3 Sites To Order Badges Online
May 23rd, 2008 | Published in Other
If you’re anything like my group, ordering your badges from the badge secretary is too much like hard work. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just a bit old fashioned.
But there is an alternative. A few internet-savvy local scout shops have gone online. If you’ve got access to the internet, you can order your badges online and wait for them to arrive through your postbox! You don’t have to be a computer whizz either, just have a debit/crebit card ready together with your membership number. Here are a few of the best!
Glasgow Scout Shop
I mention this site first because it’s the one we use. Simply browse through the badges (and other stuff too, of course) and add what you want to your ‘basket’. Enter your membership number, address, pay and you’re done. Usually within a week, your badges will arrive together with a receipt. Easy.
Scout and Guide Shop (Sheffield)
I’ve not used any of the other sites I mention, simply because Glasgow Scout Shops has been wonderful. But I think that’s about to change. Why? Because Sheffield’s Scout and Guide Shop has a loyalty bonus scheme. For every £100 spent with them, they will issue the group with a £5 voucher. For every £1000 spent, they’ll issue two vouchers. It sounds a lot, but that sort of money soon gets spent.
The site looks the height of professional, and they sell everything you expect. Another big thing is they sell stuff for Guides! Could be handy for parents with young people in both organisations.
Stevenage Scout Shop
This site isn’t as polished as the others, but it looks like it’ll do the job. All the usual, uniform, badges and publications. Also has a ’sale’ section, with out-of-date items such as the old joining in badges.
Scout Shops
Then of course there’s the ‘official’ Scout Shops site. The big let down for me is they don’t sell activity badges. On the plus side, they should have the most up-to-date things, as well as the widest range. If you’re not buying badges and you just want to browse, this is still probably your best bet.