@GetMeOutdoors wrote:

Hello, everyone. I’ve been watching the “multiple-finds” topic recently and the point that keeps coming up that makes me chuckle is that other organizations look down on us (Wisconsin) for continuing this practice. I guess it makes me chuckle becuase I see many things we do here in Wisconsin that outshines caching in other areas of the country. It’s irony I guess.

Take for example the practice of caching in small businesses. We don’t allow it in WI. And rightly so, I believe. Too many things come into question when you start working business and advertising into what is supposed to be a non-commercial recreational activity.

Why am I bringing this up? Well, to point out the irony for one thing. Also, to encourage any in WI who might be wondering why we’re being “picked on” – I think we actually do a good job here of giving caching a good name. And thirdly, to perhaps spark a controversial debate regarding the legitimacy of caches placed such that you must enter a place of business and commerce in order to complete/log a cache. Because controversy is so much fun 😉 and we seem to bump into it alot here.

Now I haven’t been around the block enough to go around bashing other organizations and areas for their local policies regarding geocaching, and that’s not my intent. I’m not here to focus on the “negatives” or perceived negatives of others, but rather to praise the local team here for our good job.

Good points, GMO.

I think that commercial caches are prohibited everywhere, and not just in WI, so if you find one in another state, it was more the result of an error or something getting past the reviewers.

As with everything, I guess, there are exceptions. One of my favorite cache finds was the Covert Cache, GC3798. Certainly that cache is a commercial cache, and would never be approved today. Yet, it is a very cool cache to visit, and I am glad it is there. However if every interesting bar in Wisconsin had a cache, the game would be quite different.

zuma

Actually, the commercial cache guidelines are addressed rather uniformly worldwide now. Admittedly some slip through, but generally all the reviewers are on the lookout for advertisement on cache pages. The exception would probably be the UK, where it was commonplace to advertise a local pub near a cache location. This practice has since been stopped, much to the irritation of the locals there.

I suspect what you are really referring to is caches located outside businesses, in parking lots and similar places. The reason you don’t see those around here is that either people don’t want to place them or they haven’t obtained permission from the business. If you have a business and want to place a cache on your property, this is acceptable. You still can’t use the cache as an advertisement, but if someone finding the cache happens to buy something, there is nothing we can do about that. My personal feeling is that just placing a cache at a business is advertising, but this is NOT the position of Groundspeak, so these caches are allowed to be placed.

WE found two in WY that were inside businesses.. it clearly stated on the page that they could only be hunted during business hours. We thought it was just ok in that state but recently noticed both of the caches were archived.
TE