Am I the only one?

[t-beri]

We got into pin trading in 2004(MNSSHP) as a way to help my son with social interaction. Of course mom and dad got caught up too. BUT. it seems to me that there are'nt many adult traders out there that are really in it for fun. I see sharks everywhere at DTD (truth be told was probably taken more than once by them in the beginning.) I finally said to heck with worrying what they are worth. to me it is the fun of finding. Of course I have my favorite characters and if I find a pin I LOVE then I buy it for myself not for trade probably unless it is an OE and I find something to trade and it's the only one I have, I'll trade cause I can buy it again. My DH & DS are collectors they hate to part with pins so usually they are buying pins just to trade (which only mildly irritates me) but usually end up borrowing from me. i never leave the park with more pins than I took in b/c I'm usually lending them pins to trade. last haloween I traded for a coupe CM pins- the parking lot signs and that was my goal the last 3 trips to keep looking for them. Could I buy the whole set on e-bay, yup. but the hunt is what is fun. I think the value of the pin is in the eye of the beholder. I do try to get special event pins on the day of the event (ie star wars or MNSSHP) but only recently learned how to find them on those trips. ALSO, I never put pins on my lanyard the day we go to the park or trading event that I don't want to trade. If a kid comes up to me on the monorail they can trade 1 for 1 w/ any pin I have, for any pin they have (i'll most likely trade it b/c i don't want it or put it in my pocket b/c it's a starter set pin that I don't have yet) If I see kids w/ all their starter pins on their lanyard I encourage them to trade them off to me- try to help break the ice for them and their parents who likely don't know much about pin trading and I try to offer up some advice like -this pin is a CM pin or this one came from another starter kit. But when I read posts from other traders I get the feeling that I am among a very small # of people who really just like to trade for fun with a carefree attitude. Am I wrong?
Thanks for your insight....t.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

I think there are more people with your attitude than you think. This past weekend (at the Pin Trading Event) i was stopped all the time by kids, with their lanyards, asking me questions. And I always traded with them. Or explained the rules of trading (don't grab lanyards that are around peoples necks)... While there are sharks (as in every "business"), there are far more good, friendly, honest pin traders.

 

[BONITATIME]

I think you have the right idea. I will trade anything I have on my lanyard whilst I am in the parks and would trade with a child even if they dont have a pin I wanted to encourage them to trade. I often have other better pins in my pocket or bag if i wanted to make a better trade but I really enjoy trading with children. I try to talk to people about my pins when they look at them as I get a real kick out of trading and often will give a pin to a child who expresses interest or has a birthday badge. I think it is a great hobby.

There are lots of people like us out there and only a few sharks.

 

[dodukes]

I really think there are more sharks than you all are willing to give credit too....or maybe they are all where i'm at...lol....but you are right you lern quick what "types" to deal with and not, this event was quite interesting to say the least.

 

[t-beri]

YOu know I really haven't ever gone to a pin event because of it(although I live close and would like to). 1. most of my pins are only special to me. There almost all OE. aside from a few CM pins -by the way whats the deal w/ the OE pins w/ the hidden mickey!- and the few special pins I have I'm not trading. Maybe I will pick up 2 MNSSHP pins (I'm psyched, it's tink on mynight!) then in the future I have some trading leverage??? I guess it just makes me feel like I'm an amateur or something.
..t.

 

[FigNewton]

Honestly that's the reason I refrain from trading with people in general: afraid of the sharks. Having been into (and remain into) several hobbies over the years FILLED with sharks (like action figure collecting), dealing with people gives me the heebie jeebies.

CMs, are of course, a different thing entirely. They do it because it's a fun thing to do with guests, which makes it much more fun for me and the wife.

 

[BONITATIME]

YOu know I really haven't ever gone to a pin event because of it(although I live close and would like to). 1. most of my pins are only special to me.

One of the reasons for going to an event is to buy pins that can then be traded. I do much more trading on line and much more talking at events. I love looking at other peoples traders at events.

 

[t-beri]

I have taken a notion to start going to those events to get pins for that reason. b/c I'm only an hour+ away I have more opportunity and can buy pins soley to trade to someone who was not able to attend the event. I am going to try to get an extra MNSSHP pin or 2, it's tink the night I go and she is always popular.
...t.

 

[Dsnyfam]

This topic caught my eye too. We got into trading for the kids---but it soon became a fun sport for both DH and myself (more me than he). I take it the "sharks" are serious collectors? We have run across a couple of these in the parks as well as DTD. One cornered DD and wanted to trade for one of hers. It must have been valuable, as he was willing to let her pick "2" of his pins from his lanyard. She kept saying no, but he was persistent. I finally intervened and told him "no thank you." It was odd, to see a grown man trying to persuade a young girl.

We have never been to a pin event, although we were able to take part in a map one a couple summers ago (where you collected them by answering questions around the parks, etc). We have it framed in DD's room, with all the pins including the final free one in DTD! That was so much fun.

We have passed a long line of people in Epcot in the early am, near the fountain. They were waiting for the release of a new pin or something. My DH said we will never get that crazed over pins to come and wait in a line for hours. Yet, I think it would be exciting and fun--especially since all the people in line are there for the same thing!

