Scrip Survey Results
These are some of the results and comments from the 89 surveys completed and returned in the spring –
Do you participate in the BUY SCHOOL SCRIP program?
No, Never - 21 families
Seldom - 31 families
Sometimes - 22 families
Regularly - 12 families
If you don't participate in the SCRIP program, why
not?
Don’t understand the program - 5 families
Don’t take the time to plan and purchase - 28 families
Use credit cards for most purchases - 21
families
Are you aware that your purchases can help you get
free scrip or a reduction in tuition?
Most families were aware that their purchases would earn them free scrip, though
a few didn’t realize that they could earn a reduction in tuition.
One family asked if they could use this reduction towards preschool
tuition. The answer is – yes!
We currently offer families 1% of their total purchases
(with occasional special offers) in free scrip or as a reduction in their
tuition. Although other schools sometimes offer a bigger percentage to the
families that purchase scrip, we have always viewed the scrip program as a
fundraiser for the school. What are your thoughts regarding an appropriate
incentive to participating families?
Comments Regarding Incentive
Offered -
This is a school fundraiser - a painless way to make money. Keep it that way!
The incentive should be helping the school. I don’t take advantage of the incentive so all of the profits from my purchases benefit the school.
This should be a school fundraiser first & foremost.
I’m not purchasing anything that I wouldn’t be purchasing anyway. I take the time to use scrip mostly to help the school, though I do like the special bonuses offered.
I think the fact that buying scrip brings easy money to the school is enough. I don’t buy it to get something extra for myself out of it.
I would use more scrip if the tuition incentive was larger.
I think it’s a good incentive right now.
Current incentive is fine.
I would like the incentive for purchasing to be incline with other schools. I would buy more with an additional incentive.
I think the current level is appropriate.
I agree that it should be a fundraiser. 1% is a nice “kickback”.
Keep the money for school profit!
Consider offering better incentives (comparable to other Catholic schools in city).
Would like to have a bigger percentage.
I like the free scrip!
I think you have to provide a 50/50 incentive for it to be successful. More people would participate and therefore the school would receive more money.
A change in the incentive isn’t going to change my purchasing.
I don’t really consider $10 off every $1000 in purchases an incentive.
Fine as is.
I think the 1% is ok. I like the double & triple bonus times. Could you do this one week a month?
I like both the free scrip and the reduction in tuition. Both are appropriate.
It is fine the way it is. I use it because it saves me time (and gas) from traveling to all the stores.
Somehow can we tie this in with a discount in service hours?
I appreciate the reduction in tuition.
It seems you’d have to spend a lot to see a decent benefit in tuition. I guess that should be the primary goal, anyway.
I feel the current incentive is good.
Most families seem to think the current incentive is enough. Some schools give more of their profits away, but our BSS families have always been very supportive of the school without expecting anything in return, except for a fine education for their children. We will leave the program as it is, for now. You will probably see a few more bonus offers this year to see if our sales improve significantly during those times.
In what way can we make purchasing scrip more convenient for you?
-Placing orders through the BSS website and then sending
home with student.
-On website and then pick up in the office.
-I didn't know you could email an order in. Who do you email?
Call the school office or send an email to bss@bssbruins.org.
Your order will be filled and ready for you to pick up in either the school or
parish office.
-Current way is fine. I did enjoy purchasing it
after Mass.
-I liked being able to purchase scrip in the office. I also think they
should do something so people can buy it after Mass.
-I liked it when it was at school, but as long as I can still get it after
school that is o.k.
-Longer office hours
-Be able to get it immediately in the office.
-Bring it back to the school office.
-Better planning on my part. Easy 10-minute parking in front of the school
for pickup during school hours.
When the program started we sold after 10:30 Mass.
We had a few families purchase after Mass, but they were the same families who
would normally purchase in the school office, too. We quit
selling after Mass and our sales didn't suffer.
We have found that the parish office
is a much better choice for sales for many reasons -
-office hours are 8:00-5:00
-office is open during the summer
-parking is normally available right outside the office door
-sales don't interfere with the needs of the students and
staff
-Pay with credit card
-Order online with a credit card
(See credit card section below)
-Do scrip forms go home with preschool kids? (Yes,
they normally do when we send them home with K-8)
-Sending an order form home weekly. (We try
not to kill too many trees so we send them home approximately once a month with
current news and updates. Order forms are always available online and are not
necessary -- you may call, email or write your order on a napkin!)
-Neither of the three pickup options work for me as a full-time working
mom. I do not want my children having the responsibility of bringing home
$100+ in scrip every week. (We understand the
concern about sending scrip home. We have been fortunate to have not lost
any along the way. Can you pick it up after school or during lunch?)
-How about a magnet for the fridge? (A
reminder on the fridge might be good. We'll check into it!)
-One day a week after hours, 5-6 p.m. (I'm
open to what works, but wonder if we would gain many sales. Email me at bss@bssbruins.org
if this is the only time that would work for you and if you would purchase
during this time each week.)
-These ways suffice for me.
-I find in convenient already.
-You make it very convenient. I just need to be better about it.
-I think sending it home with my son is super convenient. I just hardly
ever do it.
-It is convenient. I just forget.
-Couldn't be more convenient.
-I like having it sent home with my child.
Glad to hear that it is convenient enough for you.
We know it still takes a little prior planning. Suggestion - when you
receive each paycheck you already have a general ideas as to where the funds are
going. Just base your order on your expenses - groceries, gas, Kohl's or
JC Penney bill, or dining out. (One family purchased Menards scrip while
working on their deck and later purchased Best Buy scrip regularly until they
had enough for a new TV.)
What is the average you spend on groceries in your
household each week?
