BaldEagle641

I was at the Scout Store yesterday and they had NO uniforms, only 1 XXXL golf shirt the rest were kid sizes. They had very odd sizes of the switchback pants, but not the 34x30 I've been looking for for the last 6 months. The racks for the uniforms were in the back and they were going to wheel them out this morning. They did accept my return of a pair of switchback pants I got from ScoutStuff.com that didn't fit and I walked out with some projects for the boys and a bunch of cash. I tell you that story to tell you this one. The staff at the store feels national is very ambiguous, vague and unclear with their phrasing regarding the mixing of the new and old uniform parts. Their OPINION is you can NOT were the old pants with the new shirts and vise versa. The store staff further feel that any uniform that is official can be worn but can not be mixed with another version. I think that makes sense. Hope that stirs the pot again! By the way....if anyone has a 1973 era pair of pants (or short) size 34w (x30) let me know. My old size 32s are just a bit too tight to wear for more than 30 minutes! Just another random thought.....Back in New York the only time we wore shorts and short sleeves were for summer camp or Philmont. Here in Florida I don't own a long sleeve shirt or scout jacket! My red wool jacket was stolen from my car in 1982 in the parking lot at the Royal Plaza Hotel at Walt Disney World. ..Go TEAM USA!!!

A scout is thrifty! That is the example to set! I'll transition to the new uniform when I have to. My boys will continue to wear "experienced" uniforms with pride. I may even go back to my 1970's uniform now that I can fit into it again!

The employee at the Scout Store said the old pants (current style) can NOT be worn with the new uniform. He also said that ANY official uniform remains official, but parts such as shirts and pants are NOT interchangeable. The store will let me return the pants or exchange it for something else, they just can't supply the correct size in the old style (current style?) switchbacks and the new ones are not in. Fortunately, I still have shorts and slacks that are still in great shape. I was looking forward to something a little cooler to wear.

Maybe it is only our council. The sales used to start in August, now it will start in October.

Can someone explain why national waits so long to announce a huge change like this? We have already secured dates and set our schedule for the next 12 months. In fact October is just about full of activities including University of Scouting, 3 camp outs and Pack and den meetings. We are blowing off popcorn this year and doing a different fund raiser through our sponsor rather than scouts. Is anyone else being effected by this change of popcorn date?

"They" really got us with this new uniform! They released the switchback pants that everyone really liked and then put them on sale 2 for 1. What a great deal right? Wrong. Stay with me here.... The new uniform will have the switchback pants too. PROBLEM: The new pants are a different color and the old pants can not be used with the new uniforms. I got this news from the Scout Store when I tried to exchange my new pants for the correct sized pants. They said they are no longer making the "old" switchbacks and I can not get the wrong size exchanged for the new size (34 x30) that would fit me. If I could only lose another 15 pounds I could get into my circa 1977 pants and shirt! At least I have a complete set there. Don't even get me started about popcorn...... I'll try that in another forum.