Bonitatime--I think that is such a nice idea you have, about giving pins to children without them or wearing a birthday badge! This fosters a love for pins and trading, and helps them to understand the fun behind the hobby. We enjoy looking for pins, and can not pass a pin cart or a cm wearing a lanyard now without looking! Sometimes, it drives DH crazy...as he is not as "into it" as we are! ^_^

 

[daber]

Honestly that's the reason I refrain from trading with people in general: afraid of the sharks. Having been into (and remain into) several hobbies over the years FILLED with sharks (like action figure collecting), dealing with people gives me the heebie jeebies.

CMs, are of course, a different thing entirely. They do it because it's a fun thing to do with guests, which makes it much more fun for me and the wife.

How to deal with sharks 101:
1. Say NO, no matter what pin they are offering if you feel uncomfortable (i.e. they are asking too much for their pin, are pressuring you into making a decision, etc.)
2. Ask someone who is trading near by and not a friend of the trader you are dealing with. If they object, then you know you are being taken. If the person you ask gives you sound advice, go with it, otherwise go back to step 1.

We all have had trades with "sharks" and regret them. It's part of the learning process. But if you don't trade with the rest of the pin community, you are missing out on creating some lifetime friendships, which are more valuable than the pieces of metal with a pointy thing on the back!

 

[PinGirl]

Hi T-Beri,

DH and I have no kids but I always carry pins just to GIVE to kids and if kids want to trade with me I ALWAYS ask their parents if it's ok.

Recently DH had a convention that was taking place at DL so of course I tagged along. It was during the "Legend of the Golden Pin" Event. I am happy to say I met some of the best people to trade with while we were there and had mostly wonderful experiences.

I had 2 negative experiences - 1) 1 guy who had a pin I wanted and insisted on going through all my pins and telling me how terrible they were before accepting one of mine. (I am a Lilo and Stitch Collector and he had a 2004 pin out of a 4 pins set I had been looking for so I put up with it - normally I would not have bothered) - I really wanted this one though! LOL

2) 1 Older (Possibly retired) couple who kept trying to get a few pins I had traded for and wanted to keep. I never did trade with them.

I know there will always be some people who are "Sharks". I try to avoid them whenever possible. If I decide to jump in the water (Because I see a pin I want) If they make me feel uncomfortable - I don't trade with them.

I love Pin collecting and have a lot of fun with the hobby. I won't let a few "un-magical" people spoil it for me!

 

[HayGan]

I am in purely for the fun of it. I keep a few good pins on my lanyard and more in a baggie in my pocket. I often just pull a pin out of my pocket for a trade with a CM. Often times it is more "valuable" than the one I am trading for. I buy on ebay in "good" lots. I refuse to trade away a junk (propin/sedesma/kodak/dancer/etc.) pins. I wouldn't want to get one so why should I give one We did run into 2 pin "sharks" on our recent trip and I politely told them I wasn't interested in trading (had to pull my mom aka Ms. Naive, away from a few before she got bit.)

I rarely trade with other adults. I almost exclusively trade with CMs. I will trade with people who approach me (if it is a good trade for us both.) I often trade with kids and many times I give pins away to kids!

 

[SeaWitch]

I am going to try to get an extra MNSSHP pin or 2, it's tink the night I go and she is always popular.
...t.

How do we know what pin is being offered on a MNSSHP night? My niece loves Tink too!

 

[tmt martins]

I have taken a notion to start going to those events to get pins for that reason. b/c I'm only an hour+ away I have more opportunity and can buy pins soley to trade to someone who was not able to attend the event. I am going to try to get an extra MNSSHP pin or 2, it's tink the night I go and she is always popular.
...t.

Oh yea we would trade with you if you get a TINK pin our night is Pluto think but DD loves Tink we will try to pick it up at UJ as soon as we get to the party but none were avail last year . So we went the E-bay route.

I buy of Pins in Lots from E-bay but I really watch that they are WDW or DL pins that someone is just liquidating their collection.

But we have done a DTD trading event and boy was it crasy ( a business not an event ) as well as a trader Party here in MD.

Now That one was so fun they were there to trade but also to help understand what to look for. Had things just for the kids it was right when DD was starting so it was great a friend gave her a part of her collection so we had some pins that people actually wanted or would at least take just to help DD.

 

[aterriq]

I enjoy it and like finding pins I know my DW or DDs would like. I look at the pins that are for sale and how they react to certain pins. I then know what pins to find.

Heck in one trip, my DDs must change their theme for pins every other day.

 

[pezpam]

I'm in it for fun. DD enjoys trading and I let her do most of the trading. I buy pins I can afford to trade, then she picks whatever pin she likes when she's trading. While I won't trade Sedesma or Propins, she has actually traded *for* a few of them on occasion. LOL. She trades with CMs and I just stand back - I don't like the CM to think I'm the one choosing the pin. CMs apparently call those kids Pin Guppies, one CM told us last trip - the Pin Sharks train their kids to go after the expensive pins and be all cute about it. While we have run across non-CM traders who have been perfectly nice and fair and all of that, if DD is interested in or approached by a non-CM about a trade, I hover over her pretty closely so I can step in if she's come across a Shark. She chats with the CMs and other kids who are trading. We give pins away pretty regularly to kids who are interested or who are trading for fun. I've even given some away to kids who obviously didn't collect, but who were, say, sitting nicely on the bus and who were fascinated by our lanyards.

I think most traders are good people, but the Sharks are the ones who are more likely to accost you or generally be unpleasant - the ones you remember.