SWAG in caches

[+Kissyfurs]

OK, 17 caches in and I have another question... A lot of the caches that I find seem to have flat out junk in them- rusty nut, broken crayons, soggy and bent styrofoam glider, etc. I can't imagine anyone seeing these items as "treasure" or wanting to take them and move them to another cache. Is it OK to remove these items and throw them away if I'm not the cache owner? I have a ton of small items that I've picked up for next to nothing as I know how to coupon and bargain shop. I don't have a problem adding 4 or 5 small items to each cache to replace these types of items but I wasn't sure if anyone actually liked seeing these kinds of things. I'm not trying to be judgemental either- I see things like silly bands that I'm not interested in but certainly wouldn't remove- I'm talking about the things that are obviously past their prime or items that I can't see anyone having much use for. I hope I'm not being a caching snob, just trying to improve things for the next person. Thoughts?

 

Thanks

[+StarBrand]

Trade up or trade even. As long as you replace the "junk" with something else - I think it is a great idea. I tend to do that a lot myself.

[TheDoctorPH]

i always make sure to replace what i find unless its obviously trash (candy wrappers, tissues) or dangerous. some things you find like that, at one time, may have been good swag.

[hoosier guy]

If people have filled one of my caches with business cards, coupons, small stones from the ground next to GZ & beer bottle caps I would appreciate your help.

[+J the Goat]

If people have filled one of my caches with business cards, coupons, small stones from the ground next to GZ & beer bottle caps I would appreciate your help.

 

This is the way I see it.

[+TomToad]

Onr thing that I need to learn to do is to keep extra Swag and logbooks with me when I cache. Every time I find a cache that just needs a little extra TLC, I feel bad about not being able to do anything. I'm not talking about enabling lazy cachers, but sometimes saving a responsible CO a trip or keeping subsequent finders happy with something other than old beer bottle caps.

[+cerberus1]

Rare for us to find swag degradation on the higher terrain hides. We seem to find it on hides hit often.

- But if we happen to spot any, or stop at another on the way/back that does, we simply swap it out with whatever we have on us. Usually ending trading up.

Unactivated geocoins, pathtags and gold dollars cover most by me. My other 2/3rds lugs the larger items and kid stuff.

[+blackhorse221]

Same here. I went on Amazon and bought a bunch of very inexpensive toy compasses, finger lights, other cheap fun swag to throw in caches. Orientaltrading.com, other websites like that, dollar stores are all great sources of simple stuff that won't break the bank. I always clean out the bottle caps and trash. The other day, I found a 7.62mm rifle cartridge in a cache!

[+Ambient_Skater]

If people have filled one of my caches with business cards, coupons, small stones from the ground next to GZ & beer bottle caps I would appreciate your help.

Same.

 

The other day, I found a 7.62mm rifle cartridge in a cache!

That's not entirely outrageous.

[+knowltonGeo]

I like the "trade-up" idea. If you leave the cache better than you found it, I call that a win. The only required item in the cache (I think) is the logbook.

 

My policy is, let the CO maintain the cache, but report the conditions you find inside and around the cache if they affect the experience negatively. As a courtesy, many cachers bring "cache repair kits" with them; extra logs, extra pens, extra SWAG, so that if the log happens to be full you can provide space for people to still sign their names, or a pen to use in case they forgot theirs and the cache does not have a pen. Extra SWAG can be great. I have encountered a few caches that had no little fun toys for the little ones. So, I would donate a few items. : )

 

I think the idea of the game is to just have a sense of community and provide wholesome fun for all ages.

[+ShaunEM]

I take items out of a cache that prevent it from closing properly. It usually isnt something worth trading up over. I remove the business cards that are musty as well.

I figure a cache that can't close ruins everything in there. I took a bungee cord and 5 pens out of a LnL. 5 pens.. I left the many pencils (I even sharpened a few of them..)

 

Shaun

[+Devin711]

Glad to hear people who want to improve caches are out there. We are Neocachers but very enthusiastic about the hobby. We have just started this week and the caches closest to us contained real junk such as an elastic band, broken toys, pebbles, used chalk etc. I realize these are beginner caches that are hit often but we did trade up some much better stuff. We are looking forward to finding our first cache with something neat out there. Most importantly, my son has already decided that the journey, not the treasure, is most important. It will still be great to see his face light up when he finds something special. I'm glad people out there care about maintaining the quality of the caches and hobby.

