Reading an interesting post on Dizneypins and it got me thinking....

[NHMickey]

Mickey Extreme asked what would you do to jump start pin trading? I thought this would be a good topic for here as well.

So what do you think would help?

I would like to see less pin trading nights and more in the parks. Maybe refresh the lanyards more. Just recycle the junk pins off and put on some older rack pins or something.

If you had the Pin trading Nights... use a larger space with more tables... How about once a week in one of the many convention rooms at the Contemp or one of the other hotels...

Make an event fun.... Have a yearly event that involves all the parks at one time. So you have to go out and enjoy the parks for what they all offer. Not just sit in one room and look at the same old books all the time....


How about you.... What would you do?

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

If we wanted to bring our beloved hobby to more people, then we have to think of a way to get it more out in the open.

I enjoy the pintrading night at the All Stars (and <b>not</b> the one held in the Contemporary in the dark, with no seats/tables), but could just easily meet in a ballroom. Of course that removes the ready-to-hand food and drink, or forces WDW to provide food for sale too.

But pintrading at a resort is still far from the crowds, and doesn't get the attention we could generate with more pintrading inside the parks. I don't know how this could work, but what about pintrading from Noon to 2 PM, everday, at each of the main parks, on a rotating basis? I'm sure some location could be found at one of each park's larger counter service restaurants.
AK - Pizzafari ? (Maybe where the AP lounge was located?)
Epcot - Electric Umbrella ?
MK - Cosmic Ray's ?
MGM - ABC Commissary ?

WDW might have to curtail this during peak weeks (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter), but otherwise it might be workable.

Or, they may be unused space that could be opened for this purpose, like the Odyssey in Epcot.

Put a couple of big banners out, print on the daily schedule, and more newbies would show up every day. WDW would sell more lanyards, pins, and bags, so they would have that profit to offset any costs.

 

[BeautyLLM]

I agree with lots of your ideas Nat and RobYn. Put pintrading back in the parks! When we were just at Epcot last week, Santa Baby (aka Tim) asked me why I don't trade at Pin Central anymore...remember when Pin Central was the place to meet up with pin friends? In daylight? This was where we met CM's who were interested in pintrading, and went to pin trading seminars. It attracted alot of non traders who wondered what the gathering was all about!

The other thing I would suggest is that they stop flooding the market with new pins. There are WAY too many pins...the quality of the art and craftsmanship has lessened over the years... I mean, come on...

Back in the old days you had to wait more than 24 hours for a new pin to be released. It created anticipation and increased the value of the pins. An upcoming LE 1000 pin release was something we all talked about on the boards! Then we shared our excitement when we actually acquired one. Now, LE 1000...eh, what's the big deal.

Maybe they will read our suggestions and make some changes...

 

[Luv2Roam]

How could WE jump start PT, and not Disney? (assuming we are talking park PT)

1) Have unoffical PT ambassadors in the parks. Like Disney use to have Super Pin Traders (do they still?) the Dis and Dizpins have their own good will SPT. A fun, carefree safe haven.

2) Use park traders as as something you don't see every day. -- I actually do not have bad luck on CM pin trading at all. And I won't say ALL my pins are unusal. But I strive for it anyway.

3) Don't trade for lanyard pins just to be having lanyard pins. If I have it, I leave it. Unless I know someone who wants it.

4) At PTN have a small fish/newbie adult area. Or at least an area where adult guests don't feel like they have to have a pin worth $200 before anyone will even look their way. Not where traders look bored and generally uninviting.
I am staying just down the road from a main gate. just over a week. I am a die hard pin nut and have not even considered going to PTN yet.

 

[MeanLaureen]

I'd drag Jeff out of his hole in Arizona and plan another GPA

 

[Buzz2001]

get rid of eBay

 

[NHMickey]

Leslie... I do remember those days... Look at DA PINS. LE 1000's are still for sale. I think DA has made to much of a good thing. Maybe once a month or so but 4 twice a week is a bit much.

I agree with the Lanyard Pins... If I don't need it... I Leave it.

I would love to see Epcot make Pin Central more active again.

 

[olbear]

OOooo, what great idea's. I love the one about rotating in the parks. And this would be some really great NEWS that our favorite reporter could "scoop" us on if his seminars get started again, and they let him promote things like this. It would be just fantastic. I'm excited just thinking about it!

Hey DISNEY>>>are you reading this?? Hope so!!!

Blessings,
Winnie

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I went to my first Fri. night Contemporary Pin meet the day after New Years, with my two boys in tow. Wasn't what I expected. I was hoping to se afriendly face, but mostly felt like I was a bug under a magnifying glass. The only good thing was being in the right place to get the monorail surprise pins! We didn't linger long and I won't go again. I agree with the park ideas. Anyone remember there used to be an older gentleman who worked main street called the Mayor. He was covered in pins, and was a roving pin ambassador type.

Lady Martha
Boa Brigade Guardian of the Sacred Drink

 

[BeautyLLM]

Martha,

I remember the Mayor...I haven't seen him in ages! He always had the most interesting pins! (I think he was present when Caroline and her students visited Scoop last Marsh...)

I also remember another Main Street character who did the pin seminars at Expo Hall during the early days of pin trading. He could have been a different CM playing the part of Scoop, I'm not sure. He was very knowledgable about pins and his seminars were lots of fun.

 

[KAP]

I am not sure if the mayor ever traded his pins. Anyway, this past week I have seen him in Frontierland. He was playing the stereotype western lawman/gambler. He'd stop guests to play card tricks.