Pin Trading in the disney stores

[Masamune]

Trading has definatly calmed down a lot. I only tend to go in the Disney Store once a week now to trade pins.

 

[Becx N Gav]

The past 3 times I have traded in the Milton Keynes store neither of their pins had any cast lanyard pins on. I was lucky yesterday as I was able to trade for a pin that was on my wants list! They have also started to organise Saturday trading sessions in the shop at 11am every Saturday.

Thanks for the info about MK, now I have to persuede DH to take me there and back - he has an aversion to shopping in general let alone a busy shopping centre

I hope they do this in Northampton too - did you hear about this in store or online?

 

[disneybarbie]

not sure if this has been mentioned before...

I was in the Disney Store in Covent Garden, London, a few weeks ago - and they have a 'London' pin with a small mickey on it (£3).

Could be a good one to trade while in WDW or DLP!

Barbie x

 

[Tinks1984]

not sure if this has been mentioned before...

I was in the Disney Store in Covent Garden, London, a few weeks ago - and they have a 'London' pin with a small mickey on it (£3).

Could be a good one to trade while in WDW or DLP!

Barbie x

Oh this is the one I want Nice to know they've got it in, just need someone I know to head off to London now and I can get them to pick one up for me

Thanks for the update!

 

[Becx N Gav]

I picked up the LE Monsters Inc pin on Saturday

I did take some for trading but the pins were either ones I didn't want or seemed a bit fake looking has anyone else seen any dodgy looking pins? I didn't say anything as I wasn't sure but they had a few letters ones (the letters were gold in colour) - Mickey, Mowgli and Jessica Rabbit, Mickey had an M, but Mowgli had a W and JR was a V I think. I hope they do check the pins as far as possible, I know it's a new thing but they should train the staff to be on the look out.

 

[Tinks1984]

I picked up the LE Monsters Inc pin on Saturday

I did take some for trading but the pins were either ones I didn't want or seemed a bit fake looking has anyone else seen any dodgy looking pins? I didn't say anything as I wasn't sure but they had a few letters ones (the letters were gold in colour) - Mickey, Mowgli and Jessica Rabbit, Mickey had an M, but Mowgli had a W and JR was a V I think. I hope they do check the pins as far as possible, I know it's a new thing but they should train the staff to be on the look out.

Oh that sounds quite odd I've never seen the letter pins without the letter matching the character on them! Which really is quite obvious! I'm glad you didn't trade them, probably best.

I'm not too sure that the UK CM's know much about pin trading other than the basics that they've read from the leaflet which was given out when it 1st began, it would be nice to know they are checking them as best as is possible though

 

[Tinks1984]

Just wondering if someone can help me out.

I've bought a pin from ebay and it's arrived today with 'First Release' stamped on the reverse. I've been trying to find out the significance of this, but not had any luck. Anyone know what it means?

Thanks

 

[Danauk]

I have some first release pins, I got a few last week at WDW. It just means that they are from the 1st batch of that type of core pin to be made.

 

[Tinks1984]

Thank-you!!

I can rest from looking now

 

[Twinkbelle]

I've also got some pins from WDW with first released stamped on the back, I think it just makes them slightly special and more collectible for the first run.

Am I alone in thinking that the update to the Disney Store site with the new pins doesn't make it v.clear what's comming along? I mean I can hardily tell what those pins are supposed to be and I've tried with zooming in on the pictures!

 

[Tinks1984]

I've also got some pins from WDW with first released stamped on the back, I think it just makes them slightly special and more collectible for the first run.

Am I alone in thinking that the update to the Disney Store site with the new pins doesn't make it v.clear what's comming along? I mean I can hardily tell what those pins are supposed to be and I've tried with zooming in on the pictures!

I agree Twink! I've tried to look closely what's coming up next and only managed to make out the Bugs Life one and there's one with what looks like a band-camp Mickey on it. The two upcoming on-line edition ones I cannot make out at all what they are

 

[disneyqueenuk]

Hi there

I have been trading and collecting pins since it began in 2000. I am delighted to see that the UK Disney stores are now having regular releases and also trading in stores.

There have been a few trials in some stores of a pin trading hour or a pin trading class. I know that there are a few other things in the pipeline for Disney stores, however do not have any further details at the moment.

I think that the standard of pins available for trading is very much dependant on the Cast in that store. Some CMs will trade extra pins when they are in the parks and then bring them back to the store to put on the lanyards.

I have suggested to the Disney Stores Head office that they need to start looking at the pin accessories, they have started with lanyards and pin backs, so who knows what will happen in the future.

Hope that this helps

Yvonne

 

[Tinks1984]

Hi Yvonne,

Thanks for the information, sounds hopeful they may expand the items in stores! I asked about pin bags in the Trafford Centre store a while back and they were unsure at the time of if they'd be getting them.

