+B&K Whiting Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 What would be a good first to find prize? We want to place our first cache and we would like to do it "right". Thanks Quote Link to comment
+GeoCyclist Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 Yellow Jeep Travel Bugs really get people out there. Another cache I did I let the winner pick the cache name. Quote Link to comment
2oldfarts (the rockhounders) Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 The "cheap" pocket watches from Wal-Mart seem to be big hits when we use them as FTF prizes. They cost about $10.00 or so. A logo T-shirt works good, as does a gift card. Our most popular FTF prize is the $10.00 commemorative casino tokens. Our best FTF prize was an Orvis Flyfishing Rod! (it was a used rod.) John Quote Link to comment
AC Student Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 I've been lucky enough to be FTF on quite a few caches, only two had FTF prizes. The real prize for me is the bragging rights that come with being first. With caches that I hide I try to include eight or ten good trade items rather than spending too much on a single FTF prize. Although I did give naming rights to the FTF on one of my caches. Quote Link to comment
+MtnMike Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 You will be developing your own style as things go on. Having placed a few, I started as a rank neubie and didn't worry about FTF. I surely have never been FTF, STF or TTF. When I have done simple single caches, I now am placing bandana's from WalMart signed FTF-"cachename" and a saying like "It's all about the journey" and sign it and date the cache was placed. Sometimes STF has been wood train whistles, postcards. . .all labeled appropriately. I did a 10 cache puzzle cache, "History Lives-Stick 'em up or Tell it to the Judge" It had a history theme and books from the history society were FTF and STF. A 13 cache series, "Le Mountain Tour de Redding" had as its FTF a map of the area with locations of all 13 cache locations marked on the map. The history books got good feedback and I really liked making the map. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 I've used GC.COM stuff like hats. I trhink they are appreciated. But really, there is no need to place any FTF swag at all. Place a nice cache in an interesting area and that is all your fellow geocachers are looking for. Quote Link to comment
+New England n00b Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 I agree with briansnat, but I treasure 'signature' type items, whether they be buttons commemorating the cache or a sig item of the cacher. I think if you just put thought into a FTF prize, then I'm happy. A new Garmin Legend C would be nice, should you win the lottery. (PM me the cache location first, okay? ) Quote Link to comment
+trail hound Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 (edited) I have only placed one cache, so far and I used a Y.J.T.B. as a F.T.F prize....It was hit the first day.....Another cache I know , had a Y.J.T.B. as a F.T.F prize and the F.T.F 'er didn't log his find right away and the cache was hit eight times the first day!!! Yellow Jeep T.B.'s are a draw (if you can find one ) Edited August 12, 2004 by trail hound Quote Link to comment
+ZackJones Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 In 3 of the 4 caches I've placed I put prizes for the first 3 finders. I usually buy 3 scratch off lotto cards that are for the first 3 finders to take. So far that has worked well. Zack Quote Link to comment
WH Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 I like to fill my caches with finders buttons with a specially marked FTF button for the first finder. Quote Link to comment
+GIDEON-X Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 My self I've used, Lotto Scratcher tickets for first-finders prizes! Quote Link to comment
+Thot Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 Our best FTF prize was an Orvis Flyfishing Rod! How does one get a flyrod in a cache container? Quote Link to comment
+mogolloyd Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 After almost 2 years I am finally hiding my first Cache and I am putting in 2 free round trip positive space tickets on Independence Air. It will be a Goonies theme (my inspiration for caching) so I also have a new copy of The Goonies on DVD to go in the cache as well. Quote Link to comment
+Stooper and B. Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 We just placed our first cache recently and put in a T-shirt from the park where the cache is placed. Along with the T-shirt, I made up a cheapy FTF certificate. I didn't advertise it was in there but the first finder seemed to appreciate it. Which brings me to, are you guys advertising your FTF prize? Quote Link to comment
2oldfarts (the rockhounders) Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 Our best FTF prize was an Orvis Flyfishing Rod! How does one get a flyrod in a cache container? We really pondered about this & took a few hints from another thread about a person wanting to have an special antique hiking staff as either a FTF or just a very special item to place into someone Else's cache. They were told to find a spot to hold both the cache & leave the staff beside it or leave a note in the cache as to where the staff was hidden. So we 'found a very special place' It was a dynamite place We remembered this spot from our wanderings in this big beautiful area that we reside in & went back there to scope it out. It was just the perfect spot, tucked in an old dynamite storage area at the head of Hack Canyon, the Hack Mine is farther down in the canyon as well a trail head to a wilderness. We got a 'special' cache container & filled it with 'special' items & placed it into the storage area & left the fly rod in it's hard case right next to it. That will teach you to ask a simple question of an old timer...you have to be prepared for a lengthy answer Here is hoping you all find the 'extra special FTF prize' soon! Shirley~ Quote Link to comment
+Spencersb Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 What would y'all think of an unactivated travel bug as FTF prize? Quote Link to comment
2oldfarts (the rockhounders) Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 We just placed our first cache recently and put in a T-shirt from the park where the cache is placed. Along with the T-shirt, I made up a cheapy FTF certificate. I didn't advertise it was in there but the first finder seemed to appreciate it. Which brings me to, are you guys advertising your FTF prize? We do 'advertise' the fact of FTFs on the cache page. In the case of the Orvis Fly Rod we went all out & had a little fun with This Thread. We have really had lots of fun with the FTF prizes the we place. Our one multi-cache Dial Out SG1 had a FTF in all 8 chevrons (legs). No, we are not rich, we just enjoy the hobby of Geo-caching that much, that we have fun doing something to make people say WOW! Shirley~ Quote Link to comment
