CO "Trapping" TBs - Bad Form?

[+TriciaG]

A cache owner watches his/her cache and regularly retrieves the TBs and Geocoins to pass on (i.e. not collecting them), using their cache as a kind of "traveler live trap".

 

Bad form? Okay, since they're moving them on to other caches? Unfair to other cachers?

[+lamoracke]

As long as the CO moves them on quickly or does not leave like 20 in a time in their TB hotel, I think that is okay. When I think of TBs or coins, I think of their owners. If they move along in a timely manner, that is their concern...so if he uses his cache to quickly grab a coin that is dropped and then moves it on, sounds just fine by me.

[+briansnat]

I don't see anything wrong with that as long as they are moved along.

Edited August 28, 2013 by briansnat

[+SwineFlew]

I know a CO that build a cache with a hole for you to drop all the TB or coin in but only the CO can get it out since its locked. There is no room for anything but that drophole. The log sheet is on the cap.

[+macatac1961]

Unfair to other cachers?

There's really no fair or unfair involved when it comes to travel bugs or trackable coins. They can take one or all as long as they move them along, even out of their own cache. How long can they keep that up for anyway? Visiting the same cache over and over just for travel bugs has to get pretty stale after a while.

[+Ms.Scrabbler]

Anyone can put his catch on a watch list and try to get there first if it bothers them. Those that move them, however they get TBs, is awesome.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

I know a CO that build a cache with a hole for you to drop all the TB or coin in but only the CO can get it out since its locked. There is no room for anything but that drophole. The log sheet is on the cap.

 

*That* is nonsense.

[+Don_J]

I know a CO that build a cache with a hole for you to drop all the TB or coin in but only the CO can get it out since its locked. There is no room for anything but that drophole. The log sheet is on the cap.

 

*That* is nonsense.

 

Why in the world would anyone drop a TB into it?

[+Walts Hunting]

Maybe because you would know it got logged properly.

[+BlueDeuce]

A cache owner watches his/her cache and regularly retrieves the TBs and Geocoins to pass on (i.e. not collecting them), using their cache as a kind of "traveler live trap".

 

Bad form? Okay, since they're moving them on to other caches? Unfair to other cachers?

 

I give permission to anyone and everyone to pick up my bug and move it regardless of the circumstances. If you have a problem with that, go buy your own bug and tell people they can't move it.

[+Mudfrog]

Maybe because you would know it got logged properly.

 

Why would that automatically mean the TB got logged properly?

I have to agree with Don J in wondering why a person would drop a TB into a cache like that?

 

 

OT, i don't really see too much of a problem with a cache owner regularly retrieving TBs and moving them on. I might find it a bit disrespectful if he went out asap on every one dropped, but i don't figure that's happening.

[+dprovan]

Why in the world would anyone drop a TB into it?

I don't understand why it would make any difference. I'm dropping a TB so it can be picked up. It doesn't matter to me whether the CO is the one to pick it up or, for that matter, whether the CO is the only one that could possibly pick it up.

 

Don't get me wrong, these TB fixated COs strike me as quirky, but I don't really see any reason to be bothered by them.

[+The_Incredibles_]

Don't see anything wrong with it as long as they're moved along in a timely fashion.

[team tisri]

A cache owner watches his/her cache and regularly retrieves the TBs and Geocoins to pass on (i.e. not collecting them), using their cache as a kind of "traveler live trap".

 

Bad form? Okay, since they're moving them on to other caches? Unfair to other cachers?

 

Nothing to do with fair or unfair. I remember a cache very near where I used to work that quite often had travel bugs in it. Sometimes I'd take an early train in, go out in my lunch break or take a later train home so I could swing by and grab trackables from the cache.

 

If you don't like what the CO is doing put their cache on your watch list and whenever someone drops off a TB go out and grab it before the CO has chance to. Just make sure you move them along. I think I'm with the camp that says it doesn't matter who does the moving as long as the trackables are moved.

[+OZ2CPU]

a few day ago, a cacher dropped 65 trackables into a cache I just by luck got on watch,

so we hurried there to grap them all..

we want to bring them all to the MEGA event this weekend, so many people can see them,

and later that day take them to other caches.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

a few day ago, a cacher dropped 65 trackables into a cache I just by luck got on watch,

so we hurried there to grap them all..

we want to bring them all to the MEGA event this weekend, so many people can see them,

and later that day take them to other caches.

 

Why don't you just release them at the Mega?

[+OZ2CPU]

I dont understand your comment ?

they are first logged as grapped from the cache I took them from,

and then "placed" in the event I goto this saturday,

then people will be able to discover, and later, grap them from the event.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

I dont understand your comment ?

they are first logged as grapped from the cache I took them from,

and then "placed" in the event I goto this saturday,

then people will be able to discover, and later, grap them from the event.

 

I guess I misread your post. It sounded like you would let people discover them, and then *you* would take them to other caches afterwards.

[+Mudfrog]

Don't see anything wrong with it as long as they're moved along in a timely fashion.

