Good/Bad Internet and eBay Pin Sellers

[pixiewings71]

I got the pins from Angelajuly, they are perfect! No complaints at all. I won the auctions on a Thursday, paid on Friday and received them yesterday. Perfect!

[onnawufei]

I've bought a ridiculous amount of pins from sleepys_emporium and have only had one scrapper so far. I decided to go ahead and keep it since trying to return/exchange it would be more trouble than it was really worth. I have no intention of trading it though, so that's one out of rotation! It might be worth noting that I've never bought any of the lots of pins though.

I know sleepys is on the orange list (and rightfully so), but good feedback is always nice. I think.

[kohlby]

I admit that I haven't read all 100+ pages of this, so forgive me if it's been answered. I asked an amazon seller where they get their pins and was told that they can''t disclose this info. The pins were an Epcot set that appeared to be in the original packaging. If someone won't tell you how they obtained the pins, then it's a bad sign, right? Of course he told me they were official and that I wouldn't be disappointed. And it is a set, which I think is a good sign. But not knowing how he obtained the pins makes me uneasy.

So, even if you think the pins are legit, how do you go about knowing that they obtained the pins legally? If he had lied and told me that he bought them for a gift for someone and ended up not giving them, then I would have bought them. Someone who tries to sell illegally obtained pins wouldn't be above lying about where he got them.

Does that mean I'm limited to the Disney store for pins? Or do you have tips about how to buy pins knowing they were legally obtained and are real?

[trixiedixie]

I would see if I could find it on PinPics and see if its listed sometimes they will give a description of the fake pin. And at least if you find a good picture of the "good" pin you can carefully compare them. Is there mickey heads stamped on the back? If so they should not show a border. There is a good quick pamphlet on another site (I'm not sure I can post the link here) do a google on scrapper disney pin pictures and that should show sue rings to look at. Hope this helps!

[TeenaS]

Originally Posted by trixiedixie

I would see if I could find it on PinPics and see if its listed sometimes they will give a description of the fake pin. And at least if you find a good picture of the "good" pin you can carefully compare them. Is there mickey heads stamped on the back? If so they should not show a border. There is a good quick pamphlet on another site (I'm not sure I can post the link here) do a google on scrapper disney pin pictures and that should show sue rings to look at. Hope this helps!

I thought we found out here on our thread that the border thing does not mean it is a scrapper. Someone posted a while ago that they purchased pins at the pin store at Downtown Disney (vinylmation) and they had the "border" around the back. Also, three weeks ago we purchased a pack of 7 pins at one of the resort stores (Y&B). Someone posted somewhere that there had to be two little short pin post type things sticking out on either side of the long post where the pin backer goes. If there were not those two short posts, then it was a scrapper pin. Well, everyone of the 7 pins in the 7 pin pack we purchased ... none had the two little posts next to the post where the backer is attached. So short of the pin just feeling and looking bad (color, weight, etc.) I don't know for sure how to tell anymore if it is a scrapper or not.

[trixiedixie]

I know I had heard or seen that too. The way that quality has gone down I guess there is no absolutely sure way to tell. What I mentioned are indicators just like bad color, weight etc. But I have definitely seen scrappers with all the things I have mentioned. Before I knew better I ordered from a known scrapper seller then I found this thread. There were multiple copies of low le pins some had borders on the back and one was even a totally different color that it was supposed to be, another had chips on it. To make matters worse they were oily feeling and smelling.

[trixiedixie]

Signs of Scrappers
A lot of people post questions about how to identify scrappers, so here is a list of some common signs that you have a scrapper. Please post any additional thoughts you have. Also, please refer to the Good/Bad Internet and eBay Pin Sellers Thread to avoid buying scrappers to trade in the first place.

What we mean by Scrapper
Lighter weight
Off-coloration
Dimples in paint
Font on backstamp is different than legit pins
Rough edges
Holes that are cut out on legit pins are filled in with silver (check the picture on PinPics.com)
Inaccurate information on the back (check PinPics)
Official logo that is out of proportion (compare to a bought rack pin)
Oily smell
Backstamp crooked
If your pin has Mickey Heads stamped into the back the heads should go off the edges....if your pin has a "lip" around the edge it is a scrapper. (thanks pixiewings71)

This a copy from another thread that could be helpful. And is from folks that a lot more knowledgeable than I.

