Forums Geocaching in Wisconsin Announcements Changes to commercial cache guidelines

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  • #1726510

    Groundspeak has decided to relax the commercial cache guideline. This post can give you the details. Basically, you will find a lot of legalese modified by additional legalese. The bottom line of the change: you will be allowed to mention surrounding businesses and products in the cache description, as long as you are not explicitly promoting or advertising the business. Also, the reviewers are now allowed to “help” you make changes to your cache listing to make changes to your cache to make it “non-commercial”.

    #1888994

    Cool! That will help me out with this puzzle cache I am working on. I was having trouble lacing up my NIKE shoes (they feel great!), so I went to SHOPKO (can’t beat those prices) to get some new laces. But on the way I grabbed a STARBUCK’S MOCHA_LATTE (mmmmmm refreshing!) and some SUBWAY (eat fresh!)

    but when I put all this in my cache description, they USED to deny me…. but now I am free and clear!! (Just like my face after using this BATH & BODY WORKS FOAMING FACE SCRUB!)

    #1888995

    I think this will add a bit of flexibility…but as with any new guideline there will be people who want to bend the rules a bit. Thanks in advance to the reviewers who will have to deal with all of us sneaky cachers…By the way I really want to place one at SHERPERS.

    …I’m wondering, can I call a cache on their property (outside) “Get your Ammo-cans right here” ? …did I mention thanks in advance to the reviewers for having to deal with new guidelines?

    #1888996

    @CacheARRRS wrote:

    Cool! That will help me out with this puzzle cache I am working on. I was having trouble lacing up my NIKE shoes (they feel great!), so I went to SHOPKO (can’t beat those prices) to get some new laces. But on the way I grabbed a STARBUCK’S MOCHA_LATTE (mmmmmm refreshing!) and some SUBWAY (eat fresh!)

    but when I put all this in my cache description, they USED to deny me…. but now I am free and clear!! (Just like my face after using this BATH & BODY WORKS FOAMING FACE SCRUB!)

    😆

    But you got the Subway motto wrong. It’s “Subway, Eat Lettuce”

    #1888997

    @CacheARRRS wrote:

    Cool! That will help me out with this puzzle cache I am working on. I was having trouble lacing up my NIKE shoes (they feel great!), so I went to SHOPKO (can’t beat those prices) to get some new laces. But on the way I grabbed a STARBUCK’S MOCHA_LATTE (mmmmmm refreshing!) and some SUBWAY (eat fresh!)

    but when I put all this in my cache description, they USED to deny me…. but now I am free and clear!! (Just like my face after using this BATH & BODY WORKS FOAMING FACE SCRUB!)

    😆

    But you got the Subway motto wrong. It’s “Subway, Eat Lettuce”

    #1888998

    After reading this post, I want to thank Groudspeak for stepping up and listening to the geocaching community.

    I seriously think this may make the reviewers job somewhat easier. It will give them a little latitude to make the decisions, rather than having to just turn down caches and refer them to groundspeak.

    The way they have it worded now is perfect, it finally makes sense to me. It allows for simple mentions of places we’d like to bring attention to, while at the same time deterring outright advertisements.

    Bravo!!!

    #1888999

    with any new guideline there will be people who want to bend the rules a bit

    There’s always a few out there bending the rules. Changing guidelines doesnt cause rule bending… though it may cause the angle of the bend to increase 🙂

    I am all in favor of Guideline changes worded like this that allow the local reviewers to assist rather than just sending you on your way. It’s much easier to work with area reviewers than the “almighty Groundspeak appeals court”. Trust me, our reviewers are great, whether you love them or hate them they are nicer and better at communicating…

    #1889000

    @Team Deejay wrote:

    Groundspeak has decided to relax the commercial cache guideline. This post can give you the details. Basically, you will find a lot of legalese modified by additional legalese. The bottom line of the change: you will be allowed to mention surrounding businesses and products in the cache description, as long as you are not explicitly promoting or advertising the business. Also, the reviewers are now allowed to “help” you make changes to your cache listing to make changes to your cache to make it “non-commercial”.

    Thanks for the update, Dave. Looks like a mostly positive change. The only negative is what I saw in Colorado, that is, entire series of caches devoted to commercial chains, such as “Walgreens #41” and “Starbucks #9,” both examples of caches that I actually visited, though they had slightly different names.

    zuma

    #1889001

    “Walgreens #41” and “Starbucks #9,”

    What’s great about adding those to your to-do caching list is that you can pick up that Grande Non-fat, No-Whip, Stirred White Moca and your prescriptions at the same time!

    I wonder if they used actual store numbers or had their own numbering system…. Kinda like WSQ blahblah 401.

    The real challenge would be the following:
    – Find a walgreens that’s NOT on a street corner
    – Find a street corner in Milwaukee, WI that does NOT have a Walgreens
    – Find a city that does NOT have a starbucks, or 2, or 3, or 25 (though I recently read this is changing…)

    #1889002

    But according to the 528 foot rule, you could only place a cache at every third Starbuck’s or so…..

    #1889003

    Here is the link to “Starbuck’s #9” for those interested: GC188WB

    And “Walgreen’s #41”: GC18YWT

    zuma

    #1889004

    @-cheeto- wrote:

    Find a city that does NOT have a starbucks, or 2, or 3, or 25 (though I recently read this is changing…)

    No Starbucks here 😀 (yet)



    not to reopen old wounds but how did even the old regulation fit the diecast cars cache that got whompped ’cause it mentioned the brand?
    The old reg didn’t mention brand names or trademarked names did it?
    maybe in another spot???

    not to make waves but to have clarification…

    Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.

    #1889005

    yeah but you have that road-side mini-golf place with the little country store….

    #1889006

    First of all, Wild Rose does not qualify as a city under any known definition. I believe it needs a significant upgrade to reach village status! 😀

    Second, those caches named Walgreens #XX or Starbucks #XX (or Home Depot #X for those of us who venture into NE Illinois) do NOT meet the guidelines and would not be approved under the new guidelines. You will notice that Miss Jenn specifically stated that business names should not be in the cache name. But if you need to say, “Park behind the Walgreens to take the trail into the woods”, the new guideline allows that. The old guideline did not.

    Third, the old guidelines did not allow for any commercial product to be mentioned. In theory, we were supposed to refer every Star Wars reference, every Harry Potter Reference, every Dr. Seuss reference, and, yes, every Hot Wheels reference to Groundspeak. All the reviewers were probably a little bit lenient on this, but now those references are allowed. You still cannot promote these products, but you can MENTION them or REFERENCE them. You still cannot use logos, provide links to corporate sites or generally do things that promote a corporation or other business.

    #1889007

    @Team Deejay wrote:

    First of all, Wild Rose does not qualify as a city under any known definition. I believe it needs a significant upgrade to reach village status! 😀

    OUCH 😯

    😀

    Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.

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