Trade even, trade up

[+L0ne.R]

In another forum I read this:

 

Most of my larger caches, directed towards adults, contained items ranging from $5.00 - $40.00 each

Does anyone carry expensive swag around in order to trade for equally valuable swag?

Let's say someone left a brand new Suunto M-3D Leader Compass worth $34US in the cache...

• Would you trade?
  
• Could you trade - do you carry swag worth $34?
  
• Is it going to drive you nuts thinking you can't legitimately trade for it, and probably the next person will take it and leave a golf ball?
  

Personally, I'd have a hard time trading for something worth even $5. I usually carry $1 trinkets. I suppose I could leave 5-$1 items.

[+BulldogBlitz]

that's why i carry a vcr/dvd combo... that burns dvds.

 

'cept i never find a cache big enough for it.

 

oh... i have seen a cache or two that have advertised nicer items when they are set out. i've gone out looking for them only to be the second one to find it... and find a golf ball... or a bottle cap left by the FTF.

 

really sucks. not that i was going to do much better - maglite or a headlamp is about where i am at for the "value swag" that i carry.

[hoosier guy]

IOf some one wants to leave something that expensive good on them. I will continue to carry my dollar store swag. If I found someting like that I'd probably leave it. But then again I have never found anything like that either.

[Skippermark]

Let's say someone left a brand new Suunto M-3D Leader Compass worth $34US in the cache...

 

Is it going to drive you nuts thinking you can't legitimately trade for it, and probably the next person will take it and leave a golf ball?

Personally, I'd have a hard time trading for something worth even $5. I usually carry $1 trinkets. I suppose I could leave 5-$1 items.

I'm not a big trader, so I consider a brand new $2 sealed up rain poncho from a department store to be "nice" swag.

 

As far as someone taking it and leaving a golf ball, unfortunately it happens, so when I drop stuff into one of my caches, I do it with the thought that I'm basically giving it away. Not that I want that to happen, but I realize that it will.

Edited May 14, 2010 by Skippermark

[+roziecakes]

The 'nicest' thing I've ever found was a pretty nice pocket knife. My husband needed a new pocket knife, and I had a feeling some parents might not like to find said pocket knife in cache, so I traded a pretty nice screw driver set for it. Thought that was an even trade...

[+wolfslady]

I carry a very small zipbag of Jewelry items, valued between $10 and $30 just in case. I carry another slightly larger one with items between about $5 and $10 and I've traded a few of those. I started carrying the higher value items after my DS found a mystery coin and I didn't trade fairly for it, because I didn't know what it was. (Wrapped up in camo tape and not opened for hours) I wouldn't want to do that again if I'm ever so lucky as to find something of value and if I'm ever back in the area where I found the coin I intend to leave something of value in the cache where we found the coin. I've found other items that I would value up to about $8 retail. I would not trade 8 $1 items for something like that. I might if I really wanted something and couldn't trade 1 item for the value, trade 2 or if the value was really high 3. Some CO's try to keep the quality of their swag a bit higher and I try to respect that. I also try to respect the person who left the item. I always hate to see those logs, I didn't have anything to trade, but I took such and such anyway, unless it's followed by I'll be back soon to put something of equal value. I could understand that.

 

In the end everyone has to live with themselves. So you do what feels right to you. But when to many people are acting like trade items are gifts (unless theya re labled as such) it takes soem of the fun of the game away. I'll admit it I love to trade. Even if it's just to amuse my son with something that we trade again a few days later.

[+Isonzo Karst]

I carry unactivated geocoins. Every once in a blue moon I find an item of equal value to trade for.

 

My experience in leaving those coins in caches is that they're always taken, and never traded for. I suspect this is true generally of swag worth much more than $5, but particularly of geocoins.

 

I wouldn't trade for the compass because I don't need one, and it wouldn't worry me in the slightest.

[+StarBrand]

I carry a timex watch with digital compass (brand new) worth about $35 for any really nice items I might find. Its the 4th one I have carried with me since I started 8+ years ago - so it is rarely needed.

 

I once left a brand new low end palm device in a cache (I got it for free but worth around $70 at the time). The cacher that took it left a $45 gift certificate to a nice local restarant. That got traded for $30 in subway certificates. That got traded for a $10 bill. That got taken with no trade. Still, It was interesting to watch the progression.

