Self promotion?

[TheChallengeGuy]

Hey gang,

 

Just discovered this amazing fun today, but still don't know all the etiquette issues.

 

So, here's my question:

 

Can I leave samples of a product I sell?

And business cards?

Is that frowned upon at all?

 

Thanks!

Edited May 27, 2012 by TheChallengeGuy

[+Cool Cow Cachers]

2.1.4. Solicitation and Commercial Content

 

1. Geocaches do not solicit for any purpose. Cache listings perceived to be posted for religious, political, charitable or social agendas are not permitted. Geocaching is intended to be an enjoyable, family-friendly hobby, not a platform for an agenda. Cache pages cannot require, and should not strongly encourage, the placement of new caches. This is considered an agenda and the listing will not be publishable.

2. Commercial caches are disallowed. Cache listings perceived as commercial will not be published. A commercial cache listing has one or more of the following characteristics:

1. It has overtones of advertising, marketing or promotion.

2. It suggests or requires that the finder go inside a business, interact with employees and/or purchase a product or service.

3. It contains links to businesses, commercial advertisers, charities, or political or social agendas.

4. It contains the logo of a business or organization, including non-profit organizations.

5.It contains the name of a business or commercial product.

6. On very rare occasions, Groundspeak partners with an organization to publish a sponsored cache, or series of sponsored caches. This occurs solely at Groundspeak's invitation and/or discretion.

[+popokiiti]

I wouldn't leave business cards as that will be construed as advertising. Same with product samples as they usually have the business/contact person listed.

[jholly]

2.1.4. Solicitation and Commercial Content

 

1. Geocaches do not solicit for any purpose. Cache listings perceived to be posted for religious, political, charitable or social agendas are not permitted. Geocaching is intended to be an enjoyable, family-friendly hobby, not a platform for an agenda. Cache pages cannot require, and should not strongly encourage, the placement of new caches. This is considered an agenda and the listing will not be publishable.

2. Commercial caches are disallowed. Cache listings perceived as commercial will not be published. A commercial cache listing has one or more of the following characteristics:

1. It has overtones of advertising, marketing or promotion.

2. It suggests or requires that the finder go inside a business, interact with employees and/or purchase a product or service.

3. It contains links to businesses, commercial advertisers, charities, or political or social agendas.

4. It contains the logo of a business or organization, including non-profit organizations.

5.It contains the name of a business or commercial product.

6. On very rare occasions, Groundspeak partners with an organization to publish a sponsored cache, or series of sponsored caches. This occurs solely at Groundspeak's invitation and/or discretion.

That applies to the cache listing, not the contents of the cache. Cache listings also can not have an agenda, but a cache can be located on a church ground and stuffed with religious tracts. Tacky? yes, wrong? no. If I find a cache stuffed with business cards I do the CO a favor and clean the trash out of his cache. As for the product, it must be small, not many 50 cal ammo can caches floating around these days.

[+tozainamboku]

While geocaches should not be commercial the rules for swag are a bit different. After all many have gotten free samples or some item with a company name on it and left it in a cache.

 

While there is no way to control what someone leaves in a cache, there are certain items that cachers are asked not to leave and which may cause a cache to be disabled if not removed. There are listed in the cache placement guidelines. Briefly the following items are forbidden: Explosives, fireworks, ammunition, lighters, knives (including pocket knives and multi-tools), drugs, alcohol and any illicit material. In addition, since food and scented items attract wildlife and animals have been know to destroy caches to get at food, food and other scented items should never be left in caches.

 

You didn't say what your business is, so it isn't clear if your free samples are appropriate for leaving in a cache or not.

 

Many people do leave their business cards. Some cachers frown on this and think it is tacky. But if your business is one that cachers would be interested, who knows. The card could be useful to someone who finds the cache.

[+Mr. Wilson & a Mt. Goat]

What is the product exactly?

