DNFs and Your Cache

[+_Pebcak_]

When you receive a DNF on your caches, do you ever email the person and ask if they need help, or send hints? Or do you just smile and nod, knowing that you've hidden the cache well and that someone is scratching his head and pondering where ELSE he could have looked?

I only have 1 cache. I had 2 DNFs. I did email the first b/c she said she was a newbie, so I asked her if she needed a hint or two (she never responded) and the other actually found the cache the same day.

I personally have logged several DNFs, but I think I've only ever received one email about it before, so I was just curious how you react to those DNFs on your caches?

[+highrez]

I check the geocacher's profile to see how many finds they have. If they are a relatively new cacher I email and offer help. If they are an experienced cacher then I go check on the condition of the geocache. I only have a handful of geocaches hidden so it is feasible for me to do this. Those who have large numbers place may find it more more difficult to email, etc.

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

I respond with help only when they ask. We are in a (seasonal) touristy area, so a lot of cachers are just passin' through, prolly to ne'er return.

 

To voluntarily send emails to all that did DNF, around here, would amount to an exercise in futility... as the OP notes, no response.

 

EDIT to add: Yes, we know the locals and many near-local cachers... they will get a push in the right direction without asking.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Gitchee-Gummee

[+redsox_mark]

My caches are fairly easy to find; so I check if they are missing or not. If they are there, no, I haven't mailed the person raising the DNF asking if they want a further hint. And I don't think I've had a cache owner mail me when I have a DNF myself.

 

Not that there is anything wrong with the idea... I've just not done it or seen it generally done.

 

If someone asks me for a further hint I willingly give that.

 

If I were to pro-actively contact someone following a DNF, I would be more likely to do it for a new cacher. An experienced cacher I figure they will ask if they need help. A newbie may be less likely to ask, and it is also a chance to help them and give them a good start with the game.

 

I did have one case where I raised a DNF, and a cacher (not the owner) contacted me and offered to help (and did help).

[+cerberus1]

Same as Gitchee-Gummee, we offer help when asked.

Locals we know get a call from CJ (my other 2/3rds).

Our few remaining tougher hides may get a couple mails.

Our simpler hides often get new folks who don't even know they can email a CO, much less it belongs to a person (all caches are placed by Groundspeak, ya know).

Many also aren't validated, so no way to contact 'em anyway...

[+wmpastor]

Hint-emails are a nice gesture by the CO. However, they may not always be welcome. There's a very helpful CO nearby who is quick to check his hides if a DNF is posted, and to offer hints. When I posted a DNF on one of his, I added, "no hints, please," because I plan on going back sometime, and the find will be more meaningful to me when I get it without a hint. (It's about D2.5 or less, I think.)

 

Searchers will generally ask for a hint if they need it and plan to return (e.g., on a D4.0 hide). If I accepted a hint to be able to find a D2.0 hide, I'd feel like an amateur for sure!

[+Panther&Pine]

While I don't mind sending an offer to help (or receiving one) what I don't like is getting an unsolicited email with a spoiler. Especially when it isn't their cache.

[+-CJ-]

No, I don't email suggesting additional hints. I own 50+ caches and am always seeking for chances to increase this number. Next, the majority of my caches are simple traditional boxes. And third, I believe that if one wants any hint he/she can just ask. I always respond. As for local newbies, I do my best to support the activity of announcing new events - in my opinion it's the best way to get people involved. In theory. Locals haven't been too much enthusiastic about events (sadly).

[+coachstahly]

I'll check on mine if it's been awhile between finds on the chance that it might be MIA, but only offer hints if they shoot me an email asking for one. Most of mine are close enough to my home that checking them isn't that difficult.

[Rock Chalk]

I'll usually check the cache if the DNF is on one that I consider to be easy to find. As for contacting the DNFer, only if they implied in their log that they could use some assistance.

 

I do have a couple of caches that require special tools. On those, I'll often email people who've DNF'd or posted notes, to let them know I'll be happy to meet them and assist with the necessary tools.

 

This topic did remind me that one of my most longstanding geocaching friendships began with a DNF log. The CO emailed me after I'd DNF'd one of his caches, and long story short, we became great friends who've enjoyed many geo-outings together!

[+NYPaddleCacher]

This topic did remind me that one of my most longstanding geocaching friendships began with a DNF log. The CO emailed me after I'd DNF'd one of his caches, and long story short, we became great friends who've enjoyed many geo-outings together!