[angelskeepbandb]

Interesting thread. We leave things that are trinkets, mostly, but decent enough that I would be pleased to find them. They are new and clean at least! We have only taken one item, which was a trackable pin, so that we could place it where (hopefully) tourists would find it and it would have a chance to travel. In most of the caches we've found, if I were a trader, I would be very disappointed with the items inside.

 

I've often considered taking out the stuff that sure seems like trash...a coffee stirrer, wet naps from a fast food restaurant, business cards from local area businesses, broken watches, bits of paper which looke like trash to me...I dunno...if is really discouraging sometimes, but I always feel like I shouldn't clean up someone else's property. I am not sure what the protocol is for such instances. I guess if it's trash and I leave something better, it could be considered a "trade".

 

Hmm...points to poder

 

Barb (and Bob) (and Buster)

[+ihorn]

I always try to trade even, or give more than I take. At least that is how my Fiancee and I play. Last night we left a $1 poker chip to a Casino in the area and took nothing. The only reason is that the small amount of swag was kind of lacking.

[+Alkhalikoi]

I always try to trade even, or give more than I take. At least that is how my Fiancee and I play. Last night we left a $1 poker chip to a Casino in the area and took nothing. The only reason is that the small amount of swag was kind of lacking.

 

I've got a small refracting telescope I won from some unknown raffle years ago. I have plenty of telescopes around here, so one of these days I'm going to drop this nice little thing in as a tradeable swag.

[+L0ne.R]

Interesting that some of you carry pricey swag, just in case you find something pricey.

 

I was thinking that I could walk away, go shopping for something of equal value, come back and trade (if it's still there). Then I got to thinking some more....forget the compass in the cache, why not just go to REI and buy the same compass if I really want it? Since I would be basically buying the one in the cache by shopping for an equal valued item to trade.

 

When I read the post from a CO leaving expensive swag, it made me realize that I just don't see the point of putting something really generous in the cache (for me, anything over $10 is really generous). Unless the person leaving it wants to play geo-Santa.

[+BlueDeuce]

You might not remember me saying this before but it has always been my opinion that even with even trading the cache contents will degrade over time. A buddy of mine would leave a twenty dollar bill. How many others carry one item worth that much? So they trade several other lower dollar items to make up the difference. Then that five dollar item gets traded with a few more less value items and so forth. Some people think a $1 hotwheels car really isn't worth much and down we go.

[+Desert_Trailblazers]

Although we wouldn't ever have anything with us to trade for a $34 compass, you and some other cachers who have posted on this thread should consider yourselves lucky that you live in an area where there are people who actually put thought into swag, and try to add nice things. Where we cache, our normal finds are plastic happy meal toys (usually with teeth marks on them) a couple of rocks, and maybe some rubber snakes.

 

To answer your question, we would leave the compass because we could not trade even, and at this point, not think about the inconsiderate person who will come behind us and leave the golf ball.

 

We do go out of our way to trade even, but I think we are the exception, not the rule. We do not carry swag that expensive with us, probably because we have never seen any swag item nice enough to need it! Also, we DO clean out caches that are absolutely disgusting (gum wrappers, used movie tickets, broken pieces of ?something plastic?... and we have, in turn, added a decent trade item to a cache that had nothing "tradeable" in it, just to give the next person something fun to find. Personally, we feel no guilt over pulling out broken pen caps, and throwing them away, to clean up a cache for the next person.

 

Also, one of our pet peeves is the log that does not say TNLN, but also does not say Took xxx, Left yyy. Having gone to one of our caches after a log like that, we have found the nice stuff we stocked it with gone, and nothing new in the cache. In a way, if the timing is right, you can see exactly who is doing this stuff! We've only placed three caches, and on the first one we were new and naive. We learned our lesson. We filled it with lots of really nice swag (but also included some $1 items) specifically asking the cachers to trade items meant for adults with an item for an adult, and vice versa. That cache was completely stolen (and we don't think it was muggled because it was in an out-of-the way place, and VERY well hidden. Strike One for becoming cynical!)

 

We still add nice (nice = useful, new, and fun) swag to caches, but the highest we will probably go is a $5 gift card for a FTF. Having said that, we did recently buy some $10 geocoins with the intent of leaving them for trade items, knowing full well that they will be taken without anything equivalent left behind.

