On our weekend grocery trip to Dominick’s, I was distracted by a familiar and festive display of delicacies: Do-si-dos. Tagalongs. Samoas. Shortbread. Thin Mints. Typically, I’m hit up by a mom or two at the office to help their daughters meet their sales quotas. You’ve got to love that as a society we instill those aggressive, sales number-driven values from such an early age. Nothing like Brownies busting their butts to keep their business afloat. However, this year I was alerted to Cookie Season only when I walked in on my boss enjoying the minty, chocolate-dipped wafer that I’ve come to know and love. I was immediately jealous. I feared that Cookie Season had passed, and that Liz and I would have to wait until 2009 to get our fix. So imagine my delight when I spied these young ladies–clad in toasty, insulated smiley-face garb–hawking boxes of cookies.
Of course, I made note that we’d have to hit up the Chase ATM (no fees!) inside. So, we grabbed a $20 bill, thinking we could stock up. After checking out, I handed Liz the $20. I took most of our grocery bags and asked her if–as a former scout (highest seller in her troop!)–she’d perform the business transaction. And they say that chivalry is dead.
As we approached their rickety folding table, I read their handmade poster board sign. What can I say, I’m a sucker for advertising. The cookies were $4/box, or 5 boxes for $20! I like that they hyped that like it was a deal. I’m no mathematician, but this is one instance where buying in bulk wasn’t beefing up your bank account. The thrifty side of me wanted to shove that $20 back in our pockets because $4/box is a bit steep. Even for Thin Mints. I remember when they were $2.50/box. And I remember throwing a fit when they went up to $3. But $4? Come on now, girl scouts. That’s called rape, and I don’t think that there’s a badge for that.
But, I couldn’t pass them up. I rationalized it in my head by breaking it down into unit price. It was $2/person. So, Liz got a sleeve, and I got a sleeve. Mine were gone within minutes of returning home. I wish they’d have lasted long enough to stick in the freezer. But, a sleeve of Thin Mints lasting that long within my reach? Fat chance.
Sorry - Still $3 in Cincy…
Left by Big D on March 11th, 2008