Pin Trading Newbie....A few questions

[shmoogrrrl]

We are very new to this Pin Trading thing. It started out simply because my husband wanted those silly bus pins. I had gotten him a few train pins when we were at Disney last year to give him at Christmas (he is a train fanatic) and so I found the bus pins on E-bay and added those to his stocking as well. We also got my Daughter (who is four, now) the Tinkerbell starter set.

There is no way that my husband will trade the buses or the train pins (I doubt he will even bring them because he is attached to them), but if he wants to find other 'transportation' pins, what is the best way to "trade" for them? Should he buy a few random pins that are not travel related to trade for travel related pins, or should he just buy two of a few of the travel related pins that he buys while at Disney so he'll have one to keep and one to trade?

He thinks that it will be fun for my Daughter to do some trading too, especially since we discovered that there are a few CMs that ONLY trade with kids. We got her the Tinkerbell starter set last year and plan to let her bring it with us this uear. Do you think it is best to tell her to only try to get Tinkerbell pins, or should we just have her go free-for-all and trade whatever she wants for whatever tickles her fancy? She naturally gravitates to Tinkerbell, so I wouldn't be surprised if that is what she went for anyway, but I wonder if it would be more fun for her to just pick pins to buy and trade that she thinks are neat as opposed to sticking with one special "TYPE." She loves the Princesses too, so maybe we could keep her in a generic "Disney Girls" catagory?

Anything else we should know. I don't suspect that this will become some HUGE hobby for us (yeah, I am sure that those are famous last words) but it seemed like something fun to try. I might even get that Disney Americana starter set and start a collection myself!

 

[daber]

Run Away....Quickly.....too late!

1. what is the best way to "trade" for them? Should he buy a few random pins that are not travel related to trade for travel related pins, or should he just buy two of a few of the travel related pins that he buys while at Disney so he'll have one to keep and one to trade?

2. Do you think it is best to tell her to only try to get Tinkerbell pins, or should we just have her go free-for-all and trade whatever she wants for whatever tickles her fancy? She naturally gravitates to Tinkerbell, so I wouldn't be surprised if that is what she went for anyway, but I wonder if it would be more fun for her to just pick pins to buy and trade that she thinks are neat as opposed to sticking with one special "TYPE." She loves the Princesses too, so maybe we could keep her in a generic "Disney Girls" catagory?

3. Anything else we should know. I don't suspect that this will become some HUGE hobby for us (yeah, I am sure that those are famous last words) but it seemed like something fun to try. I might even get that Disney Americana starter set and start a collection myself!

1. Having some transportation pins for trade may/may not help. Different people collect different things. For example, if I had a transportation pin that you wanted, I'd probably be looking for Malecifent or Figment pins. But, it could help since someone else who collects transportation pins will probably have some for trade as well. Most times when I buy a pin it's one to keep and one to trade, so you seemed to have stumbled upon one of my mantras.

2. Let her do what tickles her fancy. The point of pin collecting is have fun. WARNING: Be prepared to go into bankrupcy. CMs must trade with any guest so long as your pin has a Disney copyright and they don't have one on their lanyard. CMs with green lanyards trade only with kids. It is the safest and best way for kids and adults to get started in this addiction.

3. MISC: The backs of the pins are coated with a thin layer of crack, so you will always crave just one more pin. When at MK, try to get to a Pin Talk with Scoop in the Main Street Expo Hall at 1:00. Check out Dizpins.com every day for the latest in pin news. Check out Pinpics.com to see a database of all the pins we know about. You can do a search on transporation, bus, train, Tinkerbell, etc. to see what pins you don't have and now can't live without.

JUST REMEMBER.....Have Fun!

 

[kjkcool]

Run Away....Quickly.....too late!




1. Having some transportation pins for trade may/may not help. Different people collect different things. For example, if I had a transportation pin that you wanted, I'd probably be looking for Malecifent or Figment pins. But, it could help since someone else who collects transportation pins will probably have some for trade as well. Most times when I buy a pin it's one to keep and one to trade, so you seemed to have stumbled upon one of my mantras.

