Would you be pleased with this batch of pins?

[Nissi]

We have decided to try pin collecting and/or trading on our November trip to WDW. We have no pins, so we looked to eBay to start our collection. These were $1.10 each with free shipping. AND THEY CAME TODAY! :cool1: All have the Mickey back and are guaranteed to be 100% tradable. The seller's feedback is perfect, so I believe him.

So..here is our very first batch of pins that were selected randomly. Would you say this is nice start? Are these "good" pins? I certainly like the majority of them.

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy347/nissi2911/trisjorndisneypins003.jpg

[Piglet4Ever]

I like them, if fact I wish I had that Donald one:thumbsup2 I have collected pins for a few yrs now but just tried trading for the first time this past Nov. Watch out it's addicting!! :lmao:

[magicaldisney]

Do the back of the pins have a Mickey head with "official pin trading" and a date inside the head? Also they should have the trademark sign with "Disney" on them.

If they have these, you have a great start at a great price!!!

[disneysophie]

Great... And Some of them even have "hidden mickeys"!!!

[Melpuff]

Hey looks like you got them from the same person I did! (:

I got 10 for that price sent right to me at the POP a month ago. It was so much fun trading with the cast members! It was funny because even some of the ones I thought were dumb some people got really excited over!

[The Princess]

Can you pm me the info so I can order some?

[asianway]

They look like scrappers to me. You need to compare the weight and color with legit ones and use pinpics as a guide as well. Most people selling hidden mickeys for $1 are selling fakes.

[pwmitch237]

They look like scrappers to me. You need to compare the weight and color with legit ones and use pinpics as a guide as well. Most people selling hidden mickeys for $1 are selling fakes.

Ditto. And also the one with a parking tram is a Disneyland "pin."

[bishop1989]

If you are happy with them then they are good pins. When you begin trading look for a theme or interest and trade the ones you have for those. Look for cast members and trade for the ones you want. Like a favorite character, parking and transportation themes, etc. Have fun and good job.

[robinb]

Sorry, but no I wouldn't be pleased. Sadly, I think that these are mostly "scrappers". See this thread to learn more about scrappers and legitimate sellers on eBay:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2213419


According to PinPics, at least half of your pins are probably scrappers.

For instance, the first pin the Mickey Stage pin is probably a scrapper:
http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=35553&sid=7474.1273983301

The buzz one is probably OK:
http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=69836&sid=7486.1273983469

Cowboy pooh is probably a scrapper:
http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=39075&sid=7495.1273983527

I can't find the Donald with the beach ball pin.

The Chip and Dale Tiki is probably a scrapper:
http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=62498&sid=7554.1273984138

Max the Deer is probably OK:
http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=75109&sid=7559.1273984252

The Pirate Donald Rubber Ducky may be a scrapper since it's a "completer" pin:
http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=62714&sid=7560.1273984313

The tram pin may be a scrapper:
http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=36551&sid=7572.1273984488


The "Scoop Sanderson" Mickey may be OK, but the colors don't look right to me:
http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=75139&sid=7618.1273985206

Chip and Dale on the motorcar is probably a scrapper:
http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=35567&sid=7636.1273985586

So ... I think you got yourself a selection of scrapper pins. Once I read about scrappers I tried my best to avoid them. It's up to you if you want to go ahead and trade those pins or not. If you don't, you're only out about $15 for the education.

[bishop1989]

People are in it for the joy of trading. You don't make money by trading, just the opposite. The only way to truly be sure is to buy from WDW or DL on site otherwise be careful and have fun with your pins. Thanks for the "education" but again people trade for the enjoyment and I'll try and avoid the knockoff t-shirts also.

[stitch34]

Yep, looks like many of the same pins I got a few weeks ago, probably the same seller.
and yes, all scrapers mine were. Just much lighter than regular pins and I find sometimes they are dull, missing shine to them.

[lucysmom]

Wow! I thought those pins were so cute! What makes a pin a scrapper?:flower3:

[magicaldisney]

Thanks fellow DISers for piping in on this. As I was one of the first to respond to this thread I was trying to be very delicate with my response in case I was mistaken, but as soon as I saw the Pooh, I thought oh boy, that doesn't look right.

