+ClayC Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I probalby wont be having any FTFs in the near future, but what are typically used for FTF prizes? also, when you are the FTF, is it customary to trade for the FTF prize, or is it automatically given to the person who is FTF w/ no trade required? thanks, clay Quote Link to comment
+TheManInStripes Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I probalby wont be having any FTFs in the near future, but what are typically used for FTF prizes? also, when you are the FTF, is it customary to trade for the FTF prize, or is it automatically given to the person who is FTF w/ no trade required? thanks, clay How about CASH!!! And no, no trade is usually REQUIRED for FTF prizes, however, always nice to leave a little something behind. Quote Link to comment
+agilefox Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I probalby wont be having any FTFs in the near future, but what are typically used for FTF prizes? I have only hidden two caches, but I like to leave unactivated geocoins. It gets more coins into circulation (sometimes) and some folks would prefer them to almost any amount of cash. Quote Link to comment
+Taranis Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I have left unactivated geocoins as FTF prizes in some of my better caches. Quote Link to comment
+The Leprechauns Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 In some of my recent caches I have included unactivated geocoins, and gift cards for a sporting goods chain store. The last cache I helped hide has a pair of new mini-binoculars that the FTF might want to take or trade for. Gosh, it's been published for a week and nobody's found it yet. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 Solid gold bars make fine FTF prizes. They have a secondary benefit of keeping the cache from being blown away before the FTFer snags them. Quote Link to comment
CacheNCarryMA Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I have left: - FTF oval bumper stickers from www.makestickers.com - unregistered TB tags - $5 Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts gift cards - $2 bills - gift certificate for enough money to get the biggest banana split at the local ice cream shop. - Sacajaweas Quote Link to comment
+Jhwk Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I try to add something that would help a cacher in their hunt. A small mini-mag flashlight, headlamp, nice compass. Something that you would like to get. Quote Link to comment
bogleman Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 funny that this topic came up - I was thinking about some of the items I leave in my new hides. I have left many items that "I" would consider a great FTF prize. I've tried various things the strangest thing I have left is a micrometer. Quote Link to comment
+TEAM GAWFER Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 (edited) We have only placed one cache. Since we have an embroidery business we left a cap with the Geocache Logo on the front, and FTF GCWVM8 arced across the back. The finder indicated that he was pleased with it. Edited September 13, 2006 by TEAM GAWFER Quote Link to comment
+Blucruz Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I sometimes leave a lotto scratcher ticket. Quote Link to comment
+RealWorldAvatars Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 We have only placed one cache. Since we have an embroidery business we left a cap with the Geocache Logo on the front, and FTF GCWVM8 arced across the back. The finder indicated that he was pleased with it. Okay, I have to admit that I'd love to find a hat like this. I would actually start WEARING hats if I found a hat like this. We just listed our very first cache today (it hasn't been published yet, tho'). The FTF prize is a $25 gift card to our favorite Seattle videogame arcade. I sort of figured that if the idea of geocaching was to introduce people to the places you enjoy visiting, then it would be twice as fun to make the prize lead the FTF cacher to another favorite place. (The hat is still WAY cooler, though.) Quote Link to comment
ParentsofSAM Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 We have left geocoins, money and small camping items. We have a series that we are working on the prize I think will be a small TV/Radio combo or something equal to that. (we have to find a big enough place to put the container that big to hold the prize!!) Quote Link to comment
+NotThePainter Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I've been leaving activated geocoins but I transfer the coin to the finder. I've been handing out: Back Brake Billy Puzzle Coins for my puzzle caches. I like making the activated so the icon shows up on the cache page. Sadly I only have 1 complete set left and these are hugely expensive now on ebay. I do hope the price of the crashes soon... Paul Quote Link to comment
hobo dude Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I have typically given coins for FTF's of my caches. I usually contact the person to allow them to choose what they would like out of what I have on hand. Quote Link to comment
+Whistlen Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I hand stamp brass discs for my FTF and/or leave something that is related to the cache itself. Quote Link to comment
57chevy Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I got a free sandwich and a soda for a FTF today! YUM! GCY96T Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I probalby wont be having any FTFs in the near future, but what are typically used for FTF prizes? also, when you are the FTF, is it customary to trade for the FTF prize, or is it automatically given to the person who is FTF w/ no trade required? thanks, clay Typically there aren't FTF prizes. I've only seen them in a small percentage of caches. I've left FTF prizes in a handful of my caches. They included: binoculars Geocaching.com hats Petzel headlamp a new pair of hiking pants (for the FTF with a 34" waist) Most of the time however I don't bother putting FTF prizes in my caches. Quote Link to comment
