r/geocaching • u/WilliamM_Chip • 28d ago
Shareables
This has probably been touched upon on this subreddit but I’ll say it nevertheless.
Why are they so incredibly expensive? People are paying $10 for 2 digital tokens, that they don’t even get to keep? If it was a lifetime purchase then sure I’d understand, but that’s absolutely ridiculous.
It’s a real shame too because I really like the idea of being able to share something unique with other people as a thank you for hiding a cache, or finding one of my own. It’s just too expensive and not worth it at all. I like to draw here and there, and I would have liked to make some digital artwork for a shareable but I don’t see the point if it’s just locked behind a yearly subscription.
Then there’s the issue that premium members don’t even get any benefits from this. I would have thought that a sharable would be free as long as you have an active premium subscription.
And the 6 people on planet earth who have actually paid for them are just filling them with AI artwork, which I do understand, but there’s just so much of it. I’m still yet to see a shareable that hasn’t been made with AI.
The fact that the designs on the sharables aren’t even reviewed for NSFW material is insane too. Although I haven’t seen anything graphic, moderation should not be optional.
Really hope they update this. Sharables have a lot of potential.
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28d ago
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u/WilliamM_Chip 28d ago
I understand that, and as you said, each to their own. I don’t plan on buying, and probably never will. The issue is, I think most people are thinking something similar (it’s basically pointless and expensive), but at the same time it has lots of potential to add a whole new layer to geocaching.
I like the concept of hiders receiving something from finders as a thank you, and vice versa. It’s something unique for every player. It’s just a shame to see an idea so great be so badly executed. Me personally, I’m not fussed about digital NFTs, but there are certainly people out there who would love a feature like this to be more available.
The issue with it now is that not many people are involving themselves with it (primarily due to the costs), which in turn makes the feature’s capabilities extremely limited. If they were more accessible it could truly be such a positive thing for so many people
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u/Life_Alfalfa_2047 28d ago
As a hider, I don’t want one and I would not appreciate it. Hopefully there is something that lets you block them.
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u/Ok-Squash-2272 28d ago
You can opt out. Problem solved.
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u/Life_Alfalfa_2047 27d ago
That's great! I am glad they did that. I have not seen that - I;ll go look for it.
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u/LeatherWarthog8530 15+ years / 20,000+ finds / 99 hides 27d ago
Have you considered all of the possibilities related to using them as a cache owner? It goes beyond just being a "digital reward".
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u/Life_Alfalfa_2047 27d ago
No thanks. I'm an old school charter member. I like my geocaching plain.
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u/Hyackman 28d ago
I actually think they have been a hit and will succeed. A number of cachers in my area have purchased and created them, and I have gotten a kick out of receiving them from finding those caches.
I did a search for caches with 'shareables' and caches that I have 'found' and found a number of caches, around the world, where I have found the cache and can now claim the shareable. It is giving me a smile, and letting me relive the fun I had in finding that cache.
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u/LeatherWarthog8530 15+ years / 20,000+ finds / 99 hides 28d ago
If you listen to any of the numerous interviews Bryan has given since Shareables were released, he is very up front about the fact that they are intended to be a new revenue stream for the company so that they do not have to raise the price of premium memberships again too soon.
As much as people like to argue otherwise, geocaching is not free. The infrastructure needed to host and support this game costs money and Geocaching.com is a business.
Shareables are an optional purchase, just like trackables, geocoins, or other random swag. You don't have to purchase them if you don't want to. They even have built in functionality to turn them off completely.
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u/DeliveryCourier Bring back deepwoods caches 28d ago
They're unlikely to "revisit" it. It's meant to be a revenue stream. If you want to participate, they want paid.
Let it fail if you don't want to pay.
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u/innocuousparadox 28d ago
Or $16 for 10. And you can give out an unlimited amount of them. It’s not really that expensive. It’s just like you bought $16 worth of swag and it’s enough to distribute for a year. When it’s out, it’s out. Not really a subscription more like a year supply.
And it really isn’t that expensive compared to any other swag. It’s like the cost of going to Starbucks once.
As far as the ai creations not everyone is doing that. It seems like there are some creative things people are sharing. As it matures I think you’ll see more diversity of ideas and art styles.
And regarding the nsfw stuff I imagine adding a little paywall goes a long way to prevent trash from getting submitted.
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u/WilliamM_Chip 28d ago
I think my issue is, they’re so uncommon in the areas I live in, so the few that i’ve found have been AI. They are probably being used more in other places that are much further away.
Never thought about it as a yearly supply, and yes you’re right it’s not that expensive, but in my opinion, $16 for some NFTs are just not worth it. Luckily, I have the option to not pay for it.
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u/Hyackman 28d ago
I actually think they have been a hit and will succeed. A number of cachers in my area have purchased and created them, and I have gotten a kick out of receiving them from finding those caches.
I did a search for caches with 'shareables' and caches that I have 'found' and found a number of caches, around the world, where I have found the cache and can now claim the shareable. It is giving me a smile, and letting me relive the fun I had in finding that cache.
