Anyone not near the parks...

[iamsorcerermickey]

who got into the whole pin thing.

Do you trade? or collect? or both anymore?

Are you a die hard collector, or just a whatever catches my eye on vacation collector?

Are you holding on to your traders, in the hopes that when you get back to the park, someone will trade with you?

Have you been lucky enough to continue trading online?

Or have you just given up on the whole thing?


TO THOSE OF YOU WITH CHILDREN...
Do not take this post wrong.

I truly believe the interaction that the kids get from trading with the cast members is priceless. Let them have fun, socialize, and collect whatever their dear little hearts desire. Even the youngest of them (my DNephew started when he was about 2-1/2) have a ball, and the memory of that special pin that they traded for, that will last forever. (My DNiece and DNephews still "trade" with me when they come over, only I never seem to get anything out of the deal)

 

[Parkhopper]

Umm, we live in Maryland, so we do not live near the parks, but we go a couple of times each year. I would say that we would surely fall under the heading "Die Hard Collector/Trader". We tend not to trade online but have done it a very few times in the past. We have been lucky enough to have a space available to us so that we have been able to host pin trading meets periodically in our area. They usually are well attended with people coming from pretty much all over the east coast.

We also attend just about every pin event that Disney puts on, including the pin cruise.

We cherish the time we have at pin events to trade with our fellow traders. Some vacations we find that we only trade with Cast Members.

Okay, now your turn. How would you answer your own questions?

Suzi

 

[daber]

Like Vince and Suzie, I am geographically challenged and live in PA (can't wait for the pin meet in MD in a few weeks). (Hope I still have some left after this Friday night at the Contemporary)

I also have an annual pass and go to WDW about 4-5 times/year. It helps that my boss's office is in Orlando so I have to go for work alot (darn, do I have to go to Orlando AGAIN?) I also get to fly to CA on work as well so get to see DL and CA once/year.

I'm a die hard collector and trade alot both at the parks and on-line.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

We are rookies compared to the die hard professionals in the previous two posts. I've heard that they have a few pins

We're in New Jersey. Get to Orlando a 2-3 times per year (someone I seem to find quite a few industry shows there)....

We trade online and at our local pin trading group (CJDPT)...

I consider myself a collector (as we all do), but I do trade. It is more fun to buy...

 

[Luv2Roam]

When I began collecting and trading we lived in Nebraska. So I know what it is like to be a non-park person trying to buy and collect.
Now that I am here, I still buy a lot, but I seem to go in spurts. Seems I either am spending a lot or nothing compared to what I use to.
Being near WDW it does not seem so Die Hard for me. I know there are plenty of pins available and not many I have just Had to Have. That and I have PLENTY of pins already!
Long ago I found pin collecting much more enjoyable the less buying and trading effort I put in it. Much less stressful and very little planning for going out of my way for a pin. aahhhhh........

 

[figment_jii]

I live in Northern CA, but don't really get down to DL very often. I've collected pins for a long time (way before pin trading became a big thing), but I'm just a "whatever catches my eye" kind of collector (usually it has to have a favorite character or attraction on it).

I've done some trading with non-cast members, but I don't like the haggling that goes on. Generally I just trade pins with the cast members to get cute ones! (But I always carry one or two "special" pins (older cast member pins) just in case there is something really great that I'd want to try trading for with a non-cast member.)

 

[Figment2]

In the beginning I was a die hard collector/trader. Now I buy what catches my eye (unless it's Figment, Brother Bear or Elliott although I'm cutting back on the Figment pins).

I've never traded on line but I used to carry pin bags down every trip. I used to set up pin meets (usually at Boardwalk's pool). Last September's pin event was the first time in a couple of years that I brought pin bags down. Most times I bring some pins down to trade with CM's. I've been going through my pin bags and putting older pins on CM lanyards. Even so, I still consider myself a trader and a collector.

Since I bought DVC I probably go down 3-5 times a year. I'm also blessed to have friends who live in Orlando and are willing to go pick up pins when asked.

I see you are from IL. There is a monthly pin meet at Fuddruckers in Schaumburg. I believe it's the second or third Saturday of each month. PM me if you are interested in more details. There are anywhere from 10 to 20 local pin people who show up to trade. I haven't been there for awhile - keep meaning to go and just don't seem to get there.

I have to say - I have met some very special people through pin trading. Before pin trading I would do some solo trips and they truly were solo. Now, even solo trips I seem to meet up with pin trading friends.

Cyn

 

[Parkhopper_Vince]

Cyn is right about always finding friends on a trip to WDW! The pin trading opened up a whole new world there. We used to vacation at WDW and it was our own little trip with just the people we came with. Now it is different and we always seem to run into friends.

We are collectors....we may trade pins, but we definitely collect friends we have met through trading!

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Actually, we've ended up collecting both pins and friends via pin trading.

We bumped in to some pin trading friends at MGM on Christmas Day. And it was a bit crowded then. It was funny and very nice.

 

[kandeebunny]

We're in So Fla 3 hours from the world, we are collectors and traders. We hit the Sept. Event every year, we were trying for the APril event in CA, but after we made reservations and booked flights they changed the dates, so now we're meeting pin friends out there for a week of fun.

I collect pins, but I still trade because of the people I've met and the friends I have made.