FTF Rewards/ Prizes

[HeliDood]

It seems customary to put some kind of reward or prize in a new cache for the FTF. What about a smaller cache with a 1/1 difficulty?
Is it wrong not to put something in there? Would you be disappointed if there wasn’t a reward?

What are some best/ most memorable/ most creative things you’ve seen as a FTF Reward other than, lets say, a new unactivated geocoin?

I’ve thought about ordering FTF T-Shirts to place in a cache. That may be borderline cheesy, I dunno yet.

[Team Black-Cat]

A prize for the FTF is not necessary. With about 120 FTFs, I would guess that less than a dozen had anything for FTF. It’s a nice gesture, but not needed.
We’ve only put prizes for first finders in about half of the caches that we’ve place. They have ranged from hand painted wooden trinkets to unactivated geocoins.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Most people who like FTFs are happy enough with simply being there first. Just ask zuma or Trekkin’!

We’ve put small things in a couple of ours. We’ve found gift cards in a few of the ones we’ve been FTF on, for places like Kwik Trip or Mickey Ds. A couple geocoins. A set of TB tags. Including a prize is fun but entirely optional.

[gotta run]

It is not necessary but appreciated.

The most memorable FTF prizes have been themed ones (that go with the theme of the cache).

My advice is to do what make YOU feel happy about the cache, not just in terms of FTF prizes but in other aspects, because if you try to make everyone else happy you will drive yourself batty!

On the Left Side of the Road...

[zuma]

@gotta run wrote:

It is not necessary but appreciated.

The most memorable FTF prizes have been themed ones (that go with the theme of the cache).

My advice is to do what make YOU feel happy about the cache, not just in terms of FTF prizes but in other aspects, because if you try to make everyone else happy you will drive yourself batty!

Found a few FTFs (954 as of this writing) and about 10% have FTF prizes, that I sometimes take, and sometimes dont, so not everyone does this. I have never put a specific FTF prize in a cache myself, as I believe that folks that go after FTFs are doing it for the fun of seeing if they can beat their friends and the challenge, and are not chasing down FTFs for any prize.

Agree with Gotta Run, do it if it makes you happy, but dont do it if it doesnt make you happy. Play the game that the way you like.

z

[JimandLinda]

Ask CodeJunkie!

He got a winning scratch off lottery ticket! Not a bad idea for a FTF prize. The cost is consistant, and you never know…

But I agree with the figure of 10% of FTF’s we have found have a prize. From geocoins to cash. I occassionally put a prize in caches, too.

[sandlanders]

Nice to have, not necessary. We have included some where the containers could accept them, but we haven’t found too many in the FTFs we have. Didn’t matter to us.

We try to include congratulatory “laminated” certificates we made, usually slipped into the log books so that they are not overlooked. They have the cache name and our name on them, sometimes the date and coordinates. We even have some skinny tiny ones for the small containers.

But again, not necessary.

[Northern Lightz]

We have gotten just a few FTF compared to everyone else. We’ve only had one prize and that was a container to hide another cache. We have a 5 gal bucket cache up north with Jerry’s Dad and for that cache we placed a cache container so the finder could hide another cache. That way it keeps the fun going.

We have fun just being the FTF to beat out some of the more experienced cachers. Most of the time they beat us to it 🙂

[rcflyer2242]

I think it would depend on the difficulty level. Me I like putting $2.00 bills in caches that are either hard to find or are out of the way.

[Timberline Echoes]

We agree that a “prize” is not necessary.

If you still want ideas we have found pens with FTF Geocaching 2009 on it, hand made magnets with something about FTF, a $1 bill, gas card, FTF notepads, decorative pins, path tags…

TE

[spd2662]

I had the same question a little while ago so I e-mailed one of our experienced cache hiders. He told me it’s common to leave a $1 coin for the FTF prize so I’ve been buying the gold president dollars and even JFK half dollars when I can find them. Two dollar bills work great for small, log only caches too when you can find them. I found a couple big silver dollars but my kids wanted them so they never made it to a cache. No need to get too expensive or elaborate. It’s the bragging rights that people are after and the gift is a little bonus. I see the gifts getting regifted when people make a new cache so your gift will probably keep on giving.

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

I’ve left a DVD player, cash, unactivated geocoins, new Snap-On tools, a mag-lite, clues to other puzzles of mine and several other cool/valuable items.

But to answer your question, no, I don’t think it’s necessary.

[-cheeto-]

@TyeDyeSkyGuy wrote:

I’ve left a DVD player, cash, unactivated geocoins, new Snap-On tools, a mag-lite, clues to other puzzles of mine and several other cool/valuable items.

Must have upgraded to Blue-ray. 😉

I have left an unactivated geocoin or 2 in some of my more challenging new caches. But with having placed almost 100 caches, it’s certainly not a requirement in my eyes. Sometimes I also place a trackable or 2 in a new cache but I’ve had/seen complaints from cachers that a TB/Geocoin that’s moving around/already activated is “NOT an FTF prize!” Interesting view point to have.

I also gave “prizes” for a challenge/ALR cache (GC18A24) to the first few finders, the FAD (first after dave, to learn more… GC1C0BD), and the last finder in February. This was more of a “race cache” with a purpose to get cacher’s in my local area out finding caches in winter.

People like shiny things.

[RSplash40]

All 3 of the coins I own were ftf prizes, and sagasu and I found 50 bucks in a particular nifty cache but we gave it to our taxi driver that day. I’ve had a few other little items for prizes as well, some personalized with the owners signature or “congrats you were ftf on…”.

Does it need to be done? No.

Will it get your cache found quicker? – Unlikely, the ftf is usually draw enough.

Is it awesome if you do it? – heck ya!

Is it appreciated by me? – Definitely!

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