+archi77 Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 So, when you have an order arrive with it's 10, 20, 30, or 100 coins, do you go through and activate them all? Just the ones you plan to keep and not trade? None at all? Just curious what other's do...my first coin came this week, and I have an order enroute as I type... Thanks. Quote Link to comment
+plumbrokeacres Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Good Question Me I'm new to this I activate the ones I'm sure I want to keep (like the $45 2007 Black Nickel Compass Rose) won't do that again and hold off activating the ones I'm considering to trade / Sell. Still trying to figure out if the expense is worth it...... Quote Link to comment
+Fluttershy Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 At first I activated all of them, which was about 75 coins, and now I haven't activated any beyond that... I don't know why... I stopped. It wasn't because of thinking of re-selling them in the future, either. I guess, I just like to keep my trading options open? Quote Link to comment
+fairyhoney Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 When you sell or trade, I think most want unactivated even though you can always adopt!! Quote Link to comment
+Nero Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I activate only if I'm releasing them, or a few i keep in a binder to show at events. activating diminishes the value to collectors. Most people will only trade for unactivated coins. Unless its one of the very few thats impossible to get unactivated, like Moun10bike, Purple Paws, Jeep'en Jumpers, Groundspeak Lackey, and usually Groundspeak Volunteer Quote Link to comment
+paulandstacey Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I was going to start a new thread, but I think this fits in here (and has probably been asked a million times in the past). Why is it that an activated coin is so unappealing for collectors? I don't mind it, but I was just curious as to the reasoning. Quote Link to comment
+Chooch72 Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 This may not be the best term, but the coin is "virgin" or pristine when it hasn't been activated - plus no logs to delete (if you choose) and no nicks & scrapes from it's travels (if outside a binder) Quote Link to comment
+rasj & Stacey Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 (edited) When I started collecting, I activated them as soon as I got them. Not many people in my area really collected coins though. So I started bringing them with me to events, and showing them off. I made a list so that those that saw them could discover them. I also brought 2 or 3 to each meeting to be given away as "door prizes" Now there are several folks in our club that collects, and lots of lists flying around. I can't say that I was the one that sparked their interests, but it's cool to see more and more folks showing up at events with their coin collections. I have pretty much stopped activating new coins now unless I release them, but every now and then I'll activate a couple to add to my list so that others can log them at events. So, yes, activation does make the coin lose some trading value. But there is plenty of value to be gained in seeing someone's face light up when they see your coins, and then get a big list for them to log when they get back home. just my $.02 Edited March 16, 2007 by rasj Quote Link to comment
+paulandstacey Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I enjoy sharing our coins/icons with other cachers, so we activate all of our non-traders. I have to say, it's always nice to see the rarer coins, but a bit of a bummer to find out they aren't activated and can't be logged. I have seen plenty of traders that aren't keep in binders and are banged around as much (or more) than activated keepers. I'm finding this info really informative! Quote Link to comment
+wavector Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Why is it that an activated coin is so unappealing for collectors? I think the largest reason is that geocoins cannot be unactivated. At one point the theft of traveling geocoins factored into the attitude but I am not sure that it is the reason anymore. I activate geocoins for several reasons but the most common one is to create a set of icons in my profile that help others see who I am. I activate local geocoins, country geocoins, CITO geocoins, event geocoins or any other geocoin which I construe as belonging in my profile. I do have a geocoin traveler but I consider the TB to be far superior so I usually don't release geocoins. Bulk activation is not something I have ever done but sometimes I do retrieve activation codes and include them on a card with a giveaway geocoin. I do that so that the card included with the giveaway coin can act as a keepsake and the geocoin can be traded or sold. Quote Link to comment
+The Moops Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I don't activate mine just in case I have to sell the collection later. BTW I just checked and my Jeep'en Jumpers coin is NOT activated. Quote Link to comment
+paulandstacey Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 But even if was to trade for or buy activated coins, I can adopt them, right? I traded one of our activated coins and now it's someone elses with just a few clicks of the button. Quote Link to comment
+ArtieD Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 (edited) Good Question Me I'm new to this I activate the ones I'm sure I want to keep (like the $45 2007 Black Nickel Compass Rose) won't do that again and hold off activating the ones I'm considering to trade / Sell. Still trying to figure out if the expense is worth it...... You spent that much?? Why didn't you get any when they were sold? I spent around $45 for *all* the different metals (black nickel, satin gold, antique bronze, antique silver) offered minus the very scarce XLE silver/gold one that wasn't really sold to the masses. On-topic, though...I activate my coins...I don't collect too many and I like taking them to events so people can discover them. Edited March 16, 2007 by Arthur & Trillian Quote Link to comment
+Nero Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I don't activate mine just in case I have to sell the collection later. BTW I just checked and my Jeep'en Jumpers coin is NOT activated. Yea, thats something he started doing later on, once some of his coins ended up on ebay I believe. He now only trades them activated, check his profile I believe there info in there about it. Quote Link to comment
+S&G.Davison Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Great timing for this. I too had gone through the activate or not. Currently I only activate the ones I'm about to release and never activate the ones I'd bought for trading purposes. So the grey area is around the ones I'm going to keep. I've held off activating just in case I later decide to trade or sell, but then I don't get the icon in my list, not can other collectors "discover" them at events. Sue Quote Link to comment
