Counterfeit pin??

[Maistre Gracey]

Hi all. I am new to the whole pin trading thing, but we (my wife and I) have jumped into it with both feet.

Anyway, my question..
A couple of weeks ago I traded for the "Hat Box Ghost" with a trader at the DtD store.
Afterwards I was researching this pin on PinPics, and there is a notation that this pin has been counterfeited, and the only way to know is to buy directly from Disney.
Since that is not an option, is there any way to know for certain? It has all the proper wording, markings, and stamp on the back, but the note on PinPics made it sound as though it's impossible to tell.

Any help is appreciated...

Thanks,
MG

 

[MKhead72]

One thing that we usually look for is smoothness. If the pin is smooth to the touch on the front, and also the colors are true. Then you probably have an authentic Disney pin..... . If the pin is rough to the touch ( bumpy feeling ) or the colors just dont seem right, then you might have a fake.... . These are just a few things we look for in pins. Now certain pins are made to be rough textured. (Ex: topiary pins), but this one that you have, I believe is supposed to be smooth. Hope this helps !

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Thank you!
Yes, that helps tremendously overall, and also raises more questions about this exact pin.

The pin is very smooth, but it does not have a gloss finish like many pins. Although it's smooth, it has a matte finish. Perhaps it's supposed to be like that?
One more thing that concerns me... It appears the paint on the front has imperfections. It sort of looks like an abrasion, almost as if it was rubbed on sandpaper.
Now maybe I'm being a bit paranoid, but I'm actually thinking someone tried to sand the thing smooth.
Well, if it's a fake they sure did a nice job.

If it matters, this is Hat Box Ghost Imagineer ID pin.

Thanks for the info, as I now have a place to start..

MG

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Yikes. Those "brush stroke" marks across the front of a pin usually aren't a good thing.

Does the pin smell funny? Just curious. All of the counterfeit pins we have had the misfortune to obtain through EvilBay have a very distinctive odor. Kind of like machine oil or something.

If you go on the DizPin boards they have a "comparison" forum to help you determine the authenticity of pins. Someone who has one that they KNOW is real might be able to post a pic for you.

All of my fakes have had backstamps and so forth that looked good, but when compared to a real one the font is different, or the info is arranged differently on the back of the pin. Sometimes the post placement is different.

It is maddening to try to sort out what pins are real and what pins are fakes.

 

[cousinbb]

There is a thing called Propins that aren't exactly real Disney pins. One way to see tell is that Propins are outlined in silver where most Disney pins are outlined in gold. Propins-I beleive- have the word Propin written on the back of it, but I'm not 100% positive. These pins are still excepted by CMs trading pins.