 

When we first started geocaching last October, this whole issue REALLY bothered us. Eventually, we just got over it, 'cause it just ain't gonna change! But that doesn't mean that we still aren't disappointed that this part of caching, for us, is nonexistent.

[+Walts Hunting]

You can leave as expensive a piece of SWAG as you want. As far as trading. I don't know a single person who still trades.

[+L0ne.R]

...cachers who have posted on this thread should consider yourselves lucky that you live in an area where there are people who actually put thought into swag, and try to add nice things.

 

Oh geez, I hope I'm not coming across as complaining. It's more a head-scratching thing. I appreciate COs who put out decent swag and then replenish the stock from time to time. I like to think I'm one of those COs too, but I think the priciest thing I've left in my cache hides would be $5 items. I think most finders would be carrying trinkets in the price range of $1-$5. Does a CO that leaves a $40 item really expect that someone will be carrying a $40 item to trade? Maybe they do.

[Andronicus]

I used to carrie around a $80 pedomitor (not sure why my wife thought a pedomiter could be worth $80, but that is another story). Gave up on that though. It is now back at home.

[+BlueDeuce]

...cachers who have posted on this thread should consider yourselves lucky that you live in an area where there are people who actually put thought into swag, and try to add nice things.

 

Oh geez, I hope I'm not coming across as complaining. It's more a head-scratching thing. I appreciate COs who put out decent swag and then replenish the stock from time to time. I like to think I'm one of those COs too, but I think the priciest thing I've left in my cache hides would be $5 items. I think most finders would be carrying trinkets in the price range of $1-$5. Does a CO that leaves a $40 item really expect that someone will be carrying a $40 item to trade? Maybe they do.

 

I just have to say that the percentage of people who leave decent swag in my area is probably not much different in DT's area, or anyone else's. Maybe those one or two cachers stand out better in a low cache saturation location.

[+popokiiti]

I got a great earth? magnet from a cache and left a First Nations Spirit Token. I saw the magnet priced at $4.50 in a catalogue when I got home...the token only cost me $2.25. I felt bad, and embarrassed But I love the magnet, and the COs are a great couple...I'll make up for it at another cache of theirs.

On the Salt Spring Island caching trip we did recently, we realised we had forgotten books for a cache, so went into a nearby store and bought some gift certificates. I feel slightly better....

[+StarBrand]

.... I don't know a single person who still trades.

 

Hi my name is Troy aka StarBrand.

 

There you go - now you know 1.

[+Desert_Trailblazers]

...cachers who have posted on this thread should consider yourselves lucky that you live in an area where there are people who actually put thought into swag, and try to add nice things.

 

Oh geez, I hope I'm not coming across as complaining. It's more a head-scratching thing. I appreciate COs who put out decent swag and then replenish the stock from time to time. I like to think I'm one of those COs too, but I think the priciest thing I've left in my cache hides would be $5 items. I think most finders would be carrying trinkets in the price range of $1-$5. Does a CO that leaves a $40 item really expect that someone will be carrying a $40 item to trade? Maybe they do.

 

Oh no, no, no... I never meant to imply that you were complaining... not at all. I was just complaining about our area, and was flabbergasted that there are places where cachers actually put something besides junk in caches as trade items! That's all..

 

I think it would be a very rare cacher who would leave something worth more than $5 as a trade item, and they would probably be considered to be generous, even with that. I have seen caches placed that start out with some extra nice things in it because the CO wants to commemorate something, like an anniversary, or make it a special cache for a holiday. But as was noted earlier, that will eventually degrade down to the plastic worms.

 

My advice to you would be to not lose any sleep over not carrying more than $1 trade items with you. If you run into something very nice, that you really want, follow your conscience... IMHO most items of that caliber are in there because someone wanted to pass on something special, such as a nice geocoin... something commemorating something, or as a FTF gift. If it is a gift, then it is a gift. If it isn't, and you take it, then it would be nice if you at least go back and put something of equal value back in the cache the next day or so. But mostly, I think, even the cacher who leaves an unactivated geocoin has to know that, except for the most scrupulous cacher, it will be taken without an even trade, and they just want someone to have a nice find, or as someone put it, play GeoSanta. After all... for some of us, there is some fun in doing that occasionally too!

[+Desert_Trailblazers]

As far as trading. I don't know a single person who still trades.

 

Hi, my name is Joanna... now you know two.

