Any tips for a newbie?

[Kteacher]

My DD and I just started collecting the pins on our trip last April. we're going again this April. Any and all tips for some neophyte pin traders would be appreciated!

[Simba's Mom]

I've only got a couple little tips, because I'm not much more than a newbie myself. The biggest tip I just learned is that once you have a pin you don't think you want to trade away, leave it at home or at your hotel. Otherwise you could quite easily make the mistake this inexperienced trader did-get so caught up in the fun of trading, you get back home and realize that "Hey, I just traded away that pin I really liked and didn't want to trade!" I recently traded away a pin I didn't want to trade away but I was having so much fun in the moment. No big deal-it was a rack pin and I can easily just buy another on my next trip. But it's the idea. Also, pick out a theme you want to collect. Otherwise, there are thousands of pins and it's probably physically impossible to accumulate them all. But it won't be long before you try-it is addicting!

[Kteacher]

Thanks! I hate to sound so ignorant of the whole process, but we are really new at this. My DD has one pin which several CM told her was very valuable-it is a simple Mickey, but it is done in a brass like metal. I guess we'll leave that one at home!