Missing Boxes

August 5th, 2008

I find lately that I am doing a lot of apologizing to people for missing boxes and quite frankly it is a little irritating. I plant letterboxes for people to enjoy. I spend my time breathing life into an idea, carving a stamp, finding a hiding spot, writing [hopefully creative] clues and maintaining my letterboxes. Despite my best efforts, boxes go missing. Although I follow up on missing box reports and keep the status of my boxes updated on the clues as best as I can (and still have a normal life where I work, eat, sleep, etc.), I am not usually able to immediately run out and replace missing boxes, nor do I feel that I owe it to anyone to do so.

When I note on my clues that a box is missing and will be replaced, this is my intention, but that is not to say that it will be next week, next month or even next year. I would consider the replacement of a missing box to be something I can do at my convenience, particularly if it is not near where I live.

So why do I get e-mails from people grumbling because such-and-such letterbox is missing and has not been replaced yet? And why an earth do I apologize to them for this?

Tagged:  Stray Thoughts

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9 Comments...

  1. by kate on August 5, 2008 at 3:31 pm  

    I sympathize with you.
    I have noticed in looking for boxes that sometimes the box is left barely concealed. We were glad we were the next finders because had we not been the box would surely have gone missing. It is my opinion that parents allow their children to “rehide” the box.
    Children generally “do not get it”, so putting it back where they found it is enough for them. I strongly suggest that parents allow their children to put the box back, but then check to make sure it is really hidden.

  2. by fleetwood7 on August 5, 2008 at 11:10 pm  

    suggest to them they need more oatmeal in their diet and they wont grumble so much and their blood pressure will go down. I do have to say i appreciate when a box goes missing that the owner says so and i wont bother going looking for it. Ive seen dozens of boxes here that havent been found in years and of course I wont set out for them if others have failed before me

  3. by missmoon on August 5, 2008 at 11:13 pm  

    So stop apologizing. Seriously. I recently had a conversation with someone about the surge in whining boxers of late.

  4. by Mouse on August 6, 2008 at 11:36 am  

    You do not have ot apologize. It is not your fault. They are just disappointed and are taking it out on you. Remember, Q-Tip = quit taking it personal.

  5. by Letterboxer on August 6, 2008 at 2:47 pm  

    Just a suggestion. If you change the status to “retired” then people may stop inquiring about when they will be available again. You could always change it back to “active” when you get around to replacing them. Your stamps are great so I can see why people are poking you to replace them asap.

  6. by Butterfly Jane on August 7, 2008 at 6:44 pm  

    Just a note, It irrates me when boxes are vandelized. I had to replace two this spring. One washed away. I feel like putting missing on the clue page should be enough. As you say, you put it back when you have time. What annoys me is when nobody bothers to say a box is missing. I realize sometimes I just haven’t found it. Those I suggest it might be missing and hopefully the person placing it will check, for the next person. I don’t put boxes out where I can’t check them fairly often. Unless they are HHs. Don’t let rude people bother you too much. Enjoy letterboxing for the nice letterboxers and ignore the others. There are also people who like to be spoilers.

  7. by springchick on August 8, 2008 at 5:54 am  

    Thanks for the comments! Mouse and Miss Moon, you are right — I need to not take it personally and just chalk it up to somebody’s bad day (or maybe lack of fiber in their diet, eh fleetwood7?). Easier said than done — anyone who has planted boxes knows how they are like your babies… Butterfly Jane, you have it right though, most of the people I’ve come across are great and one of the reasons I love letterboxing!

  8. by Judy Kline on October 5, 2008 at 6:37 pm  

    Spring Chick: We are new to letterboxing and have really enjoyed it. We have been to your box “Welcome to Michigan” several times and can not find it. I am sure that we are missing something in the clues. Can you please give me some advice on how to find this location? Can you add something to the clues or elaborate on them? I really want to find it, but my friend doesn’t want to waste gas, if the box is missing. Would appreciate any help that you could give me. Thank you Judy

  9. by springchick on December 8, 2009 at 9:13 am  

    Even though it is oft reported to be missing, the “Welcome to Michigan” box is safe and sound.

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