
The Digital Cookie® platform helps girls superpower their cookie sales as they go beyond the booth with mobile and online channels. That’s right. The platform is a fun, educational tool that helps girls run and manage their Girl Scout Cookie business online.
February 2 to March 17, 2024: Digital Cookie Sales
Starting January 24, families can begin accessing their digital cookie account through their digital cookie registration email. Didn't receive a registration email? Visit digitalcookie.girlscouts.org to request access. Having trouble getting in? Submit this form.
Due to international restrictions, USAGSO operates a limited Digital Cookie Program. With the guidance of GSUSA’s legal team, USAGSO is able to offer the Digital Cookie Program to the following USAGSO members:
Excited to jump in?
If you have a customer reach out regarding a direct-ship order issue from digital cookie, please refer them to digital cookie customer support. This information can also be found in the customer's order confirmation.
Resources Coming Soon!
1. What is the Digital Cookie platform and how does it work?
Through the digital cookie platform, girls flex their entrepreneurial skills by setting up their own digital cookie website and selling to family and friends back home. In addition, troops and Communities can also create troop digital cookie website to accept credit card payments at cookie booths, offer customers a way to pay online and receive their cookies later, or purchase cookies that are shipped directly from the baker.
2. Why isn’t Digital Cookie available in my overseas community?
USAGSO is aware of the opportunity Digital Cookie brings to communities overseas. We continue to work with Girl Scouts of the USA’s legal team to research and determine regulations in each country to ensure data security and compliance with all pertinent international laws, which also includes regulations imposed by individual countries, in order to determine the ability to offer Digital Cookie in other overseas locations. Even for overseas communities on a U.S. military base, the location is still overseas and regulations from the country in which the base is located must be researched to ensure we are in compliance. As soon as we have approval from GSUSA to implement Digital Cookie in other communities we will eagerly inform everyone.
3. Are you taking booth sales and/or door-to-door sales away?
Booth Sales and door-to-door sales to eligible communities are here to stay! Far from replacing the traditional cookie program, the Digital Cookie platform expands and enhances a girl’s experience by giving her a fun new way to learn 21st century skills while providing another way to sell cookies. So, this cookie season, depending on your location, a Girl Scout could approach you through a door-to-door sale, at a booth sale, virtual booth sale, drive-thru sale, or through an email invitation to visit her Digital Cookie website.
4. What new skills do girls learn with the Digital Cookie platform?
Aside from honing in on the Girl Scout Cookie Program’s “5 Skills”—goal setting, money management, people skills, decision making, and business ethics—the Digital Cookie platform provides girls an opportunity to get hands-on experience with twenty-first-century skills in areas such as financial literacy, social responsibility, STEM, innovation, ecommerce, entrepreneurship, teamwork, email marketing, data tracking, site setup, and managing customer lists—to name just a few!
5. When do USAGSO Digital Cookie sales start?
February 2 to March 17, 2024, is our Digital Cookie Sale. The following USAGSO members are eligible to participate in the digital cookie program:
6. Will all USAGSO Girl Scouts be selling cookies digitally?
At this time, USAGSO is offering the 2023-2024 Membership Year Digital Cookie Program to the following USAGSO members:
7. Why do I need to know a Girl Scout in order to buy cookies online? How can I order cookies online if I don't already know a Girl Scout?
In true Girl Scout style, the girls always initiate the cookie sale. This allows girls to learn from the experience, provide customers with all relevant information about the cookies they are offering (as cookie varieties vary based on location), and most importantly, stay safe by inviting only trusted friends and family members to order through her Digital Cookie site. If you don't already know a Girl Scout, ask around to your friends and family to find a trusted connection!
8. Can I order cookies online and have them shipped overseas?
Currently, we are not offering the option of shipping cookies overseas. Digital Cookie can only ship cookies to the following locations: APO (Army Post Office), DPO (Diplomatic Post Office), or FPO (Fleet Post Office), US mailing address, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Saipan, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
9. How long does shipping typically take?
Approximately 3-10 business days for the customer to receive their order. May be more when shipping to APO/FPO/DPO addresses.
10. How much do Girl Scout cookies in USAGSO Digital Cookie cost?
The sale price for all cookies, including specialty cookies, S’mores and Toffee-tastic is $6.00 per box. There is a shipping and handling cost.