[+Ohiosiouxfan]

I don't have the citation handy, but I believe it would be not well received if it's overtly advertising. I've seen business cards (as opposed to a cacher's signature item card) in caches, and have noted that they generally end up at the bottom of the container - no one takes them. But leaving samples of a product may be permitted as swag I suppose, depending how it's done. Let's say, for example, you make and sell small items of jewelry or something. I would think it would be okay to leave a sample of it as swag in a plastic package. I'm sure there are other items that get closer to the line of purely advertising. Would tossing in a business personalized pen from your business be okay? I'm not sure, but I've seen a couple of those in a cache before.

[+The_Incredibles_]

Geocaching is supposed to be non-commerical.

 

I have never found samples in a cache but I don't think I would appreciate it. I don't like seeing business cards either. If I find one in a cache, I remove it. Sorry, maybe not the answer you wanted!

[AZcachemeister]

Brochures and business cards eventually get tattered and pretty-much useless and tossed out.

Promotional items that have a company logo (or similar) are a bit better since they have a use other than pure advertising. Pens top the list here.

Samples of a product that might interest me could be a good thing, but if it doesn't interest me it is just so much trash cluttering the cache contents.

 

Chances are pretty slim that your product will actually interest me.

 

Despite all that, there is no restriction on leaving promotional items in a cache. (Assuming you are not promoting blasting materials, a porn site, or a new type of 'spirituous beverage')

[+GeoTrekker26]

Hey gang,

 

Just discovered this amazing fun today, but still don't know all the etiquette issues.

 

So, here's my question:

 

Can I leave samples of a product I sell?

And business cards?

Is that frowned upon at all?

 

Thanks!

 

If you work for Bison Designs feel free to leave all the samples you want.

Edited May 27, 2012 by GeoTrekker26

[+Don_J]

Hey gang,

 

Just discovered this amazing fun today, but still don't know all the etiquette issues.

 

So, here's my question:

 

Can I leave samples of a product I sell?

And business cards?

Is that frowned upon at all?

 

Thanks!

 

The simple answer is, yes you can. However, it is not likely that any regular member of this forum would approve of it, so get ready to read about why you shouldn't. The commercial guidelines for placing a cache do not apply to items that you place in a cache. Additionally, it really depends on what your product is. Knives, guns, ammo, explosives, condoms, sex toys, porno, cigarettes, lighters, food, candy, dog treats, bars of soap, bottles of bubble liquid, any other liquids should not be put in a cache. Believe it or not, all have been at some point.

Edited May 27, 2012 by Don_J

[+Don_J]

Promotional items that cachers might be able to use might go over better. Pens, carabiners, small compasses, any small item that one would use while hiking or camping would be much more acceptable than a simple business card.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

Promotional items that cachers might be able to use might go over better. Pens, carabiners, small compasses, any small item that one would use while hiking or camping would be much more acceptable than a simple business card.

 

Just to reinforce what others have said, technically there are no rules about leaving business cards or product samples in a cache, though I suspect that most cachers would prefer that you didn't.

 

Geocaching is supposed to be a fun and light activity that many of us engage in to get away from a constant bombardment of commercial solicitation. Although there is nothing stopping you from leaving a product sample in a cache, how you go about it is going to determine how others perceive you as a geocacher. There is a local well respected geocacher that leaves a short internet cable or cable tv cable splitter in a lot of caches. It's seen more as a signature item than coming away with the perception that he's encountered an untapped audience that he can target to try an sell a product. Leaving a pen or something other geocacher might use might become quite acceptable, but if it appears that the only reason that you're finding geocaches is for the opportunity to try to sell us something you're likely not going to be real popular in the community.

[+zack_black]

I drop promotional pens.

 

I have a business card as a trackable.

[ll JK ll]

I've also left pens from the company I work for.

 

They're free, and there always seems to be a cache that's in need of a writing instrument. I've left quite a few of these pens but I've decided to start leaving plain Bics instead. Even though I have zero intention to advertise I don't want to give the impression that that's what I'm doing.

