CM wanted to trade his lanyard series for more expensive pin

[Feelin' Goofy]

We were at the WDW about 3 weeks ago and my DS got very interested in pin trading. We had did some reading on the subject and was trying to trade with a CM on the monorail platform when DS asked CM about his lanyard series pin the Cm said that he wanted a limited edition pin that DS had on his lanyard to keep for his personal collection and then he pulled out a small bag that had several lanyard series in it. Now it was to my understanding that they had to trade for what you wanted to give and what he was doing was not allowed. Needless to say I did not let him trade and even if I had let him he would not because it even looked like a scam to him and he is only 10.

[disneyboysmousehouse]

From what I have learned/heard from various CM's, they are not allowed to make "personal" trades while in costume and on duty. Disney pin trading rules say that a CM must trade with a guest as long as they do not have a similar pin on their lanyard and the pin you are trading them is a registered/copyrighted Disney pin.

Sounds like you made the right decision by not trading, as what he was attempting to do was a Disney trading "no no".

Happy trading....Disneyboy

[Feelin' Goofy]

Thanks for the quick response now should I report this CM as I do not want to let him try to burn others or forget about it and know what to look for in the future?

[disneyboysmousehouse]

I am not sure what Disney would do to a CM breaking pin trading policy. I'd hate to see someone lose their job, over such a small issue. Personally, I would chalk what happened up to experience and let it go. The longer you and your son trade, the more pin savvy you'll become. Remember, there are lots and lots of great traders out there.

Check out my list of pin traders and wants on PinPics under:
disneyboysmousehouse. Perhaps we have something of interest to each other.

Happy trading. Your pin pal....Disneyboy

[Eeyore's Pal]

If you ask a CM to trade for a pin from his lanyard, while in costume, he must trade for any acceptable Disney pin that is not a duplicate of what is already on his lanyard.

Not being a CM, I do not know what the official policy is about <i>personal</i> trades while in costume. I have seen <i>many</i> CMs make personal trades while in costume. In every case that I have seen, and been close enough to hear, the CM made it clear that he was asking for a <i>personal</i> trade. I have often seen the CM ask the guest to step away from a crowd in order to complete the trade, and make it more inobtrusive.

<i>In my opinion</i>, this is no big deal. I think it is less confusing to newbie traders or kids than the fact that a CM may <i>wear</i> a personal pin on his costume, which he is not obligated to trade.

If anything, I think allowing CMs to wear personal pins, and make the occasional personal trade, <b>reinforces the idea</b> that pintrading is a fun hobby in which all types of people are engaged. :D

But I'm sure you'll all beat me with your pinbags for having such a cynical and naive opinion. :rolleyes:

[we3luvdisney]

Goofy,

Sounds like you met the same person I traded with this past September. I was on the monorail platform and ask to see his (CM) lanyard. I saw a pin on his lanyard and asked to make a trade. I gave him a 2000 pin, which was not a duplicate of any pins on his lanyard. He told me that he could not trade because he already had that pin on his lanyard. I corrected him and indicated that he had some that were similiar, but not identical. He told me that, "I needed to read the rules." I told him that I have read the rules and he needed to trade with me because I had a tradable pin, which was not like any other pins on his lanyard. He made the trade, but I could tell that he was not too happy.

[Feelin' Goofy]

I'll not beat you with my pinbag - I was just to the understanding that the lanyard series pins were given for the reason of public trading - not person gain and this is what this CM was doing in hiding them till he saw a pin he wanted. I will have to say that these boards and a few web sights are my sole sources of info on pins and I have not seen any official Disney rules on this subject. If some can give me a link I would very much like to look at this.

[BeautyLLM]

Here is a link to the Disney pin trading guidlines:

Official Disney Pin Trading Ettiquette (http://disney.go.com/eventservices/howtopintrade.pdf)

It doesn't state anything about CM trading for personal collection while on stage, but I was under the impression that this was unacceptable.

