First, a story.

Well, my letterboxing partner and I had an interesting experience today. We went for a box at a park when there were a lot of people around, managed to get the box, but found it difficult to replace the box for a bit because of the number of people (it was a lovely day today and the park is rather small). Stamping in near the hiding place was out of the questin, and I didn't want to call a lot of attention to the area either by staking it out for too long waiting for people to move away from there. So I stayed at the picnic table we had staked out for stamping in and eating our lunch until the people who were in the area were obviously just going from one place to another, and then got back over there and waited for a couple of minutes for the area to clear and replaced the box.

When I returned to the area to replace the box, my 'boxing partner stayed behind with our gear (she is still somewhat disabled--long story), and it turns out that there were other boxers there who were talking on their cell phones, and she barely overhead them saying something about letterboxing and tried to shout to get their attention because she isn't in any condition to have moved quickly enough to actually stop them, but to no avail.

SOooo...I was talking about this earlier in the day when I saw so many people, and I've decided that I'm going to add a little placeholder thingy to my boxing gear. I'm thinking of making it out of a small block of wood covered with paper and clear tape, but large enough to say, "Pied Piper is at this site at this very moment, and has this letterbox. Please look for me at...." and then I'll keep a dry erase marker on me or something to write in my location every time. Or maybe I'll use a small slate and chalk. I'll have to keep thinking on this one, but will find something that will work in for my next excursion at least.

I just keep remembering how people were talking about what to do when they thought someone else was looking for a box, and I figured I'd put this idea out there for anyone else who wanted to avail themselves of it. The situation today wouldn't have made it easy to be able to figure out who was a boxer and who wasn't, and we wouldn't have even known that there were other boxers there except for the overheard phone conversation.

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I've decided that I'm going to add a little placeholder thingy to my boxing gear.

I think this is a great idea, especially if you box in popular areas. My boxes just got their second visitor in as many months, so I don't think I'll be needing it. I think it would be nice. If you can't stamp in near the hiding spot, you wouldn't want someone to think it's missing... PLUS you'll get the exchange! Probably wouldn't happen without telling folks you're there. I'll be excited to hear how well it works.

Amy

I think a paper coated with plastic with either a Vis a Vis marker or dry erase marker would be a great idea! I've been in this situation often, usually in very busy parks, or even on the CT blue trails on the first nice day of the season.

Thanks for the idea! I may just try this!

Music Woman

Pied Piper, You are a genius!
I have been in a few situations like this one (and am particularly paranoid about someone hunting the same box as we are and them getting frustrated when it isn't there because we currently had it...etc.) and I LOVE this idea! I think I might borrow it from you if you wouldn't mind. Very clever. Thank you for sharing.

AMEEBZ

I don't mean to burst your bubble, but I did something very similar to this back in September. I collected all three boxes of a freshly-planted three-box series and in each location I left a business card stating that I had the boxes and would be returning them shortly. As it turns out, the people I left the business cards were trailing my box replacement run by about five minutes...

What a great idea! Not only to notify other boxers that the box is there, but currently being stamped in, but to help find the hiding spot again after you're done!!

Isn't it amazing how the simplest ideas are often the best ideas?

Kudos

J

If you solve the two "Where's the box?" virtual letterboxes that I created, you'll see my version of what you do.

Instead of a dry erase or vis-a-vis, you might try a china marker -- it's a wax pencil of sorts that can be wiped off but is waterproof and will stay in place until you rub it off.

My "placeholders" (like the name you use) are laminated 3x5 cards. Check them out.

Good thinking,
Mama Cache

Fantastic Idea!!!


moonshowr * off to make my placeholder* :)

Last year after attending a Letterboxing event and causing a controversy because we were stamping into a letterbox nearby that everyone else was looking for and thought it had been stolen, we created our 'Please Wait' personal traveler. We leave it in place of the box we are stamping into and it says 'Letterboxing in Progress, please stamp into our personal traveler while you are waiting.' It contains its own stamp and logbook. It has been quite a success!
Mike and Elaine

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we created our 'Please Wait' personal traveler.

What a great idea!! I see a whole new catagory of letterboxes being created - if we may borrow your idea, that is...... ;-))

Mama Fox - in western NC - where only in one's wildest imagination would there be enough lb'ing traffic to need this - but for events........ ;-))

Same here Mama Fox. I wish there were enought LBer's to need this. Maybe someday I will get to an event and remember this idea.

Larva Lady/ZZ

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If you solve the two "Where's the box?" virtual letterboxes that I created, you'll see my version of what you do. My "placeholders" (like the name you use) are laminated 3x5 cards. Check them out.

These are great examples. I won't say too much, so other people can solve the clues, too.

SHenyd

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we were stamping into a letterbox nearby that everyone else was looking for and thought it had been stolen

What? And that upset you? Gosh, I've deliberately sneaked away with a box that I knew others were looking for just to cause a little mayhem and madness. Lots of fun! *nodding* =)

Of course, what comes around goes around. I've also played the victim as well. It's all fun, though.

-- Ryan

Solved one but not the other. Thought of several words but none fit properly.

LL/ZZ

The finders of my Hookman box on Sunday might have needed such a thing. I had three logged finds for the same day on that box! A new record for me...

Knit Wit

Hey! This is all because my sister-in-law was calling me to tell me that my box is missing! I have assisted in some else's great invention! Good job, Pied Piper!

Trouble Bug

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I don't mean to burst your bubble, but I did something very similar to this back in September. I collected all three boxes of a freshly-planted three-box series and in each location I left a business card stating that I had the boxes and would be returning them shortly. As it turns out, the people I left the business cards were trailing my box replacement run by about five minutes...

