How can I get a cache unarchived?

[+beetlebug54]

I've had a problem with maintaining a cache which is now resolved. However in the interim one of the reviewers has archived the cache and isn't responding to messages I have sent them, despite doing it in the way they have specified they want it. How can I get it re-enabled? Thanks.

[+Isonzo Karst]

Make sure you actually followed the contact instructions first, and then be patient about the time frame for response.

 

I note that the reviewer requested a note to the cache page, when they first warned that the listing would be archived, and you emailed them instead.

 

Then the reviewer states that they should be emailed about possible unarchive, and you posted a note to the cache page.

 

Finally, the reviewer profile states, "When you email me please always tick the "I want to send my email address along with this message." box on the form. If you don't tick the box you may not receive my reply." So be sure that the reviewer received an email they can respond to ;-)

 

And lastly, the cache maintenance plan seems to have failed. It may well be best for the local cacher who stepped up and did the replacement to simply submit that cache as theirs.

[+beetlebug54]

Make sure you actually followed the contact instructions first, and then be patient about the time frame for response.

 

I note that the reviewer requested a note to the cache page, when they first warned that the listing would be archived, and you emailed them instead.

 

Then the reviewer states that they should be emailed about possible unarchive, and you posted a note to the cache page.

 

Finally, the reviewer profile states, "When you email me please always tick the "I want to send my email address along with this message." box on the form. If you don't tick the box you may not receive my reply." So be sure that the reviewer received an email they can respond to ;-)

 

And lastly, the cache maintenance plan seems to have failed. It may well be best for the local cacher who stepped up and did the replacement to simply submit that cache as theirs.

Thanks. Given that the reviewer ignored the message I sent them, despite doing it the way they had asked *as well* as doing it on the cache too it's a bit frustrating. The local cacher doesn't want to take ownership of it but is happy to do maintenance.

[Keystone]

The cache was archived on February 27th. It is now March 2nd, so it's a bit early to say that an email sent after the archival is being "ignored." Be patient. It's just a cache listing, and a listing that sat unattended for many months on your end.

[+beetlebug54]

The cache was archived on February 27th. It is now March 2nd, so it's a bit early to say that an email sent after the archival is being "ignored." Be patient. It's just a cache listing, and a listing that sat unattended for many months on your end.

 

My frustration stems from the fact that my response to the original note was ignored, not that I've not had a response to the most recent activity. As for the cache sitting unattended for months, it's actually inaccessible during the winter so could only be checked once the snow started to melt, hence the delay.

[Keystone]

Re-read Isonzo Karst's post.

 

On 13 February the reviewer posted a note, asking why your cache had been disabled since last October. The reviewer asked this: "If you plan on repairing this cache, please log a note so I don't archive the listing for non-communication." Instead you sent an email, sometime between 13 February and 27 February (the date when the listing was archived).

 

Why is this distinction important? Look at it from the reviewer's perspective. When I do a "maintenance sweep" of caches that have been disabled for several months, this typically means leaving reminder notes on dozens or even a hundred or more listings. Then, several weeks later, I will launch each of those listings from a bookmark list and check for an owner response. If there is no note logged to the cache page, then I archive the listing. With dozens or hundreds of caches to decision, I cannot possibly remember any and all emails that owners may have sent to me over the past month, and it would be too time consuming to check. That is why reviewers ask that update reports be posted to the cache listing - not in an email.

 

Once the cache listing was archived, then you posted notes to the cache page. The reviewer will not see these or be alerted to them in any way. NOW is the time to write the reviewer a direct email. Be sure to reference the GC Code when writing.

 

Also, there was no indication in your disable note that the cache is inaccessible in winter -- just a need to engage with your local maintainer. Had there been a mention of the inaccessibility, perhaps the February note would not have been placed by the reviewer until April or so. Many reviewers will skip over listings that expressly state that they're disabled for the winter season.

 

I offer these observations not as criticism but as a learning experience for all those cache owners who may be reading the thread.

[+beetlebug54]

Re-read Isonzo Karst's post.

 

On 13 February the reviewer posted a note, asking why your cache had been disabled since last October. The reviewer asked this: "If you plan on repairing this cache, please log a note so I don't archive the listing for non-communication." Instead you sent an email, sometime between 13 February and 27 February (the date when the listing was archived).

 

Why is this distinction important? Look at it from the reviewer's perspective. When I do a "maintenance sweep" of caches that have been disabled for several months, this typically means leaving reminder notes on dozens or even a hundred or more listings. Then, several weeks later, I will launch each of those listings from a bookmark list and check for an owner response. If there is no note logged to the cache page, then I archive the listing. With dozens or hundreds of caches to decision, I cannot possibly remember any and all emails that owners may have sent to me over the past month, and it would be too time consuming to check. That is why reviewers ask that update reports be posted to the cache listing - not in an email.

 

Once the cache listing was archived, then you posted notes to the cache page. The reviewer will not see these or be alerted to them in any way. NOW is the time to write the reviewer a direct email. Be sure to reference the GC Code when writing.

 

Also, there was no indication in your disable note that the cache is inaccessible in winter -- just a need to engage with your local maintainer. Had there been a mention of the inaccessibility, perhaps the February note would not have been placed by the reviewer until April or so. Many reviewers will skip over listings that expressly state that they're disabled for the winter season.

 

I offer these observations not as criticism but as a learning experience for all those cache owners who may be reading the thread.

