Please Explain Trading Pins

[Dreamin' Disney]

I have seen pins in many of the stores and kiosks throughout Disney, but I just don't know what this pin trading is all about.

Can't you just buy a pin you like and keep it?

Do you then actually trade one of your own pins for others? I just can't imagine actually trading pins already purchased.

Can someone explain to me what this is all about?!

 

[safetymom]

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=37

I suggest you check out this forum here on the DIS. You don't have to trade if you don't want to. It is a great way to get some pins that you didn't have before because they aren't sold anymore. It is addicting.

 

[Amirah95]

See this web page for official Disney pin trading information: http://psc.disney.go.com/eventservices/

Here are some sites that were given to me when I first wanted to learn about and start pin trading:

http://www.pinpics.com/
http://www.dizpins.com/
http://www.dizneypins.com/

And just like safetymom suggested...see the Collectors board here on the Dis to get personal help and recommendations. Pin trading is fun and when you start it will become as addicting as these boards.

 

[buzz2400]

Some people buy pins cheap on ebay and when you get to WDW you trade it for pins that cm's are wearing. This saves a lot since pins at wdw are at least $6.50 and up. Cm's sometimes have pins from California, "spain", and japan. Pin trading is addicting. You don't have to trade your pins. I buy on ebay and keep the pins that I like. I find that it is like a treasure hunt going up to the cm's and looking at their lanyards to see if there are any pins that catch my eye.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

The only thing, if you're going to trade with a CM, please ASK to see their lanyard. It starts to get awkward when people just come up to us and start staring at our chest without saying anything. (Somewhat awkward for me, moreso for my female co-workers)

 

[peanuttrip]

One great and inexpensive way to get pins to trade is at the Character Corner, a Disney outlet, which is located at the Prime Out. I am not sure of the address but I am sure anyone at the hotels can tell you how to get there. When visited last May the store had 4 different styles for $2.99 each. We bought several of each style for her to trade. Most of the pins at the parks go for $6.50 and up. We would place one of each on her lanyard and when she saw a CM with a lanyard she would go up and ask to trade. We told her which ones she could trade and which ones see could not and in every case the CM would trade with her. In one case the CM was hesitant because she said our DD's pin was retired and worth some money, but was still willing to trade if it was alright with the parents. This last week my sister in law was down there and bought us two each of seven different styles, one to keep and one to trade. Hope this helps.

 

[Dreamin' Disney]

Thanks for the help. Can I buy any pins in advance at any of my local Disney stores? I don't think we would trade any pins that we just purchased at WDW for $6.50.

 

[lc1965]

Disclaimer: I just don't get pin trading at all. I understand that for devotees it's addictive, but why? What do you enjoy about it? Is it a hunt? Possession of beauty or rarity? It always struck me as a waste of time & money, so I'm curious about why people who enjoy it so much do it. Not judging, just curious.

 

[turnlisa]

My kids love it! The reason they like it is that it is kind of like a treasure hunt. You never know what you are going to find. My kids usually look for certain characters. Sometimes you find pins that you can't buy in the stores but only trade for. My youngest loves finding Tinkerbell pins or princesses (yes -- he is a boy that loves those Disney women). It is also a great souvenir that they picked out all by themselves.