[+Desert_Trailblazers]

One other way to look this is that a smart shopper can find nice things that are not expensive. I unearthed this post that I made last year on a thread called "Lame Swag," trying to make the point that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get useful, appreciated, fun things for trade items. I get so tired of finding trade items that have no use other than to pass on to someone else. I'll add this, and then I'll shut up

 

"However! Doesn't every city of some size have an equivalent to a $.99 store, a MacFrugals, or, at the very least, even in the smaller towns, a WalMart? We have found that it is not difficult at all to find items for $1 or less to use for trade. As an example (and these were all $1):

 

Adults

Combination locks (for luggage or computer bags)

Small padlocks with keys (all kinds of uses)

Small tape measures (I know I can never have enough of these, because I keep losing the small ones!)

Earbuds (primarily for Ipods, but could also be used for laptops or radio headphone jacks)

Folding Reading Glasses (This was my personal favorite because I'm over 40! Seriously, their regular price was labeled as $9.99, and they even came with a nice little case for them. Folded, they are very small.)

Mechanical Pencils (found a package of 6 for $.99 - this makes each one cost about $.17)

Nice ball point pens (same deal as above)

Various versions of Post It Notes (all different sizes, including the little strip ones to use for page markers - probably best used during the cool time of year because of adhesive, but should be fine then)

Mini LED Clip Light (batteries included! cute and tiny little guy with super bright light - good for campers, traveling, book light, cars, etc.)

LED Pen Light with Key Chain (again, batteries included. Great for packs, purses, car or house key chains)

Cloisonne' Picture Frame (beautiful finish with clip and stand on back and only 1" by 2")

AA Batteries (the good 'ol standby)

Art Quality White Soft Erasers (package of 6, again making them about $.17 each)

Costume Jewelry (This category is endless - earrings, bracelets, necklaces. Some were tacky, but we looked a little, and some were nice enough to meet just about anyone's standards - especially teenage girls)

Silver Dollar (self explanatory)

Shoe Shine Sponge (only about 2" x 1" with case - good for touching up nice shoes that need a little shine)

Covered Elastic Ponytail holders (anywhere from 12 to 24 on a card)

Attractive Hair Barrets (the nice ones with the good clips and tasteful designs - large enough to hold a ponytail (the fancy ones were $1 each, but some of the tortoise shell colored ones came in 4 packs ($.25 each)

Small Calculator (batteries included)

 

I could go on but you get the idea. The thing with all of the above items is that at least they are useful, and most would appeal to somebody.

 

For a little more: WalMart has really very nice earrings and bracelets for $3; Bargain CDs for $3 (and good artists - maybe not the best recording studio, but fine for a portable system or small player); Waterproof Match Containers for less than $2 that could not only be filled with another surprise, but used again as a micro cache; small, thin, little harcover pocket books (3"x3") for less than $2 with topics ranging from spiritual quotes to funny photos of animals with captions - something to make someone smile; Duncan Yo-Yos for $3 (what kid wouldn't like to get a Yo-Yo, and probably some adults too!)

 

And just a sampling for the kids, we found a package of 4 Tinkerbell or Winnie the Pooh Memo Pads (cute shapes, colorful, and lots of paper in each one (2"x2") for $1. (That's $.25 each.) A package of 5, 1.5"x1.5", round Disney character pencil sharpener boxes for $1 (that's $.20 each); the $.99 store had matchbox-type cars; very nice quality, large, acrylic Spiderman and The Hulk keychains; package of 5 Micky Mouse pens (heck, I'd use a Mickey Mouse pen! laughing.gif that's $.20 ea.)"

 

Anyway, this is what we do. We don't scrounge around the house to find stuff that is used and we are about to throw away. We do buy stuff specifically for trade items, but we try to make it good. We left one of those little LED clip lights in one of our caches, and a cacher who found it wrote that he wanted it so much that he walked all the way back to his truck to get some swag to trade for it, and it only cost $1! Part of the beauty of geocaching, especially in this economy, it that it it very, very inexpensive entertainment. As one little boy in Mexico said, when he was trying to sell us something, "so cheap, almost free!"

[+power69]

that's why i carry a vcr/dvd combo... that burns dvds.

 

'cept i never find a cache big enough for it.

 

oh... i have seen a cache or two that have advertised nicer items when they are set out. i've gone out looking for them only to be the second one to find it... and find a golf ball... or a bottle cap left by the FTF.

