+Torchbearer Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 I wanted to ask what would be some inexpensive, yet "good" swag items? I bought some junky stuff last year because I was just starting out (super bouncy balls and such) but I never took anything, that I can remember, from any of the caches I found. I felt I was leaving something too cheap and didn't feel right taking anything. Now I really want to do it right. I will always trade evenly but I want to leave something that will be appealing to the next cacher. Any ideas? Thanks Quote Link to comment
+Chinchilla_Man Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 I wanted to ask what would be some inexpensive, yet "good" swag items? I bought some junky stuff last year because I was just starting out (super bouncy balls and such) but I never took anything, that I can remember, from any of the caches I found. I felt I was leaving something too cheap and didn't feel right taking anything. Now I really want to do it right. I will always trade evenly but I want to leave something that will be appealing to the next cacher. Any ideas? Thanks Go to your local dollar store and buy some stuff that both kids and adults would appreciate. Just use the golden rule; put in a cache what you would like to find in a cache. Quote Link to comment
+CompuCash Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 I wanted to ask what would be some inexpensive, yet "good" swag items? I bought some junky stuff last year because I was just starting out (super bouncy balls and such) but I never took anything, that I can remember, from any of the caches I found. I felt I was leaving something too cheap and didn't feel right taking anything. Now I really want to do it right. I will always trade evenly but I want to leave something that will be appealing to the next cacher. Any ideas? Thanks Go to your local dollar store and buy some stuff that both kids and adults would appreciate. Just use the golden rule; put in a cache what you would like to find in a cache. One of the best soruces for swag and cache making supplies too. cc\ Quote Link to comment
+Ladycacher Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 The dollar section at Target is a good place also. I got a bunch of tools and outdoor things there for swag and for my personal caches. You can also find things on ebay in lots that may interest you. I would also suggest getting or making a sig item. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 (edited) Here is a partial list of things I've left in caches. Many are under a buck and most are under $3: Small US flags US flag pins modeling clay insect repellent wipes carabiners Energizer squeeze lights stickers bags of toy soldiers water colors mini screwdriver sets allen wrench sets gel pens boxes of crayons or colored chalk emergency rain ponchos packs of AA batteries collectable coins (buffalo nickels, indian head pennies, SBA or Sacagawea dollars) music CD's blank RW CD's cassettes (blank and recorded) calculators clip on safety strobes bungee cords LED key lights "euro" stickers & other decals mini sewing kits maps (hiking & road) software travel packs of Wet Ones or Baby Wipes Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars key rings packs of Hefty Handi Sacks bags of balloons velcro fasteners interesting buttons padlocks foreign money rolls of film lighters Slinky Jrs. kazoos movies on VHS & DVD office supplies (packs of paper clips, thumb tacks, Post-Its, etc...) Mylar emergency blankets decks of cards new wallets Pick Up Sticks individual packs of Armor-All & Rain-X wipes survival whistles travel packs of facial tissue Wheresgeorge bills and stamps Geocaching.com hats, pins, patches and compasses Edited February 12, 2006 by briansnat Quote Link to comment
+DaigleFamily Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 For boys I find Hot Wheels can be gotten cheap. Quote Link to comment
+UOTrackers Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 Some things I recently picked up include: Metal bookmarks (BDalton clearence $1.00) Mini notebooks with mini pens (Michaels $1.00) Address books (Michaels $1.00) Mini note cards (Michaels $1.00) Mini Doodle posters (Michaels $1.00) Multi colored pencil (Michaels $1.00) "regular sized" notecards (Michaels $1.00) Heart shaped playing cards (Target $Spot) Family card games (Target $Spot) Drink Coozie (Target $Spot) Tangle Jr (Walmart $1.50) Set of 3 caribeaners (Walmart $1.00 in automotive) Set of 2 hide-a-keys (Walmart $1.00 in automotive) Pair of gloves (Walmart $1.00 in automotive) Sets of 4 Pencils, Spiderman, Strawberry shortcake etc. (Walmart crayon isle $1.00 each) Modeling clay (Walmart crayon isle $1.00) First aid kits (Dollar Tree) Mini Sharpies (Staples $1.00) Sidewalk Chalk (Bi-Lo $.79) Mini Windchimes (Hobby Lobby $1.75 50% off!) this was my favorite find! Hope that helps some! Quote Link to comment
