What does everyone do with swag collected?

[+Sillywhippet]

Being very new to geocaching (we have only found 15) I'm not sure what to do with swag we've collected. They are low value items which we've swopped with other items. So far we've kept all the swag we have collected but as time goes on the amount could grow quite a bit.

 

So what to you do. Do you drop it off at other caches, tag it with the date and location or just charity shop it once the kids are no longer interested in it?

 

Love to hear what others do.

[+StarBrand]

I keep it and use it. Let my kids play with it. Trade into the next cache.

 

I have only collected folks signature items and only for the last 2 years or so.

[+mpilchfamily]

Just because swag is there doesn't mean you have take/trade for any of it. Only take the things you like. The only time i trade for swag is when my son is with me. Then we trade out for something he likes. There have only been a couple of occasions where i've traded for something i wanted.

 

Just to be clear if you want an item then you have to trade equal or up for it. I don't want to be misunderstood here. I'm not suggesting you just take items from a cache. Items don't have to be taken from the cache.

[+MoonCatKDT & Peanut]

When I do trade for something, it's something I want. So like the glass zipper pulls, little compasses or other sig items I always grab up, but little toys etc i leave behind so they don't clutter up my house.

 

If i don't use stuff i use it as swag in the next cache i find.

[normastitz]

I like swag but admit I think its more for the kids. I am going to start putting some of my hand made jewellery in caches just cos I think it will be a bit different!

I can't see the point of swapping and then just collecting swag unless it has memories attached.

[+BCandMsKitty]

If you have swapped out something, and then the kids are tired of it, and it hasn't become junk, then trade it out, or just drop it in another cache. Even if you don't take anything. It might help a cache that's getting depleted.

[+briansnat]

If it is something that can be useful to me I keep it and use it. If it's something that can be useful to someone else, I keep it and put it in my own caches, or use it when I swap.

 

If it's junk I don't bother trading.

[+jmw61]

I trade signature items only these days and I keep them just cuz....... I have some other swag of various types that I collected while on a 1.5 year long road trip. Those items have specific memories for me that I want to hang onto...

[+kunarion]

So what to you do. Do you drop it off at other caches, tag it with the date and location or just charity shop it once the kids are no longer interested in it?

I often don't take anything out of a cache. But if I do, it ends up in another. I've set up a couple of "regular-size" caches recently, so now any leftovers may go into them.

 

If you find a container rather low on Swag, you could ask the kids to place a couple of those extra items into it.

[+briansnat]

I've known geocachers who collect all the swag they've picked up and display it on a shelf.

[+wolf9545]

When we find some swag in caches we will take them, of course leave other items, and keep them if we like it. Of course most of the swag we find is more geared for kids but it is fun to show other people the items we find while out geocaching.

[Dj Storm]

I've known geocachers who collect all the swag they've picked up and display it on a shelf.

 

I'm one of those. If the cache has swag, I swap it out with something I carry, then put it in a box at home. Started doing it from the first cache I found back in 2006.

Since the swag is for collection purpose, it doesn't have to be functional or something I need/like. When trading I choose a small piece of somewhat unique swag - don't want to have two or more identical pieces in my collection.

[+Thrak]

Wow! Swag in a cache. It's been so long...........

 

I used to find caches with swag in them but, anymore, it seems as if all that's ever hidden is micro caches. I miss the days of regular-sized caches. I still quite often carry my caching bag along with me and it has swag in it to exchange in case I find something I like in a cache but it's gotten so rare to actually find a cache with swag that the bag is almost an anachronism these days.

 

When caching out of state I often leave one of my Thrak buttons in caches if they are of a size to hold swag. If you find one of these fabulous items feel free to take it and display it as the treasure it is!

 

I do have some stuff I've collected over the years but it isn't displayed. I have some sig items from cachers who have since passed away. When I see them they can bring a smile to my face remembering the fine folks who left them.

[+Nelmel]

Couple questions related here:

 

1. What is SWAG?

 

2. What are sig items?

 

3. And how the heck do I get my avatar to show up? I've put in a couple of photos (w/correct dimensions) and still no avatar. Any ideas?

/

 

 

Thanks

 

nelmel

Edited March 17, 2011 by Nelmel

[+popokiiti]

The only thing I have kept that I traded for is an earth magnet that looks like a larger thumb tack. It is great for keeping a calendar up on the filing cabinet next to the computer....most times we don't trade, or just leave something.

