fertred Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Well after reading these forums for a while I decided to go out and find I was a bit dubious as to how good my TomTom One would be Well it worked great I found the the two I was looking for I signed the logs but being a bit unsure as to what are deemed to be acceptable 'trades/swaps' I took nothing So just wondering what sort of things I can use, obviously I realise nothing illegal or illicit should be left Ah well gonna find some for tomorrow Quote Link to comment
+vw_k Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Congratulations on your first finds and welcome to the sport The best rule to go by when trading swag is "trade up or trade even" meaning if you take something, leave something of similar or greater value in its place. You're correct in assuming nothing illegal or illicit should be left, you should also not leave food items as these go off and the smell of food attracts wildlife which may destroy the cache. Remember that this is a hobby for all ages and children will be finding the cache too, so nothing that you wouldn't want your kids to find. Personally I take along a few toy car keyrings as trades. Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Welcome to the Forum, fertred A lot of the "acceptable swaps" are aimed mainly for children e.g. bouncy balls, small games, toy cars, stickers. Other items regularly found are fridge magnets, keyrings, small handy packs of "wet wipes" or tissues, playing cards. Some people may drop in a 50p or £1 coin. "Unacceptable swaps" are any sorts of sweets or other foodstuffs, penknives, matches, cigarettes and scented candles. Personally, I think used bus/train tickets, empty sweet wrappers, fresh eggs (not hard-boiled), snail shells (empty or occupied), toenail clippings and fluffy kittens are also unacceptable but these, and other even more unacceptable items, have also been found in geocaches. I'm sure other people will add to both of these lists as this thread progresses. MrsB Quote Link to comment
+keehotee Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Personally, I think used bus/train tickets, empty sweet wrappers, fresh eggs (not hard-boiled), snail shells (empty or occupied), toenail clippings and fluffy kittens are also unacceptable but these, and other even more unacceptable items, have also been found in geocaches. Awwwww - so you've found some of mine then - the kittens are the hardest to get in, they just won't keep still....... (and it's 4 years to the day since I found my first )(cache that is - not kitten) Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 .... Oh, and as for McDonald's toys as swap items - The Jury is still out. MrsB (in curly white wig) Quote Link to comment
+The Other Stu Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 IMHO? Calling cards should be out too As for McToys, I don't mind 'em if they're still in original wrapping or particularly good condition. There's nothing worse than a heavily used McToy where the battery has run out or a beany-type toy that's gone mouldy through damp. Quote Link to comment
+HazelS Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 If we're getting technical... I found the kitten NEAR to the cache, not actually IN it!!! ha ha ha Seriously... welcome... get out there and just enjoy it! Oh - and the kitten is now a very mischevous 18 month old who is asleep on the desk next to me as I type! Quote Link to comment
+Birdman-of-liskatraz Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Amongst other items (a few are below) we (The Pensilva Plodders and I) left a small kitten and a kangaroo in our 130 cache..... Rastafarian's head Comic relief big ears 34'' Stunt kite 24'' 40 piece socket wrench set Telescopic umbrella Alien head clock Size 9 Golf shoes A small kitten Restaurant at the End of the Universe Book A Red Dwarf - Backwards Book A kangaroo A Palm PDA and Sync Cradle and a cuddly toy dog! Quote Link to comment
+Labtech28 Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I have spoken to a friend who also caches and he says he finds lots of the free CDs that are in the papers such as the mail on sunday. are these acceptable swops? Quote Link to comment
+SidAndBob Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 The guide is to put in something that other people will want and ensure it as of at least the value of the item you are taking. If you leave junk then only take junk. If you take a valuable item (you'd be lucky ) then leave and equally good item. Don't forget that travel bugs and geocoins are NOT trade items. i.e. Don't take a CD and leave a TB. Feel free to take (or leave) TB's without leaving (or taking) anything if you like. If you want to leave stuff and take nothing then that's good too. It gives some people a warm glow and is a way of showing appreciation for a good cache. Personally speaking, trading is not a relevant part of geocaching for my son or I so we rarely do it. Quote Link to comment
+The Other Stu Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Dunno about swaps, maybe to put out to start or to fill a cache with tat...... Saying that, my kids absolutely loved a mouse mat that was free from a car dealer.. Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I have spoken to a friend who also caches and he says he finds lots of the free CDs that are in the papers such as the mail on sunday. are these acceptable swops? Ummmm. Hmmmm. We have taken one of those "free" CDs from a cache, so I think they're OK. Although if I was taking an item from a cache and leaving one of the "free" CDs I'd probably drop in an extra item as well. I just thought of something else I like to find - The RSPB and some other charities do small bird or animal pins that you can get for a minimum £1 donation. I like these as swaps - and they're handy for fitting into small caches. MrsB Quote Link to comment