+Torchbearer Posted February 12, 2006 Author Share Posted February 12, 2006 Thanks so much!!! I'm going to hit the Doller General today. I've never really been in there much and didn't realize they had so much. Thanks a million. Quote Link to comment
+Katydid & Miles Stone Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 Don't forget yard sales this spring. They are great place to take a break while you are out caching on a Saturday. MS Quote Link to comment
Trinity's Crew Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 The dollar section at Target is a good place also. I got a bunch of tools and outdoor things there for swag and for my personal caches. You can also find things on ebay in lots that may interest you. I would also suggest getting or making a sig item. As far as Target goes, I would like to add that you may want to peruse the aisles for bargains. I often find stuff marked 75% off in the sporting goods area, and I recently bought about 20 "Essential Pop" CDs (various artists) for 50 cents each. Quote Link to comment
+GPSOkie Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 I'm always on the look out for swag. The dollar store is the old reliable. I also look at military surplus stores, Big Lots has some great stuff if you have them, clearance isles at any store like Kmart, Wal-mart, CompUSA, Bestbuy, and on and on. Oh, hardware and automotive stores carry some cool inexpensive items, as well. Quote Link to comment
Chester_Copperpot Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 I like to leave scratch-off lottery tickets behind as swag. I'll go and buy about 10 of them before a day of caching, and leave one or two behind for the next to find. They're cheap, but they could pay off big for the next one to find it, and makes it a bit more of treasure hunt too. Quote Link to comment
smacktight Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 (edited) As I see the "Tadpole" under my avitar, I must post. This will be number 5. I see a lot of good ideas here and will use this advise. I've seen in another threads for Sig items, those are the things that really catch my interest, escpecial the hand-made items. For the most part, put the things that you would like to find. You won't please every body, but if you like it, there is bound to be others that are of the same mind. As I've seen throughout the Forums, you can't go wrong for trading-up. Myself, I'm still working on a good sig item. I liked the rocks that are painted like frogs. My son is really into frogs and would love to find one to put in his iguana tank. I also saw a hand-made leather key chain with GC.com logo. Anything that is assiciated with hiking/camping is always a plus. The two earlier post have great ideas. Good luck and good hunting! Edited February 28, 2006 by smacktight Quote Link to comment
+Big Sky Explorers Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 A BLANK check would be nice to find in a cache !!!! McDonalds gift certificates Coupons for big savings I haven't seen in caches yet..... Hot Wheels are cool......I usually pick them up to trade in other geocaches. Usually what I pick up at chaces I trade in others... Quote Link to comment
+clatmandu Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 With your caching name, I would suggest those LED keychain lights. Put a sticker on it, call it Torchbearer 's LED torch. Quote Link to comment
+Sugar Glider Sweatshop Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 We make regular trips to Archie McPhee for our swag goodies. We haven't had any complaints yet. Quote Link to comment
cassiepaige Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 I <3 Archie McPhee stuff. Once I become more of a regular, I look forward to looking for swag items. Quote Link to comment
+jamrasc Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Well being the parent of 3 kids and only my husband working full time, I'm always looking for deals on everything. Anytime I'm out, if something catches my eye and is marked down at a good price, I'll pick it up and save for swag. Being that we do have kids, I tend to purchase things that I know other kids would enjoy finding. I also buy in bulk from Oriental Trading Company. And then of course, we put freebies from hubby's work into caches too. Another great place is Home Depot, if you have kids, on the 1st Sat. of each month they do wooden crafts. I've gotten the left overs from there before and put them into caches too. The crafts are shrunk wrapped and really cool for any age. Quote Link to comment
+PaRacers Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 I just picked up some nice bouncy balls at dollar general that have frogs inside them, very similar to "signal" Also picked up some suction cup compass' at a tool sale all for $1/ each. Quote Link to comment
