I think I lack the outgoing gene necessary for pin trading...

[BeccaGrace]

When we were in WDW last year the only person to make a trade was my DD. My dh is definitely shy and while I am not shy, I do get very nervous approaching people about their pins and making trades. As a result, we focused solely on pin collecting (which is fun because we keep getting stuff we want without losing anything!) but I wish I had an easier time approaching people about their pins, even if just to talk about them.

Case in point...I was in Dunkin Donuts this morning (Milltown Rd. in North Brunswick, NJ in case it was one of you guys!) and the man in front of me had on a fisherman's cap with several Disney pins. I wanted so badly to ask if he traded or just collected but couldn't bring myself to ask. It was the same way I was at WDW; I saw people trading but got nervous about approaching them.

I wonder if attending a pin trading event might bring me out of my shell a bit? Or are there any other tips anyone has to deal with this? Am I the only one with pin trading anxiety?

 

[rapriebe]

I can totally relate to your "pin trading anxiety" -- I am not an "out-going" person. To walk up to a stranger and just start talking to them - well, that's not me. But when it comes to pin trading, I just approach a CM and ask if I can look at their pins. I check the pins out and then either request a trade or say Thank you and walk away. Alot of times the CMs are very friendly and they will start up a conversation which I appreciate because it helps me to interact. Believe me, it gets easier with every pin trade. My DH is still very quiet and most times he never says a word but just scopes out the pins while I'm talking. But even he is getting better.

So hang in there and keep trying to pursue the magical art of pin trading - it will get easier.

 

[daber]

I agree. It gets easier with time. Right now you are in the lurker stage. Just looking but not interacting. Wait til you see a pin you've never seen before and it would fit nice in your collection. Have you gone to pinpics and looked up the pins that fit your theme? That way you will know what pins are out there that you will have to trade in order to get them. That's the whole idea. Each of us can't be everywhere at all times.

The best part of pin trading is NOT the pins, but the friendships that develop over time with your fellow enthusiasts. We can be a WILD and CRAZY group. Come to the pin event in September and see what it's like to be in a room with over 1000 people trading pins. Start out slow looking over people's shoulders and watching them trade. Pretty soon you will stick you toe in the water. Just ask some of the others on this board.

Warning: Some people are RUDE and some are in it just to take advantage of you. You have to take the good with the bad and the ugly.

 

[~Kathie]

You might be surprised but there are a lot of pin traders just like you.

If you can't go to a scheduled pin event, the next time you are at WDW or DL make it a point to go to a Pin Trading Night. They are free and there are a lot of pin traders there. They have a special area just for kids to trade too.

You can walk around and watch people trading and look at people's pins. You'll see pins you'll never see on a CM's lanyard. Asking about a particular pin is a great way to start a conversation. Most people love to talk about their pins.

Next time you see that guy in Dunkin Donuts ask him!! He'll most likely be thrilled to tell you the history of every pin on his hat....when he got it....why he decided to buy it and how it ended up being one of his prized pins on his hat. He may not be a trader.......just a collector. I think it's interesting to hear why a pin is special to someone.

Are you going to the September pin event by any chance? If you are you'll see quite a few of us there.

There are many people on this board, now my life long friends, that I met through pin trading. I've met people from Maryland, California, Ohio, Missouri, Washington State, Virginia, Florida, New York and of course all the New England States and more. We've gone to events together, met at Disney World and Disneyland, met at pin meets and visted each other's homes.

There is a group in NJ that meets about 2X or more a year to trade. You should try to get to one of their meets. Going to pin meets is a great way to meet other traders and make pin friends. I found this old link from the DIS Board. Email John Rick and ask him about the meets.

Central New Jersey Pin Traders


As daber mentioned........there are some people would are very rude and just not nice. We just walk away. Don't let them scare you or discourage you. The majority of pin traders are wonderful.

Have fun!!

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

OH, please come to the pin event in September! (I can't believe I'm asking a complete stranger to do this)....I'm so shy myself that I've seen something on a lanyard I would like to trade for, but then for some reason (who knows?), I walk away....And then other times I'm fine with asking...

I've been fortunate in that I've found a couple really nice pin folks already...but I'm still TERRIFIED about the Sept pin event! I'm already booked...and my DH is coming down with me, but will play golf most of the time. So I'm on my own....which might be good, might be bad...

Trading with people (not just a CM) scares me to no end! I'm getting better with CM's - but even some of them intimidate me....

So I hope others will be there who are like me! Maybe we can all have our own group - the "newbies-sort of afraid-but we're grownups, why are we afraid" kind of group!

If you decide to go, I hope to meet you! I think...this could be a lot of fun...or scar me for life...but I'm willing to give it a try...

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Our family is the same way...and we only trade w/CM's. We do this for a couple of reasons but mainly because it's what we are comfortable with. My kids really wouldn't want a stranger coming up to them and starting a conversation. It would probably be okay with another child about the same age, but an adult would make them nervous.

 

[Dom13]

I would STRONGLY reccomend the CJDPTs. They are a wonderful bunch of people that are fun and friendly. They have 2 large meets every year and several smaller ones. You can contact Janis at JLTraveldreams@cs.com for dates and times.

 

[4chitlins]

I agree with those who have trouble talking to people they don't know. The cast members are usually very nice but it is still hard in the beginning. It definately gets easier with time. It's not too bad for me because all 4 of my kids collect pins and we are always trading amongst ourselves. A great way to spend an evening.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Come on by to the CJDPT - there are at least once a month and are very low key and a lot of fun. We've been trading there for about 18 months and made some good friends. The weekend events can get a bit frantic, but the monthly Friday night or Saturday afternoon times are a lot of fun.