How do I handle multi-caches with money?

[CajunTechie]

Ok, so I am really getting into hiding stuff and playing around with GPS. I've already hidden my first micro and am planning on planting my first multi in the near future. The deal is that it will be a fairly involved, difficult to solve, cache that will end up in the FTF getting a check for $500. The $500 is the last stop in the cache hunt (which will, ultimately, be meeting up with me somewhere on a certain date).

 

How would you handle this?

 

Thanks!

Anthony

[+J the Goat]

I think it's a horrible idea personally. 500 clams is a lot of money, at least it is to me. I'm not quite sure why you would give someone that much money for following a multi, but I guess it is your perogitive. I suppose the best way to do it would be to leave a laminated slip of paper with a codeword and your email address, and when somebody finds it, somehow convey to them to take the laminated slip of paper and send you an email to receive their FTF prize. You can't really make the meeting with you the final stage, on account of then you would have to meet everyone who goes after the cache in the future.

 

Let me know when it's posted, I could use a bit of extra change...

[CajunTechie]

Thanks for the email idea with the passcode. MUCH better than meeting everyone.

 

As to the 'why' I want to do this: I've been lucky in some business dealings lately and have come into quite a bit of money. So this is my way of having fun while giving back. I was planning on doing $1000 but thought it would be more fun to divide that up into several multi's.

 

I'll probably post it within the next week :-)

 

Thanks again!

[+9Key]

$500?!

[CajunTechie]

Trust me, it might sound like a lot but wait until you see the sick, twisted, caching puzzles I'm devising for those who will choose to take it on. It's going to be SO worth it.

[jholly]

code word caches are a ALR and are not allowed.

[+JPatton]

code word caches are a ALR and are not allowed.

 

If it's just to claim the FTF prize, I would think it's ok.

[+J the Goat]

Actually, if there is no requirement to log the final and the codeword is just to claim the ftf prize, there are no issues. I'm not suggesting this is a good idea, but as long as there isn't anythimg that says a code is required to log the cache, all should be well. Heck, if it's not clear, the prize might not even be claimed.

[+NeecesandNephews]

Since you asked... I would steer clear of it. Remember ... you asked.

 

In looking it all over, and considering it, I note that you are new, have 0 finds and 1 hide, and are more or less offering someone $500.00 to meet you... it pretty much creeps me out. And I have been an internet surfer, a member of a dozen or so different forums, for years... and spent a lot of time on MSN Chat back in the day, so it talkes a little more than average to creep me out. Just my take on it.

 

I am fairly new here myself so I don't point that out to belittle you. I am not trying to insult you, just giving you the "overall appearance" of it through my eyes. I find it "odd".

[CajunTechie]

In looking it all over, and considering it, I note that you are new, have 0 finds and 1 hide, and are more or less offering someone $500.00 to meet you... it pretty much creeps me out. And I have been an internet surfer, a member of a dozen or so different forums, for years... and spent a lot of time on MSN Chat back in the day, so it talkes a little more than average to creep me out. Just my take on it.

 

No, you didn't offend me at all. I can see it would be kind of creepy when done the way I originally described it. Maybe I should have made it "$500 and a free puppy" lol

 

Ok, so to make it less creepy, what I might do is put the money on a gift card. Then, the last cache in the series will have a note with my email address. FTF will email me and I'll send them the number. If they want the physical card, we can arrange a meeting at Walmart or something. No candy or puppies, I promise. lol

 

Thanks for the clarity on this. Yeah, it's a little creepy

Edited March 3, 2010 by CajunTechie

[+NeecesandNephews]

Please note that since I dont know you I can't even begin to think I know your intentions. Just giving you the heads up, that it might "appear" a little strange. I see nothing wrong with doing it, just wanted to point it out that you might be careful how you word it... so it doesn't come off as creepy!!

[CajunTechie]

Please note that since I dont know you I can't even begin to think I know your intentions. Just giving you the heads up, that it might "appear" a little strange. I see nothing wrong with doing it, just wanted to point it out that you might be careful how you word it... so it doesn't come off as creepy!!

Hey. I am totally new here and will probably make many faux pas so I appreciate the heads up. Maybe next time I won't sound like a child molester lol

[+WRASTRO]

If I was going to do something like this I would try to keep it "pure" by making no mention of it on the cache page. I would simply leave an envelope with cash in the final and mark it as being for the FTF. Some folks will take and some will not. Most will and they will be thrilled and appreciative when they discover the prize. If you mention the prize on the cache page you are really not doing anything more than offering to pay the FTF to solve your puzzle, creating a competition, which is not the purpose of geocaching. To me it would be much more fun to not say anything about the FTF prize and wait for the post of the one who found it.

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

I'm sorry, but then again maybe not...

 

Sounds like a bait trap to me.

 

My 2¢ worth!

