Garmin geocoin promotion:All coin versions now released.

3.9k · August 20, 2008

Millets in Kingston, Surrey, uk said they are out of stock and only had 16 coins, they went to staff and friends.

If that's true, then Garmin will want to know about it. They didn't spend all that money on promotional items to attract people into the store to look at their products, only to have those items not get any further than the stock room.

Edited August 20, 2008 by sTeamTraen

August 20, 2008

I have been banned from my local Blacks

I only work 100 yards from there and have been in a couple of times a day since the launch went there today and they banned me from asking again for at least 24 hours

I'll go and pester them instead then...

August 20, 2008

Millets in Kingston, Surrey, uk said they are out of stock and only had 16 coins, they went to staff and friends.

If that's true, then Garmin will want to know about it. They didn't spend all that money on promotional items to attract people into the store to look at their products, only to have those items not get any further than the stock room.

That's just life unfortunately, things like this tend to bring out the worst in people

Whilst some cachers are still trying to get a coin others have got 2 for themselves, one for each family member or an extra to post to a friend. They're even turning up in the hands of US collectors already. All of these things are probably outside of what Garmin intended, but that's just human nature and I'm sure that Garmin had a pretty good idea what was likely to happen. The publicity that Garmin has had on this forum alone has probably more than paid for the coins, the fact that a few have hit the intended target is just a bonus

August 20, 2008

Just to let you know, Blacks in Newastle seem to have a supply we have been on two seperate weekends and got one, the first time they wanted proof that you were a geocaher (told them nothing), the second time they never mentioned a thing and handed over a coin, but they seem to be all Big Bens.

2.6k · August 20, 2008

or an extra to post to a friend.

... and what would be so wrong with that really?

Hands up, I posted some to other cachers (who incidentally weren't particularly friends, just people I have seen on this forum), as they live in far flung parts of the country and had no Blacks store near them. As a result, Garmin have publicity in areas they might not have expected.

I did a circular tour of Blacks stores in central London, by wheelchair to collect them so they weren't exactly on a plate either!

6.2k · August 20, 2008

Millets in Kingston, Surrey, uk said they are out of stock and only had 16 coins, they went to staff and friends. What hope do we have to get one. Is there an address where we can write off for one...or are we going to miss out.

Ragged Robin

That's out of order, espescially as they're not allowed to enter the competition:

... Employees and close family of Garmin and of the partner companies involved are not eligible.

3.8k · August 20, 2008

Millets in Kingston, Surrey, uk said they are out of stock and only had 16 coins, they went to staff and friends. What hope do we have to get one. Is there an address where we can write off for one...or are we going to miss out.

Ragged Robin

That's out of order, espescially as they're not allowed to enter the competition:

... Employees and close family of Garmin and of the partner companies involved are not eligible.

I hadn't seen that, but I was sure that it is against the law for employees and family to participate in any competition within the UK. So before seeing Marty's post, I took it upon myself to bring it to the attention of Groundspeak.

August 20, 2008

they wanted proof that you were a geocaher

Huh?

The mind boggles as to how you could prove this.

Do the secret cacher's handshake say no more.

Keep looking furtively around the store. Lifting up displays, and looking for suspicious piles of sticks. That kind of thing.

Or just say "What would I want with a geocoin if I wasn't a geocacher?"

August 20, 2008

or an extra to post to a friend.

... and what would be so wrong with that really?

Hands up, I posted some to other cachers (who incidentally weren't particularly friends, just people I have seen on this forum), as they live in far flung parts of the country and had no Blacks store near them. As a result, Garmin have publicity in areas they might not have expected.

I did a circular tour of Blacks stores in central London, by wheelchair to collect them so they weren't exactly on a plate either!

