Cache Cows

[+Patuxent Pirates]

We have only created a very few caches so far and I was curious.... since I have two I am working on now..... what are some examples of the most expensive items you've put in your cache? So far it looks like we generally put about $30.00 or so in total in a cache (for trade items) and we've only included new stuff when we put them together. So far I think the most expensive thing I have included so far is a pair of mini flashlights for about $10.00 that are going into a survival themed cache.

 

Anyway, what has everyone else done?

 

[+Gargoyle]

hmmm... well I am not sure of actual values... I have put a pretty nice slide flashlight from Canon... I think it was from canon. I have also put a transistor radio in another cache. Other then thast most of the stuff I have put in have been pretty regular stuff.

[+The Leprechauns]

When I am hiding an especially hard cache, I've enjoyed putting gift certificate cards into the logbooks for an FTF prize. I chose a sporting goods store's gift cards because everyone needs SOME sort of gear.

 

I've also been known to leave cash surprises in celebration of milestone caches (every 100th find).

 

I always make it clear that there is no need to trade evenly for these bonus gifts.

 

It is VERY rewarding to read the logs and personal e-mails thanking me for the unexpected surprise and letting me know how it was spent. "My son was thrilled to buy a compass at the store for his very own." "Thanks for treating our group to a hot lunch on a cold day of caching." etc. etc.

 

Trinkets are nice, but cash and cash equivalents are king.

 

EDIT: I forgot to say, a $30 expenditure for cache goodies, with a $10 FTF prize, is one heck of a nice cache. Good work.

Edited December 11, 2003 by The Leprechauns

[+Patuxent Pirates]

That is very cool. I definitely like having the satisfaction that I am giving the seeker something worthwhile in the end. Its definitely a sport where it is very enjoyable to give back to the folks in our community that support it.

 

[+Team Og Rof A Klaw]

Just spent upwards of $50 to initialize a themed cache.

[+Doc-Dean]

I frequently place goodies that are given to me by pharmaceutical reps pens, keychains and such and sometimes more expensive items like laser pointers or other themed material.

 

[+briansnat]

I received auto I/O thermometer/road ice dectctor as a gift. I really didn't have any use for it, so I put it in a cache. I saw it in a catalog for around $50. I've also put in a few geocaching.com hats which are around $15. And some Wenger Swiss Army tools, which were regularly $19, but I got a a bunch at a clearance sale for $5 each and they went into caches.

[+CT Trampers]

Our latest cache contained the following first to find prize: An envelope with a one ounce silver bar, a $2.00 bill, a $10.00 bill, and an unregistered set of travel bug tags. That was an unusually generous prize but the cache was a special one for us. The normal FTF prize in our caches is anywhere from $5.00-$20.00.

 

We also hid a cache where the FTF prize was coordinates to a bonus cache that contained a Geocaching.com hat.

 

I know, I know, it is all about the hunt and not the prizes, but we like to reward someone who is willing to make the effort to be FTF. (In other words, insanity loves company!)

[+hikemeister]

Generally I do not put expensive items in caches, and recently, only have been doing micros. However, I have one cache that is a very difficult multi (TRIPLE DARE) that I developed with a group of geocachers right here on the forums, and it has GOOD stuff -- a Casio digital watch (about $30), a LED flashlight (about $20), a Swiss Army multi-tool (about $25), and other good stuff, totalling about $100. For this one, folks are asked to trade good items. So far only four persons have been up to the challenge of finding this one.

[+pater47]

I put a $30 pair of binoculars in one cache that I was a first-to-find. The owner of the cache took them. As far as caches I've placed myself, I invested a few hundred bucks into The Quest for the White Buffalo , but it was a rather extensive multicache. Unfortunately, it was also primarily on a National Wildlife Refuge and is in the process of being relocated.