See rates below:
Package Bracket | Consumer Charge Flat Fee |
---|---|
4-8 | $12.99 |
9-12 | $14.99 |
13-20 | $27.98 |
$5.00 surcharge to orders shipping to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, APO/FPO/DPO, and US Virgin Islands. The minimum order for direct ship is four packages. Shipping charges do not apply for donated cookies.
11. How much does shipping and handling cost?
Shipping and handling costs are calculated in tiers starting at $9.95 for 4–6 boxes of cookies. But don’t worry about doing all that math. Note that shipping charges do not apply for donated cookies. Just visit the Digital Cookie site, make your cookie selections, and we’ll calculate the shipping for you before you finalize your order. Thank you for your support!
12. Why does Digital Cookie shipping cost so much?
Girl Scouts of the USA works with our vendors (in this case FedEx) to negotiate pricing for the Digital Cookie Platform. Due to the continuing strain on the shipping industry, including as a result of the labor shortages and increased shipping demand the COVID-19 pandemic has created, this was the best rate we were able to negotiate. GSUSA is constantly working with our vendors to secure the best possible pricing.
13. Why is Digital Cookie shipping so expensive? Amazon, Walmart, and other companies offer shipping at no or low cost?
Girl Scouts of the USA and our Girl Scout councils are nonprofit organizations and are not able to subsidize shipping costs at the same rate as large organizations. When you buy Girl Scout Cookies, the proceeds support a troop in your local community. If we were to further discount shipping, we would have no choice but to pass these costs on to the troops that the Girl Scout Cookie Program benefits.
14. I just bought Girl Scout Cookies from another link and shipping was cheaper? Why is this more?
Girl Scout Cookies are produced by two different bakers, LBB and ABC. Each baker negotiates rates independently. ABC Bakers’ parent company, Weston Foods, may have been able to negotiate a better rate given the many divisions or brands it owns within its portfolio.
15. I see some councils are offering promotions on shipping. Why aren’t all councils offering this promotion?
Each of our 111 Girl Scout councils acts as their own independent nonprofit organization, this includes when each participates in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. There are many factors taken into consideration when a council determines when or how to subsidize the shipping costs for its cookie program.
16. Why can’t you ship with other shipping vendors? I used the United States Postal Service to ship cookies much cheaper.
There may be options to ship smaller quantities of Girl Scout Cookies using a different vendor for a reduced rate. However, in order to account for the quantities of packages shipped, as well as serve the most geographic areas, our current vendor, FedEx, was the best option to serve the largest area at the cheapest cost.
17. Can I purchase cookies on Digital Cookie with a foreign credit card?
Due to international trade matters, we are only able to accept U.S. bank credit cards for payment at this time.
18. Where does the money from the Digital Cookie sales go?
As with the traditional Girl Scout Cookie Program, 100% of the net revenue earned from cookie sales will remain with the sale sponsor, USA Girl Scout Overseas. Girls decide how to spend their troop cookie money* and reinvest it in their communities through “Take Action” projects and learning experiences, including travel. As a result, customers who purchase Girl Scout Cookies are not only getting a delicious treat—they are also making an important investment in their communities.
*Overseas Management Teams who are not eligible to participate in the in-person sales receive a portion of the proceeds in the form of credit to use towards Girl Scout merchandise, product, and programming in lieu of cash payments.
19. How is Digital Cookie profit divided?
Digital Cookie sales: $6.00 per package of Traditional Cookies: (Thin Mints, Samoas, Trefoils, Do-si-Dos, Tagalongs, Adventurefuls, and Lemon-Ups):
Digital Cookie sales: $6.00 per package of Specialty Cookies: (Toffee-tastics + S’mores)
Each OCMT decides the split of the OC profit amount per box ($1.60) between the OC and the troops. USAGSO recommends that the troops receive the greater portion of the split.
Overseas Management Teams in Digital Cookie communities ONLY who are not eligible to participate in the in-person sales receive a portion of the proceeds in the form of credit to use towards Girl Scout merchandise, product, and programming lieu of cash payments
1. What does in-person delivery mean through the Digital Cookie platform?
Depending on your location, in-person delivery allows your order to be delivered face-to-face by a Girl Scout. When a customer selects the in-person delivery option via the Digital Cookie platform, that selection must be first approved by an adult or caregiver. Parental approval may be based on cookie inventory, distance, capacity to deliver to the requested address, and whether the girl can meet the estimated delivery time of 6–10 weeks.
