What to do about SWAG that doesn't fit guidelines?

[7stouffers]

While we were out caching yesterday we came across a cache that had bubbles in it. Since my youngest likes bubbles, we traded for it and went on our way. That got me thinking though, if you find swag that is not allowed or recommended, do you trade for it to get it out of there, even if you don't want it, or do you contact the CO?

 

What's the consensus on how to handle this?

[+niraD]

When I've found inappropriate items in a cache, I've gotten them out of the cache immediately.

 

In the case of literal trash (e.g., expired coupons, crumpled stickers, dirt/leaves/twigs from the ground nearby), I've just removed the items. In other cases (e.g., scented candles, bubble solution, graphically offensive literature), I've traded for the items and then disposed of them as I saw fit.

[+Arktoi]

On at least two occasions, I found food (a mint and a small piece of chocolate) in caches, and I just took them with me when I left and threw them in the nearest trash cans. Things like that that could attract animals and such are OK to just throw out, no need to trade for them. I also remember coming across business cards once or twice that I also took with me and threw out. Caching-related "advertisements", like personal pathtags and such, are cool, but business cards are just in really bad taste and don't belong in geocaches.

 

To summarize: Don't feel bad about just removing bad swag and not trading for it, if all you're going to be doing is trashing it.

[+dprovan]

Yep, I just take it. If the cache is better off without it, you're already in the positive vis-à-vis trading. On the other hand, I have an informal trade item I sometimes leave behind independently of any trades, and I give more thought than normal to leaving one of them, but I don't feel obliged to.

[Pup Patrol]

While we were out caching yesterday we came across a cache that had bubbles in it. Since my youngest likes bubbles, we traded for it and went on our way. That got me thinking though, if you find swag that is not allowed or recommended, do you trade for it to get it out of there, even if you don't want it, or do you contact the CO?

 

What's the consensus on how to handle this?

 

A consensus...here?.....

 

When I find things that are detrimental, like bubbles, scented candles, crayons, food, expired tickets, etc, I take them out of the cache and throw them out at home.

 

If necessary, we will clean the container as best we can.

 

B.

[+Touchstone]

Food items are not uncommon. Occasionally little teeny weeny pocket knives. A small bottle of wine once. All CITO'd out. I think people are well intentioned, but don't stop to think about it.

[+NanCycle]

I've found cigarettes a couple times, matches several times, candy, a pocket knife, etc. If I have something with me to "trade" I'll trade, but if not, I just remove the offending items. Things like business cards and expired coupons are just trash and I CITO them.

[+Wacka]

I found pack of firecrackers in a cache this past weekend. Juat tok it out and they are still in my pocket. Probably will blow them up on July 4th.

[Andronicus]

Personal view: If you have something to trade, make a trade. It's always a good thing to leave something nice in a cache anyway.

 

If you don't have anything to trade, you are still doing everyone a favor by removing the item from the cache. Just do it.

 

When caching, I always try to be reasonable and not too legalistic. It is all about the fun, right?

 

edit to add: The first cache I ever found, I had my then young kids with me, and there was a new (still in the package) condom in there. That was unwelcome. I would have appreciated if a previous cacher had removed that, with or without a trade.

Edited June 15, 2016 by Andronicus

[+Laithriel]

First let me state, I am brand new to geocaching. I heard about geocaching years ago, but have only decided to try it out after finding what was probably an unrecorded cache in the Snowy Range.

 

Secondly, why is it wrong to place bubbles in a cache? Does the type of cache container make a difference? Can bubbles be left if the bottle is inside a zip lock baggie?

 

I ask because I found my first official cache today and had brought stuff to trade. The bubbles were in a tiny bottle. The bottle was placed in a ziplock baggie. The cache container was a metal ammo case. I also placed Breathe Right strips (in a baggie) in the cache.

 

If bubbles are an absolute no-no, then please accept my apology. I hadn't read this post until after I got home.

[+JohnCNA]

First let me state, I am brand new to geocaching. I heard about geocaching years ago, but have only decided to try it out after finding what was probably an unrecorded cache in the Snowy Range.

 

Secondly, why is it wrong to place bubbles in a cache? Does the type of cache container make a difference? Can bubbles be left if the bottle is inside a zip lock baggie?

 

I ask because I found my first official cache today and had brought stuff to trade. The bubbles were in a tiny bottle. The bottle was placed in a ziplock baggie. The cache container was a metal ammo case. I also placed Breathe Right strips (in a baggie) in the cache.

 

If bubbles are an absolute no-no, then please accept my apology. I hadn't read this post until after I got home.

 

Anything liquid will probably leak over time. Especially if you are in a climate that freezes during winter.

[+hzoi]

I also placed Breathe Right strips (in a baggie) in the cache.

 

Were they in a sealed package, or just loose in a baggie?

 

If they weren't sealed, I would abstain from leaving them in a cache. Not entirely different from leaving a band-aid -- I like both my breathe right strips and my band-aids to be sterile (we are, after all, talking about something I glue to my nose at night, right next to my nostrils, eyes, and mouth), and there's no way I'd use one I found in a cache.

