Anyone who thinks pins are dying

[Luv2Roam]

was not at any WDW park July 4th.
Reporting in:
LE2000 - 2500 pins are normally no big deal to buy, and I would not think so.
Yesterday was ridiculous. I am very glad I was not wanting them for myself. ANd sorry for anuyone who thought I could buy them any. I saved myself some some cash. (Good side.)
We arrived at DTD 9:30 a.m. A twisted line stopped by the restrooms from DTD PT. I have no idea how many were before us, but I seriously doubt any of what I wanted would be remaining by the time I got to the front. It was too hot to stand in the sun so long. We had a PS in the MK at 11:30. I know we would not have made it on time.
Security and control was very tight all over MK property.
The pins were long sold out at the parks, from what I was told. The parks had opened at 8:00. People bought what park pins there were and then headed to DTD to buy more.
A CM in MGM told me the Tink 4th pin was sold out there in a half an hour.

Once I got the pin stuff out of the way, we had a better time in the parks. I think I am finding a theme here....

 

[mickey2000]

From my past 3 visits at 4th of July, I would say everyday non collectors buy the pins on this special day which makes it more difficult for the collector.
In reply to your topic, (IMO)I believe pin collecting has died! Disney has milked the idea and is waiting for the last drop.
I now go to the parks and leave my pins at home, like old times!
Leaving in the morning!

 

[Dizneypins.com]

I remember the days when every LE 3000-5000 sold out in hours, and alot of those were at ONE location not 5.
You also have to remember each location only got about 300 pins except DPT which for some reason gets double of other locations.
You would think WDW knows to release more IN a park because when someone goes to the park to buy a pin WDW shows a click at the gate and to Disney Attendance is everything.
As Al said for those of us who have been into pins for years it has changed and is a very small fraction of what it was in the beginning.

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

Pin trading died? I didn't even know it was sick.

Jeff

 

[Duckfan]

I just don't really believe it is pin trading any more. I think pin collecting is very strong and very much alive. I look at my last trip and compare it to the trip in 2000 to see some of the differences. I don't think I ever saw anyone else looking at cast lanyards this trip. The variety of pins on the lanyards was not very good (I managed to find good things but saw lots of the same things over and over). But I saw a far greater number of people with lanyards on and more people buying pins than ever before. I also didn't buy any traders to bring home, just pins I wanted. So I think trading is way down but at least we are still collecting!!!

 

[RamVA]

.................and I sure don't have the answer. But I can tell you this; I wouldn't stay a collector if I weren't a trader. As proof, when I log into Monday and Thursday Disney Auctions "Buy It Now" sessions, I DO NOT buy the pins that I collect; I buy traders; and then I TRADE for what I collect!! There is just not enough thrill or excitement for me to just "buy" whatever pin I want; a huge amount of the fun for me, is the "quest" of trying to find the pin whether through on-line trading or pin meet trading.

I think I only bought 6 pins on our trip a couple of weeks ago; I saw tons of CMs with lanyards, and although none of them had pins that are on my "wants" list, I had a ball going around trying to find as many lanyard pins as I could, just for the fun of the "hunt".

My biggest social events are pin meets at Vince and Suzi's in Rockville, MD, and the only reason I go to the September pin meets in WDW, is to see my friends and TRADE pins!

All that being said, I think there has been a decline in pin trading in the last year to year and a half; so many traders are completely caught up in the supposed "monetary" value of their pins, and often won't trade simply because the pin they have for trade is going for some certain $$ amount on ebay; it's my personal opinion that this is just one factor in the decline in trading.

As for the 4th of July pins selling out, probably the cynic in me, but I doubt they were all gobbled up just by regular collectors and traders--I suspect there was a little commerce going on there......just my .02.

 

[RamVA]

.................and I sure don't have the answer. But I can tell you this; I wouldn't stay a collector if I weren't a trader. As proof, when I log into Monday and Thursday Disney Auctions "Buy It Now" sessions, I DO NOT buy the pins that I collect; I buy traders; and then I TRADE for what I collect!! There is just not enough thrill or excitement for me to just "buy" whatever pin I want; a huge amount of the fun for me, is the "quest" of trying to find the pin whether through on-line trading or pin meet trading.

I think I only bought 6 pins on our trip a couple of weeks ago; I saw tons of CMs with lanyards, and although none of them had pins that are on my "wants" list, I had a ball going around trying to find as many lanyard pins as I could, just for the fun of the "hunt".

My biggest social events are pin meets at Vince and Suzi's in Rockville, MD, and the only reason I go to the September pin meets in WDW, is to see my friends and TRADE pins!

All that being said, I think there has been a decline in pin trading in the last year to year and a half; so many traders are completely caught up in the supposed "monetary" value of their pins, and often won't trade simply because the pin they have for trade is going for some certain $$ amount on ebay; it's my personal opinion that this is just one factor in the decline in trading.

As for the 4th of July pins selling out, probably the cynic in me, but I doubt they were all gobbled up just by regular collectors and traders--I suspect there was a little commerce going on there......just my .02.

