Note the ‘sample’ on it. It’s a test marketed thing.
I got “mugged” today by those cute, well mannered kids. 4 times. One troop had a girl who looked about 12 with a receipt book so that I could claim my 4 bucks as a donation because I didn’t take any cookies. Is that legal?
No. You are required to consume every cookie in every box you purchase. Or so I’ve always told myself.
Sure. If you didn’t take any cookies, it’s just the same as writing a check to the Girl Scouts - which is tax deductible.
I think (IANACPA) that you could actually write off the amount of money the GSA gets from each box, but that would be a hassle. I’m pretty sure that if you pay $1,000 for a fundraising dinner, you can write off the amount that is in excess of the value of the meal.
I didn’t buy them. I did make it quite clear that I wanted my real lemon cookies back. For what that’s worth.
Of course, I undercut my demand by spending the $3.50 I’d budgeted for lemon cookies on an extra box of thin mints, so they didn’t lose anything.
Probably not a troop thing. Some councils (and this looks like it might be national) partner with manufacturers to make products that show up in regular stores over cookie season. Around here, its Kemps Ice Cream with Thin Mints in it.
This has always been my take on it, which is why I’m so happy that they give me the option to give money and walk away.
I thought it was very cute. This sweet, earnest lil girl so wanted to write receipts.
My second job was for a 501C rescue group. We never really understood the rules about money for goods/services. One time I drove over an hour on bad roads to trap a housecat that had gotten lost. I got lucky and didn’t have to go back, they brought my trap back to me and gave me $100 in cash. The group spent hours discussing what to do about that money.
Maybe, though I’ve always gotten the impression that you can NOT do this. Too difficult to figure out the value of the cookies, you could argue that the cookies really are worth 4.00.
Now, if you donate boxes to Gift of Caring (the “donate boxes to someone” charity), the value of the box IS deductible and we’ve got receipts we can give you. Very few people want the receipts, however.
I don’t know if you are joking or not…but this isn’t a bad idea…or at least tell him that is what you are doing as you pick up the cell phone. If he keeps talking, call.