Found a cache that needs help

[+Davequal]

Back on the 30th of June the wife and I set out to do a little caching in town. When we got to the third on our list, I quickly spotted it scattered all over the ground.

 

I gathered up the contents, log book, pen and some swag for the little ones. I brought it home with me, seeing that I am the next town over from the owner. I promptly posted a NM log on the cache page AND sent an e-mail to the owner of the cache via the log page,asking for them to contact me to arrange pick up of the cache.

 

I have not heard back from them. I understand it is a holiday weekend and all, but was activity from them as of yesterday.

 

I guess my question is how long do I wait before I try and contact them again ?

[+Bear and Ragged]

At least until the end of the holiday weekend.

Better yet, at least a week.

 

If after a month, and there is no response, I'd consider a "Needs Archived" log, due to 'Lack of Maintenance...

 

If you're worried about posting NA, contact your local reviewer with the information by email.

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

Not only what the Bear said... BUT the cache is not in place... YOU have it! I suppose that lines it up for a few DNF logs, right?

[+Davequal]

I thought a week was good as well. Glad I was right on target.

 

If you don't mind what is " posting NA " ?

 

How do I find the local reviewer information ??

[+Bear and Ragged]

I thought a week was good as well. Glad I was right on target.

 

If you don't mind what is " posting NA " ?

 

How do I find the local reviewer information ??

NA = Needs Archived.

 

Local Reviewer, check who has published the caches in your area, it's the first log (at the bottom) on the cache page.

 

It will also include a link to their profile, from where you can contact them.

[+Davequal]

Not only what the Bear said... BUT the cache is not in place... YOU have it! I suppose that lines it up for a few DNF logs, right?

 

Well was it wrong of me to take it ? This cache was located in a hi muggle area. I thought I used my better judgement by collecting it.

[+Davequal]

I thought a week was good as well. Glad I was right on target.

 

If you don't mind what is " posting NA " ?

 

How do I find the local reviewer information ??

NA = Needs Archived.

 

Local Reviewer, check who has published the caches in your area, it's the first log (at the bottom) on the cache page.

 

It will also include a link to their profile, from where you can contact them.

 

Thanks. I just thought of how to contact the reviewer. I have 1 cache of my own.

[+Bear and Ragged]

If you are not sure where it came from.

You have offered to meet up with the cache owner to hand it back.

 

I can't see that you've 'done anything wrong' with what you did.

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

Not only what the Bear said... BUT the cache is not in place... YOU have it! I suppose that lines it up for a few DNF logs, right?

 

Well was it wrong of me to take it ? This cache was located in a hi muggle area. I thought I used my better judgement by collecting it.

 

Perhaps not "wrong"..... but there are other cachers out there, some of whom may very well be looking for this particular cache. Not being the CO (cache owner), you have no way of disabling it, so others know it isn't there!

 

I think the "better" choice would have been to reassemble it, and leave it. The rest of the follow-up should continue as per above posts.

[AZcachemeister]

I agree that it probably would have been better to re-hide the cache as best you could, in the most likely location.

After you collected any trackables, of course!

 

Posting a log describing the situation should minimize any problems with those following you.

[+Davequal]

Well there is a log clearly posted that the cache is not there. I will give it a few more days then contact the local reviewer and advise them of the situation and proceed from there.

[+dorqie]

Not only what the Bear said... BUT the cache is not in place... YOU have it! I suppose that lines it up for a few DNF logs, right?

 

Well was it wrong of me to take it ? This cache was located in a hi muggle area. I thought I used my better judgement by collecting it.

I'm not going to say you were wrong, but I wouldn't have taken it.

I would have just gathered it up, rehid it at GZ and posted a NM log explaining the caches condition.

[+niraD]

Well was it wrong of me to take it ? This cache was located in a hi muggle area. I thought I used my better judgement by collecting it.

I reread this thread, and I don't think I have enough information to make that call.

