Getting pins online to trade?

[Goofygirl17]

Our last two trips our girls really wanted to pin trade but the pins are so expensive! I've seen that people buy them on ebay but also read that some of the pins aren't genuine Disney and people don't like that they get traded.

So my questions are:
Can I get a good deal on genuine pins on ebay?

How do I know they're genuine pins?

Any advice or opinions?

Thanks!
Goofygirl

 

[hvanes]

Absolutely, you can. We did this - look for a reputable seller and make sure the description says that they are genuine. Always ask specifically if you're in doubt.

Some of the eBay pins in the lot I purchased were kind of ho-hum, but since they were authentic, my kids were able to trade them all over the World for pins they really loved!

 

[stargazertechie]

So my questions are:
Can I get a good deal on genuine pins on ebay?

How do I know they're genuine pins?

You *can* get a good deal on Ebay, but not by buying those gigantic lots of 50, 100, 200 pins. Those are full of scrappers.

If a seller is selling multiple lots of 25, 50, 100+ pins, or they have a TON of feedback (1000+ transactions) of large pin lots, you can almost guarantee they're selling counterfeit pins.

It is VERY hard to tell a scrapper pin from a legitimate pin unless you have a known authentic copy of the pin, or you spend hours on pinpics comparing them.

You can buy individual pins on ebay for less than the $7 that Disney charges, and usually you can combine shipping on them. Expect to pay $2-$4 per pin this way. It doesn't eliminate the risk of counterfeits, but it greatly reduces the chance that you'll end up with bogus pins.

 

[Oglet]

I think a lot (not everyone) of people really don't care about what they buy on eBay. They buy junk and pass it off to CM's so they dont have to pay for good pins.

Just my observations

 

[Goofygirl17]

Absolutely, you can. We did this - look for a reputable seller and make sure the description says that they are genuine. Always ask specifically if you're in doubt.

Some of the eBay pins in the lot I purchased were kind of ho-hum, but since they were authentic, my kids were able to trade them all over the World for pins they really loved!

You *can* get a good deal on Ebay, but not by buying those gigantic lots of 50, 100, 200 pins. Those are full of scrappers.

If a seller is selling multiple lots of 25, 50, 100+ pins, or they have a TON of feedback (1000+ transactions) of large pin lots, you can almost guarantee they're selling counterfeit pins.

It is VERY hard to tell a scrapper pin from a legitimate pin unless you have a known authentic copy of the pin, or you spend hours on pinpics comparing them.

You can buy individual pins on ebay for less than the $7 that Disney charges, and usually you can combine shipping on them. Expect to pay $2-$4 per pin this way. It doesn't eliminate the risk of counterfeits, but it greatly reduces the chance that you'll end up with bogus pins.

I just looked quickly at ebay and there was a lot of 20 for about $18, it said genuine pins etc but then when I checked their other auctions they had a ton of the same auction just ending at different times. I don't know how they could be genuine if they have that many lots to sell.

I don't want to buy fake pins and trade because then someone else ends up with fake pins.

Guess I need to do more research.

Thanks!

 

[stargazertechie]

Another suggestion would be to check into a few of the online pin trading communities (I don't think we're allowed to post links to them here). A lot of times members sell off their pins they no longer want.

If you will have a car on your trip, if you go to the outlet malls (15 minute drive from the parks) the Disney Character Outlets tend to have pins for $3-$4 each there.

 

[bytheblood]

mousepinsonline.com is my favorite site to purchase pins. They are all official Disney pins.

 

[Goofygirl17]

Thanks. Just curious, what are Sedesma pins?

Never mind- found a thread explaining.

 

[TheAceOfAces]

I think a lot (not everyone) of people really don't care about what they buy on eBay. They buy junk and pass it off to CM's so they dont have to pay for good pins.

