Trackable Police

[+makenasmum]

Are there trackable/travelbug police?

And is there a site to list people who wont pass on TB's?

All mine have now gone missing and emails are being ignored.

[+niraD]

15 minutes ago, makenasmum said:

Are there trackable/travelbug police?

And is there a site to list people who wont pass on TB's?

No, not really.

 

15 minutes ago, makenasmum said:

All mine have now gone missing and emails are being ignored.

Most of mine have gone missing too.

 

What kind of emails are you sending? Are the people you're sending them to still playing the game? Maybe they haven't noticed that their geocaching-related emails have started going to their spam folders. Maybe they lost the trackable and don't want to deal with it any more. Maybe they stole it. Maybe they put it in a cache, but didn't log it properly.

 

Some owners send out proxies for trackables that have gone missing. Some send proxies rather than sending the actual trackables in the first place, keeping the actual trackables safely in their own possession. I replaced a muggled cache container once, and the owner of a trackable that had been in the muggled container actually mailed me a proxy/replacement so I could put it back in the cache that it had last been in.

[+makenasmum]

This is supposed to be fun!

Why do people have to be ratbags

How does a proxy work please?

[+niraD]

6 minutes ago, makenasmum said:

How does a proxy work please?

Basically, it's the same as the original trackable, except that you attach some sort of replacement tag instead of the original TB tag that was lost. Most of the proxies I've seen have used laminated paper or card stock for the replacement TB tag. Or for geocoin proxies, they printed a photo of the geocoin and laminated that.

 

The best geocoin proxy that I've seen used a plastic coin case. Inside was a washer or two of the appropriate size, with printed and trimmed photos of each side of the geocoin. It was easy to think it was an actual geocoin in a plastic coin case if you didn't examine it closely. But most are less elaborate and less expensive copies.

[+cerberus1]

45 minutes ago, makenasmum said:

Are there trackable/travelbug police?

And is there a site to list people who wont pass on TB's?

All mine have now gone missing and emails are being ignored.

 

We've seen people get in a bind themselves over harassing those they believe took their trackable.  Some find later it wasn't so, but not until after smearing the reputation of another player.

One long-time pm we know of who took a trackable (we were there) said they dropped it in a cache,  yet that same person "found" it at home and put it in another cache a couple years later.  

 

Most "proxy" trackables here don't end up as yet another to be grabbed again.  Their codes are placed on items that usually stay with the owner,  such as a hiking stick, patch on vest,  hat,  pack  (use your imagination) to be Discovered only at Events or folks they meet on the trail. 

[+makenasmum]

Thank you

[+cerberus1]

1 hour ago, niraD said:

Basically, it's the same as the original trackable, except that you attach some sort of replacement tag instead of the original TB tag that was lost. Most of the proxies I've seen have used laminated paper or card stock for the replacement TB tag. Or for geocoin proxies, they printed a photo of the geocoin and laminated that.

 

The best geocoin proxy that I've seen used a plastic coin case. Inside was a washer or two of the appropriate size, with printed and trimmed photos of each side of the geocoin. It was easy to think it was an actual geocoin in a plastic coin case if you didn't examine it closely. But most are less elaborate and less expensive copies.

 

Just did maintenance on an ammo can a few days ago.  

One piece of scrap  left in the bottom (with leaf pieces and stuff...) was a moldy laminated piece of paper with a TB#... and the rest illegible.   It wasn't listed in the cache anyway. 

These, to me (and we see a lot of them...) are the worst example of a "proxy".  

 - Almost as if the owner completely gave up and said to himself  " I'm just sending out this pieca carp ", when they probably shouldn't have  bothered...

The one you present is a good idea, and we know that even cheap casino chips or wooden nickels fare much better (look nicer too).  

[+hzoi]

1 hour ago, makenasmum said:

Are there trackable/travelbug police?

And is there a site to list people who wont pass on TB's?

All mine have now gone missing and emails are being ignored.

 

There's a Cache Police, but missing TBs might be outside of their jurisdiction.

 

Seriously - losing TBs is not fun, I get it.  We've lost dozens. 

 

I was very disappointed the first few times it happened, even angry.  That changed to pretty disappointed after the first dozen, when I realized that it wasn't due to malice that they were going missing, usually just negligence, or ignorance. 

 

Eventually I realized that the only way to ensure that our TBs didn't disappear was to never release them.  So now it's a pretty minor disappointment, slightly more annoying than getting my glasses wet in the rain, slightly less annoying than finding out the storm last night meant the Dish receiver didn't record that show I wanted to watch.

 

I hope some of yours come back.  It happens from time to time, and when it does, I think it's pretty cool.

[+niraD]

33 minutes ago, hzoi said:

That changed to pretty disappointed after the first dozen, when I realized that it wasn't due to malice that they were going missing, usually just negligence, or ignorance. 

Yeah, don't underestimate ignorance.

 

I've led several geocaching trips for beginners. Before the trip, either I or someone else will explain trade items, trackables, and the difference between them. This includes passing around a few trackables.