If you feel the need to voice a complaint, do so. I sent a letter recently to several WDW execs after a friend was treated horribly by a CM. They responded within a couple of weeks, and although they would not tell me what specific action would be taken against the CM (and what she did was much worse than an unfair pin trade), they did say that they needed to hear the complaint in order to take action on it. I doubt very much that the CM you came in contact with committed a fireable offense, but a CM is a representative of The Disney Company and as such should not try to take advantage of a child.

I hope this experience doesn't sour you on pin trading with cast members. I have found most of them to be friendly and enthusiastic about pin trading.

[Bamabot]

We had three different incidents on our last trip the first of October with pin trading that made me step back and wonder about if I had employees acting this way what I would do.

First Incident: OKW bus arrival at the Hospitality House, early morning rush (this is what I justified as the cause of the CM's attitude) we had just arrive the nite before and my 10 yr. old DD asked this CM to see her pins, the CM asked my DD "Can't you see that I'm busy" my DD patiently waited then the CM turned away from her so we approached her again once we decided she was no longer busy and my DD ask to trade. The CM asked DD "what do you have to trade then the CM complained that she would never be able to get rid of that one. I asked the CM if the pins on her lanyard were her personal pins she of course said no. I asked her was pin trading then a part of her job. She turned her back to me and never answered. I have never in the last ten years seen a CM act the way she acted. I said something to the OKW management. I also was sent a survey and repeated my complaint in it.

Second Incident: CM at MGM we asked to trade and she asked for a specific pin on my daughter's lanyard we did not want to trade so she then produced several CM lanyard series pins out of her costume pocket and offered one of those for the specific pin. Not a problem because we wanted Lanyard pins. Just have never had a CM to say I'll trade you this one for that one.

Third incident: CM in gift shop of OKW same thing every night when we would get off the bus he would approach us and ask to trade with us for a specific pin and produce pins out of his pocket. He did claim he was looking for certain pins for different guests. Maybe?

I though these incidents were odd and of course one was down right rude.

I hate to see Disney tighten down on the rules with the CM because most of the CM have gone above and beyond when my daughter asked to see the lanyards. We have even had times especially when it's a manager that would just give her pins.

[buggin']

About your first experience...that happens SO much now. It shows that happened to you, an out of towner, just like it happens to the locals. CM's are RUDE now, more & more to a lot of guests. I hate it...it diminishes the affect that everyone is under when they go to WdW.

JMHO

Buggin'
Amber

[JudithM]

I am sorry you encountered rude CMs, but I am glad you let management know. I encountered a rude CM twice last year at the Studios - same CM. First incident was Mother's Day weekend & the second one was in August. If it had not been the same CM, I might have thought they were isolated issues. When I talked to a Guest Relations CM I got the distinct impression that I was not the first guest to comment about this CM.


Originally posted by Bamabot
Third incident: CM in gift shop of OKW same thing every night when we would get off the bus he would approach us and ask to trade with us for a specific pin and produce pins out of his pocket. He did claim he was looking for certain pins for different guests. Maybe?

I suspect I know which CM in the OKW store you described. From my experience as a pin collector & as a DVC owner, he has been very helpful in both his knowledge & his efforts. He is VERY guest service oriented.

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Is it just me, or do those first two instances Bamabot describes sounds like the CMs are trying to take advantage of a child? In the first one, rudeness is inexcusable, but rudeness to a 10 yr old (and especially at WDW) is even worse. Her saying "what do you have to trade" makes it about her wants, and not about your DD. (see, I did remember something from Scoop's seminar :teeth: ) In the second, the CM should not have asked for a specific pin. My guess is they wanted your DD's pin for themselves.

I can understand CMs getting jaded with pin trading, especially when dealing with sharks frequently, but that's no excuse for them to treat unsuspecting pin traders rudely because of the actions of a small percentage.

