Disney pins on eBay?

[disneymom3]

I know something is probably up with these...I mean, they are selling in lots of 50 for $23. But can you not trade them at all? And what do you need to watch out for? What does it mean when they say they are cast member pins? Is that good or bad?

Thanks!

 

[wunkmom]

It just so happens I received my lot of 50 pins from an eBay seller today! We had so much fun looking at all of them. We bought the lot because on our last trip, we pretty much got rid of all the pins we were willing to trade away. So we bought the lot so that we would have some traders for our upcoming October trip. We actually want to keep quite a few (who am i kidding, most) of the pins, but we ended up with about 15-18 that we've designated as traders. Which also translates to we got 32-35 keeper pins for about $0.75 each!!!
It was a very quick and easy transaction! I ordered them 8/30 and got them today! Would have gotten them yesterday, except for the holiday!

Here's a link to the listing we purchased from: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251296106504?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

You can buy with confidence.

Cast member pins means that they were originally pins that only cast members could get, the general public couldn't purchase them. Hope that helps!

Every one of the pins we got look to be tradeable.

 

[wendow]

I don't know anything about that Ebay seller. I do know that the bigger lots tend to be a lot of scrappers. Here is a thread to reference:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3076860

 

[gwany1999]

Is pin trading something that would work for an 8 year old? Do you get many pins on ebay?

 

[wendow]

Is pin trading something that would work for an 8 year old? Do you get many pins on ebay?

I think an 8yo would enjoy pin trading. Personally, I've only bought a few pins on Ebay and never in a 'lot'.

 

[disneymom3]

I don't know anything about that Ebay seller. I do know that the bigger lots tend to be a lot of scrappers. Here is a thread to reference:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3076860

Thank you so much! I am sure that will be helpful.

 

[wunkmom]

I don't know anything about that Ebay seller. I do know that the bigger lots tend to be a lot of scrappers. Here is a thread to reference:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3076860

Well, color me stupid and embarrassed. I had no idea. I just wanted to purchase some pins that I would not have any emotional ties to to trade for something that looks interesting. Now I feel like a doofus for enabling the problems.

I've never been in it for profit, purely sentimental value. This gives me a sad.

 

[wendow]

Well, color me stupid and embarrassed. I had no idea. I just wanted to purchase some pins that I would not have any emotional ties to to trade for something that looks interesting. Now I feel like a doofus for enabling the problems.

I've never been in it for profit, purely sentimental value. This gives me a sad.

Please don't feel embarrassed. I'm guessing most of us who do the pin trading have either bought from these Ebay sellers or almost bought like I did. I actually was bidding on a lot of 50 from a seller about a year ago when I just happen to pop over here to the Dis and see a thread about not buying the big lots of pins off Ebay. I read up on the whole deal and was so glad I got outbid. I honestly don't know near as much as some of these other Dis'ers do who keep that thread up-to-date with info. I just know it makes sense. And it makes me angry that Disney doesn't do something to stop it.

 

[erincon23]

A lot of pin traders feel that scrappers are a huge problem, but honestly, the pins have no monetary value (even pins that are bought at the parks, so are definitely legitimate Disney pins, resell for next to nothing). And you have no way to know what you're getting when you trade with a cast member -- if you're getting mostly scrappers from ebay sellers, what do you think they have on their lanyards? The pins that cast members trade aren't closely scrutinized for legitimacy. Pin trading should be a fun family activity, a souvenier, an interaction with cast members -- so don't get so caught up in whether you're trading scrappers. Buy a bunch from ebay - look through the previously-referenced thread's list of "good sellers" if you're concerned and only buy from them - but still, you really don't know if you're getting "real" Disney pins. Keep what you like, knowing you're not really building something that will finance your kid's college education, and trade away.

And yes, pin trading is GREAT for an 8-year-old. Look for cast members wearing green lanyards- they ONLY trade with kids. There are pin boards - big boards with about 100 pins - in lots of places, and many of the shops have big scrapbooks filled with pins that you can look through. Ask about those. And be sure to check the lanyards of resort cast members -they don't get traded as much, so you might find good ones there. I know there are pin boards at Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom, and many more places. I've been trading (with and without my kids) for 12 years, and it's always fun.

