CMs Refusing to Trade Pins

[kaligal]

I have never understood pin-trading. I collect pins and wouldn't want to trade any of them. I collect pins for the rides I've been on, the Hotels I've stayed at and the characters I like. When we are on the Cruise ship I collect Cruise pins to remind me of the Cruise.

Agreed. I'm not big on the trading, either.

But if you want HM pins, you'll either have to trade for them or buy them on ebay. You can also buy them in those little bags where you can't see what you're getting, but then you end up with duplicates...which you may wish to trade.

As this thread demonstrates, you may wish to read the short blurb on Disney's site (which is copied in the DIS pin section) on the etiquette of pin trading if you ever decide to take the plunge.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

you think the CM would just stick the duplicate pin in his or her pocket and be done with it. is Disney going to search pockets of CM's for said pins?

 

[robinb]

Oh, he was absolutely kind about it. Very polite when saying it was policy.

I'm glad he was . I have been aware of the policy since I started trading in 1999. IIRC, sometimes a CM with a green lanyard will trade with a child no matter what they offer.

 

[PlutosRHM55]

This has always been a policy. It is part of the Disney Pin Trading etiquette rules here:

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/Etiquette122004.pdf

I'm sure this isn't a new rule.

 

[Elenadc]

you think the CM would just stick the duplicate pin in his or her pocket and be done with it. is Disney going to search pockets of CM's for said pins?

I actually knew some CMs who would do just that. They'd hang on to it until they got back to their locker where they could trade it out with one of the extras they kept just for that purpose, or trade it in backstage at a pin supply location.
On the other hand though, there is the possibility of getting in trouble for not having the correct amount of pins on your lanyard or even having duplicates. It really depends on the managers. If a CM knows their managers aren't going to get upset about it, they'll be more likely to bend the rules.

 

[TenderDonkey]

I actually knew some CMs who would do just that. They'd hang on to it until they got back to their locker where they could trade it out with one of the extras they kept just for that purpose, or trade it in backstage at a pin supply location.
On the other hand though, there is the possibility of getting in trouble for not having the correct amount of pins on your lanyard or even having duplicates. It really depends on the managers. If a CM knows their managers aren't going to get upset about it, they'll be more likely to bend the rules.

Rules are rules and it is a clear violation of Disney policy. I would get the CM's name and report them. ALL of Disney policies should apply (tickets, pools, buses, etc...) not just those that make the individual happy.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

you think the CM would just stick the duplicate pin in his or her pocket and be done with it. is Disney going to search pockets of CM's for said pins?

there is the possibility of getting in trouble for not having the correct amount of pins on your lanyard or even having duplicates. It really depends on the managers. If a CM knows their managers aren't going to get upset about it, they'll be more likely to bend the rules.

Your question has been answered. And most locations you have to turn in your pin lanyard at the end of your shift.

 

[pickles]

I have never understood pin-trading. I collect pins and wouldn't want to trade any of them. I collect pins for the rides I've been on, the Hotels I've stayed at and the characters I like. When we are on the Cruise ship I collect Cruise pins to remind me of the Cruise.

I do what the passionate pin collectors hate. I buy the bulk ones from dealers on ebay who have high ratings. Then, I take the ones of those I dont like and use them as traders.

My laynard has "themes" like I collect cruellas. to me, its a challenge , kind of like "I spy" to see a cruella I dont have on someone's lanyard. Then, I trade with one I dont like.
I have bought some cruellas on ebay, but i prefer now the hunt and spot a special one I like.

I am not all into the "value" of the pin. I could care less. i just like what catches my eye or matches my theme

 

[lucas]

That has always been the rule.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Your question has been answered. And most locations you have to turn in your pin lanyard at the end of your shift.

so the lanyard is part of the official CM's uniform? they MUST wear one? or is it optional?

 

[Hook's Girl]

so the lanyard is part of the official CM's uniform? they MUST wear one? or is it optional?

It depends on the role and the location. But for most hourly Cast Members it's optional. For most salaried managers, it's not an option.

 

[Elenadc]

so the lanyard is part of the official CM's uniform? they MUST wear one? or is it optional?

It depends on the area. On my last College Program I had to. I worked merchandise, and unless I was in the food location in my area I was required to wear it.

 

[nytimez]

Rules are rules and it is a clear violation of Disney policy. I would get the CM's name and report them. ALL of Disney policies should apply (tickets, pools, buses, etc...) not just those that make the individual happy.

Seriously? You're going to report a CM for having two of the same pin?

I can't ever imagine my life being so empty that I'd walk around a theme park looking for minor CM rule violations and reporting to them to the company.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Seriously? You're going to report a CM for having two of the same pin?

I can't ever imagine my life being so empty that I'd walk around a theme park looking for minor CM rule violations and reporting to them to the company.

thats Disney for ya

 

[Tara922c]

Back in 2006, I was a Disney College Program CM, and wore the lanyard to trade pins with guest. We could not have two of the same pins on at anytime. So, if a guest wanted to trade pins, and they were giving us a pin that we already had, we were supposed to say no. Now I could accept any pin, even pins I knew were from the dollar store, but I couldn't accept duplicate pins, and if I was wearing a green lanyard, I could only trade with kids.

If you really want a certain pin, and you want to give away a pin that the CM already has, trade your unwanted pin with a different CM, and go back to the first CM.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Wow, I had no idea about this. My kids just got into the pin trading this last trip and frankly would trade his awesome pins for the very dinky pins But they were his pins. I can't imagine someone saying 'no, i can't trade pins with you little boy because I have that one already'. Ok, maybe it is policy, but geez, my little guy would be crushed. Then again, he trades because it is fun, not because he's out to get pins or collect fancy ones or try to make a profit. But maybe the policy is to prevent folks from doing just that. I'll let my kids know so they don't make some faux-pas...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The lanyards that the Cast Members wear and the pins on them belong to who ever their managers are, so maybe that's another reason why they can not have two of the same pins on there.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

The lanyards that the Cast Members wear and the pins on them belong to who ever their managers are, so maybe that's another reason why they can not have two of the same pins on there.

so they're doing their managers job? and the union does nothing?

 

[delmar411]

Wow, I had no idea about this. My kids just got into the pin trading this last trip and frankly would trade his awesome pins for the very dinky pins But they were his pins. I can't imagine someone saying 'no, i can't trade pins with you little boy because I have that one already'. Ok, maybe it is policy, but geez, my little guy would be crushed. Then again, he trades because it is fun, not because he's out to get pins or collect fancy ones or try to make a profit. But maybe the policy is to prevent folks from doing just that. I'll let my kids know so they don't make some faux-pas...

I don't know your child but I'm going to go out on a limb and say I doubt your child would be crushed by a very friendly CM telling him that unfortunately they couldn't take that pin in trade because they already have it and those are the rules they have to follow. My kids offer up doubles all the time since DH hands them out to the kids and doesn't always see what the CM has. It's no big deal and he just swaps it out for a different pin.

They do normally ask if the child has another pin they can trade instead so it's not like they say 'Too bad for you! 'and walk away with some evil laughter.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

so they're doing their managers job? and the union does nothing?

No that's not it all. My guess is before the Cast Members start their jobs the managers are the ones who give them the lanyards with pins already on there. That's what I mean when I said the Cast Members don't own the pins they are wearing and at the end of their shifts when returning the lanyards they can't have doubles of the same pins on it.