 

I posted a DNF on the first cache that I attempted. The CO sent me a message welcoming me to the game, thanking me for posting the DNF, and indicated that the cache had gone missing before (as it was when I looked for it). He asked if I wanted any hints, and when I explained where I had looked he said that it probably was missing and said I could log a find because I would have found it if it was still there (I didn't, and waited until he replaced it, then found it and logged the find.

 

It was his friendly response, welcoming me to the community and offering help to the newbie that was a big part of the attraction for getting more involved in the game. A year or so later I went kayaking with him, often had email exchanges and eventually adopted a few of his hides when he moved out of the area. Unfortunately, at least from my perspective, I think that the community aspect has devolved but has more to do with how finders interact with cache owners then the other way around. However, I also read more about "difficult" cache owners and some that seem like would rather make things unnecessarily difficult for other geocachers rather than foster the sense of community.

 

 

[+narcissa]

I give help if someone asks for help. Otherwise, I quietly chuckle to myself.

 

I am wondering if we should try to help people who keep having font issues on this forum.

[+niraD]

I give hints if asked, but I try to avoid giving unsolicited hints. After posting DNFs, I've received a few emailed hints that gave away more than I really wanted. I don't want to do that to someone else.

 

Depending on the DNF, I may also drop by for a maintenance visit, just to make sure everything is okay.

[+K13]

I give help if someone asks for help. Otherwise, I quietly chuckle to myself.

 

I am wondering if we should try to help people who keep having font issues on this forum.

 

+1

[+jellis]

Only when they ask and depending how difficult is how much I will nudge. Some are rated higher for a reason, to be difficult. I have one that some find it easily and some have to make multiple trips. Some even figured out by some of my other cache hides. As for finding them I still have some I haven't found. Some I have gotten more hints and some I will either try again or not.

[cezanne]

When you receive a DNF on your caches, do you ever email the person and ask if they need help, or send hints?

 

I do not own a traditional. So typically if I receive a DNF, I send a mail and ask for information where the DNF logger searched (coordinates and descriptions).

Based on that I make the decision how to proceed further which might include offering help or temporarily disabling the cache and going to check the situation.

Before knowing where the DNF logger searched, I'm typically not going to do anything. For some of my caches I know typical sources of mistakes and I might include a

question like "Have you read carefully from which point the bearing is to be taken?" if the log makes me believe that the reason for the failure is a specific mistake.

[+_Pebcak_]

It was his friendly response, welcoming me to the community and offering help to the newbie that was a big part of the attraction for getting more involved in the game.

You see, this is exactly what happened to me. If he hadn't reached out to me, I probably would have just given up and not tried another cache again. This is the kind of thing I love!

[+J Grouchy]

What do I do when someone posts a DNF on my cache?

 

Nothing.

 

When I see two or three or more, that's when I start wondering if it's still there. It usually has to get to three DNFs by folks with more than a handful of finds before I'll bother checking on it.

 

I never proactively help folks, though. They can ask me, of course. As long as it's not an intentionally tricky hide, I will usually point the way.

[+narcissa]

It was his friendly response, welcoming me to the community and offering help to the newbie that was a big part of the attraction for getting more involved in the game.

You see, this is exactly what happened to me. If he hadn't reached out to me, I probably would have just given up and not tried another cache again. This is the kind of thing I love!

 

And yet, I would feel irritated if someone sent me an unsolicited email with a giant hint that I hadn't asked for.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

It was his friendly response, welcoming me to the community and offering help to the newbie that was a big part of the attraction for getting more involved in the game.

You see, this is exactly what happened to me. If he hadn't reached out to me, I probably would have just given up and not tried another cache again. This is the kind of thing I love!

 

And yet, I would feel irritated if someone sent me an unsolicited email with a giant hint that I hadn't asked for.

 

Boo Hoo

[+narcissa]

It was his friendly response, welcoming me to the community and offering help to the newbie that was a big part of the attraction for getting more involved in the game.

You see, this is exactly what happened to me. If he hadn't reached out to me, I probably would have just given up and not tried another cache again. This is the kind of thing I love!

 

And yet, I would feel irritated if someone sent me an unsolicited email with a giant hint that I hadn't asked for.

 

Boo Hoo

 

And boo hoo to those who don't get one and quit after one find.

 

Expecting cache owners to dote on every single cacher who logs a DNF is an unreasonable expectation.

[+Viajero Perdido]

"BTW, would you like a hint? Scroll all the way down if so.

 

Cheers, VP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You're standing on it."

[+GrateBear]

I usually wait until there are at least 3 DNFs before checking. Had one last year where a very experienced cacher (over 6k finds) couldn't find it, said two previous cachers posted DNFs, so he felt it needed to be archived. I checked it, and it was still there! I thought the NA was a bit much, as a NM would have been much more appropriate.