[+Walts Hunting]

Running across swag that is commercial doesnt bother me much. I will glance at it to see if it's something I might want and take one or not. Although with the current move to micro or smaller containers in abundance I don't see how much you could do.

 

There are few rules about swag and commercial isn't a restricted use. Go for it.

[+Trucker Lee]

If we deny anything with a logo or company name most swag is gone, the free stuff is what folks part with easiest. As to your samples, most folks are reluctant to use anything that could be contaminated, such as lotions, that were left unattended. Also, how well would the product keep if in the cache for a period. A couple may be OK, but if you fill it others would have to dig through to look for travelers or log.

[knowschad]

Many people do leave their business cards. Some cachers frown on this and think it is tacky.

I frown on that and think its tacky. Don't do it. That is NOT the purpose of geocaching.

[+NeecesandNephews]

Many people do leave their business cards. Some cachers frown on this and think it is tacky.

I frown on that and think its tacky. Don't do it. That is NOT the purpose of geocaching.

 

If the dog turns his nose up at it, that's a pretty good sign it isn't worth the trouble.

[+Lieblweb]

Any solicitation is frowned upon....

 

Just the other day, someone posted a FIND log on one of my caches and he put an 'advertisement' in his log.

 

As a CO - I wish I could EDIT the log and remove the advertising. I don't want to ruffle any feathers by telling him to remove it - as I'm not that bothered by it. Just disappointing to see it.....

[+terrkan78]

Scads of company promotional items are used as swag. Nothing wrong with that. Remember that in most caches, the swag will get dirty/beat up. Is your promotional item something that folks might still want even if it's dirty/crinkled/etc? I mention this because I've seen things like mini-toothbrushes (still in packaging) sitting at the muddy bottom of a cache, and although I'm sure the toothbrush is still fine, I can't imagine actually using a toothbrush (or any kind of personal hygiene item) that was at one point covered in mold/mud/etc.

 

If your promotional item will survive the wear and tear of cache life, then go for it.

[+Don_J]

Any solicitation is frowned upon....

 

Just the other day, someone posted a FIND log on one of my caches and he put an 'advertisement' in his log.

 

As a CO - I wish I could EDIT the log and remove the advertising. I don't want to ruffle any feathers by telling him to remove it - as I'm not that bothered by it. Just disappointing to see it.....

 

That is like me saying that I wish I could edit your forum post. It's not going to happen. If it's inappropriate, either get them to edit it, or get Groundpeak

 

Edit to add: I just looked at the log. I'm pretty laid back about how my caches are logged and out of almost 6000 logs, have only deleted one. I'd be tempted to delete that outright. Either that or send him a bill for the advertising space.

Edited May 27, 2012 by Don_J

[+uxorious]

Any solicitation is frowned upon....

 

Just the other day, someone posted a FIND log on one of my caches and he put an 'advertisement' in his log.

 

As a CO - I wish I could EDIT the log and remove the advertising. I don't want to ruffle any feathers by telling him to remove it - as I'm not that bothered by it. Just disappointing to see it.....

 

If someone left an ad like that on a cache of mine, I would e-mail them and ask that they edit the log. If they refused, I would delete the log. I bet Groundspeak would agree.

 

We are bombarded with enough ads now, sure don't want them to become common in Geocache logs.

[hoosier guy]

Most would consider that as bad form.

[knowschad]

Any solicitation is frowned upon....

 

Just the other day, someone posted a FIND log on one of my caches and he put an 'advertisement' in his log.

 

As a CO - I wish I could EDIT the log and remove the advertising. I don't want to ruffle any feathers by telling him to remove it - as I'm not that bothered by it. Just disappointing to see it.....

 

If someone left an ad like that on a cache of mine, I would e-mail them and ask that they edit the log. If they refused, I would delete the log. I bet Groundspeak would agree.

