Pinmongers -- may they all ...

[OneMoreTry]

I was staying at BWV last week. On Thursday, I believe it was, I was at DD at the pin station where they have access to the Official Pin Trading Web Site.

Well, lo and behold the 4th dragon pin was released at the very resort where I was staying.

NO PROBLEM. We'll finish lunch and get back by one pm. No way the pins'll sell out by then.

"Are you sure you don't want to go back now?" asked my wise daughter. age 15. (She couldn't care less about pin trading but could see I thought it would be cool to snag this pin.) I felt a twinge, but my naive side -- the one that usually wins -- said "Nahh!"

So when we got back around 1pm I sent my daughter down to get 2 pins. (Admittedly I planned to buy a total of 4 to trade and get the full set.) She came back to tell me they had "just sold the last two." And she saw numerous people talking about how someone had been asking them to buy pins.

I was and am now disillusioned by the whole pin thing. The whole joy of pin trading has been ruined by these PINMONGERS. Sold out in 4 hours??? That's ridiculous. I think Disney will need to do something else with their pins. they're just playing into the hands of a few evil mercenaries -- true life villains. May they find their way to a HOT PLACE.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I agree. This LE500 is for the birds.
It's just making the bad more obvious. It would be different if the buying was really monitored. But obviously it isn't. Everyone says the same. They witness certain people buying dozens within hours.
I always said, when it ceases to be fun, then I walk away. And that is what has happned with the LE500.
It would have to really be a must have to make me jump through the pin hoops again.

 

[Swamp_Fox]

Let me just say that this kind of abuse of pins has been going on for a long time and Disney has greatly improved their methods of pin abuse. Just think back how wild things were in the years of 98,99 and early 2000. Unfortunately the sharks have adapted methods to abuse the system. Some sharks have developed connections with CM's who are in the know who in turn tip off the sharks who then tip off other sharks, end result no pins for you. Then there are these methods "pin recruitment" where the sharks ask people to buy extra pins for them or use their entire family including long lost cousins.

Larry

 

[RamVA]

..................but if we're honest, it's not just mercenaries and pin sharks--------------some of us collectors/traders are buying way more than just 1 or 2 for ourselves--we are buying multiples to help out pin-pals, or buying multiples because we all need hot traders to get those elusive "holy grails" we've been trying to get forever.

 

[Mickey527]

Hi all,
I just got back and I missed many of the new releases.
I got my phone call around noon that the dragon pin had been released. Ran over to the Boardwalk and asked about the pin. Was told by a CM that they had sold out in less than 2 hours. It was around 1 when I got there.
I left, oh well, missed another one. Then I heard that they were still selling them until about 3. The CM told me they were sold out.
So what can be done? in a word, nothing, the sharks and CM friends seem to have taken what was once fun and turned it into a money making hobby. But run over to Epcot Pin Central if you want to see that pin. There are some who have 5 or more in their bags on display. Peggie

 

[OneMoreTry]

Originally posted by RamVA
..................but if we're honest, it's not just mercenaries and pin sharks--------------some of us collectors/traders are buying way more than just 1 or 2 for ourselves--we are buying multiples to help out pin-pals, or buying multiples because we all need hot traders to get those elusive "holy grails" we've been trying to get forever.

I don't think the problem is a few people who are at wdw on vacation buying 4 pins. It's the ones listing on ebay who buy 10 or 20. They live in Orlando and send someone over after checking the web each am.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Originally posted by Mickey527
Hi all,
...Was told by a CM that they had sold out in less than 2 hours. It was around 1 when I got there.
...Then I heard that they were still selling them until about 3. The CM told me they were sold out.
So what can be done? in a word, nothing, the sharks and CM friends seem to have taken what was once fun and turned it into a money making hobby. But run over to Epcot Pin Central if you want to see that pin. There are some who have 5 or more in their bags on display. Peggie

If they were still selling them until 3 then a CM is in cahoots with the pin buyers and I'm sure the dealings are illegal. We were told around 1 or so that the pins were gone. If they weren't, then the CM was lying and holding the pins for someone.

If you can verify that pins were sold at 3 then we need to complain and even send documentation.


PS. After my experience I never want to see a dragon pin or anyone that has one.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Just by pure luck I was able to buy extras of #1 & #2. And was very glad for it.
I didn't have a chance at the other two and was able to trade. (whew)
At least I was able to pass some on to some friends too.
And surprisingly enough I STILL have a few remaining.
(And that was not buying them by the dozen. I was frugal, and just downright lucky.)
I have sent out some TA for HGs. So far have had two NO THANKS.
So despite Ebay prices, they must not be THAT valuable. Geez. It wasn't like I was asking for anything going for hundreds of dollars. I tried sticking with current Ebay prices.
With that in mind, I told Blaine I would be crazy not to throw one on Ebay to help recoup a fragment of what I spend a month in pins.

If I decide to do that, the market will fall flat. My timing is always lousy.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I will let you in on a secret -- People call me organized. It is only because if I don't put something away where it belongs, it is lost for awhile.
Guess what I evidentally did not put where they belong?
Some day I will run across them. They are here -- somewhere...... :space:

On the bright side -- I pulled out my chaise lounge cushion and found two pins. And one is an extra Tink Easter pin I did not know I had.

 

[Mickey527]

OneMoreTry,
I know I can't verify what I said but here is what I know.
I went at 1 pm and was told that the Dragon pins were sold out.
I received a call from a friend the day after and she told me that she had read on the other board that someone wrote that the pins were seen being purchased at 3 pm.
I can't verify but only tell what I was told. I didn't have a computer to check if it had been reported that pins were still for sale at 3 pm. but I do think there are CM's who are in cahoots with some pin buyers, we all knew of a few way back when and I don't think Disney has eliminated all of them.
but life goes on, and I don't spend my vacation time running for pins like I did in the past. They are only pieces of metal after all, and I am not going to become a millionaire by collecting, I just get what I like now. Peggie

 

[OneMoreTry]

Originally posted by Mickey527
but life goes on, and I don't spend my vacation time running for pins like I did in the past. They are only pieces of metal after all, and I am not going to become a millionaire by collecting, I just get what I like now. Peggie

Thanks for the reminder, Peggie!

That's the very reason I didn't bring my laptop on the trip to check every morning. If I had, I would have gotten the pin. In fact, if I had checked after my workout at 9am, I would have gotten the pin. We were staying at the Boardwalk after all.

It's funny because I don't even care much about the dragon pins. It just bugged me that a casual, somewhat timely, vacationer couldn't get a pin 4 hours after it was released.

But you're right!!

 

[stitch79]

Mickey527,

Thats the attitude I've taken now.....with the constant flood of new pins that are coming from DA (especially Stitch) there is no way I am going to be able to collect them all. So I buy the ones I am able to get while I'm at WDW or if I see a good deal on Ebay. Its just not worth the aggrevation to deal with outsmarting the pinmongers. It would be nice if Disney could come up with some way to deal with the problem, but I have no idea how they would even start.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I don't know.
DL has tried several methods from handstamps, which proved worthless, to other means.
I much rather be limited and have that be a fairly sure thing than know really only a handful of people are buying the pins.
Of course that would probably just come down to keep honest people honest. There would still be those buying dozens.
I think taking it down to LE500 was just too much. That may be okay to do in DL, where the entire area is smaller and the locals keep the parks alive. But here is too many people and nothing is a few steps away like CA.
Hopefully they won't continue this as it will only hurt pins in the long run.
They probably wanted to generate interest away from PINS. But it really backfired for pin people in general.