A guilt trip over a pin

[Swamp_Fox]

This had slipped my mind up until now, but I think this should be discussed. On my last trip to WDW I was making a trade (one of many) at MK with a CM everything was perfect in fact I used some of the trading tips that I had picked up at one of Scoop's Pin Talks. After pleasentries were exchanged I pulled out a grumpy head pin (from the video series) for a Pooh pin from Tokyo. The next few moments simply blew me away the CM looked at my pin and said Oh boy just what I wanted another one of these pins at first I thought he was joking but he wasn't he then said go into your pin book and pick a better one. At that point the trade was over for me. I said have a good day and walked away.

has anyone else ever have this problem?

Larry

 

[Simba's Mom]

How sad for you! That's why I only trade with CM's-they've never refused or seem disappointed in a trade! As a matter of fact, on my last visit, I had a CM in AK do something I thought was really nice. I was desperately looking for any FIgment pins. When I asked to see her lanyard, I expressed my disappointment, "Oh, no Figment pins. I know that those are going to be really hard to find." As soon as I said that, she pulled out of her pocket a pretty hard-to-find Figment pin that she had. At first I refused it, because I knew how hard it was to get and I didn't feel I had anything comparable to trade. But she insisted I take it. So I told her that the least I could do was let her pick any one off my lanyard that she wanted. And yet, once again, she insisted I pick the one for her. So thanks to this very nice CM, I got a wonderful pin.

 

[Buzz2001]

One man's opinion but I think those dwarf pins should be banned for traders.

On my last trip in May, I had a long talk with one of the CM's in the candy store on Main Street. She expressed her feelings for the folks that come in everyday to look for the lanyard pins and offer those seven dwarf pins. Many CM's, she told me, hide good pins in there pocket or behind the counter to trade with folks that are not the everyday folks (sharks). Whether it's right or wrong I am not here to argue, I'm just passing on what she said. When I told here I was looking for a Pixie Power (new at the time), she ask me what I had to trade. When I showed her, she went in the back and came out with one for me.

Another situation occured at the store in Toontown. I was searching for lanyard pins my whole trip but this was the mother load. I went to the back where they sell the cotton candy to get some for my daughter. I notice the 2 CM'sa had lanyards on so I had to ask to see them. These 2 CM's asked again what I had to trade. When I showed them, they went in the back and came out with a bag full of lanyard pins. I traded 11 pins with them and was on my way.

This happened to me 2 more times, once with a CM from CSR who brought in pins for me from home to trade and one CM in the Pepper Market was I was able to get pin 8524.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

The thing about those Dwarf head pins is that there is ALWAYS one that is hard to find on lanyards. I think when I was down for SSE, a CM said they hadn't seen any Grumpy pins. Sure enough, I didn't see any when I was lanyard trading.

Larry, was that CM that told you to pick a better pin from your book an on-duty CM and you were trading from his work lanyard? If so, I'd have walked away and found a manager, because they are not supposed to refuse any trade unless it's for a pin that duplicates something on their lanyard.

Personally, I liked what a manager I ran into at MGM did. She had a lanyard pin on her lanyard wrapped in paper that said "trivia question" and would trade it after asking the guest a trivia question. It wasn't an impossible trivia question and she did give me a hint after my first answer was wrong, but I thought it was a nice way of making the lanyard trades interesting.

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

Originally posted by Obi-Wan Pinobi
She had a lanyard pin on her lanyard wrapped in paper that said "trivia question" and would trade it after asking the guest a trivia question.

You met a woman with a lanyard wrapped in paper? You mean kind of like a fish at the fish market? Did the lanyard smell like fish? I don't care how cool the pin is, if it stinks like Charlie the Tuna, I am walking away. Of course the next thing you are going to tell me is that there was a Cast Member right next to the fish lady and she had a lanyard stored in a Mayonaise jar and you couldn't trade with her unless you first traded for the tuna lanyard. Bytheway, how do you tuna lanyard? Is it the same as how you tuna fish, by playing its scales? You my friend are a strange pin trader. But in your defense, I bet you had other traders eating off your lanyard that way.

Jeff

 

[BeautyLLM]

On the subject of trading with CM's, if they would all follow the same set of rules, I don't think there would be any complaints. My understanding is that they are not supposed to have duplicates on their lanyards, but yet the majority of them accept duplicates for trade. The CM's that I met who had more than two lanyard series pins told me that they were only allowed to trade 2 per guest, but Mario told a story of have traded for 11 of them! That was quite a coup for Mario, but what about the next non-sharky guest who comes along?? Just wish they would abide by one set of rules for everyone.....

JMHO

 

[n2mm]

While at a Scoop seminar this past trip (a week ago) Scoop pointed to the dwarf heads on a child's lanyard and told everyone there to get rid of them. Trade them off of your lanyards and don't collect them. He said it would save everyone some disappointment because it's nearly impossible to collection all seven. My grandson took note and decided to collect the full body dwarfs (the new ones). He managed to find six and on our last day we bought him his Bashful that he was missing. I was surprised by Scoop's candor, but was glad to hear someone speak up. I could have told my grandson the same thing, but hearing it from an "expert" like Scoop, peopled listened. We take tons of DS pins from the 100 years set to trade for lanyard pins and the CMs get so excited to see a "good" pin.

 

[Swamp_Fox]

Matt if I can remember correctly I was in Tinkerbells Treasures and this CM was on Duty behind the register and had the "on stage" lanyard on. I was thinking about telling a Manager but to be honest with you it would of made no sense to get this CM into hot water over a pretty hunk of metal. I was just shocked by the whole guilt trip thing. If the pin I was trading was already on the CM's lanyard I would understand completely.

