Pin Trading

[kailuagirl]

Last year we got into pin trading. Unfortunately, we discovered how fun it was at the park and was not prepared. Our dd was 6 last year and totally enjoyed it. So we are going again at the end of the month and I'd like to go in better prepared with some pins to trade. Where is the best place to buy them? I've found some booster sets on amazon, but also see these huge lots of pins. How do you know what is real? Where should I start?

Also, can someone give me the pin trading for dummies quick lesson on how to spot a fake. So I look for the right color, eyes open, make sure the Disney seal is complete on the back of the pin, what else or is this wrong? And I don't understand the sides issue, what do we look for?

Thanks so much. Sorry all the questions

 

[B-Ride]

I'll make a couple of comments which don't necessarily answer your questions.

1. Spotting fakes is difficult because they are not actually fakes. Given that Disney pins are made in China, most of what you see on eBay etc are actual Disney pins with minor flaws. They have the Disney symbol and are pretty close to the real ones. So almost anything you trade for could be one of these.

2. Disneyland is a lousy place to trade pins. At Disney World almost every cast member has pins. At Disneyland it is very rare. My 2 sons will usually trade about 100 pins during a Disney World vacation. At Disneyland it was more like 10. A Disneyland CM told me the reason was WDW CMs are required to wear pins, Disneyland CMs are not. Still don't understand why they don't because it is fun for both parties and makes the park more Magical.

 

[Tasscrapper]

We pin trade more for fun than as serious collectors and find plenty of cast mates or stores to do so in. There are pin boards in certain places all over the parks.

I think that once you start handling pins you can tell the difference more easily. Colors can seem off, some of the lines separating the different sections of the pin don't look right, but for me the two big ways are how smooth or rounded the edges are and how thick the pins themselves are. Sometimes they are very easy to tell they are knockoffs.

 

[figment_jii]

Costs: Pin trading can be very expensive, especially if you buy pins after you get to Disney. Disney sells individual pins (don't buy these for trading) and starter/booster sets. Starter/Booster sets are usually sets of 7 or so pins for about $30. If you run out of pins or decide to start trading after you've arrived, booster/starter sets are your best bet. Other sources include the Disney Stores, Disney Outlets, DisneyStore.com, etc. I would keep an eye on the DisneyStore.com's clearance section for good deals. You can also buy pins on eBay, but be careful. Those can often be scrappers/fakes, especially if they're cheap (e.g., less than a few dollars per pin).

Caveats: there are a few other things worth noting about trading.

Scrappers, Counterfeits, and Fakes: The second issue is scrappers, counterfeits, and fakes. For some folks this matters, for others it does not. You'll need to decide which camp you are in before you get heavily into pin trading. To the average pin trader, I don't think the difference between a scraper, fake, or counterfeit really matters (because none of these are legitimate pins), but there are slight differences.

Basically a scrapper is a pin that looks legitimate, but is not. It can be a factory overrun (i.e., the factory was contracted to make 1 million, but they made 1.1 million instead) or a pin that has some kind of error that should have been "scrapped". A counterfeit pin is a copy of legitimate pin made by someone that was not authorized by Disney. A fake is a pin design that was never authorized by Disney.

Unfortunately, it's not always easy to tell what pin designs are fake unless you know a lot about pins and what designs have been released. These pins can often look like legitimate designs and may contain all of the markings (e.g., copy right) to look legitimate, but they are not. You'll often be able to tell a scrapper/counterfeit because the colors are weird/off or the back stamp (the copy right) is wrong/missing/damaged. Others say you can tell because they feel "rough" or the edges are sharp/pronounced. Sadly, there is no sure fire way to tell a scrapper/counterfeit. It's worth noting that if you do end up trading with CM, the CM lanyards tend to be filled with scrappers, counterfeits, and (to a less extent) fakes. So if you really dislike scrappers/counterfeit, I would avoid trading with CMs. That's the crux of the argument: those that dislike scrappers/counterfeits feel they cheapen the trading and make it not worthwhile. Those that don't care, tend to say that they like the pin, so it doesn't really matter if it's a scrapper/counterfeit or not (they also say that if you can't tell, does it really matter?). Both points are valid.