+The Other Stu Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I just thought of something else I like to find - The RSPB and some other charities do small bird or animal pins that you can get for a minimum £1 donation. I like these as swaps - and they're handy for fitting into small caches. MrsB Good shout MrsB I found a Noddy pin in a cache the other day. I keep meaning to go back and get it (with a suitable swap of course) Unfortunately, my pockets were empty at the time so I had to leave it. I really love seeing the pins and really should keep some swaps with me. I only usually carry swaps when I have the dustbin lids with me. Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Amongst other items (a few are below) we (The Pensilva Plodders and I) left a small kitten and a kangaroo in our 130 cache..... Rastafarian's head Comic relief big ears 34'' Stunt kite 24'' 40 piece socket wrench set Telescopic umbrella Alien head clock Size 9 Golf shoes A small kitten Restaurant at the End of the Universe Book A Red Dwarf - Backwards Book A kangaroo A Palm PDA and Sync Cradle and a cuddly toy dog! Yes. Well. You do have an exceptionally large one, Birdman. MrsB Quote Link to comment
+The Cache Hoppers Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 (edited) Amongst other items (a few are below) we (The Pensilva Plodders and I) left a small kitten and a kangaroo in our 130 cache..... Rastafarian's head Comic relief big ears 34'' Stunt kite 24'' 40 piece socket wrench set Telescopic umbrella Alien head clock Size 9 Golf shoes A small kitten Restaurant at the End of the Universe Book A Red Dwarf - Backwards Book A kangaroo A Palm PDA and Sync Cradle and a cuddly toy dog! Yes. Well. You do have an exceptionally large one, Birdman. MrsB You heard that too MrsB I have only ever found his small one by the church in Fowey when we went to see the Red Arrows last Summer with him and his boys, and the Kernow Kachers. edited to add to keep it on topic: make some calling cards and leave them in all caches, particular TheOtherSt's just to annoy him, but mine especially because I like them. Trade up or even, go shopping in the stationery and party bag sections of Tescos and you will be fine. Edited February 8, 2008 by The Cache Hoppers Quote Link to comment
+Mr'D Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 edited to add to keep it on topic: make some calling cards If you must. But PLEASE, PLEASE don't leave them in the logbook so they fall out all over the place when signing the log Quote Link to comment
+The Other Stu Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 edited to add to keep it on topic: make some calling cards and leave them in all caches, particular TheOtherSt's just to annoy him, but mine especially because I like them. Trade up or even, go shopping in the stationery and party bag sections of Tescos and you will be fine. yeah, yeah. I'm just saving them all up in a big box to dump them in Ammo cans in the Newbury area. Stu x Quote Link to comment
+Alibags Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 As for McToys, I don't mind 'em if they're still in original wrapping or particularly good condition. There's nothing worse than a heavily used McToy where the battery has run out or a beany-type toy that's gone mouldy through damp. Oh I dunno, with a bit of nifty modification, the McToy can be converted into a novel TB Quote Link to comment
fertred Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 Well thanks for all the replies I'm going shopping now before going to find a few more this afternoon Quote Link to comment
+t.a.folk Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I have spoken to a friend who also caches and he says he finds lots of the free CDs that are in the papers such as the mail on sunday. are these acceptable swops? They are to us because we don't buy newspapers . Quote Link to comment
+Rosie's Rangers Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Oh I dunno, with a bit of nifty modification, the McToy can be converted into a novel TB Alibags, I don't know who's sicker, you for the linky on the TB page, or me for finding it funny! Quite apt this one's in 'FIN'land OK, carry on now, back on topic... Quote Link to comment
+NinjaPete Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 I have spoken to a friend who also caches and he says he finds lots of the free CDs that are in the papers such as the mail on sunday. are these acceptable swops? How about this as a good use for those free discs. Quote Link to comment
+drsolly Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 I have spoken to a friend who also caches and he says he finds lots of the free CDs that are in the papers such as the mail on sunday. are these acceptable swops? We leave those, sometimes, but not as a swap. We rarely do swaps, but we often just leave something (currently, I'm leaving keyring torches all over the place). Quote Link to comment
+sonatellas Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 We tend to leave things for the children the caches. I found that the party packs of toys at Morrisons are very good. We also try to leave something that boys and girls would like. I have left free CDs and swopped free CDs. We quite like them. We very often find caches that are pretty much empty and then we top them up. We just imagine the joy it will bring to the next children visiting. Makes it more fun for them. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.