Are We Getting Less Girl Scouts Cookies For Our Money?

One problem I have with all food distributors is, they tendency to shrink portions rather than raise prices. Your local vending machine is the best example of this where you get a bag of air with a few chips in it for $75.  It seems the Girl Scouts are not exempt from this either, but it's very hard to get solid answers.

I've Googled like crazy and I can't find the info on how many ounces of cookies were in the boxes over the years. The best I can tell you is that in 1994 there were 36 Thin Mints in a box and now there are 32. Still, I'm not alone in thinking the size of the actual cookies seems to be even thinner, and definitely smaller around.

I don't think there is much that could keep me from buying Girl Scout Cookies. It's pretty much the only cookies I buy all year long.  I just wish they'd keep the portion sizes the same and be a little more upfront about what I'm getting for my money. Heck, I'd give 'em five bucks just for being good kids, so there's no reason to have what I think is slightly deceptive packaging.

The other thing that I'd like to address is the "contest" element that is often presented with Girl Scout Cookie sales.  It used to be a girl could sell a couple cases to friends and relatives and be a great seller. Now it seems like they have to sell dozens or hundreds of cases to make a mark. The goal programs change based on where a girls home base is, but I've looked a few up and these girls are busting' their little green hats off for little to nothing personally.

The Girl Scouts make well over $700 million each year from cookie sales. I do encourage everyone to support the Girl Scouts and let them know that we'll support them no matter what, so they don't have to play the same packaging games everyone else does.