[CajunTechie]

I'm sorry, but then again maybe not...

 

Sounds like a bait trap to me.

 

My 2¢ worth!

Even if I throw in some candy and a puppy? lol

[+WRITE SHOP ROBERT]

Sounds like you have a bunch of spending money on your hands. You might head on over to the GeoCoin forums, and maybe you could get some advice on creating and minting a geocoin of your own, then you'll have lots of great FTF prizes to use over a long time. You could even have a special FTF coin made. You're not the first person to place a large cash prize in a FTF, it just may be the delivery method that peaks peoples "Creepy" needle.

 

Oh, that sounded creepy too.

[+jeffbouldin]

DANG!!!!! Why couldn't you have listed your multi last week? I was just in Miami, OK last Tuesday!!!!!!!

[+webscouter.]

I wasn't creeped out until you started joking about adding a puppy and candy.

 

For me this just sounds like a bad idea. Folks should enjoy looking for your cache on its own merits. If you are trying to create a name for yourself there are better ways to do so.

 

And in Maimi OK there are certainly ways that you can put that money to use. Find a couple single moms and pay their daycare for a week so they can go to work. Find a hard working young man who is working hard to feed his family and buy his groceries for the week. Take a couple of old folks from the retirement home out for lunch, make sure to spend lots of time talking to them.

 

But that is just my opinion, take it for what it is worth.

[+briansnat]

If I was going to do something like this I would try to keep it "pure" by making no mention of it on the cache page. I would simply leave an envelope with cash in the final and mark it as being for the FTF. Some folks will take and some will not. Most will and they will be thrilled and appreciative when they discover the prize. If you mention the prize on the cache page you are really not doing anything more than offering to pay the FTF to solve your puzzle, creating a competition, which is not the purpose of geocaching. To me it would be much more fun to not say anything about the FTF prize and wait for the post of the one who found it.

 

I agree with this. Put the money in the cache and make the prize a welcome surprise rather than a competition. Competitions can get ugly.

 

Another idea that I saw once was sort of a test of honesty. The CO left $200 in singles in a cache with the instruction that the FTF got $100, the 2TF got $50, 3TF got $25 and the 4TF got $15 and the 5TF got $10. Not saying it was a good idea, but it was an interesting experiment. I think I recall that nobody took more than they were supposed to.

[+JBnW]

DANG!!!!! Why couldn't you have listed your multi last week? I was just in Miami, OK last Tuesday!!!!!!!

I'll be down in Picher later in March, and then again in April, and would be happy to give this one a go!

 

Another thing to consider is the possibility of the final container being muggled, and whatever cash is left would be gone to whoever stumbled upon it. Especially if it's a very difficult puzzle that gets to wait a long time for FTF. Just saying.

[+va griz]

Just out of curiosity, what is the purpose of having them meet you to claim the prize instead of leaving it in the cache? To me it isn't creepy to give away $500, that's only unusual. But when it comes across as paying somebody $500 to meet you, well, that's a red flag.

[+usyoopers]

When will this be published??? We will going through the Miami, Oklahoma area on Tuesday ....flying home though so we can't accept the puppy.

[+KoosKoos]

I wasn't creeped out until you started joking about adding a puppy and candy.

 

For me this just sounds like a bad idea. Folks should enjoy looking for your cache on its own merits. If you are trying to create a name for yourself there are better ways to do so.

 

And in Maimi OK there are certainly ways that you can put that money to use. Find a couple single moms and pay their daycare for a week so they can go to work. Find a hard working young man who is working hard to feed his family and buy his groceries for the week. Take a couple of old folks from the retirement home out for lunch, make sure to spend lots of time talking to them.

 

But that is just my opinion, take it for what it is worth.

 

I agree with Webscouter. If you're trying to give away some money, why not put it toward a charity instead of a bonus for finding a cache?

 

And if you're really determined to give it away within caching, I think Write Shop Robert's suggestion to mint (or just buy) some geocoins would be a great gesture. Personally, if I had $500 to give to geocachers, I'd rather give away fifty $10 prizes to a variety of people instead of one big bonus for 1 person.

 

(and no creepy meetups with some guy I've never met)

[+J the Goat]

I like all the ideas posted above. Ten $50 prizes or 50 $10 prizes sounds like a stellar idea. I more enjoy the idea of spending the money on people who actually need it.

 

You could even spend the money and make some wicked cache containers, and put those into larger containders for the FTF. I still don't see the purpose of putting all 500 down in one shot. I do understand not putting a check or cash into a cache though. If the multi is that involved, it may take a while to find, and who know what damage could come to the prize. A gift card is a good idea, and would work just as well.

 

Tell you what, come place another one out in california, and I'll beta test it for you

[+Semper Questio]

If the goal is to "give back" then how about donating the $500 in the name of the FTF to the charity of his or her choice?

