Stamp books like ’em or hate ’em?

[Team Deejay]

I do think the drawing/stamps are part of the attraction to the event. And really, it is the only time that we have a true gathering where nearly everyone is in one spot.

That said, I’m not sure anyone is all that excited about winning some of the “prizes”. Since the stamps/tickets only affect the chance of winning merchandise, I’m thinking maybe fewer, better prizes would be better. The GPS giveaways were great (even though they were Magellan), RARE geocoins and similar unreleased items are fine, but regular coins, pathtags, trigger locks, and other minor items just drag out the process. I would recommend that we limit merchandise prizes to items worth $20 or more. If someone want to donate a bunch of coins or t-shirts or whatever, make those door prizes awarded randomly at registration or prizes for silly random accomplishments to be awarded by the committee (most unusual hat, geocacher carrying the most dirt on their clothing, wettest stamp sheet….)

[huffinpuffin2]

@sweetlife wrote:

We never even took the book with us, only the stamp card. never even looked at the book, all the info is in the GPS that you need, even if you only have coords, get close follow the trail, repeat at the next cache, no book needed.

If it is made part of the book, please make it removeable so that I only have to carry it.

Perhaps using a GPX-loaded gps makes the booklet obsolete, but we find the book invaluable when caching ‘old-style’……using a non-paperless gps. Since we do not get cache info ahead of time, and if you only have an etrex or something else that just shows LOC’s, the book is a perfect complement of cache info (eg hints, D/T, back-up coords for when your gps shorts-out in the rain) for use on the trail. And, it’s where we put our notes for writing logs.

Recommendation we have, is to print them on waterproof (monsoon-proof) ‘paper’, and hand out underwater pens 🙂

[huffinpuffin2]

@huffinpuffin2 wrote:

@sweetlife wrote:

We never even took the book with us, only the stamp card. never even looked at the book, all the info is in the GPS that you need, even if you only have coords, get close follow the trail, repeat at the next cache, no book needed.

If it is made part of the book, please make it removeable so that I only have to carry it.

Perhaps using a GPX-loaded gps makes the booklet obsolete, but we find the book invaluable when caching ‘old-style’……using a non-paperless gps. Since we do not get cache info ahead of time, and if you only have an etrex or something else that just shows LOC’s, the book is a perfect complement of cache info (eg hints, size, D/T, back-up coords for when your gps shorts-out in the rain) for use on the trail. And, it’s where we put our notes for writing logs.

Recommendation we have, is to print them on waterproof (monsoon-proof) ‘paper’, and hand out underwater pens 🙂

[LDove]

Thanks for the responses, keep them coming. We will bring all these suggestions to our committee meetings for planning of the big 5 year event! The booklet will always stay, don’t worry about that. My question was about the stamp sheet. Perhaps we could have it stapled as the middle page so it could be left either in or easily removed out? Given the size of the books, I am not sure if that would work and the paper is different. We will discuss.

[Barry Butrymowicz]

In a past life I worked in the printing industry, you could in theory print the stamp card on the inside of the front and back cover, so those who want to could just take off the cover and take it alone. The cover is already 80# paper, the same as the stamp sheet, so it would cut down on the printing cost.

[Mister Greenthumb]

@sweetlife wrote:

In a past life I worked in the printing industry, you could in theory print the stamp card on the inside of the front and back cover, so those who want to could just take off the cover and take it alone. The cover is already 80# paper, the same as the stamp sheet, so it would cut down on the printing cost.

I just looked at the booklet. Barry, that is a really great idea. It should actually end up costing less.

[The Crippler]

I agree with Team Deejay completely. The first 3 years my daughter and I went out of our way to find every event cache. With the changes last year this year we only found event caches if they were along our route. Having 3 or 7 tickets really does not matter for a free gun lock. Since this is a chamber event, and I have mentioned this in previous years, I would think getting business buy in with better prizes would be beneficial. Until that happens, I could care less about stamps, sheets or booklets.

[LDove]

@Mister Greenthumb wrote:

@sweetlife wrote:

In a past life I worked in the printing industry, you could in theory print the stamp card on the inside of the front and back cover, so those who want to could just take off the cover and take it alone. The cover is already 80# paper, the same as the stamp sheet, so it would cut down on the printing cost.

I just looked at the booklet. Barry, that is a really great idea. It should actually end up costing less.

I agree – great idea!