I wasn't suggesting that it was wrong, it was a comment on the shades of grey that exist in life. On the face of it there's nothing wrong with it, until someone finds that the last coin at one of the stores you visited was given away just before they got there

It was suggested a few posts up the thread that it was wrong for members of staff to get coins for family members. It seemed a bit strange that someone complained about this when it passes with comment that people pick coins up for friends or get a few extra for trade. The end result is exactly the same and both actions could be perceived as a bit unfair or selfish.

My personal line is that I'll drop into a store when and if I pass one and see if they have a coin available. I'll be disappointed if they haven't, but that's life. If I really desperately wanted one I'd have made the effort to dash out and get one for myself

My real point was exactly as you say yourself. We're all doing a good and very cheap job of providing Garmin with a lot of publicity, I'm sure they're not to bothered how we do it

August 20, 2008

they wanted proof that you were a geocaher

Huh?

The mind boggles as to how you could prove this.

Do the secret cacher's handshake say no more.

Keep looking furtively around the store. Lifting up displays, and looking for suspicious piles of sticks. That kind of thing.

Or just say "What would I want with a geocoin if I wasn't a geocacher?"

Or just cut to the kill and whop your GPS out onto the counter

August 20, 2008

Sorry to take the conversation backwards, but have we any more clues on which coin will be released when. I am debating if i should get this coin on circulation another than wait and swap it for a more "Local" one.

8.1k · August 20, 2008

As an ex-pat I am looking to trade for any of the Garmin UK coins... since people seem to like em to send out. I can release one in the US to travel for people to watch. Can also trade ya a handful of coins for one so you can activate a bunch and send them into the country side. They won't be in the contest, but at least you will have more travelers.

August 20, 2008

PEOPLE!

We're Geocachers! We're starting to sound like a bunch of coin collectors!!!

(Mental note: Stop in Blacks on Saturday, just in case...)

August 20, 2008

:-)

August 20, 2008

Popped into the Newport, South Wales branch of Millets this morning and asked about the Geocoins, just got a blank expression back...they didnt have a clue of what I was talking about.

I did check this morning on my one and only cache hide as I knew there had been a BigBen coin placed in it, the quality of the coins are great I thought shame Millets couldn't help me

Mike

August 21, 2008

I was in Abergavenny this morning and Monmouth this afternoon so popped into both the Millets stores, niether of them have had deliveries of coins but both stores were aware of them but didnt have any further info regarding when/if they'd be having any.

Mike

August 21, 2008

I was in Abergavenny this morning and Monmouth this afternoon so popped into both the Millets stores, niether of them have had deliveries of coins but both stores were aware of them but didnt have any further info regarding when/if they'd be having any.

Mike

Hi Mike

I have telephoned all of the Milletts and Blacks stores within a 35 mile radius of my home. None of the Milletts stores had any coins, and most did not know what I was talking about. But all of the Blacks stores knew about the promotion, and some had coins or were awaiting further supplies.

So if you have got any local Blacks stores, I think these are the better option.

Regards Tarot

August 21, 2008

Cheers Tarot, there's a Blacks in Cardiff which had coins, not sure if they've had any more though. I just happened to be near these Millets stores so gave them a go just in case.

Is it just the Big Ben ones in circulation at the mo?

Mike

August 21, 2008

Is it just the Big Ben ones in circulation at the mo?

Mike

Yes from what I have read on these pages and from talking to the participating stores, only the Big Ben coin has been made available. Garmin are leaving it pretty late if they are going to get the other four designs released in time for the end of the promotion on 30th September. I guess they may release all of the remaining coins together or possibly extend the promotion.

Regards Tarot

August 22, 2008

Went into Blacks in Derby at lunch today to see if the new batch of coins had arrived. Confusingly, I ended up speaking to two different staff members who had heard two different stories.

Staff member one said they had been told that after the initial launch of the Big Ben coins, they would be getting a different coin batch every week untill all the sets had been released. However no more coins had arrived, and they didn't know of any shops who had had anything other than the Big Ben ones. Nor had they been given a delivery date for the next batch.