2. Let her do what tickles her fancy. The point of pin collecting is have fun. WARNING: Be prepared to go into bankrupcy. CMs must trade with any guest so long as your pin has a Disney copyright and they don't have one on their lanyard. CMs with green lanyards trade only with kids. It is the safest and best way for kids and adults to get started in this addiction.

3. MISC: The backs of the pins are coated with a thin layer of crack, so you will always crave just one more pin. When at MK, try to get to a Pin Talk with Scoop in the Main Street Expo Hall at 1:00. Check out Dizpins.com every day for the latest in pin news. Check out Pinpics.com to see a database of all the pins we know about. You can do a search on transporation, bus, train, Tinkerbell, etc. to see what pins you don't have and now can't live without.

JUST REMEMBER.....Have Fun!

LOL! That's all you really need to know!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Thanks for all your help! I don't know if we can resist the pins at this point. They are all so cute!

Have you ever bought pins off of EBay? If so, is there wording that I should look for to make sure that the pins are "official?" I got the buses and they appear to be fine, but I am a nervous ninny when it comes to that.

 

[tmt martins]

I won a very nice set last year before our trip another one last night and have bids on a few more sets.

I make sure they have good feedback and mention NO Sesema (sp ) in their auctions.

We give DD 2 pins per day to trade and I have got them from about $2.25 to $3.00 per pin in sets of 10 or more.

If you look in my SIG at my TINK ROOM some of hers are hanging on her curtian . She mostly does Tink but has a few other favs as well.

At your DD's age just let her have fun and get what she wants she can always trade them again.

 

[daber]

I don't know if we can resist the pins at this point.

If you like the pointy side, turn it over and look at the artwork and you'll really not be able to resist them.

 

[Figment2]

Daber - thin layer of crack!!

that explains EVERYTHING!

Cyn

 

[megaelch]

i will make sure french immigration knows about the coating next month when you come over .. be prepared for a lot of sniffing and licking at the airport
I will personally take care of the big dragon pin on your vest to get rid of all illegal substances .. you dont want the poor european children to catch your addiction ????

Oh and for the original post .. toooooo late ... way to late ... sell your car , your house and cats and buy a gew more pins .. much easier to handle .. dont need heating and food ...

have fun with the international hobby....

Stephan

 

[Ava31]

Just to clarify (I'm a newbie, too), say I have Narnia pins from the Disney Store to trade, will I be able to trade for anything, or will I have to trade for similar pins? Is there any kind of etiquette that demands that you trade like values?

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Just to clarify (I'm a newbie, too), say I have Narnia pins from the Disney Store to trade, will I be able to trade for anything, or will I have to trade for similar pins? Is there any kind of etiquette that demands that you trade like values?

If you're trading with another guest, you'll have to convince them your pin is worth the one you want. They also have to want the pin you're offering to trade.

When trading with a cast member, though, as mentioned above, they must trade with you so long as the pin has a Disney copyright on the back, and they don't already have the pin on their lanyard. Other than that, offer them anything for anything.

Adding to this, if you're an adult, don't try to trade with a green lanyard CM. They only trade with kids. (I made that rookie mistake, and was very embarrassed.)

Also, if you have one of the pin sets that spells out the year (a separate pin for '2' '0' '0' '6'), you can't trade just one of those pins. You have to trade them as a set. (Note: this is a special case for the year pins, and isn't the rule for other sets where the pins can stand on their own.)

Other than that, if you see a rare $100 pin on a CM's lanyard (which you won't), feel free to trade them one of your cheap-o starter pins.

Also, when trading, if your pin has a black back and their pin has a metal back, ask if you can keep your back. They stay on better.

 

[jaycat]

QUOTE FROM BirdsOfPreyDave Also, if you have one of the pin sets that spells out the year (a separate pin for '2' '0' '0' '6'), you can't trade just one of those pins. You have to trade them as a set. (Note: this is a special case for the year pins, and isn't the rule for other sets where the pins can stand on their own.) END QUOTE

Doesn’t this also apply to pins that possibly can stand alone, but were sold in a set and not meant too? Like the special holiday sets, if you try to trade one with a cast member, and they know what the pin is, they will tell you that the whole pin set, because all the pins were sold together and not separate have to be traded together.

