Kevin...Why did you stop Pin Trading? Do You Still Have Your Collection?

[WaltD4Me]

Kevin...I'm too curious. (i.e. nosey) if you don't mind, why did you stop pin collecting/trading?

I'm not a crazed pin collector, I have a nice collection, that I love, but I never got into getting the sets or all the Limited Editions and all that. I just buy ones that I love and mean something, resorts we've stayed at, events we've gone too (Flower and Garden ones, party ones, ect...) if you have that
"collector gene" though, pins are great because they don't take up much room. I say this because I am a re-formed crazed teddy bear collector and they took up ALOT of room. I have them all mostly stored now, but I can't quite bear (no pun intended!) to get rid of them. So, I'm also wondering if you still have your collection? Or were able to part with it?

 

[DisneyKevin]

I stopped trading due to the commerialization of pin trading.

It stopped being fun when all anyone wanted to talk about was "what the pin would get on Ebay".

I also started pin trading with some very specific desires and got most of the stuff I wanted, which was extremely difficult to find.

I love the old Disney World logo. It was the squarish D with the Mickey globe in the center. I decided early on that I wanted the stuff with that logo.

I eventually acquired the Host, Hostess, Tour Guide and Ambassador Cast Member pins. The Ambassador pin took 4 years to find. These are the pins that the Guest Services people wore from 1971 until the late 80s. I also wanted a Guest Services Cast Vest with the Magic Kingdom buttons and finally got that as well.

These pins along with some other early Cast Member recognition pins have been professionally framed on that vest and hang in our hallway.

I sold off a lot of the rest of the collection.

Hope that answers the question.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Very interesting .... I know just want logo you are talking about, I have even heard tell of the Ambassador pin you speak of. I bet the framed display you did is amazing.

I know just what you mean about the commercialization and ebay thing taking the fun out of it. Same thing happened with teddy bears too believe it or not. It became almost impossible to find some pieces because all people wanted to do was buy them up to put them on ebay. It's almost sad what ebay has done to collecting.

Anyway, thanks for satisfying my curiosity!

 

[simonkodousek]

Kevin, I love pin trading but I too think that it is becoming very homogenized and unfortunately has changed from it's original, and more individual, way just over the past 5 years.

If you don't mind, I'd love to see a picture of the vest with the pins...

 

[catycatcat4]

I love pins but i dont care what there worth realy i just wanna know how hard they are to get


There are sertin pins i like like pins of the epcot spaceship earth

Right now im trying to get the bus pins so far i have 2

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Me and my Wife love collecting pins. We could care less what they are worth. It takes all the fun out of it if you are always wondering what they are worth.

 

[aaronmckie]

Me and my Wife love collecting pins. We could care less what they are worth. It takes all the fun out of it if you are always wondering what they are worth.

Completely agree with ya, the wife and I are the same way

 

[catycatcat4]

All the fake pins are annoying as hell.

 

[Dismom+two]

Kevin...I have a pin question...

Back some time ago I was in Disney with a group of high school kids and we did the YES program. We went behind the scenes at AK. As part of it, we got a pin that says BACKSTAGE SAFARI. I understand they do not do this particular tour anymore...do you think this pin is worth something??

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Kevin...I have a pin question...

Back some time ago I was in Disney with a group of high school kids and we did the YES program. We went behind the scenes at AK. As part of it, we got a pin that says BACKSTAGE SAFARI. I understand they do not do this particular tour anymore...do you think this pin is worth something??

I stopped trading due to the commerialization of pin trading.

It stopped being fun when all anyone wanted to talk about was "what the pin would get on Ebay".

 

[Launchpad11B]

I was thinking the same thing!

 

[gr8leg8]

Thanks for sharing the story of your pin display.

I love the comment about the collecting gene.
I've sure got it. My dad had it big time.

We are new to pin trading.
My favorite part of pin trading is watching my shy daughter strike up a conversation with a CM.
She turns into chatty cathy. It fantastic to watch.

I also love talking to her about what pins she likes and why.

 

[Dismom+two]

I am not planning on putting it on ebay....I was just curious about it. That pin was my very first one and have no intention of getting rid of it.

