Do you think this is tacky?

Question

I have 2 girls that are girlscouts. It is below zero today and both troop leaders never obtained the permits I need to sell cookies door to door. That being said, do you think it is tacky to write up a flyer with the cookies available for purchase and ask that if anyone is interested in buying some that they could call our home number and leave their order? I would put the flyers on their mailbox. Do you think anyone would purchase girlscout cookies this way?

Answer 1

I work for the Girl Scouts in California and I have never heard of needing a permit for door-to-door sales. However placing them in the mail box is not legal, but a flyer tucked in a screen door or under a windsheild wiper would be PERFECT. What a great way to get sales for your girls. You would be surprised how many people might call or leave a note for you to contact them. People absolutely LOVE Girl Scout cookies. Did you know that Girl Scout cookies are the top selling Cookie in the Nation, even more than Oreos? You sound like a wonderful parent who is really involved in your girls' lives. Remember, Girl Scouting builds girls of Courage, Confidence, and Character. Good Luck!

Answer 2

Unfortunantly it is illigal to place non-mail items in a mailbox. This is why it is not uncommon to see newpaper bins attached to a mailbox pole. As for such a flyer being tacky, it depends on if the flyer itself is tacky. One of the points of selling girlscout cookies is the face to face interaction between girl and nieghbor. anyone can order cookies online or by mail, but it is the friendly nieghborhood (or friend's) girlscout most people expect each year. I do not think many people woul by girlscout cookies from a flyer.

Answer 3

I don't buy anything door to door. I would consider buying over the phone though. You could potentially be hitting an untapped market that you didn't even know was there. I'd give it a shot, but make sure you put the flyers on the doors. Federal law doesn't allow putting unsolicited flyers in a mailbox and you could be cited by an annoyed homeowner if you spam the mailbox. Its the whole "Federal offense to tamper with the mail" thing. So be careful and good luck!

Answer 4

I think that's a bad idea and will make the girlscouts appear lazy. I think you would call the leaders and see what the next option is. Plan B. Besides- who is selling the cookies? The scout or the scout's mommy?

"The activity of selling cookies is directly related to our purpose of helping all girls realize their full potential and become strong, confident, and resourceful citizens." (Or, Mommy- YOU do it!)

Many successful business women today say they got their start selling Girl Scout Cookies. Girls practice useful life skills like planning, decision-making, and customer service. During cookie activities, girls are members of a team working towards a common goal, with each girl striving to do her best. (Or, Mommy, YOU handle it.)
http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_cookies/

(Ps, as a former girlscout who had to work my butt off to sell cookies, if I got a "call me" flyer in my mail box I'd be pretty disgusted.)

Answer 5

I used to be a girl scout and we never needed permits to sell cookies. And when i was in school, we had fundraisers and we went door to door in the neighborhoods too w/o permits.

Everyone knows its girl scout cookie time, and i don't see why a permit is needed.

Anyways, i've had people put flyers in our newspaper box. You could do that. Or put up flyers at places in your town that allow it.

Answer 6

I have seen this often and I actually like it better than having to say no to a little girl. You could also put up fliers in local stores. Some people don't have access to a Girl Scout, but want those cookies!

However, it would be illegal to put it in their mailbox (without paying postage). You will need to leave it tucked in the door or something similar.

Answer 7

It sounds ok, but you probably wont get much response. The girls going door to door or standing outside the grocery store is great to see. I like to see the badges they have earned and congratulate them on their hard work when I buy cookies. If you do the fliers you can NOT put them in the mail box! The mail box is "owned" by the post office and is therefore Federal property. Stick them in the door or use a hole punch and hang them on door knobs with rubber bands.

Answer 8

I can't even remember the last time I've had someone coming to my door to sell something. Most girl scouts I've seen sit out in front of Wal-Mart or Walgreens & sell the cookies or they have their parents take the order forms to work. I think the brochure idea is great. There is absolutely no sense in risking the health & safety of your children for this cause. Everyone knows about Girl Scout Cookies. They sell themselves.

Answer 9

I don't have a problem with it - I might buy cookies this way. But you might need to check on the mailbox thing...I know where I live you can't put stuff in people's mailboxes. You CAN put them in the box below the mailbox (assuming they have one) or in thier doors, etc.
Go for it!
Ummmm...a GS cookie would be good right now!

Answer 10

Sorry I disagree about it being tacky. I think if the cold is a factor stand inside a store and sell them at the front doors (get permission first) If it is to cold to go door to door with cookies it is to cold to deliver flyers. Cookie selling is part of learning hard work and responsibility!