 

On the cache with the lock on it,, this could be the problem. The owner may have the hotel in his front yard and can get to them in a timely manner. If it's not close by though, then how often does he go out to retrieve the bugs. If he's out of pocket or just doesn't feel like checking, then how long do they sit locked up?

 

For me, i guess i just feel that travelbugs are one of the social aspects of geocaching. They are put out to travel through various cacher's hands. Locking them up for one person to grab doesn't seem go along with this idea.

[+TriciaG]

Thanks for the input, folks! Once again, it seems we've hit a consensus. Write it on the calendar!

[Clan Riffster]

Don't see anything wrong with it as long as they're moved along in a timely fashion.

 

On the cache with the lock on it,, this could be the problem.

Another semi-related problem is that these TBs are no longer available for the general caching public to move. I know a few TB infatuated folks who focus their searches on those caches showing bugs and/or coins. I imagine they might feel miffed if they were to arrive only to find they couldn't access the travelers inside.

[+Mudfrog]

Don't see anything wrong with it as long as they're moved along in a timely fashion.

 

On the cache with the lock on it,, this could be the problem.

Another semi-related problem is that these TBs are no longer available for the general caching public to move. I know a few TB infatuated folks who focus their searches on those caches showing bugs and/or coins. I imagine they might feel miffed if they were to arrive only to find they couldn't access the travelers inside.

 

And what about that travelbug who's mission is to go to some strange far off land? Another finder may come along who is going to that land in two days. Unfortunately, he can't help at all because the TB is locked up.

[+kunarion]

Another finder may come along who is going to that land in two days. Unfortunately, he can't help at all because the TB is locked up.

I'm guessing a Trap Owner previously had trouble with listed TBs vanishing from a cache, and has a master plan to keep TBs in play. It would be a ton of work for the Trap Owner to diligently move the TBs into a variety of caches (and according to the missions). So if there's a long list of trapped TBs over a long time, the plan isn't working.

[Clan Riffster]

Don't see anything wrong with it as long as they're moved along in a timely fashion.

 

On the cache with the lock on it,, this could be the problem.

Another semi-related problem is that these TBs are no longer available for the general caching public to move. I know a few TB infatuated folks who focus their searches on those caches showing bugs and/or coins. I imagine they might feel miffed if they were to arrive only to find they couldn't access the travelers inside.

 

And what about that travelbug who's mission is to go to some strange far off land? Another finder may come along who is going to that land in two days. Unfortunately, he can't help at all because the TB is locked up.

A new version of the TB Prison...

[4wheelin_fool]

I know a CO that build a cache with a hole for you to drop all the TB or coin in but only the CO can get it out since its locked. There is no room for anything but that drophole. The log sheet is on the cap.

 

That is both funny and sad at the same time, as well as slightly disturbing. I would think a TB hotel would be for all cachers to use, rather than a dropoff for the CO. I doubt that the CO will be able to help every TB goal, and shows an unhealthy obsession. Perhaps there could be a note on the page This is NOT to be used to retrieve TBs, or to move them along. Please give me all of the TBs in your possession.

 

Yeah, I'd say it's bad form.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

I know a CO that build a cache with a hole for you to drop all the TB or coin in but only the CO can get it out since its locked. There is no room for anything but that drophole. The log sheet is on the cap.

 

That is both funny and sad at the same time, as well as slightly disturbing. I would think a TB hotel would be for all cachers to use, rather than a dropoff for the CO. I doubt that the CO will be able to help every TB goal, and shows an unhealthy obsession. Perhaps there could be a note on the page This is NOT to be used to retrieve TBs, or to move them along. Please give me all of the TBs in your possession.

 

Yeah, I'd say it's bad form.

 

"All your TB are belong to us"

[+TriciaG]

A new version of the TB Prison...

Welcome to the Hotel California Cache.

[team tisri]

Don't see anything wrong with it as long as they're moved along in a timely fashion.

 

On the cache with the lock on it,, this could be the problem.

Another semi-related problem is that these TBs are no longer available for the general caching public to move. I know a few TB infatuated folks who focus their searches on those caches showing bugs and/or coins. I imagine they might feel miffed if they were to arrive only to find they couldn't access the travelers inside.

 

And what about that travelbug who's mission is to go to some strange far off land? Another finder may come along who is going to that land in two days. Unfortunately, he can't help at all because the TB is locked up.

 

Another finder may come along who is going to that land in two days but still be unable to help because the guy who got there an hour before him took the travel bug because he thinks they are cool and just wanted to release it near where he lives.

 

I've seen so few travel bugs with mission statements attached to them that most of the time I just take them and put them somewhere else. If I get a TB home and log it only to find it doesn't want to leave the UK when I'm about to leave on a trip abroad I just leave it at home and move it along when I get back. If that means it sits on my desk for a few weeks so be it.

 

That said most travel bugs seem to have a mission that's about little more than chalking up lots of miles so when I'm preparing for going away from home I round a few up with a view to scattering them around wherever it is I'm going.