Pin Trading 101 Help

[Cynister]

Does anyone know of a website that gives a pretty good comprehensive explanation of how pin trading works? I was originally looking for a little pamphlet or book to buy but I can't find one. I'm going to be giving a teenager who has never been to Disney a few pins & would like to have a little guide to accompany it.

 

[BadPinkTink]

1. Only Disney pins can be traded
2. Go to a CM who is wearing pins on a lanyard or waist pouch, ask "May I see your pins"
3. Look at the pins, if you see one you like ask " I would like to trade for that one"
4. Give the CM one of your pins in exchange
5. Pins must have the back stopper on them
6. Pins must be in good condition ie not chipped or obvious marks
7. Some CM's may refuse to trade IF they have the pin you are offing
8. Some CM's may refuse to trade IF the pin you are offering is a scrapper or counterfeit
9. Look for trading pin boards in shops

 

[PanamaMike]

Many gift shops also have pin books or binders behind the cash register.

At the Rock n Roller Coaster, their pins are on a bongo drum.

Guests also trade with each other but of course are free to decline offers from other guests.

 

[JustMeFran]

There are a few Facebook groups about Pin Trading.
Big hint, don't buy huge bulk lots on Ebay...they will be scrappers (fakes)...which ARE trade-able but it is highly frowned upon.
If you pay less than $1 per pin in a lot, they are most likely scrappers.

 

[mikepizzo]

1. Only Disney pins can be traded
2. Go to a CM who is wearing pins on a lanyard or waist pouch, ask "May I see your pins"
3. Look at the pins, if you see one you like ask " I would like to trade for that one"
4. Give the CM one of your pins in exchange
5. Pins must have the back stopper on them
6. Pins must be in good condition ie not chipped or obvious marks
7. Some CM's may refuse to trade IF they have the pin you are offing
8. Some CM's may refuse to trade IF the pin you are offering is a scrapper or counterfeit
9. Look for trading pin boards in shops

Really? I've never heard of that before. I've heard that they trade regardless if they can tell if they are scrappers or not. That's why when you go on eBay and look at the lots that you can buy (i.e. 50 pins for 20 bucks) they are always sold as "trade-able". Because the CM's aren't allowed to say no due to the fact that they are scrappers.

Also, from what I've heard, a lot of the pins on the lanyards are already scrappers from previous trades. I don't think they refresh the pins. When I did the Backstage Magic Tour and went into the Utilidors, there was a room that the CMs would go in to pick up their lanyards. They made it seem like it was a room with a bin that you place your lanyard in when your shift is done, and pick a lanyard up when you start your shift.

I'm not a CM though, so maybe I'm wrong?

 

[BadPinkTink]

Really? I've never heard of that before. I've heard that they trade regardless if they can tell if they are scrappers or not. That's why when you go on eBay and look at the lots that you can buy (i.e. 50 pins for 20 bucks) they are always sold as "trade-able". Because the CM's aren't allowed to say no due to the fact that they are scrappers.

Also, from what I've heard, a lot of the pins on the lanyards are already scrappers from previous trades. I don't think they refresh the pins. When I did the Backstage Magic Tour and went into the Utilidors, there was a room that the CMs would go in to pick up their lanyards. They made it seem like it was a room with a bin that you place your lanyard in when your shift is done, and pick a lanyard up when you start your shift.

I'm not a CM though, so maybe I'm wrong?

Some CM's are pin traders and have their own pins, some CM's dont care and just have the Disney standard Lanyards like you describe. Technically they are not allowed to refuse to trade but some CM's who are pin traders would be able to tell a fake and MAY refuse, even though its not Disney policy.

 

[Hisgirl]

Also, when you go to Epcot, right by the big fountains in the middle you will see a couple of folks with vast thick books filled with pages of pins. They will have more rare unusual pins and will happily traded an equal value pin. I found a couple of very unusual pins through these folks. We love our pins and wear them away from disney. My jimminy Cricket pin goes with me (riding on a jacket lapel) many days during the year. My hubby has a tiny full body lion that was super hard to find and he likes to wear it because it reminds him of his faith.

We just hosted some UK friends to WDW and we got them some of their favorite characters in pins just for them to wear and enjoy. Last I heard, they wear them out and about all over London. Enjoy!

 

[china mom]

cast members with green lanyards only trade with children... not sure what the cutoff age is.