keewee01 Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 There are not many people down here in New Zealand who trade/collect coins unfortunately - which makes it way expensive for me to do it coincidentaly. Hence a large number of the coins in my collection are activated so as to allow people at events I take them to to discover them and log them, since they will usually not have ever seen them before due to the very limited number of coins that travel down this way. It is a real buzz hearing people admire the coins, and from the comments they log against the coins it is very much appreciated... giving a lasting buzz Quote Link to comment
+plumbrokeacres Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Good Question Me I'm new to this I activate the ones I'm sure I want to keep (like the $45 2007 Black Nickel Compass Rose) won't do that again and hold off activating the ones I'm considering to trade / Sell. Still trying to figure out if the expense is worth it...... You spent that much?? Why didn't you get any when they were sold? I spent around $45 for *all* the different metals (black nickel, satin gold, antique bronze, antique silver) offered minus the very scarce XLE silver/gold one that wasn't really sold to the masses. On-topic, though...I activate my coins...I don't collect too many and I like taking them to events so people can discover them. Well the coin appealed to me and as I've said before I just got into this I now have two of the black nickel Compass roses the second one cost me $18. I only paid that much for two reasons I didn't know better and it Appealed to me I was actually outbid on 3 other auctions for that coin. After I bought that one and a "Gold Stop the Geocoin Thief " I found other coins available from the Manufacturers. Quote Link to comment
+ArtieD Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Good Question Me I'm new to this I activate the ones I'm sure I want to keep (like the $45 2007 Black Nickel Compass Rose) won't do that again and hold off activating the ones I'm considering to trade / Sell. Still trying to figure out if the expense is worth it...... You spent that much?? Why didn't you get any when they were sold? I spent around $45 for *all* the different metals (black nickel, satin gold, antique bronze, antique silver) offered minus the very scarce XLE silver/gold one that wasn't really sold to the masses. On-topic, though...I activate my coins...I don't collect too many and I like taking them to events so people can discover them. Well the coin appealed to me and as I've said before I just got into this I now have two of the black nickel Compass roses the second one cost me $18. I only paid that much for two reasons I didn't know better and it Appealed to me I was actually outbid on 3 other auctions for that coin. After I bought that one and a "Gold Stop the Geocoin Thief " I found other coins available from the Manufacturers. I gotcha... Quote Link to comment
danoshimano Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Why is it that an activated coin is so unappealing for collectors? I'm a collector, and I'll accept a trade for any activated coin on my seeking list, no problem! I activate so I can share. At event time, I flip through the binder and grab a selection, so I want them all to be activated. I have found that people really enjoy seeing coins at events, and most of those like to log them. I've accepted around two dozen activated coins in trades. Quote Link to comment
+LadyBee4T Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I usually don't activate mine. I really don't care about the icons. Its just to me that they are more valuable unactivated. Also since this is a hobby I don't know if something unexpected might come up as someone else mentioned. I am currently selling some to pay some very unexpected vet bills and so the fact that they are unactivated makes them more appealing. Some of the keepers I have listed also may be traded in the future. Being unactivated makes that easier Quote Link to comment
+jAY miLLS Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 My entire collection is activated . . . . . . . . . . . . . of course there are only seven geocoins in it as of today. I dunno nothing about adoption. Only been at his 2 months and have never even heard of adoption. I guess I need to get out of this coin forum and look around more to find out what that is about. Is thee a topic for adoptions or a thread? Adoption might be a more economical way for my poor arse to build my coin collection to the point that I actually need a container to hold them in. lol That wouild be sweet. Peace Quote Link to comment
+tom4props Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I activate the coins that I intend to keep in my collection and the coins I intend to send out into caches. I also keep some extra unactivated coins for coin trading. I have also accepted some activated coins in trade. The draw back is that they display a different place of origin on the coin page then the place I am from. I recently found out however, that if you have the activation code, you can re-enter the coin on the GC.com coin activation page and change it's place of origin, so save those activation codes! It will keep the value higher. The other draw back to activated coins is that they may have a log history. I personally would choose to keep the previous log entries with any activated coins I trade for. Some people collect coin icons on their trackables pages and deleting their entries would mean taking away those icons. So far I've only made two trades for activated coins and both times, they came without any log history, so it's never been an issue. But keep in mind that if you intend to trade away your activated coins, keeping the activation codes with them will increase their value. Happy trading! Tom Quote Link to comment
danoshimano Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 I look at the place of origin and the previous log entries as a bonus. Especially if the original owner kept the coin in a cache close to home. Then, after I put the coin in my own coin-stash-cache, I can see it's journey from the original owner to me in google earth. I also keep the original name, even if it has the geocacher's handle in it. Quote Link to comment
+Traderdell Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 I activate the ones I'm sure I'm keeping. I like the icons nearly as much as the coins. TraderDell Quote Link to comment
glennk721 Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Greets, When I started to collect coins I activated about 50-60, After that I started to only to activate the ones I set free to travel. I am not a icon person so matters not to me to have a bunch of them in my profile, What I enjoy most is reading the travelers logs. I have been fortunate so far, knock wood, none have gone missing and folks enjoy moving them and having friends discover them between moves, folks enjoying my coins is wonderfull I do keep the avtivated ones, and non-trackables together so folks can discover the ones in my collection thst are activated and the many, many personals that are non-trackables. In addition if I traded for a activated coin, I retain the logs on the coin as well. Its part of the history of the coin Quote Link to comment
+v-hunter Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 The only coin I have not activated in my collection is a Tommy Trojan #002. Quote Link to comment
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