FALCONER - An empty wallet and missing checkbooks will no longer hinder Girl Scout cookies fans from purchasing their beloved snacks.
The Girl Scout organization has moved into the digital age as troops throughout Western New York are now employing a new mobile credit card reader. The new reader, called the Sage Swiper, functions as an electronic swiper attachment for mobile devices and allows Girl Scout troops to accept debit and credit payments from their customers.
Cindy Grodecki, leader of Falconer Girl Scout Troop 20075, received her swiper last week but hasn't had a chance to utilize it yet as the cookies have only just arrived. According to Grodecki, the impact that the Sage Swiper will have is yet to be seen but highly anticipated.
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"It's too soon to tell," she said. "We just got our cookies on Sunday so we haven't quite had a chance to get out there with it, but it will be seen in use this weekend with my younger daughter's troop and my troop will be using it next weekend."
This will be the first time that local troops will be using the Sage Swiper since 30 Girl Scout councils representing more than 40,000 troops partnered with Sage Mobile Payments earlier this year. Results have been promising, with this year's sale numbers reaching four times the amount from last year. According to Grodecki, troops using the swiper in Ohio have increased their sales by 25 percent.
The Sage Swiper, though not mandated for use by the Girl Scout organization, has been widely distributed and announced throughout the council. Troops interested in using the swiper are required to purchase one.
"It's an optional method of increasing our sales," said Grodecki. "I know that all of the Falconer units have bought it and quite a few of the Jamestown units have bought it as well."
Although the Sage Swiper is a mobile method of payment and can be used for door-to-door sales, it will primarily be used at booth sales. Members of troop 20075 will be using the device for their booth sale at the Chautauqua Mall on Nov. 24 from 5 - 9 p.m.
"A lot of the girls will be accepting credit cards at that and they will be accepting all credit cards," said Grodecki.
Other forms of payment include the traditional cash and check.