[+BCandMsKitty]

Yes! Please do!

[+evil-lemons]

Another question answered! Thanks, everyone.

[+hzoi]

I normally don't pay much attention to the trade items, so normally I don't take it upon myself to be quality control.

 

If the cache has leaked and the trade items are moldy and/or rotting away (seen it too many times), I will go ahead and toss it out for the cache owner, because it's nasty, and I'll give them a heads up in my log that I've done so. Same for anything outright dangerous, or for food items.

 

Since items such as rotting debris, food, and dangerous items have no place in a cache, I feel no obligation whatsoever to leave anything behind when I do this; that's where the note to the cache owner comes in, so they can replenish as they see fit.

[+Cachefoxxe]

I find I do this a lot. Its a great thing in my opinion, and when I do get to put out caches,haven't been able to yet. I would love it if someone saw it needed a pick me up and helped out and told me about it.

 

I carry all the extras, pens, logs, swag. Even have a small kit with zip ties, screws, and o-rings.

 

A good source of extra logs is Geocaching University. http://geocacher-u.com/

[+Agent75]

On my first day of caching the other day I found a bag with excrement in it - not pleasant. I had no hesitation in disposing of it. I assume it wasn't a joke poo, but wasn't prepared to unseal the bag and check. Thankfully my kids weren't with me as I opened it. Upon logging the cache once I returned home, the person who left it had posted "took nothing, left poo". How disgusting. I'll be opening each cache with more trepidation from now on.

[+oxford comma]

that's gross. hopefully it was a joke

[+The_Incredibles_]

OK, 17 caches in and I have another question... A lot of the caches that I find seem to have flat out junk in them- rusty nut, broken crayons, soggy and bent styrofoam glider, etc. I can't imagine anyone seeing these items as "treasure" or wanting to take them and move them to another cache. Is it OK to remove these items and throw them away if I'm not the cache owner?

 

Absolutely. I remove trash from caches all the time. One time, I went to check on one of my caches and it was full of rocks and sticks and broken crap. I was furious that no one thought to remove them.

 

I don't agree that you should feel obligated to put new swag in. If you want to, fine, if not, then the cache owner can add new swag next time they do maintenance.

[Chino1130]

Is there generally less garbage in aches that are premium member only?

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

Is there generally less garbage in aches that are premium member only?

One might like to think so, but I do not believe it to be the case. For $30 USD anyone can be PM. That hardly qualifies one as being smarter, more intelligent or less prone to cruddy pranks.

[+uxorious]

 

I was furious that no one thought to remove them.

 

 

You were "furious" that no one thought to remove the trash?

 

I can see that a cache owner might appreciate someone removing trash, but to expect someone to clean your cache, to the point of being mad if they don't is wrong.

 

If I see something that is rotten, smelly or dangerous, I would remove it. Or if I see something that is totally out of line,(porn, or racist material, etc.) I would remove it.

 

Cleaning rocks, sticks and broken caps out of your cache is not my job. It is nice if someone cleans it out, but I wouldn't get upset is someone doesn't. (let alone "furious.)

[TexasGreyhound]

Thanks to all who posted to this topic. As a NeoCacher, I appreciate experienced cachers' recommendations. As a result, I will go back to my first find and maintain it: the cache container had no lid, (so items were wet including a faded scrap of paper for the log) and the only swag was a golf ball. I will put the original container in a zippy bag and add a log and a few swag items. I plan on carrying small logs, pens, and swag items for future hunting.

[hoosier guy]

Thanks to all who posted to this topic. As a NeoCacher, I appreciate experienced cachers' recommendations. As a result, I will go back to my first find and maintain it: the cache container had no lid, (so items were wet including a faded scrap of paper for the log) and the only swag was a golf ball. I will put the original container in a zippy bag and add a log and a few swag items. I plan on carrying small logs, pens, and swag items for future hunting.

Haven't reead the whole thread so if this isn't a relative comment forgive me, be sure to log a needs maiantainence log on it too.