 

[Goofy4Pluto]

I am certainly not the trader I used to be...
I used to buy my max 5 limit on pin designs
at DLR... one to keep, one to trade... maybe
two or three to trade, and occasionally put
the rest on ebay... but I cannot afford the
initial layout of cash anymore! I've been STUCK
with plain designs and unless it is a "mystery"
pin of a very popular character, I can't move them!

Just like the more popular stitch pins on
PINS lately... I buy one for a friend who is
a stitch collector and has a slow connect speed...
and the other two, if I'm lucky I am ABLE
to trade... most of my PINS (in trading
for like LE PINS) don't trade well - even
STITCH! At my rate of speed I could be the
snob who grabs 10-15 each... but I don't
(not that I would ever...) I just cannot afford
it when the pins don't move!

And, sadly... since being kicked off the
mother ship (aka: the Ohana site) there are
those that REFUSE to trade with me! If they
send me a TA first it is because I'm listed as
an anonymous, then when they hear from
me, and see who I am, they do write back
and say, "sorry I won't trade with YOU" or
"sorry no longer available" or even "available
to anyone but YOU" I'm not looking for
a pitty party folks, I'm just stating my experiences!
Sad when one Mighty Moderator can spread
vicious rumors and lies to everyone on their
mail list and make it impossible to make a
decent living! I almost feel like I've been accused
of murder and guilty before proven!

I could probably email Figgy with the huge
negatives, but I have made enough friends
here that I have made some wonderful
trades to keep me going! Plus, although
I tend to stay away from international trades
due to not getting a pin in return 97% of
the time in the past, I have returned to
international traders... I have 3 just today
accept from Belgium and 2 in Japan! These
are regular traders that will never pass up
the opportunity... I have gotten lucky! I just
hope that the rest of the people who have
been excommunicated are as lucky as me!
This place is wonderful! And I thank the pin
gods every day that I'm accepted here!

However, I digress... pin trading - dead?
Well maybe person to person... but I saw
a TON of lanyards on guests and a LINE at
the super trader in March at DLR! I remember
when pin trading first got it's start... CM's
wearing lanyards and nobody "got it" and now
with AAA and WD Travel giving them pins...
you cannot help but join the addiction!
Maybe person to person trades are dying...
but certainly not guest to CM trades!
Heaven forbid the sharks ever let THEM die!

 

[Luv2Roam]

It would be interesting to know the breakdown of the number of pins sent to what locations.
The resorts would have had some, including the Cont PT cart.
I think the parks should receive more than DTD. Disney is always looking at purchased tickets and attendance. They should allow more for the parks and fewer at DTD (if any). It would make it seem more exclusive and personally special coming only from a park too. And it might help boost ticket sales.

 

[RamVA]

...............not to start more trouble, but Heather, I have to tell you I cannot believe that you are getting these kind of responses and that these "grown-ups" won't trade with you!!! You may not be looking for "pity", but you certainly have my sympathy, because I know I can imagine the hurt you must feel everytime someone throws a remark like this your way; and I still feel the same amount of outrage I felt when you were first banned from their board, now compounded by my incredulity that adults, who should be capable of some degree of independent thinking, and some degree of empathy and kindess, instead act like children playing "follow the leader".

 

[Goofy4Pluto]

Thanks for your words Ruthie! And your continued support!

It has gone so far as to be effecting other Tucson traders now
as well! My neighbor who has an address two digits off mine
is having repeated requests turned down from this one particular
trader that I've had denials from as well, my neighbor got into
this to kill spare time and she might have all of 20 pins in
her collection... she finally asked why she was denied and was
told, "you aren't trading for yourself, you are trading for your
evil neighbor, I cannot imagine that you actually trade pins, you
are just letting her use your address"

This trader that is causing the majority of the problems is also
creating havoc for other traders in Tucson, like I said, just on
the assumption that they know me, which, they do... a story
all too long to go into now.

But the trader I speak of, I'm sure everyone has traded with
from time to time, she is what I'd call the "Mrs. Happy of the Ohana"
and on the cover, she doesn't look to be anything other than
totally pro-trading and promotion of happiness! What she brews
inside tho is total mean-ness!

 

[mickey2000]

LIVE FROM DISNEY QUEST! Fourth of July pins are still here at 3 of the four parks. Saw people at the Contemporary the other night. Didn't see any old faces? As for trading in the parks it doesn't seem to exist Very little action, people don't seem to care.
Maybe a few people with lanyards from room package. I will stick with my earlier comment that pin trading has died!
Bought my first pin in almost two years "Happy Retirement"!
Neat pin.....

 

[rapriebe]

Whose says pin trading is dying? Have you tried to purchase Disney trading pins on e-Bay lately? Everybody is bidding and sometimes it gets up to $5 a pin although that is unusual.

It's not dying with me - I'm still crazy about it.

 

[NHMickey]

I would not say it is dying. It has just moved on for a lot of folks who post here and on other boards. The meets are still well attended and the events do well but it is a whole new group.

I still have a few sets I am working on and still collect what I like. I don't do the events as I don't think they are worth the money but that is just my opinion.

I see this lasting for a few more years at least.