Pin trading question

[KristyBDJ]

Mods feel free to move this if you see fit.
I'm wondering how many pins I should start my kids with for trading. This will be the first time we have done pin trading so unsure of how many to purchase. Thanks!

 

[sweetdana]

Mine started at 3.5 with 6 pins, we add about 1 or so every trip, she has about 10 -12 now.

 

[t_catt11]

Totally depends on you. I believe that we let ours have 4 per day the past trip (we bought a big lot from eBay).

 

[nilla]

5-10. My advice would be to buy a cheap set from eBay with characters your kids may not like or recognize, otherwise they may end up not wanting to trade them at all Just make sure they're official Disney Pin Trading pins.

 

[Absolutely Disney]

I have been doing this since I was four and every year I get a starter set of pins to trade. Make sure you buy your kids something they don't really like, or they won't want to trade.

 

[KristyBDJ]

Ok, so I'm bringing my thread back to life with another question. My kids still want to start pin trading this trip. We leave in less than 2 weeks. What's the best way to get them at a bargain price? I found the thread with good and bad EBay sellers but it recommends buying individual pins. That seems like a lot of work and expense when I need to buy 30-40 pins. I don't want to get them a starter set when we get there if it's going to be full of pins they won't want to trade...ie Princess or Pirates. I don't know...I guess I'm just looking for tips. Anything can help.

 

[nicki.momof3]

We jsut returned for a 8 night trip with 3 children (ages 5,6,7) and they LOVE trading. We bought 100 pins in a lot on ebay and they worked perfect.

I would never buy them individually for trading. We have bought in lots 3 times always from the same trader and never a fake or issue.

Have fun.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would recommend purchasing them a starter lanyard kit because it already comes with 4 pins.

 

[liz827]

I just bought a lot of 30 on E-bay for $23. This is our first time with pins also!

 

[luvmy2boyzz]

This will be our 5th Disney trip and each time I did not seem to have enough pins! (both boys collected the alphabet last time, 26 pins each!) I bought a lot of 100 form ebay and already told the boys it better be enough We have tons of fun pin trading and my "shy" boys have learned to come out of their shells a little and even made friends with many CM's.

 

[michelle06]

Can someone explain to me this amazement with pin trading? This is new to me. Anything I collect, I buy as I add to my collection. Why would one buy pins just to trade them? Seems like you would just buy the ones you want.

 

[auntfrannie]

Can someone explain to me this amazement with pin trading? This is new to me. Anything I collect, I buy as I add to my collection. Why would one buy pins just to trade them? Seems like you would just buy the ones you want.

I think the deal with buying a grab bag from eBay is you get them much, much cheaper than buying individual pins. On eBay I bought a lot of 30 pins for $27. So less than $1 each; buying in the park would cost you at least $6 per pin. When the kids trade with CMs they can get something they want and get rid of the pins they don't want.

 

[tallen429]

I think the deal with buying a grab bag from eBay is you get them much, much cheaper than buying individual pins. On eBay I bought a lot of 30 pins for $27. So less than $1 each; buying in the park would cost you at least $6 per pin. When the kids trade with CMs they can get something they want and get rid of the pins they don't want.

Yes, you get them cheaper, but they are most likey "scrappers" and therefore fake.

 

[tallen429]

I just bought a lot of 30 on E-bay for $23. This is our first time with pins also!

Sorry, just responded to another post, but then I saw yours.
You bought "scrappers", aka cast off, unoffic1al fake pins.

 

[michelle06]

I think the deal with buying a grab bag from eBay is you get them much, much cheaper than buying individual pins. On eBay I bought a lot of 30 pins for $27. So less than $1 each; buying in the park would cost you at least $6 per pin. When the kids trade with CMs they can get something they want and get rid of the pins they don't want.

Yes, but still, since Disney obviously endorses the trading, there must be something to it other than just getting the pins cheaply. Right?