To the OP. If you are just collecting pins for a personal collection, it really doesn't matter if you have scrappers or not. If you only wanting them for trading, you might run into some problems. It's hit and miss for trading. Some CMs make sure to check to see if they are official trading pins and some never check. If you run into one that checks, they will not except the scrappers. Just and FYI, you can buy the Disney backs anywhere in Disney as well as online and when they say they are guaranteed tradeable, that basically means you can trade them with anyone who will trade with you. What you are looking for are "official pins" which you will know by the back stamps that I mentioned in my original response to you.

[tallen429]

I just wanted to add that IMO going by the back of the pin isn't really accurate. I've ended up with a couple scrappers and they all have the year and "offical" stamps on the back...I can still tell they are scrappers. I think it's easier to base it on the weight and the color. Especially look at eyes. You will often notice that on a scrapper, the eyes aren't colored in or are not the right color when you check it against pinpics. Lips too...
HTH!

[kmvand1]

They look like scrappers to me. You need to compare the weight and color with legit ones and use pinpics as a guide as well. Most people selling hidden mickeys for $1 are selling fakes.

We bought some off of EBay last year that look very similar. I think we paid $100.00 for almost 100 pins and we were disapointed to say the least. We normally don't collect pins like the ones that were sent to us. We like the ride and attraction pins and the pins with the year on them. We have decided from now on, we will only purchase pins from Disneyworld.

[magicaldisney]

I just wanted to add that IMO going by the back of the pin isn't really accurate.

Agreed, but it is a place to start!! :thumbsup2

[Dorisk3]

You will be able to trade those pins just as the ebay seller stated, they are going to fit your purpose for buying them. To the scrapper police- they are metal objects worth about .25, get over yourselves.

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this to our collectors board.

[Luv2Roam]

When it comes to buying pins, the only guarantee I know you are not buying a scrapper is to buy it direct from Disney.
On the other hand I think people have gotten scrapper paranoid. But that is not to say there are not an awful lot of them out there. I would guess on many of the cast lanyards in the parks, half + are scrappers, thanks a lot to Ebay. (JMHO)
As a rule of thumb with pins, you get what you pay for.
And I agree that many park pins are overpriced. Hence this issue was created.
If I bought those pins for my personal collection, I would be fine with that. I would not buy from Ebay for traders.
Gotta consider the lanyards are only as good as what pins guests trade on to them.
At least the scrappers are generally better than the crap Spain pins people use to trade on to them.
Yes, they may be a piece of metal worth 25 cents. However that is not what people are paying.

[robinb]

You will be able to trade those pins just as the ebay seller stated, they are going to fit your purpose for buying them. To the scrapper police- they are metal objects worth about .25, get over yourselves.I guess this was aimed at me since I brought up that the lot was full of scrappers. Nice. And if you feel that *I* am the "scrapper police" just wait until the people who are really passionate about scrappers join the thread :rotfl2:.

Gotta consider the lanyards are only as good as what pins guests trade on to them. {snip} Yes, they may be a piece of metal worth 25 cents. However that is not what people are paying.
No, they're not. And that is the problem with scrappers is that they victimize the innocent people who buy pins at $6 and more to trade and the lanyards are filled with 25-cent garbage. Garbage that is there from unwitting eBay buyers like the OP and eBay "pros" that trade scrappers for real pins that they then resell.

I trade because it's fun but I also don't want to stick someone with complete junk along the way. It doesn't take a lot of effort to find legitimate pins at a reasonable price that are not all scrappers. You'll pay more than $1 per pin, but less than $6.

[Luv2Roam]

The cost of making the pins has been debated and guessed at. It probably costs more than people think. But many just say they are 25 cents worth of metal. And that may or may not be true.
However "real" pins can cost $7 up to $17 or so.
And that is why we see so many scrappers. People generally don't want to pay that.
But they don't "really" care they are passing on pins they paid a buck for on Ebay that are questionable. Seems that always goes on as other's responsibilities. (I am only buying for - fill in the blank - so don't want to pay much. Like the rest of us do? :confused3 )
However their cheap stuff is passed on. And consider a good many people do that, rather than what was intended: buy a pin, trade a pin. Not buy a scrapper from Ebay in hopes of getting a true Disney pin from a CM trade.
Honestly, a real collector would not actually expect to see something decent on a cast lanyard. Esp now a days. Sure that rare occasion happens. But they are rare, esp when not getting a scrapper is rare. (Thank you Ebay. :sad2: :snooty: )
But like anything else, a collection should be done for fun. When people think they can make a profit, then there are issues, such as what we have now. (And not with just scrappers.)