[+BuckeyeClan]

Couple questions related here:

 

1. What is SWAG?

 

2. What are sig items?

 

3. And how the heck do I get my avatar to show up? I've put in a couple of photos (w/correct dimensions) and still no avatar. Any ideas?

/

 

 

Thanks

 

nelmel

 

1. Swag is just what people call the trinkets and stuff that they trade for when they geocache.

 

2. Sig (signature) items are just personalized pieces of swag. Sometimes they are hand-made items, sometimes just purchased items that mean something to that cacher. Usually they label it with their caching name so other cachers know who it is from. You can trade for a sig item just like any other bit of swag.

 

3. Try logging out of the forums, and then back in again.

[+BuckeyeClan]

My kids trade for toys and whatever else interests them, and they generally keep that stuff. We (the adults) only trade for signature items. I have a little basket sitting by the computer where I keep it--nothing fancy!

[+WRASTRO]

I operate a thriving eBay business selling all of the SWAG I have plundered from caches over the years. I believe my gross sales after 7 plus years are approaching $10.00!

 

In the real world of caching I rarely trade any SWAG but I do carry bags of non-broken stuff to leave in depleted caches.

[+Running Crazy]

I generally don't take any swag, but our daughter does and she typically only takes something if it interests her. I like to find, move, and discover trackables.

[+knowltonGeo]

I keep it and use it. Let my kids play with it. Trade into the next cache.

 

I have only collected folks signature items and only for the last 2 years or so.

 

Please tell us more about this kind of swag.

 

I have sometimes thought of collecting and / or making swag that is unique. Not expensive, but just unique and interesting.

[+Thrak]

I keep it and use it. Let my kids play with it. Trade into the next cache.

 

I have only collected folks signature items and only for the last 2 years or so.

 

Please tell us more about this kind of swag.

 

I have sometimes thought of collecting and / or making swag that is unique. Not expensive, but just unique and interesting.

 

Sig item I sometimes leave when caching out of state or far from home:

 

Hmmmmmmm.......... It says I can't insert a .jpg image? When did that change?

 

Thrak Button

[+BuckeyeClan]

I keep it and use it. Let my kids play with it. Trade into the next cache.

 

I have only collected folks signature items and only for the last 2 years or so.

 

Please tell us more about this kind of swag.

 

I have sometimes thought of collecting and / or making swag that is unique. Not expensive, but just unique and interesting.

 

Here's a link to a forum thread with lots of sig item examples. It's fun to look at all the things people create!

[+LizzyHoops]

I only trade for bouncy balls and bracelets. I keep those. I always carry some of my handmade bracelets and somestimes some dollar store kiddie swag which I leave even if I don't take something.. For kids whom lose interest in things fast i suggest you make each one a swag bag, start them off with a few items from the dollar store or encourage them tong through their room and look for trinkets that are in good shape that they are non longer interested in. Keep all these items in a bag and have the kids trade from their own bag, that way you aren't constantly buying new swag while the kids continue to accumulate junk. Recycle!

[+simpjkee]

I don't trade much but I do keep a 'gallon sized Ziploc swag bag'. When I'm preparing to place a new cache I'll go to the swag bag and start loading the new cache up from there.

[+Sillywhippet]

I keep it and use it. Let my kids play with it. Trade into the next cache.

 

I have only collected folks signature items and only for the last 2 years or so.

 

Please tell us more about this kind of swag.

 

I have sometimes thought of collecting and / or making swag that is unique. Not expensive, but just unique and interesting.

 

Here's a link to a forum thread with lots of sig item examples. It's fun to look at all the things people create!

 

Wow, they are really inpiring sig items. Makes me want to make some.

 

In the meantime, I have a bag of things to leave and the swag collected is now in a basket being slowly added to. At the moment it is treated a bit like finding treasure so has to be kept! Although my kids don't feel compelled to take anything everytime they find a cache. I am looking forward to one day finding something a bit more interesting than kids toys, especially some sig. items!

[+The Blorenges]

If the cache is large enough, we always put something into it but these days I only take a swag item if it's predominantly (Bl)orenge.

 

MrsB

[+Lovey Pigs]

we found an old wood box (treasure chest) with a lid and have kept most our cache swag in this box and has been fun to go through it for fun memories.