 

really sucks. not that i was going to do much better - maglite or a headlamp is about where i am at for the "value swag" that i carry.

they figure it was a ftf prize and dont gotta trade.

[Luckless]

The purpose of trade even, trade up is to make sure the person who comes after you finds a cache that is as nice or better than the one you found. We all know how the cache can degrade when people take the good stuff and leave something of little or no value. You should always try to leave a cache as good or better than you found it for the next person.

 

As to the question about how expensive is too expensive, I don't think swag can be too expensive but remember, you are leaving things in a cache out in the elements. I know people say trade up trade even or don't trade, but nice items can degrade over time sitting in a cache out in the elements and just from cachers rooting around in the container. I would rather see the nice items taken instead of left for a couple of years in a cache. If you're caching and you intend to trade then take a minute to look at the things you intend to take with you to trade. Are they nice items? By that I mean small toys- preferrably new, not dirty or broken, playing cards, camping and travel items like insecticide wipes, travel sewing kits, small flashlights, small books of jokes, unique signature items like pencils or pens with your slogan (not poker chips or laminated cards), eyeglass lens wipes, etc.. Do you have a few really nice items that maybe you got on sale for a super bargain price that you could leave in a cache for a special surprise trade? Why not leave that special something once in a while?

 

I'll look in bargain bins at stores. I also look at garage sales where I've gotten small used plastic toys which I sterilize by scrubbing with soapy water, rinsing with water and a little bleach added and then pouring boiling hot water over and wrapping in plastic to stay clean. Rummage sales are also where I have found happy meal toys (25 cents)still in their packages (just the way others like them), jewelry and collectibles. If you can make nice items (something you might see at a craft fair) then great. Many people love that uniquely crafted item. I've been contemplating making hacky sacks or potholders with the geocaching logo.

 

Yes I've found that cache with the broken sea shell (seems like they are always broken), poker chip with someone's name on it, plastic laminated personal sig card, chocolate bar wrapper, keychain for Bob's eatery, dirty plastic cow figurine, damp log, leaves and mud. I'll take the cache, empty it out and clean out the dirt and leaves, wipe any dirt from the keychain and poker chip and laminated sig items and return them to the container, CITO the candy wrapper and sea shell, take the dirty plastic cow figurine home to clean, sterilize, and put in another cache, Then I'll dip into my collection of stuff from bargain bins, rummage sale items and cleaned up swag from other caches and put a few in the cache along with a pencil to sign the log and even a new log if the old one is too damp. This way hopefully the cache will start to improve.

 

I don't make a point of taking something from a cache if I can't trade for it, but I don't feel bad if I take an expensive item from a cache and I don't exactly have something of equal value because I know that I will get a more costly item to put in the next cache to surprise someone and make up for it.

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

A good rule of thumb for cache hiders is 'Hide what you like to find'.

 

Apply that to swag... Leave (trade) what you would like to find.

 

I suspect that for most of us this would mean leaving something nicer than we took, but so what?

 

Maybe our trade items should make a statement about us rather than about what we traded for.

[+lavender5215]

I dont generally carry anything worth over $5.00 US, actually right now in my swag the most expensive item is worth $1.50 US. If I ever came upon something as awesome as what was listed is the OP I would go home to find something to trade. If home was too far away i would search my car, or if I was desperate enough I would hit a store and buy something worth trading, which sounds silly but its a possibility. If I were heading out to a cache that contains items ranging from $1-40.00 US I would hope that info was posted on the cache page so I could be prepared when I get there.

 

JMHO

Edited May 15, 2010 by lavender5215

[+roziecakes]

We only trade once in a while. In my case, I'm not terribly attached to material items and I only like to have what I really need or use in my life, so if I do trade it's for practical items that I can use while caching, hiking, or otherwise being outdoors.

 

However, we do leave a lot of good swag, just because we like doing it. We try to leave practical stuff or toys that we think kids would really like.

 

Actually, the main reason I do that is because of this forum and reading a thread like this last year. I realized that if I complain about swag and don't trade or leave anything I'm just contributing to the problem, so I don't mind being geo-santa once in a while. Do I think everyone has to do that? No, of course not. The only thing that really bothers me are people who complain but don't do anything to make it better.

 

My favorite pieces of swag that we left were in the large that we own. We put in two nice big toy semi trucks. They were really awesome and had opening doors and nice paint, etc.