AS A MATTER OF FACT....my dh was the teacher in charge of this trip so he has gotten a couple of extras. My dd has one...I have one and I GAVE one to a little girl a couple of years ago at a park that had asked if I would trade with her. I told her that as far as I knew..you can only get this one doing the backstage tour. She walked away beaming.

I am not in the business of making money on ebay...but thanks anyway!!

 

[DisneyKevin]

ack some time ago I was in Disney with a group of high school kids and we did the YES program. We went behind the scenes at AK. As part of it, we got a pin that says BACKSTAGE SAFARI. I understand they do not do this particular tour anymore...do you think this pin is worth something??

I have been out of pin trading for quite a while and have no idea as to the monetary value of any given pin.

Based on what you have said, your pin seems to have a vaule to you and as you are not looking to sell it, I would judge it's worth based on that.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I am not planning on putting it on ebay....I was just curious about it. That pin was my very first one and have no intention of getting rid of it.

AS A MATTER OF FACT....my dh was the teacher in charge of this trip so he has gotten a couple of extras. My dd has one...I have one and I GAVE one to a little girl a couple of years ago at a park that had asked if I would trade with her. I told her that as far as I knew..you can only get this one doing the backstage tour. She walked away beaming.

I am not in the business of making money on ebay...but thanks anyway!!

Gee, I like making money on eBay, personally. It did seem by your question that you were looking to figure out the MONETARY value of the pin, which could be determined by looking on eBay and seeing what they're fetching. I have sold pins that have no personal value to me on eBay, as well as YOAMD Mickey Ears, so I don't judge people who do sell on eBay...how could I?

Just thought it was amusing that you were apparently asking Kevin, who made the quoted statement, about the monetary value. You have responded by describing the personal value. Please don't take offense...I was making no personal judgments about your intent. Simply quoting and winky-smiling.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Based on what you have said, your pin seems to have a vaule to you and as you are not looking to sell it, I would judge it's worth based on that.

Great answer. I have an old Wishes pin with Jiminy Cricket on it, I'd never sell it because I love it and it always makes me smile.

 

[Dismom+two]

I have been out of pin trading for quite a while and have no idea as to the monetary value of any given pin.

Based on what you have said, your pin seems to have a vaule to you and as you are not looking to sell it, I would judge it's worth based on that.

Thank you Kevin....that makes sense! It does have a lot of personal value to me!

Gee, I like making money on eBay, personally. It did seem by your question that you were looking to figure out the MONETARY value of the pin, which could be determined by looking on eBay and seeing what they're fetching. I have sold pins that have no personal value to me on eBay, as well as YOAMD Mickey Ears, so I don't judge people who do sell on eBay...how could I?

Just thought it was amusing that you were apparently asking Kevin, who made the quoted statement, about the monetary value. You have responded by describing the personal value. Please don't take offense...I was making no personal judgments about your intent. Simply quoting and winky-smiling.

Sorry if I seem to jump on you about your reply....I guess I did take it the wrong way. I guess if I had really READ all of the posts better I wouldn't have asked Kevin such a dumb question when he clearly said that is why he doesn't pin trade anymore!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Ebay is a good way of determining real value. After all, things are only worth what people are willing to pay for them.

When I was collecting teddy bears, the books and collector's guides would say the value was such-such, but I always went to ebay to see what people were actually paying. Sometimes it was more than the book listed, sometimes less. The books were good to use if you were looking to insure your collection though.

I have a really old mohair George Burns bear complete with big glasses and a cigar, I know he is worth alot but I could never sell him, to me he's priceless.

 

[robind]

WaltD4Me - you sound like me. I too, collect pins that represent things I've done and rides I love. I think my favorite is the one I got at DL Paris -

I never thought I'd get to go there and while I didn't have a very long trip, (it was just a day trip on a weekend) I really loved it. It was a beautiful park.

 

[catycatcat4]

Ebay is a good way of determining real value. After all, things are only worth what people are willing to pay for them.

How much its worth to you works better its intresting to know what you can get for it but it would take hundreds of dollors to get my bus pins off of me when they are easlie found for 10