 

We are bombarded with enough ads now, sure don't want them to become common in Geocache logs.

 

If you're talking about the sun dial guy... that is not a commercial website he is promoting in what amounts to a signature. It is another hobby. It would be nice if his logs were more about the cache and his experience with it than about his other hobbies, but at least he isn't trying to sell anything.

[+cerberus1]

Any solicitation is frowned upon....

 

Just the other day, someone posted a FIND log on one of my caches and he put an 'advertisement' in his log.

 

As a CO - I wish I could EDIT the log and remove the advertising. I don't want to ruffle any feathers by telling him to remove it - as I'm not that bothered by it. Just disappointing to see it.....

 

Looked at the "ad" and it looks (to me) like just some guy wishing to share his unusual interest.

The line is posted on all his hides and seems more of a sig line than an ad.

Though not caching related, lookes harmless and possibly fun, like many of the sig lines on these forums.

I'd rather see something like that than someone posting a link on my cache on how they're now ranking on cacherstats.com.

[+uxorious]

Any solicitation is frowned upon....

 

Just the other day, someone posted a FIND log on one of my caches and he put an 'advertisement' in his log.

 

As a CO - I wish I could EDIT the log and remove the advertising. I don't want to ruffle any feathers by telling him to remove it - as I'm not that bothered by it. Just disappointing to see it.....

 

If someone left an ad like that on a cache of mine, I would e-mail them and ask that they edit the log. If they refused, I would delete the log. I bet Groundspeak would agree.

 

We are bombarded with enough ads now, sure don't want them to become common in Geocache logs.

 

If you're talking about the sun dial guy... that is not a commercial website he is promoting in what amounts to a signature. It is another hobby. It would be nice if his logs were more about the cache and his experience with it than about his other hobbies, but at least he isn't trying to sell anything.

 

I suppose I should have gone to the web site he suggested, before commenting here.

 

I guess I can't complain about logs that promote other hobbies. If it wasn't for posts promoting Geocaching in another forum, I don't know if I would ever have found out about this hobby.

[knowschad]

Any solicitation is frowned upon....

 

Just the other day, someone posted a FIND log on one of my caches and he put an 'advertisement' in his log.

 

As a CO - I wish I could EDIT the log and remove the advertising. I don't want to ruffle any feathers by telling him to remove it - as I'm not that bothered by it. Just disappointing to see it.....

 

If someone left an ad like that on a cache of mine, I would e-mail them and ask that they edit the log. If they refused, I would delete the log. I bet Groundspeak would agree.

 

We are bombarded with enough ads now, sure don't want them to become common in Geocache logs.

 

If you're talking about the sun dial guy... that is not a commercial website he is promoting in what amounts to a signature. It is another hobby. It would be nice if his logs were more about the cache and his experience with it than about his other hobbies, but at least he isn't trying to sell anything.

 

I suppose I should have gone to the web site he suggested, before commenting here.

 

I guess I can't complain about logs that promote other hobbies. If it wasn't for posts promoting Geocaching in another forum, I don't know if I would ever have found out about this hobby.

 

So... have you started working on your first sundial yet?

[+Phizy]

I personally don't mind seeing business cards, pens, or other representative things in a cache. Even a coupon for a business is cool to find, so long as:

 

1) Its left by a cacher and not the owner

2) Is not product but just a representation of the business

 

But, it is tacky to remove things from a cache you don't like unless you are the owner of the cache.

[+tozainamboku]

Any solicitation is frowned upon....

 

Just the other day, someone posted a FIND log on one of my caches and he put an 'advertisement' in his log.

 

As a CO - I wish I could EDIT the log and remove the advertising. I don't want to ruffle any feathers by telling him to remove it - as I'm not that bothered by it. Just disappointing to see it.....

 

If someone left an ad like that on a cache of mine, I would e-mail them and ask that they edit the log. If they refused, I would delete the log. I bet Groundspeak would agree.