[magicaldisney]

To the scrapper police- they are metal objects worth about .25, get over yourselves.

I don't think that was a necessary comment.....unless of course you're the ebay seller she got the pins from. :sad2:

[Spiffie]

You will be able to trade those pins just as the ebay seller stated, they are going to fit your purpose for buying them. To the scrapper police- they are metal objects worth about .25, get over yourselves.

People that knowingly purchase and trade scrappers are thiefs. So if you enjoy lying, deceiving and stealing, then I guess it is right up your alley. You are a joke and maybe YOU need to get over YOURSELF!

[Nissi]

Oh my! I suppose I have a lot to learn.:confused3 I thought maybe my cost-saving skills would help us to start an afforable hobby...but it looks like I'll have to go into this a lil deeper. I will definitely check out pinpics tonight after all kiddies are tucked safe and soundly in their beds/firetrucks/cribs. Thanks to all who took the time to respond to my post. I appreciate especially the poster who sent links for each pin.

[Nissi]

p.s. they all say Official Disney Pin Trading whatever on the back with the year and a logo..they all say CHINA (no surprise there) and they are all pretty light in weight...I wonder. Each one says either Hidden Mickey, Cast Lanyard Series, etc. and give the number in the series, such as 1 of 4.

[Cardsfann18]

Whoa Dorisk3, you need to cool down. My question is, why do you care what we think about scrappers. We don't want to trade scrappers in the parks because we don't want to add on to what is already there. Just think, you could trade a scrapper to a CM, then a little kid comes along and trades for it. If that doesn't make you feel low, I don't know what would.:sad2:

[Dorisk3]

I guess let me just say how we trade our pins. We do buy from ebay, and like the OP I really have no idea how the dealers obtain their pins and from what source (it would be funny however if their source was actually Disney). I fully realize that pins are a piece of metal with a character on them. My kids like certain characters, they trade for those. If my kid trades for a scrapper, will I be upset? Of course not. I would not take the fun out of it for them by putting some kind of perceived value on the pin. Look on ebay for single pins. You buy them at the disney gift store for 7 or 10 dollars or whatever, you get them there for 3 or 4 dollars. They are hardly a big budget collectible. That is why I don't understand the fury over scrappers.

[Cardsfann18]

I see your point, I'm sorry for blowing up on you like that man.:thumbsup2

[Dorisk3]

I see your point, I'm sorry for blowing up on you like that man.:thumbsup2

No need! Actually this has been a fun discussion for me because it really makes you think about the nature of collecting and collectibles. I am playing devil's advocate, and I do understand why anyone collecting anything wants it to be the real deal. All argument aside, I do wonder where the dealers on ebay do get their stuff from- there used to only be a few that did the lot deals and now it seems there are so many.

[robinb]

I guess let me just say how we trade our pins. We do buy from ebay, and like the OP I really have no idea how the dealers obtain their pins and from what source (it would be funny however if their source was actually Disney). I fully realize that pins are a piece of metal with a character on them. My kids like certain characters, they trade for those. If my kid trades for a scrapper, will I be upset? Of course not. I would not take the fun out of it for them by putting some kind of perceived value on the pin. Look on ebay for single pins. You buy them at the disney gift store for 7 or 10 dollars or whatever, you get them there for 3 or 4 dollars. They are hardly a big budget collectible. That is why I don't understand the fury over scrappers.

According to PinPics:
http://www.dizpins.com/pinventory/scrappers.htm

Scrappers are pins that were made in the factories in China over the allotment made by Disney. Are they a Disney pin? Yes they are.. but they are pins over and above the allotment "ordered" by Disney. So in essence, they could be called illegally made Disney Pins. Sometimes when the "second illegal run" of the pin is done, there are differences noted, but it can only be known comparing two pins side by side. These pins can also be classified as counterfeits.

