Yellow Jtbs

July 14, 2004

I am trying to figure out why people want to hang on to a YJTB rather than pass it on.

No better chance of winning an actual jeep by logging it in and out of multiple caches, which is what people in our area seem to be doing… can’t trade it in for a new GPSr….. no additional chance of winning a $50 bundle of merchandise for a winning essay or photo….

Maybe it just makes people feel important. Any insight?

July 14, 2004

I wish I knew. Some stupid $*$# stole my whole cache just to get the jeep tb I had in it as a FTF prize kinda thing. He looged the bug and not the cache. His profile only has one find in it. The Jeep.

July 14, 2004

I agree. This isn't fair!

July 14, 2004

Many in my area were ticked off at the "commercialization" the Jeep bugs were "causing" - Many vowed to derail the Jeeps, steal them, hoard them, change the jeep to something else, etc-

ALmost every one to be dropped around here is grabbed right away, but mostly never to be seen again.

Oh well, I had to go to WI to get one- had it for a while, logged 80+ miles to it, took some pics, and dropped it.

July 14, 2004

For those that feel they need to steal or derail them I hope they get sued.

yeah it may be commercialization, but then what toy with a tb isnt in some way commercialization. Next will those that Hate McDonalds and vows to remove or steal every McToy out there.

The fact is the Yellow Jeeps are NOT your property. To steal, destroy, or some other form is illegal, granite the cost of sueing a person over a 2 dollar item isnt worth it, and so goes unchecked.

Personally if you know anyone that has kept destroyed, or changed the TBs I hope you gave them a lecture on morals then also send in an email to Jeep so they don't win the contests.

Personally, its rude, and makes this sport an amatuer activity. The more popular it gets the more commercialization that will jump in as well. Magellan has contests going on as well. So should we all destroy the magellan GPS's?

24.7k · July 14, 2004

They are a collectors Item and some people can't resist.

1.4k · July 14, 2004

Many in my area were ticked off at the "commercialization" the Jeep bugs were "causing" - Many vowed to derail the Jeeps, steal them, hoard them, change the jeep to something else, etc-

Who were these "many" and how do you know they vowed to do this?

7.2k · July 14, 2004

Many in my area were ticked off at the "commercialization" the Jeep bugs were "causing" - Many vowed to derail the Jeeps, steal them, hoard them, change the jeep to something else, etc-

It's not just your area. Many do see this YJTB thing as promotional gimmick that doesn't really benefit the geocaching comminuty at large. No telling how much money Groundspeak got to do this promotion, but it hasn't made using the gc.com painless on the weekend.

IMHO, it's just a money making scheme. Diamler-Chrysler is just using Groundspeak to spam a huge outdoors oriented base in a unique way. Of that base only a very few get any real benefit other than having a little fun moving TBs which you could have done anyway with other ones.

2.6k · July 14, 2004

I picked one up more or less by accident immediately after it was released in my area. I knew what it was, I just had no idea how much flap surrounded it. I moved it about a mile and set it down again.

In retrospect, I feel lucky I didn't get mugged.

And, come to think of it, I never did write an essay...

4k · July 14, 2004

Well, I think it's pretty rude to hoard them like that. I've got one in my possession, but haven't been caching since I found it. I'll get it moving next time I go caching.

As far as the "commercialization" thing, I don't mind that Jeremy did so much work to get this thing running, and I hope those that do remember when there were so many threads every day complaining about slow servers. I seriously doubt that Jeremy pocketed any money from the deal, if there was any. I'm sure there must've been some money involved, but I'm equally sure that Jeremy used it to better the site in the way of better/more servers, better equipment in general. I can't see that the "commercialization" has had any negative effects on the site, or on geocaching as a whole.

1.8k · July 14, 2004

Next will those that Hate McDonalds and vows to remove or steal every McToy out there.

Oooh, that's not a bad idea...I have a new crusade now.

We're practically swimming in YJTB's in So Cal. They gave away about 100 of them at an event last weekend. Now that I got my little yellow Jeep icon on my stats page, I could care less if I ever saw one again.

1.4k · July 14, 2004

IMHO, it's just a money making scheme.

Yep, that's usually the purpose of buying advertising time or in this case TBs from a company is supposed to accomplish.

Are people going to hoard Magellan GPS units because they advertise on the site?

I don't see the big deal and can't understand why such a vocal minority is complaining about YJTBs.

July 14, 2004

I'd rather see a jeep tb in every cache than having to wade through a bunch of pop-up ads that the site had to sell to make some money. Personally I hope that the site and Jeremy did make some money off jeep. What's wrong with that? With all of the complaints and bashing how long do you think someone would really run this site just out of the goodness of thier heart.