Even though the trading rules are a bit quirky at WDW they are a whole lot better than at DL where they can't even trade the pins they sell.

On a different note I did find that Pooh pin from Tokyo later on that week from another trader. Also I've noticed alot of CM's have pins turned around making it a "mystery" pin. I love this idea sometimes you get a great pin some times not so great. As I always say about collecting "The Fun Is In The Hunt" (all I need now is the latin translation to that quote)

Larry

 

[Buzz2001]

I thought one trade per guest was the rule too but every CM I asked that had more than one lanyard pin on told me it was okay to trade for more than one. But its like anything else, everyone has their own interpretation of the rules.

 

[Mickey7811]

I have to tell you about the time I traded with a CM at AKL.

I can not even remember what the pin was, but I am sure it was just something that was okay.

I traded for one of the flex pins and she took the pin out of my hand and said I will not even put this on my lanyard and she pulled a hammer out of the drawer and smashed it right in front of me.

I was so embarrassed. I said to her that if she did not like that pin I would have given her another one, and she just walked away mumbling something.

I could not believe it.

I never went back there to trade.

Darlene

 

[Swamp_Fox]

Geez that was rude, and I thought my story was bad. You were lucky only to get embarrassed just imagine if a sharp piece of pin came flying into you face.

By the way I don't know about you but that mumbling business would have p***ed me off royaly. I hope you went to complain

Larry

 

[JudithM]

Leslie, I agree ... consistency is not the name of the game. I traded for whatever lanyard pins I could find in May. After having made successful trades with CMs for lanyard pins, I found a "suit" CM in Adventureland who insisted I could only trade for TWO lanyard pins. This was the first I heard that restriction. I looked at my husband & then the CM & said, "Well, then we can trade for four pins." He insisted again only TWO & I insisted back. I won! Two for me & two for husband!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Sheesh, Darlene, who did you trade a pin to? Maleficent?? Hammering it into oblivion, especially in front of the guest, was definitely over the top.

Judith, I heard the same "only two lanyard pins per person" restriction also, but I know it wasn't strictly enforced everywhere. I think it's a case of the rules travelling by word of mouth through too many channels and layers of people that everyone doesn't get the complete story. That's why we see lanyards with duplicate pins, one CM know about the two per guest rule and another not, and even a CM refusing a pin and wanting a "nicer one."

 

[Luv2Roam]

I always say Disney is consistently inconsistent.
I was told a variety of rules: One lanyard pin trade per person; Two lanyard pin trades per person; No limit on lanyard pin trades. (Not that I grabbed all I saw.)
One told me it was a one pin limit person, period. Some had no limits. And some had five of the same pin already on their lanyard. (junk pins)
I had a Dinotopia pin I traded for at DAK May 26, from a CM. And they were plentiful there on CM lanyards. (But I didn't see them at any other park.)
At MGM later in the week, I happened to have it and saw a pin on a CM lanyard I wanted.
I offered the Dinotopia pin, thinking it wasn't bad and brought some variety to MGM. The CM gave me some cr@p about it, claiming it wasn't a Disney pin and said he would "overlook it this time".
One was even hesitant about accepting a Disney WWoS Brave's pin.
Some make anyone feel like a shark. While others a shark could strip bare in seconds.
But 99% of the CM's are great and I love to trade with them.
I love you guys/gals CM's!

 

[3kids4me]

I think Mario was wearing a speedo when he traded for all those lanyard pins.

 

[JudithM]

"I always say Disney is consistently inconsistent." Luv2Roam, LOL - I love this comment! How true! I suspect it is hard for such a large company to be consistently consisitent .

I have jokingly commented to CMs about duplicate pins. They usually say something about a child or new trader, etc. Many CMs have also said that they can go backstage & swap pins from other lanyards - no big deal. One time I got a non-Disney Italian flag pin from a CM in Italy at EPCOT.

 

[GotAnyPins]

Living here near WDW and spending many hrs in the park, you get to know what is the latest "hot pin" (other than the lanyard pins that is)..and right now that is the Grumpy head..everyone and his brother is looking for it, and if you take a look at ebay, it is a very hot item..that might have been someones' holy grail, had that CM been smart enough to know what is going on in his own parks..

and on the lanyard, I have spent the last week w/ some Disers visiting from oot, and we have been on the lanyard pin hunt..as always when I am w/ oot visitors, they get first pick of the CM's pins..unless they need ***'t in breaking the "2 only" lanyard pin limit..

Yesterday Robin (Perndweller) and I hit the Christmas shop in MK, and came upon 4 lanyard full of lanyard pins, even w/ both of us, we didn't even touch the motherlode of pins here..they stuck hard and fast to the 2 limit rule, We offered to go out the door and come back in, but to no avail..(sometimes these CM's have nooooo sense of humor) soooo I agree w/ Leslie (our Queen)..they need to make one rule and stick to it...this would have been a perfect time for someone to be really generous, and let us trade for more...but the mgr. had her whip out, and wasn't giving an inch...soo
heads bowed, and defeated we dragged our sad bodies out of the store...

So now that everyone has gone home, and I have been very very good, and after getting a look at some of the new lanyard pins out there...come Monday , early, I will the one making the pin rounds...eat your hearts out Disers..

Donna

 

[MeanLaureen]

Ummm.. Donna?

What the heck did you say to trip the language filter on that post????

 

[GotAnyPins]

And here I am ..just an innocent party..(yeah right!! never mind I said it for you) I just tried to short form assisted and it got me..(are you buying this???) LOL

I guess my "pure" reputation is ruined now huh??

Donna

 

[JudithM]

Donna, I think I would have found some stranger & asked them to trade for lanyard pins for me . Donna, how "pure" can anyone be if they live with Raul ? I get it ... while he is studying, you're partying!