+Resetti Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I am relatively new to geocaching but I just wanted to raise an issue with some people. While I am grateful for the many people who place caches and also drop TB's and GC's, I have found one recent weekend was that I simply wanted to swap a TB's so I always have one TB or GC on the go. However I found that the day before someone had swept the whole area and pretty much picked up every TB and GC and left about one behind. Now sometimes I think this is a little bit greedy to take everything without leaving anything, but I was wondering if anyone else has ever seen anything like this? I mean there is nothing that anything can be done about it really as it's up to the cacher to take what he/she likes and really I shouldn't complain as it's simply fun to even look for caches. I just like the idea of taking one TB/GC and swapping it in another cache, which I what I hope to do. Anyway, just wanted thoughts on this issue. I mean everyone has to pick up their first TB right? I mean my first item I picked up in venice and moved it on to my home town. And since then I've just been doing a 1 for 1 trade. Anyway I've still been having great fun regardless and I hope the caching community continues to grow. Quote Link to comment
Keystone Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I am moving this thread from the Geocaching Topics forum to the Travel Bug forum. When picking up and moving this thread, I did not leave a new thread in its place. Forum threads are not trade items. Quote Link to comment
+Resetti Posted May 7, 2009 Author Share Posted May 7, 2009 Ok sorry about that, wasn't sure where to put it Quote Link to comment
+SUp3rFM & Cruella Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 A trackable (travel bug or geocoin) is NOT a regular trade item. That's the rule. They're also not prizes. They're just a nice thing to find, particularly if your actions can get it closer to their goal. We went caching on a island this weekend. I brought ALL the trackables I found and left not one (I didn't have one by them). I brought ALL because I'm going to help them in reaching their goals. I'm sure that some geocachers would like to have a look on them, but hey, I'm thinking about the owners of those trackables. They're the ones to please. Quote Link to comment
+BlueDeuce Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I guess I'm not sure what you mean by 'sweeping the area'. How big of an area? Doing a search from your location I see plenty of travelers. If someone makes an effort to pick up and move bugs I say good for them. Quote Link to comment
+wesleykey Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 There is no requirement to trade a travel bug for a travel bug. I understand your feelings about htis, though. Try to focus on what makes you happy in geocaching. Is it the search? Is it the hike to get there? I enjoy being out and seeing new places and things. Don't worry too much about what you can't control. Quote Link to comment
+Chi-Town Cacher Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 A trackable (travel bug or geocoin) is NOT a regular trade item. That's the rule. They're also not prizes. They're just a nice thing to find, particularly if your actions can get it closer to their goal. We went caching on a island this weekend. I brought ALL the trackables I found and left not one (I didn't have one by them). I brought ALL because I'm going to help them in reaching their goals. I'm sure that some geocachers would like to have a look on them, but hey, I'm thinking about the owners of those trackables. They're the ones to please. As the owner of a bunch of trackables I say thank you to you and everybody else that puts the desires of the owners above the desires of others!!! Quote Link to comment
PastorJon Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I am moving this thread from the Geocaching Topics forum to the Travel Bug forum. When picking up and moving this thread, I did not leave a new thread in its place. Forum threads are not trade items. HA! HA! Sorry... I have nothing else to add... awesome post! Quote Link to comment
+Resetti Posted May 7, 2009 Author Share Posted May 7, 2009 well I'm at uni atm, in Norwich. Plenty of trackables back home! well thanks for the comments. It's ok I think I was just miffed as I wanted to dump a TB I had and pick up at least one! For me the best part of geocaching is going out and visitng new places with the added bonus of doing it for a reason I guess, like looking for geocaches! Makes me get out and go for walks more! Quote Link to comment
+Frank Broughton Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 For me, if I find one I grab it and move it along. Sometimes I swap one out with it and sometimes I do not. I do not hunt for them, but consider it a bonus to be able to help the owner meet the goal set for it. I like finding them and consider moving them along a fun part of the game. Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 While I am grateful for the many people who place caches and also drop TB's and GC's, I have found one recent weekend was that I simply wanted to swap a TB's so I always have one TB or GC on the go. However I found that the day before someone had swept the whole area and pretty much picked up every TB and GC and left about one behind. Now sometimes I think this is a little bit greedy to take everything without leaving anything, but I was wondering if anyone else has ever seen anything like this?... When we first started geocaching I felt exactly the same way. It does seem "a little bit greedy" at first... but I soon came to understand the ethos of moving trackables around, as explained by the previous posters. If you can help them on their mission then move them. If you can't help their mission specifically (e.g. you pick up a TB that wants to travel from UK to USA but you're not going to America) you can still pick up the item and move it a few miles along to the next cache as long as you're not going against its mission. You never know - the next person visiting that cache could be off to USA the following week and that small step of a few miles was a great help! MrsB Quote Link to comment
+hofy67 Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I've seen this before too. It is no real big as long as the person(s) collecting all the TB and coins are moving them along. I often pick up a TB or coin without leaving anything. If there are multiple I alway make sure to leave some behind for other cachers. Of course I also send out my TB and coins sometimes without getting anything. Quote Link to comment
+SidAndBob Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 ... And since then I've just been doing a 1 for 1 trade. In my early days I did this, but soon realized it was wrong. If everyone only took a TB when they left one then a few caches would always have TB's in them, which means that many other caches would never have TBs in them. I wholeheartedly agree with SUp3rFM & Cruella. I wish more cachers would take this approach. Understanding that TBs belong to their owners, not the cache they are in or a prospective finder is the key. 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.