How does pin trading work?

[Splashboat]

100AcreWood - Disney should be about having fun. If you are going to feel you need to inspect everything so you are not disappointed, you might want to reconsider. Personally, I am happy with whatever pins put a smile on my daughter's face.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

100AcreWood - Disney should be about having fun. If you are going to feel you need to inspect everything so you are not disappointed, you might want to reconsider. Personally, I am happy with whatever pins put a smile on my daughter's face.

I'm kind of appalled by your "don't care" attitude about imposter pins.

Sure, we like to save a buck or three at the parks so we can do other fun stuff, but for many, this is more than just something to do in the parks - it's a hobby. People collect things because it's fun and it's something that matters. AND IT'S SOMETHING OF VALUE.

If you have ever collected anything in your life: Beanie Babies, Cabbage Patch dolls, Star Wars figures - you know that if you ended up with an imposter piece, you'd be pretty upset since you paid genuinely for it.

And actually, your insistance upon not caring about trading bad pins breaks basic pin trading rules (trading bad pins is not allowed) is actually a violation here on the boards. We, as part of the user agreement, agree not to pass on info on how to skirt the rules.

Don't ruin something that is fun for everyone because you don't care what you trade out, as long as your family gets the best.

 

[100AcreWood]

100AcreWood - Disney should be about having fun. If you are going to feel you need to inspect everything so you are not disappointed, you might want to reconsider. Personally, I am happy with whatever pins put a smile on my daughter's face.

Wasn't trying to offend. Just trying to respect the rules the others mentioned.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Op - you can have a blast pin trading - hit up that other thread for tips and you'll be all set.

I'm actually introducing my BFF to the actual "trading" aspect to collecting in December. She's only ever purchased pins, never traded for them!

Since my kids got into it in May, they started a couple sets that I would like to try and find the finishing pieces when I go later this year. I tell ya, if you start collecting pin sets, the more eyes you have, the better! Nine of us were looking for a few sets and found them all! We would take what we all found, and compared it to the site that show ALL pin sets ever produced to see what else we needed.

It was so much fun!

When we got back, I purchased 11x14 artist canvas and have stuck all my kid's pins on it to hang in their room. They're 2 and 4 and LOVE showing them off - now I can just keep them from playing with mine! I have a "locket" pin - one of the 40th anniversary pins with Tink and you open it up to find a picture of Uncle Walt... the kids want to see him! I find the pin open all.the.time!

 

[ericf70]

I was looking into getting pins for my kids to trade on our upcoming trip in August. After reading some threads on here about counterfeit pins and the ones selling on ebay for a dollar each being scrappers, I'm not so sure anymore. Spending $4-$10 on authentic pins and then trading them for potential pins that are possible fakes and worth alot less isn't so appealing.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

eric - you CAN get genuine pins on eBay (for a good price). Just do your homework ahead of time and follow the tips of those before you!

 

[Splashboat]

I'm kind of appalled by your "don't care" attitude about imposter pins.

Sure, we like to save a buck or three at the parks so we can do other fun stuff, but for many, this is more than just something to do in the parks - it's a hobby. People collect things because it's fun and it's something that matters. AND IT'S SOMETHING OF VALUE.

If you have ever collected anything in your life: Beanie Babies, Cabbage Patch dolls, Star Wars figures - you know that if you ended up with an imposter piece, you'd be pretty upset since you paid genuinely for it.

And actually, your insistance upon not caring about trading bad pins breaks basic pin trading rules (trading bad pins is not allowed) is actually a violation here on the boards. We, as part of the user agreement, agree not to pass on info on how to skirt the rules.

Don't ruin something that is fun for everyone because you don't care what you trade out, as long as your family gets the best.

I find it very strange that you are so "appalled" and interpreted my comment as encouraging people to look for 'impostor' pins to turn around and trade for something of more value. I have never traded any impostor pins myself. I have bought some very nice quality pins off EBAY on several occasions. On a separate note, my daughter received 3 collectible trading pins for her birthday which were worth a lot more than $2, however, she did not like them so she traded them at the parks last visit. I certainly didn't tell her to hold off to find something of equal value before trading. Perhaps you benefited from her attitude of finding a pin she like over value. I was just glad to see she liked what she got in return. A lot of people we talk to in the parks trade pins for fun and to create memories with their children. If you trade for a serious hobby, then you are well aware of what to trade and what not to trade so I am not sure why you are so upset. Hope you go to Disney soon and have a wonderful vacation (not sarcasm, you really sound like you need a break)

 

[100AcreWood]

If anyone is willing to recommend a legit seller on ebay, I'll take the recommendation!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Splashboat]

Look for the people who state they are authentic trading pins. Make sure that they offer refunds if the quality is not as promised. Lastly, I look for people who have good reputations with excellent feedback. (You can always have a few people complain but generally most of the feedback is very positive for reliable sellers.)

 

[stargazertechie]

Completely untrue. We have never had a problem with our purchases from ebay. I am not sure what you even mean by "..ruin pin trading for the rest of us." The majority of people who trade pins do it for the fun of pin trading, not because they are looking to find one worth gold. As a pin trader, you have the option to trade or not trade so there is no reason to trade for anything that is not a disney pin or anything you do not want to accept.

You probably had many scrappers in your eBay purchases and didn't know what to look for. Scrappers for the most part look very similar to their authentic counterparts- (c)Disney on the back, same shapes as authorized pins. Some are glaringly obvious (wrong colors, wrong backstamps, elements upside down) and some are much more subtle (slight paint variation, lighter weight metal, false LE stamp, wrong year).
If the pins came in individual zip baggies, that is one sign that they are almost certainly scrappers.

If you want to pass off illegally produced merchandise to unsuspecting children via CMs just so you can save a dollar, well that's not very honest or Disney of you to do. I trade in the parks, I've gotten burned by scrappers, and it sucks that I've gotten "stolen goods" in exchange for an authentic pin.

 

[Splashboat]

I don't know if you will find this helpful, but below is a link that might give you some new information.


http://disneypincollecting.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/how-to-tell-a-fake-from-the-real-thing/

 

[t_catt11]

You know, I had this silly idea.

I thought that, for once, we were going to get a pin trading thread that only discussed actual pin trading.

Alas, like several other "impossible to discuss on the Dis" topics, it has gone where 100% of pin trading threads do - into scrapper territory.

ah, well.

 

[stargazertechie]

TCatt, the OP asked for Tips, Tricks and WARNINGS. I did just that.

 

[stargazertechie]

Look for the people who state they are authentic trading pins. Make sure that they offer refunds if the quality is not as promised. Lastly, I look for people who have good reputations with excellent feedback. (You can always have a few people complain but generally most of the feedback is very positive for reliable sellers.)

Actually, one of the biggest red flags on eBay are people who use words like "authentic, genuine, 100% tradable".

Red Flag #2- more than one negative feedback that say people
Got scrappers or fakes. Some of the biggest eBay scrapper dealers had 99%+ satisfaction ratings before they got busted.

Red Flag #3- shipping from outside US- especially China and Hong Kong

Red Flag #4- multiple large (10+) pin lots, pick your own pin lots, and assorted grab bag lots.

Red Flag #5- $/pin less than $2 or so.

The Dis collectors board has a good eBay primer, as well as a good/bad sellers list. If you want to go the eBay route, do your research first.