Also, if the pin is made for Disney, and there is some error or variation noted, the pin may be "thrown on the floor" to be "discarded". Thus, the term "scrapper", as the pin should have been "scrapped". Unfortunately, they are not discarded and those may be the pins you are seeing being sold. When a pin is made, a mold is used. For whatever reason, the mold is not destroyed, so these pins can be reproduced again. What is happening, is that some overseas factories are making more pins for individuals who ask for them.

The scrapper pins come from unscrupulous Chinese manufacturer which sell to unscrupulous pin sellers on eBay who sell to innocent pin buyers trying to save some money on "traders" for their hobby/fun. More and more eBay sellers have found the source for the cheap scrapper/counterfeit pins and that is why there are more people selling them. They don't care if they are legitimate or not ... all they care about is the money from the sale. I have no problem saving money on pins that will simply be traded, but I do have a problem with encouraging and participating in an illegal scheme that ends up with an inferior product.

The extra effort and the slightly higher price to but from a more reputable pin seller is worth it to me. Even though I am going to just trade them away and probably get a scrapper in return.

FWIW, Even at $3 per pin if you buy 100 pins that's hardly a low budget collectible.

[Luv2Roam]

There is a "pin" listed on Pinpics that I would LOVE to know the true origin. I suspect it is a bootleg. (In this case they took a Cast lanyard and made it into a pin. But it looks like it was manufactured that way. Not converted, as some have done.)
I know two people who bought one on Ebay. Both sellers were asked where/how they rec'd theirs. Neither could recall.
This happened quite awhile ago too. But to give them benefit of a doubt, the sellers sell a lot of pins. But this pin was not in mass quantity/lots of the same pin, like many sellers do.
I do not know anyone who has seen this particular pin in existence, and no one has heard of it. And it's not one many people would even care about. :confused3 (I do have the lanyard.)

There are some scrappers that are obvious they are scrappers. Some, I have no idea how someone has determined it is a scrapper.
I have pins that are what I consider defective. And it makes me wonder if someone would determine it is a scrapper merely because bad or no coloring that I am guessing passed through the pre-manufacturing approval.

[tnhillbilly]

Hello, not wanting to “stir the pot” :stir: but to supply a source of information. Below is a link to a site, for those that are interested in learning more about “scrappers”. I also purchased a “lot of 100 pins” off the bay when my son and I started this hobby; I only wish is had been educated before doing so.

http://dizpinsboards.*********/forums/4

lets see if I can post it in parts. just put the 3 lines together and it should work, if anyone is interested.

http://dizpinsboards.
yuku
.com/forums/4

[Spiffie]

There is a "pin" listed on Pinpics that I would LOVE to know the true origin. I suspect it is a bootleg. (In this case they took a Cast lanyard and made it into a pin. But it looks like it was manufactured that way. Not converted, as some have done.)
I know two people who bought one on Ebay. Both sellers were asked where/how they rec'd theirs. Neither could recall.
This happened quite awhile ago too. But to give them benefit of a doubt, the sellers sell a lot of pins. But this pin was not in mass quantity/lots of the same pin, like many sellers do.
I do not know anyone who has seen this particular pin in existence, and no one has heard of it. And it's not one many people would even care about. :confused3 (I do have the lanyard.)

There are some scrappers that are obvious they are scrappers. Some, I have no idea how someone has determined it is a scrapper.
I have pins that are what I consider defective. And it makes me wonder if someone would determine it is a scrapper merely because bad or no coloring that I am guessing passed through the pre-manufacturing approval.

Could you provide the Pinpics number to the pin you are referring to?

Hello, not wanting to “stir the pot” but to supply a source of information. Below is a link to a site, for those that are interested in learning more about “scrappers”. I also purchased a “lot of 100 pins” off the bay when my son and I started this hobby; I only wish is had been educated before doing so.

http://dizpinsboards.*********/forums/4

Your link did not work.

[robinb]

Your link did not work.
The DIS software "filters" some website names including that of of a popular site that offers forums and groups.

[Poohbug]

If you buy a pin with the card back, does that mean that pin is from Disney?

It is hard to keep up with all the scrapper pins out there. I think I will just buy the sets from Disney to avoid the hassle. If you buy a trader set usually pins are around $5/each which is not to bad.

My biggest questions is why does Disney keep giving these companies their business when they make scrappers and sell them on the side?

