Sharks in the Parks question........

[LynniethePooh]

I used to see a lot of posts regarding Shark infestatioins in the Parks.....has this calmed down a bit? Or are we just more aware and avoid them? I am hoping that with the boards and sites related to pin trading that we, as collectors and traders, are more aware and by lack of demand, the sharks have receeded.
I remember on incident at Epcot...it was a father and son 'team'. SON saw my Artist Choice #1......Sorcerer Mickey....SIGNED mind you........and offered me some pin......I liked the pin, knew it was a rack.....and THE RAY goes over to the pin racks picks up a pin and says "You mean THIS pin"......I wasn't going to trade regardless, but it was awesome to see that SON just close his bag and walk away! I wondered.......'Do I look THAT dumb?". Geez, at least give me the credit, that if I have a SIGNED LE pin in my hand, I must know SOMETHING about pins!

Now I am going to ramble here......I think of people like that, and wonder what drives them? Can they honestly feel 'good' about ripping someone off.....about trading a rack for a sought after pin? Do they rejoice in this? I feel sad in a way, that someone has to act in a devious manner to bring joy to themselves. Do they then sell the pins on auction? A way to make money? I will stop babbling now! Thanks for listening!

 

[jojo_ct]

I saw most of the same faces last month that I've seen over the years, so I'd say they are still around. They never spoiled it for me before, and I won't let them spoil it for me now.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Lynnie, I think it may have calmed down a bit because people are aware of the sharks and I wouldn't doubt if the sharks are aware that we're aware because of information shared on web sites like the DIS.

As for what drives them -- only thing I can think is that it's a challenge to them. It's like going to someplace like the Bahamas or Mexico and bartering in the marketplace for something, and trying to get the best deal they can. They may not even think that they're ripping people off or taking advantage of them. It's like they're testing their knowledge against another person's of what pins are rare and in demand. They're not really worried about helping educate another collector who's just starting out and possibly making a new friend. At best, it's bragging rights to their circle of friends that they made the lopsided trade.

 

[MeanLaureen]

I think it's because I've been carrying a rolled up newspaper with me and whapping them on the nose when they try to shark someone. That's got to sink in sooner or later, ya think?

 

[LynniethePooh]

YOU GO GIRL!

HENCE, another example of why they call you MEAN LAUREEN!

 

[Dizneypinz27]

Like Cynthia had previously said you just have to have fun with pin trading "sharks" will always be there and nothing will change that just enjoy pin trading and don't worry that much about them because in the end most people are very nice honest traders

Ryan

 

[3kids4me]

I had two "shark" experiences when we were in WDW in March (remember that this was at the beginning of my pintrading experience, and I didn't know much). Unfortunately, my son was the one that had to see what these people were made of. In one instance, he was looking at a CM's trader book, and picked out a little brass Mickey that he liked (I think most of us have seen those).

As he was trying to decide which pin he was going to trade for it, this woman comes up out of nowhere and starts to take it out of the book. So I politely informed her that my son was just about to trade for that pin (aren't the CMs supposed to take the pins out of the books?). So she looks at me and says "I don't THINK so" in this really snotty voice. My son (who is 10) was so nice about it, he said "that's okay" and I told him that we would just buy the pin for him. At that point the woman says "Well I don't think you can buy that pin anywhere" which is when I also informed her that they sold them for $2.00 at the local WalMart. I hope she felt like real jerk after that.

 

[Swamp_Fox]

I personally adopt a zero tollerance attitude when it comes to pin sharks. If you try to shark me or I see someone being sharked I will do my best to expose you for the fraud you are. I'm not above ratting out a shark to a CM in fact I will go as far to steer traders away from the shark. I will also tell traders about safe places and people to trade with (Poly Resort and Contemporary Resort trading nights and as for people any CM or people from the Dis Board)

Larry