How does school fundraising work and should we be good neighbours by buying things we don’t need?
We have a couple of boys in our neighborhood who were doing a cookie dough fundraiser for their high school’s soccer team. My husband & I don’t know them or their parents + we don’t have any children, but when they knocked on our door at the end of November, 2008, I bought $25 box of Varsity Gold peanut butter cookie dough. I decided that it was a good thing to help some guys from our local high school. They brought that cookie dough 2 weeks later than they initially had promised, and by that time I already assumed that it was some kind of a scam
When I tried to find out a little bit more about this company - Varsity Gold, I came across their pdf file where they advertise these cookies, state that a group will earn up to 50% on sale & list that cookie dough for $13 (http://www.varsitygoldkc.com/images/Forms/CookieDoughFlyer.pdf)
Does it mean that by selling these frozen cookies to us for $25, these guys brought $12 profit to their school?
Also, these boys came to us again 2 days ago trying to sell some golf membership + different coupons/certificates. Frankly, they’re lousy at selling because they can never coherently explain what exactly they’re selling. When I asked these boys if there was any website where I could’ve looked up any additional info on those different memberships & coupons, they said “no”. Because I never understood what it was to begin with and I had several unanswered questions in my mind, I asked them to come the next day.
After they left, I “googled” Varsity Gold and came across this company’s web site — http://www.varsitygold.com/, where they list everything they sell. I also found out that “help our soccer team” is called school’s fundraising.
Well, I didn’t find anything that would interest us among those certificates.
I don’t want to be considered a bad neighbour, who doesn’t help our local high school soccer team, but at the same time I don’t want to waste money on things we don’t want/need…. Or we should treat this fundraising thing as a donation?
Thank you!
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Filed under: Other - Society & Culture on June 15th, 2009
See your 2008 Updated Credit Report here
Yes, if they sold you the box at 25 they made 12. I dont know much about this company, but in general what they do is sell the product at very near cost of production then you resale it. Most companies recommend double their price, but you can resale it at whatever you want. If they are taking orders and then giving it later, they are probably trying to make sure they dont over buy what they cant sell. The extra two weeks issue was probably in getting the order in on time. ALSO keep in mind the whole pb issue, which could have been part of the hold up.
If I have the money and want something they are selling, I will buy. However, I dont feel like I have to or anything. If you plan on staying there and having children there, it may behoove you to buy at least something small occasionally.
Of course the kids arent going to be great sales people. They are probably nervous going door to door, especially if they are more quiet or shy. I try to listen to what they are saying and encourage them on their sales pitch.
Although, if they are saying its for the soccer team, it probably is for the soccer team. Do you realize that football is the only sport that most schools use public funding for? Every other sport and extra curricular in almost every area are supported by the parents and donations including things like soccer, baseball, basket ball, band, theatre, all of them…