so excited about disney pins from ebay!

[scorpad99]

We received our eBay pin lots of 25 for each kid today, and now my kids cannot wait to go and trade! They already traded with each other! Disney magic!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I know what you mean. I also was ordering those pin lots off of ebay - at a buck a pin, it seemed like too good of a deal. Turns out it is. Not sure where it is here on the boards, but there are some threads about 'scrapper' pins versus authentic pins. Many times those pin lots (at least the buck a pin lots), are "fake". I can't explain it as well as the experts. But search for the threads on this and you can determine if your pins are scrappers or not.

Of course, you may have gotten different lots and not the scrappers. And even with 'scrappers', we didn't know we had them and traded them without issue with the CMs. Although I did see one CM look at the pin and check it over as we left - then they put it in a drawer rather than on their lanyard. That's when I looked at the boards and found out I probably had the scrappers.

Oh, I hope I didn't ruin your excitement!!! And you might have perfectly legit pins too!

 

[erincon23]

We received our eBay pin lots of 25 for each kid today, and now my kids cannot wait to go and trade! They already traded with each other! Disney magic!

Pin trading is fun! Your kids will have a great time. We started trading probably 12-13 years old -- me and my two DSs -- and it was a lot of fun looking for pins for each other. It gave them a little more confidence approaching adults, and the CMs were, for the most part, very friendly with the kids. DS19 stopped a while ago, but DS16 is thinking he'll still trade when he goes with his choir next year (well, maybe not while he's with the choir,but certainly when we pick him up and continue on the vacation after the choir trip is done). And I love to trade -- I'm going on a solo trip in 5 weeks, and have all my pins ready!

Yes, there are scrappers out there (fake knock-off pins), but if you're just using them to trade with CMs, you shouldn't have trouble -- and I don't want to hear from the "you're contaminating it for the rest of us" crowd.

 

[nunzia]

Pin trading is fun! Your kids will have a great time. We started trading probably 12-13 years old -- me and my two DSs -- and it was a lot of fun looking for pins for each other. It gave them a little more confidence approaching adults, and the CMs were, for the most part, very friendly with the kids. DS19 stopped a while ago, but DS16 is thinking he'll still trade when he goes with his choir next year (well, maybe not while he's with the choir,but certainly when we pick him up and continue on the vacation after the choir trip is done). And I love to trade -- I'm going on a solo trip in 5 weeks, and have all my pins ready!

Yes, there are scrappers out there (fake knock-off pins), but if you're just using them to trade with CMs, you shouldn't have trouble -- and I don't want to hear from the "you're contaminating it for the rest of us" crowd.

I know this thread is going to have the furious about scrappers crowd come in, but there is really no way you can tell for sure what is real or not unless it is still on the card and bought at a store. The only hints are maybe the pin feels a bit lightweight, or the edges aren't as smooth. Since the pins are made from teh same molds the line betwen real and fake is thin. I do think Disney needs to find a way to put a stop to this..how aobut producing them in the US? hmm Our group only trades with CMs, and they all have a great time..maybe they are trading scrappers, or maybe they are trading real and getting scrappers in return

 

[budafam]

To the OP, I bought 2 lots off of Ebay as well and am soooo excited to trade on this trip. My kids can't wait either. I could care less if they're scrappers.

 

[Peace Mickey Lovers]

I too just bought a lot off Ebay and put them in the kids Easter eggs for their hunt. My daughters are looking forward to trading with the CM's this December

 

[wolf29]

To the OP, I bought 2 lots off of Ebay as well and am soooo excited to trade on this trip. My kids can't wait either. I could care less if they're scrappers.

Totally agree. My kids LOVE trading, and as long as they like what they are trading for, I am not really concerned about "scrappers" being part of their collection.We just got pins from EBay and the kids spent a few hours going through their pins deciding which they were going to keep and which are for trading.

 

[pixiewings71]

Pin trading is fun! Your kids will have a great time. We started trading probably 12-13 years old -- me and my two DSs -- and it was a lot of fun looking for pins for each other. It gave them a little more confidence approaching adults, and the CMs were, for the most part, very friendly with the kids. DS19 stopped a while ago, but DS16 is thinking he'll still trade when he goes with his choir next year (well, maybe not while he's with the choir,but certainly when we pick him up and continue on the vacation after the choir trip is done). And I love to trade -- I'm going on a solo trip in 5 weeks, and have all my pins ready!

Yes, there are scrappers out there (fake knock-off pins), but if you're just using them to trade with CMs, you shouldn't have trouble -- and I don't want to hear from the "you're contaminating it for the rest of us" crowd.

This is offensive and rude.......