Staff member two said the store manager had told them that different Blacks regions had already been issued with different sets of coins to be released at different times. The manager also claimed to have seen some at another store, but would not tell the staff member I was talking to, which coins and at which stores. The staff member concerned was surprised when I told them the Big Ben coins had been released in different regions of England outside the North region.

If the staff at Blacks don't know, what hope is there for the rest of us :yikes: .

As an aside, the staff in Millet's in Derby know nothing about the promotion.

August 22, 2008

Millets in Derby aren't yet involved in the promotion to judge from the promotion website.

Millets in Chester had a few coins yesterday (Big Ben) when I got mine.

August 22, 2008

Went into Blacks in Derby at lunch today to see if the new batch of coins had arrived. Confusingly, I ended up speaking to two different staff members who had heard two different stories.

Staff member one said they had been told that after the initial launch of the Big Ben coins, they would be getting a different coin batch every week untill all the sets had been released. However no more coins had arrived, and they didn't know of any shops who had had anything other than the Big Ben ones. Nor had they been given a delivery date for the next batch.

Staff member two said the store manager had told them that different Blacks regions had already been issued with different sets of coins to be released at different times. The manager also claimed to have seen some at another store, but would not tell the staff member I was talking to, which coins and at which stores. The staff member concerned was surprised when I told them the Big Ben coins had been released in different regions of England outside the North region.

If the staff at Blacks don't know, what hope is there for the rest of us .

As an aside, the staff in Millet's in Derby know nothing about the promotion.

Suggest you speak to Staff member one next time, thats the story I got from Blacks at both York and Norwich this week when I visited. Still not managed to get my hands on a Big Ben coin to release, let alone any of the other designs :yikes: , even after visiting every Millets and Blacks between York and Suffolk at the weekend. Anyone in Chester care to pop in to Millets on my behalf ? I'd send you an SAE and be very grateful. Pretty Please...

2.6k · August 22, 2008

Called in to Blacks at Holborn today, was passing, and it would have been rude not to, wouldn't it?! :yikes:

They said all their coins are gone and they do not think they are getting any more in!

Not sure whether to take that as true or they didn't really know what's happening next.

August 23, 2008

I've just merged JustAlan's topic posts into this main Topic regarding the Garmin UK geocoins promotion, so that all the comments regarding distribution are in the same place.

mandarin

Edited August 23, 2008 by mandarin

1k · August 23, 2008

competition entry form is rather confusing, the way the address fields are laid out

August 24, 2008

I popped into Blacks in the Metro Centre today and asked if they had any coins left. The man I asked told me they had none. He also confirmed that a new set were meant to be released each week and that despite expecting some last week, nothing had arrived and they were hoping for some this week.

Apparently they only got 20 coins and they'd all gone within 4 hours. I got the feeling this wasn't the first time he'd been asked about this recently as he seemed a bit like "not another one of them..."

August 25, 2008

Not great news folks....

I popped to Blacks, Basingstoke this afternoon and was told the following:

They were expecting to receive the coins in 4 batches. The first one they only received a fraction of the number they expected and only on the one design. He had expected the next three to arrive at regular intervals however nothing more had appeared. They have now been told that there has been a 'cockup' over the whole thing and that they won't receive any further coins and that as far as they (Blacks) were concerned they were no longer part of the promotion.

So, as has previously been discussed, it seems Garmin may have not been fully prepared for this. That or the coins are very late being minted and they have had to delay the promotion until they receive the rest. Either way, its not great.

August 25, 2008

Not great news folks....

I did try to call Garmin at their Southampton HQ on Friday to get some clarification. The receptionist had not herd of the contest, but put me through to their marketing department. Unfortunately I just got a voice mail service, so I will try again tomorrow and pass on any news.

Regards Tarot

August 25, 2008

Not great news folks....

I did try to call Garmin at their Southampton HQ on Friday to get some clarification. The receptionist had not herd of the contest, but put me through to their marketing department. Unfortunately I just got a voice mail service, so I will try again tomorrow and pass on any news.

