College students are stocking up on Tagalongs, Samoas and Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies, but at a higher price.

Girl Scout cookie prices have increased to $4 this year. Political science professor and Girl Scout troop leader Angela High-Pippert said boxes of cookies were sold for $3.50 in 2012.

“$3.50 for as long as we’ve been selling cookies,” High-Pippert said. “So the price hasn’t gone up for a decade.”

High-Pippert anticipated the increase would negatively affect sales, but she was surprised come selling time.

“The tendency has been to keep the price the same and take out a couple cookies each box, you know, so there are fewer cookies each time,” High-Pippert said. “I think they thought everyone was on to that strategy, so they decided to just up the prices to $4, which I thought would hurt sales, and I was dead wrong because everyone has no problem with $4.”

Marketing professor Thomas O’Brien said the price increase won’t negatively affect business.

“It’s a round figure, you don’t have to worry about tax,” O’Brien said. “It’s not enough to deter them away from the purchase.”

O’Brien said the portability and familiarity is what makes college campuses a good market for Girl Scout cookies.

“Well one, the boxes are portable, you can stick them in your backpack,” O’Brien said. “Two, it’s a product that’s cookies. They’re small. Everybody is used to Girl Scout cookies.”

Junior Caitlin McMahon said she spotted a Girl Scout on the corner of Summit and Cretin avenues selling cookies and thought the boxes were a bit pricey.

“(They were) a little bit (expensive) since the boxes aren’t very big, but I don’t mind because I know I’m helping the girls out, and they’re too cute to say no to,” McMahon said.

Compared to a typical box of Oreo cookies, which go for around $2.98 at Walmart, the Girl Scout cookies are more expensive for a less amount of cookies.

High-Pippert agreed that the price is expensive for a box of cookies.

“Apparently people also know they are buying leadership,” High-Pippert said.

Sophomore Kirsten Hunt has been helping her younger sister sell cookies and thinks $4 is a good price per box.

“It goes to a good cause supporting each of those troops,” Hunt said. “I think that it’s a good price for it.”

Despite the price increase, Hunt said the cookies sell themselves.

“Girl Scout cookies, the name itself, it what gets it out there. So the price has had a little bit of effect, but not too much,” Hunt said.

Because there aren’t cookie booths set up this year, High-Pippert said the best way to purchase cookies is by finding a Girl Scout walking around or a faculty member with a sign-up sheet.

“Without a cookie booth, I think it would be hard to spot (a Girl Scout). It’s the luck of the draw, if you see one,” High-Pippert said. “So keep $4 on you at all times … is the secret.”

Stephanie Dodd can be reached at dodd0474@stthomas.edu.