Hi, observations willingly taken, thanks for replying. I didn't see the bit in the original note/log/item posted by the reviewer asking for a note to be logged so my bad for not posting a note. But I did get straight in touch with the reviewer explaining it's inaccessible in the winter and that I was asking the local cachers to check it out for me when they could (which has now been done). But yes, I understand that a note would have been easier. TBH as a less experienced cacher and owner I find the site really unintuitive to navigate and all the different semantics of the different things to be done is also confusing. So from a less experienced cachers perspective please understand why it's annoying to have responded within minutes of the original note having been posted by the reviewer to then feel chided for not doing something, when in fact you'd accidentally not done it exactly as had been asked for. I have also written to the reviewer twice in the interim, with the cache info as requested and with the send my email address checked and still had no reply *before* the second note was logged. Again, it's not obvious to newer members that the reviewer won't get alerted, I don't know if they're watching the cache or what! Again with the disable note, I had put that in the email. I like geocaching for the adventures and the walks and the hidden places you wouldn't otherwise find. Not the endless administration and the feeling of being a naughty child when it's not done exactly to the rules Thanks again for the reply and explanation, it makes a lot more sense now. Hopefully the reviewer will be able to reply to the emails I and the local cacher have now sent explaining what is happening when they get time

[+GeoTrekker26]

Wow, you need to back up a little and reread what has been explained to you. You are not being chided nor treated like a child. You have been asked to follow a procedure that is in place for a reason, but did not. BTW, I agree with you that the system is far from intuitive to a new user. (Ahem, I just checked you aren't a new user, 400+ finds, 8 hides, 4 years on the site.)

 

To address your real concern, the cache that you had trouble maintaining, the simplest thing to do is to create a new cache page. You have all the information and the container is in place so just fill out the form. It will likely be approved, you will have your cache back and the cachers will get a chance for a new smiley,a win-win all the way around. Total time involved will be a lot less than the time you have spent fighting the system.

[+beetlebug54]

Wow, you need to back up a little and reread what has been explained to you. You are not being chided nor treated like a child. You have been asked to follow a procedure that is in place for a reason, but did not. BTW, I agree with you that the system is far from intuitive to a new user. (Ahem, I just checked you aren't a new user, 400+ finds, 8 hides, 4 years on the site.)

 

I felt like I was being chided by the reviewer when I'd replied to the first note posted by the reviewer within minutes of it being posted, and then having had my reply ignored (for whatever reason). The reply about why it was important it was a note was helpful as I'd not realised that. But it doesn't stop the feeling of not knowing what you are doing and being told off whenever you do it wrong. The bit about writing a *log* in the note the reviewer posted comes after a hefty quote and I simply missed it when I read the email I got sent notifying me of the note that had been posted. And as for not being a new user, I haven't been caching for ages so feel like a newbie again.

 

To address your real concern, the cache that you had trouble maintaining, the simplest thing to do is to create a new cache page. You have all the information and the container is in place so just fill out the form. It will likely be approved, you will have your cache back and the cachers will get a chance for a new smiley,a win-win all the way around. Total time involved will be a lot less than the time you have spent fighting the system.

 

fair enough only there's no one to own the cache locally so we're back to the headache I had in the first place trying to get it approved when I don't live near it! Maybe I should just stop caching all together!! Thanks

[+Bear and Ragged]

fair enough only there's no one to own the cache locally so we're back to the headache I had in the first place trying to get it approved when I don't live near it! Maybe I should just stop caching all together!! Thanks

 

Why not just place one local to where you live, so you can maintain it?

 

You seem to have placed a 'Vacation Cache' that you are unable to maintain...

 

Place one near to home, and cache on!

[+beetlebug54]

fair enough only there's no one to own the cache locally so we're back to the headache I had in the first place trying to get it approved when I don't live near it! Maybe I should just stop caching all together!! Thanks

 

Why not just place one local to where you live, so you can maintain it?

 

You seem to have placed a 'Vacation Cache' that you are unable to maintain...

 

Place one near to home, and cache on!

 

TBH I want to stop owning any as I don't have time to be as involved as I used to be. Pesky kids and job having to take priority! It was cool owning the most westerly one on Skye for a while tho! I've slowly archived all the others I placed that I moved away from.

[+NanCycle]

there's no one to own the cache locally so we're back to the headache I had in the first place trying to get it approved when I don't live near it! Maybe I should just stop caching all together!! Thanks

 

Don't think you should stop caching altogether; just think you should stop trying to own a cache that you can't maintain. Let that one be archived and hide a new cache near where you do live. There's a very good reason why vacation caches are generally not allowed, and your situation with this cache is a perfect example.

[+WarNinjas]

I am sure the reviewer is not intentionally ignoring you or trying to treat you as a child. It is just the way it works out sometimes and he/she is probably not even aware of it.

[+beetlebug54]

there's no one to own the cache locally so we're back to the headache I had in the first place trying to get it approved when I don't live near it! Maybe I should just stop caching all together!! Thanks

 

Don't think you should stop caching altogether; just think you should stop trying to own a cache that you can't maintain. Let that one be archived and hide a new cache near where you do live. There's a very good reason why vacation caches are generally not allowed, and your situation with this cache is a perfect example.

 

Fair enough. There is someone local who will maintain it (and has already replaced the lost cache) she just doesn't want to own it.

[+beetlebug54]

I am sure the reviewer is not intentionally ignoring you or trying to treat you as a child. It is just the way it works out sometimes and he/she is probably not even aware of it.

 

This is true!