Just my observations

Sadly, this is the truth in a lot of cases. My basic rule of thumb is if the price seems too good to be true, something's up. Some people will sell individual pins for lower than what Disney charges (usually because of financial issues or just because they need to get rid of stuff- situations like this are often explained in the description to help eliminate doubt), but I personally wouldn't buy pins on eBay any other way than that. Just my perspective on the matter.

 

[Goofygirl17]

Thanks everyone. I think I'll order them from mousepinsonline. It sounds the most legit. I wouldn't want to be trading fake pins but I also don't want to pay too much either.

Thanks again!
Goofygirl

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Our last two trips our girls really wanted to pin trade but the pins are so expensive! I've seen that people buy them on ebay but also read that some of the pins aren't genuine Disney and people don't like that they get traded.

So my questions are:
Can I get a good deal on genuine pins on ebay?

How do I know they're genuine pins?

Any advice or opinions?

Thanks!
Goofygirl

eBay does get good deals on pins but you will never know if they are genuine. My friend found a way from a CM how to tell a genuine Disney Pin from a counterfeit, but you can't do that online. CMs will usually allow the Pin to be traded anyway, still I find it very unfair. Your best bet is go to the parks or Disney stores and just buy the pins there. If you want a good deal, buy the mystery pin cases at the Disney parks, where they only cost like $10 for two pins. You usually don't know what pins they are, but they are great for the trading aspect since they aren't amazing pins. So I advise not using eBay, it is never as it seems on there.

 

[disneydotlee]

We haunted Ebay weeks before we went. We got some really good deals that were not counterfeit

 

[Goofygirl17]

We haunted Ebay weeks before we went. We got some really good deals that were not counterfeit

How did you know they were genuine? Did you buy them in groups or one at a time?

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Since this thread is about how to get pins at places other than the Disney parks, I've moved it to the Collector's board. There are plenty of people here who can tell you how to get pins from eBay and other suppliers, as well as how to prevent getting scrappers and counterfeits.

 

[ksass]

I just looked quickly at ebay and there was a lot of 20 for about $18, it said genuine pins etc but then when I checked their other auctions they had a ton of the same auction just ending at different times. I don't know how they could be genuine if they have that many lots to sell.

I don't want to buy fake pins and trade because then someone else ends up with fake pins.

Guess I need to do more research.

Thanks!

When I tried that once... Said it was former cast member selling their pins...never got anything but a letter from eBay apologizing hat he was a scam
And I was out my money learned my lesson!!!

 

[Goofygirl17]

That's what it looks like. I don't see how they could have that many genuine pins and be selling them in huge lots.

I think I'm going to order some from mousepinsonline although I'm not sure how I can tell they're legit either.

Thanks

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Check out the good and bad ebay seller thread. The information you are looking for is in the first post.

 

[Doug7856]

If they aren't legit, why doesn't Disney shut them down?

 

[Doug7856]

Well I have to say I learned a lot tonight! I had purchased a small "lot" of "genuine" Disney pins on ebay and planned to buy some more before our next trip for our boys to trade. I have to say after reading the threads suggested above, I won't be buying any more lots on ebay. How unfair to trade "scrappers" when people pay good money for pins!

Thanks for an education on pins.

I still don't understand why Disney can't pressure ebay to shut down counterfeit pin sellers.

 

[mafpi]

I think alot of people just don't care. They look at pin trading as something for the kids to do on a Disney vacation, like getting autographs. They dont want to spend good money on a pin for their kid, just to see them tradi it for a pin they could of bought for cheaper. So they just buy lots, give them to there kids to go have fun. To them it is just a pin. Disney store once had a Snow white set of eight pins on clearance for $5. I bought about 20 of them just so my kids could trade. They love trading. Have they traded to a CM for a "scrapper". Probably, but they had fun doing it. I have bought my kids $8 pins, and they are not allowed to trade those. They could do whatever they want with the pins I bought them at the Disney Store or the ones that they have traded for. And if they have traded for "scrappers", my opinion is that they are just pins. For the record, I have not bought any from ebay.