What is the difference and when to use them. There are so many explanations here that I don't know where to start.
Needs Maintenance creates an attribute on the cache. You can filter those out when you run a PQ. That way caches that may have trouble you can automatically skip. It lets the owner know there is trouble. Some reviewers check those regularly. They don't let me know automatically. When things are slow I can do a PQ like you and find them and go through them.
A Needs Archived sends a note directly to the reviewer. I get those and usually look at them instantly. If you have a number of Needs Maintenance and/or Needs Archived flags, over a reasonable amount of time, you may not get a warning. Other cachers are policing you and telling you there is a problem, go fix it. I may leave you a note if it is appropriate, or disable the cache and send you a note. Time to go look at them.
Well hopefully this puts me at the end of my mass review process before winter starts rolling in. Thanks to everyone. A few sent me messages of troubled caches in their area, and some pointed out caches with issues. I sent notice out to hundreds of caches that had been disabled over 4-6 weeks. About 1/3 were archived or repaired in a few days time. Many others posted notes letting me know what their plans were for repairing a cache. I figure there are a few that are on vacation, and have not had a chance to post anything.
Thank you for fixing issues, and taking pride in your caches. Good luck and keep on caching.
Someone asked me why I was doing a push for maintenance right now. It is pretty simple really. We have Geocoinfest coming up, we don't want to have a ton of empty/lost caches around for them to deal with, and second there is winter coming on. Once October/November hits, there will be no ability to reach some of the caches, and the desire to go out in the cold keeps others from being checked.
The result is bombing you now, rather then in the middle of winter when we can do nothing about them. So expect to be hit with a quick note if you have a cache that is under the weather, or missing for some time. I am trying to sort out the Difficulty 5 caches, so that they don't get flagged. Many times people look for a few minutes and leave and say they looked. That is the purpose of those caches. You may get a note, please respond, or just to a quick check to see if it is still there. People like to know they are looking for something, and that it has not fallen out of the tree and rolled into the storm drain.
Well I am trying to skim through 14000 caches as fast as I can. I had set a goal to get it done by mid month. I am doing a quick look for problem caches. Caches that appear to be missing. I don't look to hard or evaluate 10+ DNF if the difficulty is high. But most the others just get ignored and I wanted to flag them so people can go and check on them before the snow flies.
If you get the message, don't panic. You can post a note saying that you are going to get to it in 3-4 weeks. I would like some info that you are checking on it. If someone has flagged your cache as "Needs archived" that is almost like me letting you know. If you have not logged on in 6+ months and I see a Needs Archived I may let it go away. I always give you time. Time to get home from your vacation and let me know that you are going to go out. Just throw a note up.
On the outside chance that it gets archived. Let me know soon. As soon as it is up and running and as long as it meets current listing requirements I will unarchive it. Some people swoop on the sites, so let me know what you are doing so I do not publish a new cache there. As allways let me know the GC code for the cache you are communicating to me.