First you should hit two pin sites for some info to get your feet wet.
One is
www.dizpins.com, it's mainly a site that lets you know about the world of disney pins and pin trading, it has a message board area like this one, with info about pins and how to trade with CM or other pin traders. Here is the address that will take you right to the message boards :
http://pub114.ezboard.com/bdizpinsboards
On the dizpins message board you can find a sales board, were you can pick up some traders, to trade with CMs in the park for about $3 to 4 each. Some times less.
The second one you should look at is:
www.pinpics.com, this is a site with pic and info on nearly 20,000 + disney pins that are floting around out there. This will give you a good idea of what the latest releases are, and what the retail price of the pin was when it came out. Pinpics will give you an idea of what a rack pin is ( a pin that sold for $6.50 to $8.50 at the parks, and made in large amounts) to a limited Edition pin ( a pin that is made is limited amounts like 2000, some times more or less, and can sell from $8.50 to $15.00 at the parks) and then you have CM only pins (pins that only CMs can purchase) and then you have CM lanyard pins (pins that you can only get if you trade for it with a CM at the parks.) And lets not forget the
Disney Store pins (pins sold here in the US the UK and Japan, that can sell for about $4.00 each)
Now when it comes to Ebay, you really do need to know what the retail price of a pin is, this way you do not spend more on a pin than you have to. Like, I try my best not to spend more than $3.00 over retail for a pin. But I love it if I can find a pin for 50% off retail or more. It can be done if you know what you are looking for.
Another thing on Ebay, don't spend more than $2.50 for shipping. And if you can, make sure that you buy from some one who will combine shipping, for more than one purchase from them. There are some sellers out there who start their pins at really low prices like .95 cents, but then they stick it to you with the shipping, they will charge you like $4.50 to ship one pin and not combine shipping. It really dose not coast more than $1.00 to ship a pin. But you need to keep in mind the sellers time and ebay fees. So make sure you read the whole pin describtion, to see what the seller charges for shipping.
Here are some of the seller of disney pins on ebay that I look at when I need to pick up some cheap traders for CM laynards, and have never had a problem with them:
MrDisneyPins:
http://stores.ebay.com/MrDisneyPins
CMJ-Bear Disney Pins and Steiff:
http://stores.ebay.com/CMJ-Bear-Disney-Pins-and-Steiff
Dispins:
http://stores.ebay.com/Dispins
When you are looking for cheap traders, you should look for groups of pins. But try not to spend more that $2 to $4 dollars on each pin in a group. I have seen some pin groups of 24 rack pins for $20.00 this is a great deal. But you have to keep your eyes out for them.
Now when it comes to tradeing with CMs there are some basic rules.
1) The pin that you trade with the CM has to be a disney pin. Meaning it has to have the Disney stamp on the back. Now beware of fantasy pins or fakes, yes these are out there, but some of them are listed on pinpics. If I can get a good pick of a pin back so that you can see what I mean I will either added here or e-mail it or PM it to you.
2) The pin must be made of enamle. It can not be made of wood, plastic or rubber. And it must be a real pin, not one that is made by adding a pin back to the back of the pin. Yes this has been done and its a no-no.
This rubber Eeyore head can not be traded with a CM. But you can trade it with other pin traders.
BUT
This enamle of Stich in a hammock, can be traded with CMs and other pin traders.
3) When you come up to a CM and you ask to make the trade. Know that you can not trade a pin away that a CM already has on thier lanyard. You have trade with a pin that the CM does not already have.
I know that it sounds like a lot, but its really not. And as soon as you get the basics down the rest will come soon enough. If you have any other questions, or if a question wasn't really answered just post it here or PM me. I will try to help the best that I can.
