Pin Trading for Newbies ...

[mikayla73]

I am sure I am about to ask a very stupid question, but here goes ...

How does pin trading work? Do you just see someone with a pin you like and say "hey wanna trade?" I have read that people trade with CM's also. Do all of the CM's with pin laynards trade? I also read that they can't refuse a trade. Are there any other "rules", other than common courtesy ones?

I am not new to Disney and I do a have few pins, ones I thought were cool and one I got on the WIWF tour. I have heard of pin trading and just wondered if it really was just like it sounds and I didn't want to ask someone about trading and have them look at me like I have 3 heads and just landed from Mars this morning (I can't see you looking at me that way right now on here )

Just curious, TIA!

 

[mamacatnv]

We only traded with CM's - I am not sure how it works in approaching the general public.

 

[mandy200587]

Actually yes they can refuse a trade. There are two color lanyards green and yellow. I forget which one is the kids one but that one can only trade with kids and then if they have that pin already they can't I believe.

 

[frndofpooh]

I believe that the green lanyards are just for kids. They can refuse to trade if they already have the pin, or if it is one that they have purchased on their own. They get a certain amount of pins given to them and those are the ones that they trade.

 

[AMaloy314]

The pins also have to be 'official' Disney trading pins. I'm not sure exactly what that mean, but I believe that people have had problems trading pins from Sedesma and Propins. I don't know how you tell which is which or what the specifics are, but maybe someone else can help clear that up for us.

 

[castleri]

Cast members will trade for the pins on their official pin trading lanyards. They will not trade for pins they may have gotten that are on collars etc. These may be pins they got for years of service or some special event and they don't have to trade those. The green lanyards are for kids to trade with although they may also trade for pins on the regular gold one also. Some cast members also have extra pins they carry that are their own personal pins they will offer to trade for if they see one on your lanyard they like. I had a monorail conductor offer to trade his bambi pin for my 2001 NYE pin- but that was a no thank you for me. You also are not supposed to touch the pins until the cast member removes it and places the back on it and hands it to you. You are supposed to do the same with the pin you are trading. I have some special pins that I will not trade and that is often the lanyard I wear. I have a second one that I keep in my purse or pocket that has pins to trade on it. I have had people ask if I will trade any of my pins and so far the answer has always been no. There are also pin trading stations at EPCOT and DTD where people set up and trade. My DGD found these people rather hard to deal wilh. Most want you to purchase a particular pin or pins and then trade it for one of the ones they have. If you really want one that was a limited edition or no longer available this may be a good way to get it but we had no luck with one on one trades. I have limited my trading to cast members as it is so easy that way. If you can get some cheap pins from the Disney outlet store or off ebay it helps build your trading base. I had to buy 12 pins in a set to get the 1 I didn't have and will be taking the extra 11 to trade. It actually worked out to about $4 a pin so I made out. These are also pins that were only out a limited time and could not be purchased only gotten from trading with cast members.
The propins question is one that I found out about when I purchased a pin on ebay for my DGD. It was advertised as Disney buy does not have Disney on the back= it said either propins or pinpics I don't remember which so while it was a Disney subject (Stitch) it was not an official pin. She likes it so won't try to trade but I don't know if an alert CM would take it if she did. It is a fun way to spend some time and I always enjoy talking with the CM for a minute or two. It can get expensive if you get really carried away. I have my pins for the next two trips to trade so unless there is a special edition out that I won't be able to resist I will try to restrain my purchasing impulse. I like to have at least one that is special to each trip as my souvenir but it doesn't have to be one I purchase. If you decide to get into it have a great time.

 

[Disney4Drew]

I just bought 10 pins from Ebay and am going to take a stab at trading this trip! I think the green lanyards means the CMs will trade with kids only. I am going to try to trade my 10 for stitch pins....we'll see how it goes!

 

[tacomaranch]

Very nice and complete review on pin trading. I wanted to add in that you or your child goes up and asks nicely, may I look at your pins? If they find one they like again ask nicely to the CM, would you like to trade your ... pin with me?

It is good way to teach social skills and use language in a public setting. Most don't think about it but our DS has autism but loves the pins so he has to speak and use the right words. He can't say all the above but we try hard.

I was given a black lanyard from Disney and our DS has green. We also use some we just have. It is an expensive habit and I make sure our pins say disney on the back. If not they are not for trade. Lesson learned. Pins with Mickey ears are suppose to be better, I don't know why but that is what I have been told. There are limited editions, cast members and all different kinds of pins.

If you see a person with a pin you may want, you may ask them if they would like to trade, they can just say no but you don't know until you ask. I would trade if a child asked me.

Welcome to pin trading!

 

[mikayla73]

Thanks everyone!

I haven't made up my mind about doing yet, but all the info is great!

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

There are "cast pins" that are placed on the lanyards every day. "Cast pins" (newer ones) have a not-so-hidden mickey on them. These are pins that are not for sale through Disney, but only available through trade.

I started trading with my extra WWTBAM pins and it's lots of fun. Now with Millionaire closed, I guess I'll have to start buying them for trade. *sigh*

 

[buzz2400]

A few more notes, some cm's wear their pins on their waist (not on a lanyard around their neck). I traded about 400 pins in the beginning of the month that were propins. Not one cm questioned it. They do have disney stamped on the back. The big disney store at dtd has two times per day that a cm will show up and trade. The die hard people show up way in advance. We did this twice but ended up leaving before trading on the second time. We kinda were afraid of the people standing there waiting to trade. One did want to trade with me and we did but I felt very uncomfortable. I would recommend only trading with cm's. Finally, you are allowed to trade up to two pins with a cm at a time.

 

[Simba22]

we carry around one lanyard each and only keep on it the pins we want to trade. That way we don't have to turn away another guest who wants to trade. My DBF will talk to anybody and ended up trading with 3 or 4 guests on our May trip...but mostly CM's. Don't be afraid to ask them if you can look! I found SOO many really cool pins by trading...some from DLP, and a Simba from Hong Kong that is my favorite!