As long as I'm talkin' food these days! A little girl from church is selling Girl Scout Cookies! Bob is happy, he'll be getting his Thin Mints.

When I started working at the Post Office, I figured I'd be a sitting duck for every kid selling something, but over the years I actually had very few little salespeople.

Except for extraordinary circumstances, I NEVER bought from parents. If the kid was raising money, let the kid come to me and be ready to explain what the money went toward, how payment worked, when the items would be delivered, etc.

I was a sucker for the two boys next door. They probably could have sold me chocolate covered grasshoppers.

I always felt the direct involvement of a child in the "process" of selling to raise funds for their cause was part of the learning process. If a child comes to my door and can't do the above, I don't buy. But, I do take the time to advise and share some of my experiences from sales for their benefit.

The only exception to the above, in my book, is if a parent leaves a sign up order sheet in the company break room at work. Obviously a child is not going to the place of work and do the selling.

Had a toddler show up to the door the other day. She couldnt have been more than 4 y/o. Momma was in tow behind her, coaching her on everything to say. I was horrified to think 4 y/o children are out soliciting!

I did NOT buy a thing from her, as I felt it was an odd cause, and momma was clearly pushing this girl to do things she didnt understand, and wouldnt gain anything from even if she sold every item in the car. It was clearly going to benefit the center that set it up, and it upset me. This child was also from a different state and had crossed state lines to sell this stuff.

it was also below zero, the snow was above this girl's head, and mom had to use 4wheel drive to get up my drive and came way far out of her way to come to a winter abandoned neighborhood.

Really hurt my heart to see that.

My "something is not right with the picture" police officer bells are ringing on this one.

I would have asked for a solicitors license and if none could be produced, called the police with possibly their car description and license number. This woman is exploiting the child to obtain money on what I feel are false pretenses. Thus, profiting by fraud.

We used to get Girl Scouts selling their cookies in our neighborhood. Last year nobody was selling them. One girl in particular always came by. Her Mom was in the car parked within eyesight at the curb. She had good sales skills and I could tell she was really hoping to make money for the cause. I usually bought several boxes. When they came in....the same girl delivered them. And she even put a handwritten thank you note with the order. Wow! Someone is teaching their daughter the skills of good manners and appreciation!

Girl scout cookies is a big business now. No more sweet little girls coming to your door in their uniforms to tell you about their 2 or three diff. types of cookies at a reasonable price.....that they need to sell for the good of their troop.

Now, it's usually the Mom or Dad, being forced thru guilt to e-mail order forms to all their friends and then you, not wanting to look cheap, ordering multi pkgs. of cookies at a cost higher than you would pay, at a grocery store.

I went thru most of my friend's kids and grandkids with this.....NO MORE GS COOKIES FOR ME!!! My grands aren't into the scout scene, so I'm getting a break.

I turned over the license # and description to the local PD. He said he knew about them, and was looking into it. It rang my BS bell pretty hard too, and I wasnt about to give her a dime. I also "warned" her about the fancy electronic systems at most of these houses and to be careful as she could quickly trigger the cops to visit just by crossing the driveway of a couple of fancy pants houses. She seemed shocked and went back out the way she came.

When DD was younger and sold cookies,she was only allowed to sell to friends ane relatives and never allowed to go door to door without me.

Thin mints. YUM!

Thin Mints in the freezer.....double YUM!!