There are many Facebook groups to buy and sell discontinued Girl Scout badges and patches.
Updated September 2022
Although the Girl Scouts of the USA discontinued its old badge program several years ago, leaders are still missing all of the wonderful choices in badge work that the different levels had. Because there are so many fewer choices in the newest program, and also because what choices there are are not as outdoorsy and skills based as they used to be, Girl Scout leaders still want their troops to earn the old badges.
Images used with permission and altered on Canva
However, as the years pass, discontinued Girl Scout badges are increasingly more difficult to locate. Council stores sold off or dumped them years ago, so leaders now have two choices. They can buy them on eBay or in private Facebook groups. As someone who has bought and sold on both platforms, there are benefits and pitfalls to both. After cleaning out my office and selling unused Girl Scout patches, crafts, and books that we no longer needed, I have compiled a list of how to complete these transactions as a buyer and as a seller so that everyone benefits.
And yes, the money I made went back to the troop.
How to Find Discontinued Girl Scout Badges on Facebook
In a previous blog post, I shared some of my favorite Girl Scout Facebook groups. Some are level specific, while others are for all levels. There are also Buy and Sell groups for Brownie Try Its and Retired Junior badges.
If you are in need of a certain badge, you can post an ISO (In Search Of) in each group that you have joined. That means you have a greater chance of locating what you want. Some people in these groups have a huge stash while others may have one or two of what you need.
If someone contacts you and you have decided to purchase your items from her, please pay promptly. I cannot tell you how annoying it is to see someone’s ISO, send her the payment information after she has claimed the item, and then never hear from her again after multiple attempts at communication. Yes. life happens, but paying is not a difficult thing to do. If you are no longer interested, then tell the seller. She can move on to the next person and complete the sale.
Photo from Pixabay
Payment
About 99% of the sellers use PayPal, so it is in your best interest to do so as well. It shortens the transaction time and the buyer is not waiting on a check from you.
There are two ways to pay for your items in PayPal-Friends and Family or Goods and Services. It is in both parties best interest to use Goods and Services. The extra fees are nominal and are well worth it, especially if you are buying a lot of items from one person.
Why?
It protects YOU the buyer as well as the seller.
As a buyer, if the item gets lost or is not as described, you are protected if you used Goods and Services. If you paid via Friends and Family, you have no recourse. The seller can say that she mailed it to you and you have no proof that she did. If it gets lost in the mail, the seller has no proof that you actually have the item and are trying to get money back from her.
In addition, the seller gets to use PayPal postage labels, which are much cheaper than going directly to the USPS and mailing the package. That is a win for you as well.
Using Goods and Services also protects the seller from having a red flag raised on their PayPal account. Why so many transactions to so many friends across the country?
Photo from Pixabay
I can tell you from my own experience the difference is very little money. You can use the Fee Calculator to see what the additional cost is. I recently had someone cancel a sale over the 45 cents in fees I asked her to pay. While I understand trying to save the troop and yourself money, the cost for both parties to have a secure transaction was less than half a dollar. If I am spending more than $5.00, I add the fees in myself in case someone gets flaky on me and never sends me what I bought.
Some sellers will send a picture of the stamped envelope or postage paid package to you prove that the item was sent. That is a kind thing for them to do, but not necessary, in my opinion.
September 2022 Update
I continue to buy and sell in these Facebook groups. A new payment option is Venmo. Again, if you want protection, use the Goods and Services option and pass the fees along to the buyer.
I have changed my mind about taking a photo of the envelope or package. I do it for EVERY transaction I make. Not only am I showing that it is ready to be mailed, since the postage is on the package, it is proof that I spent the money.
Taking a photo also is useful because if you make a mistake on the address, whether you mixed up the numbers or the buyer gave you the wrong address, it is a system to double check that all is correct.
I also accept troop checks as payment. The items are not mailed until the check has been received.
Selling Your Discontinued Girl Scout Badges on Facebook
Is it worth the time and trouble to sell your retired Girl Scout badges and extra fun patches in private Facebook groups?
For me, it was. I was able to resell a pile of extra items that paid for other things for my troop. Binders, guides, and extra patches were a nice source of income. I even sold my older daughter’s badges from her Brownie and Junior vests for her so she could have some spending money. And those older hard to find cookie pins fetched a nice amount as well.
If you are going to sell on Facebook, here are a few pointers to keep in mind.
Photo from Pixabay
- Read the group rules once you are accepted. Some groups permit cross-posting while others do not. Cross posting is when you have the same items on several pages. I am not a fan of this, since you have to keep track of where you posted the item. Plus, it is not fair to the buyers who want your item. If you only have one, who gets it?
- Post clear photos. Photos are going to sell your stash. Use a clear, clean surface and make sure there is no animal hair or other items in the background.
- Price and Shipping. In your post, be clear about both. Badges can usually be shipped 3-6 for one stamp, depending on the size. You can have the post office weigh it and it might go up to 71 cents.
- Only accept offers from buyers who comment on your post. I have lost items to others who send private messages, even though I had posted that I wanted the same things. How am I to know that the item is taken since there are no comments?
- Be available to answer questions and comment. Again, it is frustrating to leave a comment about wanting the item or have a question, only to have it go unanswered for hours or even days. If you list something, be sure to be at your phone or computer to connect with prospective buyers at that moment. There are hundreds if not thousands of people in each Facebook group. There is a strong likelihood that your item will have an interested party at the time you post. If you wait too long, your items will get pushed further down the wall as other post their items for sale.
- Delete your post or mark it “Sold” once the transaction is complete. It is frustrating to comment on a badge and then find out the item is already taken.
- Label badges in photos if you are showing many different ones.
- Ship your items promptly.
These are my best tips for buying and selling retired Girl Scout badges in Facebook groups. Do you have any tips of your own?
Where can I find a photo of badges that were used in late1960s and early 1970s? My younger albeit 53 year old sister has both my Brownie and Girl Scout uniforms (and sashes) and will not return them. I would like to reminisce now that I am 63. 🙂
You can do a Google image search for “Girl Scout badges 1960’s” and then do “1970s”. Lots of images pop up.
I have a full sash of patches of my mothers from about 1976. She is planning on tossing it but I figured someone else could get better use out of it than the trash bin. I’ve been trying to figure out if it is worth anything and could use some assistance.
Please tell your mom not to toss the badges and patches! There are so many collectors out there.
My favorite Facebook group is GS Treasure Hunters. Lots of serious badge and patch collectors there.
If you can send photos (in groups would be easiest) to myib2010@hotmail.com, I can tell you what the going rate is so you can decide to sell them one at a time or a big group.