2. Are cookies shipped via regular mail or via a third-party shipping company?
Cookies are shipped using major carrier(s) from the distribution center to your specified shipping address.
3. Other than shipping and handling, are there any other fees associated with online ordering?
No, there are no other fees other than the cost of cookies. When you pay for shipping and handling, you’re helping empower girls to do more with their cookie earnings. These fees go directly to the vendors who help us make sure your delicious cookies get to you and that the cookie money gets to her troop. That way, she and her friends can go out into their communities and do amazing things.
4. Can I adjust my order after it has been placed?
Unfortunately, you cannot change your order or update a shipping address after the order has been placed. Once an order is submitted, all sales are final.
5. How can I track my order?
Once your order is placed, you will receive an email confirmation with order information, including your carrier tracking number.
6. Are cookies shipped via regular mail or via a third party shipping company?
Cookies are shipped using major carrier(s) from the distribution center to your specified shipping address.
1. How do USAGSO Girl Scouts sign up to participate in Digital Cookie?
Families who meet the eligibility requirements to participate in Digital Cookie will (automatically) receive their Digital Cookie registration email, giving them access to Digital Cookie platform by January 24, 2023. The registration email will come from – Sender: “Girl Scout Cookies” <email@email.girlscouts.org> with the subject “Register for the Digital Cookie Platform Today”. Girls who meet these eligibility requirements will be able to participate in Digital Cookie:
2. I did not receive the registration email? How can I register for
Digital Cookie?
If you did not receive the “Register for the Digital Cookie Platform Today” email, visit digitalcookie.girlscouts.org to request access. Still having trouble getting in? Submit this form.
3. Why should my Girl Scout use Digital Cookie?
Girl Scouting moves at the speed of girls, and today’s girls are more connected than ever. Girls will learn digital marketing skills through fun games, activities and quizzes, and use technology in new and engaging ways. They’ll earn badges along the way and build even more skills than they would with traditional sales alone. Plus, girls can seriously boost their sales by reaching friends and family who might not live nearby.
4. Do girls receive credit and do troops receive proceeds for boxes
sold through Digital Order card?
Yes! All boxes sold by a girl through Digital Order Card will count toward her earning recognitions. Troops will also earn proceeds on all packages sold by girls regardless of whether they are sold through traditional sales or the Digital Order Card. Girl Scout Overseas Communities that are participating in Digital Cookie only and are not eligible to participate in the in-person sales will receive credit to be used towards Girl Scout merchandise, product, and programming in lieu of cash payments.
5. Does USAGSO offer a rewards program for girls participating in Digital Cookie?
Yes! Girls who participate in Digital Cookie are eligible for USAGSO Girl Rewards and Gift of Caring Rewards (donations) programs. At the end of the program, USAGSO places the order for all the girls who earned them with the baker. Then, the baker mails rewards directly to the Overseas Committee mailing address on file to be distributed to the troops down to girls.
Girl Rewards are not available in communities who have opted out for additional proceeds. Please check with your Overseas Community to find out if you are eligible to earn Girl Rewards this season. All rewards are cumulative except for Girl Experiences. USAGSO reserves the right to make substitutions to the item's colors, material, or size or to substitute an item of equal or greater value due to changes or challenges in product availability.
6. Does the parent need two email addresses or is both girls under the same account?
Girls under 13 do not need an email address. They will be registered by a parent using the parent’s email address on file at USA Girl Scouts Overseas. Communications from Digital Cookie will be sent to that parent’s email address and will allow the parent to register all girls in her household.
Girls 13 and up require an email address to participate in Digital Cookie. Her email address must be unique to her--it cannot be shared with a sibling or be the same as the parent’s registration email address. That email address is solely for accessing Digital Cookie, and will not be visible to customers, to anyone with the site URL, or on any website. That email address will never be shared with anyone or use for any other purpose than communications about Digital Cookie. Some parents with concerns may elect to set up an email account for their daughter and simply not share the password.