Edited December 11, 2003 by pater47

[+JoGPS]

a GPS'r

[+Team GPSaxophone]

Ammo Can...$5

FTF Prize...$10

Other stuff...$5-15

Total...$20-30 per cache (micros considerably cheaper)

[+Bloencustoms]

Toss up between a new model airplane engine, and a couple of DVD's.

[+Planet]

I can't recall one particular item, but I don't have any money left and my car is full of caching stuff and gear. So is my house.

Edited December 11, 2003 by Planet

[+Patuxent Pirates]

Wow, I have been toying with the idea of putting in something real nice for the FTF. Maybe put in a set of coordinates for them to locate the FTF prize. Think it would tick off a FTF cacher to have to make another search for another cache left for them as FTF?

 

[+Spider Woman]

For a new cache, I recently put in an unopened DVD, a VHS movie, and a music CD. The rest was mostly toys and stuff. I also add stuff to my caches from time to time, and I've moved stuff from one cache to another if the item didn't fit well in the cache it was placed. Then I include a note in both logs describing the move.

 

I picked up a CD from a cache once, leaving equal value trade goods and found that the case was empty. Next time, I'll look inside first!

[+CT Trampers]

I don't think the FTF cacher would get ticked. If they did and chose not to go and find it, so be it...

 

The person who found our cache with coordinates to the FTF cache containing the cap didn't seem to mind at all. Of course, the FTF cache was in the same park, and only about .3 miles away. If the FTF cache had been placed in another park 10 miles away it likely would have been a different story.

[+Sparky-Watts]

Wow, I have been toying with the idea of putting in something real nice for the FTF. Maybe put in a set of coordinates for them to locate the FTF prize. Think it would tick off a FTF cacher to have to make another search for another cache left for them as FTF?

 

Personally, I think that would be awesome! I think 99.9% of all hard-core cachers would leap at the chance to find yet another cache!

 

I'm planning my second cache, to be released just after the holidays. I've already got a suction-mount for GPSr for the windshield I'm throwing in. I'm waiting till after the holidays to see what I get for Christmas, and if I have duplicate items, well...they're going into the cache as well!

 

I like the idea of gift certificates, also, and will try to find an appropriate type for our area, as there aren't really any good GPSr stores nearby. Perhaps Radio Shack or WalMart. If anything, they can buy batteries with it, right?

[+4agers]

...An envelope with a one ounce silver bar...

Now that is pretty cool... how much and where do you get something like this?

[+CT Trampers]

...An envelope with a one ounce silver bar...

Now that is pretty cool... how much and where do you get something like this?

Picked up three of them on Ebay for around $6.00 each.

[+rusty_tlc]

One of the reasons I haven't placed a lot of caches is that I don't have the resources to put much other than $ store stuff in them. I try to compensate by giving the finder something else. Which usually takes a little thought, which takes (in my case) a lot of time.

[+Staos]

I put a $30 pair of binoculars in one cache that I was a first-to-find. The owner of the cache took them.

IMO, that's really tacky.

[2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

Well, we have one cache that has about 12 - 14 software CD's (new) & unopened & we threw in several Susan B. Anthony Dollars for the people who did not bring something to trade.

 

We also have our multi-cache "Dial-out SG1" that we went all out for, each of the '8' caches have a FTF prize as well as other very nice items such as unregistered bugs, $10.oo casino tokens & Egyptian themed items. The final 3 caches have a Star-Gate signature t-shirt or sweatshirt in them. It will take many hours & miles to finish the entire multi....so we thought it would make it seem very special to have tried & then completed this cache.

 

We have had a blast thinking about what we would like to find in a cache & had lots of fun buying the items to put into our caches.

 

No..we are not overflowing with money..that's one reason it took us so long in the planning...but it will be worth every penny when the comments start rolling in. Someone has yet to be the FTF...we did not make it an easy one, so we are patiently waiting......

 

~Shirley~

[+ironman114]

silver I believe runs about $3-6 an ounce now it varys. I bout some22 years ago @ $12 Just befor the bottom fell out. I have given all but one away as gifts Maybe someday they will be alot more valuable.