[crawil]

How about throwing a wicked cool event and buying lunch or dinner for all of the local cachers? It could either be at a restaurant or park - your pick.

 

Or hold a potluck event and give away some really nice raffle prizes.

[+uxorious]

If I had $500 to $1000 disposable cash, and wanted to do something for Geocaching, I would consider giving something to help new people get into the game.

 

There are needy kids, and groups that work with kids that could use GPS units. If it was me I would look into ways I might be able to provide help for them to get some.

 

As much fun as it would be to find a bunch of cash in a cache, I think it would make me a little uncomfortable.

Edited March 3, 2010 by uxorious

[+WRITE SHOP ROBERT]

I wasn't creeped out until you started joking about adding a puppy and candy.

 

For me this just sounds like a bad idea. Folks should enjoy looking for your cache on its own merits. If you are trying to create a name for yourself there are better ways to do so.

 

And in Maimi OK there are certainly ways that you can put that money to use. Find a couple single moms and pay their daycare for a week so they can go to work. Find a hard working young man who is working hard to feed his family and buy his groceries for the week. Take a couple of old folks from the retirement home out for lunch, make sure to spend lots of time talking to them.

 

But that is just my opinion, take it for what it is worth.

 

I agree with Webscouter. If you're trying to give away some money, why not put it toward a charity instead of a bonus for finding a cache?

 

And if you're really determined to give it away within caching, I think Write Shop Robert's suggestion to mint (or just buy) some geocoins would be a great gesture. Personally, if I had $500 to give to geocachers, I'd rather give away fifty $10 prizes to a variety of people instead of one big bonus for 1 person.

 

(and no creepy meetups with some guy I've never met)

one way to avoid the creepy meetup is to award the prize at a published event, then there will be plenty of people there.

[+WRITE SHOP ROBERT]

I like all the ideas posted above. Ten $50 prizes or 50 $10 prizes sounds like a stellar idea. I more enjoy the idea of spending the money on people who actually need it.

 

You could even spend the money and make some wicked cache containers, and put those into larger containders for the FTF. I still don't see the purpose of putting all 500 down in one shot. I do understand not putting a check or cash into a cache though. If the multi is that involved, it may take a while to find, and who know what damage could come to the prize. A gift card is a good idea, and would work just as well.

 

Tell you what, come place another one out in california, and I'll beta test it for you

You know what I think is funny...over the years there are always some threads wondering "Are there any rich people playing?" and "what would a millionaire leave as swag?".

 

Here we have a guy who has a bunch of money to spend, and everyone says "Why, you creep?"

 

While it seems unusual to most of us for someone to use that much money in a Cache, if the guy just came into Millions, then is this any creepier than dropping a few thousand in the casinos? Most of us are not rich, but many of us have probably spent that much on stupider things than a gift to a stranger.

[CajunTechie]

OK so for everyone who's going to read this and comment on how 'creepy' it is to have someone meet me to claim the money, let me reiterate again (which I've said a few times on this thread already):

 

THE REQUIREMENT OF SOMEONE MEETING ME HAS BEEN DROPPED

 

It was there only in the initial post as I was still figuring out how to do it. I'd never done this before and didn't know how to do it. If you read the thread a bit more you'll see how I'm going to handle this now which is NOT creepy anymore.

[+AbMagFab]

Here's what you really need to do:

 

- Get 20 or 30 GC finds under your belt, so you have a better sense of how this all works.

 

- Develop a multi

 

- Buy premium memberships for the FTF/STF/TTF - that will encourage newbies to do your multi, and give back to the entire community by funding this organization.

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

Now I agree with the unactivated geocoin drop. Isn't too many nicer FTF prizes than that.

 

$500 would get a good number of nice 'coins.

 

Making a series of style or location-type caches. holding them in queue for development, then activating them all at the same time (letting the reviewer know that you would appreciate their being published all in the same time frame).

 

Then watch the mad dash for the FTFs!

[+niraD]

FWIW, if I wanted to give away $1000 in a geocaching-related way, then I'd host an event or two, and spend anything left over on cache containers, camouflage, and maybe travelers (TBs & geocoins).

[+usyoopers]

Still watching and waiting for the outcome on this....we are in Kansas right now.

[+simpjkee]

I'm starting to think being a FTF hound could be a career oppurtunity

[+HookwayFamily]

I'm starting to think being a FTF hound could be a career oppurtunity

 

Why not pay the money into a charity of the FTF's choice instead and perhaps post a receipt image up on the gallery page??

[+chachi44089]

I am very new at this too.Only been a member about 1 month.Only 8 finds"gonna blame the snow for that".The day I joined I think I was a little "over excited"about the game and was ready to make my first hide before even taking the gps out of the box.I thaught the same way as he,I wanted to make this"over the top"cache with a gift cetificate in it.Not even close to $500 but the same idea.I later decided it might be better to do some heavy reading on here,make some friends and get some finds under my belt.I think by doing that I have a better chance of being taken more seriously.So when that day finally arrives I think I will have a bit more support for my idea.Gotta earn my wings before I can fly.

