Luv2Roam
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2000
- Messages
- 15,479
With the interest in pins here lately I thought I would give a little general how to on how pin trading by mail usually works.
Anyone can have a pin collection, and Pinpics.com is where you can list the pins you own, those you own you wish to trade for to get other's pins, and pins you would like to own (Wants).
Owners can set up trades via the Trade Assistant. You can even view your pending offers by selecting "My Pin Pics", and "Click here to view your pending trade requests". That way you know who/what will be sent a TA request prior to it being sent.
Trade requests generally go out every morning, early. However I have had them come in throughout the day, often starting at 6:00 - 8:00 a.m.
Don't take it personally if you receive no responses to requests. This is quite common. It is not even unusual that I reply affirmative to a trade request and never hear anything again.
If someone asks for references, they are probably referring to the Dizpins Reference Center:
http://www.rnrcollectables.com/referencemain.htm
Dizpins supports the reference center. But it is not the same as Pinpics. And often that confuses people. Joette (a great gal) is the owner (for lack of a better word) of Dizpins.com and what it covers.
What I do -- Once I receive a trade pin in the mail, I:
1) e-mail the person who mailed me the pin and let them know I rec'd it.
2) add the pin I rec'd to my Pinpics inventory
3) leave a Dizpins reference
And hopefully they do the same. You will also find some traders are very lax on leaving references. Some never do. Some wait until they have a gazillon and add them all at once, maybe even months later.
Personally I like to do it as I get them so it does not become a project.
If someone asks you for references and you have none, you can offer this:
1) Have them wait to mail their pin to you once they receive yours.
2) A third party trade. Often this is a Dizpins moderator. In this case both parties mail the trade pins to the moderator, who in turns mails them both to the traders once the pins are all rec'd as agreed.
I have started many new traders out and provided references. When I do this it is generally a very simple trade. So far no new person has burned me. The newer ones are often better than others.
Which brings up the risks of trading by mail with people you don't know. Almost all traders are good and honest. However eventually you will get burned. But from all the trading I have done over the years, there has only been a handful of times.
I have had it happen (too often) the trader on the other end waits until they receive my pin to mail me theirs. I just note to myself who they are. I leave a reference though. Sometimes I trade with again. Sometimes I don't.
If I have to e-mail them asking what the status of our trade is (meaning I have not rec'd my trade), then I don't leave a reference.
References should only be left for positive trading experiences. Too often I even find the trader does not mail their trade to me unless I ask for it.
Some people would leave references for bad traders hoping that others e-mail them asking for references for that trader. Many don't. So the bad traders just kept up their bad trading habits. They eventualy probably get shut down.
Be patient with the mail. (I struggle with this sometimes, depending on how well I know the trader. Go with your gut feeling. If they don't respond to your e-mails, that is very telling.)
And stuff happens in life for everyone. If something happens, just keep those you are trading with in the loop. I am always amazed at traders who have the time to set up trades, but not to fulfill them.
Sometimes you will receive a pin trade in unbelievable speed. Others, you give up and it comes around.
In all my pin mailings I have not ever had one lost (yet). Had a few close calls. But none lost.
I have had several who say their pins mailed to me got lost. Not to say it doesn't and can't happen. Other than those who outright burned me, everyone has replaced what was lost. And I have yet to receive two packages get delivered due to a lost trade.
Generally the mailers are called LBE, for Little Bubble Envelope, or Little Brown Envelope. Just in case someone mentions that you know what LBE stands for.
Make sure you use a decent mailing envelope and wrapping. Don't wrap a pin up in tissues or tissue paper and mail in a regular paper envelope. Most likely the pin will be damaged and cause both grief.
You don't want a reputation as a bad trader as it makes it that much harder to make good the reputation.
Once you start trading I guarantee you will find traders you do not want to trade with again. But for the most part you will meet a great bunch of people and get the pins you want too!
HTH
Anyone can have a pin collection, and Pinpics.com is where you can list the pins you own, those you own you wish to trade for to get other's pins, and pins you would like to own (Wants).
Owners can set up trades via the Trade Assistant. You can even view your pending offers by selecting "My Pin Pics", and "Click here to view your pending trade requests". That way you know who/what will be sent a TA request prior to it being sent.
Trade requests generally go out every morning, early. However I have had them come in throughout the day, often starting at 6:00 - 8:00 a.m.
Don't take it personally if you receive no responses to requests. This is quite common. It is not even unusual that I reply affirmative to a trade request and never hear anything again.
If someone asks for references, they are probably referring to the Dizpins Reference Center:
http://www.rnrcollectables.com/referencemain.htm
Dizpins supports the reference center. But it is not the same as Pinpics. And often that confuses people. Joette (a great gal) is the owner (for lack of a better word) of Dizpins.com and what it covers.
What I do -- Once I receive a trade pin in the mail, I:
1) e-mail the person who mailed me the pin and let them know I rec'd it.
2) add the pin I rec'd to my Pinpics inventory
3) leave a Dizpins reference
And hopefully they do the same. You will also find some traders are very lax on leaving references. Some never do. Some wait until they have a gazillon and add them all at once, maybe even months later.
Personally I like to do it as I get them so it does not become a project.
If someone asks you for references and you have none, you can offer this:
1) Have them wait to mail their pin to you once they receive yours.
2) A third party trade. Often this is a Dizpins moderator. In this case both parties mail the trade pins to the moderator, who in turns mails them both to the traders once the pins are all rec'd as agreed.
I have started many new traders out and provided references. When I do this it is generally a very simple trade. So far no new person has burned me. The newer ones are often better than others.
Which brings up the risks of trading by mail with people you don't know. Almost all traders are good and honest. However eventually you will get burned. But from all the trading I have done over the years, there has only been a handful of times.
I have had it happen (too often) the trader on the other end waits until they receive my pin to mail me theirs. I just note to myself who they are. I leave a reference though. Sometimes I trade with again. Sometimes I don't.
If I have to e-mail them asking what the status of our trade is (meaning I have not rec'd my trade), then I don't leave a reference.
References should only be left for positive trading experiences. Too often I even find the trader does not mail their trade to me unless I ask for it.
Some people would leave references for bad traders hoping that others e-mail them asking for references for that trader. Many don't. So the bad traders just kept up their bad trading habits. They eventualy probably get shut down.
Be patient with the mail. (I struggle with this sometimes, depending on how well I know the trader. Go with your gut feeling. If they don't respond to your e-mails, that is very telling.)
And stuff happens in life for everyone. If something happens, just keep those you are trading with in the loop. I am always amazed at traders who have the time to set up trades, but not to fulfill them.
Sometimes you will receive a pin trade in unbelievable speed. Others, you give up and it comes around.
In all my pin mailings I have not ever had one lost (yet). Had a few close calls. But none lost.
I have had several who say their pins mailed to me got lost.
Not to say it doesn't and can't happen. Other than those who outright burned me, everyone has replaced what was lost. And I have yet to receive two packages get delivered due to a lost trade. Generally the mailers are called LBE, for Little Bubble Envelope, or Little Brown Envelope. Just in case someone mentions that you know what LBE stands for.
Make sure you use a decent mailing envelope and wrapping. Don't wrap a pin up in tissues or tissue paper and mail in a regular paper envelope. Most likely the pin will be damaged and cause both grief.
You don't want a reputation as a bad trader as it makes it that much harder to make good the reputation.
Once you start trading I guarantee you will find traders you do not want to trade with again. But for the most part you will meet a great bunch of people and get the pins you want too!
HTH
on pinpics
Some people have been included their pinpics name for people in past exchanges. I will be sure to ask for it next time we have an exchange. It is helpful.