 

I loved reading the log that followed. Some grandparents took their 3 and 4 year old grandsons caching with them who just loved the trucks. I could imagine their eyes lighting up, and I felt good to contribute something nice to caching.

[Andronicus]

A good rule of thumb for cache hiders is 'Hide what you like to find'.

 

Apply that to swag... Leave (trade) what you would like to find.

 

I suspect that for most of us this would mean leaving something nicer than we took, but so what?

 

Maybe our trade items should make a statement about us rather than about what we traded for.

When I am caching without my kids, I almost never trade. However, I often leave something (PEZ machine, LED keychain flashlight etc.)

[+Chokecherry]

I bought what I like to find and can afford to give away in more than one cache. And yeah they're little toys from a popular party favor type of magazine but I got the toys that I liked best and said the most about me and the people I cache with. They likely won't have that much meaning to the people that find them but I tried.

 

I'm always interested to see what people are leaving as swag in caches not so much that I want it but just to see what other people's ideas are and what it says about them. I got a Chaka Khan CD out of a cache and yesterday I rescued a book out of a cache (which I traded for with a plethora of my little toys).

 

I likely wouldn't take anything really expensive out of caches. A big thing up here is to put new rapala lures in to caches and I don't have anything on me worth $10 to replace that lure with so I don't take them.

 

Anyhow, if something grabs me I'll trade for it. Else if I can fit stuff in a cache I'll add a little here and there. Other than path tags I'm not really seeking out anything in particular.

[+TeamAroo]

Interesting thread. My wife and I have just begun the sport and we are amazed at the 'swag' left. I've found bent bottle caps, golf balls with smiles on them (slided through the skin), rocks, faded pogos and so on.

 

So far we've not taken anything but have left somethings depending upon the cache such as keychains etc.

 

I've also found a lot of caches that aren't updated when a TB is removed but that's another story for another time.

[+peifamily]

I don't know a single person who still trades.

 

Now you know three

 

We carry a zippered bag of mixed stuff and have 2 grocery bags of other swag in the vehicle for when our bag gets low. lately we have found a few caches with very low stock so we use the extra bags to replenish them.

[+The Jester]

I carry unactivated geocoins. Every once in a blue moon I find an item of equal value to trade for.

 

My experience in leaving those coins in caches is that they're always taken, and never traded for. I suspect this is true generally of swag worth much more than $5, but particularly of geocoins.

 

I wouldn't trade for the compass because I don't need one, and it wouldn't worry me in the slightest.

Do you mark them as unactivated? I grabbed one from a cache recently thinking it was a traveler, only to find out that it hadn't been activated. So what I picked up as a TB (no trade needed) became an unbalanced trade (took but didn't leave).

[+bittsen]

I don't know a single person who still trades.

 

And now you know four.

 

I don't carry "expensive" swag with me unless you count the camera filters that would cost someone over $25. Most of what I carry is either giveaway stuff (I just add it to caches that need it) or items I got for a buck off of Ebay (Value is about $5 each but I only paid a buck). I trade for dollar and less valued items most of the time. I only trade up if possible. If not then it's just traded even. And, I have actually traded cash once. Something I really liked and I had no trade items so I left money. I still feel bad about it.

[+roziecakes]

I don't know a single person who still trades.

 

And now you know four.

 

I don't carry "expensive" swag with me unless you count the camera filters that would cost someone over $25. Most of what I carry is either giveaway stuff (I just add it to caches that need it) or items I got for a buck off of Ebay (Value is about $5 each but I only paid a buck). I trade for dollar and less valued items most of the time. I only trade up if possible. If not then it's just traded even. And, I have actually traded cash once. Something I really liked and I had no trade items so I left money. I still feel bad about it.

 

Ooh... I would have never thought to buy swag items on ebay. What a good idea!!!

[+bittsen]

I don't know a single person who still trades.

 

And now you know four.

 

I don't carry "expensive" swag with me unless you count the camera filters that would cost someone over $25. Most of what I carry is either giveaway stuff (I just add it to caches that need it) or items I got for a buck off of Ebay (Value is about $5 each but I only paid a buck). I trade for dollar and less valued items most of the time. I only trade up if possible. If not then it's just traded even. And, I have actually traded cash once. Something I really liked and I had no trade items so I left money. I still feel bad about it.

