Cachers with a lot of Trackables

[+#Tenzin]

I just started caching in 2013, so I am not that experienced yet.

But there is something I would like to hear some opinions on.

 

If I find a Trackable then I tend to drop it off as soon as I can, and help it towards it's goal.

And I have 2 Trackables with me at most. Most of the times even just 1.

 

But I also see logs from people who take all Trackables out of a cache at the same time.

While I just swap 1, and "discover" the rest.

I also noticed some people who have a bunch of Trackables with them for a while, like 10 at the same time.

But then they go to a cache where they can "drop" some, but then they don't.

 

How do people feel about that?

Is that okey to do?

 

EDIT:

I meen Trackables the found in a Cache from other people, and then they 'hold' those for a while.

But then not just 1 at a time, but for example 10 at the same time.

Edited December 19, 2013 by #Tenzin

[+Walts Hunting]

treat trackables like a buffet. Take all you want. Log all you take.

[+dprovan]

There's no rule against it, and as you can see from Walts Hunting's post, some people advocate it. From what I've seen, some people seem to carry lots of trackables most of the time, and I gather those people gather all the TBs they find. But I'm like you and rarely have more than one or two, and I try to drop them off in a day or two. I can't imagine taking responsibility for 10 trackables at one time. It would take me weeks to find enough caches to drop them in. So I'd only do it if there was some danger of them being stuck.

 

Normally 10 trackables would only be in one cache if it was a very frequently visited cache, and I'd tend to assume that other cachers will come by soon enough to pick up trackables and do something interesting with them, so I discover the excess TBs and leave them in that cache for someone else to enjoy. I think that generally people like Walts Hunting that advocate taking them are thinking that trackables should be moved whenever possible, but that attitude should be tempered by considering in each specific case whether you picking the trackable up will actually result in a better trip for it than if you left it for someone else to pick up later that day. And this cuts both ways: if I'm on the way to the airport, I'm more likely to pick them up so they can come fly with me to wherever I'm going.

[+TriciaG]

If you can handle 10 trackables, log them correctly, and help them on their way in a reasonable amount of time, then go ahead and take all 10.

 

If you take only 1 and just drop it in your junk drawer, don't log it correctly, or make it visit 5,000 caches in the next 6 months without any regard for its mission, then don't even take that one.

[+kunarion]

The text on the TB dogtag contains the information you seek: “Do Not Keep Me”.

 

Don't keep TBs just because you see people doing that. Lots of people are not “Geocaching” with TBs, they're messing with people. They have issues beyond the scope of "Geocaching".

 

The TBs you find in caches are not for you to keep, they're placed so that they travel. If you intend to do something weird, such as keep the TBs, be sure that's what each owner wants, and type the details in a log, or on the TB page if it's yours. Make sure there are no misunderstandings, by the TB Owner, other cachers, nor by you. If the TB Owner comes to this Forum asking what the deal is with his/her hijacked TB, you've failed to prevent misunderstandings. The best plan is to place each TB into a cache as soon as possible. Have a firm plan on where you will place a TB before you take it, and then place it.

 

If you desire a lot of TBs to carry around, buy your own.

 

I meen Trackables the found in a Cache from other people, and then they 'hold' those for a while.

But then not just 1 at a time, but for example 10 at the same time.

Exactly. There are entire threads about just that subject. If there's still any question, refer people to the info on the TB dogtag.

Edited December 19, 2013 by kunarion

[+#Tenzin]

Hi everyone,

 

Thanks for the messages.

I asked becasue I have seen some people do this, and personaly I just take 1 and "discover" the rest so that the Cacher behind me also can "retrieve/discover" a Trackable.

 

I know a TB Hotel in my area that always has a lot of Trackables in it, most of the times 8+.

That is how I know.

[+kunarion]

I just take 1 and "discover" the rest so that the Cacher behind me also can "retrieve/discover" a Trackable.

When you're ready for a challenge, take more. Log them, and consider their missions. If one is heading west, one east, one wants photos of fire engines, whatever, you may have lots to do, including placing each one in a decent cache, and doing all the appropriate logs. If it all proves overwhelming, it's fine to place any remaining TBs back where they started. Many "Geocachers" who have too many TBs to manage tend to keep the TBs forever. There are better options.

[+fuzzybelly]

I'll only grab "coins", never was much for the "dog tag attached to a doll or something". I use the sport fishing rule for my TB rules; only one in possession. Although I may keep it a while and take photos with it while it's caching with me. finally I'll find a nice active cache to place it in for the next finders to enjoy it.