 

[zaja]

Also, if you have one of the pin sets that spells out the year (a separate pin for '2' '0' '0' '6'), you can't trade just one of those pins. You have to trade them as a set. (Note: this is a special case for the year pins, and isn't the rule for other sets where the pins can stand on their own.)

Can you trade pins that have a personalized name on them?

 

[Parkhopper_Vince]

Can you trade pins that have a personalized name on them?

No, personalized pins are not tradeable.

 

[Dsnyfam]

I am learning so much on this board about pin-trading. We have mostly purchased pins, and not traded with individuals. We have traded with the CM's, and the kids enjoy it most of all. But, everyone always seemed to have different rules when we did this. Some of them would make us keep the gold backs on the pins, and they would keep the rubber ones. Some of them would not let the kids trade more than one pin, and some do not seem to care. Some have different colored lanyards, and keep some of the pins on backwards (?--can't recall why). There were so many rules and differences, the kids (okay--and us) got a little confused and frustrated. Is there a certain place to find the rules? Does Disney post or print their own CM trading rules someplace? I would love to learn as much as possible before we head back to the park next month. Thank you.

 

[pezpam]

Disney's basic rules are here http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/Etiquette122004.pdf

If you can't read .pdf files, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_pin_trading#Pin_Etiquette and scroll down to Pin Etiquette.

The rules more or less boil down to courtesy - be polite. You're supposed to be able to trade two pins each time, as long as the two are different. The green lanyards are for kids under 12 only, others (usually gold?) are for everyone. Don't worry about the backings - some CMs will keep theirs, some won't. If you wind up with metal backs and have to have rubber ones, you can always purchase them.


The pins the CMs have on backwards are surprise trades - you choose it without seeing it. Don't return it if it isn't something you want, just keep it to trade later. Sometimes they're regular pins, but sometimes they're cool. You never know.

 

[mom2minniemouse]

Yep, PezPam's right. Those pins mysteriously backwards on a lanyard just might be something cool. DD went for a surprise pin while we waited for her BBB appointment Downtown and ended up getting a cast-member pin. I hear it's not always the case, but it could happen!

 

[Dsnyfam]

I wanted to thank both of you (pezpam and mom2minniemouse) for helping me with my question! The links you provided are awesome, and really lay-out the rules of this art/game. I did not know I could purchase rubber backs? Is this new? Are they available inside the parks? I am excited about the backwards "surprise" pins. My kids will be so happy to choose this pin on our next visit to the parks. After all, it's mostly for them (right?).

BTW...what is a BBB, and a "castmember" pin? (Is this the one they are given by WDW?). Thank you. Sorry if this sounds stupid. I am a pin-virgin, and know little about this stuff. I am eager to learn.

 

[HayGan]

BTW...what is a BBB, and a "castmember" pin? (Is this the one they are given by WDW?). Thank you. Sorry if this sounds stupid. I am a pin-virgin, and know little about this stuff. I am eager to learn.

BBB is Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique. BBB is a special salon in Downtown Disney where princesses (both little and big ones) can get special princess makeovers.

A cast member pin is a special pin that is not available for sale. You can only get these through trading. They will say "cast lanyard series" on the back. The cast lanyard series pins now have a little hidden Mickey on them. They are realeased at different times throughout the year. I was lucky last week that I was able to find lots of CM pins on CM lanyards. Sometimes they are very hard to find (especially later in the day.)

I totally agree that pin trading is addicting! I started last year and I now have about 400 pins in my collection (some for keeping and some for trading ) My mom and I, during our short trip last week, traded about 80 pins in 3 days!

Hope that helps

 

[Dsnyfam]

BBB is Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique. BBB is a special salon in Downtown Disney where princesses (both little and big ones) can get special princess makeovers.

