Is This A No-no??

[Dr.Meow]

Hi all, A couple of my friends and I are having a geo cache debate. One who is too chicken to post... would like to create a multi part cache with the final cache containing coupons for a free coffee in his coffee shop. He thinks its a good way to meet fellow cachers and reward them for a good hunt. we argue that it reeks of comercialism and may taint the hobby. whats the general opinion here? we have all found can tire money and 7-11 big bucks in caches- is this the next evolution of cacheing or will the gesture be misconstrued and will he be subject to backlash!

[+Hard Oiler]

Nothing wrong with that - the cache isn't promoting anything - finders don't have to take up the offer. Tim Horton's gift vouchers are popular FTF items around here - but that doesn't make the caches commercial - now if the cache was hidden in a Tim Hortons that might be a different story

[+The Blue Quasar]

I have to disagree with Hard Oiler (as much as respect him)

 

This would be a commercial cache, as it leads to HIS shop.

 

Also, what happens when the coupons run out? Or is the cache able to be converted to a normal multi after? Is the final destination the coffee shop, or just the intitial prizes that reward the person with a free coffee. Some might feel they need to spend moeny at the store, or that they might offend the owner if they didn't return and met on the trails or an event.

 

It's one thing to put coupons in for a location that one is not affiliated with, but not one that he owns.

 

I think you might find that you'll get mixed responses.... that might give you an idea about how the cache would be received.

 

Or you could submit it, and see what the Reviewers say...

 

The Blue Quasar

[+Renegade Knight]

Since he's already free to give out free coffe vouchers as a sig item. The free coffee in and of itself doesn't make it commercial.

 

Come to think of it, Hard Oiler summed it up. Oddly enough though if I were to hide a cache in his parking lot it wouldn't be commercial.

Edited August 3, 2005 by Renegade Knight

[+Algonquin Bound]

I think I would be cynical about it, IF the coupons were the only thing in the cache. However, if it were a regular cache, with regular trade items, ALONG WITH an envelope full of coupons, marked "Please feel free to take a bonus coupon AS WELL as trading", I think it would be fine. The envelope could even have a brief note, saying, "I'm a Geocacher who happens to own a coffee shop and I'd love to meet more cachers. Grab a coupon, come on over for a coffee and ask for Bob."

 

Of course, if his name isn't Bob, we'll have to work on a whole new approach.

[+Half-Canadian]

I did a coffee shop cache a couple of months ago, Dad's Place, which had a waypoint outside the shop and the final was a coffee can behind the counter. The waypoint instructed you to ask for the geocacher's special (or something like that), which got you the coffee can with logbook and geoswag and a free latte.

 

It didn't bother me to do this cache. I enjoyed the drink and the visit with the barista, and I didn't feel obligated to buy anything else, though I did leave her a nice tip.

 

I've done others at coffee stands and one at an ice cream parlour. I guess, as with any type of cache -- if you don't like to do that type, don't!

[+DNStephens]

There is a wonderful, un-pub-lished bonus cache to "Grab A Six-Pack" in Brantford. It was scheduled to be a pub-lished bonus cache, but disallowed. Every finder has the option of taking a card with coordinates for the bonus, or passing... their choice. Ended up at an interesting place I wouldn't otherwise have found or visited.

Edited August 3, 2005 by DNStephens

[+res2100]

I see absolutely no problem with someone putting coupons for a commercial establishment into a cache, wheather they own the establishment or not.

 

There are enough micros in retail parking lots and on commercial properties and no one seems to have a problem with them and we all know the owners almost always do not have permission.

 

If you think about it, most event caches are at restaurants, which is my opinion would constitute a commercial cache (more than any other example given in this thread) as it is asking people to attend and of course they will be buying food and drinks there...I have never seen a problem with these getting approved and no one seems to have any issue with them.

[+Chillibusher]

If you think about it, most event caches are at restaurants, which is my opinion would constitute a commercial cache (more than any other example given in this thread) as it is asking people to attend and of course they will be buying food and drinks there...I have never seen a problem with these getting approved and no one seems to have any issue with them.

Great point. I would have no problem with it at all. People have the choice of doing the cache or passing on it. I would definately want to find it.

[+The Blue Quasar]

I don't have a problem with it either. Everyone that knows me knows how social I am, probably too much so, and meeting cachers is great!

 

And there is no real difference between putting in TH coupons, or similar.

 

I know there are caches that have a person enter a place of business and ask for the cache behind the counter.

 

I was just suggesting that some people might take issue with it.

 

It was great to see Res bring up Event caches are ALL commercial... I've agreed with that one for ages and wondered how that was allowed.

 

No event could exist without some commericial aspect, even if it is just paying admission to a Conservation Area.

 

You did a good thing running it up the flagpole....

 

Good luck with it! Hope you have lots of success.

 

The Blue Quasar

[+chris-mouse]

It was great to see Res bring up Event caches are ALL commercial... I've agreed with that one for ages and wondered how that was allowed

 

It's really simple. A commercial cache would be one where the person who placed the cache stands to make a profit from people finding that cache.

I don't think there are very many event caches held anywhere where the person hosting the event also shares in the profits from the venue where the event is held. I know I can't think of any I've been to where that was the case.

 

I'm pretty sure that the intent of the rule is to keep commercial establishments from turning geocaching.com into free advertising by holding regular events in their establishments.

[+Half-Canadian]

Do I dare post my two poor maligned caches that get dragged out as the "commercial cache whipping boys" every so often? Oh, OK... here they are... Timbits Cache and Krispy Kreme Kache

 

And no, I don't have a financial interest in either one. These two caches were set up as a humorous jab at our legendary love for doughnuts here in Canada. Interestingly, these have been two of my more popular caches, based on the number of logs, and they were two of the featured caches in Icenrye's latest videozine

[+mtn-man]

Do I dare post my two poor maligned caches that get dragged out as the "commercial cache whipping boys" every so often? Oh, OK... here they are... Timbits Cache and Krispy Kreme Kache

 

And no, I don't have a financial interest in either one. These two caches were set up as a humorous jab at our legendary love for doughnuts here in Canada. Interestingly, these have been two of my more popular caches, based on the number of logs, and they were two of the featured caches in Icenrye's latest videozine

Of course, it should be noted that those caches have been allowed to stand as grandfathered and would not be listed in that format today. These are examples of how *not* to list a cache these days.

[+Riddlers]

I like the idea. I have done several outside of peoples houses so they could meet other cachers. We have one near our home that we put out when we first started so that we could meet some of the famous names we saw but had never met like Geolady. I think going in for coffee using the coupon would be a great way for the owner to meet other cachers. Just be sure that it can also be a regular cache too with a log and all, for those that are shy.

[+Swifteroo]

These two caches were set up as a humorous jab at our legendary love for doughnuts here in Canada.

Sounds like these two caches are a perfect target for The Tim Hortons Project!

 

Sorry for the Gratuitous personal bug promotion!

[+Algonquin Bound]

I don't think there are very many event caches held anywhere where the person hosting the event also shares in the profits from the venue where the event is held. I know I can't think of any I've been to where that was the case.

I can think of one!

[+Couparangus]

I wonder if I can get a kickback from Double Diamond? After all, I *did* declare it the Official Beer of Geocaching.