Can some one explain the Pins for trading to me?

[RochelleW]

Who do you trade with, why do you trade and where do you get the pins to trade?

Thanks!

 

[DanG07]

You can trade with any other guest, but more likely, when you start, you trade with CM's. DS8 loves to trade and he always looks for pins with a hidden mickey on them. Supposedly these are not available to be purchased at stores, as only CM's have them. Therefore you buy some pins at the store and then you trade for hard-to-get or find pins. Although my son does it for fun, but there is supposedly a big market on eBay for rare pins that have been out of circulation for a long time.

Overall, I believe pin-trading is a fun way to talk to CM's. We don't try to get hung up on the resale values.

 

[imthatgirl]

You actually do not trade with the guests. You should only approach the CMs to trade.

You'll buy a few and then every CM you see ask them to see their pins. They all have them even the caretakers. My daughter has even stopped the monorail guy to look at his. then you tell them which one you'd like and give them any one of yours. they won't pick yours, you tell them which one.

The "rules" do say that they have to be pins of equal value. There are a few that are woth more, but it's rare that you will run inot that situation.

 

[design_mom]

Pins are available in almost any gift shop at WDW. There are even "starter kits" you can buy which include several pins and a lanyard to hold them on. Some people buy pins on e-Bay before they get to WDW (you can buy them in bulk for a lower price per pin), but I've heard you need to be careful because some people sell fakes, and only official Disney pins are traded.

Some cast members wear pins. If you see a cast member wearing a pin you'd like, you may ask to trade for it. The cast member will trade for one of your pins, as long as he/she doesn't already have that pin on his/her lanyard. (The CM won't accept a duplicate of something he's already wearing.)

My son loves collecting pins at WDW but hasn't really gotten into trading. He traded one for the experience, then had trader's remorse. He says "Why would I trade? I bought the ones I like."

 

[Sara*s_Mommie]

Like the PP said, you most likely will trade with CM's. I have only traded with another guest one time. At DD, they have tables where the serious people go. My experience hasn't been positive with those folks though. They never want what you have, but if you want something they have, they will take you into the store and show you a pin you can buy to trade for the one you want from them. I'm not saying everyone one does this, but it's what I've observed. As for ebay, you can get cheap pins but most likely you'll be getting scappers - pins that didn't make Disney's standard, overruns, etc. Most people frown on buying these to be used for trading; unless you have a trained eye, it's very likely that could be trading the CM for a scrapper. I've been trading for a few years but I can't tell a scrapper from a real one unless they are side by side or a really bad pin. If you get into trading, I would stear clear on anyone wanting you to buy them a pin to "trade" for one they have - I seriously doubt you're getting the better deal. So, get a starter set and have some fun. Also, some CM's have green landyard with pins - those are for kids under 12. You can go to Disneypins.com and it will show you upcoming and past pins.