the Go is when you are walking around selling them. You can do this on the bus.
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15) Should I really carry the order form or cookies with me at all times?
To sell more, yes! You will sell a lot more this way. It happens by accident and someone will want more. So if you are on the bus with cookies for your friend that they ordered, carry a couple extras because if someone sees them, they will want to buy them. 

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If I get any more questions, I will update this continuously so it is all in one place.
:)