Also, did you know that you can get a MUCH better percentage by setting up a Scholastic Book Fair "Warehouse Sale", rather than the regular sale? The WH sale format pays 50% in Cash, or 100% in Books (plus bonuses), or you can do the "buy one, get one" thing and break even. If you didn't know this already, ask your Scholastic Rep for details. Email me if you need more details!
Can I get info on these 2 sales please? I keep reading about them, but don't seem to be able to learn enough about them. Thanks.
About the original question- I was told by Scholastic that a "certain amount" of theft is built into your sale (no particulars given of course) after we had a tremendous amount of theft at one sale BY THE PARENTS! We now have a "bouncer" who stands at the door at our family events and makes sure everything is in a bag or otherwise marked "PAID", and the theft has almost disappeared.
As far as volunteers setting books aside, as the chairperson I generally am there from open to close so I know who has paid for what; if I do get to leave, most of my regular volunteers are good about waiting until I'm there to pick up their books. I've never insisted on it, it's just happened that way.
The only way to possibly stop someone from walking off with cash from the cash box is to always have 2 people working the fair-not always feasible, I know-and some groups only let board members handle cash. When I do have help I usually run the register (which we do have) while the other person helps the kids.
Coming from a retail background as I do, the Scholastic way of doing things seems to be rather loose and poorly organized, but they're obviously making money since they gobble up every bit of their competition.