 

We are bombarded with enough ads now, sure don't want them to become common in Geocache logs.

 

If you're talking about the sun dial guy... that is not a commercial website he is promoting in what amounts to a signature. It is another hobby. It would be nice if his logs were more about the cache and his experience with it than about his other hobbies, but at least he isn't trying to sell anything.

Per the guidelines you should delete logs that appear to be off-topic or otherwise inappropriate. Since the topic of the log is sharing your geocaching experience (including thanking the owner for placing the cache if you're so inclined), linking to a website for an unrelated hobby, just like any commercial advertising, would be reason enough to delete a log. My guess it that most cache owners will live and let live in a case like this. Deleting an otherwise legitimate find is usually too much bother.

 

BTW, the sun dial guy should know there is an entire Waymarking category devoted to sundials.

[zyzzyvette]

I just started geocaching but I would be really disappointed to find a bunch of marketing material in a cache. That stuff is much closer to garbage than 'treasure' of any kind. Branded stuff might be okay depending on what it is, but I think if your goal is to make the cache more exciting for the next person, and you are planning to buy some trinkets specifically for geocaching, unbranded would probably be better in most cases. (If you just happen to have an interesting whatsit that has a company name on it, that's a little different, but I think people will start to notice the difference after you've hit several with your marketing stuff.) If your goal is to advertise, I think you should just leave the cache alone.

 

But, it is tacky to remove things from a cache you don't like unless you are the owner of the cache.

 

Hmm, if I found something disappointing in a cache I would trade it out for something better, same as if I found something really neat. So long as I'm legitimately trading up I don't see why it matters why I wanted to make the trade.

 

Just a newbie's 2c.

[+Cachefoxxe]

i actually found a cache today that had a bunch of this type of stuff in it. Punch cards for burgers and coffee, as well as a receipt for a restaurant. I cleaned it out I did leave the coffee card I figured that geocachers drink a lot of it and some one might want that.

[+Dan2099]

I think if you are sly and sneaky about it you can get away with it like pens and pencils with logos or cool keychains and flashlights....

[+terrkan78]

But, it is tacky to remove things from a cache you don't like unless you are the owner of the cache.

 

Hmm, if I found something disappointing in a cache I would trade it out for something better, same as if I found something really neat. So long as I'm legitimately trading up I don't see why it matters why I wanted to make the trade.

 

Just a newbie's 2c.

Absolutely - trade up/even and then it's yours to do what you like with it. If it's swag that violates game guidelines, or if it's truly garbage (mushy, moldy, etc), then I don't see a particular need to trade for it (but it's generous to do so). It's been mentioned on the forums previously how some folks are offended by certain types of swag (swag that's arguably within the guidelines) and they routinely trade for it and pitch it in the garbage. Absolutely fine.

[knowschad]

But, it is tacky to remove things from a cache you don't like unless you are the owner of the cache.

 

Hmm, if I found something disappointing in a cache I would trade it out for something better, same as if I found something really neat. So long as I'm legitimately trading up I don't see why it matters why I wanted to make the trade.

 

Just a newbie's 2c.

Absolutely - trade up/even and then it's yours to do what you like with it. If it's swag that violates game guidelines, or if it's truly garbage (mushy, moldy, etc), then I don't see a particular need to trade for it (but it's generous to do so). It's been mentioned on the forums previously how some folks are offended by certain types of swag (swag that's arguably within the guidelines) and they routinely trade for it and pitch it in the garbage. Absolutely fine.

 

So, I can trade my business card for someone else's business card?

[+Kacher82]

Any solicitation is frowned upon....

 

Just the other day, someone posted a FIND log on one of my caches and he put an 'advertisement' in his log.

 

As a CO - I wish I could EDIT the log and remove the advertising. I don't want to ruffle any feathers by telling him to remove it - as I'm not that bothered by it. Just disappointing to see it.....