NOTE: The email address cannot be the same as the parents’ email address. It can be a legit email or a made-up email. Either way, an email address must be present.
7. Any options for siblings to email together?
Unfortunately, there are not options for siblings to email together at this time.
8. If I am a volunteer and have a daughter participating in Digital Cookie, can I access my child’s Digital Cookie account under my volunteer Digital Cookie account?
As a volunteer you will have the ability to “toggle” between your volunteer/leader view and your daughter’s account.
9. For troops that have multiple leaders/cookie managers, can multiple people see the Leader dashboard?
Yes. Each leader/cookie manager will have their login credentials and the ability to see their respective dashboards.
1. Does digital cookie site replace Little Brownie Baker?
Digital Cookie does not replace eBudde. Digital Cookie is platform Girl Scouts can use to sell cookies to their customers. eBudde is the order management system developed by Little Brownie Baker to manage the Cookie Program sales. Note that entries made in eBudde automatically sync with Digital Cookie platform.
2. How does Digital Cookie payment work for communities?
For each box of cookies sold through Digital Cookie and shipped directly from the baker to the customer (ie. does not come out of local inventory), $1.60 will be deducted from the community’s cookie booth sales amount due to USAGSO. For each box of cookies sold through Digital Cookie with Girl Delivery or donation/gift of caring, $6 will be deducted from the community’s cookie booth sales amount due to USAGSO.
3. When does our community need to pay for our cookies?
Just like in booth sales, each OCMT ultimately earns $1.60 for each box of cookie sold through the Digital Cookie program. This amount should be split between the OC and the troops. USAGSO recommends that individual troops receive a greater portion when the proceeds are divided.
The cookie invoice and payment instructions will arrive via email the week of April 5.
Digital Cookie proceeds will be deducted from the final amount due of the community’s cookie booth sales. The OCMT is responsible for distributing the proceeds to the troops accordingly.
4. Can the Troop Leader approve orders if the parent/guardian has not?
No.
5. How do donations (Gift of Caring) work in Digital Cookie?
Cookie donations received through digital cookie will be handled by the Overseas Committee (OC) from their Troop's inventory. The OC will donate those cookies to local charity of their choice, military organizations or to first responders within their community.
If an OC does not have cookies in their inventory for donations coming through Digital Cookie, those donations will be handled by USAGSO at the end of the program to be donated to Soldiers’ Angels, a charitable organization that provides aid, comfort, and resources to the military, veterans, and their families in the States and abroad.”
1. Do parents approve each edit of the girl’s site?
Yes, on the site setup page. However, girls can update their offline sale and goals on their home page without parent approval.
2. What happens if parents/guardians forget to approve an order?
The order will revert to the customer’s 2nd choice that they selected at checkout.
1. Is participating in the Digital Cookie platform safe for girls?
The Digital Cookie platform emphasizes the safety of both girls and customers. Before girls are allowed to set up their site, they are required to learn about Internet safety through our “Safe Selling for Smart Cookies” video. In addition, girls take an Internet Safety Pledge and parents/caregivers agree to our Terms and Conditions before using the web-based platform. Parents/caregivers must also approve all updates and changes girls make when customizing their Digital Cookie site.
2. Is it safe to enter my credit card information on girls' Digital Cookie platforms? Is there protection against data breaches?
Our systems are fully Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant, and consumers can feel absolutely confident that their financial information is not stored. Both the online and mobile platforms of Digital Cookie transmit financial data to credit card processors and “scrub” credit card and other identifiable information from the systems.
3. Are consumers able to find girls' Digital Cookie sites by searching online?
No. We take girls’ safety very seriously! In true Girl Scout style, the girls always initiate the cookie sale. This allows girls to learn from the experience, provide customers with all relevant information about the cookies they are offering, and—most importantly—stay safe. Girls have pledged to only share their Digital Cookie personalized URL with trusted friends and family members.
4. Will Girl Scouts use my information in any other way aside from confirming my order and delivering my cookies? Will my personal information be shared with third parties?
We will not use your information other than to place, confirm, and deliver your order. We do not share personal information with third parties. For purposes of clarity, individuals whose information is obtained by GSUSA through any alternate means shall not be subject to this exception.