[+busterbabes]

With so many worthy charities out there...donate that money in the FTF'ers name! I think many many geocachers would be proud as heck of that FTF prize!

For me, FTF means signing my name on an empty log, I don't need a prize.

Just my 2 cents..... (which I am donating to my local animal shelter)

[+WRASTRO]

I will go against the grain here and suggest promoting the game we all enjoy rather than some charity. Don't get me wrong. I do my part for charity. Geocaching is not about charity. It is about a game. If you want to promote the game and give back to it then you should select a way to spread your good fortune within the caching world. FTF prizes, events, coins and bugs. All are great ways to promote the game. Have fun and those who benefit from your generosity will have fun as well.

[+usyoopers]

So, nothing is happening with this?? We are currently in Arkansas, heading to Oklahoma in the morning. I guess we will find something else to do

[+wolfslady]

Wow I need a new GPS, before mine totaly dies, and a FTF, like that would be great. Heck even $100 would seem like a windfall to me. So if you break it up even more you have a better chance of someone who's really excited to get it, getting some of it. Just a thought. I'd love to try for it. But I live in Texas, north of Houston so I think it's a bit far for me to travel. I think it's wonderful of you to do it no matter how you go about it. But if you make the last stage a really good hide why not just put the gift card in it? Can you get one that has to be activated by you after the person you want to get has it in hand? That way you could confirm that it wasn't muggled? I would love to do a great FTF prize for my first cache, but I was thinking a $25-$50 gift card would be great. Even in my dreams I can't imagine ever having enough to give away that kind of money in one chunk. I know a lot of people who could and while part me says spread the wealth, the other part sees the thrill in really making someones week or month, heck maybe even year. The only thing I wish I could control if I did that would be who gets it. I'd love for it to be someone that it really means a lot too and not someone who would take it for granted. But you can't do that.

 

Back in January I found a little red christmas gift card size case loaded with gift cards on the ground where my parents took us to dinner. It was a very nice neighborhood and as I thumbed thru more gift cards than I'd ever owned in my life time looking for some ID, I saw 5 or 6 of my favorite restruants. Several Visa gift cards and I added them in my head until I passed $300 and was still going. The more I added the more sure I was that someone who had a lot of money must have lost it. The more I hoped it was someone who didn't care enough to search for it. I went inside and let the hostess know my name and number incase someone came looking for them. There was a long wait and we tried calling several of the credit card gift cards to see if they see who purchased them and let them know who had them. More than 30 minutes or more passed and I was dreaming of all the dinners out that I couldn't afford. All the things I could buy with the other cards. Silly I know, but fun. About the time the were going to call un in a lady came out and got into the car next to where I found the cards. But on the other side. She got out a few seconds later looking worried and went to the passenger side. And looked in. I decided that she might be looking for the case. So I asked her if she lost something. She said yes and described the case. So I gave it to her. She told me she was a student and the cards were gift from her family so she could eat out over the next semester or two. I was much happier to have returned it to her than I would have been to return it to someone who was driving a lexas and wearing a rolex. (I would have returned it either way.) I guess the point of my story is that while I think it's wonderful for you to do such a great FTF, would you enjoy spending the money more if you made sure it went to someone who you knew it meant a lot to? Then again if I'd returned it to someone who was driving a Lexas they might have given me one of the $50 cards to one of my favorite restruants, instead of the only $10 one to a place I'd never heard of. Shrug. I if I'd wanted a reward I wouldn't have returned it. Besides years ago when my parents were broke he returned a wallet with thousands of dollars in it to a man he had to hunt down in a campground (The man was in a fancy RV.) and the guy didn't even say thank you.

 

Good luck whatever you decide to do. But most of all have fun. Patti

[+simpjkee]

I'm starting to think being a FTF hound could be a career oppurtunity

 

Why not pay the money into a charity of the FTF's choice instead and perhaps post a receipt image up on the gallery page??

 

why not just keep money out of it all together?? that's my vote. money this, money that. just play the game peoples!

[knowschad]

I generally find the concept of any FTF prize other than a clean log to be a bit tacky. You shouldn't need to bribe anybody into trying to find your cache, IMO. Something like this adds to the FTF frenzy so much more, also. I wouldn't be totally surprised to hear of sabotaged stages along the way to slow the competition down. To my mind, this is totally against the spirit of geocaching.

 

I notice, by the way, that your profile shows 1 cache hidden and no caches logged as found yet. What's with that?

[+buzzy_cacher]

code word caches are a ALR and are not allowed.

 

Just for FTF and anyways -- you wouldn't enter in a codeword for $500????