+kraushad Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 (edited) Hello all, I am officially an idiot! I just spent $70 on magnetic signs for geocaching.... Signs you ask? For geocaching? I'll explain. I drive a white pickup truck just like many work trucks that exist out there in the business/construction world. I thought that many times I am doing urban caches people may dismiss me thinking that I looked somewhat offical while I was snooping around that guardrail or signpost, electrical box, or roadsign, because of the white truck. What would make me look more official? A logo on the side of the truck. So I dropped money on two magnetic door signs for my truck. Cachers will get it right away, but the muggles may only be more tricked when they see them... Here is the design... What do you think? Please don't tell me if you hate it... I spent my hard earned money on this, and I don't think I can take the criticism! Edited November 25, 2008 by kraushad Quote Link to comment
+snowball 58 Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Great Idea! Don't Know why it will not work Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 I can't help but wonder whether 1(800)234-6348 is an active phone number. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 It would be funny if you started getting requests to find things and wind up starting a real business. How about writing POLICE on the side of your car in big letters? Quote Link to comment
+kraushad Posted November 25, 2008 Author Share Posted November 25, 2008 (edited) I can't help but wonder whether 1(800)234-6348 is an active phone number. GREAT point I didn't think about so I tried it. All of the 800 directories online came back with no results for that number, but i went one step further. So, when you call that number you get an automated message that says something about "call the talk line at (another number) to talk to exciting people online". When I called that second number I got a "talk" line that may not be aimed at anyone under 18 (if you catch my drift). I certainly wouldn't want anyone calling and getting that type of stuff, so i called the company manufacturing the signs and had the number on the signs changed to a time/temp/weather number in our state. That shouldn't bother anyone. They will just be informed about the climate in Charleston WV Thanks for thinking about this. Edited November 25, 2008 by kraushad Quote Link to comment
+nicely Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 (edited) I like your idea, but I'm silly enough to have an 'official geocacher' sticker on the back of my accord... Adding the URL, "www.Groundspeak.com" would be a nice touch, and sounds consistent with your line of 'business' Edited November 25, 2008 by nicely Quote Link to comment
woolsox Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Great sign, but this number is REAL Copies of CATALYST may be requested by calling (800) 2-FIND-IT - that's (800) 234-6348 - or by writing Consumer Direct Access, Department C, 345 California St., 21st Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104. 866-234-6348 seems to be unused. Quote Link to comment
+kraushad Posted November 25, 2008 Author Share Posted November 25, 2008 (edited) Great sign, but this number is REAL Copies of CATALYST may be requested by calling (800) 2-FIND-IT - that's (800) 234-6348 - or by writing Consumer Direct Access, Department C, 345 California St., 21st Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104. 866-234-6348 seems to be unused. Thanks, but I didn't get anything that reputable when I called that number . Anyway, I already had the sign making company change the number on the sign as stated above. Luckily they hadn't started printing them yet. Edited November 25, 2008 by kraushad Quote Link to comment
+m.austin Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 I think it's a hoot! And you might get 2 for the price of 1. 1) the sign deters muggles, who will just think you're "working" (well, sometimes caching IS work!) 2) cachers might recognize the sign & stop to visit, thus giving you the chance to make some possibly great caching buddies! I know I'd stop just to talk about your signs (but then I too am a big goofball!) Quote Link to comment
+Team Area 51.1 Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 The sign is a good idea. Your activities might be even less conspicuous if the sign read "Litter Removal, Ask Me How To Become a Volunteer in Your Community!" Quote Link to comment
+TEAM HARTSOCK Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 I remember someone else on here saying that they have a hard hat and orange vest they put on so they look offical. You add that and a clipboard and no one is going to question what you are doing. LOL. Let's see, I already talked my wife into a GPS for all of this....how can I convince her I need a white truck or a work van??? Quote Link to comment
Tonka_Boy Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 That's too funny! And who cares what the number is. Nobody is going to call it anyway Quote Link to comment
PonyPeeps Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 THAT IS THE FUNNYIST SIGN I HAVE SEEN. WHERE DID YOU GET THAT? IT IS SO COOL! Quote Link to comment
CLV3 Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 I like it. Very clever! Me??? I just hold the GPS to my ear like its a cell phone....or just nod at people as they pass by. Quote Link to comment
+Cacher Clark Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 (edited) It would be funny if you started getting requests to find things and wind up starting a real business. How about writing POLICE on the side of your car in big letters? I hope you're joking?? That is illegal, called impersonating a law enforcement officer. On topic, I like the sign idea. Edited November 26, 2008 by Cacher Clark Quote Link to comment
+onfire4jesus Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 I can't help but wonder whether 1(800)234-6348 is an active phone number. GREAT point I didn't think about so I tried it. All of the 800 directories online came back with no results for that number, but i went one step further. So, when you call that number you get an automated message that says something about "call the talk line at (another number) to talk to exciting people online". When I called that second number I got a "talk" line that may not be aimed at anyone under 18 (if you catch my drift). I certainly wouldn't want anyone calling and getting that type of stuff, so i called the company manufacturing the signs and had the number on the signs changed to a time/temp/weather number in our state. That shouldn't bother anyone. They will just be informed about the climate in Charleston WV Thanks for thinking about this. Is the time and tempature # a 1-8xx number? A lot of those are regional. (If you dial it from California, it routes to one place and from New York to another.) Safest to do as almost all movies and TV shows do and use 1-xxx-555-xxxx. I believe this always routes to information. Quote Link to comment
