I have a lanyard and pins... what now? (a bit long)

[LisaZoe]

I decided that it will be fun for DD and I to try pin trading on our upcoming WDW trip - a first visit for both of us. I've bought some pins on eBay and a few from DA PINs where I also got a Tinker Bell lanyard. I've put the DA pins and another one on it, 5 total, and I'm already wondering if I would want to wear it for long because it's not very light. I suppose I may get used to it so I don't even notice it but thought I'd check to see what the "experts" prefer to use when they go to the parks to play but also in case a trade presents itself. I know there are notebooks and packs specifically designed for pin storage and trading but I think those would be even more cumbersome to carry on rides.

BTW - I don't intend wearing all the pins I got on the lanyard but did think I'd have 10-12 each day of the ones I've designated as "traders". I also thought I'd put 4-6 on a lanyard for DD but now wonder if she'd even wear it.

One last question while I have your attention I bought a "lot" of cast lanyard pins on eBay - or at least all the ones shown in the seller's picture looked the same as ones on PinPics.com. I got these intending to use them as traders for DD and me but now wonder if that made sense since these originally came from CMs so the CMs we want to trade with may already have most of them. None of these pins are in the Series II set of cast lanyard pins so I'm hoping they'll be old enough to be less common now. What do you think?

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

I can't tolerate a lanyard in the parks either! Too heavy, usually too hot, and a problem when going on rides.

I keep my lanyard traders (pins I would trade to a CM lanyard) in a little ziploc bag in my pocket or fanny pack. If they're in my pockets, I try to remember "right pocket for traders, left pocket for the ones we want to keep."

<b>I would not put a DA pin on my lanyard, nor expect to trade it to a CM in the parks.</b> I do take a small pinbag (purse size) of real traders with me, usually in my backpack. My teenage son does the same, but keeps it in his fanny pack.

A little further explanation on why we take any <b>real</b> traders to the parks:
A couple years ago we missed a chance at a holy grail because we did not have any real traders with us as we walked through Epcot Pin Central.
So now we take a small bag of high-end traders so we don't ever miss one of those type of trades again.
Of course, the opportunity has never risen again in two years.

 

[SundancePass]

I hope you and your DD have a *great* time trading during your upcoming trip to WDW.

Two suggestions I might make: Take a small ziploc (baseball card sized) filled with your "traders". Wear your lanyard if you want to display some of your pins and take it off and put it away when it begins to wear on your neck (they get really heavy). Also, if you have a small "photo holder" (4X6) you can pin your DA PINS on the card to those pages and safely take your high end traders with you. I use a small 2000 WDW pin bag that hangs over my shoulder like a purse for my high end pins.

Do take your DA PINS with you to trade, but know what you might want for them as it will make it much easier for the other trader. The first question I'm asked is normally "what do you want for it". Sometimes I don't know for sure and that is frustrating for the person who wants the pin I have.

Have a great time! I hope you both just love trading!

Judy

 

[LisaZoe]

Thanks. I'm still not sure of the "etiquette" of trading. Do I approach someone I see with pin I might like and allow that person to chose from the pins I have that I'm willing to trade? I've read some great tips about how to make it easier for the other person to know which are traders, i.e. all on the left side of the lanyard, etc., but am still trying to understand some of the basics, such as the following:

What is the best way to initiate a trade?

What's the most tactful way to handle a trade request when the other person is offering a pin or pins I'm not interested in?

Is it considered rude to ask to look at a pin closely and check the back?

Is there a simple way to judge relative pin value? For example, I'd know a sold-out LE pin is "more valuable" than one still available for purchase at the parks but past that, I feel lost. I know I'll get more comfortable as time goes but I don't want to be seen as an "easy mark" by those traders I've heard referred to as "sharks". I'm not looking at this hobby as as a "long-term investment opportunity" so I may still trade one of "value" for another lessor value because I like it