bkaysimon Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 I've read several posts from seasoned Geocachers complaining about McToys and other such cheap trade items...as a new geocacher, I'm wondering what do carry to trade that you don't consider cheap junk? I'd like some ideas, as I do not want to be one of the people who others complain about for leaving "junk" behind... Quote Link to comment
+Confucius' Cat Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 This is a very good question. Think of what you would like to find. As for me, I like to find unusual things- commerative key rings, unusual (wierd?) toys, signature items, cool rocks, Beanies (or knock-offs thereof), unusual coins, Homies (Murasaki likes them a lot), glow-in-the-dark stuff... Oftentimes I trade something I have taken from another cache. Most of the interesting stuff is interesting for a little while, as if to say 'Look what a neat thing I found'. Then I let it be neat for somebody else. The real trick is to find a steady supply of neat things and not pay a king's ransom for them. Whenever I go to Wal-mart, I'll look around for interesting things that I might like to find and if they are reasonably priced (seldom over 2 or 3 bucks), I buy them specifically for caching. Some may still say this is junk. You can't please everybody and you shouldn't try. Generally IMHO, if someone would pay actual money for it in a store, I don't think anyone has a legitimate beef with your using it as cache trading material. That INCLUDES McToys- as long as they are new or in like-new condition. There are a lot of kids who enjoy getting McToys- otherwise McD's would stop selling them. The complaints about McToys, provided the complaints do not refer to such in bad condition, are basically bogus IMHO and in the HO of many a child who participates in the sport. So, I wouldn't sweat it too much as to what you trade as long as it is something you would not be ashamed to give to someone as a simple, everyday, gift. Caint never did nothing. GDAE, Dave Quote Link to comment
+GeneralBracket Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 I usually trade what I've taken from other caches. But in the absence of other items, I toss in a few army men. Goes with my nym. As far as it being junk, that's sort of subjective but I think in the big scheme of things it really OUGHT to be "junk". But... there is a difference between "crappy junk" and "cool junk". I like Mardi-gras type beads and army men. Cool to me, but still junk. To sum up, I think you should shoot for "cool junk". Quote Link to comment
+Bilder Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 I just started doing this, but here is what I have done so far. Toys- I have my kids go through their toys and bring me things they would like to trade for toys in caches. I reject the junk/broken ones as well as the big things that take up too much space. What we have is a big ziplock full of hotwheels, happy meal toys, dolls, puzzles and other stuff that they can leave behind when they take a toy out. Other stuff- I bought a bunch of old roman coins on Ebay a couple years ago. I have started to put a couple in each cache I find. I also got a bunch of A&W tokens good for a free root beer. I drop one in every now and then as well. I am an airline employee, so I got lots of airline logo stuff that I keep in my bag as well. Where's George dollars are fun to leave as well. These are not much in value, but I hope that someone will have a use for them or at least get a kick out of some of it. Quote Link to comment
+SuperDave403 Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 My boys and I cache together, so we have different ideas of what to trade. One likes to leave beanie babies, the other likes to leave hot wheels cars. I tend to leave a combo of wheresgeorge bills along with: light sticks, tourist type Alaska keychains, magnets and patches. I also like to leave caribiners, U.S. Flag and state flag pins, some small pocket tools, travel packs of tissue. In the winter, We like to leave hand warmers. We carry a wide variety of items to leave. Quote Link to comment
+Perrin Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 Great ideas. I just ran through a bunch of my old storage boxes and took out all the little things I've collected over the years that are just collecting dust. Found some silly things other people might find interesting. I do agree that what people call "junk" is very subjective. But then, I'm more in this for the find, not so much what I might find in the cache. Although I guess I am rather fond of finding old/foreign coins in these things. Signature? I don't need no stinkin signature!!!! Quote Link to comment
+Snoogans Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 quote:Originally posted by General Bracket:I usually trade what I've taken from other caches. But in the absence of other items, I toss in a few army men. Goes with my nym. As far as it being junk, that's sort of subjective but I think in the big scheme of things it really OUGHT to be "junk". But... there is a difference between "crappy junk" and "cool junk". I like Mardi-gras type beads and army men. Cool to me, but still junk. To sum up, I think you should shoot for "cool junk". For once, the General and I see Eye-to-Eye. Great post Gen. B! Myself, corporate swag, (I work for a good company, so most of the swag ain't bad.) junk from other caches, and "Cool Junk." My definition of cool junk that is. If you've read my profile, you can probably guess that my definition means something....odd. We'll leave it at that. Sngans The greatest labor saving invention of today is tomorrow.... Quote Link to comment