eBay: eBay is a popular source for pins, but it can be a tough place to buy legitimate (i.e., non-scrapper) pins. The general rule of thumb is that you buy a "lot" of pins (e.g., 25-pins) and the price per pin is less than a couple of dollars each, you're likely buying scrappers. Also, if you buy pins that come in little baggies (instead of pin cards like the ones you see at the stores in WDW/DLR), those are more likely to be scrappers as well. My recommendation is to look for sellers that are selling pins still on their backing and/or unopened booster sets (also still on their cardboard backing wrapped in plastic). In truth, unless you only buy from Disney directly, it is hard to say whether you'll get scrappers or not.

 

[tarheelalum]

I found these two videos very informative.

Spotting fake pins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4JAXofHhlk&list=UUfaBZUno5jAp_W3xqMLWzqw


Disney Pin trading Guide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMWxjU7A-G0

 

[ktlm]

I disagree that Disneyland is not a great place for trading pins. We alternate between WDW and DL and we actually think DL is the better place for trading. We have never seen a lack of CMs with lanyards, and our last trip there were pin boards everywhere. We found a ton of boards in stores, at counter service restaurants, etc. in addition to the cast lanyards. Plus, we found that a CM at one place with a board, would tell DD where to go find another board. The main reason we prefer DL for trading is that probably 90% of what DD gets there from CMs and boards are authentic pins. At WDW, I think it is closer to 50% or even less. So many people bring bags of EBAY scrappers/fakes to WDW, and they wind up all over CM lanyards and the CMs don't usually pull the fakes and switch them out. I let DD trade for whatever she likes, so unfortunately at WDW we wind up with a lot of fakes that we have traded authentic pins for.


When you first start pin-trading, it can be really hard to spot fakes. The more you pin-trade and handle pins, it starts to get a little easier to spot them. Also there are poor fakes that are obvious, but there are also some really good fakes out there. Some obvious signs are if a pin has rough edges. Real pins the edges are generally smooth. Paint bleeding on the edges is also a sign, or edges that don't have consistent paint- i.e. splotches and chips. Pins the wrong color- especially things like hair and eyes. Sloppy paint on the front. Fakes are generally thinner than real- but that isn't always the case. Real are often a little heavier, but again, not always. The backs are often different. For real backs-Mickey heads generally extend off the edges with no border- fakes will often have borders on the edge of the Mickey head. The writing on the back can say the wrong thing, or have typos, or be muddled (but in my experience it can be somewhat muddled on real pins too- and I don't think I have ever seen one with typos- I think a lot of fakes are made from the real molds). Fakes- sometimes the backs have paint or metal inconsistencies- and often they are duller or not quite the right color. The Pinpics website is a great resource to see how a pin is supposed to look.

Sometimes, the difference between a real and a good fake is as minor as just a small line or something where it is not supposed to be- and it can be almost impossible to tell unless you have a real and a fake side by side. There are a lot of good fakes floating out there on limited edition pins. Here is an example:

http://www.pinpics.com/pin.php?pin=73766&keyw=73766&pinsort=Relevance

You can see that on the fake, Perdita has some lines across her paw that are not on the real. Also the stained glass on the real is more sparkly. We are 101 Dalmatians fans and actually have this fake on our pin board at home and I really like the pin even though I know from the photo that it is a fake. I don't like that I bought it from a supposed respected seller on EBAY- and it was sold to me as new and supposedly on its original card though! Just because a pin is on a card, don't assume it is real. There are sellers who stockpile cards, and put fakes on them to make them look real. I found that out the hard way!

If your DD likes a pin and wants to keep it, I don't think it matters much that it is fake. I know that DD has some fakes on her pin board at home that she absolutely loves. I don't even tell her they are fake. If we find the real one, then I will trade for it and then switch it out on her board when we get home!

 

[maizeydaizey]

Do these boards at stores and restaurants for trading have something that identifies them to a newbie?

 

[figment_jii]

Do these boards at stores and restaurants for trading have something that identifies them to a newbie?