+wavector Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I may or may not place an FTF prize. If I do I almost always try to use geocaching stuff (patches, TB tags, unactivated geocoins) I have left an activated geocoin then adopted out the coin to the First to Find and I did this as someone else noted to get the coin icon on the cache page. I always leave a blank logbook and a card that says "Congratulations First to Find". I make finders cards for all my caches and a single FTF card, they are the real FTF prize in my mind, the other 5 cards say "Congratulations You have Found". Most new geocachers go overboard with the FTF on the first cache they place. I would rather see those $10.00 & $20.00 bills spent on better containers, paint for container camouflage or other items that contribute to cache longevity and the geocaching experience generally for all finders. Here are some examples of money I consider well spent; laminating for cache notes, printed labels on the logbook, extra pencils, a good sharpener, sound swag items, nice logbooks. Everyone's first cache should be fun to place and seeing the logs roll in is great but save some money by not worrying to much about the FTF prize, try to spend it on making the cache a little better for every finder. Quote Link to comment
+RealWorldAvatars Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Here are some examples of money I consider well spent; laminating for cache notes, printed labels on the logbook, extra pencils, a good sharpener, sound swag items, nice logbooks. Everyone's first cache should be fun to place and seeing the logs roll in is great but save some money by not worrying to much about the FTF prize, try to spend it on making the cache a little better for every finder. If the cache isn't sound, it shouldn't be placed at all. That's a seperate issue from FTF prezzies. Even in my short time caching, I've seen a couple of really questionable caches: soggy, poorly hidden, or full of stuff that even a 4-year-old would pass up. And frankly, it doesn't cost much to go the extra mile when hiding a cache. A couple of layers of clear packing tape can substitute for lamination sheets on your notes, a Zip-Lock bag (changed out every couple of months) can provide an extra layer of water resistance for the cache contents, and you can use all sorts of stuff from around the house to camouflage the container. Can't afford fancy spray paints? I saw a great cache disguised with Elmer's Glue and a whole bunch of old leaves. I like the cache-goodies guideline from the official tutorial page here, "It's up to you what you want to put in your cache, budget permitting." My own budget won't be impacted by a nice gift card, so that's what I chose to put in. I'm sure if Bill Gates gets into geocaching, he'll place a five-gallon bucket with an Xbox system in it. And I'm equally sure that if one of my best friends from back East, who works as a public school teacher and is paid accordingly (read: shamefully low), decides to place a cache, she will include a FTF prize that somebody will really want to find, and it will probably not cost her much at all. It's not how much you PAY for a FTF prize, it's the creativity you put into selecting something, and the fact that you're offering a little treasure to commemorate the first-finder's achievement that is so cool. So I accept your scorn... ...and will continue to place FTF prizes in any future caches as I just did in my first. Long live generosity! Quote Link to comment
+DeRock & The Psychic Cacher Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Depends on two things: 1. the size of the cache (micros don't get a FTF prize) 2. who the likely FTF person is Lately I'm leaving a $5 Subway gift card Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI Quote Link to comment
+James Lobb Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 For my First cache i left a DVD (Fun with Dick and Jane) as a FTF prize. the first person to find it was pleased. (GCY2Y0) Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Depends on two things: 1. the size of the cache (micros don't get a FTF prize) I've found and placed micros with a FTF prize. Some examples: unactivated TB tags, collectible coins (walking liberty halves, mercury dimes, Indian head pennies, Kennedy halves, buffalo nickels, etc...), silver certificates and folded $10 bills. Most new geocachers go overboard with the FTF on the first cache they place. I would rather see those $10.00 & $20.00 bills spent on better containers, paint for container camouflage or other items that contribute to cache longevity and the geocaching experience generally for all finders. Here are some examples of money I consider well spent; laminating for cache notes, printed labels on the logbook, extra pencils, a good sharpener, sound swag items, nice logbooks. Very good advice if you have limited money to spend on a cache. Quote Link to comment
+hikemeister Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I collect flat smooth stones from a nearby beach and paint them with the geocaching logo and then write FTF and the name of the cache with black ink. Those are my first finder items. Quote Link to comment
+Fergus Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 for FTF prizes I like to leave one of my chainmail pouches. They sell for $20.00 at a couple of local hobby stores. Twice I have left on of my chainmail candle holders. I normaly sell them for $35.00. Quote Link to comment
