Cap'n YB

I got mine this past weekend, thanks for enduring and honoring your committment.

Cap'n YB will attempt to supply a very simplified tutorial: A little knowledge of html is beneficial. If none, find a geocoin page with a pic and in from the menubar select View / Source. This will expose the html language used to create the webpage. From there you can locate the html string related to the geocoin picture. Copy this string and replace the existing geocoin image URL with your geocoin image URL. Copy the revised html string and past into your geocoin page. Save and refresh.

Not placing a picture of ones own geocoin on its page is something that really doesn't settle well with Cap'n YB. It is either ignorance or laziness that keeps people from uploading their geocoin images. When he visits a geocoin page Cap'n YB thinks that the visual of the geocoin makes the page so much more interesting. To help, Cap'n YB always takes a picture of every geocoin he physically grabs and moves to other caches and post it with his geocoin log. As a matter of principle, Cap'n YB does not discover geocoins. He has turned down opportunities to discover several rare geocoins. He views the behavior of icon collectors similar to those of small children who collect stickers in albums. In fact Cap'n YB will delete "discover" logs on geocoins he owns..

Wouldn't it be more profitable if they minted a quantity closer to the actual demand with a single minting? I still want to know why the coin sellers can't do a "better" job of minting an effective quanity the first time.

Wouldn't it be more profitable if they minted a quantity closer to the actual demand with a single minting? I still want to know why the coin sellers can't do a "better" job of minting an effective quanity the first time.

The quotes below are attributable southbayday with my comments added in RED As a coin maker here are my choices: 1. I can make a bunch of coins to start, say 1,000 + of everything, and announce up front what that number is. Then I will never have people complaining about reminting. Bad for seller 2. I can make a very small number say 250, which makes it harder for the numbers to work, and hope that people like and buy my design. I will also frustrate buyers, who didn't happen to be sitting at their computer when the coin went up for sale, on a popular design. Bad for customer and seller 3. I can make a smaller number and then plan on reminting if the demand warrants it. Bad for original coin buyers 4) What about performing market research to better estimate demand and mint the right quantity on the first minting? Read this topic http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=171572 and see how a seller is trying to better serve their customers. There are sort of three groups of buyers, with a lot of crossover between the groups. A. Collectors (pretty much everyone falls into this category). They don't care so much about the total number of coins made, False assumption but would rather make sure they can get a coin they like when it comes out. Most certainly True B. Traders (many fall into this category) and they value scarce extra coins for their trade value. C. E-Bay Sellers and they also value scarcity. As a commercial coin maker do you really care about serving the secondary market? I think it only exist to serve current unfulfilled demand from any of your primary sales or at some future time, fulfill market demand for "classic" long out of print geocoins. As a commercial coin maker the question becomes how do I best accommodate all three groups? Seriously, I have considered going back to a pre order model because it better judges immediate demand, and is probably the best model to ensure the right number of coins are minted and that the value as either traders or on ebay increases over time. I think that preorders or reservations help coin makers better marry coin supply to coin demand. The problem is that either are not easy. However, investing in service efforts in this area will leave your customers happier and maximize your profits. I'm glad to see there are several coin related threads that are discussing this topic. This dialog will eventually help move the hobby forward as we talk through the issues and make an effort to improve.

Personally, I would like to see more effort put into matching first runs to demand with presales and protecting first mintings with sequentially numbered coins. Let me elaborate. Presales would help the seller gain early commitments for a fixed quantity of coins. Additionally, this market intellignece would help establish the level of interest in a coin design and establish the likely market demand. Then the seller can plan additional coin quantities above demand based on their risk adversity for the extra coins. This would keep their base of loyal and committed buyers more satisfied since they would be more likely to get receive the coins they desire instead of perching like vultures on sale day or missing the sale. Next topic, consumers who have a distaste for reminting recognize the weaknesses of the geocoin market and would like protection for their investment. Therefore, more of an effort should be made by the sellers to differentiate a first run geocoin from a reminted geocoin. Similar to the publishing industry. Personally, I like a serialized number in addition to the tracking number. (TNT Dragon coins) But, I also find the use of different colors or metals acceptable (Dressels Dragons) if they are used sparingly.

The root cause at the center of reminting coin debate is the irrefutable arguement that a seller has failed to adequately serve their customers. There are several economic and behavioral factors which contribute to this phenomenom: The seller inadequately estimates of the market demand The seller has a lack of confidence in the coin design to sell a given quantity The seller who is risk adverse to carrying inventory I've heard all these excuses before, none the less, it is the geocoin buyers which ends up bearing the burden of their failures. Geocoins sold out before demand has been satisfied which drives values on the secondary market A decision is made to remint a sold out geocoin which does devalue of the original geocoin To me this geocoin's beauty and universal appeal was severly underestimated. I don't see how a no-brainer like this could be such a disappointment to so many. The question is, how can we as a united community of buyers and sellers use this as a learning opportunity to drive improvement so that we all are satisfied.

Don't generalize because I totally disagree! I have covered the tracking numbers on my geocoins exactly for the opposite reason. Let the icon 'hos get there fix someplace else. Grab it, move it, log it or let it be.

Olivia Ruth Konrad James -

Any updates? It looks like I'll be needing those geocoins now. Our twins have arrived early and yes all is well with them. 1 boy & 1 girl

I too am a fan of MC Eschers works and "Reptiles" is one of my favorites, However, what confirmed the design for me was an examination of the properties of the image you posted, which directed me to your photobucket albums. BTW, love the coins I'll be getting a set for myself.

Is this better?

This is excellent! My wife and I are expecting twins in June and would love to have trackable geocoins out there with their names on them. Additionally, we are going to have host a potlach to commemorate their birth. The potlach event will be held in conjunction with the Winter Solstice which we will commemorate at the Woodhenge at Cahokia Mounds, IL.

Another failure to secure a coin due to the "one coin one thread" phenomenon. Please place me down for one of each coin if available.

Mmm Easter Brunch

Just gotta have this coin! Bravo!!

Are you going to grace us with a photo of the LE? Given the quality of your work, I'm sure I'll be delighted with my set.

So what's keeping you from coming Saturday, Sunday or Monday? Cap'n YB has the blessing of his pregnant wife, w/twins, to attend GW5. Since we live only 2 hours away, and her mother will be visiting, she knows I'll come running if beckoned for the birth. BTW - We're officially due 07/07/07

Ordered 10 of these beautiful micros. I too prefer the regular over the LE.

Cap'n YB is definitely interested in two complete sets of these cool coins.

Got my jeeps today and they are awsome! Way to go Jayman11 I'm looking forward to all of your future designs.

50-100 for Cap'n YB

You must access the site through the link sent to you in the presale announcement email.

I would like two of each version.