 

If I came across loose breathe right strips, even in a bag, as a "trade" item in one of our caches, I would throw it away.

Edited July 26, 2016 by hzoi

[+cerberus1]

I also placed Breathe Right strips (in a baggie) in the cache.

 

Were they in a sealed package, or just loose in a baggie?

 

If they weren't sealed, I would abstain from leaving them in a cache. Not entirely different from leaving a band-aid -- I like both my breathe right strips and my band-aids to be sterile (we are, after all, talking about something I glue to my nose at night, right next to my nostrils, eyes, and mouth), and there's no way I'd use one I found in a cache.

 

If I came across loose breathe right strips, even in a bag, as a "trade" item in one of our caches, I would throw it away.

+1

We found a toothbrush, paste, and floss kit in a cache once.

Guess someone just went out after the dentist, and those freebies just looked like swag to them.

[+cerberus1]

We did see a guy we've cached with chew bazooka gum he found in a cache once.

Said he didn't have to trade for it, not being allowed and all...

...Yet this same guy filtered his water at a mountain sprng.

[+Harry Dolphin]

First let me state, I am brand new to geocaching. I heard about geocaching years ago, but have only decided to try it out after finding what was probably an unrecorded cache in the Snowy Range.

 

Secondly, why is it wrong to place bubbles in a cache? Does the type of cache container make a difference? Can bubbles be left if the bottle is inside a zip lock baggie?

 

I ask because I found my first official cache today and had brought stuff to trade. The bubbles were in a tiny bottle. The bottle was placed in a ziplock baggie. The cache container was a metal ammo case. I also placed Breathe Right strips (in a baggie) in the cache.

 

If bubbles are an absolute no-no, then please accept my apology. I hadn't read this post until after I got home.

 

Anything liquid will probably leak over time. Especially if you are in a climate that freezes during winter.

 

I put bubbles in my first cache. Then, I heard that they were not a good idea. So, nine years later, I went back and removed them. They had not leaked at all.

[+Laithriel]

I also placed Breathe Right strips (in a baggie) in the cache.

 

Were they in a sealed package, or just loose in a baggie?

 

If they weren't sealed, I would abstain from leaving them in a cache. Not entirely different from leaving a band-aid -- I like both my breathe right strips and my band-aids to be sterile (we are, after all, talking about something I glue to my nose at night, right next to my nostrils, eyes, and mouth), and there's no way I'd use one I found in a cache.

 

If I came across loose breathe right strips, even in a bag, as a "trade" item in one of our caches, I would throw it away.

 

I'm a retired RN, of course the strips were in their original wrappers, unopened, and in little plastic baggies. Do people really leave opened bandaids in caches? That would totally gross me out.

 

If people wonder why I would place Breathe Rite strips in a cache... I'm a high elevation hiker who also has asthma. I always carry them on me and thought they might be useful to someone else as well.

 

And it's not that I try to leave "junk" in caches. I've placed a few handmade beaded Christmas ornaments and will be making jewelry to stash soon.

Edited July 27, 2016 by Laithriel

[+hzoi]

I also placed Breathe Right strips (in a baggie) in the cache.

 

Were they in a sealed package, or just loose in a baggie?

 

If they weren't sealed, I would abstain from leaving them in a cache. Not entirely different from leaving a band-aid -- I like both my breathe right strips and my band-aids to be sterile (we are, after all, talking about something I glue to my nose at night, right next to my nostrils, eyes, and mouth), and there's no way I'd use one I found in a cache.

 

If I came across loose breathe right strips, even in a bag, as a "trade" item in one of our caches, I would throw it away.

 

I'm a retired RN, of course the strips were in their original wrappers, unopened, and in little plastic baggies. Do people really leave opened bandaids in caches? That would totally gross me out.

 

If people wonder why I would place Breathe Rite strips in a cache... I'm a high elevation hiker who also has asthma. I always carry them on me and thought they might be useful to someone else as well.

 

And it's not that I try to leave "junk" in caches. I've placed a few handmade beaded Christmas ornaments and will be making jewelry to stash soon.

 

I breathed a sigh of relief reading this.

 

The wrapper and the plastic bag help. I've not come across any unwrapped bandaids, but have come across plenty that were just in the paper wrapper in the cache. Even in the desert, caches get wet, and there's no way I'm using a wet bandaid, wrapper or no. I toss these whenever I find 'em.

[MandyKota]

In one very difficult cache, i found a pocket knife and an untouched box of matches. I removed them.

[+cerberus1]

In one very difficult cache, i found a pocket knife and an untouched box of matches. I removed them.

While I agree that the guidelines frown on these, when caches were allowed on the AT, many a hiker was a happy camper to come by either.

TP did top their list though...

[+Cachez]

Matches, cigarette lighters, used tissues, a baby's dummy, nails, screws, stones, sticks, leaves, a NOX canister, chocolate and chewing gum are just a few of the inappropriate items I've found in caches. Another local cacher found a condom (unused). I honestly can't imagine what goes through people's minds that they think these are appropriate things to leave in caches. I usually just bin them.

[+Wildcat314159]

I'd say just CITO it out. I recently saw a local cache that had a water bottle that had leaked... and got water logged.