+kraushad Posted November 26, 2008 Author Share Posted November 26, 2008 (edited) The weather number I picked is a (304) area code number which will only give them Charleston, WV weather/time/temp. Since I live in WV and only travel mostly to close neighboring states (I can be in 4 different states in less than 30 minutes) the (304) should work! For the person that asked where I got it, I guess I shouldn't do a commercial on this website for a specific company, but you can google "magnetic truck signs" and most sites will allow you to design your own, and some will even allow you to upload your own graphics. Glad so many of you like it! I hope I do make some geofriends out of it, as I cache alone most times, and the company would be welcomed. BTW, I edited the image above to reflect the number change, here is the new one: Edited November 26, 2008 by kraushad Quote Link to comment
+Wintz50 Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 The weather number I picked is a (304) area code number which will only give them Charleston, WV weather/time/temp. Since I live in WV and only travel mostly to close neighboring states (I can be in 4 different states in less than 30 minutes) the (304) should work! For the person that asked where I got it, I guess I shouldn't do a commercial on this website for a specific company, but you can google "magnetic truck signs" and most sites will allow you to design your own, and some will even allow you to upload your own graphics. Glad so many of you like it! I hope I do make some geofriends out of it, as I cache alone most times, and the company would be welcomed. BTW, I edited the image above to reflect the number change, here is the new one: I have to get me some of those, are there franchise opportunities? lol Where are you getting these made at? Quote Link to comment
+kraushad Posted November 27, 2008 Author Share Posted November 27, 2008 Feel free to open your own franchise. I have been wanting to expand my business to Huntington since a few minutes ago I sent a PM to you with the web address. Quote Link to comment
+mfamilee Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 Love it...great idea! We usually use the 'gps as a cell phone' technique, but that still doesn't explain to anyone why we are investigating bushes & trees. Quote Link to comment
+Diemanca Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 Love it...great idea! We usually use the 'gps as a cell phone' technique, but that still doesn't explain to anyone why we are investigating bushes & trees. I haven't had to use it yet, but my line for tree "examinations" is something along the line of "I'm checking for (insert tree type here) Canker". And just hope that the person isn't a tree expert Quote Link to comment
+GCostigan Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 I was out this morning looking for caches while visiting my relatives in New York, and sure enough, a couple of muggles was watching us trying to figure out what we were doing. They looked at the big Sururban with the Virginia plates, two guys with clipboards and GPS units held to our ears like cell phones, and asked "You guys from the Secret Service?" I explained to them that we were Boy Scouts setting up an orienteering course and they eventually left. I'm liking the idea of work vests and hard hats as a Christmas gift..... GCostigan Quote Link to comment
+Corvus118 Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 I think this is a great idea to keep the Muggles away. My husband and I are going out on our very first search today! We are avid birders already in our area and we just wanted to add this to our birding activities. We will already have our camera and binoculars, so if anyone asks or looks, we will use our birding as an answer. We hope that will be enough. Quote Link to comment
+hairball45 Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 (edited) I saw this similar magnetic sign at MWGB 2007. Hope the owner doesn't mind me sharing. I like 'em both, and sending the (unlikely) caller to Time and Temp is a pretty slick idea. hairball Edited November 30, 2008 by hairball45 Quote Link to comment
+the hermit crabs Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I drive a white pickup truck just like many work trucks that exist out there in the business/construction world. .... What would make me look more official? A logo on the side of the truck. I'm sure that the laws vary from state to state, but where I live (in MA), any vehicle that has a commercial logo on it is required to have commercial license plates (which cost more than regular plates). If your state has a similar rule, you may find yourself getting ticketed for having the wrong kind of plate. (I have no idea what the rules are fake commercial logos -- maybe you'd have to have fake commercial plates? ) Quote Link to comment
+kraushad Posted November 30, 2008 Author Share Posted November 30, 2008 I'm sure that the laws vary from state to state, but where I live (in MA), any vehicle that has a commercial logo on it is required to have commercial license plates (which cost more than regular plates). If your state has a similar rule, you may find yourself getting ticketed for having the wrong kind of plate. Wow, so much to think about. I am pretty certain WV doesn't have the same requirement, but I think I am willing to take that chance. I never knew how hard it would be to try and be funny Quote Link to comment
7rxc Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 If your state has a similar rule, you may find yourself getting ticketed for having the wrong kind of plate. (I have no idea what the rules are fake commercial logos -- maybe you'd have to have fake commercial plates? ) Maybe, he'd get a FAKE ticket for having the abovementioned FAKE logos and tags... same goes for FAKE fines and FAKE time in a FAKE jail... and there I rest... Still like the concept though! Doug Quote Link to comment
+SSO JOAT Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 The BIG question is... are you claiming copyright to this thing or can we all make one? Quote Link to comment
+kraushad Posted November 30, 2008 Author Share Posted November 30, 2008 Feel free to steal the idea and design... just change to your geocaching webstie name under the logo of course You can open your own franchise! Just send your checks to me! Quote Link to comment
+NYPaddleCacher Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Love it...great idea! We usually use the 'gps as a cell phone' technique, but that still doesn't explain to anyone why we are investigating bushes & trees. That doesn't work for me. I have a Garmin 76Cx. It' much larger than any cell phone out there. It's large enough however, that I can pretend to tap on the keys so it looks like I'm entering some kind of information into it. Quote Link to comment
+wkmccall Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 The sign is a good idea. Your activities might be even less conspicuous if the sign read "Litter Removal, Ask Me How To Become a Volunteer in Your Community!" That would Definitely keep people away! Quote Link to comment
+hanjac Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Hanjac jumping in aussie. Signs. Are a part of our world here. A sign is a status symbol. A geocaching sign, very cool here. Would love it. Quote Link to comment
Team-woof Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Thought I'd add an option here. I made a rear view mirror placard in photoshop using the placard from geocache university as a template. Did it more for fun than anything but thought I'd share as cheap alternative. Anyone with a Paint program can change the name to suit personal taste (I am actually SK Consulting). GC placard Quote Link to comment
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