[Lostby7]

@The Crippler wrote:

I agree with Team Deejay completely. The first 3 years my daughter and I went out of our way to find every event cache. With the changes last year this year we only found event caches if they were along our route. Having 3 or 7 tickets really does not matter for a free gun lock..

Same here I used to find all or as many as I could; this year I found just about as many non-event caches as event caches…the change in the way tickets were handled made the official caches much less important.

[goirish75]

I agree that there were some “wast of time staying here” prizes (i.e. infinite gun locks), but the geocoins, cache kins, GPSr’s and actual caching related items were great give aways in my opinion. The nonsense items should be paired up with caching items to keep the giveaway shorter and keep everyones interest, IMHO. Besides our gas and food bills, we didnt spend any money, so I think for free we shouldnt really complain too much. Besides, you all would be caching all day anyway if it was just a normal weekend, and theres no raffle at the end of those days. So its a bonus anyways. (Maybe next year they can give away the guns to go with those gun locks!) 😀

[LDove]

@goirish75 wrote:

I agree that there were some “wast of time staying here” prizes (i.e. infinite gun locks), but the geocoins, cache kins, GPSr’s and actual caching related items were great give aways in my opinion. The nonsense items should be paired up with caching items to keep the giveaway shorter and keep everyones interest, IMHO. Besides our gas and food bills, we didnt spend any money, so I think for free we shouldnt really complain too much. Besides, you all would be caching all day anyway if it was just a normal weekend, and theres no raffle at the end of those days. So its a bonus anyways. (Maybe next year they can give away the guns to go with those gun locks!) 😀

I gotta comment here. I agree this has been a free event and with goodies at the end for many to enjoy. Yeah, they gave a way a few gun locks – thanks to the Washington County Sherriff’s Department for supporting our event – seriously! It’s free stuff people! I have not been to alot of other MEGA events to see if they give away anything, but at least the Chamber offers some sort of prizes at the end for all/most to enjoy. Would you come next year if those prizes are gone???? The city is in hard times right now and 1,000 bucks is not easy to come up with. They make no money personally at the Chamber for this, the local businesses do by what we provide going there and supporting the local restaurants and merchants. That is why we are happy with any/all donations given to the caching participants in good will for us to enjoy. Just my opinion, nobody else.

[Lostby7]

I’ll also add that the event costs far more than just the $1,000 in cash they give out…thousands more. I think in the next and 5th year, they will have had enough years under their belt to make a few changes and have the best event yet.

…I do love the idea of a removable book cover for stamping! That would make everyone happy; we still get to use the stamps, we have only one book to carry around, and if we want we could separate the cover and just carry that with us. Bravo on that thought. (Granted that may slow down the check in process at the end a bit)

[redbearkiss]

I think you should keep both the booklet and the stamp card for those who like to utilize both items. One change that could be made is to use both sides of the stamp card and make it half the size. It would make it easier to put it in a smaller size ziplock baggie. And/or you could put it on a 1/2 size clip board (DollarTree) and it should fit right in the side pocket of your cargo pants.

[labrat_wr]

sorry if this is a bit off topic. it seems to be where the thread is going…

While a few gun locks may seem lame to many, as one who solicited donations of goods for the 2010 WGA picnic, I quickly learned to be excited about any response to my queries. We ended up with 45 items for our attendance raffle which actually seemed like too much stuff. I guess we asked at the right time and those that donated felt generous.

Point is, and it was made already, its free stuff, if you don’t want it, when they call your number, don’t respond, let ’em call another number.

okay, back to the Stamp page, love it or leave it thread.

Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.

[Mister Greenthumb]

@labrat_wr wrote:

sorry if this is a bit off topic. it seems to be where the thread is going…

While a few gun locks may seem lame to many, as one who solicited donations of goods for the 2010 WGA picnic, I quickly learned to be excited about any response to my queries. We ended up with 45 items for our attendance raffle which actually seemed like too much stuff. I guess we asked at the right time and those that donated felt generous.

Point is, and it was made already, its free stuff, if you don’t want it, when they call your number, don’t respond, let ’em call another number.

okay, back to the Stamp page, love it or leave it thread.

I’ll keep this off topic for a little longer. Remember anyone who is solicited for prizes only has certein items at their disposal. From their point of view they feel like they are contributing to help your cause. Si I agree with Pete, take what you can get and appreciate it. It was free!

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