7.2k · July 14, 2004

Personally, don't see the reason folks are going gaga over a mass of the exact same thing. There is no uniqueness. No personality. Each and every one of them was created by a suit. TB were about people's creations and watching them move about. What's this about?

It's the same as the "in" toy every year at Christmas. "Got to have it!" Yeah, how much are your Cabbage Patch dolls worth today?

July 14, 2004

Who were these "many" and how do you know they vowed to do this?

Its all in the forums at the local org's site. Lots of them. Its pretty easy to identify whose got a grudge against this promo. Oh yeah, they all claimed to be "joking"

So far, I have found at least 1 Jeep TB that was changed to a generic knockoff

Here

Its easy to see who was the culprit. (not the last finder)

There are also a few at the bottom of a lake, in an underwater cache (cant find it right now)

and 3 are tied up at an event cache here

5.3k · July 14, 2004

I'd rather see a jeep tb in every cache than having to wade through a bunch of pop-up ads that the site had to sell to make some money.

Amen!

7.2k · July 14, 2004

With all of the complaints and bashing how long do you think someone would really run this site just out of the goodness of thier heart.

You really think this was ever out of the goodness of his heart? It was clear way back when he refused to make the complete list available that this was not out of the goodness of his heart.

Anyway, you do what you want. I've said my piece. Just trying to let folks understand where some of us are coming from. If you can't understand that some of us don't care for the supposed official voice of our sport to also be a commercial venture who cares nothing about the community, only it's revenue base, then... whatever.

July 14, 2004

I got my first YJTB a few weeks ago and I'll admit that I did hang on to it for two or three days, but it was just so I could find and enter a picture in to the contest and write an essay and get that entered as well. As soon as I was done I dropped it in a near by cache.

This may account for why some bugs don't get dropped quickly. The essay is especially hard(ish). It would have been easier if they wanted a 3000 word essay rather than a 300 word essay. It's hard to cram all that you want to say into 300 words.

Edited July 14, 2004 by Black Mage

1.4k · July 14, 2004

Its all in the forums at the local org's site. Lots of them.

What's the URL?

4.5k · July 14, 2004

As far as the "commercialization" thing, I don't mind that Jeremy did so much work to get this thing running, and I hope those that do remember when there were so many threads every day complaining about slow servers. I seriously doubt that Jeremy pocketed any money from the deal, if there was any. I'm sure there must've been some money involved, but I'm equally sure that Jeremy used it to better the site in the way of better/more servers, better equipment in general. I can't see that the "commercialization" has had any negative effects on the site, or on geocaching as a whole.

Agreed! Its making Geocaching a little more fun for alot of us. Im sure there was some money passed along as well, more power to Jeremy if there was. If you think one of these Jeeps is too commercial for ya, then dont touch it.

Renegade Knight said it right. These Yellow Jeeps are collector's items for some and yes, some of them are NOT going to move far at all!!!

2.2k · July 14, 2004

i would like to see one, just once.

3.8k · July 14, 2004

In case anyone reading this thread does not understand the promotion,

here is an explanation published in this month's Today's Cacher.

July 14, 2004

Warning rant to follow.

Who cares if they are making money, even a ridiculous amount of money, on this business venture? Jeremy came up with the idea, had, or secured, the resources to make it happen, took a risk, both financially and personally to get this whole thing going, who the heck are we to badmouth him for making what he can out of it?

A membership is not required to participate, no annoying little “reminder pop ups” asking for a donation, we are not kicked off or locked out of the site after a 30 day free trial, or after a premium membership expires.

How many people on here are willing to quit their day jobs, start up and finance a company that allows thousands of people around the world to enjoy an activity?

I am about tired of listening the socialist whining. By the way, it seems everyone has the opportunity to get some size of a piece of the pie cool stuff Congratulations, the items look great, and people I have talked to are/were very pleased.

Who knows why people hold on to any TB without logging it anywhere? Like Mom always says, “It all comes back to manners”. Like Mudfrog said some view them as "collectables" and others just do not care about manners

7.2k · July 14, 2004

Jeremy came up with the idea, had, or secured, the resources to make it happen, took a risk, both financially and personally to get this whole thing going...

Boy, have you been misled.

July 14, 2004

Jeremy came up with the idea, had, or secured, the resources to make it happen, took a risk, both financially and personally to get this whole thing going...

Boy, have you been misled.

Ok, then who came up with the idea for Groundspeak and GC.com? Please inform me, I love learning new stuff.

