Question about pin release dates

[jwo1976]

When looking on disneypins.com at the upcoming releases they show a date when a pin will be released at a point in the future. However we were at WDW this past week and I saw many pins for sale at various locations but when I look them up on the site they show a release date in December. Why is it that some pins are for sale prior to the release date listed? Just curious.

 

[Broncobilly83]

I do not know. I had a friend at Epcot on 12/2 and asked him to grab a couple of pins due for release that day, and they were told they would get them at the shops next week, so release dates seem more like a guideline than a steadfast rule