Too many business cards in caches?

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 7:29 pm

Ever buy a magazine and have a dozen subscription postcards fall out? Annoying, isn't it?

What about a cache that has a dozen business cards from previous finders inside?

Does anybody actually LIKE going through these cards and noticing that Geo-Locos from Podunk were here?

I am not talking about pins or wooden tokens from cachers, which have some intristic value.

Yes, I know it's a petty complaint and makes me sound grumpy. No need to flame me, just be HONEST. Are they fun to sort through, or an annoyance? Hmmm??? Am I alone?

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:41 pm

Actually we collect sig cards (business cards) we find in caches. We won't take one, if we already have one from that cacher, but if it is a new one to us....we add it to our collection.

We usually leave either a sig card, or smaller card (label size) to caches we visit in case anyone else collects them as we do.

However we would be interested in what others think. If we are just cluttering up the caches we will stop leaving ours.

quote:
Originally posted by DCexplorer:
Ever buy a magazine and have a dozen subscription postcards fall out? Annoying, isn't it?

What about a cache that has a dozen business cards from previous finders inside?

Does anybody actually LIKE going through these cards and noticing that Geo-Locos from Podunk were here?

I am not talking about pins or wooden tokens from cachers, which have some intristic value.

Yes, I know it's a petty complaint and makes me sound grumpy. No need to flame me, just be HONEST. Are they fun to sort through, or an annoyance? Hmmm??? Am I alone?

[This message has been edited by rubeeslpr (edited 07-28-2005).]

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:48 pm

We also have a small collection of Geocaching cards, and do trade them out if they are interesting. I try to keep the cards of finders in the log book bag, just as a way of separating from other "loot". I find it interesting to see how others are creative with their cards.

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:48 pm

I enjoy looking at the signature items in caches -- even the business cards. Sometimes they have a trinket attached too. I collect signature items as well (but they gotta catch my eye). I don't always have the time to look through all the logs to see who visited, but signature items, even business cards are a nice way to see who came before you did.

But those things in the magazines -- I take them all out before I will read it.

Of course, I'm quirky too....

Bec

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:04 pm

if it's not blazing hot or mosquito feasting time, i like to read the cards. it's especially nice to see one from someone i've met, or someone not from our area.

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:41 pm

I hear you DCExplorer. I've never really liked them much either. Just adds too much clutter in caches that are often overflowing. But maybe I'll start collecting them - that will change my perspective. For the longest time, I didn't know taking signature items was OK. Are you supposed to trade them, or can you just take them? (We don't currently have a signature item).

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:49 am

Well if taking them is ok then make it your personal mission to clear out each cache of its cards. (that is a joke but an option)

Anyhow, while I don't collect them I have at times sat down and went through the cards to see if anyone has something of interest.

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:18 am

I see that some of us like to peruse cards to see who's been there before, but that's what the log book is for; not just to prove your find to the owner, but for other cachers to see the history of the cache. Leaving cards as well as signing the log book seems redundant.

Perhaps I'm misreading this, but it seems like the people that LEAVE cards themselves are the ones that like to peruse the cards of others; sort of like a sub-genre of cachers.

Perhaps some people collect them in a subconscious effort to tidy up the box?

I was unaware that it was legitimate to collect them, as I considered it part of logging the find, and logs stay with caches. Do people that leave cards wish them to be collected by others? Hmmm...

Maybe I should keep a box of paper clips or rubber bands in my cache backpack, and just clip or band them all together in a tidy bundle.

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:22 am

They would also be more tolarable if they had a famous quote or joke printed on them, and not just the cacher's name and home city. Or even a bad pun like the old Bazooka Joe gum wrappers.

Make it fun to read.

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 8:32 am

We have been leaving our card since our second month in the game. This is the first complaint we have heard. We paid for the artwork, we paid for the printing. The cards have value as a wooden nickel does. They were not intended to be litter. We enjoy finding the cards of our geo-friends in our caches and when we are caching in remote areas. I don't feel we need to appologize for what some may feel is an inconvenience. ~tb

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:08 am

We too collect the cards from cachers. If we find a card that we dont allready have we take it and started a album collection. Nice to see cachers from new areas. Got a rubyslipper card and think a Trudy & beast card.

smokey

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"Be safe and Keep on Searchin"

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:15 am

It seems there's two distinct kinds of pro-card people:

1. People that enjoy finding the cards of their geo-friends in their caches and when they are caching in remote areas.

2. People that collect the cards from cachers. If they find a card that they don't already have, they take it.

Kind of interesting, no?

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:17 am

Perhaps the solution is to put a picture of a Jeep travel bug on all cards. Then they would be of more value to everyone.

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:10 pm

quote:
Originally posted by smokey & the teacher:
We too collect the cards from cachers. If we find a card that we dont allready have we take it and started a album collection. Nice to see cachers from new areas. Got a rubyslipper card and think a Trudy & beast card.

smokey

I've never found business cards from either rubeeslpr or T&B, but I did find magnets that they left behind. Rubeeslpr actually has a nice assortment of signature items -- something for everyone.

Rather than think of them as business cards, I think of them in terms of the calling cards of the Victorian era. When people visited friends and such, they left behind a card.

From my limited travels to other states, I've actually noticed that WI has far fewer signature items & cards left behind. Maybe we're all just collecting them...

Myself, I'd rather pick up a card from a cacher than a McToy (unless it's a really cool toy). Eventually, I plan on displaying all the nifty signature stuff I've collected.

Bec

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There are no shortcuts to any place worth going

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:27 pm

I don't believe I've seen any official actual business cards in caches, nor have I seen any adult content themed stuff either (except for a certain 4th of July event cache last year). Guess I've been lucky there!

I did obtain a bunch of stuff from work (magnets, chip clips and the like) with my business name on it. I hadn't really thought that some people don't like that type of stuff either. I don't mean it as free advertising -- it's just free swag

Bec

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There are no shortcuts to any place worth going