 

[wunkmom]

A lot of pin traders feel that scrappers are a huge problem, but honestly, the pins have no monetary value (even pins that are bought at the parks, so are definitely legitimate Disney pins, resell for next to nothing). And you have no way to know what you're getting when you trade with a cast member -- if you're getting mostly scrappers from ebay sellers, what do you think they have on their lanyards? The pins that cast members trade aren't closely scrutinized for legitimacy. Pin trading should be a fun family activity, a souvenier, an interaction with cast members -- so don't get so caught up in whether you're trading scrappers. Buy a bunch from ebay - look through the previously-referenced thread's list of "good sellers" if you're concerned and only buy from them - but still, you really don't know if you're getting "real" Disney pins. Keep what you like, knowing you're not really building something that will finance your kid's college education, and trade away.

And yes, pin trading is GREAT for an 8-year-old. Look for cast members wearing green lanyards- they ONLY trade with kids. There are pin boards - big boards with about 100 pins - in lots of places, and many of the shops have big scrapbooks filled with pins that you can look through. Ask about those. And be sure to check the lanyards of resort cast members -they don't get traded as much, so you might find good ones there. I know there are pin boards at Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom, and many more places. I've been trading (with and without my kids) for 12 years, and it's always fun.

Thank you so much for this. I'm not in it for any sort of profit, just sentimental value. And I totally get what you are saying, with the sheer volume of pins being traded every day, how can there not be a ton of scrappers in the parks already. heck, i'd be willing to bet that some pins i traded for years ago that sit in my display case on a lanyard are scrappers, and some of those i wouldn't part with for hundreds of dollars. They remind me of a special time of our trip. What I find so funny is that I bought a lot of 50, and of those, I'm only really willing to part with 18 of those, there were so many good ones in the lot.

But seriously, thank you. I felt so bad at first. I know there are very serious traders out there, and they are off put by the whole ebay lot thing, but since i'm only in it for fun and to make memories, I'll not be so hard on myself. I read somewhere that unless every pin you own was purchased by you on a disney property, you probably have some scrappers in your collection. Which is absolutely true!!

 

[wendow]

But seriously, thank you. I felt so bad at first. I know there are very serious traders out there, and they are off put by the whole ebay lot thing, but since i'm only in it for fun and to make memories, I'll not be so hard on myself. I read somewhere that unless every pin you own was purchased by you on a disney property, you probably have some scrappers in your collection. Which is absolutely true!!

I wasn't trying to make you feel bad. Not at all. Just trying to help educate. I am not in this for any profit either. Just for my kids to enjoy another fun aspect to WDW.

 

[pixiewings71]

Well, I'm not in for profit either, but I sure don't want to spend $8 on a pin in the park and trade it for a scrapper. I avoid the lot sellers because IME they are almost always sending scrappers. I try very hard to only buy authentic pins, and no scrappers are not authentic. To those who have purchased scrappers from eBay my advice is to move forward and learn from the thread(s) that are on the Collector's Board.
Pin trading is very fun, I hope you enjoy it.

 

[a1tinkfans]

A lot of pin traders feel that scrappers are a huge problem, but honestly, the pins have no monetary value (even pins that are bought at the parks, so are definitely legitimate Disney pins, resell for next to nothing). And you have no way to know what you're getting when you trade with a cast member -- if you're getting mostly scrappers from ebay sellers, what do you think they have on their lanyards? The pins that cast members trade aren't closely scrutinized for legitimacy. Pin trading should be a fun family activity, a souvenier, an interaction with cast members -- so don't get so caught up in whether you're trading scrappers. Buy a bunch from ebay - look through the previously-referenced thread's list of "good sellers" if you're concerned and only buy from them - but still, you really don't know if you're getting "real" Disney pins. Keep what you like, knowing you're not really building something that will finance your kid's college education, and trade away.