 

If someone left an ad like that on a cache of mine, I would e-mail them and ask that they edit the log. If they refused, I would delete the log. I bet Groundspeak would agree.

 

We are bombarded with enough ads now, sure don't want them to become common in Geocache logs.

 

If you're talking about the sun dial guy... that is not a commercial website he is promoting in what amounts to a signature. It is another hobby. It would be nice if his logs were more about the cache and his experience with it than about his other hobbies, but at least he isn't trying to sell anything.

He's maybe not trying to sell anything, but his logs are a bit tacky. He could at least compose a new log for each find, instead of a generic "found it". Your signature shouldn't be longer than the actual log.

 

Back to the topic: I don't mind finding a promotional pen or compass or the like (though I probably won't take it). An advertising pamphlet or something like that would probably be better used elsewhere.

[+Chokecherry]

I look at pamphlets, coupons, business cards and samples left in a cache, take note of it and remember it as a business I won't be spending any money at. I get enough advertising in my regular life. The last thing I want to do when finding a cache is be bombarded by it.

 

That being said promotional items like chip clips and whatever I don't mind as much since they don't become the spit ball in the bottom of the cache and if they aren't accompanied by other promotional materials they aren't as in your face advertising wise. They also can be useful.

[+Dan2099]

Not that I have plans too or would, I am just curious how people would feel about a cache dedicated to a show like Chuck (recently canceled) a cache that is about the show and when found has a message inside on how to save the show or something similar along those lines?

[AZcachemeister]

 

So, I can trade my business card for someone else's business card?

 

I don't think a card with a dog's 'business' on it belongs in a cache.

[knowschad]

Not that I have plans too or would, I am just curious how people would feel about a cache dedicated to a show like Chuck (recently canceled) a cache that is about the show and when found has a message inside on how to save the show or something similar along those lines?

 

But why? Why would you use geocaching to promote any agenda other than geocaching itself? Leave your agendas & commercialism at home, 'K? Thx.

[+Sol seaker]

Not that I have plans too or would, I am just curious how people would feel about a cache dedicated to a show like Chuck (recently canceled) a cache that is about the show and when found has a message inside on how to save the show or something similar along those lines?

 

But why? Why would you use geocaching to promote any agenda other than geocaching itself? Leave your agendas & commercialism at home, 'K? Thx.

 

+1

 

Although I could always use a nice pen.

[+Dan2099]

Not that I have plans too or would, I am just curious how people would feel about a cache dedicated to a show like Chuck (recently canceled) a cache that is about the show and when found has a message inside on how to save the show or something similar along those lines?

 

But why? Why would you use geocaching to promote any agenda other than geocaching itself? Leave your agendas & commercialism at home, 'K? Thx.

 

Like I said no plans nor want too, just posing a question. Although they allowed planet of the apes to whore their movie and that seems to be one of the biggest caches out their I think you even get a souvenir from going there. So evidentially there is a HUGE market for those types of caches.

[+Lady Loki]

Not that I have plans too or would, I am just curious how people would feel about a cache dedicated to a show like Chuck (recently canceled) a cache that is about the show and when found has a message inside on how to save the show or something similar along those lines?

 

But why? Why would you use geocaching to promote any agenda other than geocaching itself? Leave your agendas & commercialism at home, 'K? Thx.

 

Like I said no plans nor want too, just posing a question. Although they allowed planet of the apes to whore their movie and that seems to be one of the biggest caches out their I think you even get a souvenir from going there. So evidentially there is a HUGE market for those types of caches.

They did that while working with Groundspeak, which is different than a CO deciding to promote an agenda. Not to mention that I believe all but one of the APE caches are archived now (I could be wrong, but I know it's most of them).

 

Now, a cache with a story that ties into a show/game is something I find really cool, like the Assassin's Creed caches. But I'm sure there are others who would disagree.

[+tozainamboku]

Not that I have plans too or would, I am just curious how people would feel about a cache dedicated to a show like Chuck (recently canceled) a cache that is about the show and when found has a message inside on how to save the show or something similar along those lines?