A cast member pin is a special pin that is not available for sale. You can only get these through trading. They will say "cast lanyard series" on the back. The cast lanyard series pins now have a little hidden Mickey on them. They are realeased at different times throughout the year. I was lucky last week that I was able to find lots of CM pins on CM lanyards. Sometimes they are very hard to find (especially later in the day.)

I totally agree that pin trading is addicting! I started last year and I now have about 400 pins in my collection (some for keeping and some for trading ) My mom and I, during our short trip last week, traded about 80 pins in 3 days!

Hope that helps

WOW! I can not believe I have a princess, and never even heard about this boutique!? Where in DTD is it located? Is it near the Rainforest side, or the other side? I can not believe this is the first time I've ever heard of it (a real newbie). Can you possibly explain the concept and process, along with the price? Do they sell the clothing too, or is it merely a dress-up experience? Do they apply make-up and fix hair, etc? It sounds exciting. I would love to know more about it, before I even mention it to DD.

Is there a special way to detect a "castmember" pin before you trade? Do you know what ones are released and what they look like? I would LOVE to get one of these for our collection! Thank you for any help with this subject.
I am learning so much from just reading all the threads and posts on this board. I will be more informed on our next visit, and very excited about trading too!

OMG!! 400 pins?! That is phenomenal. We have 77 now (give or take a couple which the backs have somehow broken off ). My DH accuses me of being addicted to them too! Where do you keep them at your home? I am unsure what to do with ours now. We have five lanyards, with pins on each one. Should I take the pins off the lanyards and place them somewhere? Where? Should I store them when we are not visiting the parks? I worry about them getting scratched when they are all rubbing together in the Disney bag I keep them in.

Also, have you ever had a problem carrying pins on an airplane? My DH is worried about this, as he does not want to spend money on pins and put them in carry-on. Therefore, we have to have them in our carry-on bags. Is there a restriction on this? Has anyone experienced any problems?

All your help is appreciated! Thanks.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

My name is ExPirateShopGirl, and this is my story. A week ago I had no pins. None... and certainly not one I would put on display. Then one day in Epcot, my daughter received a special double pixie dust pin. One to keep and one to give away. Ohhhh! Pixie dust! NOT! Intense rivalry between normally-cooperative children sprang to life. I forced DD17 to 'give' her second pin to DD12. Yes, just like that, no hearing, no due process, blah blah blah.

Within hours, my children were browsing pin stands. Those same pin stands have been ignored trip after trip after trip. Why now? Why us? What was this pixie dust crap???

The very next day my kids picked out lanyards and paid with their own cold harsh cash to have them personalized at Disney MGM. Get out! I kid you not! Naturally, they couldn't bear to part with the YOAMD pins, so I was forced to rifle through my trip paperwork and find the coupon for a free pin. Luckily, I also found the coupon for the free pin from our May trip and prayed the CM working the gift counter did not notice the May 31st expiration date on one

48 hours later my kids were sporting personalized lanyards with pixie dust pins and two DME bus pins each. Scary! Before that night was over, they each bought 2 more pins. The next day, 2 more pins... then the unthinkable happened. We decided to take the bus to MK instead of our rental car.

Big Mistake.

A woman in line behind us waiting for the bus back to Pop had a huge lanyard of pins. My daughter commented on the fastpass pin. The woman went on to explain how you had to TRADE for the really neato-unbuyable pins. I wish I knew that woman's name because I would send her an un-thank you card. Or two. Naturally, the wait for the bus was long. She explained in great detail how to trade with cast members. For the love of mike she would not shut up! Then, things got worse. The bus arrived.

The bus driver was wearing a lanyard and on it was a FASTPASS! Glory! Eureka! The younger one edged out the older and asked to trade. The bus driver happily complied. From that point forward... it was GAME ON for the kids. They bought, they traded, they haggled with one another. The crowning glory came when one DD traded for a cast member Chip N Dale pin featuring a dole whip. I don't want to think what will happen when we go to DLR in 2 weeks! Help me!