Trademark items

[+Knobhiker]

Finding a trademark item in a cache is like seeing an old friend again. I've always left them, thinking they were like calling cards. But now I wonder if they are left as collectables. Recently I met another geocacher at a find and he gave me a fantastic personalized coin. Of the things inscribed on it is, "Cav Scout was here".

 

Are trademark items to be taken and collected by others, or are they to be left as a "calling card"?

[+briansnat]

Both. Some people leave them as calling cards. But figure if everyone left theirs and nobody took them, the cache would soon be full of nothing but trademark items.

 

Many people like to collect them. Some of them are made specifically for collecting. For example I have a totem pouch which was Ttepee's sign item hanging from my rear view mirror. I know for a fact that she meant them to be taken.

[+Knobhiker]

Both. Some people leave them as calling cards. But figure if everyone left theirs and nobody took them, the cache would soon be full of nothing but trademark items.

 

Many people like to collect them. Some of them are made specifically for collecting. For example I have a totem pouch which was Ttepee's sign item hanging from my rear view mirror. I know for a fact that she meant them to be taken.

 

Thanks for the reply!

 

Some items just naturally seem to be a trademark left for the collecting. Like Deermark's nameplate on a stone, or my "limited edition" Knobhiker & Jack carpenters' pencils with woodburnt name and characters are ment for the taking. One cacher leaves and Old Forester whiskey card. I started finding these and wondered, "What a cheep trade!", then I realized later it was a trademark. I've collected one no longer thinking it cheep, but collectable.

 

It's the business type cards that puzzle me. Some have neat info about the cacher or team. Sure they would never know I took one to collect, but I would only want to do so if they expected others to take their cards.

 

So... if it's an object, collect it; If it's a card leave it?

[+briansnat]

So... if it's an object, collect it; If it's a card leave it?

 

No, I know collectors who collect the cards too. As a cache owner I usually empty them out when doing maintenance, otherwise the cache will be full of them.

[+Lotho]

I collect carda and sig items. Its interesting to see all the different designs and whatnot. Besides, they clog up caches after a while so someone will take them out eventually. The way i see it is nobody leaves anything in a cache they want to stay there.

[GeoPirates2007]

It would seem to me with the whole premise of take something, leave something, it would go without saying. If its in the cache it can be taken.

[+SLO Trekker]

It would seem to me with the whole premise of take something, leave something, it would go without saying. If its in the cache it can be taken.

 

Ditto that (minus the log book, of course). Some caches may have items placed in it by the owner that are not meant to be taken (like geocoins that are permanently attached), but anything placed in the cache by another finder is fair game as a trade item.

[+Thrak]

In my opinion any signature item is a collectable. Take it if you want it and leave it if you don't want it. Sometimes I leave a button with my name on it. It's meant to be taken by someone who collects such things. Like any other type of collectable, most folks don't collect them and a few do collect them. I had a collector email me asking me to send one to him for his collection. I was happy to do so. It's a personal thing whether you want to collect or not but, if there's a signature item in a cache and you want it, I say you should go for it.

[+StarBrand]

The mini pencils I leave can be taken by anybody that would like it.

 

As an owner of over 100 caches. I simply do not need 100 of your calling cards - so somebody please take them before I have to toss them.

[+Scare Force One]

I leave mine in the assumption that it will be taken. i sign the log book to prove I was there and leave my trademark for others to take or leave...their choice.

 

~.~Scare Force One