How to start out pin-trading?

[scubamouse]

My DS7 and DD5 want to pin trade for our next trip. I was thinking that Santa might get them each some pins for Christmas. I want to start with inexpensive pins and saw these deals on ebay (there are lots like this)

http://cgi.ebay.com/10-Mickey-Disne...goryZ143QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

We would only trade with CMs. Can any trading experts share some pointers for starting out? Do CMs worry about the rarity or value of pins when they trade? What should I be thinking about?

Thanks

 

[kdsjjb]

After four trips to WDW, we knew nothing about pin trading until our 5th trip in 2005. DS was 8 at the time and had spent a week in Cooperstown watching his brother play baseball and trade pins with teams from around the World, and thought it was the coolest thing ever.

When we got to Disney and he discovered that they did it there, he went hog wild. He spent all of his allowance money (all that we would let him spend anyway) on pins to keep and trade. He (and we) spent a good bit of money for pins.

For our last trip, I bought pins off of ebay, just like you are looking at. He was in Heaven when they came. We took a ton of the new pins and a lot of his old pins, and he had a ball.

CM's will trade whatever you offer for whatever they have. We would encourage the CM trading, but would allow him to trade with other kids, or some adults in the right situation. We never let him trade with "professional traders" that we encountered at DTD. I just didn't care for the attitude or demeanor of the ones we encountered.

We also told DSiL to try the ebay route for her first trip, since my DNehps. were enthralledwith their cousin's pins.

She loved it. Got 50 or so pinsfor about $50 and let the boys trade away.

I say go for it.

 

[Hootch]

is working there was a long thread about a month ago on how to properly trade pins. There are CMs that trade only with kids. That's probably a good place to start.

 

[karajeboo]

When we went in 2006 my DD was 5 and we thought it might be fun to buy her the beginning pin trader lanyard. We then introduced her to a CM who gave us all the pointers. They don't typically wear any rare pins because they are required to make up to two trades with any children wanting to trade with them. We even had some CMs who just gave my daughter a pin without getting one in return (it's hard to get a 5 year old girl to part with a princess pin!). We went from stopping for autographs from every character we saw, to stopping to trade pins just as soon as DD saw a CM with a lanyard!

Have fun! And I ordered some $5 pins from www.pinfinder.com for DD for stocking stuffers this year to use on our next trip in May.

 

[scubamouse]

We went from stopping for autographs from every character we saw, to stopping to trade pins just as soon as DD saw a CM with a lanyard!

I totally see this happening!

 

[scubamouse]

I found this on another thread when I searched and thought it was really helpful

Here are some basic tips to getting started:

1) you can trade with any CM that has a pin lanyard in the parks, stores, restaurants, resorts, DTD etc. Green lanyards mean the CM can trade with anyone, yellow means the CM will only trade with kids. Also, some CM's do not wear lanyards around their necks, some have them clipped to their belts.

2) keep it fun, and don't worry too much about how rare a pin is or whats it worth. Collect and trade for what you want and what is valuable to you.

3) basic pin types - rack, limited edition, & hidden mickey/ cast Lanyard

a) rack - the normal pins that can be bought anywhere in WDW.
b) limited edition - can be bought at places in WDW, can be found at special events etc. These are more scarce than normal rack pins and most state limited edition of ## on the back or the pin will indicate it was part of an event. Often referred to as LE's. IE LE250. Limited edition of 250, only 250 made
c) hidden mickey/ cast lanyard - These can only be obtained by trading with CM's and cannot be bought at WDW. They usually have a hidden Mickey on the pin.

4) beware cheap pins like Sedesma, scrappers etc. More info on these can be found at pinpics.com. These do not look as good as pins found at WDW and many do not have a gloss finish and are made of thinner metal.

5) everything that you need to get started can be found at any store or resort at WDW.

6) it doesn't matter how many times you trade. we trade once a year on vacation which makes it even more fun. (we live in Maine)

7) and finally, once you become more familiar with pins, you can find nice trading lots to bring with you to the parks to trade with on e-bay for about $3 a pin. Just make sure that you buy a lot that states/ pictures what you are getting not that you may get some of these.

I guess that's it. Have fun.....

 

[linskypens]

I would suggest that you buy some on ebay to trade.I get mine from there...some things to look for when you are buying on EBAY.
Make sure it says no Sedesma pins.They are made in spain, are really cheap crap, and some CM's won't trade them.
Make sure they all have a disney logo on the back.
Take a look at feedback numbers.
It always is a good idea to make sure the pins you are actually getting are the ones pictured.it will say so in the auction.
Never buy so-called GRAB BAG pins.These are usually really cheap.remember even on EBAY you get what you pay for.You can definately get them cheaper on Ebay than you can at the parks.
Have fun!!!!

 

[Kae]

That set on E bay looks like a good set. One time we were eating at Cape May for Breakfast & DS was really into Peter Pan & Chip & Dale, so one side of the lanyard PP & the other C & D well goofy saw this & after his break he came out with a lanyard all Goofy pins & had DS pick one, and would not take one of DS's. The handler said that Goofy wanted DS to have a Goofy pin. then Goofy acted like the other pins were yucky. 6 yrs ago & DS still talks about that pin.

Kae