+LDove Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Now those are cool, but wow - HEAVY! I hope you don't put them in a cache that has a 5 mile walk in and out! I have found that some of the FTF people or those right after tend to "clean out" my caches with the good stuff I leave in the beginning - anybody else notice this too? Quote Link to comment
Clan Riffster Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I'm a big fan of old foriegn silver coins, so we'll often use one as an FTF prize. On some of our other caches, we've hidden a second fully stocked camo'ed ammo can or decon kit and included the coords on a slip of paper as the FTF prize. Quote Link to comment
+alexrudd Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 My handmade FTF tropy for a cache named after a heron. I had fun, it didn't cost anything, and the first finder really liked it. The gold paint comes out terrible in the picture, but it has the name of the cache, date, etc. Quote Link to comment
+StarBrand Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I have only left a few FTF prizes including a used Palm Pilot, a nice Times watch, an organizer. Most of the time I leave nothing special but I have had several FTF cachers claim something as the FTF prize. Glad they thought it was more special than other items but I didn't intend it that way. Quote Link to comment
+Confucius' Cat Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 We have only placed one cache. Since we have an embroidery business we left a cap with the Geocache Logo on the front, and FTF GCWVM8 arced across the back. The finder indicated that he was pleased with it. That is an excellent prize. Something special you make yourself (unique) is probably the best FTF prize you can place. FTF is special to those of us who like them, with or without a special prize. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
+nikki9093 Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 (edited) I like the idea of making your own stuff...I try to leave something...the last one I had a MustangJoni pin, still in a wrapper, and a "cent" pin. I have some wooden nickels that I got off of Ebay that are FTF nickels. You write the info in the little spaces. I really like the painted rock idea. I have seen them in the stores and they sell for a couple dollars. You can get them at the beach or a river bank, and decorate them any way you want. Edited September 15, 2006 by nikki9093 Quote Link to comment
+Vinny & Sue Team Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 We often do not leave any kind of special FTF prizes in our caches at all. But, once in a while, either when Sue has created a new puzzle cache which she thinks is unique or special,or when I have created a new extreme cache that I think is really fun, we will offer one or more fun FTF prizes. For one of my river kayak caches, I left a $10 bill and an unregistered geocoin as FTF and 2TF prizes. In such cases as these, Sue contributes the geocoins to the effort, because I know nothing at all about geocoins and TBs (except that they taste VERY good when eaten with pasta under a nice thick layer of tomato sauce and olive oil!) And then, for our most recent extreme cache, the rather infamous Psycho Urban Cache #13, we decided to offer an FTF prize which consisted of an unregistered geocoin, an imprinted Psyscho Urban Cache T-shirt, and $160 in cash (the amount drops to $100 eleven days after the cache's publication date.) So far, no one has claimed the FTF prize and I am not sure that anyone ever will -- the cache is very tough, in terms of terrain, and rather dangerous to access. For me, at those times when I offer an FTF prize, I do it just for the fun of it, as one way of offering a gift fom my heart back to the geo community, and to increase the level of fun for seekers. Personally, I am not at all into FTFs, and I would certainly never seek a cache based on the swag in it nor on the FTF prize offered. And, I assume that much the same is true of most geocachers. For example, I do not expect anyone to seek our new PUC 13 cache (mentioned above as the one with the $160 FTF prize) because of the prize money, but rather, I offered the FTF prize as a way of heightening the fun for everyone! Quote Link to comment
+OHMIKY Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 I don't always leave a FTF prize in a cache I place - but for a couple of my harder puzzle caches, I have - in one I left a $20 bill - not mentioned in the cache page - in another I have an unactivated TB tag that is as yet unclaimed. Quote Link to comment
+Kacky Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 (edited) I make a little keychain with a small round laminated card. On one side it has the skateboarder and on the other it has the name and date of the cache. On my Lincoln street caches, I couldn't resist putting a five dollar bill in too! I also use the skateboarder as a name badge for geocache events. I get the business card lamination sheets that don't require a machine. Edited September 23, 2006 by Kacky Quote Link to comment
+FSUgly Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 I have 6 FTF's and not one had a FTF prize in it (was not the reason we went for them anyways). But when we placed our cache we made sure to leave a FTF prize.....we left a Misty Mate personal misting machine. We use ours when out caching, at the beach, at Disney, pretty much anywhere we are outside and it is hot (which is alot down here). They run about $15 at Wal-Mart. Quote Link to comment