 

There are times when you need to make an exception to the normal "return the geocache to its original location" rule. A couple times, I've found caches out in the open, and then re-hid them as best I could based on the hint. Once, while I was back in my car signing the log, private security personnel showed up to deal with an unrelated matter right on top of the hide location; I had to leave before they were done, so I took the cache with me and brought it back later that evening after my meeting (and after the security personnel were gone). Once, the camouflage broke while I was replacing the cache, and I couldn't figure out how to re-hide the cache without the broken camouflage; I posted NM immediately and emailed the CO with the details, and we worked out the replacement of the cache. In all these cases, I've let the CO know what happened.

 

If you don't think you could have re-hidden the cache properly, then I'd say that taking it with you and contacting the CO is probably the best thing you could have done. You're the one with the information to make that decision.

[7rxc]

Back on the 30th of June the wife and I set out to do a little caching in town. When we got to the third on our list, I quickly spotted it scattered all over the ground.

 

I gathered up the contents, log book, pen and some swag for the little ones. I brought it home with me, seeing that I am the next town over from the owner. I promptly posted a NM log on the cache page AND sent an e-mail to the owner of the cache via the log page,asking for them to contact me to arrange pick up of the cache.

 

I have not heard back from them. I understand it is a holiday weekend and all, but was activity from them as of yesterday.

 

I guess my question is how long do I wait before I try and contact them again ?

I'm a bit tired tonight... was there a container? One place you say 'the contents' and another 'the cache'. The lack of a container might sway the decision. On a complete but messed up cache, the conceal in place method might work as preferable.

I'm a bit tossed since there are many variables involved. Did it look like it was human dumped or by a critter of some sort?

Most important is that you took some action to preserve the cache and log. The actual method isn't so important to me.

We will see what the owner does/doesn't do, soon I guess.

 

Doug 7rxc

[+Davequal]

Just to give all an update. I notified my local reviewer with the details. I will let you all know what they say.

[+Davequal]

This is the copied text from the e-mail I just got.

 

The cache belongs to wonder(alice)land. Last I heard she was fairly

active. I'd send her another note and give it some more time. I will

go ahead and disable the cache so others don't try and find it.

Technically, it is her property and Groundspeak considers it hers.

That said, I think a couple of emails and a few weeks is a very

reasonable effort at attempting to get it back to her. After that, I

would personally recycle it out as another cache or throw it away

depending on the condition. If I was feeling really good natured, had

the free time and thought it was an exceptional hide or location, I

would place a cache in the same place as I best thought the CO

intended.

[+Davequal]

Just to put this to bed, cache was returned to the owner tonight.

[+briansnat]

Not only what the Bear said... BUT the cache is not in place... YOU have it! I suppose that lines it up for a few DNF logs, right?

 

Well was it wrong of me to take it ? This cache was located in a hi muggle area. I thought I used my better judgement by collecting it.

I'm not going to say you were wrong, but I wouldn't have taken it.

I would have just gathered it up, rehid it at GZ and posted a NM log explaining the caches condition.

 

Leaving it and posting a NM is probably what I would have done.

Edited July 12, 2011 by briansnat

[+Sol seaker]

Me too. I would have left it in the most likely hiding spot and posted a "needs maintenance".

 

I think Kudos are in order for the thread owner here, because he did a good thing by doing what he thought right (which was a fine response to the situation) contacted these forums for more info and followed through on getting the cache back to the owner.

 

Good job!!

 

thank you for caring enough to see that the cache continued!! and for doing something about making that happen!!

[GOF and Bacall]

Well there is a log clearly posted that the cache is not there. I will give it a few more days then contact the local reviewer and advise them of the situation and proceed from there.

 

With PQs and all it is possible that other cachers will not have your log to guide them. I am NOT saying that you were wrong. Just pointing out one of the variables.

[+AlohaBra and MaksMom]

I agree that it probably would have been better to re-hide the cache as best you could, in the most likely location.

After you collected any trackables, of course!

 

Posting a log describing the situation should minimize any problems with those following you.

I have done this once...gone back with a container that I did not need and rehid the cache with the salvageable contents. It is still there. It is a neighbor to one of my caches.