I'll admit DW Lauri and I have made personal trades with CMs. It was like Robyn described -- it was clear it was a personal trade, and usually was done off to the side where others wouldn't notice or we would arrange to meet later. Should it be allowed? I don't know. Part of me says no, so that less knowledgable guests aren't taken advantage of by unethical CMs; part of me says yes, because (as with pin traders) CMs are by and large wonderful and helpful and it may be a way for a guest to get a CM pin they might not otherwise get. It's probably something that's fairly low on management's radar to watch out for that they aren't going to worry about it unless they receive a lot of complaints about it.

[PatMcDuck]

The only odd thing I noticed in August was that the CMs would often NOT put the pin I gave them on their lanyards. They would replace the pin that I took from them with one from their pocket, or from a drawer. And the pins I gave them would disappear. This happened several times. Why? I always bring down "fun" pins to trade with CMs, like the NYC NYPD, FDNY, Minnie Lady Liberty, and Broadway show pins from New York City. I am a total nut who likes to set up a fun trade for the next guest who looks at the lanyard. So these CMs, who want the pins for themselves, sort of spoil my fun, in a way! (I am a CM, and get these pins pretty cheap, esp. when they did that buy one get one sale last year)

[n2mm]

The monorail pin trader guy is still there. We were there last week and he was pulling out the lanyard with the lanyard pins, offering guest 2 for any one LE1500 trick or treat pin. He also had a book of NAME pins and was offering 2 of them also (they are .25 at property control). I also find it strange that he's allowed to do personal pin trading while on duty. He is very open about this and all of his co-workers watch this go on. When not working, he can usually be found at downtown disney trading. I think it's great that CMs can keep the ever popular lanyard pins in their pocket to put on when they want. If they didn't, us guest would probably never see them, because they would be wiped clean very quickly by the professionals.

[Eeyore's Pal]

1. In reference to my earlier post on this thread....I was definitely <b>NOT</b> referring to this type of CM personal trading while on duty. I do not want to be misunderstood. This guy's actions seem totally different than the CM example I used. It certainly sounds like this guy is using lanyard pins -- that he has access to as a CM -- and using those to trade, <i>discrimanately</i>, to acquire valuable pins for his personal collection, while on stage. If this is true, he must be breaking a whole bunch of rules, in addition to being an overall <i>slimebag.</i> :eek: Just my <i>revised</i> opionion. :rolleyes:

2. What is a "NAME" pin?

[n2mm]

Robyn, name pins are the WDW pins with people's names on them that you can buy, but are not tradeable. This is the older version that is being sold to CMs at their store and no longer available (a newer version is out now). We saw them at the CM tent sale for a quarter last week.

[Eeyore's Pal]

OK. I thought that might be it. I did notice the new name pins when we were at the event in September. Of course they never have Rob<b>Y</b>n. :(

[OfficerChipmunk]

Cast Members <b>can not</b> trade personal pins when in costume. If they are wearing a lanyard and a nametag or costume the <b>must</b> trade with you. You can trade up to 2 pins at one time with the same cast member as long as:
*It is a Disney pin (I believe the DL says it has to have a character on it)
*The CM doesn't have the same pin on his/her lanyard
*It isn't a piece of jewelry
*The pin doesn't have a name or someone's picture on it
*And it isn't one of the huge light up 100 years pins.
<br>
Some CMs will say that they will only trade one pin with an adult so they will have something for kids to trade with. I normally let those people go. Otherwise if you have a problem I suggest doing something about it. If the CM has a card attatched to the lanyard with the trading logo on it, turn it over and review with them the guidlines. Those cards do have the CM rules on them.
<br>
Also CMs are not allowed to even wear their own pins. Unfortunatly many CMs think that the pins that Disney gave them to trade with guests are their own. They are not. They are company property and the CMs can be fired for stealing them. (I have heard of this happening once.)
<br>
If you have a problem I suggest going to that CM's manager. Don't go to Guest Relations, because word will never get anywhere where something can be done about it.
<br>
Feelin' Goofy, In your case I suggest calling or writing a letter to WDW. I don't know the complaint line's email address off hand, but I can try to get it for you. If you are going to snail mail it try addressing it to someone like Lee Cockrell (sp?) Sometimes if he or one of the other higher ups are aware of situations like this things get done.
<br>
I hope that helps. If not find me at DtD and I'll see if I can have someone from Security have a talk with that person.
Becky

