Report Dead Caches?

[+Thot]

The Title overstates the certainty of knowing a cache is "dead," but let’s assume there’s good reason to suspect a cache is no longer in place. Should I report my suspicion to someone? If so, who?

 

While selecting some new caches to hunt this morning I came a cross one that had a history of consistent and regular finds every week to two weeks for a couple of years. Now, for the last four months there have been no finds, and 5 DNFs have been reported.

 

This strongly suggests to me something’s gone wrong with this cache.

Edited July 23, 2004 by Thot

[+briansnat]

That's where the "needs archived" option shold be used when you log the cache.

Select "needs archived" and state why in your log. The owner and admin will get a copy of the note.

[Keystone]

Or, you could begin by trying to contact the cache owner, like this:

 

Hello,

I am interested in searching for your "Fluffy Pink Bunnies" cache in West Park, but I noticed that the last five logs all reported that they could not find the cache.  The most recent successful find was in April.

 

So that I don't waste a trip, can you please confirm for me that the cache is still in place? 

 

Thanks,

Joe Geocacher

 

Now, something like 75% of the time, you will get no answer at all, or the e-mail will bounce because the address is dead. This is because *active* and *responsible* cache owners will check on a cache before five DNF logs accumulate over a period of several months. Assuming you don't hear anything back for a week (to allow for vacations, etc.), THEN log a "Should be Archived" note. It greatly helps the reviewer to know that the owner has not been responsive to e-mails about maintenance. The cache will be archived more quickly, knowing that this has already been attempted without success.

[+briansnat]

Fluffy Pink Bunnies

 

Now there's a name for a cache!!!! Thanks for the idea. Hope you don't mind if I steal it. Now I have to I find some 4 star terrain to place it.

[+Renegade Knight]

Or, you could begin by trying to contact the cache owner, like this:

 

Hello,

I am interested in searching for your "Fluffy Pink Bunnies" cache in West Park, but I noticed that the last five logs all reported that they could not find the cache.  The most recent successful find was in April.

 

So that I don't waste a trip, can you please confirm for me that the cache is still in place? 

 

Thanks,

Joe Geocacher

 

Now, something like 75% of the time, you will get no answer at all, or the e-mail will bounce because the address is dead. This is because *active* and *responsible* cache owners will check on a cache before five DNF logs accumulate over a period of several months. Assuming you don't hear anything back for a week (to allow for vacations, etc.), THEN log a "Should be Archived" note. It greatly helps the reviewer to know that the owner has not been responsive to e-mails about maintenance. The cache will be archived more quickly, knowing that this has already been attempted without success.

Where the heck is my two thumbs up frogicon?

[thorin]

If you don't find it then log a DNF. If a bunch of people haven't found it then try to contact the cache owner and have them check on it. If you don't hear back from the cache owner in a reasonable period of time (say a week or so, give people time for vacations etc) then log a "Needs Archive".

 

Thorin

[+Thot]

Or, you could begin by trying to contact the cache owner, like this:

 

Hello,

I am interested in searching for your "Fluffy Pink Bunnies" cache in West Park, but I noticed that the last five logs all reported that they could not find the cache.  The most recent successful find was in April.

 

So that I don't waste a trip, can you please confirm for me that the cache is still in place? 

 

Thanks,

Joe Geocacher

 

Hmm . . . My instincts were right. Here's the version I sent:

 

I was about to try your "Fluffy Pink Bunnies," but noticed the last 5 tries have been DNFs while the history shows regular finds before that and almost no DNFs.

 

Do you know if it's still in place?

No reply yet.

[+Skadog]

The first thing I try to do if I see DNF's, is go out and find the cache. Some people may be to quick to give up, and since they did not find it, it must be gone!

[Keystone]

Maybe "Fluffy Pink Bunnies" should be the forum term that we use for a cache that has probably gone missing and is neglected by the owner?