I haven't come across any pin boards at the restaurants, but the ones in the stores are usually behind the counter. They typically black Mickey head-shaped boards, probably about 15-inches in diameter (I haven't actually measured them). Once you've seen one, they're pretty easy to spot. Basically, if you see a board of pins (regardless of the shape), just ask the nearest CM if they're for trading.

 

[ktlm]

Do these boards at stores and restaurants for trading have something that identifies them to a newbie?

Just look for something near the register with several pins on it. They will be sitting next to, or on the counter behind, the register. You will see a board with pins on it- or sometimes it will be a stuffed animal holding something with pins all over it or some other object. If you see anything that looks like that near a register, all you have to do is walk up and ask to see it. If it is on the counter behind the register, they will pick it up and bring it to you. If it is next to the register, some people do not even ask before trading, but we always believe it is polite to ask instead of running up and grabbing things. If you have trouble spotting one (which based on our experience you shouldn't), just ask a CM at a register in a store if they know if there are any pin boards anywhere.

When we were there, World of Disney at DTD had them at every single register (they used stuffed animals to hold the pins). There were also a ton at the front of California Adventure in the stores to your left as you enter the park, and also in the store and counter service on the right. DD had a trading bonanza in those two areas because there were a lot of boards in close proximity to each other, but there were a ton scattered around the parks as well. This was the first time I think I had noticed them at counter service areas, but we found them at several. I think DD was asking for a smoothie at CA every day not because she really wanted it, but because she wanted to get to the 2 pin boards they had at the counter at the smoothie place!

 

[maizeydaizey]

Thank You so much for the great information!!

 

[figment_jii]

There were also a ton at the front of California Adventure in the stores to your left as you enter the park, and also in the store and counter service on the right...This was the first time I think I had noticed them at counter service areas, but we found them at several.

Interesting and good to know. Now that you mention it, I do recall seeing one at Clarabelle's in DCA. I haven't seen them at other counter service venues. Do you happen to remember which other CS locations had pin boards?

 

[ktlm]

Interesting and good to know. Now that you mention it, I do recall seeing one at Clarabelle's in DCA. I haven't seen them at other counter service venues. Do you happen to remember which other CS locations had pin boards?

Sorry, I don't. She did major trading this trip and stopped at so many boards, I can't remember them all. I know that Clarabelle's at CA did, and Schmoozies had 2 (1 at each window). Those are the ones she hit daily because she was finding some good pins there. I know there was also one at at least one of the food places or carts back in the boardwalk area because I remember her trading there. I also specifically recall that some of the register workers at Cocina Cucamonga were wearing pins because I remember DD leaving the table and going to visit a couple of them while we were eating. She was a pin trading machine this last trip!

Oh one other thing for those starting out, if your child gets a pin they really love and don't want to trade, you might want to take it off their lanyard and put it somewhere for safekeeping. The pin backs sometimes fall off and pins can get lost. They do have locking backs you can buy. You wouldn't want to use those on ones you do want to trade though because it can be some work getting the locking backs on and off. Locking backs will not rescue you if your child loses a whole lanyard though. Last year at WDW, DD lost 2 lanyards. She had a pin fall off into the toilet once, so at WDW she was taking her lanyard off and hanging it on the stall hook without telling me. She left it once and realized it 10 minutes later and we went back and it was gone. It was not turned in to the restroom CM or to lost and found either. We checked for 3 days. It had some really nice pins on it too. I bought her a replacement lanyard, and she promptly left it in the restroom at Tusker House during our meal. She realized it before we left our table, probably 5 minutes after she left the restroom, and she went back to get it, but it was gone. Whoever took it did not turn it in to the restaurant or to park lost and found. There are just dishonest people out there. So...now if it isn't a pin that she is willing to trade away, it does not go on her lanyard. Once she gets it in a trade, it goes straight into my purse.

 

[deli8788]

Is there a thread somewhere that explains pin trading? I'm very interested.

 

[figment_jii]

Is there a thread somewhere that explains pin trading? I'm very interested.

Here a thread from earlier this year:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3235467