[mrstay]

I am familiar with the pins I can purchase at the DS. Our trip is still about 2 1/2 months away and I have purchased many of them. I noticed the term "lanyard pin", how are those different from the other pins?

[Eeyore's Pal]

Hi, Tammy!

"Lanyard" pins are a specific group of pins that have only been released to CM lanyards at WDW. They are not available for sale anywhere on Disney property. So you can only get them by trading with a CM who happens to have these "lanyard" series pins on their trading lanyard.

There have been about eight series in this group, with about 10-12 pins per series. The last series was just released to CM lanyards last week at WDW. It is believed that this is the final series of this group too.

If you visit www.pinpics.com, on the navigation bar on the left, choose "pin groups." From the next screen, scroll down the list until you find WDW lanyard series, and select it. You will get to see just about all of these pins that have been released to date. I think only the newest series is not yet in the database.

Hope this helps.

[Feelin' Goofy]

If you can get the complaint line's email address I would appreciate it if you posted this as it sounds that this CM is still there and tring to take advantage of people. I did write his name down or at least the name that was on the CM name tag (I do know that sometimes CM's forget their nametags and borrow from others).

Thanks

[3kids4me]

As an aside, I noticed that during our trip to WDW last week, not one CM on any of the monorail platforms was wearing a lanyard. I was wondering if perhaps they no longer give them the opportunity to wear them. I specifically noticed it because I had read the OP's post prior to going.

As another aside..Robyn, is Laurel a big town? I dated a guy from Laurel in college.

[Eeyore's Pal]

Sharon --

Laurel is a "city" of about 17,000, but really just part of the sprawling Washington, DC suburbs. The city sits on the junction of three Maryland counties: Prince Georges, Anne Arundel, and Howard. So it is kind of spread out.

But here's the oddest part. I don't actually live in the "city" of Laurel. I believe the city limits are completely east of I-95. We live in this forgotten chunk of land, west of I-95. Same zip code; totally different community.

BTW, what was Snow White's reaction to your son's comment about Prince Charming "stepping out?" ;)

[3kids4me]

Hi Robyn,

That's pretty big. Our town has 7,000 people in it!

Snow White pretended she wasn't listening...I think sort of the same way she pretended not to know what the heck Rachel was talking about when Rachel asked her what her "real" name was. (She just looked at her with a confused expression and said "It's Snow White!!")

[Buzz2001]

When I was there over Halloween week, I saw a older CM with a pin book at the platform at MK. I was on my quest for surprise Halloween pins so I wasn't able to see what he was up to. I thought Disney was doing something new. I didn't know it was his personal collection.

[Luv2Roam]

My experience has been the opposite, and I think with the same CM on separate trips, months apart. (Deja vu experience. ;) )
The CM was in uniform, wanted to do a personal trade, and made sure I knew it was a personal trade.
It took a short wait, but he went back stage and came out with LE's to trade for rack DS pins! So I did a 2:1 and we were both happy. :)
The DS pins really do go over big at WDW, from my experience. (Lucky for me. :jester: )
I have met the nicest CM's and made some of my best trades when I am not looking for a chest full of pins. I figure it must be fate. ;)
But I hate to think CM's do as described above, as I think acts like that only give pin trading a bad rap and could add more (unfollowed) rules, policies and procedures for all.
Hopefully someone will report it, Disney will investigate, and put a stop to it.