Pin Trading help, please...

[Dar20]

Hey, everyone. I've made a couple posts about what we did during the event, but the one thing I've really left out is trading. Yes, we were fortunate enough to get every pin in the 'random selection process'. (I wonder how random that is.. the computer sees my name which translates to $$?) We also had lunch with some fellow traders, and did the pin signing thing and pin pursuit.

Anyways, and I guess it's partly our fault (we went to Cape Canaveral for two days straight to see the shuttle launch, then were late to the pin party), but we didn't do much trading. I was able to trade for the Pooh event pin, DL Father's Day, and a few others, but that was it! What am I doing wrong? What is your 'method' to trading? Do you wander from book to book, or let others come to you? We tried both, and were aggravated because all the people who camped at tables are the 'regulars' - people we see all the time at WDW and have everything I have. When we decided to rest in the hopes that others would come up to us, people would approach our table, look at the other pins on the table, and completely ignore ours. I dunno.. perhaps I had a grumpy face on or something, but it was depressing.

I know it's really too late to help, but any thoughts would be welcome.

Dar

 

[Dar20]

Just wondering if anyone wanted to offer ideas...

Dar

 

[NHMickey]

This is a hard question... I have a rather care free approach to life and find it very easy to talk to strangers... Good thing too as I'm in sales. What I found to work for me was to just wander around the different tables and look at pins of every kind. I would also offer my book to look at while I looked at theirs. I did do a little sitting and had some people come to me but I found it more exciting to walk around and watch... I also would walk up to a table and ask for a certain pin I was looking for... If someone had it they would speak up. It is hard to say what works... Some styles work for some while others work well for somebody else.

 

[Dar20]

Thanks, Nat. Fortunately, I did get to see you (aka "the master") at work after the auction.. but like you said, being in sales it must come naturally to you.

Dar

 

[holycow]

I wish I could help you but I have the same problem!
Although I can't complain cause I did get my holy grail and then
I was in shock the rest of the night I didn't even trade anything else!!!
I just happen to see it in his book and asked what he would want
for it! He was wonderful!!!
Anyway I walked around but mostly everyone had big hitter pins,
I asked to see a few peoples lanyards, but most of the people
I asked about trading with didn't seem interested...so I
hit up the CM mostly. Even they seemed tired of people asking (especially
in DTD) but we still had fun anyway...so if you come up with any secrets let me know!!!

Holycow

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

It never hurts to advertise. Wear something on your lanyard that catches people's eyes. (hey, that rhymes! ) At the very least it can be an icebreaker and lead to the "can I see your book" or "would you like to see my book" question. I saw Lauri and Jeff trade with people who spotted items on their lanyards and vice versa.

 

[Dom13]

I am not the type of person that has the patience to let people come to me. The few times I tried it I got antsy as it wasn't happening quick enough for me. I much prefer to go and visit. I went around looking for someone that wasn't working on a trade with someone and asked if I could look at their pins. It usually led to some good conversation and quite often to a trade. This is how I got the 1988 Mickey Olympic Archery pin that I absolutely love!

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

I think we had a lot of success just sitting with folks that had a lot of pins. We only had one medium book, but the others had many books each. They drew people to the table and we just rode their coattails. When the people finished transacting with the bigger fish, we just asked to look at their books next. It worked pretty well.

I think the other suggestions are good too. A little of each approach means you may catch more traders.

 

[shirley 38]

Hi Dar, It is hard just like you said. I think Matt hit it on the head with the good pin on the lanyard.
I did not take my book to the event because I was there only to buy pins. But what happened I look for more or less friendly people.
It was amazing there was a girl sitting at a table and she had the loss prevention pin which was one of my holy grails. I traded some of the event pins or this.
You have to remember pins to a lot of people are a business. You have to find the people doing it for the fun of it.
When someone grunts at me I just move on. I know exactly where you are coming from.
One good approach is Can I see you book??????
But never interrupt a trade in progress.

 

[JudithM]

I have mostly traded with CMs at WDW & with friends here at home who are at WDW at different times than I am. This trip was different! I was a bit more forward this time! When I saw a Japanese guest I just went up & asked if they had pins frm Japan - it worked twice! I did a similar thing in lines at the pin event!