[rastuso]

We're prepareing for our Orlando trip next month, and I just ordered 100 pins off ebay for $75 shipped. They are scrappers, I'm quite sure.

BUT, the cold hard facts are that CM lanyard pins are probably 80% scrappers. We went last October and had bought 30 pins off ebay. After getting them we realized they were scrappers. I was a bit concerned that they would be untradable. After seeing 2 CM lanyards, those fears were gone. I saw tons of the same pins on them. It took my son looking at MANY lanyards to find ones he wanted, but he loved doing it. It's a MUST for this visit. And I would be a total fool to buy real Disney pins at $7 each for my son to trade for scrappers on lanyards.

Disney has let this get so far out of hand that the scrapper police are right, but simple don't matter. If you plan on trading with CMs, you better buy scrappers on ebay before your trip, because I guarantee you that you are going to return home with scrappers. If you are willing to lose $6 minimum on each of your child's pin trades, "be my guest".

Disney makes so much profit off pins, and just buying a damn lanyard and medal make up for many scrapper pin trades. And I'm sure my son will buy a few real pins on the trip too, so Disney is still printing money for pins. A pin trader must be smart in what they trade and to who.

I've dabbled in pins. Hell, I have the Master Gracy lenticular from the first HHB that I got at the event. But even some seriously LE pins at events have errors on them. So saying scrappers have errors is irrelevant.

If you have the money to buy all your kids pins, get real Disney ones, if that's important to you. If your kid is going to trade, you get them off ebay one way or another. It's simply your decision how much you pay for them.

And if you see a unique pin, or multi level one on a CM, GRAB IT. Someone will be trading a scrapper for it, it may as well be you.

-RO

[ccgirl]

I guess let me just say how we trade our pins. We do buy from ebay, and like the OP I really have no idea how the dealers obtain their pins and from what source (it would be funny however if their source was actually Disney). I fully realize that pins are a piece of metal with a character on them. My kids like certain characters, they trade for those. If my kid trades for a scrapper, will I be upset? Of course not. I would not take the fun out of it for them by putting some kind of perceived value on the pin. Look on ebay for single pins. You buy them at the disney gift store for 7 or 10 dollars or whatever, you get them there for 3 or 4 dollars. They are hardly a big budget collectible. That is why I don't understand the fury over scrappers.

Then there are people like me who buy legitimate pins. We are honest and pay full price. My DD then trades her authorized pin for one on your child's lanyard which is a complete fake. Yes, that would make me upset.

[Spiffie]

We're prepareing for our Orlando trip next month, and I just ordered 100 pins off ebay for $75 shipped. They are scrappers, I'm quite sure.

BUT, the cold hard facts are that CM lanyard pins are probably 80% scrappers. We went last October and had bought 30 pins off ebay. After getting them we realized they were scrappers. I was a bit concerned that they would be untradable. After seeing 2 CM lanyards, those fears were gone. I saw tons of the same pins on them. It took my son looking at MANY lanyards to find ones he wanted, but he loved doing it. It's a MUST for this visit. And I would be a total fool to buy real Disney pins at $7 each for my son to trade for scrappers on lanyards.

Disney has let this get so far out of hand that the scrapper police are right, but simple don't matter. If you plan on trading with CMs, you better buy scrappers on ebay before your trip, because I guarantee you that you are going to return home with scrappers. If you are willing to lose $6 minimum on each of your child's pin trades, "be my guest".

Disney makes so much profit off pins, and just buying a damn lanyard and medal make up for many scrapper pin trades. And I'm sure my son will buy a few real pins on the trip too, so Disney is still printing money for pins. A pin trader must be smart in what they trade and to who.

I've dabbled in pins. Hell, I have the Master Gracy lenticular from the first HHB that I got at the event. But even some seriously LE pins at events have errors on them. So saying scrappers have errors is irrelevant.

If you have the money to buy all your kids pins, get real Disney ones, if that's important to you. If your kid is going to trade, you get them off ebay one way or another. It's simply your decision how much you pay for them.

And if you see a unique pin, or multi level one on a CM, GRAB IT. Someone will be trading a scrapper for it, it may as well be you.

-RO

Nice, real nice!:mad:

I am going to WDW next month, too. I hope that I am not in the likes of your company when trading!