[vagabond]

I've got 2 that get dnfs from newbys fairly often, I drive by them at least once a week so I'll check them and post a note, but unless they ask for a hint I will not offer :laughing:

[+jellis]

It was his friendly response, welcoming me to the community and offering help to the newbie that was a big part of the attraction for getting more involved in the game.

You see, this is exactly what happened to me. If he hadn't reached out to me, I probably would have just given up and not tried another cache again. This is the kind of thing I love!

 

And yet, I would feel irritated if someone sent me an unsolicited email with a giant hint that I hadn't asked for.

I sometimes do that with a message in the subject line with something like "If you don't want a spoiler then ignore this email".

[+jellis]

It was his friendly response, welcoming me to the community and offering help to the newbie that was a big part of the attraction for getting more involved in the game.

You see, this is exactly what happened to me. If he hadn't reached out to me, I probably would have just given up and not tried another cache again. This is the kind of thing I love!

 

And yet, I would feel irritated if someone sent me an unsolicited email with a giant hint that I hadn't asked for.

 

Boo Hoo

 

And boo hoo to those who don't get one and quit after one find.

 

Expecting cache owners to dote on every single cacher who logs a DNF is an unreasonable expectation.

also I wait to see if more DNFs show. I have a bookmark of some of the ones I may need to check if I am in the area. In some case before I run out to check someone else logs it as a find.

[+_Pebcak_]

And yet, I would feel irritated if someone sent me an unsolicited email with a giant hint that I hadn't asked for.

Yeah, I could understand that. The person that msged me didn't start out with a hint. He actually welcomed me to the game and asked if I needed help. I said yes, simply b/c I was by myself and I had no idea what I was doing. I found out about caching from a friend online, but we didn't live anywhere close so that he could show me.

[+GeoBain]

I usually wait until there are at least 3 DNFs before checking. Had one last year where a very experienced cacher (over 6k finds) couldn't find it, said two previous cachers posted DNFs, so he felt it needed to be archived. I checked it, and it was still there! I thought the NA was a bit much, as a NM would have been much more appropriate.

 

You might want to rethink this approach, especially if the cache does not get a lot of traffic.

[+Uncle Alaska]

I usually wait until there are at least 3 DNFs before checking. Had one last year where a very experienced cacher (over 6k finds) couldn't find it, said two previous cachers posted DNFs, so he felt it needed to be archived. I checked it, and it was still there! I thought the NA was a bit much, as a NM would have been much more appropriate.

 

You might want to rethink this approach, especially if the cache does not get a lot of traffic.

 

Different situation...you need to ignore a reviewer note for 30 days in the situations found in that thread. This thread is obviously discussing what an ACTIVE cache owner would do when a DNF is listed (let alone a reviewer note/TD).

[+GeoBain]

I usually wait until there are at least 3 DNFs before checking. Had one last year where a very experienced cacher (over 6k finds) couldn't find it, said two previous cachers posted DNFs, so he felt it needed to be archived. I checked it, and it was still there! I thought the NA was a bit much, as a NM would have been much more appropriate.

 

You might want to rethink this approach, especially if the cache does not get a lot of traffic.

 

Different situation...you need to ignore a reviewer note for 30 days in the situations found in that thread. This thread is obviously discussing what an ACTIVE cache owner would do when a DNF is listed (let alone a reviewer note/TD).

 

Many active COs would ignore 1 or 2 DNFs, just as Gratebear mentioned. Ignoring those DNFs might lead to a disabling by your reviewer now. How you respond to the reviewer is another matter altogether.

[+michellepluseight]

It was his friendly response, welcoming me to the community and offering help to the newbie that was a big part of the attraction for getting more involved in the game.

 

You see, this is exactly what happened to me. If he hadn't reached out to me, I probably would have just given up and not tried another cache again. This is the kind of thing I love!

 

And yet, I would feel irritated if someone sent me an unsolicited email with a giant hint that I hadn't asked for.

 

I sometimes do that with a message in the subject line with something like "If you don't want a spoiler then ignore this email".

 

Yeah, I could understand that. The person that msged me didn't start out with a hint. He actually welcomed me to the game and asked if I needed help. I said yes, simply b/c I was by myself and I had no idea what I was doing. I found out about caching from a friend online, but we didn't live anywhere close so that he could show me.

 

I can't see why anyone would send an unsolicited hint when you could be just as friendly and welcoming by sending an email *asking* if a newbie wants a hint, without any risk of spoiling it for someone who doesn't want one.