Does anyone else buy pins with no intention of trading?

[kabbie]

Every pin I buy I can't imagine trading. Am I the only one?

Also, I have another question...Do the Disney resorts have pins?

 

[NHMickey]

I have bought a few (like 100's) that I had no intention of trading. For the most part I traded them for other pins I wanted more. I still have a lot that I will never trade because I have never found a pin I wanted more than the one I have.

And yes most resorts have pins.

 

[WDWPinCollector]

I, too, am a pin collector rather than a trader. At first I went crazy, but now I basically focus on collecting:
1. Passholder exclusive pins
2. Disney Visa rewards card pins
3. Certain limited edition pins
4. Occasional open edition pins

I've been to both pin trading events so far at the Contemporary but my visits were more for getting a sneak peak at upcoming pins. It's always a relief when I see pins that I'm not particularly interested in collecting--it means I can keep my wallet in my pocket!

 

[jobie61]

Oh yes..... All the pins I buy are not for trading. The only pins I trade are the ones I buy in lots on Ebay.

We use the E-Bay pins to trade fro CM Lanyard Pins, or any other quality pins we spot.

 

[daber]

I think all of us started out just buying pins we affectionately call "Keepers".

But, then you realize you are missing one of the best elements of this crazy hobby. Trading. At first, you realize that there are pins you want that you couldn't get for whatever reason, most being don't live near________ (DL, WDW, DSF, DSNYC, DLPR, Tokyo, etc.) or don't have the money to go on the Disney Cruise that week. So now I need pins that people will trade for the pin I want. As time goes by you start to realize what other people collect (Tinkerbell, Stitch, Chip and Dale, etc.) and this helps.

But the true benefit is not in the pins you trade or get in return, it's the friendships that develop over time. That's why, for example, the Parkhopper Pin Party is such a success. To me, pins are secondary. The friendships are prime. Vince, Suzi, Nat, Ruthie, NJBlackberry, et al. and all the stories like the small bottle of Jack Daniels with a Kungaloosh tag from Germany.

 

[MKhead72]

My kids have picked up the habit of buying 4 at a time. 2 they want to keep, and 2 to trade with. My daughter has a hard time parting with the pins, while my son is busy scoping out the cm lanyards. It got to the point of the last time we were there, the cm's remembered my sons name, the next day !! While my daughter couldn't make up her mind if she wanted to trade or not. I think the next trip my wife and myself are going to buy our own lanyards, so we can get in on the craze. Up until this point we were always helping them to spot the "special" pins. Now that they know what they both like and look for, we too will be able to enjoy our own "special" pins. By the way, our last trip we heard of a pin that was on a cm lanyard, that was valued at $500.00. I bet whoever traded for it sure was shocked to find that out !!!

 

[Parkhopper]

I think all of us started out just buying pins we affectionately call "Keepers".


But the true benefit is not in the pins you trade or get in return, it's the friendships that develop over time. That's why, for example, the Parkhopper Pin Party is such a success. To me, pins are secondary. The friendships are prime. Vince, Suzi, Nat, Ruthie, NJBlackberry, et al. and all the stories like the small bottle of Jack Daniels with a Kungaloosh tag from Germany.

So true Dave! The friendships from all over the world mean so much more than ANY pin ever could!! We have made friends that will remain friends for life through this hobby. Several of our friends have "gotten out of pins" for one reason or another, but we have remained wonderful friends. We will miss having the Parkhopper Pin Parties, but cherish the friends and memories we have made. Heck, we have a pin friend from Germany who has come to our last two pin parties - in spirit!!

Suzi

 

[Luv2Roam]

I buy mostly keepers. I don't buy traders near as much as I use to. If I do, they are mostly Cast pins. And even then I don't buy many extras -- usually just one.

 

[figment_jii]

I buy pins (at DL and WDW, when I get there) that I want to keep. Mostly because you can't find to many Figment pins in DL.

I buy traders on-line (in grab bags generally) so when I go to DL and WDW I can trade for anything that catches my eye. My starting stock came from pins I had gotten before that didn't care for so much anymore or doubles that I'd accidently bought more than one of.

 

[BONITATIME]

I think most traders buy keeper pins. The trading is just a way to get more pins you want to keep.
I try not to buy more than 2 of any pin unless I think they will trade very well.

 

[helenm29]

You are most definately NOT the only one who buys pins just for yourself! I have my favorites...Stitch and POTS...that I tend to buy more then others but there are lots of other cute ones out there that I also buy. I wear a vest at work and put a bunch of pins on that..they call me "the Disney lady"
I have great fun doing that.
I found that most resorts have some type of shop that carries pins....usually a very good assortment! just go and take a look! HM

 

[luvthemouse71]

Similar to what someone else posted, I am also a collector more than a trader. I'm not against trading, but I only have certain pins that I'll trade. I buy most of my "keepers". Many of my favorites probably have little value to someone else, but they have sentimental value and memories tied in with them.

 

[din]

I too buys pins to keep. My pins are in display case on the wall in the study or the family room. I only collect pins that are limited editionwhen I am visiting WDW/DL/DCL etc... The most recent being the DL windows pins..

 

[kjkcool]

I have traded a grand total of one pin in my 5 years of collecting.
I'm a pin hoarder,not a pin trader!lol

 

[Disneyfan18951]

I too am a pin keeper. I buy pins that catch my eye or for an event ie MNSSHP or MVMCP. I bought an Alice Tea pin from GF when I had tea there, one for the opening of EE that type of thing.

I use my pins as push tacks on my bulletin board. with the extras filling in the sides. I like to see them not have them hidden away somewhere.

 

[pegster56]

I'm in the collecting, not trading camp also! I only buy a pin if it has some meaning or connection. My patriotic Mickey was bought right after 9/11 -- my way of showing my loyalty/support of USA. When I wear it, I remember why and when I bought it. So once I find a pin really like, I can't give it up! And when I wear a pin, someone always asks or comments about it!

 

[BeccaGrace]

I started buying pins for dh to trade during our 12/05 trip and soon discovered that he a) had no interest in trading and b) wanted to keep every pin he bought...my dd traded one pin with a CM (and it was a nightmare experience) but we've decided that we were much more interested in collecting pins we love and keeping them for the girls to keep as they get older. They love looking through dh's pin books and deciding which are their favorites--they have gotten much too attached to part ways with any of them

 

[leanan]

I almost never trade my LE pins. There are also a few regular opens I would not trade. Basically though a lot of my opens I eventually get tired of and use for trading. My latest never going to be traded purchase is my Year Of The Pig Miss Piggy pin. It is so terribly cute. I do have several pass holder only pins that I would trade and some I would never trade.

DD only collects stitch pins. She would never dream of trading any of her pins. She loves them all.

 

[photo_chick]

I am an obsessive collector. Drives my DH crazy. My 6 year old DD is too.

 

[wdwgirl03]

I only have about 50 pins, and there is no way I'd ever trade them!