Edited to add..

Jeremy's is the only name that was mentioned in any of the post's so I did not see the necessity to say Co-had the idea, co-had, or co-secured the money, the resources to make it happen. So are you saying that his bio is lying when it says, "Jeremy is now the President and Co-founder of Groundspeak, Inc., the company that owns and operates Geocaching.com."?

Edited July 14, 2004 by Cherokeecacher

1.1k · July 14, 2004

Now that I got my little yellow Jeep icon on my stats page, I could care less if I ever saw one again.

That's my stand as well. The "frenzy" that some are having over this is just not worth it to me. (Although I must admit, I DID want to get at least one.)

-Dave R.

Edited July 14, 2004 by drat19

7.2k · July 14, 2004

Jeremy came up with the idea, had, or secured, the resources to make it happen, took a risk, both financially and personally to get this whole thing going...

Boy, have you been misled.

Ok, then who came up with the idea for Groundspeak and GC.com? Please inform me, I love learning new stuff.

That is not what you implied and you know it. But if you want to be educated, do the research yourself. I don't want to be accussed of sending you to biased information.

(Hint: gc.com was not the first site to list geocaches.)

21.9k · July 14, 2004

We are so far afield from the topic of people holding onto Yellow Jeep Travel Bugs that I'm afraid I'd need a jeep to drive back to a thread that's on topic. Further posts to this topic need to be talking about Yellow Jeeps.

CR, if you'd like to expound upon your beliefs, either contact interested individuals offline, or open a new topic, being careful to do so in a manner that is consistent with the Forum Guidelines, which require respect and courtesy to be shown not only to community members such as yourself, but also to the site's owners. Thank you.

7.2k · July 14, 2004

Understood.

1.5k · July 14, 2004

Would have been nice if TPTB in Seattle had thought to include us ice-backs in the game

1.4k · July 14, 2004

As has been said before, TPTB at Groundspeak has almost no say in the rules of the promotion. Bitch at Daimler-Chrysler.

And to keep this thread on-topic I don't understand why people hoard these little jeeps. It will be interesting to see how participation in the form of entries in the contest diminish as time goes on. You can bet that if participation is too low towards the end, that it is unlikely that there will be another promotion of this type again. That is too bad.

1.5k · July 14, 2004

As has been said before, TPTB at Groundspeak has almost no say in the rules of the promotion. <X> at Daimler-Chrysler.

And to keep this thread on-topic I don't understand why people hoard these little jeeps. It will be interesting to see how participation in the form of entries in the contest diminish as time goes on. You can bet that if participation is too low towards the end, that it is unlikely that there will be another promotion of this type again. That is too bad.

I believe the word you were reaching for was "complain"? And, yes, I have already contacted D-C and am awaiting a response!

July 14, 2004

They come and leave pretty quickly around here, I have a specific way that I go find caches, so unless I get lucky, I won't ever find one

I think I would set one that I found free, as I have several travel bugs, and wouldn't want mine to become a trophy of some sort

2k · July 14, 2004

Yellow Jtbs, Do people understand them?

Yes, I think so.

What's there not to understand?

Even if they understand that's may not keep them from playing with there own rules.

I found a jeep, forgot to take a photo of it by the 1st, so I placed it in a different cache for others to find.

It was great to find one and that is really all I wanted to do, job done.

1.4k · July 14, 2004

Hmmm... I think we should take ALL the yellow jeeps, and ALL the french-made magellans, and ALL the whining complainers that don't like the FREE service this site and the volunteers provide, and send them off to their own web site where they can whine and YJTB and magellan their way to further unhappiness.

I hope my point wasn't too obscure!

IT'S A GAME PEOPLE. PLAY IT, OR DON'T PLAY IT!!!

SHEESH!!!!!

1.4k · July 15, 2004

What's the URL?

So, does anyone know the URL of the web site where people were writing about taking and hoarding the Jeeps?

I'm really fascinated with why people are so worked-up and fussing about the Jeep Travel Bugs. I think it was a very clever promotion that has reached a very targeted audience.

Out of curiousity, for those that came before me, was there the same about of griping about the Project A.P.E. caches when they were introduced?

July 15, 2004

Yellow jeeps are cool, different, and I enjoy watching all the "discussions" about them. Like others have stated, the "cool factor' is probably the #1 reason they are held onto.

And you can have my Magellan when you pry it from my hand when I am dead. Do not forget, you yourself posted back in January of '03 that you asked for a SporTrack for Christmas.

