You’ve probably already seen the story about Charlotte McCourt.
The tale of the 11-year-old Girl Scout from New Jersey spread widely after she penned a note to a family friend asking him to purchase a few boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to send to service members via the Cookies From Home initiative.
Her letter landed in the hands of television personality Mike Rowe, who read it in a video that has racked up more than 9 million views on Facebook.
McCourt’s message likely tugged at the recipient’s heartstrings, but what really captured attention? The cookie ratings.
The scout scored each cookie variety on a 10-point scale, including household-name flavors like Thin Mints and Tagalongs. (Predictably, Thin Mints earned a 9.)
Toffee-tastic, the gluten-free option that typically costs more than the other cookies in many areas, was a letdown, to say the least. McCourt described it as a “bleak, flavorless, gluten-free wasteland,”and asserted, “I’m telling you, it’s flavorless as dirt.”
A debate broke out at the Savinly office. Preferred flavors were defended. Rising costs were mulled over.
We noticed there are two types of people: those who adore Girl Scout cookies and those who absolutely don’t.
So what’s the real verdict? Are Girl Scout cookies as delightful as people claim? Or do they fall apart under the critical gaze of someone who can resist temptation?
Is this fundraiser a total rip-off or the sweetest seasonal arrival at your local post office?
What would our hypothetical patron saint, Abe Lincoln, do? Obviously, he’d arrange a polite discussion. And that’s just what we’re going to have.
Girl Scout Cookies: Delicious and Meaningful
By Lisa Rowan, journalist, producer and lifelong Girl Scout
(We’re not claiming impartiality.)
Yes, I have sold the cookies — order form, sash and all. Point me toward a cookie stand and I’ll gladly part with $20 or $30.
But beyond taste (Thin Mints, carry me away), I’ve also learned a thing or two about the operation behind the cookie sale.
It’s been quite a while since a box cost $2.50. But only about25%of what you shell out for a box of cookies goes to the manufacturer. The remainder goes back into the Girl Scouts, either at the troop level or to the local council that runs regional programs and camps.
It’s like supporting local initiatives, and you receive a cookie that tastes consistent year after year.
Cookie season is one of the flagship events for Girl Scouts because this major fundraiser is also among the most recognizable nationwide. Troops and individual scouts set targets for how many boxes they hope to move each season, and they use the proceeds for upcoming events and excursions.
Sure, there’s always a parent who leaves the order form on the break room table and waits for coworkers to fawn over the selection.
Meanwhile, that parent’s Girl Scout is likely spending weekends asking neighbors if they’d like to buy cookies. Or she’s manning a booth sale with her troop.
Selling cookies isn’t merely about being a polished salesperson — because not all of us can craft a letter as clever as Charlotte McCourt. Scouts learn to set goals and build action plans to meet them.They pick up money management and inventory-handling skills — lessons many children don’t learn until much later.
Beyond insatiable sweet cravings, there’s a satisfying element to purchasing something that benefits the seller as much as the buyer. You might be excited about the $20 you spent on cookies that’ll disappear in a few days. But the Girl Scout making change and offering thanks is equally thrilled about progressing toward her aims.
For many (myself included), that sense of contributing is worth the cost of the sugar rush.
Girl Scout Cookies: Overrated and Overpriced
By Lisa McGreevy, writer and decidedly pragmatic woman
No one appreciates a great dessert more than I do, especially when cookies are involved. Pair cookies with enterprising young girls learning about commerce and fundraising? I’m a puddle of approval.
I adore the idea behind Girl Scout Cookies. I think what they embody is fantastic, and truthfully — I’m on board with pretty much any scheme that delivers baked treats to my doorstep.
But let’s examine the actual cookies for a moment. That’s where my enthusiasm for Girl Scout confections sharply declines.
Girl Scout cookies are overrated. There, I said it.
I won’t pretend that tastes aren’t subjective. If everyone liked precisely the same flavors, ice cream shops would be monotonous.
Still, some friends act as if Girl Scout cookies are the most wonderful thing to hit their palate since the invention of bacon.
Many people I know grew up eating Girl Scout cookies, so they probably associate them with childhood memories. Like classic white bread or microwave snacks, we don’t always consume items because they’re outstanding; we eat them because they evoke pleasant moments from our past.
We’re indulging in nostalgia.
If that were my sole gripe, I’d just shrug and move on. I have a bigger complaint, though: the price tag.
At $5 for an 8-ounce box, those cookies should be spectacular. If I’m chasing mediocrity, a 13-ounce box of store-brand cookies from my local supermarket will cost around $2.75.
If I want something a touch more upscale, an 8.6-ounce bag of Pepperidge Farm S’mores is roughly $3.50. A similarly sized box of Girl Scout S’mores is $5.
There are tons of recipesacross the web that show how to bake cookies at home that mimic Girl Scout varieties, but at a fraction of the cost. The upside? They’re fresher, too.
I’m all for an occasional indulgence on food that brings delight. But the frugal side of me just can’t justify spending so much on something I can get fresher and cheaper at my neighborhood store.
Your Turn: Do you believe Girl Scout cookies are worth the splurge?