 

[luvmy2boyzz]

Can someone explain to me this amazement with pin trading? This is new to me. Anything I collect, I buy as I add to my collection. Why would one buy pins just to trade them? Seems like you would just buy the ones you want.

Some pins you can not buy, they are given to cast members. For us it's about interaction with other people and the challenge of finishing a series. My DS's decide what series they want to collect usually by what they get in trade the first day and then we are off to finish the series!

 

[luvmy2boyzz]

Yes, you get them cheaper, but they are most likey "scrappers" and therefore fake.

You know, last time we traded pins a lot of people on these boards had me weirded out about the possiblilty of trading "fake" pins. I had several conversations with CM's about this and to tell you the truth they just didn't care where I got my pins from. I know there are many serious pin traders out there and I am sure they inspect a pin thoroughly before accepting it in trade so why get the first timers or those just collecting for fun all upset. Really I almost threw all my pins out and my boys were upset about possible fake pins! Some people just want to have some fun and just because they bought off Ebay doesn't mean they bought fake pins. It seems every time there is a question about pin trading the whole fake pin thing comes up and lot's of people get upset.

 

[abmitch01]

I just bought a lot of 30 for $20 off ebay from a trader with a good rating who said they were official. I can't tell, they look it but IDK.

My kids started it the first time we went because they were given a "Year of A Million Dreams" lanyard and pin from a CM. They bought more while we were there. I bought these thinking they would have fun trading them. They are now 11 and 12. I made sure my son got some "girlie" ones so he'd want to trade.

 

[KristyBDJ]

the fake pin thing is something I have been concerned about. I'm really not looking at this for a "serious" collection right now. My kids are young so it's about the fun of trading. We will most likely only be trading with CM's not other guests, only because I think that would feel more comfortable and more approachable for myself and my kids. Will the CM's really care? Would they really make a kid feel bad and not trade if they think it's a fake? I would think not but I worry.

 

[maureeny]

Before our trip last year I saw a suggestion on these boards to purchase pins from www.mousepinsonline.com ... so I did. I had gotten my son about 25 pins for our 9 day trip. I think I paid about $1.65 per pin. If you were to purchase pins in the park, you can pay anywhere from $5.00 to $15.00 per pin (for an individual pin).

I was not prepared for how fun pin trading was going to be!! We LOVED it! by day 3 my husband was pin trading also.. and by day 5 I was pin trading! So, with all 3 of us trading... well, we accumulated about ...well, let's say.. A LOT OF PINS!!

However, we purchased Mickey Mouse shadow boxes to display our pins for when we got home. We each framed our favorite pins. To us, this is a special display wall, with very fond memories of our trip. It's not uncommon to see one of us stopped at that wall to remember what a special trip that was! We could probably tell you at what park we got each pin!

So, my advice would be this:
1. purchase pins ahead of time (very important). I would over estimate. Pin trading is fun, and you will be surprised at all the cool pins out there! There will be pins you may wish to purchase when you are at Disney... like some of the ride pins, or special pins that you really love - that you would not trade.

2. IF you have to purchase pins while you are there to trade, buy them in sets, and go for the cheaper sets. You know you are not going to keep those pins, you need to use them to trade.

There are several reasons that I enjoyed the whole pin trading mania. As a previous posted mentioned, it's a great way for the kids to break out of their shell and ask someone if they could see their pins (and a great way to practice manners.. please and thank you). It's also challenging... in a fun way. Kind of like a treasure hunt. Every employee has pins, so everywhere you go you are always "eyeing" the pins. Be warned, some employees have green (I think) pin forms. They are only allowed to trade with children. We never approached other guests to trade (I think it's allowed).. but to me it wasn't something we choose to do. Pin trading really added SO much to our trip. I believe there are "pin trading rules" on Disney's website.


Order pins prior to going, and have fun!!! Oh, and if you in Epcot, stop in the big store to the left when you go in, they have a pin board that they get out for pin trading at certain times during the day.. only for about a half hour I think. That was a lot of fun!!!!