Why are pins so cheap on Ebay?

[ReneeQ]

Okay, I know this is a stupid question, but I couldn't find the answer anywhere. When the pin lots on Ebay are going for an average of $3 or less a pin, how is the seller making any money? How is the seller getting the pins so cheap, that they are still making a profit? I have always wondered about this.

[Cheshire Figment]

Often a promotion ends with thousands of leftover pins. For example, Disney and/or Kodak apparently overestimated the number of pins they would be giving away during 2004 when certain items were bought and they had several thousand left over. Rather than throw them away, they decided to salvage what they could and sold them practically as scrap metal. Let's say someone bought 5,000 of these for $2,500 or 50¢ per pin. They can then bundle them in lots of ten pins and start the bidding at $25 and make a large amount of money that way. Of course, it floods the lanyards with tons of 2004 Kodak pins, but they don't care.

[I'mNoPrince]

I also heard they unload a bunch for the CM's to purchase as well when they have just regular discontinues.

[mamacatnv]

Often a promotion ends with thousands of leftover pins. For example, Disney and/or Kodak apparently overestimated the number of pins they would be giving away during 2004 when certain items were bought and they had several thousand left over. Rather than throw them away, they decided to salvage what they could and sold them practically as scrap metal. Let's say someone bought 5,000 of these for $2,500 or 50¢ per pin. They can then bundle them in lots of ten pins and start the bidding at $25 and make a large amount of money that way. Of course, it floods the lanyards with tons of 2004 Kodak pins, but they don't care.
The problem is you keep seeing all the same pins which makes them difficult to trade, plus it lowers the quality of the traders on the CM's lanyards.

I have been picking up pins on ebay for my kids to trade. I am buying in small (under 10 pcs) lots and try to stick with LE's or CM's. I have been paying between $3.50 - $4.25 per pin.

Tonight I spread them all out for the first time since I started obtaining them for the kids this summer. I have 82, not one is the same nor are they some of the more common pins that pop up in the "lots" often on ebay.

[LynniethePooh]

Some of the 10 pin and 20 pin lots that have all different pins are people like me, who just need money. Although I originally bought the pins for $6 and up, they won't sell at that, so I have to take a loss, but at this point, I just need any money, so I settle for the $2-$3 a pin. :sad2:

I guess the happy piece I can take from this is that hopefully someone who is going to the Parks to trade will have a magical Disney experience! :goodvibes

[NHMickey]

I agree, I too have way to many pins that don't trade well or I just don't trade as much so I will just sell them to recoup some of my money.... Better than them just sitting in a draw.