Regards Tarot

You beat me to it...!

August 25, 2008

Not great news folks....

I did try to call Garmin at their Southampton HQ on Friday to get some clarification. The receptionist had not herd of the contest, but put me through to their marketing department. Unfortunately I just got a voice mail service, so I will try again tomorrow and pass on any news.

Regards Tarot

You beat me to it...!

Hi Bambography

I think you should also try to contact them tomorrow, I might not be able to get through at the best times because of my strange shift times.

Regards Tarot

August 26, 2008

Hi i have just got off the telephone with the manager of Blacks in York, he told me that he'd had a lot of interest in the Garmin promotion and like me one of his staff was eagerly awaiting the rest of the coins as their father was cacher and they'd been trying to get him a set of the coins. The manager stated that he didnt know when they were going to get any more of the coins but that he'd phone Garmin direct and would return my call.

Fifteen minutes later he returned my call and said that Garmin had informed him that "There would be no more further deliveries of the coins as the promotion had now been ended early" so i asked about the other coins which were due to be released he said as far as he knew that was it they were not going to be recieving them.

So unless this is a ploy to stop us bombarding them with telephone calls or as i believe has been stated earlier Garmin/The mint have dropped a BOO BOO it looks like thats it.... Unless you get to know more info that states different?

:laughing:

August 26, 2008

Not great news folks....

I did try to call Garmin at their Southampton HQ on Friday to get some clarification. The receptionist had not herd of the contest, but put me through to their marketing department. Unfortunately I just got a voice mail service, so I will try again tomorrow and pass on any news.

Regards Tarot

As promised I did telephone the marketing department at the Garmin HQ today, but on both occasions everyone was at meetings and could not take my calls. I have been given an email address and will try to get any further information or updates on the status of the contest.

The situation does seem pretty dire, especially with the information from the manager of the York store. If the contest is to close early, I would expect Garmin to make an announcement quite quickly.

Regards Tarot

August 26, 2008

I wonder who is responsible for maintaining the website - Garmin or Groundspeak? It is about time the (non)stockist list is updated!

It would also be good to have the latest news regarding the promotion from either Garmin or Groundspeak.

Ivan

August 26, 2008

I've just had a reply from Garmin. The next batch should be released this week.

Ivan

August 26, 2008

Here is an official update from Groundspeak regarding the Garmin UK promotion:

The balance of Garmin UK Geocoins will be arriving at Black and Millets stores across the UK by Friday, August 29th. Groundspeak will update the list of participating stores on the 29th.

For those who do not already have it, here is a link to the site: http://garminuk.geocaching.com

1.4k · August 26, 2008

Just rung two branches of Millets (Truro and Falmouth) and neither have had any in yet and don't know when they will get any in, maybe by the 2nd week of September was the estimate from one.

August 26, 2008

Just had a reply from Garmin which confirms the information posted by Rothstafari. I also asked how many coins were minted, here is the full reply for continuity.

Hi Robert

I can confirm that the remaining 4000 Garmin geocoins will be available at an additional 308 locations across the UK as of Friday 29th August.

Designs include

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Stone Henge

London Eye

Angel of the North.

The list of participating stores will be updated on the 29th August. http://garminuk.geocaching.com/stores/

Thanks

Simon Gilbert

Marcoms Associate Garmin (Europe) Ltd

So there must have been 5000 coins minted in total.

Regards Tarot

August 26, 2008

I didn't get a chance to even think about it today so thanks for calling/emailling.

The 29th is going to be a busy day for Blacks!

August 27, 2008

Millets in Kingston, Surrey, uk said they are out of stock and only had 16 coins, they went to staff and friends. What hope do we have to get one. Is there an address where we can write off for one...or are we going to miss out.

Ragged Robin

That's out of order, espescially as they're not allowed to enter the competition:

... Employees and close family of Garmin and of the partner companies involved are not eligible.