 

[Twinkbelle]

Hi Yvonne (and everyone else)

I agree that the standard of trading can vary depending on the cast member you interact with, I've been travelling around the country a little lately and been to a fair few Disney Stores I've met some cm's who are lovely and have a passion for pin trading, whereas others just didn't have a clue but were willing to learn and keen to look interested by asking questions. Some were a little bit rude but hey you get that anywhere.

I really do hope we get some nice accessories pin backs and lanyards are a good place to start. I think that with Oct coming up a nice NBC lanyard would go down a treat (I'm allowed to dream) and pin bags would be ideal. Surely there are other people like me who didn't realise they've got enough pins to qualify needing a bag until after they've got home from Florida and looked at them all together!

 

[seobaina]

The whole 'trading on a certain day' thing is a new directive. It's not rolled out into all the stores yet but it should do eventually. You can actually trade with a cast member on any day. We have a lanyard with the cast member pins but the reason guests often don't see it is that we only have one or two per store and we can't wear them if we're on till. In a store with a small cast like mine this makes it very difficult because the manager on duty already has a seperate non pin lanyard to wear. It's always worth asking about the pins. I know we're planning on making them a bigger fixture (about time) and the current cast member pins are on their last legs (from what I've been told). We'll be getting more CM pins and eventually they'll have hidden mickeys on. All UK pins are UK/Europe exclusive. Even if a similar one has been done in the parks these have UK pin trading backing cards and engravings on them.

I'm actually the Disney ambassador for my store in Chester and we'd love to run a specific pin trading morning (maybe sunday before we officially open) but we'd need to know that there was interest in doing it. So if you're interested please let me know.

Hope that helps

PS - ROLLS EYES at the Oxford St CM. All my cast should know their characters and are pretty good on them! Maybe he was new.

 

[seobaina]

I'm not too sure that the UK CM's know much about pin trading other than the basics that they've read from the leaflet which was given out when it 1st began, it would be nice to know they are checking them as best as is possible though

I can tell you that we haven't been given much info yet. I know about it because I'm the ambassdor and because I've bought pins in the parks etc. My assistant manager is the same cause she's a pin collector. The actual info cast have had those is limited so please be nice to those who don't know much

 

[disneyqueenuk]

I'm actually the Disney ambassador for my store in Chester and we'd love to run a specific pin trading morning (maybe sunday before we officially open) but we'd need to know that there was interest in doing it. So if you're interested please let me know.

Many thanks for that. My local store in Dundee has been trialling the pin trading hour with an area made available for pin traders to come along and trade. There are 2 problems with that 1 is the time of day it is 9 - 10am on a Saturday morning. I travel the country with my job and don't really want to get up at that time. The 2nd is that it has not been well advertised, had it not been for a friend of mine who is a CM in the store telling me I would know hat known.

Is Andy still in Chester? If so please tell him that Yvonne & Mum from Dundee say hi.

 

[seobaina]

Many thanks for that. My local store in Dundee has been trialling the pin trading hour with an area made available for pin traders to come along and trade. There are 2 problems with that 1 is the time of day it is 9 - 10am on a Saturday morning. I travel the country with my job and don't really want to get up at that time. The 2nd is that it has not been well advertised, had it not been for a friend of mine who is a CM in the store telling me I would know hat known.

That's useful feedback thank you. The advertising thing might be partly because we can't put up any posters or anything in the store without it being officially designed. Might have a word with marketing about it. We're doing a storybook thing this month and I know Disney are keen to encourage guest interaction (mickey month last month, storytime this month). Will try to look into it.

Is Andy still in Chester? If so please tell him that Yvonne & Mum from Dundee say hi.

Awww, he's not. Andy left Disney about 3/4 years ago but he's one of my best friends (saw him today actually) so i'll pass the message along.

 

[seobaina]

Just a query - would trading be better later in the day. It would be hard around lunch or anything but say 4:30-5 or 5-5:30? Is that better? Just trying to get an idea of what sort of things would work. I've been asking them to do pins here for years so I'm keen for it to be a success.

 

[disneyqueenuk]

Just a query - would trading be better later in the day. It would be hard around lunch or anything but say 4:30-5 or 5-5:30? Is that better? Just trying to get an idea of what sort of things would work. I've been asking them to do pins here for years so I'm keen for it to be a success.

In my opinion and that of some of the UK traders that I have talked to in Dizpins boards, yes pin trading would be preferred later on in the day.

The pin trading hour that was trialled in store was an official thing but I believe that not all the advertising material was sent to the stores.

Aww that's a shame Andy has left, he worked in Dundee for a bit which is why I know him. Not been in the Chester store for a long time, have only been there 1 or 2 times. Thanks