Removing trackable from tag

[+Viperfang]

I have a trackable that has been moved by a new player (Yay!) but they have removed the tag. So it was a keyring with a travel bug, but the keyring is now gone... In my opinion this is not acceptable, as the ladybird keyring was the point of the trackable.

 

Trackable in question: https://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=8744053

 

It was stated that it didn't fit, but I would argue that it shouldn't be dropped there in that case and a larger cache should be found, now there's just a bug with a name in the wild...

 

Opinions?

 

Kind regards

Edited July 17, 2023 by Viperfang

[+niraD]

2 hours ago, Viperfang said:

I have a trackable that has been moved by a new player (Yay!) but they have removed the tag. So it was a keyring with a travel bug, but the keyring is now gone... In my opinion this is not acceptable, as the ladybird keyring was the point of the trackable.

 

Trackable in question: https://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=8744053

 

It was stated that it didn't fit, but I would argue that it shouldn't be dropped there in that case and a larger cache should be found, now there's just a bug with a name in the wild...

 

Opinions?

You are absolutely correct. The item the TB tag is attached to is part of the trackable. If the whole trackable didn't fit in the cache, then it shouldn't have been left there. Taking the trackable apart is unacceptable.

[+Max and 99]

That's unfortunate! 

[+TriciaG]

You're right, but what can be done about it?

[+kunarion]

4 hours ago, Viperfang said:

I have a trackable that has been moved by a new player (Yay!) but they have removed the tag. So it was a keyring with a travel bug, but the keyring is now gone... In my opinion this is not acceptable, as the ladybird keyring was the point of the trackable.

 

Trackable in question: https://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=8744053

 

It was stated that it didn't fit, but I would argue that it shouldn't be dropped there in that case and a larger cache should be found, now there's just a bug with a name in the wild...

 

Opinions?

 

Kind regards

 

Do you have a replacement ladybird?  If so, you might contact the next cacher who retrieves the tag, or even ask a local group.  You could add some info to the TB description.   If you can send your replacement attachment to someone who will fix it, or have the tag returned to you, it can get put back together.

 

You can instead allow it to continue on its journey as is.  Going commando.  There are many out there like that, and it's an option.

[+TeamRabbitRun]

What did the guy do with it? Does he still have it? Can he be contacted and educated? Politely asked to go get it and restore the amputated appendage, then put it someplace more appropriate?

 

He's got THREE finds - an excellent opportunity to mold a better player.

[+cerberus1]

Similar to TeamRabbitRun, I'd send an email and use the messaging, and explain to the new person how this hobby's played.

However... They already have all their info blocked from others (this was a terrible option...), so don't expect too much...

[+Vicious Cycle]

I recently picked up a TB that was missing the keychain originally attached to it. I checked the pictures from the TB logs and was able to find the same keychain on eBay, so I bought it and sent it back out into the wild. I wonder if this was a similar situation. I assumed someone just stole the keychain. It never occurred to me that someone might not know any better. But if someone refuses to educate themselves on trackables and still insists on taking them from caches, I think they're just as culpable as the thief who steals the keychain.

 

 

 

[+Harry Dolphin]

Hmm...  I sent my sister a Furby with a trackable tag.  It took two years to make it from New Jersey to Maine.  She attached the tag to a plastic lawn Flamingo, to be sent to me.  It travelled for almost a year.  It was left at an Event in New Hampshire.  Nobody thought to take the tag off the flamingo.  Oh, well.  It was an interesting TB.

[+kunarion]

On 7/17/2023 at 8:30 AM, niraD said:

You are absolutely correct. The item the TB tag is attached to is part of the trackable. If the whole trackable didn't fit in the cache, then it shouldn't have been left there. Taking the trackable apart is unacceptable.

 

I usually design my TBs so that it's not trivial to take it apart.  Nothing is hanging by its thin loop, I drill new holes and secure them so they don't "separate".  But in the OP's case, the item didn't just fall off.  It's not uncommon find the fun part removed, but that's also not good Geocaching etiquette.

 

My intent is that no attachment gets removed, nor added, nor changed.  I release it as a whole package, a particular form factor.  Often it's assembled according to the "Snoogans" theory that the TB should be small enough to fit into a lot of caches, yet somewhat too awkward to carry around in a pocket where it gets lost easily.

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by kunarion

[+steve-geo]

Consider using keychain cable wire and crimping the connector.

https://www.amazon.com/bayite-BYT-WKC-4INP12-Stainless-Keychains-Luggage/dp/B01CLGTBFA

[+niraD]

15 hours ago, steve-geo said:

Consider using keychain cable wire and crimping the connector.

The last time I sent out a bunch of TBs, I just used the ball chain they came with. But I shorted the chain so that it wasn't any longer than necessary, and once they were all ready, I mixed up some epoxy and added a drop to each connector.

 

Sure, someone could break or cut the ball chain, but they wouldn't come apart accidentally, or on a whim when a newbie couldn't fit the whole trackable into a new cache.