Girl Scout Cookie FAQs

With approximately three weeks left in the annual Girl Scout Cookie sale, many Girl Scout leaders and parents find themselves answering the same questions repeatedly to curious cookie customers. Of course, some of the finer policies of cookie selling vary between Girl Scout councils (of which there are more than 100 nationwide); however, there is some overarching data that can be used to answer a few of the most basic, and frequently asked, Girl Scout Cookie questions.

Q: "How long is the Girl Scout Cookie sale?" (Usually posed in the form of "When will you be done selling?" or "When is the last day to buy them?")

A: Although precise dates vary, the bulk of the sale runs during February and March. In 2010, the sale will conclude on March 14.

Q: "Why do some of the same cookies have different names?" (Also known as: "Why did they change the name of Samoas/Tagalongs/Do-Si-Dos?")

A: This is a big one in terms of the frequency with which it is asked, particularly for girls selling these classic cookies under their "new" names. So, why the confusion? Long story short, there are two licensed Girl Scout Cookie bakers in the U.S.: Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Bakers.

Girl Scout councils can choose which of the two suppliers they wish to work with, and are given the opportunity to do so every year. ABC Bakers, a subsidiary of Richmond, Virginia-based manufacturer Interbake Foods, has baked Girl Scout Cookies since 1939; Little Brownie Bakers, a division of Keebler Foods, came along a mere 30 years ago.

So, what does this have to do with the changing identities of some popular Girl Scout Cookies? Samoas, on record as the second most profitable Girl Scout Cookie (closely trailing Thin Mints), are called Caramel Delites by ABC Bakers and the Girl Scouts who sell them, while Little Brownie Bakers retained the Samoas name. The same process occurred for Tagalongs, which ABC now calls Peanut Butter Patties; for Do-Si-Dos, renamed Peanut Butter Sandwiches; and for Trefoils (a name based on a traditional Girl Scout symbol), now called Shortbreads. Little Brownie continues to utilize the original names of each of these cookie varieties. Fortunately, the top-selling and best-known Girl Scout Cookie variety, Thin Mints, have never undergone a name change process by either baker.

For Girl Scouts who sell cookies from ABC Bakers, this often necessitates some additional training. Many a leader has found herself teaching the names of the equivalent cookie to the girls in her troop, should any customer request a Samoa or Tagalong (and believe me, they do). For girls who sell cookies from Little Brownie Bakers, one would guess that this is less of an issue (but I'd love to hear feedback from anyone to whom this applies).

Q: "What do Girl Scouts do with the money they earn from selling cookies?" (Also known as: "How much money do Girl Scout troops get to keep?")

A: Rather than starting with an opinion-driven answer on this hotly contested topic, I'll pass along the answer featured on girlscouts.org, the official website of GSUSA: "That decision is made by each local Girl Scout council, so the portion varies from one council to another. Nationwide, an individual group receives from 12-17 percent of the purchase price of each box sold. The group holds the money earned in its treasury, and its girl members vote on how to use that money." Long story short: Yes, local troops do keep a portion of the money; and believe it or not, those profits can go surprisingly far (for troops who work diligently during the sale, and utilize all methods of sales available: door to door, adult support, referrals and, perhaps most crucially, troop booth sales). Troops can vote to use the money on day activities or overnight trips they may not otherwise have access to. There are many popular options, the most obvious of which may be a camping trip; however, troops can use their money for a variety of fun events. Today's theme parks and other destinations have caught on, as many now offer special packages for Girl Scouts for this very reason.

Plus, girls can earn individual rewards based on their personal sale achievements. Typically, the incentive structure starts at the lowest levels with a patch, moves up to toys and trinkets, and concludes at the highest levels with a Council-sponsored overnight trip to a local destination. Many councils also include a "cookie card," a gift card that can be used toward the purchase of Girl Scout merchandise at its store (i.e. uniforms), as well as tuition for its council-owned Girl Scout summer camp sessions. Productive Girl Scout leaders and parents do not vocalize complaints that the cookie sale is a "rip-off" or "not worth it." Successful troops are willing to work for their profits, and the girls reap the benefits of this positive attitude in ways that exceed tangible rewards.

How are the profits tracked? Each troop leader is responsible for communicating with the council regarding her troop sales. The methods with which this takes place may vary; for example, ABC Bakers offers an online program that facilitates troop sales records.

Those are some of the most commonly sought-after Girl Scout Cookie facts. Hopefully, the information can be useful for novice (or perhaps not-so-new) Girl Scout parents, cookie consumers and others interested in providing a supportive environment for local Girl Scouts.