[pixiewings71]

We're prepareing for our Orlando trip next month, and I just ordered 100 pins off ebay for $75 shipped. They are scrappers, I'm quite sure.

BUT, the cold hard facts are that CM lanyard pins are probably 80% scrappers. We went last October and had bought 30 pins off ebay. After getting them we realized they were scrappers. I was a bit concerned that they would be untradable. After seeing 2 CM lanyards, those fears were gone. I saw tons of the same pins on them. It took my son looking at MANY lanyards to find ones he wanted, but he loved doing it. It's a MUST for this visit. And I would be a total fool to buy real Disney pins at $7 each for my son to trade for scrappers on lanyards.

Disney has let this get so far out of hand that the scrapper police are right, but simple don't matter. If you plan on trading with CMs, you better buy scrappers on ebay before your trip, because I guarantee you that you are going to return home with scrappers. If you are willing to lose $6 minimum on each of your child's pin trades, "be my guest".

Disney makes so much profit off pins, and just buying a damn lanyard and medal make up for many scrapper pin trades. And I'm sure my son will buy a few real pins on the trip too, so Disney is still printing money for pins. A pin trader must be smart in what they trade and to who.

I've dabbled in pins. Hell, I have the Master Gracy lenticular from the first HHB that I got at the event. But even some seriously LE pins at events have errors on them. So saying scrappers have errors is irrelevant.

If you have the money to buy all your kids pins, get real Disney ones, if that's important to you. If your kid is going to trade, you get them off ebay one way or another. It's simply your decision how much you pay for them.

And if you see a unique pin, or multi level one on a CM, GRAB IT. Someone will be trading a scrapper for it, it may as well be you.

-RO

Ya this is a great first post...thanks for not helping to stop the scrappers but instead trading them away when you knew they were scrappers..... :confused3:sad2:

If you don't have the money to pay full price then don't pin trade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm with ccgirl, and yes it makes me upset....

[robinb]

Please don't feed the troll.

[rastuso]

You folks just don't get it. Look on ebay. There are tens of thousands of pins for sale that are all scrappers. CM lanyards are full of them. Do you really think a few scrapper police on an internet board are going to change that? Pin trading with CMs is going to get you scrappers, PERIOD. Trading real pins with CMs is just plain stupid.

You need to accept that. If you want to trade, trade with individuals in the parks, or at pin stores. I'm sure all those individuals are 100% trustworthy.

The cat is out of the bag, has eaten the bag, defecated it out, and that has fertilized the earth as far as scrappers in pin trading.

The only way it will change is by a hardcore refusal of CMs to trade with little kids whose parents unwittingly/wittingly bought them some cheap pins on ebay to trade.

Yeah, that'll happen real soon.

-RO

[livvylivvie]

I am sooo Looking forward to our family VaCa at Disney. And I was looking forward to pin trading.... now I am a little worried... We bought some pins last year at down town Disney... Now I am not sure i want my son to trade them.... :(

[rastuso]

If you have a smartphone, you can check each pin via pinpics, to validate them before the trade. [/sarcasm]

Or, you can buy a lot off ebay for him to trade.

Regardless, any pins he trades will most likely be scrappers. He won't care, so it's up to you how much money you wish to spend on the scrappers he'll come home with, and treasure.

-RO

[touy_story_man]

Youve got some high quality pins there. I like the donald one and i have the chip and dale one where they are tikis.

If you plan on doing some hardcore trading, you might want to buy more, depending on how long you are there and how many people plan on trading

[pixiewings71]

I am sooo Looking forward to our family VaCa at Disney. And I was looking forward to pin trading.... now I am a little worried... We bought some pins last year at down town Disney... Now I am not sure i want my son to trade them.... :(

Hi Livvy, please don't listen to the "advice" of someone who posted after you, it is simply very very BAD advice. Instead please use the link in my sig to find some information on eBay sellers who are selling legit product at very good prices. :)

[touy_story_man]

Please don't feed the troll.

Best Line Ever.

I agree 100%:thumbsup2

[cpdwiz]

I guess let me just say how we trade our pins. We do buy from ebay, and like the OP I really have no idea how the dealers obtain their pins and from what source (it would be funny however if their source was actually Disney). I fully realize that pins are a piece of metal with a character on them. My kids like certain characters, they trade for those. If my kid trades for a scrapper, will I be upset? Of course not. I would not take the fun out of it for them by putting some kind of perceived value on the pin. Look on ebay for single pins. You buy them at the disney gift store for 7 or 10 dollars or whatever, you get them there for 3 or 4 dollars. They are hardly a big budget collectible. That is why I don't understand the fury over scrappers.

