Girl Scouts Urge Consumers Not To Buy Cookies Sold On Amazon

While many consumers might be excited about the prospect of buying Girl Scout cookies on Amazon, the organization is urging people not to take this shortcut in their rush to get their hands on Samoas or Thin Mints.

According to a report in New York, the Girl Scout cookies being sold online are from resellers. And while the practice isn’t costing the organization any money, it is robbing its members of valuable lessons in financial literacy.

“We’re trying to help them learn, and for them to do that, they have to be the ones doing the selling, interacting with a customer (either online or in person), making the change, learning the skills,” said a spokesperson for the Girl Scouts of the USA. “Buying the cookies through Amazon is giving people access to cookies without access to Girl Scouts, which undercuts the programmatic element.”

In addition, there are no guarantees that the cookies found online haven’t expired or been tampered with. And while reselling isn’t illegal if the seller doesn’t overcharge, there are some instances where a box is going for $10 or more. In that case, the Girl Scouts’ legal team might send a cease-and-desist letter due to trademark infringement.

Those that want to purchase Girl Scout cookies should go to the organization’s site and look for a local booth sale. Or buy them online — they may know a Girl Scout who has a digital-cookie website. These are the only two sanctioned ways to buy cookies online.