[+L0ne.R]

Thanks to all who posted to this topic. As a NeoCacher, I appreciate experienced cachers' recommendations. As a result, I will go back to my first find and maintain it: the cache container had no lid, (so items were wet including a faded scrap of paper for the log) and the only swag was a golf ball. I will put the original container in a zippy bag and add a log and a few swag items. I plan on carrying small logs, pens, and swag items for future hunting.

Haven't read the whole thread so if this isn't a relative comment forgive me, be sure to log a needs maintenance log on it too.

 

I agree. The Needs Maintenance log would be the first thing to do. The baggie is only a very temporary fix.It might last a couple of weeks before holes get poked in it and the cache contents become more of a mess. Place the NM, 'watch' the cache, if the owner doesn't respond to the NM in a month (I'd give it 2 weeks if they haven't logged on in 6 months), then place a Needs Archive. When the Reviewer archives the cache, clean up the mess. Maybe, if you have the time and inclination to be a CO, place a well-maintained water-tight quality cache in the area. Quality swag needs a quality container.

[+The_Incredibles_]

Cleaning rocks, sticks and broken caps out of your cache is not my job. It is nice if someone cleans it out, but I wouldn't get upset is someone doesn't. (let alone "furious.)

 

So you find a cache full of crap and you do nothing? You see a piece of garbage on your street and you just leave it there? You see an old lady having trouble carrying her groceries and you just walk on by. Cause it's not your job? I'm not expecting anybody to replace a full logbook or broken container, but, yes, if my cache is full of rocks, I expect someone to give a dadgum, take a few seconds out of their day and toss them out. It's called being a good citizen, you know, helping your fellow human being out?

Edited August 30, 2012 by The_Incredibles_

[Chino1130]

I get more furious at the fact that people have the nads to put in rocks and sticks in exchange for something people spend money on. Every now and then I drop 10-15 bucks in the dollar store, load up on swag, and basically play santa at the next 2 or 3 caches I find.

 

Here was an $11.50 haul I did an hour ago. I plan on stocking my newest large cache with this stuff as well as a few other goodies. I expect it to be filled with garbage in no time.

 

[+uxorious]

Cleaning rocks, sticks and broken caps out of your cache is not my job. It is nice if someone cleans it out, but I wouldn't get upset is someone doesn't. (let alone "furious.)

 

So you find a cache full of crap and you do nothing? You see a piece of garbage on your street and you just leave it there? You see an old lady having trouble carrying her groceries and you just walk on by. Cause it's not your job? I'm not expecting anybody to replace a full logbook or broken container, but, yes, if my cache is full of rocks, I expect someone to give a dadgum, take a few seconds out of their day and toss them out. It's called being a good citizen, you know, helping your fellow human being out?

 

If I saw a bit of garbage on my street, I might very well clean it up. But if I didn't, it really shouldn't make you "furious". However, if the bit of garbage was on your driveway or front pourch, it really wouldn't be my place to clean it.

 

Try as I might, I just cannot figure out how you tie this in with helping someone who is having trouble with their groceries.

 

If your cache was that full of rocks and/or sticks, I might very well clean it out. But for you to expect someone to clean it, to the point of getting angry when they don't seems odd to me. I don't plan on coming over to your house to do your dishes anytime soon either. However, if you broke your arm, and needed help, I just might.

[BinaryBlues]

I'm still really new, but the concept of finding first of all, something hidden and maybe even some treasures is very exciting to me. Of the two caches I've found so far, neither cache had anything inside other than a log close to needing maintenance. Part of the thrill is the possibility of finding something cool so in one cache I put a quarter (fit the theme of the clue and size of the cache). In the other, I was scrounging for something good, but all I had was a baby's toy. A small treasure to make up for shuffling a badly deteriorated log or cleaning out any trash keeps the game fresh, however it is understandable that no real-world value usually goes into the caches that have a higher volume of muggle traffic. If I were to plant a very remote cache, I would have no hesitation putting five bucks in there as a prize for the FTF.

Consider that we are of a unique community of hobbyists that that already require a piece of somewhat expensive tech in order to participate. Factoring that, placing trash or foliage in a cache goes against the idea of the game.