+Bull Moose Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 I made a quick search of the forums, but didn't find this specifically addressed. If I have an item that I got at a trade show that simply has the name of a company stamped on it, is it "commercial?" Some of those items would make nice little trade items. For example: I have a plane that is made of stress ball material. It says Boeing on the tail. I have a ruler with a slide puzzle on it. "Gibco" is stamped on it. To me it would be no different putting those things into a cache than putting in a keychain compass that has "Coleman" on it. The only difference I guess is that I bought one at Target and picked the other one up at a trade show. I guess I wouldn't expect anyone to feel pressured to buy a 747 or BoneMarrow Medium by seeing or taking those items out of a cache. Any thoughts? Insert pretentious quote or saying here. Quote Link to comment
+Choachy Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 I dont see a problem with it at all. If you think about it, everything is commercial in some form or another. There are few exceptions ,such as military memorabilia. Everything was manufactured by someone and has their name or logo on it somewhere. Some of these items that you have may be just as great to find as something you go buy at the dollar store. Maybe even better. My time, your time is limited, but time itself is unlimited. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 Those trinks sound fine. Commercial would be if you printed swag that said 'Bull Moose' Pool and Spa Depot' and then hid them in a box just outside your showroom door. Quote Link to comment
+Team Tecmage Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Bull Moose: Any thoughts? Tracy and I have no problem with trade show toys. We have a cache specifically for such swag- Corporate Giveaway Cache. I always attend the student career fairs and started picking up stuff. At first it was just pens and sticky note pads, (a good 3M rep will quickly spot a pad not made by them), then it grew to other things. Rubbermaid was here last fall and had these little rubbermaid tote keychains. The guys working the booth were HAPPY to let me relieve them of a hundred or so. Quote Link to comment
+bigredmed Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 We actually have a theme cache in Omaha called Logos cache that is specifically for this kind of item. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nebraskache/ Quote Link to comment
+woodsters Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 Don't see anything wrong with it all. Like said, everything normally has a logo of some sort on it. If someone doesn't like it, they can leave it there and not look at the logo. Everything makes a buck some way or another. Just don't get all tied up into whether it's commercial or not. I'm hoping that a Dunkin Donuts employee is a cacher and will start leaving coupons for free donuts. People have no problem taking a buck out of a cache, but some of them may say "that shouldn't be there, it's commercial" or "it's advertisement"...get real! After reading what I wrote i wanted to point out that it was not intended for anyone, was just a random statement. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com Quote Link to comment
+GatoRx Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 Not a problem at all. I often times end up with medication promotional items from work, job fairs, and pharmacy-related conferences. I've found that people outside of the healthcare field get a big kick out of that sort of thing, so I'll sometimes leave pens, stress relievers, and other trinkets with drug, drug company, or hospital names on them (people get real excited over Viagra pens...) ---- When in doubt, poke it with a stick. Quote Link to comment
+wimseyguy Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 No problems. I once read that we are bombarded with over 9000 marketing messages a day. What's the harm in one or two more? As to logo item caches there is also one here in Raleigh, NC: Trade Show Cache as well as one in PA with the same name. I often get items at food shows and leave them in caches too (no NOT the food samples! ) These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes; Nothing remains quite the same. Through all of the islands and all of the highlands, If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane Quote Link to comment
2oldfarts (the rockhounders) Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 We are fine with logo items...where would you draw the line? What about MC toys, ball caps with names, even "Swiss Army" utility items?...If the item is in good condition-why not? They seem to get picked up very quickly by our fellow cachers. Sooo...we say--go ahead. Addicted finder of *old* BM's! Quote Link to comment
+Bull Moose Posted June 19, 2003 Author Share Posted June 19, 2003 Thanks everyone. I guess that question is answered! Insert pretentious quote or saying here. Quote Link to comment
+Kouros Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 quote:Originally posted by sbell111:Those trinks sound fine. Commercial would be if you printed swag that said 'Bull Moose' Pool and Spa Depot' and then hid them in a box just outside your showroom door. Unless, of course, there is no such company called 'Bull Moose Pool and Spa Depot' and by 'showroom' you mean 'bathroom'. Although that would be a pretty weird cache. ------ An it harm none, do what ye will Quote Link to comment
+Florafloraflora Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 I just found this topic. I'm not fond of trade show items. If it's something cool or useful, fine, but the squeezy toys are marginal. Your Boeing plane sounds cool, but I've seen things like apples, globes and lightbulbs with some generic firm name like "ITsolutions.com" on them that are pretty garbagey in my opinion because they don't really serve any purpose other than advertising. Squeezy toys from trade shows, strangely, are usually too stiff to squeeze. Other people might like that stuff, though - just the same way that some people like McToys and little plastic soldiers. I like finding tissues and handi-wipes, other people consider them junk. Bottom line: I wouldn't rule out leaving trade show swag in a cache, but I would never trade for it either. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 I think it's fine. My wife's company has a lot of great swag, from desktop compasses (not sure what the point of that is), to binoculars with their logo. I eagerly await her company's swag to put in caches. Another local geocacher works for a company that uses credit card sized calculators as a swag item. They find their way into many local caches and I have several. They are useful to have around. I think what TPTB mean about commercial, is a cache that is placed expressly to promote a business. "Au pays des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois" Quote Link to comment
