Let’s help new pin traders avoid the cheap pins

[cyiland]

Scrapper pins DO HAVE A SMELL! They do, they do, they do!

I am not the only one who has noticed it, and I am getting frustrated by people not recognizing that this is a legitimate claim. There is a VERY distinctive odor to the fakes we have received.

<snip>

The folks on the DizPins boards fall over themselves laughing when the topic comes up, but the thing is, if the pins smell funny you should inspect them VERY carefully. When we looked at all of ours with a magnifying glass it wasn't good.

TishaMoon, you are 100% right about the smell - don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Yes, yes, yes. I had not read this thread, but got a 50 pin lot from "cfc93" a couple of weeks ago. While there were pins that I'm sure were "good", there were also many scrapper pins. And the smell was really bad. I apologized to my wife, and wondered if this trader worked at a gas station!

Regarding this trader, many of the pins were in the super-thin plastic bags (stapled shut), others in small cheapy ziploc bags. I BELIEVE that the DL-Paris pins were good for the most part, but I selected 16 or 17 and returned them to the seller for a swap, per his suggestion. Though he said he does NOT deal with scrappers, he had no real explanation for those cheap plastic bags - he said HE puts the pins in those to protect them. I told him that if that was the case, he could convince me of that by including a few of those bags (unused, no staples) along with the replacements. That way, I could see that he really had "new" bags. I assumed that he was getting these scrapper pins in already-stapled bags, so he if he was indeed a scrapper "importer", he wouldn't have empty bags to provide.

So what did I get for my replacement set? About 22 "guaranteed non-scrapper" pins. None were in bags this time (obviously, they'd been removed). No new, empty bags, either. And when I received this second shipment, I still found at least some that I'm convinced were in FACT scrappers. In short, the seller is polite, and went to effort to avoid negative feedback, but I can't recommend him. He's another case of (what appears to me to be) an obvious scrapper with great feedback due probably to just the lack of knowledgeable buyers.

So if you have a gas/turpentine smell, I think it's safe to assume you're dealing with (a) a scrapper, (b) a gas station.

 

[GrumpyIsMe]

Just became a new member of the DISboards and this is my first post. Took the family to WDW for the first time in March 2006 and we were hooked on trading ever since. Had bought a few pins on eBay and fortunately all were legit pins. Thanks for the great info.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Yes, yes, yes. I had not read this thread, but got a 50 pin lot from "cfc93" a couple of weeks ago. While there were pins that I'm sure were "good", there were also many scrapper pins. And the smell was really bad. I apologized to my wife, and wondered if this trader worked at a gas station!

Regarding this trader, many of the pins were in the super-thin plastic bags (stapled shut), others in small cheapy ziploc bags. I BELIEVE that the DL-Paris pins were good for the most part, but I selected 16 or 17 and returned them to the seller for a swap, per his suggestion. Though he said he does NOT deal with scrappers, he had no real explanation for those cheap plastic bags - he said HE puts the pins in those to protect them. I told him that if that was the case, he could convince me of that by including a few of those bags (unused, no staples) along with the replacements. That way, I could see that he really had "new" bags. I assumed that he was getting these scrapper pins in already-stapled bags, so he if he was indeed a scrapper "importer", he wouldn't have empty bags to provide.

So what did I get for my replacement set? About 22 "guaranteed non-scrapper" pins. None were in bags this time (obviously, they'd been removed). No new, empty bags, either. And when I received this second shipment, I still found at least some that I'm convinced were in FACT scrappers. In short, the seller is polite, and went to effort to avoid negative feedback, but I can't recommend him. He's another case of (what appears to me to be) an obvious scrapper with great feedback due probably to just the lack of knowledgeable buyers.

So if you have a gas/turpentine smell, I think it's safe to assume you're dealing with (a) a scrapper, (b) a gas station.

I am sorry this happened to you. We have gotten scrappers from that seller, too. But if I recall correctly it was only 3 or 4 pins and I didn't realize they were scrappers until WAY after the fact. I am pretty sure they were pins we intended to keep (DL pirate cast lanyard pins, maybe?) so I never got into it with the seller.

PinPics specifically says the pins in those bags with one staple are suspect, and if they have that smell I would bet money that they are scrappers.

 

[tinkerbee]

Can anyone vouch for the eBay seller hppydiztrader?

I have purchased pins off this person before and had no problems. They are great pins. They are all official trading pins.Just like bizzybee1 I have bought from them too and they are great too. I have also bid against them when they bid on large lots so maybe that is how they can sell them for the price they do. I have seen many people on Ebay do that. Buy large lots then resell them or they might get a discount from someone. How can anyone on ebay sell pins for less than $9.00 and make a profit if they don't have someone else they buy pins from?

 

[actionvaughn]

Thanks tinkerbee! I actually went ahead and ordered from hppydiztrader and got some great results. I got 250 pins, all official WDW and on cards with price tags and everything. Was very happy with them.

I've actually ordered from bizzybee1 about three times before too. All official DLR and on cards too. Both are recommended by myself.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

anyone ever buy from maxheadroom777

?

I just bought 3 pins and feedback was good but after researching here and other places I am now nervous about scrappers.

I also made an offer on a LE Mickeys Not SO Scary Halloween Party Pin from 2006 (We attended this party but dd was not into pin trading at the time) butthe seller lists no number on the back. Are all limited editions numbered and if so should I ask her to provide this information?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

anyone ever buy from maxheadroom777

?