+ve6dave Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 We have hidden 38 caches to date, most of the caches we have left $5.00ish coffee cards. The last series of caches that I hid which consisted of 22 physical caches, I hid an additional fully stocked ammo can cache for the first to find the whole series. GCVFYY Buy In or Sucked In... "The Pyramid Scheme" I have also created a spawner cache of small cache containers that had a fully stocked cache as the first to find. Lil' Mama Cache, GCT436. These first to finds insure that more caches get hidden out there. Quote Link to comment
+Pablo Mac Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 Suitable for framing. Quote Link to comment
+Hacksaw123 Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 I used to leave a $5.00 Tim Horton's Coffee Shope coupon but After hiding more that 20 caches, I feel it's a little expensive. I'd rather hide new caches than spend $5.00 on a FTF prize. I did reach a compromise and decided to make refrigerator magnets as FTF prizes because I can make them cheaply and they are usefull to the finder. The bonus is I can make them for about 25 cents. Quote Link to comment
+Harry Dolphin Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 I haven't left any FTF prizes in any of my caches. I don't keep a list of my FTFs, so I'm not sure how many I have. Probably between ten and thirty? I can only remember claiming two FTF prizes. One was a GC.com keychain. The other was a very nice FTF certificate, and a $20 bill. It was supposed to be a gift certificate to WaWa, but we don't have any WaWas in my part of the state. That can be a problem with gift certificates. Not everyone has that store nearby, or would want to go to a Blimpie's, or a Starbuck's (for example). But, we went for the FTF and 2dTF for the challenge. "Find a suitable cache in each of New Jersey's twenty one counties." It only took us a week, and 875 miles on the car. Who'd have thought you could drive 875 miles without leaving New Jersey?!? For us, the challenge, and the tour of New Jersey was the great reward. Quote Link to comment
+Lizzy Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 On my micros I didn't leave a FTF prize. On my regular hides I left Silver Rounds & unactivated TB tags. On my cache that required the most work, I left a Palm & folding keyboard. This was MY choice to do these, I didn't leave the prizes because it was expected. I don't expect to get a FTF prize when I look for a new cache...I think the best FTF "gift" is running into the local geocachers at the cache site as we all scramble to be FTF on the new ones. That's always a great time. Quote Link to comment
+ClayC Posted September 26, 2006 Author Share Posted September 26, 2006 I think the best FTF "gift" is running into the local geocachers at the cache site as we all scramble to be FTF on the new ones. That's always a great time. I learned that this past weekend. I actually DID get a FTF at a great cache. It was hidden on the owners property, and I got to meet him while looking. That in itself was a better experience than the FTF (which was great for me!). I did get a pretty cool FTF prize to boot. It was a 1992 1oz silver Canadian maple leaf coin. thanks everyone for the great dialog thus far!! keep it going! clay Quote Link to comment
+GreyingJay Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 I think I'll be putting some Tim Horton's gift certificates in my next couple of caches (I'd better hurry, we have an event coming up)... I've taken said gift certificates, home-made "Congratulations on the FTF" certificates, an unactivated geocoin, and a Silva compass, as FTF prizes. Quote Link to comment
+sunrise searcher Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 FTF prizes? Uh, I'm new to geocaching and have not had an FTF, so did not know there were often prizes. I put out two microcaches today that had no prize in them (due to their size). I hope no one is offended. I guess I thought being FTF was a prize in itself. I DO plan to put out some larger caches with an interesting array of items in them soon though, even though my budget is limited. I have found some of the ideas here interesting -- I did plan on putting in some homemade items as well as some "useful" items in the larger caches. I also plan on putting in items children would like, cuz I often geocache with my preschooler, who thinks those things are "cool." I do have to say that some of the obviously very dirty and used items left in caches by previous finders are NOT that "cool." I don't let my daughter choose those items (or even touch them). Quote Link to comment
+GreyingJay Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Don't worry, FTF prizes are not the norm or expected by any means. It's just a nice bonus. Even in caches without specifc FTF prizes, the first finders will generally take the nicest swag you put in, and unfortunately often don't trade up, so it's kind of self-serving in that way anyway. I never go with any expectation of finding cool prizes, but if I happen to get one, I'm happy Quote Link to comment
Major Catastrophe Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I probalby wont be having any FTFs in the near future, but what are typically used for FTF prizes? Appropriate FTF prizes include portraits of Ulysses Grant and Benjamin Franklin. The kind that are issued by the U.S. Mint. The correct procedure is to set the cache out, then email me the coordinates a few days before you submit to GC.com. Quote Link to comment
+LCAS-271 Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 After my 8th FTF I finally found a cache with a FTF prize. The cache is a TB hotel at a local truckstop and sitting right inside was a brand-new Miller Brewing Co. Trucker's hat. It's a little tight on my fat head but I'm wearing it right now. Think I might be buried in it. Quote Link to comment
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