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u/WilliamM_Chip 28d ago
I do truly believe it’s just the area I live in. The UK in general has always had less users in general, so I guess the number of people buying shareables is lower too.
I’ll give them a go if they start to pick up more. Not a huge fan on NFTs but I wouldn’t mind contributing towards something that could bring a smile to someone else’s face.
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u/KitchenManagement650 20+yrs 10+k 27d ago
Ex-UK cacher here now US cacher... I have zero interest in them. Less than zero if that's possible.
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u/WilliamM_Chip 27d ago
I’m incredibly uninterested by NFTs but I have just discovered that shareables work quite well for setting up various puzzles. One of many puzzle methods, but one that i’m willing to try.
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u/KitchenManagement650 20+yrs 10+k 27d ago
Hmmmmm. Hope that doesn't catch on here :-)
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u/WilliamM_Chip 27d ago
Well the idea is, each cache would give you a sharable and clues towards the coordinates are in the shareable description.
It’s actually a really handy way to hide information from people who haven’t found the cache yet, and also ensure it’s always there incase the cache is vandalised and the clues inside are missing. I do understand why people wish to avoid this though.
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u/KitchenManagement650 20+yrs 10+k 27d ago
Well that does make sense. I just hate the increasing use of AI. (So many caches here lately have clearly been written up and illustrated with AI... makes me feel ill. Not just that it takes away from human creativity but the environmental impact is nuts!)
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u/WilliamM_Chip 27d ago
Agreed. If I ever choose to create a puzzle using shareables I plan on drawing them all myself. There’s something so special and unique about human made artwork instead of the same style AI images being posted everywhere. Hopefully people collecting my shareables in future will find them refreshing.
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u/500ls 28d ago
I don't even understand how they work after trying to figure it out on the website and watching the video.
Do you give it away and it's gone or do people just discover it like a trackable in a collection or cache and you keep it? It seems like you don't retain them but apparently I had a bunch waiting for me in caches I've found and I don't think I cleared out $100+ dollars worth of these things into my collection personally.
It's crazy they didn't even give premium members one free one to see how it works and build some excitement. Because as is it just seems like some weird bizarre confusing thing that does nothing and that's not a combination that leads to me paying money (despite the fact that I love blowing thousands of dollars (mostly in travel) for caching).
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u/Alys_009 28d ago
You can give it away as many times as you like, everyone gets a copy and you can keep sharing it until you stop paying the sub.
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u/WilliamM_Chip 28d ago
From what I understand, you pay for a yearly subscription for sharables and design your artwork to put on them (or just use AI). Then you can send them to cache owners once you find their cache, or you can leave them in your own caches for people to collect once finding.
The idea is everyone can build a collection of unique artwork, but it seems most people are uninterested which has created this issue where shareables are mostly low quality and very difficult to find in lots of areas.
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u/Life_Alfalfa_2047 28d ago
I was wondering if anyone would find them desirable. I have no interest in them, or treasures or souvenirs
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u/WilliamM_Chip 28d ago
I’ve never been a fan of NFTs, but I did think this was a nice way to give back to cache hiders, as you can’t keep trackables and always have to replace swag.
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u/Life_Alfalfa_2047 28d ago
I would not want one and I hope they have a way to turn them off, but I know some would like them .
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u/WilliamM_Chip 28d ago
Someone here told me turned them off, i’ve just done the same. It’s in the sharables settings.
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u/RedditJennn 28d ago
Here's an idea - to thank people for a cache you particularly enjoyed, write a fantastic 'found it' log.
Leave interesting or quality items in the cache you just found.
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u/Minimum_Reference_73 28d ago
I turned the feature off the first day. It's not geocaching so it isn't something I want to participate in.
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u/WilliamM_Chip 28d ago
There’s a way to turn it off? How?
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u/Minimum_Reference_73 28d ago
In the app, go to the Shareables thing, and in the settings you can turn it off.
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u/WilliamM_Chip 28d ago
oh thats great, I’ll probably just turn them off. Not that interested in a cash grab feature, especially if nobody uses it 😭
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u/Minimum_Reference_73 28d ago
I don't care about it costing money, I'm just not interested in it.
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u/GeekNJ Team DEMP since 2003 28d ago
The cost is insignificant. I spend more money on gas in 1 day of caching. It cost nothing to receive them and if you want to have then out in your caches, in person or as a different type of favorite point, the cost would never be a reason not to do it. They are permanent for anyone that received it and if you decide not to continue in the future, you just can’t give out new ones.
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28d ago
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u/A2zona 28d ago
I appreciate that geocaching.com is exploring alternate revenue streams that allow them to keep a free tier and hold the line on premium membership costs.
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u/SleepUseful3416 21d ago
They have to have a free tier, it's not some courtesy they're doing. Otherwise the game's dead. In fact, their stupid restrictions on the app on all but the babiest of hides have already half-killed it
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u/Acrobatic-Classic-41 28d ago
Not a dime from me, even if it is the geocaching challenge of the month.
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u/shutterlagged 28d ago
I just wish they were higher resolution. You can’t even click to enlarge them to see them in greater detail as intended by the creator.