Not to worry, StarSAELS. I don't feel that you burst my bubble at all. I feel like you added another permutation to the whole thing--for one thing, this is a great way to advertise (sneaky you), and it kind of makes me have that happy feeling I get when I hear how different boxers come up with their own unique solution for the same situation. Because who knows? The business card solution (which is so elegant because it harks back to the original Dartmoor letterbox) may end up helping to spark another idea for another problem in the letterboxing world some day. So I'm glad you mentioned what you came up with.

As Mike and Sue would say, get out there and box!

Pied Piper

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What a great idea! Not only to notify other boxers that the box is there, but currently being stamped in, but to help find the hiding spot again after you're done!!

You know, I hadn't even thought about the aspect of finding the hiding spot again. But what came to mind when I was thinking about this was the way our elementary school librarian used to give us these large bookmark-shaped cards to place in between books when we were grabbing a book to look through to see if we wanted to check it out, and how it helped you to figure out where to put the book back. So it's like the idea was there, but I needed someone else who was perceptive enough to point out that this was another helpful aspect of the placeholder idea.

So kudos right back at ya, Jaxx!

PP

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Hey! This is all because my sister-in-law was calling me to tell me that my box is missing! I have assisted in some else's great invention! Good job, Pied Piper!

Trouble Bug

Yes, it was YOUR box. Isn't that funny? You'd only had it out for two days, and there was a run on it!

From a couple of replies, it is apparent this is an invention that just didn't get announced, but I'm not complaining. I think the more people who hear about this and choose to leave some kind of placeholder, the better. (Not that I am going to start writing "You're a bad letterboxer" citations or complain about those who don't use placeholders--I don't fancy myself a Letterboxing Police Officer.) I loved all of the solutions, but especially Mike and Elaine's traveler version. I'm not sure that I will go that route myself, at least not at first, but I figure that leaving *something* in place of the box is a good thing. And the china marker idea sounds ideal, Mama Cache--the problem of dry erase ink combined with moisture was worrying me, and I think I may even have one laying around (they get used in the publishing business, too.) I can't wait to check out your virtual boxes to see your exact solution.

I loved hearing about how some other people are handling this kind of problem--be they StarSAELS' business cards, Mama Cache's covered 3 x 5 index cards, or Mike and Elaine's "Please Wait" personal traveler. And I'm glad that even if I am not the original inventor that I could at least bring the idea out into the light of day so more people could come up with something of their own--heck, I may even benefit from it myself some day, when I find a placeholder instead of a box. It helps me in my quest to never add to the frustration of other boxers--except for the occasional cryptic clue, that is.

**rubs hands and laughs in evil glee**

Pied Piper

P.S. I ain't the Pied Piper for nothin'!

Excellent idea. I'll have to create something too! I picture a laminated card that you can place in the spot which you can write on with a dry erase marker. I'll watch for any other ideas, but thanks!

Travel'n Turtle

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the problem of dry erase ink combined with moisture was worrying me

I know of a woman who uses a dry erase board as part of a flamingo display. The rain and snow doesn't seem to bother the message, at all! The china marker is probably a better choice if you are planning to "hide" the placeholder, so that leaves and such wouldn't rub off the ink, but water doesn't effect it.

I have thought of this situation while searching for some of our (very few) finds. Though, I never really put enough thought into it to come up with a solution. You all have some great ideas! I may have to give one a try. With the warm weather right around the corner, I hope to give my F-count a good boost and maybe even plant a few too! :)

I am off to find the "Where's the Box" virtual!

Oooooh, now I really like that Idea! I'm gonna create me a PT just for that purpose. Sounlds like great fun to me.

Lady Loves to Travel

Very creative "placeholders"! :)

Mike and Elaine (WA) have a special PT letterbox that they put in the place of the box they are holding. The ONLY way to earn the PT is to find it while they're off stamping. Not only does it let the 2nd finder know a box isn't 'missing' but it gives them something to do while they wait! I love this idea, and hope someday to box about 5 minutes down trail from these local boxers!

~HP~

i like this idea and i may hafta borrow it from you guys! plus, it gives me another carving to do!

We just don't have enough activity in our area to ever run into that problem! It happened to us for the first time in 500+ boxes this past weekend in a town 3+ hours away from home. Ran into Bopp and TurtleSong on the trail!

Mama PHoenix was in the car with the 2 sleeping Phoenixes (is it Phoenixes? Phoenixii?) and noticed 2 women wandering around with a backpack and a folded sheet of paper and thought... hmmmm.... LETTERBOXERS!!!! Oh how excited we got!

Mama Phoenix

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We just don't have enough activity in our area to ever run into that problem!

Tell me about it! Most letterboxes I find haven't been found in a month. Some much longer.

You'd think, living in Florida, we'd be overrun with snowbirds that hunt down all our letterboxes every winter. After all, snowbirds are generally retired and have time for letterboxing, and many of them hail from NE where letterboxing is supposedly very, very popular. But other than Oldhounder and Siamese, I don't hear much about this going on.

Just the same, I may have to assemble one of those placeholder personal travellers just for my annual trips up north.

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Gosh, I've deliberately sneaked away with a box that I knew others were looking for just to cause a little mayhem and madness. Lots of fun!

On the other side of the equation, after a long and fruitless search, I've often been tempted to write a note and leave it in the spot where I'm absolutely sure the letterbox should have been: "No, you aren't crazy. I can't find the letterbox either, but I think this is the spot where it was planted." Of course, unless I put it in a plastic baggie and under a rock, it is just trash.