 

Ooh... I would have never thought to buy swag items on ebay. What a good idea!!!

 

I have a search string for the best deal...

[+roziecakes]

I don't know a single person who still trades.

 

And now you know four.

 

I don't carry "expensive" swag with me unless you count the camera filters that would cost someone over $25. Most of what I carry is either giveaway stuff (I just add it to caches that need it) or items I got for a buck off of Ebay (Value is about $5 each but I only paid a buck). I trade for dollar and less valued items most of the time. I only trade up if possible. If not then it's just traded even. And, I have actually traded cash once. Something I really liked and I had no trade items so I left money. I still feel bad about it.

 

Ooh... I would have never thought to buy swag items on ebay. What a good idea!!!

 

I have a search string for the best deal...

 

Oh?

[+Proud Soccer Mom]

I haven't read all the comments in this thread but my two cents on trading with expensive items is that when I do drop in an extensive item, I don't announce it online. When I have, people will just go pick up whatever it was from the cache (sometimes not even bother to leave something, forget trade even/trade up!). By not announcing the item, only genuine cachers hunting the cache will have the opportunity to trade for the item (and would probably do so earnestly).

 

I'd be afraid that designating a cache as a higher-value swag cache would invite these kinds of greedy people. If it works in some areas, that's great and I'm glad to hear it!

[erinfey]

.... I don't know a single person who still trades.

 

Hi my name is Troy aka StarBrand.

 

There you go - now you know 1.

 

I am Erinfey. Jen to my friends We still trade and try to trade up.

[+Catlon]

My very first cache I placed back in '04 was a large ammo box seeded with about $120 worth of quality stuff. The good stuff stayed there for awhile as cachers refused to trade. They didn't have anything of value on their person to trade. Eventually quality things were traded, but the value of the quality also diminished over time, until it finally held only McGeo junk. It is now archived, but not for that reason.

 

Every cache I have placed since then has contained lesser quality swag, but in no case have I ever placed "junk" in my caches. And personally, I do not trade. I just enjoy having nice things in my caches for others.

[+CanDMan47]

I don't trade unless my daughter is with me. I do leave things without taking anything about 25% of the time. I usually leave cheaper, but in new condition stuff. Never anything I got for free for buying food.

 

I have just recently tried to start a new initiative in my area to improve the swag. I know, and knew, I am probably fighting a losing battle, but my hope is that if people start finding better stuff they will start leaving better stuff. I am hoping for a sort of "pay it forward" approach. In caches that I really enjoy finding I leave more expensive items. So far I have left my old iPod, my last digital camera, and a couple other things that I no longer need because I have upgraded. I could sell these things on ebay or at a garage sale, but why not give them to the geocaching community that I am now a part of.

 

I'll be perfectly honest with you,though. Although I have never done this, but if I found something in a cache that I absolutely want/needed, and didn't have a equal or better trade with me, I would take it and repay it later at another cache. So far that hasn't come up because I have never seen anything I couldn't do without.

[+dorqie]

actually since reading the forums I never botherd trading.

I just kinda figured, I don't want "stuff" as I'm a minimalist.

But reading how others really like swag, and how creative people are getting I have started leaving nice things, and clearing out junky ones.

I'll leave some nice things in the package, like new earbuds, flashlights and other small things, and take out the golf ball, or the bottle cap.

[+Coldgears]

I don't trade if I don't have something even! There was a music themed cache in my area, some local band put there CD in there... I was DIEING to listen to it (I love the metal genre, and the fact it was a local band made it better) Sadly, I had nothing of equal value to trade. I'll think about going back though with something to trade...

 

Personally, I'd rather people not stock there caches with things worth monetary value, a $1 "thing" from the dollar store is completely meh to me. What I want is more homemade stuff. Like homemade beaded jewerly, CD from your local band (like mentioned above), homemade bookmarks, Pottery you made. That stuff has true meaning, I can't buy that stuff for $1!

[drewmm]

My girlfriend and I are still pretty new to this. Sometimes we'll trade plastic toys for other plastic toys, with no intention of keeping them: just moving things around between caches. I also just bought $3 worth of stuff from the local dollar store to add to the SWAG piling up in my car. Personally, I drop the cheap things that might be fun for kids in the caches that kids are likely to find. I see swag as mostly for them. If a cache is low we'll also replenish it with cheap but fun things, just so there's more to trade.