runner_one Posted September 3, 2003 Posted September 3, 2003 Maybe this topic has come up before, but I was wondering what are the reasons for creating subscriber-only caches? The Area I live in has 31 caches within a 20 mile radius not counting mine and 16 of those are subscriber-only. When I first started caching the number of subscriber-only caches were low (3 or 4) and represented a extra bit of mystery that encouraged me to become a paying member however now it seems that most of the new caches in the area are being placed as subscriber-only and one cache owner has went back and made most of his previously open caches subscriber-only. If I was a newcomer to this hobby in this area I would be extremely put off by the high ratio of subscriber-only vs. open caches. I can understand making a new cache subscriber-only for a period of time to give paying members a shot at being first to find or maybe a cache that is significantly out of the ordinary (i.e. more valuable ) or even maybe making a cache subscriber-only if it has been repeatedly plundered. Other than these three reasons I can’t personally see a reason for placing subscriber-only caches. To me subscriber-only caches smell suspiciously like the same elitism that I see cavers show to anyone who is not a member of the NSS. Am I missing something and way out of line asking this question? Quote
+The Irish Pirates Posted September 3, 2003 Posted September 3, 2003 More of an incentive to become a paying member. It worked, you joined . It hasn't really bothered me, i guess because there are only 1 or 2 member only caches in my area. Still, I will be joining soon just to help the site continue into greatness. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Cache me out dammit, I'm in a hurry! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it. -Thomas Jefferson Quote
enfanta Posted September 3, 2003 Posted September 3, 2003 Members Only might discourage a saboteur, as long as he's not a member. Ode to a Pigeon: Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, You Lookin' at Me? YOU LOOKIN' AT ME?! (b. katt, 7/14/03) Quote
+Renegade Knight Posted September 3, 2003 Posted September 3, 2003 I'm only aware of a couple within 100 miles. Cacher preference. If I lose any more to plunder though I may convirt all of mine just to see if it helps. Quote
+Kite and Hawkeye Posted September 3, 2003 Posted September 3, 2003 We have 1400 caches within 100 miles, but I've only seen two members-only caches. (Admittedly, I don't often search out to the 100-mile perimeter.) Some people make caches members only to reward the local 'regulars,' by giving them first crack at a new cache (and then probably converting it to no longer being members-only later). I might make a cache members only to limit the activity (a night cache, say, where twenty people tromping around with flashlights on the first weekend might look suspicious). I was very curious about members-only caches before I joined -- it was a bit disappointing to find there weren't actually dozens of secret caches populating the area! Are there any areas with a lot of them? Quote
+Snoogans Posted September 3, 2003 Posted September 3, 2003 I know one person who starts all of his new caches as "members only" for the first month or so and then changes them to be viewed by all. I may do that with a few that I have planned. Sngans Sacred cows make the best hamburger....Mark Twain. Quote
+sbukosky Posted September 3, 2003 Posted September 3, 2003 I have two that are member only. Both are in sensitive areas that I only want serious cachers to visit. Steve Bukosky N9BGH Waukesha Wisconsin Quote
+Breaktrack Posted September 3, 2003 Posted September 3, 2003 quote:Originally posted by sbukosky:I have two that are member only. Both are in sensitive areas that I only want serious cachers to visit. Steve Bukosky N9BGH Waukesha Wisconsin ...and non-paying, non-premium members are not serious? "Trade up, trade even, or don't trade!!!" My philosophy of life. Quote
+ZachMJ2345 Posted September 4, 2003 Posted September 4, 2003 I'm planning on placing a subscriber only cache soon. My reason is that I am going to have a UV flashlight in the first stage that is needed to find the rest of the cache. I only want cachers who are serious about it to have access to it. Keep in mind, not all premium members are responsible and most non-premium members ARE respoinsible. This is just a way of trying to keep the cache a little bit safer. -Zach -Team Zen- Quote
+robert Posted September 4, 2003 Posted September 4, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Breaktrack:...and non-paying, non-premium members are not serious? See this thread ~robert Notice: Driver carries less than $20 cache. Quote
+briansnat Posted September 4, 2003 Posted September 4, 2003 I own one and its because a previous cache in the area was plundered. I made it MOC just in case that cache was specifically targeted by a cache theif, rather than accidently discovered by a passerby (which was unlikely because it was very well hidden). I figure a cache thief isn't gonna bother shelling out $30 for their "hobby" when there are plenty of caches they can steal for free. "You can't make a man by standing a sheep on his hind legs. But by standing a flock of sheep in that position, you can make a crowd of men" - Max Beerbohm Quote
+Team Og Rof A Klaw Posted September 4, 2003 Posted September 4, 2003 Wouldn't putting it out as an offset, puzzle, etc. discourage plunder? Maybe if they have to work for it, they won't ransack it. ____________________________ - Team Og Rof A Klaw All who wander are not lost. Quote
+Breaktrack Posted September 4, 2003 Posted September 4, 2003 quote:Originally posted by mrkablooey: quote:Originally posted by Breaktrack:...and non-paying, non-premium members are not serious? http://ubbx.Groundspeak.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=5726007311&f=4016058331&m=14560818 ~robert _Notice: Driver carries less than $20 cache._ http://www.mdgps.net Yeah, I saw that...lol, and even got a little silly in there myself....LOL. "Trade up, trade even, or don't trade!!!" My philosophy of life. Quote
+mikemtn Posted September 4, 2003 Posted September 4, 2003 They've got Virtuals in Nashville (and other areas) that're MO. Never have figured that one out. Quote
+robert Posted September 4, 2003 Posted September 4, 2003 quote:Originally posted by mikemtn:They've got Virtuals in Nashville (and other areas) that're MO. Never have figured that one out. boo! ~robert Notice: Driver carries less than $20 cache. Quote
+briansnat Posted September 4, 2003 Posted September 4, 2003 quote:Wouldn't putting it out as an offset, puzzle, etc. discourage plunder? Maybe if they have to work for it, they won't ransack it. If they want to, they will. Two of the toughest caches in NJ were stolen. One was just a difficult find, but the other was a multi that involved some difficult rock scrambling and a long hike. There was some bad blood over a first finder prize in the former and the cache soon disappeared. The latter disappeared soon afterward. The cache owner was the same, so most of us locals assume the same person was responsible. I never found the second cache, but it was not an easy one, from what I heard. Someone spent the good part of an afternoon to steal the cache. "You can't make a man by standing a sheep on his hind legs. But by standing a flock of sheep in that position, you can make a crowd of men" - Max Beerbohm Quote
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