[WhitDisney]

Originally Posted by kohlby

If someone won't tell you how they obtained the pins, then it's a bad sign, right?...If he had lied and told me that he bought them for a gift for someone and ended up not giving them, then I would have bought them. Someone who tries to sell illegally obtained pins wouldn't be above lying about where he got them.

Does that mean I'm limited to the Disney store for pins? Or do you have tips about how to buy pins knowing they were legally obtained and are real?

We have had a little insight on this board. One seller mentioned using Disney rewards to buy theirs. Then some people here started asking if the reward cards were fakes. Another seller said they sell their boosters at a loss to try to run off the fake sellers and people questioned that as well. The sellers who won't say anything, well, my guess is they don't want to say a word because we'll bypass them if we find their source.

I'm sure he doesn't want to divulge because if he tells you he (just one example) got them on clearance in the stores in Orlando, then he figures you'll do the same and ruin his business. We got lucky during one trip to Florida and happened upon booster sets when we were in for bathing suits at a store called Bealls or Bells or something, I can't remember. The sets were $2.99! That was a good trip! I couldn't stop doing the happy dance.

These sellers know where to find the deals and buy them up. It isn't rocket science, just knowledge and timing.

[trixiedixie]

Originally Posted by pixiewings71

I went to pinpics and found this.....follow the link, scroll down to the size note and see what it says. It's very possible your pins are legit, sometimes there are color and size variations in some pins, especially sets like these that are mainly used for trading.

Here's the one for just the Donald pin...
http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=55783.N&sid=
Here's the one for the full set.......
http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=54768

I have bought individual pins and recently trades from this seller before. I don't think that she is selling scrapper, fakes, unauthorized etc. She might be a CM who is able to buy them at a discount? I received several packages of pins very similar to the ones that are posted. If they are not authentic they are absolutely superb fakes. And if the scrappers are getting good enough to fake packaging, labels and get that close to the quality then we're all in trouble.

[gis]

Originally Posted by WhitDisney

These sellers know where to find the deals and buy them up. It isn't rocket science, just knowledge and timing.

I hear you for sure. I definitely know that I've seen legitimate pins that are going for $4.95 but then I see them being sold individually on ebay for $20. It makes me a little sad.. but I guess when there's money to be made, people are going to do it.

[artesian]

i really had no idea about this until i saw a thread on the budget board today. can anyone suggest me a seller that sells lots and are safe. gone through a bunch on the green list and only see singles

[pixiewings71]

Originally Posted by artesian

i really had no idea about this until i saw a thread on the budget board today. can anyone suggest me a seller that sells lots and are safe. gone through a bunch on the green list and only see singles

The green list hasn't been updated for some time, the thread owner is very busy and isn't able to keep up with it like he did when it was first started. I posted above that I had purchased some sets from angelajuly and was very happy with what I paid and what I got, she doesn't sell lots but she does sell sets and the sets I got were great.

[mom2ohc]

I have bought pins from Lewvegas, - they were good looking to me.

ALso from ed_the_disney_dude - they were good looking to me
also from Kittykat2bad, they were good.

disneypinsandvinylmation also good
bigdon45 - probably not real
and domimgod - definately not real

[frogsandflowers]

we bought a lot on ebay and just got them today.. the copyrights on the back of the pins are ALL spelled wrong MICKEY was spelled MIKEY little mermaid was spelled lille mermaid a bunch of others are spelled wrong as well!

not a happy mama

the pins were purchased from disneyfamily801

[shellymo]

Originally Posted by frogsandflowers

we bought a lot on ebay and just got them today.. the copyrights on the back of the pins are ALL spelled wrong MICKEY was spelled MIKEY little mermaid was spelled lille mermaid a bunch of others are spelled wrong as well!

not a happy mama

the pins were purchased from disneyfamily801

I bought 2 lots from them and they were all fake. I learned by reading on the boards to ask ebay for your money back and tell them they are trying to sell fake pins that are copyrighted. I got my money back and the shipping I paid then left negative feedback. Hope this helps you and others!