OCamera

The comment of “iconic benchmarks” and “missed opportunities” started me thinking. Maybe it isn’t too late for HQ to turn this “retirement” around and make it into a profitable venture. If HQ just looked at the short list of popular benchmarks below, they can see how many visitors they get per year. If the benchmarking part of the website was updated and the activity of benchmarking was marketed well (through miniature reproduction landmark trackables, shaped pins, etc.), there would be a potential for a large revenue stream. Empire State Building (N 40° 44.906, W 073° 59.139) – 4 million visitors Statue of Liberty (N 40° 41.350, W 074° 02.673) – 4 million visitors Space Needle (N 47° 37.230, W 122° 20.957) – 1.3 million visitors Washington Monument (N 38° 53.368, W 077° 02.114) – 7 million visitors Golden Gate Bridge North Pier (N 37° 49.530, W 122° 28.753) & South Pier (N 37° 48.840, W 122° 28.672) – 10 million visitors

Since then, HOWEVER, 994 benchmarks have been logged by 160 users (Data Last Generated: 10/31/2022 17:02 PST). That's a 471% increase in the number of finds and 213% increase by users. That's quite a sizeable percentage increase as the result of a little awareness. In the last 20 years, HQ didn't bother to promote it or bring attention to it.

I have to agree with GanonsSpirit and tbbiker. HQ didn't make it user friendly and they didn't promote it. They have no issues promoting souvenirs, trackables, etc. However, when it came to bench marks, that part of the system is hard to find, awkward to use, you can't filter for them like geocaches, and it doesn't populate on the geocaching map. If they linked it in like Adventure Labs, there would be more users.

I'm disappointed. I always considered bench marking to be part of the geocaching experience: discover and explore the outdoors. Eliminating it certainly doesn't align with their mantra. I wish Groundspeak could find a way to keep it the geocaching website. I suppose if there is no other option and it absolutely must go, couldn't we get more notice than this?

That is good news! Glad it's resolved. I don't understand why anyone would leave the box blank. The box is there for a reason.

There was a geocache thief in our area a few years ago. This person called himself/herself the "Joker". This person would either muggle all the contents and leave a Joker card behind or vandalize the cache container (generally micros or small containers that didn't hold swag) and write "Joker" and draw a face on the container. I can't remember if they were ever caught. I, personally, think it was a disgruntled geocacher. There were a couple of geocaches that required a TOTT. Also, judging from the way the geocache was placed, it was no accidental find by a muggle.

I've had something similar happen, but in my case, this new cacher said, "I looked everywhere and didn't find it. Therefore it's missing." and then, flagged it for maintenance. He did this 3 different times on 3 different caches. Each and every time, I ran out and checked on it and the geocaches were still there. I ended up messaging him and explaining to him that just because he didn't find it doesn't mean it's missing; and it's customary to log a "did not find" and not a "needs maintenance" for a geocache he didn't find unless it needed maintenance, i.e. broken container, no log book, etc. He finally starts logging DNF's but as it turned out, the cache he logged a DNF on was actually missing. LOL!

The hider packs for the new game was supposed to go on sale today. I just looked and it's marked "sold out". That's awfully fast.

Max and 99: What is the price range of these hider packs? I inquired about one of them (don't recall which game) but they were already sold out.

I was wondering what people think of the SnagTheTag game? Pros and cons. I first learned about it at the GCF in Issaquah, WA but there hasn't been any tags hidden in my area until recently.

Nicely stated J Grouchy. I'd also like to add that even people who are well-respected or in a position of authority can turn out to be criminal types. There have been news stories over the years of priests being arrested for child molestation, police officers arrested for sexual assault, etc.

After reading through this thread, I was curious as to the percentages in my area. My PQ results below. There are definitely way too many micros and smalls here.

A NM sends an e-mail to the CO notifying him/her that there is a problem. Since this person quit the game, I highly doubt that anything will be done. A NA sends an e-mail to the local Reviewer that there is a problem with a cache. The Reviewer can disable a cache or archive it if necessary, but can't delete logs. So, in this particular instance, this cache is most likely going to end up being archived and the fraudulent log is going to stand...

Groundspeak leaves it up to the cache owner to delete fraudulent logs. However, there are circumstances when Groundspeak needs to step in but they won't. In fact, I found a geocache that the previous person didn't, assumed it was missing, placed a throw down, and logged it as found. This cache owner quit the game awhile back so needless to say, he/she isn't going to delete this fraudulent log. I brought this to the attention of Groundspeak and even provided photographic evidence of the actual log and geocache. All Groundspeak said was, "We will deal with this situation appropriately." Yet, the fraudulent log still stands.

This particular cache owner has not been maintaining their caches. A look at their profile page shows that several of their caches were flagged for maintenance and were eventually archived by the Reviewer.

Nomex: Disabling the geocache isn't going to resolve the issue. The CO's aren't actively geocaching and haven't been so for quite some time. In a situation like this, Groundspeak should step in and take care of business. It's disappointing that there are rules to abide by yet they aren't enforced and some geocache seekers don't abide by them.

I, for one, have been disappointed with Groundspeak lately. I contacted Groundspeak about a throw down found it log and they could care less. I even provided photo evidence of the original container and log. Granted it's up to the cache owner to delete bad logs but these cache owners are no longer active. (Haven't logged-on in 3 years.) https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/6773759f-d7d2-4e2f-88e7-e48961cec9f8.jpg

I have to agree with this statement. Unfortunately, there's a small handful of people that spoils it for the rest of us. I don't understand the reasoning behind "armchair" finds. In my opinion, if they're going to do that, they may as well log them all as found and move on to a different activity.

These are the things that really irk me: 1) travel bug thieves 2) non-maintained geocaches 3) swag looters There are other irks but these are the top 3.

I, personally, like swag and know others that enjoy swag too. Trades don't always take place but it's fun to see what's in the caches. To me, it's a treat to find that neat knick knack/trinket in the cache. Some nice items I have seen or left behind include: polished rocks, mini flashlights, small tape measure, large plastic coins, pathtags, pocket pack of tissues, carabiner, hair bands, lanyards, mosquito wipes, travel size hand lotion, flash drive, wooden nickels, Earth magnets, ready made micro caches, patches, whistles, battery holder, eye glass screwdriver kit, key chains, figurines, gift cards, pins, refrigerator magnets, multi-function tool, fossils, and bouncy balls. What ruins the experience are non-maintained geocaches. Sometimes swag breaks or people leave food items behind. These should be removed and replaced. Sometimes, cache containers take in water. When this happens, the log & swag turns into a big yucky moldy mess.

I'm still looking for the ARH 2011 - UFO GEOCOIN Antique Gold Link to picture: http://cz.geocoin-land.com/_obchody/geocoinland.shop5.cz/soubory/profesionalni-foto/shop_gold_01_jpg.jpg Let me know if you have one you want to part with. Thanks!

Looking for the ARH 2011 - UFO GEOCOIN Antique Gold Link to picture: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=278694 Let me know if you have one you want to part with and price, or I have TB-Rescue Geocoin BN to trade (unactivated). Thanks.

Still searching for the Red Chinese Lantern Coin...

Looking for the Red Chinese Lantern. http://www.cacheaddict.com/images/products...ATF156-g-bl.jpg This is what I have available for trade (new & unactivated): Lord of the Caches - Earth Antique Silver TB-Rescue Geocoin BN Das Ulmer FORT 2010 Geocoin Geocaching - 10 Years Geocoin - Black Nickel Please send me an e-mail through geocaching.com if interested in trading.