I just bought 3 pins and feedback was good but after researching here and other places I am now nervous about scrappers.

I also made an offer on a LE Mickeys Not SO Scary Halloween Party Pin from 2006 (We attended this party but dd was not into pin trading at the time) butthe seller lists no number on the back. Are all limited editions numbered and if so should I ask her to provide this information?

They are not all numbered, they simply say LE 2000 or whatever the edition size is.

If the pins from eBay are scrappers you should definitely take it up with the seller, and if you don't get resolution there then take it up with eBay.

 

[iu97alum]

This thread has been great for me Anyone know where i can find extra pinbacks (cause I hear it's easy to lose them!) and lockable ones (for those pins that you just don't want to trade?

I searched ebay and found one seller that does extra pinbacks but no hits on lockable ones.

thanks!!

 

[Donald is #1]

This thread has been great for me Anyone know where i can find extra pinbacks (cause I hear it's easy to lose them!) and lockable ones (for those pins that you just don't want to trade?

I searched ebay and found one seller that does extra pinbacks but no hits on lockable ones.

thanks!!

I know that you can get them at WDW because I bought them there.

Also, I looked on their website and it looks like pinseller has both. pinseller accessories

 

[2xlechemom]

New pin collector here, subbing to the thread.

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[EpcotMatt2]

New pin collector here, subbing to the thread.

Thanks for all the advice!

Welcome!

 

[2xlechemom]

Actually, I can't say totally new. Apparently I started a long time ago. I had picked up a tin set of classic pooh, tigger, piglet, and eyore back in 97, and I happened to be in the disney store one day when they got in the countdown to the millennium pooh and tigger. My daughter had been so into pooh, I just got them to put away for her.

She doesn't like pooh anymore tho, so they are mine

 

[pbnjrockette]

Check out "disneypatriot" for locking pin backs. He/she sells them in packs of 10 and 50. They are great! Don't need a locking pin --- and they don't fall off!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Ok, I have always thought that I was "in the know" when it came to real pins vs. scrappers, etc. I am well aware of Sedsma and ProPins, etc. I have puchased a number of lots from various sellers on eBay and believe that I have asked them the right questions, etc.

Now, though, I wonder....

Every pin that I have received from an eBay auction has the "official pin trading" stamp on the back (the mouse head). Many of these are also cast member/hidden Mickey pins, etc. I assumed that this automatically meant that they are real.

Are there scrappers out there that have also falsified the Mickey head stamp on the back?

Thanks!

 

[chcmama]

We have our first trip to WDW in April and I thought my dd's would have a fun time pin trading. So I have been looking on ebay and was just about to buy some when I came across this board and you saved me from buying some bad pins. So I wanted to thank you all for your advice. I bought some from one of the sellers recommened on here.
Thank you, thank you,

 

[chcmama]

sorry double post

 

[EpcotMatt2]

We have our first trip to WDW in April and I thought my dd's would have a fun time pin trading. So I have been looking on ebay and was just about to buy some when I came across this board and you saved me from buying some bad pins. So I wanted to thank you all for your advice. I bought some from one of the sellers recommened on here.
Thank you, thank you,

We're glad we could help.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Ok, I have always thought that I was "in the know" when it came to real pins vs. scrappers, etc. I am well aware of Sedsma and ProPins, etc. I have puchased a number of lots from various sellers on eBay and believe that I have asked them the right questions, etc.

Now, though, I wonder....

Every pin that I have received from an eBay auction has the "official pin trading" stamp on the back (the mouse head). Many of these are also cast member/hidden Mickey pins, etc. I assumed that this automatically meant that they are real.

Are there scrappers out there that have also falsified the Mickey head stamp on the back?

Thanks!

ABSOLUTELY there are scrappers and/or counterfeits with the "official" pin trading stamp on the back!
Think of a scrapper as a factory reject - there is something about it that just isn't quite up to par. Instead of being melted back down it finds it's way to the secondary market (aka eBay) and people buy them.
Counterfeits are blatant copyright infringment. The factories make them as close to the originals as they can, but the backstamp will be a little different. Sometimes the font is different, or there are letters missing (like mine that say D SNEY), or the numbering "1 of 4" is wrong. I recently saw some on the DizPins comparison board where the info on the back stamp was side by side instead of one on top of the other. The manufacturers market them in lots of hundreds or thousands and people sell them on eBay.
We are finished buying from eBay because we have gotten SO many fakes. We came home from WDW last month with fakes that we traded for. It really is a problem.

 

[TeenaS]

Just wanted to give you a heads-up on the buyer I buy from on ebay ... MUBUNNY. He has some listed now. He doesn't list often but when he does, they are really good deals and I've purchased lots from him and they have always been authentic Disney pins and in great condition. Just wanted to give you guys a heads-up. I'm stocked pretty good right now so I don't need anymore. Good Luck!!

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

How can anyone on ebay sell pins for less than $9.00 and make a profit if they don't have someone else they buy pins from?

Although we don't sell our pins on ebay, we've bought some ridiculously inexpensive pins from the Character Premiere outlet in Orlando. They don't have pin deals like they used to, but a few years ago they were selling the state pins for 99 cents each, as well as some other random pins. I think we got 30 pins for $30 at the time -- now that we've gone through our stash of traders, I'm kicking myself for not buying them out!