 

And then a newbie sees the "cool toy" or the "pretty medallion" and forgets everything that was said about Travel Bugs and geocoins. If I wasn't there supervising, that trackable would have disappeared. They would have traded for it, but the owner would have no idea what happened to it.

 

I'm sure the same thing happens when trackables are discovered by "muggles with apps", only without the supervision.

[Keystone]

I moved this thread from the "Getting Started" forum.

[+Max and 99]

On 5/22/2018 at 2:41 PM, makenasmum said:

Are there trackable/travelbug police?

And is there a site to list people who wont pass on TB's?

All mine have now gone missing and emails are being ignored.

 I feel for you.  We all feel for you. It happens to all of us. When I send out a TB I have little hope of it living a long life. I learned early on to not send out anything valuable.  You may or may not be surprised to hear how many TBs go missing before they even travel one little mile!

[+little-leggs]

Who needs police , we should all be able to log a TB ? 

you go out ( geocaching ) you find a TB , you log the TB - out , the next cache you find ( big enough ) you drop the TB in , how hard is that .

[+cerberus1]

3 hours ago, little-leggs said:

 ...you go out ( geocaching ) you find a TB , you log the TB - out , the next cache you find ( big enough ) you drop the TB in , how hard is that .

 

Sure , but as long as there's a "visit" or Discover option, that's not how the side-game has to be played.  

Visit was created because there were so many already moving trackables cache-to-cache (since we started) by Dropping and Retrieving to every cache they found. 

 

 

[+Meredith66]

On 5/23/2018 at 5:17 PM, Max and 99 said:

 I feel for you.  We all feel for you. It happens to all of us. When I send out a TB I have little hope of it living a long life. I learned early on to not send out anything valuable.  You may or may not be surprised to hear how many TBs go missing before they even travel one little mile!

OK...so Im trying to find info about TB Geo's and saw this....I just got 2 TB's today and am very excited for them to travel but was worried someone might steal them...after reading these comments I may not hide them because I DONT WANT THEM STOLEN....But I really really wanna hide them and I want to see them travel...if anyone can tell me how to do this I'd appreciate it...TIA

[+cerberus1]

11 minutes ago, Meredith66 said:

....I just got 2 TB's today and am very excited for them to travel but was worried someone might steal them...after reading these comments I may not hide them because I DONT WANT THEM STOLEN....But I really really wanna hide them and I want to see them travel...if anyone can tell me how to do this I'd appreciate it...TIA

 

If you don't want them stolen, don't send them out.   It's a luck of the draw whether your trackable with travel for years, or get swiped at it's first cache.

You don't "hide" trackables.  They're either placed in a cache to be moved along, or kept with you to be Discovered only.

 - Everything you wanted to know about Trackables are in the Help Center.  

[+Meredith66]

Then honestly asking what is the point of buying these trackables spending money on official geocaching stuff and becoming a premium member to have these things stolen?

[+Touchstone]

29 minutes ago, Meredith66 said:

Then honestly asking what is the point of buying these trackables spending money on official geocaching stuff and becoming a premium member to have these things stolen?

Also true of unofficial geocaching stuff and Basic Members.  The temporary nature of things is attractive to some, but a distinct disincentive to others.  If "things" are important to some people, it's best to keep them in a little box at home where they can enjoy them.

[+badlands]

33 minutes ago, Meredith66 said:

Then honestly asking what is the point of buying these trackables spending money on official geocaching stuff and becoming a premium member to have these things stolen?

 

How about to support an organization that gives us may hours of fun for a nominal cost?

 

If the trackable goes missing you can always use the number by etching it into or writing it onto your own tag.

[+Max and 99]

38 minutes ago, Meredith66 said:

Then honestly asking what is the point of buying these trackables spending money on official geocaching stuff and becoming a premium member to have these things stolen?

You'd be surprised at how many i got for free! 

[+Meredith66]

26 minutes ago, Max and 99 said:

You'd be surprised at how many i got for free! 

get what for free?

[+Meredith66]

31 minutes ago, badlands said:

 

How about to support an organization that gives us may hours of fun for a nominal cost?

 

If the trackable goes missing you can always use the number by etching it into or writing it onto your own tag.

I dont mind spending money...but not for them to get stolen

[+cerberus1]

50 minutes ago, Max and 99 said:

You'd be surprised at how many i got for free! 

 

Yep.  Received a few now for promotions, even when not participating in that promotion.  Just got another notice of one coming a couple days ago. 

I believe it's simply the site noticing that we do send them out as requested  (unlike many we see on ebay...).

 - Though the ones we received are all "missing" now too...

[+cerberus1]

28 minutes ago, Meredith66 said:

get what for free?

 

Many promotions have offers for trackables.  Most just want you to maybe take a pic, and put it in a cache to move along.

 - Gotta notice quickly though, or they're out of 'em quick, why notifications of pretty-much everything is a good idea.  