 

But why? Why would you use geocaching to promote any agenda other than geocaching itself? Leave your agendas & commercialism at home, 'K? Thx.

 

Like I said no plans nor want too, just posing a question. Although they allowed planet of the apes to whore their movie and that seems to be one of the biggest caches out their I think you even get a souvenir from going there. So evidentially there is a HUGE market for those types of caches.

You need to read the non solicitation guidelines again.

On very rare occasions, Groundspeak partners with an organization to publish a sponsored cache, or series of sponsored caches. This occurs solely at Groundspeak's invitation and/or discretion.

The Planet of the Apes caches was such a partnership. Groundspeak itself is a for profit company. One source of income is to sell advertising on it's website. While Groundspeak relies on user provided content (in the form of cache listings and logs), it is in their interest to restrict commercial content and and solicitation for any cause in that user provided content. The don't want advertising to be given away free in user content when they could be making money selling advertising or partnering with another company. Nor do they want comments disparaging potential advertiser or promoting causes that potential advertiser might not want to be associated with.

 

That said the commercial guidelines do not prevent you from having a cache dedicated to a favorite TV show, movie, sports team, etc. You might have a problem if your say on your cache page "Watch Chuck" or if you have a link to either the official Chuck website or to a fan site dedicated to saving Chuck. These might be considered an agenda. On the other hand you could probably have a Chuck themed cache and in the container have information about saving Chuck so long as that part isn't mentioned on the cache page.

[+germanybert]

If your business is Amway or ANY other multi-level-marketing then HELL NO!

 

I would ignore any business cards in a cache and would probably grab them and throw away. You have not said what your product is. If it is useful for geocaching then it might be welcome.

[+Dan2099]

Again I do not intend or want to make a cache like that I'm just into seeing people's opinions. How would one feel knowing it was a "sponsored" cache or company owned cache but it was crazy insane good...would you look over the sponsorship?

[+Don_J]

If your business is Amway or ANY other multi-level-marketing then HELL NO!

 

I would ignore any business cards in a cache and would probably grab them and throw away. You have not said what your product is. If it is useful for geocaching then it might be welcome.

 

You are the third person in this thread to state that you would take items out of someone elses cache and throw them away simply because you didn't approve of them. What gives you that right? The self entitlement that I keep reading in this thread reeks.

[+Don_J]

I look at pamphlets, coupons, business cards and samples left in a cache, take note of it and remember it as a business I won't be spending any money at. I get enough advertising in my regular life. The last thing I want to do when finding a cache is be bombarded by it.

 

That being said promotional items like chip clips and whatever I don't mind as much since they don't become the spit ball in the bottom of the cache and if they aren't accompanied by other promotional materials they aren't as in your face advertising wise. They also can be useful.

 

What if the business didn't put the material in the cache? If I find a coupon in a cache, I either trade for it because I can use it, or I ignore it. To personally boycott a business because I found one of their coupons in a cache seems rather extreme.

[+Don_J]

Not that I have plans too or would, I am just curious how people would feel about a cache dedicated to a show like Chuck (recently canceled) a cache that is about the show and when found has a message inside on how to save the show or something similar along those lines?

 

But why? Why would you use geocaching to promote any agenda other than geocaching itself? Leave your agendas & commercialism at home, 'K? Thx.

 

And all this time, I thought all those Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs cache series were harmless.

[+JesandTodd]

I look at pamphlets, coupons, business cards and samples left in a cache, take note of it and remember it as a business I won't be spending any money at. .

 

Me too.

 

Don J- i wont spend my money at these places because of their tacky and tasteless methods of advertisement. I've just hiked all the way up to this cache, I don't want to see your (figuratively speaking) crap in a cache!

 

Put real trade items in there, or nothing at all. I'm tired of people filling caches with junk.

 

And I too, will toss them into my cito bag.