+woodsters Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 Even a cache to promote a business would be ok in my eyes. As long as it's a findable cache that gives me the thrill of searching it out. If McDonalds wants to put a cache out there to promote the McRib, so be it. Just make sure there's ample supply of free McRib coupons in it along with some Happy Meal toys still in the plastic. Just like some of the caches we find, that are left to be desired, you can easily log a TNLNSL and put another cache under your belt. Sure as heck beats finding old used and worn stuff. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com Quote Link to comment
+flask Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 i just put a bunch of stuff out there that under your definition would qualify as commercial.. i got a bunch of business-card-sized gift certificates to local businesses that i like. bakeries, ski areas, blah,blah. you know, like "one day use pass", or "good for a hot chocolate and a cinnamon bun". these are all things that i use and love. if people don't want 'em, they don't have to take 'em. it doesn't matter if you get to camp at one or at six. dinner is still at six. Quote Link to comment
+woodsters Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 Flask, what's the waypoint? Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com Quote Link to comment
+flask Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 funny. but you will notice that i didn't specify if i put them all in one cache or not. come on over and see. actually, if they go over well, i'm getting more. one of the businesses made the cards special for me. let's just say i'm a special customer. it doesn't matter if you get to camp at one or at six. dinner is still at six. Quote Link to comment
+Florafloraflora Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 Gift certificates are great. I've got no problem with them. Unless maybe it's a free night of lodging in a timeshare complex or something But free meal coupons, movie passes, etc. (something that's entirely free, no purchase required) are in a whole different category than trade show swag. Quote Link to comment
THespos Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 I hope there's no rule against branded tchotchkes. I am a partner at a media buying agency, so I literally have CRATES of cool stuff from the media (magazines, newspapers, Internet sites, etc.) Usually, media sales reps bring this stuff by the office when they come to visit us, and if I don't get rid of it, it piles up in the office. I've left some of this stuff in caches and I hope no one minds. In my very first cache, I left a 2-AA Maglite flashlight that says "San Jose Mercury News" on it. I've also left swag from GQ Magazine, a light-up Google pen, and a multi-tool from the NY Times. Quote Link to comment
+bradtal Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 quote:Originally posted by BrianSnat:My wife's company has a lot of great swag, from desktop compasses (not sure what the point of that is Brian- We use a desktop compass here at work to figure out which way a co-workers head is pointing after they pass out on their keyboard from boredom. "Oh, Paul just hit his keyboard... He's pointing NNW... Last week it was due south..." Hard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now. Quote Link to comment
+Team GPSaxophone Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 I've left a few items from work (Intel) that have the company name (Intel) on them, but I don't think that means I'm selling out. (Buy a new computer with Intel Inside!) Took sun from sky, left world in eternal darkness Quote Link to comment
+bthomas Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 Trade swag? If you 'age' tech show swag from the Silly-Conn Bay Area, you'll find that 75% of the companies are no longer commercial. Can you say 'Petstore.com' or 'Webvan'??? Quote Link to comment
+georgeandmary Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 I've done one cache entirely filled with schwag. There is an annual bike festival/race/demo/event in Monterey, CA. Every bike bike company gives away schwag, key chains, patch kits, coozies, beach balls, thumb wrestlers, water bottles. I just collected a cache load and placed it out on the rec area for people to find. george Wanna go for a ride? Quote Link to comment
+DustyJacket Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Woodsters Outdoors:Even a cache to promote a business would be ok in my eyes. As long as it's a findable cache that gives me the thrill of searching it out. If McDonalds wants to put a cache out there to promote the McRib, so be it. Unfortunately, that would not be allowed. I asked Jeremy if I could get the local Cabelas to sponsor a cache (i.e. provide the goodies and hide it several hundred yards away from the building, not next to the store) would it be allowed. He said no. DustyJacket Not all those that wander are lost. But in my case... Quote Link to comment
+woodsters Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 Well I wouldn't expect it to be next or near the business. Think about it though, once a business would do that, then they would have to continue to resupply the cache would get costly. Because people would be going to it and returning to it, telling their friends, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, cousins and etc. Once the word got out. The cache would be stolen or it would go without anything new in it. But it would be a good gimmick for a company to do. Doesn't have to be on the Geocaching.com website, they could easily post it on their website or on a flyer in store. Brian Wood Woodsters Outdoors http://www.woodsters.com Quote Link to comment
+Florafloraflora Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Woodsters Outdoors:Doesn't have to be on the Geocaching.com website, they could easily post it on their website or on a flyer in store. Great idea - that would be the perfect place for a promotional cache. It could also be a limited time only cache to eliminate the problem of having to keep restocking it. Personally I love the fact that GC.com is noncommercial and I really want it to stay that way. But nothing says that businesses, charities, political candidates etc. can't sponsor their own caches. Quote Link to comment
+RobRee Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 i strongly encourage people to leave items with logos on them.. magellan garmin duracell energizer us mint cartier etc. on the real side.. my kids really like the key fobs and pencils they find. lots of that kind of stuff here. if i start seeing corpoate questionaires in caches i'll be PO'd. lol. robbie A family that Geocaches together... eventually gets wet. required reading My first bible Great Orienteering Site! Quote Link to comment
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