By Staff Reporter
Photo by Maya Castillo
With each passing year, products evolve beyond what they were originally, becoming something new. But, throughout the years, the Girl Scout cookie has remained reliably the same (although some of the names have changed).
But the prices…
That’s another matter. In Louisiana, three years ago, a box of Girl Scout cookies was $4 per box. That crept up to $5 per box last year. And this cookie season?
Six dollars a box. Yes, like everything else in the world, all good things must come to an end. Cheap Girl Scout cookies is one of those things.
Girl Scouts and customers alike are left reeling due to this inflation in the name of “better funding for Girl Scout programs.” A heightening of 50%, or $2, over a roughly two-year span has caused questions for the Scouts selling the cookies, such as, “Will the cookies become harder to sell at $6 a box?”
The Girl Scouts who attend the Willow School in a variety of troops seemed to agree upon how the increased prices will affect sales.
“Yes, I do think the price increase will affect cookie sales,” said Girl Scout and Willow freshman Sanai Hinton. “Last year, people were already not really wanting to buy the cookies because of the price.”
Freshman Lola Schexnider agreed, saying, “I believe the sales will go down slightly because the prices have increased and people will not want to pay as much.”
Expanding past just the Scouts, troop leaders and cookie moms are in agreement that, with the new price, sales will drop.
“I think people will buy less cookies because, by making it $6, people are more likely to buy just one or two instead of more,” said Willow librarian and 6th grade Girl Scout troop leader Ms. Dayeh.
As more and more opinions come in, one thing can be agreed upon–this rise in price is seen as not beneficial. Consequently, troop leaders are buying fewer cookies in bulk, and Scouts are selling fewer boxes as a direct result of the price increase deterring customers.
Students, adults, and kids alike all enjoy the confectionary treat that is a Girl Scout cookie, as is evident by the many successful years of production and sales. With Scouts going from door to door, setting up booths in areas with major foot traffic, and marketing at school and businesses, the cookies have been well known and sought-after commodities for decades. Despite the enjoyment and delight that comes with said cookies, these cost influxes have, and will, affect public consumption and opinion.
“I think it will probably be harder to sell because I might have to convince people to buy them more than usual,” Willow freshman Lola Schnexider said.
“I know a lot of people who buy them because they think they’re cheap,” sympathized freshman Dominique Spears. “You most likely will just end up selling less than you were in the past.”
But the product remains the same, something which can’t be said for every product in the face of price increases. Quality often drops. That’s one good crumb off this crumbling cookie.
