I'm not well versed enough in pins. Any easy ways to tell if they're scrappers?
I'm not either, I'm just starting my kids out and I'm doing research now. There is seriously no bounds to how unscrupulous people can be. I know there is a difference btwn a scrapper and a fake, but no one wants either!
From what I have learned:
1) rough edges are a tell tale sign.
2) If you go to pinpics.com, they have what the originals look like so you can compare. any defects like paint being wrong color, its a different color than the original, not cut out in an area where it is cut out on the original or colored in an off spot can be signs.
3) If the Mickey head is distorted in the hidden mickeys
4) if its just "off" looking, looks odd to you, it's probably not real
5) if its a LE pin and does not provide a number it could be a copy like if it says "/1000" instead of "401/1000"
6) if the seller is selling 100 pins for $100 it's probs not legit and full of scrapers
7) if the pattern is messed up on the back and has a ridge along the edge...
8) you'd have to have the original to compare this, but if its thinner than the original or much lighter
9) if a seller has several of the same LE pins, prob not a good purchase
These are jus things I have picked up so far, I'm not a pro. But people have been saying that the only real way to know u have an authentic, is to buy it directly from Disney.
There are videos out there too. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to tell if I got a good copy. Lol