[+Madam Pomfrey]

I treat trackables (geocoins and travel bugs alike) like hot potatoes. If I retrieve one from a cache, it is most definitely not mine to keep - - it belongs to someone else who released it into the wild to watch it travel. So if I retrieve one, I move it along to another cache quickly, or pass it off to another geocacher especially if they can help the Trackable with its goal. I try to do so within two weeks. I don't take the business of removing a Trackable from a cache lightly - if I do, it is now my responsibility to handle it properly in keeping with the owner's wishes, and not just shove it in a drawer or glove compartment and forget about it.

 

In my opinion, the courteous thing to do if you have a Trackable and wish to hang on to it for longer than two weeks, is contact the trackable's owner and ask them if it's okay with them. I think most Trackable owners appreciate it if you drop them a quick email note. I recently passed off a travel bug to a friend who is going to New York - I gave it to him because the trackable's mission includes getting there. But since he isn't going to New York for another couple of months, he emailed the owner to find out if he should hang onto it until then, versus put it in another cache right away. That is a nice example of treating the Trackable and its owner with respect. Bear in mind that if you don't get a response it does not mean you get to keep the trackable. Still unload it quickly.

 

Another issue is, what should you do if you come across a cache with numerous trackables in it. Should you take all of them? My preference is to take one and discover the rest, especially if it is a Travel Bug hotel. I'm a fan of leaving some for others. However, if I find several trackables in a cache that is known to have "issues" (such as a history of the contents being plundered and not logged in a timely fashion - and that would apply to just about every cache in the Seattle area), I grab what's there and promptly move them to some place safer - either pass off to another geocacher, or, because I live in Seattle, drop off at the cache at Groundspeak/Geocaching Headquarters.

 

So, back to the OP - you can have a lot of Trackables in your possession at once, but you need to log them promptly and move them along to another cache, geocacher, or event. There are people out there who hang on to many trackables and do not log them and/or hang onto them for a very long time (years in some cases). That's not a very nice thing to do - it's disrespectful. In general, in geocaching, as with everything else, it works well to treat others - - including their caches and trackables - - as you wish to be treated.

[+kunarion]

I treat trackables (geocoins and travel bugs alike) like hot potatoes. If I retrieve one from a cache, it is most definitely not mine to keep - - it belongs to someone else who released it into the wild to watch it travel. So if I retrieve one, I move it along to another cache quickly, or pass it off to another geocacher especially if they can help the Trackable with its goal. I try to do so within two weeks. I don't take the business of removing a Trackable from a cache lightly - if I do, it is now my responsibility to handle it properly in keeping with the owner's wishes, and not just shove it in a drawer or glove compartment and forget about it.

 

In my opinion, the courteous thing to do if you have a Trackable and wish to hang on to it for longer than two weeks, is contact the trackable's owner and ask them if it's okay with them. I think most Trackable owners appreciate it if you drop them a quick email note. I recently passed off a travel bug to a friend who is going to New York - I gave it to him because the trackable's mission includes getting there. But since he isn't going to New York for another couple of months, he emailed the owner to find out if he should hang onto it until then, versus put it in another cache right away. That is a nice example of treating the Trackable and its owner with respect. Bear in mind that if you don't get a response it does not mean you get to keep the trackable. Still unload it quickly.

 

Another issue is, what should you do if you come across a cache with numerous trackables in it. Should you take all of them? My preference is to take one and discover the rest, especially if it is a Travel Bug hotel. I'm a fan of leaving some for others. However, if I find several trackables in a cache that is known to have "issues" (such as a history of the contents being plundered and not logged in a timely fashion - and that would apply to just about every cache in the Seattle area), I grab what's there and promptly move them to some place safer - either pass off to another geocacher, or, because I live in Seattle, drop off at the cache at Groundspeak/Geocaching Headquarters.

 

So, back to the OP - you can have a lot of Trackables in your possession at once, but you need to log them promptly and move them along to another cache, geocacher, or event. There are people out there who hang on to many trackables and do not log them and/or hang onto them for a very long time (years in some cases). That's not a very nice thing to do - it's disrespectful. In general, in geocaching, as with everything else, it works well to treat others - - including their caches and trackables - - as you wish to be treated.

+1

Excellent!

[+ayrbrain]

At most I only retrieve one or two TB's but that is only because I feel I can handle a couple. We found some lovely ones in Edinburgh last week unusual ones, well we hadn't seen these types before, quite a few in that particular cache we visited but I just took one and dropped one in from a cache from my town. I suppose if folk know they are going to move that many asap, then I wouldn't mind one of mine being one of them. So annoying if they are not moved and just forgotten about. I like to look at Time to time at TB's I have moved in the past just to see where they are and hopefully still moving. This is such a fun sport.

The TB I got from the christmas card/post card/ TB exchange recently we placed in a chache in Edinburgh, then in less than an hour it was picked up and now into another cache. I am trying to see if it can make it's way back to Baltimore,well at least I am optimistic