+Florafloraflora Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 Mr. Kane does a lot of foreign travel on business and brings back coins, which make a great cache item. At one point I bought a six-pack of half-pint water bottles and to leave in caches, but you have to time those right: if you place them in winter they could freeze and explode, but in summer they will get too hot and nobody will want to drink them. Other things I've left: Mad Libs, key chains, chemical footwarmers in winter, Pez dispensers, travel-size sunscreen/bug repellent, a booklet of flower tattoos, glow sticks, playing cards, the occasional spare CD. I really like the tiny bottles of bubbles like you get at weddings, but other people think they're junk. I am mostly about the travel bugs, so often I just swap bugs and sign the log. Quote Link to comment
+Scanogram Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 Lately I've been trading $2 Bills. They always get taken so I guess people like them. I have to ask for them at the bank, sometimes they don't have them. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 A partial list of things I've left in caches: US flags flag pins modeling clay Energizer squeeze lights stickers bags of toy soldiers pocket knives (um I mean tools) water colors mini screwdriver sets allen wrench sets gel pens boxes of crayons or colored chalk emergency rain ponchos packs of AA batteries collectable coins (buffalo nickels, indian head pennies, SBA or Sacagawea dollars) Music CD's Blank RW CD's Cassettes (blank and recorded) calculators clip on safety strobes bungee cords LED key lights "euro" stickers decals maps (hiking & road) software Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars key rings foreign money movies on VHS & DVD office supplies Mylar emergency blankets decks of cards packs of Armor-All wipes survival whistles Wheresgeorge bills and stamps "Au pays des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois" Quote Link to comment
bkaysimon Posted May 28, 2003 Author Share Posted May 28, 2003 Thank you all for the great ideas. I guess maybe I was reading too much into the "complaining about junk" threads....I thought maybe this hobby was about to get very expensive for me! Some of the very things you've suggested I've already put in caches, so I'm content. I'm going to look for a signature item soon... Quote Link to comment
+DustyJacket Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 Based on an earlier post in one of these forums, I made up some small First Aid kits for my caches from Altoids tins. I had never tried Alroids before and now I am hooked and have a dozen more tins. I am thinking of making up some First Aid kits to be used as trade materials. They contain band-aids, neosporin packets, wipes. I'll just have to label them as Trade Materials............ DustyJacket Not all those that wander are lost. But in my case... Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 quote:I've read several posts from seasoned Geocachers complaining about McToys and other such cheap trade items.. It's not the cheap aspect that people complain about (in the list I have above, you'll be hard pressed to find an item that costs more than $3). It's the junk that they complain about. A broken, dirty, or obviously well used toy, a rusty pocket knive with a broken blade, a opened pad of Post-Its 3/4 gone, a pair of sunglasses missing an earpiece, or lens, a dirty comb found on the ground near the cache, dead batteries, etc... "Au pays des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois" Quote Link to comment
Greg&Christy Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 quote: I am thinking of making up some First Aid kits to be used as trade materials.They contain band-aids, neosporin packets, wipes. This is a great idea! Where do you get separate packets of neosporin? Quote Link to comment
+DustyJacket Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 Look for a yellow box in the First Aid section of your grocery store for neosporin packets. I thought people would like that better than sharing a tube with strangers. I also found antiseptic wipes. I'd like to find packaged tape strips, but have not found them outside of my trauma kit, which is somewhat old. DustyJacket Not all those that wander are lost. But in my case... Quote Link to comment
+Snoogans Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 quote:Originally posted by DustyJacket:Based on an earlier post in one of these forums, I made up some small First Aid kits for my caches from Altoids tins. I had never tried Alroids before and now I am hooked and have a dozen more tins. I am thinking of making up some First Aid kits to be used as trade materials. They contain band-aids, neosporin packets, wipes. I'll just have to label them as Trade Materials............ DustyJacket Not all those that wander are lost. But in my case... Way cool idea!!! I'm going making some right away. Thanks Sngans The greatest labor saving invention of today is tomorrow.... Quote Link to comment
+DustyJacket Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 Here is the original link where I found the idea. http://ubbx.Groundspeak.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=5726007311&f=4016058331&m=6046014&r=3146014#3146014 DustyJacket Not all those that wander are lost. But in my case... Quote Link to comment
+DustyJacket Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 This is my rendition: Quote Link to comment
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