For those of you who live under rocks and have not been bombarded with the daily doorbell ringing courtesy of your local Girl Scout, I thought I’d share a little tidbit: It’s cookie time.
I have nothing against Girl Scouts. Really. I don’t. I used to have one. In fact, I used to lead a whole troop of them.
The cookie sales though? Eh, I could sort of do without.
Before you stone me with three dozen boxes of last year’s frozen Thin Mints, let me assert my position.
I understand that these girls need money for camp. I understand that the Girl Scout organization as a whole is a totally worthwhile endeavor that provides a plethora of virtuous activity opportunities for girls of all ages. And I totally get that those cute little Brownies are learning important lessons, even if fifty-two of them have already attempted to fatten my family all while depleting my wallet.
Get it.
What I don’t get?
Why, come February, they will position a table full of miniature sales tycoons girls at each entrance of the grocery store, effectively cutting off my ability to enter/exit the store without being made to feel like the devil incarnate should I explain that I’ve already stocked my pantry (and freezer thankyouverymuch) from here to kingdom come with Samoas. And Thin Mints. And even a box or two of those second rate peanut butter sandwich cookies (but only because the guilt got to me!).
We have our own neighborhood Girl Scout and we choose to patronize her for two reasons. Number one, she is a good friend of my oldest daughter. And number two, because I think it’s pretty darn cool that at fourteen, she is still a Girl Scout. Talk about sticktoitiveness.
Here’s my dilemma though.
My Girl Scout rep? She possesses not the common sense to thank me.
It’s a little thing. I know. But it bugs me.
When she asks me to buy the cookies she neglects to thank me for my support.
When she delivers the cookies she fails to thank me when I hand over the check.
In fact, I thank her for delivering them. You’d think it might prompt her to offer a thank you of her own.
It doesn’t though.
Am I mean for being annoyed by that?
So I’m thinking of spending my cookie dollars elsewhere this year. Perhaps I’ll spread out my purchases over the many trips to the grocery store. At least that way I’ll avoid the accusing eyes of those little sales mongers and their moms perched next to the cart corral.
So give it to me straight up. What would you do?
And while you’re commenting, pay no mind to the fact that I’ve suddenly become so inept and pathetic that I’ve succumb to soliciting advice on the internet as to how I should proceed with my Girl Scout cookie purchase.
Because I’m an independent thinker like that.
Come to think of it, perhaps I could have benefited from a few more years in Girl Scouts myself.
At least I would have thanked my customers.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Maybe you could hint that she’d probably make even more sales if she thanked her customers. I don’t think I’d bail on her, though. You’re buying the cookies to support the girl scouts and that’s the point I guess.
I do think I’d probably twitch a little each time if she didn’t thank me which would probably lead to me eating more cookies which would not be a good thing.
I completely understand. A simple thank you goes a long way in my book, but ditching her doesn’t do much good if she doesn’t understand why. It would be good if you could think of a tactful way to make it clear to her. And what are you going to say when she makes her sales call? Maybe Torri could suggest she read your blog!
i too get so annoyed when people do not say thank you! i constantly say it to sales people at the grocery store, the gas station, the post office and it amazes me that they just sort of look on by you and say ‘next in line please’. as for me, i would go somewhere else, but i’m sort of like that. if there is someone else who appreciates your business then i’m all for giving it to them.
I absolutely would buy elsewhere!
For the first year I now have a little Daisy in my home. Thankfully Daisies do not sell cookies. Yet.
There’s too much political correctness in this country!
I’m referring to you not taking her to task for her rudeness.
Yes, it’s rude to not give some sort of affirmation that you are doing her a favor.
I’m highly offended and intend to complain to the U.S. poliitical correctness agency which will, no doubt, be created before the end of the year now that we have a new president.
I’d personally prefer we buy cookies from her as opposed to the vultures outside of the grocery store! Those cookies just seem so insincere – it is like jumping on a bandwagon that has already passed. They are second-chance cookies that scream out – “it’s OK…you don’t have to plan ahead to enjoy my caramel goodness…here I am, instant gratification.”
Hmmm… I think you should buy from her, but when the troop leader delivers them I’d look her in the eyes and say “You’re welcome”! I’m feeling a little mean today! Normally I’d let something like that roll off, but if year after year she doesn’t say thank you?! I think it’s time to point it out to her. I grew up with a butt for a stepdad that would jump at the chance to say that to me, if I didn’t say thank you fast enough. I learned my lesson!
I have a hard time spending my money anywhere they don’t appreciate it. No, I don’t expect to bend over backwards for me, but I think a simple polite thank you is not out of line. I will not shop where they are rude to me. Life’s too short.
I would find that kind of irritating, too. But, do you really think those “die hards” in front of the grocery store are going to offer up a “thank you?” I’m not so sure. I guess you’ve got to try it once — buy the cookies from the grocery store gals and see what happens. Because really, the other mom should SO know better. I mean, c’mon. It’s common courtesy for cryin’ out loud.
I don’t have a personal girl scout, so what I do is buy one box every time I go to the grocery store or Walmart or wherever the girls are camped out. They are always chipper and polite, and they seem to be having fun selling together as a group.
My problem with the whole cookie thing is the the timing. Sales season ALWAYS starts at the beginning of Lent!
It’s basic manners but kids forget unless their parent is standing over them reminding them (as I do with my kids all the time) but 14?? I bet her mom/dad would be mortified to know that their daughter did not use her manners. I know I would and then I’d make my child walk right back to that person to extend thanks. I prefer to buy from kids I know…whether it’s at the door or at the grocery store and I stick to 2 boxes for the cookie season. Otherwise there’s no way I’m going to have abs like yours.
Okay. I buy Girl Scout Cookies WHENEVER and WHERE EVER they are offered. Did someone say GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SEASON? I’m all over it.
Oh. And by the way. I tagged you for a handbeg meme. :-)
What about, “I’m so glad I could support your troop again this year.” ?
She would HAVE to thank you.
Sticktoittiveness, my ass. Her mother surely makes her do it.
If she was selling cookies because she wanted to, she would thank you.
She should be thanking you! At least that’s what I think. But then again, I did grow up with a mother who made us write thank-you notes to our immediate family for Christmas gifts and such. She now keeps “The Book.” If you don’t send her a thank-you for something she has given you, your name gets marked off for a gift next year! Ha..Just had to share.
I actually dislike the “kid salesman” thing all around. I always dread when neighborhood kids ring the doorbell with their chocolate bars and girl scout cookies and catalogs of gift wrap and popcorn. I *want* to help – don’t get me wrong – but everything is overpriced and all of the kids on the block are selling the same thing.
My husband and I have actually had discussions about what we will do when – inevitably – our daughter joins a sport or a club and is asked to sell some kind of ware. We actually thought about just buying all of the chocolate bars or boxes ourselves! HA! Anything to avoid that door-to-door sales pitch.
But wait, I noticed my Samoas weren’t called Samoas this year…they’re called like caramel something or others. Totally weird. And don’t knock those peanut butter sandwiches dude. As a woman who can’t eat chocolate (because Robby will then keep me up all damn night) those things are saving me as I have to sit and watch Hubby eat his damned Samoas…caramel things. Whatever.