[+cerberus1]

1 hour ago, Meredith66 said:

Then honestly asking what is the point of buying these trackables spending money on official geocaching stuff and becoming a premium member to have these things stolen?

 

We know some people who have a lot of trackables out.  They may get  upset a bit when they turn up "missing", but realize that when other people are involved, there's not much you can do to change it.

Some, it's the only part of the hobby they're able to still participate in. 

The other 2/3rds has over 200 coins in her canvas pack, as a collection.  I have around 100 unactivated coins that I drop in caches, or give to new folks at events. 

 

If your trackable ever turns up "missing" you always have the code.  That code doesn't even have to go back into another item to send out, you can use that code etched into a hiking stick,  patched on a backpack or vest,  limited just by your imagination ... and kept with you for folks to Discover.  If you'd like.

[+NanCycle]

3 hours ago, Meredith66 said:

Then honestly asking what is the point of buying these trackables spending money on official geocaching stuff and becoming a premium member to have these things stolen?

 

Buying trackables, spending money on official geocaching stuff (such as containers and clothing), and becoming a premium member are three distinctively different actions.  Except that all provide money to Groudspeak for operations, there is not a single point to all three; each has its own reason and benefit.  Most of the trackables I have, I bought a long time ago, way before muggles with apps became a problem and most geocachers either moved trackables responsibly or ignored them altogether.  I have been reissuing the tracking numbers on new items when they go missing.  I don't buy other official geocaching stuff--though I do have some things that were given to me as gifts.  Being a premium member is valuable to me in the additional benefits that it provides -- and no one can steal that from me.  

[+The A-Team]

2 hours ago, cerberus1 said:

Received a few now for promotions, even when not participating in that promotion.

I've gotten a ton of free trackable tags just from attending some Mega events and the occasional regular Event. At Megas, you'll often get one or more in your "swag bag" just for attending, and you can also get some from Lackeys who are wandering around and handing them out like candy. Also, if Signal is at an event, he'll hand out trackable tags too (but let him hand out to the kids first).

[+TriciaG]

6 hours ago, Meredith66 said:

OK...so Im trying to find info about TB Geo's and saw this....I just got 2 TB's today and am very excited for them to travel but was worried someone might steal them...after reading these comments I may not hide them because I DONT WANT THEM STOLEN....But I really really wanna hide them and I want to see them travel...if anyone can tell me how to do this I'd appreciate it...TIA

Don't attach something someone would want to collect or take. Don't attach something a child would want.

 

I have a trackable (generic dog tag). Originally I attached a plastic bracelet - my TB disappeared, then reappeared mysteriously with the bracelet missing. Then I attached some links from an old bike chain (cleaned, of course). It hasn't disappeared and is still going in Europe. From my one little experience, I conclude that it's more likely to make it if you attach something not inherently valuable and not very attractive.

[+CAVinoGal]

3 hours ago, NanCycle said:

7 hours ago, Meredith66 said:

Then honestly asking what is the point of buying these trackables spending money on official geocaching stuff and becoming a premium member to have these things stolen?

 

Buying trackables, spending money on official geocaching stuff (such as containers and clothing), and becoming a premium member are three distinctively different actions.

 

When you "buy" a trackable from GC.com, you are essentially buying the right to use that unique code.  You can attach it to anything you like; engrave it on a metal washer, 3-D print it and send that out - you paid for the code that you send out with a "mission" or attach to something you carry with you.

 

Once it is out of your possession, you can't control what happens to it.  You can only hope other discoverers or cachers play it the same way you  want to play it!

 

I recently picked up a travel bug and it had been in "limbo" for 5 years.  5 YEARS!  Someone had put it in a cache Jan. 2013 - then there was a note on a cache Mar. 2018, where I found the TB May 2018.  I dropped and retrieved in the cache I found it in to put it in my possession, but where it was in the 5 years is a mystery.  For the TB owner, prior to the note in March 2018, the TB was missing - no activity at all!  And now it's in play again, and I will be taking it traveling with me.

 

I've released a few, knowing they may go missing, but excited to see where they DO go when cachers take care of them.  A few things to keep in mind:

• I prefer to place them in PMO caches if I can, if not - 
• I look for TB hotels that get a lot of activity, and seem to be well maintained by the CO's
• I look for frequent visits of local cachers for "TB drops" - that's a cache that sees turnover, and TB's moving as intended.

No guarantee that your TB will not go missing once it's retrieved from where you carefully place it, if the cacher who picked it up is not as conscientious.  But then, once you drop it, it's out of your hands.

 

The point?  The fun of watching it travel, with the knowledge that it may not.  If you don't like the uncertainty, then the TB side game may not be for you.  I enjoy picking them up and moving them along, and giving the TB owners photos and assurances that at least their" baby" is in play and in MY good hands for a bit.  But TB's want to move, so I pass them on to another cache or event or cacher - and only hope they will use the same care and diligence that I did.

Edited June 1, 2018 by CAVinoGal