Jump to content

duplicating travel bugs


andreagl

Recommended Posts

I've had numerous TBs in the past that have gone missing. The way I understand it is when you buy a TB you are paying for the TB code not just the tag, so if it goes missing could you just make another using a photo of it and laminate it with the code number? I've had lots over the years so if this is allowed I could get some copies back into circulation as there don't seem to be many TBs about these days. Can anybody tell me if this is allowed. Thanks

Link to comment

I've had numerous TBs in the past that have gone missing. The way I understand it is when you buy a TB you are paying for the TB code not just the tag, so if it goes missing could you just make another using a photo of it and laminate it with the code number? I've had lots over the years so if this is allowed I could get some copies back into circulation as there don't seem to be many TBs about these days. Can anybody tell me if this is allowed. Thanks

Sure. :)

Link to comment

When we buy a trackable (coin or tag) I take a high resolution scan, or good up close picture depending on what it is, and if our TB goes missing we have the option of creating a new one. We have a few out like that already (proxies) from one that have disappeared or were taken by a brand new cacher that hasn't found a cache in over a year. I would suggest caution when putting out a copy with the same code. Don't put one out after just a short time because if the original starts moving again then there will be two moving around.

 

We wait a year or longer depending on the circumstances of how the original disappeared, and even then we move it around in our inventory for a while just in case. We had one that was placed in a cache, then the next entry for the cache was the CO archiving it due to it being destroyed by machinery. We were pretty sure the TB went with the cache so we didn't wait to long to put a proxy out on that one.

 

Long story short; we do it and we got the idea from others who do it so shouldn't be a problem.

Link to comment

Thanks for the feedback. My last one was in a cache that got muggled in April 2014, so I waited but it hasn't surfaced. Some have been missing for many years so wasn't sure if this is too long to now bring them back as a duplicate. Do you think this would still be OK if I gave an explanation on its web page as to why it has suddenly reappeared and that it is a duplicate? When I say years, I mean some have been gone for 5 & 6 years, so these are definitely not likely to re appear. Thanks

Link to comment

Thanks for the feedback. My last one was in a cache that got muggled in April 2014, so I waited but it hasn't surfaced. Some have been missing for many years so wasn't sure if this is too long to now bring them back as a duplicate. Do you think this would still be OK if I gave an explanation on its web page as to why it has suddenly reappeared and that it is a duplicate? When I say years, I mean some have been gone for 5 & 6 years, so these are definitely not likely to re appear. Thanks

Sure.

A note on the trackable's page that you're sending a replacement out is fine.

Link to comment

Do you think this would still be OK if I gave an explanation on its web page as to why it has suddenly reappeared and that it is a duplicate?

 

I just post the information in a log so the first few people that find it can read the log if they are curious as to why it hasn't moved in so long. I have to post a log anyway to grab them from missing status when we bring them back to life (since we always mark them missing when they are actually missing). Would be just as good to make a note on the main cache page to I suppose, that way it wouldn't rotate down and off the page.

Link to comment

[When you buy a TB you are paying for the TB code not just the tag, so if it goes missing could you just make another using a photo of it and laminate it with the code number? Can anybody tell me if this is allowed.]

 

This is VERY much allowed. Resurrect all your lost bugs by the method you describe or you can get "Travel Shields" or custom dog tags from GxProxy.com. A bug or coin tracking number is yours for YOUR life, not the bugs. If it 'died' somewhere in it's travels, then breathe new life into it. Be sure to post a new picture on the page and you should change the description and give it another mission. Let's all keep those bugs crawling from cache to cache!!!

Edited by Sticky Buns
Link to comment

[When you buy a TB you are paying for the TB code not just the tag, so if it goes missing could you just make another using a photo of it and laminate it with the code number? Can anybody tell me if this is allowed.]

 

This is VERY much allowed. Resurrect all your lost bugs by the method you describe or you can get "Travel Shields" or custom dog tags from GxProxy.com. A bug or coin tracking number is yours for YOUR life, not the bugs. If it 'died' somewhere in it's travels, then breathe new life into it. Be sure to post a new picture on the page and you should change the description and give it another mission. Let's all keep those bugs crawling from cache to cache!!!

 

Just PLEASE do not delete previous logs. If I moved the old version of your TB, I should not lose that as part of my caching history.

Link to comment

Also, if you bought a dog tag, there should be a Copy tag that came with the original as well. You can use that to revive your dog tags, if you haven't lost the copies! :D

You can do so WITHOUT that copy tag. You bought the number, the tags (just one actually has the number) simply came with the number. Use the number whenever you see the need to -- it's yours. The tag itself is... well... irrelevant.

 

As a side note -- the copy tag does not have the number imprinted. Simply writing the number on that tag would soon wear off anyway. Not much of anything clings to aluminum very well. That's why the original is imprinted into the metal -- even that doesn't last forever. The older style of imprinting lasted much longer (die-stamped).

Link to comment

It's a shame the TB system isn't geared to allow you to 'write off' clearly lost bugs so that the tracking number doesn't work, but at the same time allow owners to send out proxies using the same tracking number but with a suffix so that only that number will log.

Personally, I much prefer the current system which discourages you from rereleasing a TB precisely because everything will be screwed up if the original reappears. I'm OK with people rereleasing tags if they want, but I wouldn't do it because I think the death of the TB is just as important as the other parts of its life. Besides, I'd really hate to miss a resurrection. If TBs were hideously expensive, I might worry about the cost of just buying a new one, but they aren't.

Link to comment

Also, if you bought a dog tag, there should be a Copy tag that came with the original as well. You can use that to revive your dog tags, if you haven't lost the copies! :D

 

READ what it says on the copy tag...

 

I think the newer ones say something along the lines of "Keep Me..."

Not what you really want a cacher to do, with your newly re-released TB!

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...