Hi everyone! Been a while since I've posted anything as I've been quite busy lately. I have a quick question for anyone who has shipped Girl Scout cookies in the past. In all the years I've lived in Santa Fe, can you believe this is the first year that I've been able to get my hands on this sugar-addicting treats! Crazy, I know, but I have about 2 cases now! HA HA.... I'm trying my best to stay away from the priority mailing boxes when shipping as my funds are getting a little tighter than usual, but I'm having a really hard time getting these Girl Scout cookies packed..... each flavor is packed in a different size box and I'm really getting frustrated. Is it okay to take the sleeves out of the original box and then pack them in the shipping box or is this a bad idea? If I remember correctly, the chocolate covered peanut butter ones come in a tray so I can't open those boxes. What's the best way to ship these? Any ideas or suggestions? Trying to get some boxes out to a group I have who is on the border of 2 countries and it takes 3 weeks for them to get ANYTHING and would like to get them in the mail by Wednesday. Any help you guys can give me would be great! Thanks alot! 

Michelle,

For a long trip like that I would leave them in the original boxes and pack peanut tubes, beef jerky sticks or other healthy snacks in the gaps to prevent shifting.  The Do-si-dos break up pretty easily. I only got four boxes of cookies to a package last year but did manage to get quite a few other snacks in with them.  You might also want to bag the boxes of chocolatey ones just in case they become liquidy in transit.

jo

Hi Michelle - I used the 'green' cooler bags from my local supermarket - they are a 1.99 here so don't know if that is within your budget now - for shipping GS cookies to 'iffy' areas this year.  The bags are the 'cooler' version of the reusable totes the grocery stores are all selling these days.  Havn't heard any complaints about the cooky shipments so I guess they made it ok.  Got quite a few packages in each bag and then just set the bag into the shipping box.  Only thing I had to do was stuff the corners of the shipping boxes to keep them from getting crushed.  That huge pile of plastic grocery bags I have stashed came in handy for that - especially when they are rolled up.  Hope this helps a little.

Ann

Edit:  I've also used washcloths that I get for some really inexpensive price at Target or Walmart - 12 for  $1.50 - to filler pad the boxes too.

Thanks for the help, you two!  JoCee,.... I didn't even think about bagging the chocolate ones! I guess that would be a pretty big mess if I didn't bag those, but knowing these guys they probably would enjoy licking up the chocolate! LOL

Ann,..... I've seen the recyclable shopping bags here, but the only "cooler" type ones I've seen in my grocery store here are way too big for the box I am wanting to use. Finances have become very tight because of gas and groceries so I'm trying to avoid using anything larger than a flat rate box. I'm going to keep trying, though, even if I have to send a few boxes now and other boxes later. Wish we luck!  :o)

Hi again Michelle - the 'cooler' bags here are fairly large also - they are pretty pliable though - I've managed to get them into the 12" cube and the new FRB (12 x 12 X 5) but haven't tried them in the FRB 'shoe' box.  That would be quite a challenge:)  Of course in the other 2 boxes they are a bit folded in.  The cost is half a gallon of gas too so I know what you mean about the cost.  Keep us posted on your progress and good luck.  Balancing things these days is certainly a challenge.  I just found shower shoes at Old Navy for 2 for 5 and a sale at Bath and Body and was scratching my head - only had the cash for one?!?!?!?   Goood Luck -

Ann

Can you make it a Girl Scout troop service project? Each scout makes one (or two, depends on how many scouts) box to send to a soldier with one box of cookies as an included item. Our Service Unit did this, we had each girl pack a shoe box (boot boxes work best but shoebox size plastic boxes from the Dollar Store or regular shoe boxes with lots of tape work) with goods. Local dentist donated toothpaste and tooth brushes, girls added what they thought was nice including beanie babies, and the like. Each scout had to mail her own box except for one troop leader who manage to get the local VFW to foot the bill for her troop's boxes. We were able to provide over 400 boxes to a local unit (it was not an anysoldier contact, but regardless, ASK THE CONTACT before large mailings. Marty has this noted as well).

Thanks, Mom

The idea of getting a Girl Scout troop together to do a project like this is great, but there's only one problem.... I'm not married, don't have any kids and don't know any troop members here. In any case, I managed to get 12 boxes of cookies packed and they are on their way to the post office tomorrow. It takes 3 weeks (according to my contact) for them to get anything that isn't a machine part, but I'm sure it will be a nice welcome change for them. Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions. Have a great weekend!