TO me, I could care less if I BOUGHT a scrapper for my collection. I would not be happy if the seller did not say what it was, but, for a buck, oh well. THAT being said, I would NOT trade my scrapper to a CM for a "real" pin. To me, thats wrong. Its fraud and why stick someone else with my lesson learned.

We ONLY buy our pins from WDW. And, if we trade, we purchase pins at the world and trade them. We do not buy lots of off ebay, because, well, frankly, anyone who does not think that 100 pins for $100 or less are fake is not firing on all cylinders. If you enjoy them, know they are scrappers, then keep them. Don't pass them along to a true collector, or some newbie person who wants to start collecting.

[cpdwiz]

We're prepareing for our Orlando trip next month, and I just ordered 100 pins off ebay for $75 shipped. They are scrappers, I'm quite sure.

BUT, the cold hard facts are that CM lanyard pins are probably 80% scrappers. We went last October and had bought 30 pins off ebay. After getting them we realized they were scrappers. I was a bit concerned that they would be untradable. After seeing 2 CM lanyards, those fears were gone. I saw tons of the same pins on them. It took my son looking at MANY lanyards to find ones he wanted, but he loved doing it. It's a MUST for this visit. And I would be a total fool to buy real Disney pins at $7 each for my son to trade for scrappers on lanyards.

Disney has let this get so far out of hand that the scrapper police are right, but simple don't matter. If you plan on trading with CMs, you better buy scrappers on ebay before your trip, because I guarantee you that you are going to return home with scrappers. If you are willing to lose $6 minimum on each of your child's pin trades, "be my guest".

Disney makes so much profit off pins, and just buying a damn lanyard and medal make up for many scrapper pin trades. And I'm sure my son will buy a few real pins on the trip too, so Disney is still printing money for pins. A pin trader must be smart in what they trade and to who.

I've dabbled in pins. Hell, I have the Master Gracy lenticular from the first HHB that I got at the event. But even some seriously LE pins at events have errors on them. So saying scrappers have errors is irrelevant.

If you have the money to buy all your kids pins, get real Disney ones, if that's important to you. If your kid is going to trade, you get them off ebay one way or another. It's simply your decision how much you pay for them.

And if you see a unique pin, or multi level one on a CM, GRAB IT. Someone will be trading a scrapper for it, it may as well be you.

-RO
:sad2:
Thats the wrong attitude, and if people like you continue to knowingly fraud the whole process, it will go away.

[rastuso]

Scrapper pins have been on lanyards for years now, and nothing's changed. When Disney is making 5-600% profit on the pins they do sell, they'll just keep doing what they're doing.

As I said, the fact my son does the trading has made him want real pins too. I think Disney looks at the scrappers and CM lanyards as the free, or reduced price, first hit on the drug that is pin trading. When you want the second, better hit, you'll pay $12 for a slider pin they made for $1.50.

Everyone's happy.

-RO

[stinkerbell]

If you want real Disney discounted pins consider making the trip to the Disney Outlet stores near WDW. Both the Prime Outlet (near Universal) and Premium Outlet (near Disney) have Disney Outlets that sell real park pins at good discounts. Last spring they were selling pins for 99 cents and they make great traders! Even when they arent having the 99 cent sale, their pins are quite a bit cheaper than in the parks. As an avid pin collector and trader, this is the only way I gets traders for the parks. I dont trust Ebay....just too many counterfeit and scrapper pins get sold there.

Rastusos comment makes me sick....its sad that there are people out there that are only contributing to the problem of garbage pins on Disney lanyards.

[K8T]

I am really interested to read this thread and some of the comments on it.

I am new to trading, we bought our daughter a Lanyard and some pins on a recent cruise on the Magic. The pins cost quite a lot to buy, we did get some free pins (the Ten ones), each time we purchased, but she was really into trading, loving the Chip & Dales, Plutos - well animals really.