This figure ranged from $50 to $350 with the average
of about $150 per week. Most families use the major grocery stores
where scrip is available (Shop & Save, Schnucks, County Market, Sam’s
Club/Walmart). Unfortunately, we don't have scrip available for Aldi or
Meijer, but might in the future. Note –
If just 100 families purchase $150 in scrip each week of the year, BSS would
earn $7.50 per week/per family for a total of $39,000.00 profit during the
year – just on groceries!
Where do you most frequently purchase gas for your
vehicles?
This varied widely with most families purchasing wherever it is the least
expensive! We carry gift cards for Mobil, Marathon, Shell, and Sam's
Club. Families like the convenience of being able to use the card at the
pump without charging on a credit card.
Do you have a charge account at Kohl's and JC
Penney's? Are you aware that you can use scrip to pay on your account?
Most families were not aware of this benefit. It is a bit inconvenient to
have to go into the store to pay your bill, but you may do so at any
register. If you have to pay the bill anyway, share a little with
BSS! This is one instance where credit card users can purchase scrip, too!
Would you pay a 2% surcharge to purchase scrip with a
credit card or forego the incentive of free scrip or tuition reduction to use a
credit card?
Although many families would like to use a credit card to purchase scrip, very
few would be willing to absorb the fee that it would cost us to offer this
service. For now, we will not be offering credit card sales.
Please consider purchasing scrip when we have our bonus offerings of 2% and
sometimes 3%. Pay your Kohl's and JC Penney's accounts with
scrip.
Other miscellaneous comments –
Might be helpful to know how the school benefits. How much does the school earn? We earn from 1.5-15% on each sale with an average of about 5%. Last year we profited $12,015.00
Put in a drive up window! I've been known to run out and meet someone at the curb!
More flexibility – make it available anytime to walk in and buy it. It is now available Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 in the parish office.
Offer parking and office access during the day to buy. Easy access to the parish office during parish office hours.
I think the choices of scrip are terrific! I don’t purchase because I can’t come up with a good, secure way to receive the scrip. Talk to us. We will find something that works for you.
I really like the program.
Keep up the good work! Thanks!
A lot of effort goes into promoting and running the scrip program. Thank you! I love the program and can't think of an easier way to give back to the school. One parent mentioned that she purchases scrip because she can't give what she would really like to in her parish envelope. This way she is contributing an extra $5.00-$10.00 per week.
Send an order form home more often as a reminder to
families who don’t think about it.
I forget to come in and get it. I would maybe send a scrip form home weekly.
You will still get order forms just once a month or so. I will try to send
out email reminders more often. Mrs. Wear mentions it often in her
newsletter. Remember that an order form is not necessary each time you
want scrip - email, call, write an order on a scrap of paper. We just need
to know who, what and where.
I liked the opportunity to purchase after Masses. (See comments above)
It is not the program – it is our families need to get the program in place. Thanks for your patience. I will keep pestering you!
You are doing great! I just never get my “act” together to get organized and order it! Make yourself try it a couple of times. You will be hooked on the great feeling you get for helping the school and wonder why you hadn't tried it before!
Add Sonic to scrip list.
Add Target.
Add Meijer.
We order most of our scrip from a company called Great
Lakes Scrip. They purchase from the businesses and sell them to us.
At this time the businesses above have decided not to participate.
Allow purchases in school office. You can send your order in to the school and pick it up there. During the day I think you will find the parish office more convenient due to better access to parking.
Give incentives to kids like we do for box tops. We've done this a couple of times but it doesn't feel right to me. Kids can easily pick out box tops from the garbage and Grandma's pantry, but they can't come in and purchase scrip very easily.
I am participating for tuition reduction and free scrip. It's not a big incentive but every little bit helps! I plan to offer more bonuses this school year.
Love it! Especially during Christmas time. Makes things very easy! I hate the commercialism of Christmas, but it is our biggest sales time!
I think it would be a good idea to promote giving scrip as gifts. We try to do that over the holidays and graduation time.
Can just regular purchases on a credit card at these locations go to benefit the school? I probably will never buy scrip in advance of my purchases but would love my purchases to benefit the school! The only benefit of using a credit card is to the credit card companies - and to those families who earn bonuses on their credit card while paying them off each month. Scrip is a fundraiser for the school and not a means to help families earn frequent flyer miles.
For me it is just another thing I would have to do and it just seems inconvenient. I know it’s easy. I just haven’t had the desire to spend the time wrapping my brain around it and doing it. Also, I don’t want to pay a % to use a credit card. (We use a cc to get free mileage.) Consider ways that you can use scrip that works for you. I don't suggest changing any of your shopping habits for scrip. Everyone can use scrip in some ways with a little prior planning.
I like knowing how much vendors give to the program, as that encourages me to buy scrip for the most generous businesses. That information was added to the most recent order form. Occasionally a business will offer a bigger discount for a limited time and I will try to let you know.
No new ideas. I’ll try to get in the habit again. Start right out this school year!
I’m satisfied with this program. Yeah!
I know it’s really inconvenient, but purchasing scrip after the 10:30 Mass as very nice. I would be difficult for our family to continue buying scrip after our children graduate from BSS. Where there is a will, there is a way......
There are too many Cub fans in the school office making it a hostile shopping environment! We sell to Cardinal fans?
I have found that using scrip is definitely a labor of love – it is not easy. Therefore, I have decided to only purchase scrip when it counts double or triple credit. A labor of love, it is! The benefits to BSS and our families are worth it to me!
My mother use to purchase scrip but she has since retired. I have so much going on as a single mom, buying a Shop & Save card is the last thing on my mind. Maybe you can find a way not to have to think about it much. I would suggest writing a check to BSS each week or month when you sit to pay bills. If it doesn't work for you right now, maybe it will sometime later.