Reneging on Popcorn Money

[fritz1255]

It's popcorn season again, and we had a problem last year with one family reneging on their commitment - they took the popcorn, we never got the money - check bounced. Calls were made, no money. I don't think I have to tell anyone on this forum what the financial impact of this is, but we have written this one off. Dad is umemployed (probably unemployable), so it's not like they drop the kid off at meetings in a Mercedes. There was a similar post some time ago, and no, we are not going to take legal action or try to publicly embarrass the family or kid. Not worth the $200 or so that we lost.

Problem is what do we do this year? Kid is still with the troop, forms went home with the kids last night. Obviously we cannot have this situation a second year in a row. We decided that they would need to pay up front (and the check needed to clear) for any popcorn that we give them. Any other (non-draconian, please) ideas?

[Mrw]

Some of our local trrops collect the money with the orders and then there is no question of getting stiffed or stuck with popcorn that someone ordered and then won't accept.

This should give the boy in question cash and/or checks from his customers to turn in to you up front. It can help the boy to learn about how to keep track of the money, etc himself, so to better prepare him for the future, too.

[evmori]

It's popcorn season again, and we had a problem last year with one family reneging on their commitment - they took the popcorn, we never got the money - check bounced. Calls were made, no money. I don't think I have to tell anyone on this forum what the financial impact of this is, but we have written this one off. Dad is umemployed (probably unemployable), so it's not like they drop the kid off at meetings in a Mercedes. There was a similar post some time ago, and no, we are not going to take legal action or try to publicly embarrass the family or kid. Not worth the $200 or so that we lost.

Problem is what do we do this year? Kid is still with the troop, forms went home with the kids last night. Obviously we cannot have this situation a second year in a row. We decided that they would need to pay up front (and the check needed to clear) for any popcorn that we give them. Any other (non-draconian, please) ideas?

Pay up front when the order is turned in. And you don't have to do this with the entire unit, just this family.

[summertop]

My wife and I were both Cubmasters (different times). Between us we did popcorn sales twice. For the little money we earned, it just wasn't worth the effort. We had a hard time getting the boys to go out selling it.

We did have the orders pre-paid. But still people changed their mind and didn't want the popcorn. Or they moved and we didn't know where. or...

So what to do with all the left over popcorn? Besides eat it...

[Mrw]

We had a family buy popcron from my son one year, pre-paid for it and then refused to accept it claiming they hadn't bought it. We re-sold it to someone else - even better than eating it ourselves!

Our pack always was pretty generous with cub cshout stuff prizes for anyone that sold and so most kids participated. The troop gives scout dollars (about 10%) of total sales back the the kids to help pay for scouting, camp outs or supplies and so they get pretty good participation as well.

[Billiken]

Just as a follow-up (I was the one who had a family not pay for their popcorn two years ago): We did finally receive payment (in full).
Apparently, the family had been going through a very rough financial period.

The scout is very much involved and the father, while not a registered scouter, is active and does volunteer on certain projects/events.

[Mad Dog]

I have never been a fan of the popcorn sale. For one thing most of the packages are too expensive. And it comes right at the end of Girl SCout cookie season. I hate to see my kids hitting up the same neighbors, family and friends in such a short time span. What are troop does is to buy X number of cartons of microwave popcorn. We then sell it for $1.00 a package in front of the local post office during the Spring. The boys do it as a group it is quick and clean and everyone seems happy.

[Mrw]

Our girl scout cookie season come 2-3 months after the popcorn season. We do the show and sell and can sell quite a bit at $1.00 a packet.

We do also do the door-to-door or order form program and really make more money at it.

The last couple years we have taken a group of boys out and covered a neighborhood for an afternoon. This gets the boys to participate who wouldn't otherwise. We do this with out show and sell inventory so the people who buy get what they wanted immediately (except for the people who want the big tins which we order for them.

[JazerNorth]

We don't sell popcorn anymore, as the cost is just way too high. upto $5.00 for an item, people are willing to give. $10-20 maybe. Over $20, rarely. Most popcorn boxes are in the 10-20 with quite a few over 20. We just didn't sell any. So, we no longer do it.

[Billiken]

Our corresponding Cub Pack sells popcorn

We sell Christmas greens (wreaths, etc.)

[momma_bee]

We had the 'non-paying' problem too. This was complicated by the same family holding their next order until the last minute and then someone (foolishly) believed they would bring a check.

ID-10-T error, but that is neither here, nor there.

PRE-PAY, all the way. I have never thought about only doing it for one family, because our school fundraisers are that way, so folks are used to the idea.

The young man is still involved with our units, and we warned the SM to be careful with him and $$$ and he gave the Scout a box of candy bars to sell. Someone stole the box or money before he could turn it in. (I don't know the details, so don't ask )

This year, I want the popcorn paper to be handed to MOM and then tell her it won't be accepted without payment. And, I don't have problem confirming the check. But, Mom never shows up.

Of course, I'm not doing the sale, so I can only make a recommendation.

FWIW - Girl Scouts give the leaders a signed permission slip / commitment form that has to be filled out by parents before the order sheets are passed out. It says, "my child has permission and I take responsiblity for paying for all items sold in her name" or something like that.

It is then used by the leader or someone higher up to collect the money. "you signed a paper, we have it, now honor it"

I would like to do that with this family, but don't know if it is BSA acceptable or not.

[Nuts4Scouts]

It is really not a good idea to take apart boxes of microwave corn & sell the individual packets. They are clearly marked "not for resale" & there could be liability issues involved.

Many folks out there have allergies, some quite severe. The ingredients & nutritional info is all on the outer packaging, nothing is on the individual packets. If someone has a bad reaction, from something they did not know was in the corn you sold them, it could get very bad for you & your unit.

[deweylure]

Mad Dog

I would suggest not breaking cartons and selling 1 pkg at a time. This is where the legal beagles come in. The pkg is not designed for individual sale. this is what we were told at the popcorn kick off. Try selling at a show n sell situation you will be suprised,


Dewey