I also bought 11 pins on ebay, which having read through various posts, believe that 8 or 9 are Scrappers. I chose the person because they don't sell huge lots and also sell individual pins, but obviously this wasn't any guarantee and I didn't see the legit ebay sellers on here.

I also looked through her Lanyard, at the pins we traded and am sad to see that many of them are Scrappers too (it took ages to go through pinpics!!!). So having started with 20 or so 'real' pins (we purchased), we have half of that in Scrappers!!:confused:

Now I don't know what to do, I feel 'let down' that our lovely pins, we paid so much for have gone and we technially have rubbish in its place, She wants to trade (but has no idea what she is looking at, just likes 'characters') so what do I do? Buy real pins and just keep watching our money disappear onto the Lanyards of those that know what they are doing, or trade the ones on ebay and relax about it?

I know it isn't just about the money - she has a lot of fun with it, but it does hurt my pocket and I don't like to feel I have been 'done', or as we say in the UK 'stitched up like a Kipper'!!!

My instinct is as this pins have flooded the market and people are buying on ebay all the time, just let her trade the scrappers and have fun.


Kate

I w

[TARAMEOW]

I just bought 25 pins on ebay by an approved seller via the disboard list. I dont have them yet but I am afraid they are scrappers because the seller said traded for in the parks.... so how do you know:confused3 If the ones you are getting from CMs are scappers what can you do about it?

[stinkerbell]

I just bought 25 pins on ebay by an approved seller via the disboard list. I dont have them yet but I am afraid they are scrappers because the seller said traded for in the parks.... so how do you know:confused3 If the ones you are getting from CMs are scappers what can you do about it?

It doesnt matter if a person is an approved seller or not...you dont know....thats why buying pins on Ebay is so risky.
Pin Pics is a great resource for looking up pins you get off of cast members. Often times I have come across scrappers or counterfeit pin on CM's...which is frustrating (especially when reading that people are dilberately putting garbage pins on CM lanyards). But when that happens I usually end up keeping the pin (and using them for craft projects) or tossing it. Which is why I never trade expensive pins, only those I have purchased at a discount at the Disney Outlets and are real Disney pins. I dont want to contribute to the problem or take away the fun of pin trading for others.

[quandrea]

I'm new to pin trading too. When we were down last month I bought some mystery pins to use as traders. I didn't get any scrappers in return. I have the bug now. Last week I ordered a whole bag of scrappers of ebay. Returned them and got my money back. This week I ordered from a recommended seller and am awaiting a second order. Bought small HM sets that I liked. Got some other sets that I don't care for as much to use as traders. Hopefully these ones are better. Reading all this, I wonder if my mystery box approach is better. The ebay thing is beginning to seem unseemly. It's a shame that something as innocent as trading character pins as such an underbelly. Kind of turns me off. My daughter had a ball trading last time--really brought her out of herself. Again, the whole thing seems tainted now.:confused3

[Daisy14'sDH]

I dunno about you guys but when I spend $8-$12 on a pin at Disney, It isnt a trader, I paid that much for the pin because I liked it! hy would you spend that muxh on something you like then trade it away for something thats wither questionable in its authenticity or something else that you like. Why not just buy the pins you like and keep them?
I just dont understand the trading philosophy unless its for a finacial gain its a meaningless transsaction! You spent all that time at a shop looking at all the pins selecting the ones you like to give them away? I dunno...

I do a lot of trading in softball gear, I make a trade for one of two reasons.

1) I got a bat thats sucks and want a better one

2) Someone has offered me sa bat of greater value in exchange for one I have in my possession thats of lesser value.

I just don't trade a $300 bat for something inferior, its non-sensical in anyway! Which brings me back to my point, why would I trade a pin unleess there was something to gain?

Now a question for sll the xo called scrapper police who only buy pins at the park.

Why do you trade a pin that you painstingly searched for in one of the pinshops?

Don't flame me for this post please. If it makes you angry tell me why in a rational way just as I presented my analogy. No I dont buy scrappers on ebay to trade, I buy pins I like and squeeze em like precious gemstones! :)

[pixiewings71]

I don't pay that much for traders, I pay $5 and under for traders but with 4 people trading that can add up quickly. I do buy traders on eBay and I sell pins on eBay too, but some pins you are unable to buy (unless it's a mystery pack and then you get extras) so you have to trade for them.