9.4k · July 15, 2004

Geocaching.com was initially created as a social experiment, and Jeep 4x4 travel bugs are pretty much the same thing. Take something of perceived value, hide it, and hope that others will do the right thing and trade items. And for Jeep 4x4 travel bugs, share the fun by putting it in another cache. There's a lot of trust.

The Internet tends to bring out the best and the worst in a lot of people. It removes a lot of the consequences you would get in the real world, so some folks will act like social idiots online. No one can punch you in the face if you act like a jerk, even if they deserve it.

Travel bugs generally are slow to move, and there are some folks that are using them as their personal travel bug for a while. Fortunately overall the travel bugs have moved almost half a million miles already, which is pretty cool. As we get farther into the promotion I'll get some maps so you can see their movements.

To the nay sayers of the promotion, you seriously need to cut down on your Internet browsing and get in touch with reality. I'd hate to see how you would react to a 1 cent stamp increase.

July 15, 2004

I'd hate to see how you would react to a 1 cent stamp increase.

If all goes well, I'll be a postal employee the 26th, so I would be happy :unsure:

July 15, 2004

Personally, don't see the reason folks are going gaga over a mass of the exact same thing. There is no uniqueness. No personality. Each and every one of them was created by a suit. TB were about people's creations and watching them move about. What's this about?

It's the same as the "in" toy every year at Christmas. "Got to have it!" Yeah, how much are your Cabbage Patch dolls worth today?

I see your point, since all 4000 (or however man there are) are all the same I see how you say there is no uniqueness.

On the other hand all travel bugs are travel bugs. This is the first TB (or cache for that matter) to get it's own icon on your stats page. I believe that is one reason people are gaga over them.

The second reason I belive is supply and demand. Jeep put enough out there to create a fad yet few enough so that demand is greater than supply. If Jeep put out 10 million of these people probably wouldn't care and they would be valued the same as McToys.

For now it's something new (new icon). If new cutom travel bugs are over done in the future, like reality TV shows, the fad will die out.

Perhaps demand might stabilize in the future and there will be plenty of YJTB's out there. I remember the first year 50 State quarters came out people were hoarding them and buying all they could from banks. Now all the 50 state quarters are back in circulation

4k · July 15, 2004

Now all the 50 state quarters are back in circulation

Nope, not all of them. Between the state quarters and the bicentennial quarters (waaaaayyyyyyyyy back in 1976), Sunshine and I have over $500 worth. We didn't "buy" any of them, just collected them from pocket change. :unsure:

I found my YJTB, as I mentioned earlier, and will move it along. When I saw a watchlist notice pop up in my email box, I was on the road after the TB in less than 3 minutes, and had the TB in my possession in under 25 minutes. Hey, what can I say, I just wanted to jump on the bandwagon!! As much as I love writing, I didn't write a story or try to win a Jeep. It was just a part of caching I wanted to experience for myself, much like locationless, virtuals, micros, traditionals, and BM's. I've vowed to at least try each part of caching, to give it a fair chance. I don't like all types of caching, but at least I experienced them so I can say I did.

Thanks, Jeremy, for the opportunity to do it! :lol:

9.4k · July 15, 2004

Thanks :unsure:

Actually, I haven't even released the one I grabbed, so I guess I am also just as guilty. I promise I'll place it this weekend!

Honestly I would have done it for free. I still think it was cool that Jeep would be open to an experiment like this. Sure, it ultimately is a way for them to sell more Jeeps, but they're just gushing about how cool the photos and essays are. It's not often that you can combine work with fun, and they're having a ton of fun with this.

July 15, 2004

As a newbie, I have a unique perspective in that I am not (yet) caught up in the drama and politcis that ANY social venture like this entails....

So.....

1) The YJTB is a hit because it is a contest, and you can win something, theoretically....people love free stuff. That being said, I think its pretty remote that a given person will win a Jeep, though 3 or 4 people will. Contests get all sorts of people involved in them...some honest, some not. SOme folks will quit geocaching after the contest is over, some will continue.

2) The YJTB is a "collectors item" BECAUSE it is a "limited" promotion....only 4,000 or so have been released...no intrinsic value by itelf, but like anything else, it can become valuable....just like McD toys and beanie babies....hence the thefts....a "PERCEIVED" future value, if you will.

3) I picked up a YJTB last Sunday and will be placing it somewhere this coming weekend....Keep in mind that some folks dont cache everyday (though I would love to).....and some cant do it every weekend.....some do fullsize caches on the weekend and micors during the week since they are more convenient due to woirk school, etc. (cant put a YJTB into a film container)......some will forget about it and some will lose the TB.....some will have their kids steal and/or lose them.....so a lot of reasons for them disappearing, and I would guess that the bulk of them are disappearing more for the "thats cool" factor than some horrible plot.

