Hiding a cache- What are good things to leave for FTF?

[+myrtlemoose]

I' a newbie and I'm about to hide my first caches.

What are some good things to leave for FTF?

I've got 3 FTF's myself. Only one of them had a special prize for FTF. (Gift certificate for a Tim Horton's coffee.) I'd love to hear some other great ideas.

[Dinoprophet]

Except for my first hide, I've always left a woodburned plaque (wood coin for my micro) with the title of the cache and some related picture. In my first hide, there were souvenir cards for all finders, with a special one for FTF.

[+TheManInStripes]

Can you say CASH?!?!?!??! I knew you could.

[kvhollis]

Can you say CASH?!?!?!??! I knew you could.

 

My smaller and/or easier caches I have been using the new George Washington gold dolllars. Those are pretty neat I think.

 

My harder ones I have left a $5 and a $10 Beaners Coffee Gift Cards.

[+Confucius' Cat]

A couple of those cool pictures of ben franklin would get me interested in being FTF

 

(as if I need any motivation other than being first)

[+Colorado Cacher]

Occasionally I leave some of the Oval shaped, white vinyl "GPS" decals from cafepress.com (groundspeaks store). FTF'ers seem to like those alot.

Edited April 14, 2007 by Colorado Cacher

[+TKDenizen]

I like to leave a two dollar bill. Not too flashy but kind of unusual.

[+Jeonlyep]

I usually leave a set of unregistered travel bug tags.

[+Isonzo Karst]

A place on the log marked,

"This space reserved for the ruminations of the MEFF!

 

 

All bow down!

 

MEFF=Most Excellent First Finder

I've left sheets of special edition stamps, unactivated TB tags, an unactivated coin. Though for the most part, nothing in particular.

[+BlueDeuce]

Can you say CASH?!?!?!??! I knew you could.

 

I've seen people who will leave a 20, 30, and even a 50 dollar gift certificate to a local restaurant. When it more than pays for dinner, no problem with that.

[+RabidRabit]

I place a gift certificate book for Tim Horton's in my first cache but after finding nothing but crap in FTF's I've gotten I don't do this anymore.

[+Kuru]

I have a cunning plan for my next hide, it will be only my second hide mind you, so some feedback on this idea would be appreciated. Within the main cache container I have another container of the same kind, but smaller obviously. The second container with its own swag, logbook, pen and stash note is what I intend to be the FTF prize.

I'll be leaving a note explaining that the cache within the cache is for them to hide as they see fit.

Whattaya reckon?

[+lindsychris]

I have a cunning plan for my next hide, it will be only my second hide mind you, so some feedback on this idea would be appreciated. Within the main cache container I have another container of the same kind, but smaller obviously. The second container with its own swag, logbook, pen and stash note is what I intend to be the FTF prize.

I'll be leaving a note explaining that the cache within the cache is for them to hide as they see fit.

Whattaya reckon?

 

We've done this with a couple of our hides, and the first finder has seemed to like it a lot! Not only is it a nice prize for them, and it (hopefully) means a new cache for the area, which is a prize for everyone else. When we did this, we included a note explaining that the extra "cache" was for the FTF to take, name and hide themselves. We asked in the note that the new cache be placed within 10 miles of the existing one (unless they were from out of town), and that they email us once it is published so we can check it out.

[+myrtlemoose]

Thanks for all the great ideas.

I especially liked the unactivated TB and geocoins and the cache-within-a-cache ideas.

I've just had my first 3 caches published so I didn't have time to get those ready. Instead I left gift certificates to the cinema and TimHorton's.

My FTF really liked the cinema gift cert.

[+Stargazer22]

One of our active local cachers sometimes leaves a well-camoed ammo can nearby, with coordinates to the can on the logbook on the FTF page. His ammo cans are a work of art and are kind of like his signature item. Most cachers would be proud to get one, and it helps put another cache out there eventually.

[+maugin]

we are about to put out our second cache, as in the first one we placed a powerball ticket. if it wins, $$ to be collected by the FTF holder of the ticket. imagine a million dollar ticket, that would be a great FTF prize.

 

[+sargenv]

If the container is big enough, I usually leave a pre-loaded Micro or Small cache to promote cache placing by people who, for whatever reason, have a lot of finds but have not gotten around to placing caches much. My last hide was an ammo can and it contained a small container cache that was ready to go. I'm still new when it comes to placing caches, but I usually try and have useful items in the cache, batteries, keychains, and other items people may want (things I wish had been in some caches at times).

[+geodarts]

I put a lot of effort into making sure that the caches I place are well stocked, even if the size ranges from a decon container to an ammo box. So I figure that the first to find can trade for whatever is there before the cache contents degrade (as they rapidly do). And I often start the cache with a brand new, activated geocoin, which gives the first to find an icon should they want it.

 

On the other hand, I have spun a game board's spinner and left prizes for whatever number that came up (third to find, fifth to find, etc.). FTFs are generally a matter of circumstance, geography, and timing -- and if the person is committed to getting there first, that is its own reward. But the third, fourth, or five cacher is going there out of a commitment to the cache so I don't mind rewarding them for that and including a bit of randomness into the game.

[+Knight2000]

On the other hand, I have spun a game board's spinner and left prizes for whatever number that came up (third to find, fifth to find, etc.). FTFs are generally a matter of circumstance, geography, and timing -- and if the person is committed to getting there first, that is its own reward. But the third, fourth, or five cacher is going there out of a commitment to the cache so I don't mind rewarding them for that and including a bit of randomness into the game.

 

What an interesting idea! I personally dont care about FTF all that much. I mainly go to new caches that are not micro so the kids get a better shot at better swag.

 

Thanks for the idea!

[Clan Riffster]

I have a coin store nearby. They sell me large foreign silver coins at bulk rates, which I often leave as FTF prizes. Other times I'll leave coords for a fully stocked, fully camo'ed ammo can hidden nearby.

Edited April 26, 2007 by Clan Riffster

[+jackrock]

I have a coin store nearby. They sell me large foreign silver coins at bulk rates, which I often leave as FTF prizes. Other times I'll leave coords for a fully stocked, fully camo'ed ammo can hidden nearby.

 

I think that's a neat idea to leave the coords for a stocked cache for the FTF person to take. Might give that a try myself.

[World-Wind]

Heard of a cache wich held a bottle of champagne in it for a FTF !

 

(Let's not discuss if we should (not) have alcohol in a cache, think it was

ment as a statement sort of thing).

 

Greets!

[+OienLabs]

The totally blank log to sign is the best FTF gift for me.

[Micqn]

I bushwacked through four feet of wet overgrowth only to be a FTF to an empty container with a pencil and pad of paper ONE time. Then I had to go back to work! FTF's are highly overrated.

[+bumblingbs]

I just bought some buttons from Bumble Buttons. The owner is a geocacher, and she sells some FTF buttons that I liked. Her buttons always get grabbed fast, but I have never seen one of the FTF ones around here. They'd be fun to find, without going overboard on spending. I've put out something like 40 caches and can't afford $50 gift certificates.