+Charles Street Gang Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 I have a micro cache called "Gentlemen Start Your Engines" and I put in 2 tiny racecars for the 1st and 2nd finishers. I just started race #2. Quote Link to comment
kayaker22589 Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 What would y'all think of an unactivated travel bug as FTF prize? I'd enjoy it. Quote Link to comment
+trail hound Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 An unactivated t.b. would be a great f.t.f. prize...... $1,000.00 would be better!!! Quote Link to comment
+Boot Group Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 For our first hide, we didn't put a FTF prize in. We just filled it well with nice, new items. It was found withing 24 hours. For our second cache, we put in $5 of Dunkin Donuts coupons, plus our signature item which is a wooden nickel that says "Boot Group was here". It was found within 2 hours. Quote Link to comment
+Kfam Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 I recenly bagged a FTF that was little more than a log sheet and a pencil in a micro. I left a decent FTF prize as thanks to either the owner for placing the cache (if he was quick enough to retreive it) or to the second finder for slacking until after we found it. Logged that information with our smiley and the owner snapped it up. It was really a fun thing to do! Quote Link to comment
+B&K Whiting Posted August 12, 2004 Author Share Posted August 12, 2004 Thanks, some very good ideas. Especially liked the ones about putting good stuff in for all to get something special. Quote Link to comment
Major Catastrophe Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 What would be a good first to find prize? We want to place our first cache and we would like to do it "right". Thanks If you're in my area, I'd like to take this opportunity to recommend using a large sum of money as a First Finder prize. OTOH, if you aren't near me, or if you are in possession of your senses, almost anything (reasonable) might make a great FF prize. Some people put cool buttons in their caches for the firstie, some a signature item like the pocket watches already mentioned. I've considered making some custom cache containers (probably micros so they'd fit into my caches and including one of them. Quote Link to comment
+Cow Spots Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 I have now found my best first finder prize ever, thanks to the astonishing generosity of Team Dodge Podge. The brutal puzzle cache, MINIAC-1, yielded a fully functional, in the box, Eagle Explorer GPS receiver...in addition to a custom made First finder T-Shirt!!! I will now officially feel like a total heel when I make my next cache. Dave, The Cow Spots Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 For micros I like to use lotto scratch-offs. The finder has the potential of winning thousands, all for a buck. Quote Link to comment
+Night Stalker Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 I usually leave camping type stuff like a pocket knife (I know), a compass and such things, but I had one cache that had a coin theme and the FTF prize was a brilliant uncirculated 1948 mercury dime. That seemed to draw a lot of attention though the cache itself has drawn a lot of searchers. No so many finders though Quote Link to comment
+Cherokeecacher Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 This FTF thread had a GREAT FTF prize. We plan on ordering one or two when we are ready to place our first cache. Quote Link to comment
+ShadowAce Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 I have only placed one cache, so far and I used a Y.J.T.B. as a F.T.F prize....It was hit the first day.....Another cache I know , had a Y.J.T.B. as a F.T.F prize and the F.T.F 'er didn't log his find right away and the cache was hit eight times the first day!!!Yellow Jeep T.B.'s are a draw (if you can find one ) Using a YJTB as a FTF prize might be part of the reason so many YJTB's have been taken and never released back. YJTB stands for Yellow Jeep Travel Bug. FTFPrize is Something someone gets to Keep as a prize.. How can a Travel Bug that does not below to you be used as a Prize for someone else? Alot of the YJT's placed in caches in the area were stolen, yes I say stolen, because they were removed from the cache by someone who does not even have enough honor to ever log it. Now we are placing all future YJTB's in very high mountain climbs or very long half day caches.. I will not be assisting in any more YJTB thefts by placing them in local 1/1 caches. If you leave a YJTB as the FTF prize, your telling the finder that it is something to keep as an award? Quote Link to comment
+CompuCash Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 The "cheap" pocket watches from Wal-Mart seem to be big hits when we use them as FTF prizes. They cost about $10.00 or so. A logo T-shirt works good, as does a gift card. Our most popular FTF prize is the $10.00 commemorative casino tokens. Our best FTF prize was an Orvis Flyfishing Rod! (it was a used rod.) John musta been a big cache - how'd you get a fly rod in there? Quote Link to comment
+CompuCash Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 I have put some large micro caches (two film can size) in as FTF gifts. Quote Link to comment
+planetrobert Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 i think that a NEW UNACTIVATED TB still in it's little baggie would be the ultimate FTF pirze, second only to large unmarked bills. Quote Link to comment
+The Jester Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 i think that a NEW UNACTIVATED TB still in it's little baggie would be the ultimate FTF pirze, second only to large unmarked bills. Would large MARKED bills be third? Quote Link to comment
+Spencersb Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 i think that a NEW UNACTIVATED TB still in it's little baggie would be the ultimate FTF pirze, second only to large unmarked bills. Would large MARKED bills be third? Depends on how it was marked and with what. Like the bank robbery suspect who tried to pay his bail money in cash; cash that had RED DYE STAINS on it! OT, I've used the new TB before as a FTF prize, and it was well received. Quote Link to comment
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