4) I want to thank Jeremy for his taking the time to cultivate his own hobby/interest into a sport that folks like me can participate in and have something that the family can enjoy....These days, its tough to find ANY family activity that is cheap......Geocaching is cheap, and thats a God send. To those others who were involved in geocaching in the very beginning but didnt take it any further, well, thanks too....

I have no problem with the idea that GC.com and Jeremey and whomever might be making a little cash or a lot of cash on this.....Setting up and maintaining a website and servers doesnt come cheap, folks. And if someone can make some money, so what?? If someone cultivates an idea and takes some risk they deserve to reap whatever reqrds may come...No risk, no gain...No one is making anyone buy the premium membership...I didint even know about them until after I had gotten my first fiew finds....I plan on signing up just to support this neat website and service...and yes, I do view it as a service. If the site were not here to tell me where the caches were and keep track of my "score" I wouldnt have found this neat new hobby!

Daimler Chrysler is most likely paying GC.com money for the advertising...but so what?? Like others have said, NO POPUPS, FREE MEMBERSHIP and a LOT of fun.....!

WHat *I* worry about is that the GC.com website is popping up everywhere in the news lately.....this, plus the Jeep thing means that MANY more people are being made aware that there is "treaure in them thar hills"....that will draw all sorts of weirdos out of the woodwork.....anyone with $100 and an internet connection can get involved and that is good and bad.

Again, just a newbie's perspective....sorry to beat a dead horse... :unsure:

Edited July 15, 2004 by shadango

July 15, 2004

they're just gushing about how cool the photos and essays are.

One thing I am not clear on is, do you actually have to submit an essay or picture to win a Jeep?? Is catching and logging a YJTB enough??

It is just my 5 year old and I going caching, so pictures are tough to get composed.....and I dont know if our walks in the woods are enough to win a smile, elt alone a Jeep... :unsure:

shadango

4k · July 15, 2004

Just checked the log for the other cache that had a YJTB on the same day I got mine (yeah, apparently only two made it this far from KC), and it's already being reported as MIA. Looks like it was there about 4 days. Dropped on the 29th of June, one person logged finding the cache on the 3rd of July but doesn't mention the TB at all :unsure: , then the next finder makes a note that the TB is already gone from the cache :lol: . Hmmm.....doesn't look good for the guy that logged the cache on the 3rd. Anyone wanna send him an email and ask him about it? PM me for the name. I won't post it here, as that wouldn't be proper, and I don't want to accuse him of anything, just that it looks pretty suspicious...... :lol:

4k · July 15, 2004

they're just gushing about how cool the photos and essays are.

One thing I am not clear on is, do you actually have to submit an essay or picture to win a Jeep?? Is catching and logging a YJTB enough??

It is just my 5 year old and I going caching, so pictures are tough to get composed.....and I dont know if our walks in the woods are enough to win a smile, elt alone a Jeep...

shadango

No, you can enter from the front page of gc.com.....there's a link there that will take you to a form to fill out to enter the contest.

July 15, 2004

G'Day all you guys & gals,

been reading all this interesting discussion.

And now for something completely different, along the jeep lines though.

I am NOT a USA resident, hence I cannot "win".

However, I would like to send one of the jeep TB on a journey around OZ. (Australia). Hoping of course that it does not get souvenired.

So, does anyone over there want to send me one in the snail mail when you get one?? - just a thought.

(I might also then get a jeep icon on my stats - WOW :unsure: )

Coooeeee.

2.1k · July 15, 2004

Personally, don't see the reason folks are going gaga over a mass of the exact same thing. There is no uniqueness. No personality.

Because issuing over 4000 of them increases the individual's chance of actually seeing one in a freind's hands and possibly even "finding" one yourself. Ever try to go out and find a Moun10bike coin when you live outside the State of Washington?

Besides, they are fun, cute and doggone it, people like them!!!

I plan on holding on to mine for quite a while if I ever get one.

July 15, 2004

I plan on holding on to mine for quite a while if I ever get one.

I think a good many will be treated this way, people will get them, keep them for a while, then realize it's just a toy, and place them again, no worries.

2.1k · July 15, 2004

I think a good many will be treated this way, people will get them, keep them for a while, then realize it's just a toy, and place them again, no worries.

Exactly.

And it will be just as much fun, if not more so, when these little jeeps start showing up again 6 months to a year from now.

Edited July 15, 2004 by Team Sagefox

Yellow Jtbs

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment