For our school Scrip has not been worth the effort that goes into it. The only time when we get enough orders for it to be worthwhile is during holiday season. Otherwise, for most people they feel they would rather have the airplane miles from their credit card, and they prefer not to have a dozen gift cards in their wallet.

I do recommend escrip. No work required once you get people to sign up.

We have been using Scrip for 3 years. We also do Kroger. It is a struggle in the beginning to get things up and running because it requires that you get the word out to everyone, and they have to be a captive audience and pay attention. Setting up a booth at school events is OK, but should be a supplement. You really need to get in front of the parents like at "back to school" night to discuss the program in detail.

What it boils down to - Free money for all your purchases - no selling involved. Our family and extended family use this program (budget, budget, budget) and have saved over $5,000 in 2.5 years towards our kids tuition. It is awesome!!

I actually run the scrip program at our small elementary school (300 students) and we raise about $15,000 a year. We offer about 150 different cards. Here's how we do it...

We have two ways for our parents to purchase the cards:
1. Drive By - We set up a small easel and I park my car at the end of our "drop off" zone (where parents drop off kids in morning) every Friday morning. I have all the cards and order forms with me so they literally can write a check and take their cards.
2. Monthly Mail-Out - Parents can get cards mailed to them on a monthly basis (we send it out on the 1st and 15th of each month). We sells TONS of grocery cards this way!

Things to keep in mind...

Use QuickBooks! You can keep track of inventory, monthly orders, etc! We'd be dead without this. You can also look at trends so you know which cards sell best when.
Have the cards in stock! People don't want to and typically can't wait for their cards - especially when buying that last second birthday gift for Johny's party. We keep about $15-$20k in inventory, so this is something your PTO will need to invest in (ROI in about a year though).
Get the word out! The toughest part is getting the word out. We setup a small "booth" at every event at the school and pass out small flyers that explain our program. We also pass out flyers to all parents as they drop off theirkids at the beginning of the year.
Get local businesses to join! They typically give anywhere from 5-25% discounts and people typically like to shop there.
Accept credit cards! People buy thousands of dollars from us for Home Depot and Lowes when they do their house projects. They would buy from us if they couldn't put it on a card. That being said, EVERYTIME someone uses a card with us, I remind them that they take 3-4% and that we'd be willing to wait for a check (we keep a locked mailbox in the school office so people can drop off orders and payments attheir leisure which I check each week).

So many more things... If you'd like, just email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if yo'd like more info on how I do it. PS - My company also gives PTO Management software for free - if interested check us out at www.mjssoftware.com .

We started the scrip program at the begining of the school year. We have had the hardest time getting people to sign up. But, we are continuing to push it. It IS a no-brainer. We've had about 14 families sign up, about 6, or maybe a few more, have actually used it and in just a little less than 3 months imes we've made between $300 and $400.

Last Monday, a friend called: Her car battery died and she needed a jump. She was located not far away from Chili's. So, we decided, before I headed over there we'd stop for lunch. I ran to my computer - placed a scripNow! order - printed out my gift card, and left the house. Made $2 (and change) for my school. I just did the same for Barnes & Noble last night. B & N no longer offers reloads on cards from scrip but they have scripNow! which is quicker and just as convenient. I've also begun ordering from places online I wouldn't have gone shopping in the physical world. For example, Gap. You can get gloves there, hats, scarves, for not much more than you'd pay in any store. Walking by the store in person - I just wouldn't go in knowing prices were cheaper at Shopko. Well, after looking online - the prices aren't that different -and you do get good quality from higher priced stores (sometimes - but in this instance I say it's true). So, it's like my shopping world has been opened up. I love Scrip!

We are going to be ordering all of our Christmas gift cards from scrip and I intend to buy some stuff from Amazon - of which I'll get a gift card (I beleive they offer scripNow) from scrip.

AND - if any of you do restaraunt nights you can work on a double whammy - Chili's, Pizza Hut, ext. the list goes on.

I so hope it picks up at our school, too. It's a great program.

S.

I know it's working a lot better at the middle school than at our elementary school. The coordinator there really pushes it and stays on top of the different options -- there is some sort of "Scrip Now" option, maybe direct withdrawal from a bank account? because credit cards take a % fee that cuts into your profit. Maybe at middle school, the parents give the kids cards for iTunes or Burger King and let the kids learn financial management?

We talked to a few schools with successful programs and they all advised to give it time. They said it took 2 - 4 years for people to get used to ordering routinely. We have a small school and we probably make $100 an order now, after 2 years. It has been gradually increasing. We stock some high profile cards near Christmas, but otherwise we place an order monthly and receive the cards in about a week (we collect either at time of order or delivery).

This replaces one of the fundraisers that had become too difficult to manage. It's been a good one.

Laura