I got one from Milletts in Kingston with no trouble at all, so I'm not sure that's true. It's found it's way to the Czech Republic...

Lee

August 28, 2008

This promo all seems too good to be true, it is.

Having seen this advertised for aabout three weeks I found out the the nearest store for the SW is Bournemouth (100 miles from where I live).

I enquired at Blacks last week about when they will participate and they informed me that "possibly in the next 2 weeks and that all stores will only receive 18 coins in total". What a croc!!!!! You've got to be quick and crafty on the day that shop gets them. It's a first come first served basis, whether you're into geocaching or not.

3.9k · August 28, 2008

This promo all seems too good to be true, it is.

Having seen this advertised for aabout three weeks I found out the the nearest store for the SW is Bournemouth (100 miles from where I live).

I enquired at Blacks last week about when they will participate and they informed me that "possibly in the next 2 weeks and that all stores will only receive 18 coins in total". What a croc!!!!! You've got to be quick and crafty on the day that shop gets them. It's a first come first served basis, whether you're into geocaching or not.

I'm not quite sure what your point is here. Unless they did the distribution via the Post Office there were bound to be areas of the country some way from a participating store, and with tens of thousands of geocachers in the UK, some people are bound to miss out.

It's unfortunately quite common with "cool free stuff paid for by somebody else" that supplies are not unlimited. :laughing:

Edited August 28, 2008 by sTeamTraen

8.6k · August 28, 2008

Please note: You don't have to be the owner of one of these geocoins to enter the competition - If you find one in a cache and log it you can enter. :laughing:

MrsB

1.1k · August 28, 2008

I got a Big Ben one today from Blacks in Thurmaston near Leicester. They still had a few more in an envelope.

2.3k · August 28, 2008

As confirmed by gushoneybun tonight at 7 pm...

"I got a Big Ben one today from Blacks in Thurmaston near Leicester. They still had a few more in an envelope"

OK the race is now on for #2 in the series..Good Luck Cachers!

Oooops! The Mighty Duck has noticed my error and haste..... :laughing:

Edited August 28, 2008 by currykev

August 28, 2008

I've merged currykev's Topic into this thread because the Garmin Geocoin #2 has not yet appeared and his post still refers to the Big Ben coin.

When someone actually gets their hands on the second coin issued, please feel free to start a new Topic for it and I'll close this one if necessary.

mandarin

August 28, 2008

We've updated the list of participating Blacks and Millets stores. The balance of geocoins, including all of the other 4 series, should now be available. Here is the link to the updated list of participating stores:

http://garminuk.geocaching.com/stores/

August 28, 2008

I've merged currykev's Topic into this thread because the Garmin Geocoin #2 has not yet appeared and his post still refers to the Big Ben coin.

When someone actually gets their hands on the second coin issued, please feel free to start a new Topic for it and I'll close this one if necessary.

mandarin

My 1st email from Garmin stated:

I can confirm that the remaining 4000 Garmin geocoins will be available at an additional 308 locations across the UK as of Friday 29th August.

I received a 2nd email response from Garmin with regard to my question about how the remaining designs would be distributed. Their reply stated:

The intension is for the coins to be mixed up and spread across the UK giving everyone a fair chance of getting hold of the different designs.

So if all 4000 remaining coins are going to all 384 Blacks & Milletts stores that works out at about 10 coins per store. And we may need to have 4 new threads, one for each new design. Sounds like a busy day for the stores !!

Regards Tarot

August 28, 2008

I phoned Blacks at Thurrock and Bluewater today and they said they weren't expecting anymore. Told them that Garmin had advised new batch due for release tomorrow and they both said it was news to them??????

2.3k · August 28, 2008

Has the second coin been released yet?

What is it?

Sorry we have been away for a week, and I dont have time to read all the thread, plus I am lazy :laughing:

Mandy

2.6k · August 28, 2008

Tomorrow ... tomorrow ....

Garmin geocoin promotion:All coin versions now released.

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