And yes, pin trading is GREAT for an 8-year-old. Look for cast members wearing green lanyards- they ONLY trade with kids. There are pin boards - big boards with about 100 pins - in lots of places, and many of the shops have big scrapbooks filled with pins that you can look through. Ask about those. And be sure to check the lanyards of resort cast members -they don't get traded as much, so you might find good ones there. I know there are pin boards at Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom, and many more places. I've been trading (with and without my kids) for 12 years, and it's always fun.

As an aside, if your little one would be upset about losing a pin, consider purchasing the safety backs (also on ebay, we got these silver metal twist or clip on type) instead of using those mickey shaped black rubber ones, they tend to fall off, especially with all the jostling about ...
Heres to Having a wonderful time trading... what fun,,,,,

 

[erincon23]

Well, I'm not in for profit either, but I sure don't want to spend $8 on a pin in the park and trade it for a scrapper. I avoid the lot sellers because IME they are almost always sending scrappers. I try very hard to only buy authentic pins, and no scrappers are not authentic. To those who have purchased scrappers from eBay my advice is to move forward and learn from the thread(s) that are on the Collector's Board.
Pin trading is very fun, I hope you enjoy it.

I only buy authentic Disney pins at the parks that I want to keep, so I don't worry about trading an $8 pin for a potential scrapper (although I have sold many pins that I've bought at the parks, and I'm careful to note that in my ebay listings - went through a divestment period that I now regret...). If you're careful on ebay, you can buy reasonably-assured real pins, if that's important to you. But it's very hard to tell, and you don't have the luxury of being able to examine the pins on a cast member's lanyard to see if you're getting a potential scrapper (even if you can tell the difference). So it's like just about any other collection - I wouldn't spend $300 on a Dooney & Bourke purse, either. I would personally rather have more pins to trade than worry about the quality, especially because this, as I said before, isn't a collection that ultimately will have much, if any monetary value - its value is much more sentimental.

 

[wunkmom]

I wasn't trying to make you feel bad. Not at all. Just trying to help educate. I am not in this for any profit either. Just for my kids to enjoy another fun aspect to WDW.

No, you did not make me feel bad, no worries. I was just feeling bad about the whole situation. I really appreciate the assistance you provided with your knowledge!

 

[wendow]

No, you did not make me feel bad, no worries. I was just feeling bad about the whole situation. I really appreciate the assistance you provided with your knowledge!

Good, glad you didn't take it that way. Have fun trading! My kiddos can't wait

 

[mckinneyld2000]

I bought a "lot" of 25 pins a few weeks ago for the only purpose of having my kids trade the pins off to cast members or others. I also bought a few individual pins for a couple of buck each that could be used for trading as well. My daughter (3) really got into pins during our last trip so we've kind of created a pin crazy little monster. Of the pins that arrived, my daughter really was only interested in the pins that came from the lot of 25. Hopefully she'll like trading pins again during our next trip. For me, I get the most enjoyment out of seeing my daughter interact with the cast members and choosing which pins to trade and which ones not to trade.

 

[shalom]

if you're getting mostly scrappers from ebay sellers, what do you think they have on their lanyards? The pins that cast members trade aren't closely scrutinized for legitimacy. Pin trading should be a fun family activity, a souvenier, an interaction with cast members -- so don't get so caught up in whether you're trading scrappers.

Exactly. I've seen pins listed as scrappers that turned out to be legit pins, just a different "lot" with a tiny paint variation. Some scrappers are poor quality, but many of them even the experts can't tell them apart from a pin purchased from Disney.

That said, I would check any pin I was going to trade to make sure it's not dinged or chipped or obviously not well made. If you want to trade, nothing you can do about scrappers, because even most CMs trade them; if the idea of scrappers bothers you, buy direct from Disney or someone you trust and don't trade them out.

 

[CattailGal]

Which "locking backs" are best? I see a "butterfly" back and a type with a "squeeze flange"?

TIA,

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Bumping up an old thread as I have the same question...are any of the large pin lots of like 50 pins for $25 bucks on Ebay legit? My DD wants pins to trade on our next trip, and I thought that this could be a good way to get some for cheap. I don't want to be trading stuff that is fake or damaged/bent/dinged though. I don't know what a "scrapper" is exactly, other than maybe a factory second or something? I tried looking at the other thread referenced in here but it had been mostly deleted. Thanks!