Ghengis Jon Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Fifth of Crown Royal Special Reserve, Leica camera, TAG watch, 1000 shares of Google, would all be nice..... Quote Link to comment
Ghengis Jon Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Fifth of Crown Royal Special Reserve, Leica camera, TAG watch, 1000 shares of Google, would all be nice..... Quote Link to comment
+Team Gamsci Posted March 4, 2006 Share Posted March 4, 2006 I am a relative newbie to Geocaching but had been listening to the Podcacher podcast for longer. I have burning some of their episodes to disc to try and help awareness to another part of geocaching that another cacher may not know of, plus I think it is something you wouldn't expect in a cache. Quote Link to comment
+nutlady Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 I like to leave scratch-off lottery tickets behind as swag. I'll go and buy about 10 of them before a day of caching, and leave one or two behind for the next to find. They're cheap, but they could pay off big for the next one to find it, and makes it a bit more of treasure hunt too. Ok, I love this idea. But a caviat. As a newbie, I found a joke lottery ticket, and thought I won 20 thousand dollars. I was SO excited. On the phone to my hubby telling him how my "stupid" sport paid of BIG time, when I turned the card over and read the small print. What a let down! Ok, now it has become mildly amusing, and maybe funny for someone else.....but just a heads up. A Real lottery ticket would have been the GREATEST. nutlady Quote Link to comment
+txknight Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Some of the things I've been adding include... I.) Hot Wheels (seems to be a popular item to put in caches as it turns out)... II.) Cast Metal WWII Plane Replicas (easily found under $2)... And my new favorite... III.) Handheld video games that you can buy for a buck! A soon as I found these I stocked up on them! I also think a dollar store is a great idea as well. Good luck finding some good loot! TX Knight Quote Link to comment
+cudlecub Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Key chains are something some people collect and they are easy to keep on hand. I would also suggest going thru your junk drawer. One person's junk is another person's treasure. Quote Link to comment
+truckdweller Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 I wanted to ask what would be some inexpensive, yet "good" swag items? One place I stop in quit a bit is the local Goodwill Store. Many times they've got the toys that have came from fast food places (McD's, Buger King, Etc) still in their bags. I can usually get them from 25 to 35 cents each Quote Link to comment
+ranger-rob Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 The list looks to have been covered so if I'm repeating, I apologize. I tend to hit Home Depot and Lowes a lot becasue they're close and there's a world of cacher friendly stuff there. Also, I've been given[1] a bunch of promotional stuff from my local E-911 office. I don't know why they feel the need to advertise but I'm happy to leave the travel mugs/tumblers, neoprene can coozies, and color changing pens/pencils, to name a few things, in trade caches across Alabama and Northwest Florida. So you might try asking some of your local (city/county) government agencies if they have any promotional items you can have to leave in geocaches [2]. [1] given = free, free = good [2] be prepared to explain geocaching Quote Link to comment
+lindsychris Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 The dollar section at Target is a good place also. I got a bunch of tools and outdoor things there for swag and for my personal caches. You can also find things on ebay in lots that may interest you. I would also suggest getting or making a sig item. As far as Target goes, I would like to add that you may want to peruse the aisles for bargains. I often find stuff marked 75% off in the sporting goods area, and I recently bought about 20 "Essential Pop" CDs (various artists) for 50 cents each. After each holiday Target discounts their dollar section...first 50% off, and hten 75%! We've gotten some REALLY nice items for a quarter a piece!!! Quote Link to comment
+agilefox Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 I like signature items like custom coins (NOT geocoins, though). They are cheap in bulk. I also leave a lot of puzzle-related items, being the sly guy I am. Quote Link to comment
+catkin555 Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 What a great topic. I love the excitement of coming across an item that you can put in the next cache you find!! Quote Link to comment
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