Pin Trading - explain please

[wilma-bride]

Can anyone explain Pin trading to me. What is it, how do you trade, what do you do with the pins etc.

Sorry to sound thick but I saw some lovely pins last year when we were at WDW and just wondered what the significance was.

 

[raksha2]

Hi,

basically pin trading is when you get addicted to all those really nice pins that you see, and you buy a few, then someone tells you about one that is of your favourite character but sold out last year, so you then set about finding some one who has one they are willing to trade and you get more pins in the hope that you have a pin (or pins) that they want so you can trade for that pin you like.

I recommend starting small, stick to buying pins that you like. when you are feeling confident that you know the sort of pin you like and dont like. You need to gain yourself some trader pins - these come from various sorces.
disney stores, disney direct, ebay, pin boards.
once you have some traders - you then need to find someone to trade with again these come from variuos sources
boards like this one, meeting people in the parks and cast members.

Almost all cast in the parks wear lanyards from which you can trade.
you ask them if you can look at their lanyard, if you see a pin you like you can offer them one of your trader pins - there are rules about what sort of pin you can offer the main ones are 1)they cannot already have that pin on their lanyard 2) the pin you are offering must have a (c)disney on the back.
3) you can only trade two pins at a time with a CM, if you have done two you need to walk away and then go back later if they still have more you want.
4) green lanyards are only for trading with kids (9 and under??? )
so if you don't have kids you can't trade for any you see on a green lanyard

sometimes you may also find people carrying a hip lanyard(?? i havent seen one yet) or at some pin carts they will have a folder to trade from instead

Check out scoops pin talk in MK if you are there, he can give you lots of info on how they are made etc.

most of all have fun, I have made loads of friends trading pins, and I would not miss that part of this hobby for anything, I am off to WDW in october and what i am looking forward to most is putting names to faces

Toni
LondonEars

 

[wilma-bride]

Thanks so much - I must admit, it does sound like fun and a great way to meet people both at the parks and 'virtually'.

Do people collect a particular type of pin (for example, only certain characters, parks etc) or do they generally just collect the ones they find most 'attractive' IYSWIM.

Sorry about all the questions - you explained it really well BTW

 

[raksha2]

People collect what every they want to

Me i collect Tigger as my main character, but I also collect mini pins(little tiny ones), roger rabbit and i like stitch.

Hubby collects Stitch, sorcerer apprentise, villians

We have to fluffy pin traders.....

Kris collects brother bear
Stitch collects villians & kim possible

some people do get a little obsesive over pins (known as sharks)
but as long as you stick to anything you like you will enjoy yourself

Toni

 

[Meezers]

Pin trading is so addictive! I love to meet people and trade.

Raksha...what mini pins do you have and how did you find them? I love the little pins and would love to find a place to trade some.

I collect the smallest ones I can find....Beauty and the Beast...and anything to do with tea (the beverage)!

Pin trading is really fun...even my brother does it...he collects Grumpy

 

[raksha2]

the best place to start with any pins is a website called pinpics it is a database
where you can find pins you didnt know exsisted and learn about the pins you found.
plus as a bonus you can record your collection there and even what pins you have to trade and what pins you would like to get in return.
they have a system called TA (trade assistant) which will match your traders to other people so you can send them e-mail and set up trades via the post.
You do have to be careful as it only does it as you have pin a as a trader, which person b wants and they have pin c which you want, but it does not take into consideration that your pin was avaialble in all the parks and their is a LE (limited Edition) of 100!

www.pinpics.com

if you use the links down the left side, click on the link to "My Pinpics"
it will bring up a page with three boxes that you can type in a name of a fellow trader to see what they have.
View collection - their keepers
View wants -
view traders -

Raksha2 is my pinpics id, so feel free to give it a try

just remember do it for the fun & friends!

Happy trading, feel free to ask more questions too

Toni

 

[MISSALLEN]

My son collected pins in 2004 when we went to WDW. Now we are schedule to go back. I would like to take his pins however--his laynard is completely full. Do I buy him another laynard are do we just let him select his favorites and store them (I have not idea where I would store them--is there a special book?) I know he likes to trade because I had bought one for him and he didn't like it, so he ask someone in the trading post if they wanted to trade and he actually got one that was better then mines. So can anyone assist?

 

[raksha2]

How you keep your pins is really up to you.

We have several pin bags which have pages in them and mesh between them to protect the pins.
you can get folders with stiff felt sheets to hold your pins from the parks.

You can frame them - which can some times be expensive

or a simple idea, and a cheap one is to use a cork notice board, that way your kids can choose how to arrange their pins on the board, just make sure you don't loose the pin backs (if you do the parks sell packs of spares!)

Or you can get creative this is a link to a set of autumn stitch pins that I framed for my hubby, I used some cheap oil painting board, and some coloured card to form the frame, pins need to be dusted occasionaly as there is no glass to stop it!
Plus i have eneough to do a few more when i have the time

http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic.php?u=2382mDZO6&i=401240

hope this helps

Toni

 

[Meezers]

Since reading this I have been trying to make a database in pinpics as well.

You can check out my pins (DM and DB's are under mine name as well)....the user name is Meezers.

I keep my pins on what are basically cork trivets covered in fabric then double sticky foam taped to the wall....kind of makes it like art and I can take down whatever pins I want to wear whenever. Sometimes I wear a lanyard to work and sometimes not. But when I do I usually wear a pin to depict my "mood of the day"!

Rasha...you have some nice pins...I really like the tigger tail!

 

[tallpkb]

Okay, I'm a pin-newbie to be! Our family (me, DH, DDs 8 & 10) are going to WDW in 5 weeks (first time~we're from CA, so we usually go to DL).

Anyway, my girls asked if they "can do the pin thing" since they have a friend at school who's family trades pins at DL. Can anyone give me an idea of a CHEAP way to start this? (I know, you're all ). I know they would never become hard-core pin traders. It would just be something to do at WDW, and perhaps on our once every 1-2 yr trip to DL. Better yet, does anyone have any pins that they would like to sell inexpensively? I know the girls wouldn't be pickey at all! Any thoughts/advise would be appreciated!