OP I'm not going to go on about how the pins you bought might be ruining it for everyone else because I have no idea what you bought or who you bought from, but please be aware that there are scrappers out there and they are very prevalent on eBay. Before I knew about them I bought them as well and thought I was getting a killer deal....well know I know why the deal was so killer. I've since done a lot to learn about scrappers and try to avoid certain sellers on eBay. If you follow the link in my signature you will find a HUGE thread about pins and eBay, it's not there to bring anyone down but to (hopefully) help stop the sales of scrappers to people who know nothing about them.
I just purchased some pins from eBay and was extremely happy with them, will likely buy a few more from the same seller for an upcoming trip I have in the planning stages. There are good eBay pin sellers (I have a small list) but there are bad eBay pin sellers as well. If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask here or to PM me, I'm happy to help as much as I can.

Please note, I'm not an expert, I'm just an avid (and happy) pin trader. And for the record, I have quite a collection of scrappers in my collection at home, that I've traded for and purchased from eBay.

OP have fun trading, you and your kids will love it, we are a family of 4 and we all love pin trading!! We've been trading for 5 years now.

 

[a1tinkfans]

We received our eBay pin lots of 25 for each kid today, and now my kids cannot wait to go and trade! They already traded with each other! Disney magic!

Oh, so glad you are Happy, Happy trading too.
I did not read the rest of the thread, been there done that....will only mention that
IF you have kids that would be upset if they LOST their pins, consider the locking backs that you can use instead of those black rubber mickey ones, they tend to fall off the lanyards and theres nothing worse than a sad Disney Trader
You can find them on ebay too, not expensive and worth it IMHO.

Pixie Dust to y'all

 

[jaminmd]

I buy DD's traders from eBay, too. Sometimes she'll keep some but most of them are traded. We bought her $600 worth from DTD when we were there two weeks ago, so I don't feel guilty buying them from eBay.

 

[missycj96]

My dd6 would love to get pins to trade. We buy her sets but she loves her sets and then doesnt want to trade them. How do i find out who the "good" ebay sellers are?

 

[scorpad99]

Ya know what, they could be scrapers, but it made my kids happy, and they are keeping most of them anyway. Its costing a small fortune to do Disney this trip, so as long as they are happy

 

[msheriffm]

Oh, so glad you are Happy, Happy trading too.
I did not read the rest of the thread, been there done that....will only mention that
IF you have kids that would be upset if they LOST their pins, consider the locking backs that you can use instead of those black rubber mickey ones, they tend to fall off the lanyards and theres nothing worse than a sad Disney Trader
You can find them on ebay too, not expensive and worth it IMHO.

Pixie Dust to y'all

Can you please give me more information about the locking backs?
All the pins my girls have at this point are authentic so I would like to make sure they do not fall off. We bought most of the pins and have not traded in five years or more. We are going to WDW this summer so would like to buy the locked backs.
Thanks

 

[pixiewings71]

My dd6 would love to get pins to trade. We buy her sets but she loves her sets and then doesnt want to trade them. How do i find out who the "good" ebay sellers are?

you can follow the link in my signature if you'd like to find the huge thread, or you can simply go to the collector's board and you'll find it. It's always near the top of the forum. I bought sets that we wouldn't want or we already have.....LOL Otherwise there would be no trading them from here either.

Ya know what, they could be scrapers, but it made my kids happy, and they are keeping most of them anyway. Its costing a small fortune to do Disney this trip, so as long as they are happy

Again, no one is saying they are scrappers, and yes, Disney definitely costs a small fortune.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Can you please give me more information about the locking backs?
All the pins my girls have at this point are authentic so I would like to make sure they do not fall off. We bought most of the pins and have not traded in five years or more. We are going to WDW this summer so would like to buy the locked backs.
Thanks

You can get locking backs at any of the Disney stores where pins are sold, which is pretty much every store! They are little metal cylinders that slide onto the pin stalk and you use a tiny Allen wrench to tighten the back onto the stalk. We use locking backs on all the pins on our lanyards that we don't want to trade, or that we consider 'keepers.'

I've bought from Ebay, first buying from someone that was recommended to me here on the DIS, only to find out later they were probably scrappers, or buying scrappers and trading them to CMs and selling the CM pins. The last batch I bought I used one of the sellers on the "OK" list on that thread referenced earlier.

 

[Ashlander]

We traded pins for the first time on our last trip and my kids LOVED it! I bought two batches off of ebay. The first seller I could not find on the list of good/bad sellers - and the second I made sure was on the good list. The batch I got from the first seller I could not tell if they were scrappers or not - so I put them aside and we didn't take them. The second set were definitely ok so we took those to Disney to trade.

No matter what my kids had SO much fun trading pins and we have definitely started a tradition! We did buy the locking backs at Disney - they were a great to prevent my kids from trading the pins I really liked

 

[jkshel]

Ya know what, they could be scrapers, but it made my kids happy, and they are keeping most of them anyway. Its costing a small fortune to do Disney this trip, so as long as they are happy

You said it best!!! I've bought some off ebay as well and had no problems...Just like everything in life--Research and if its sounds to good to be true? Buyer beware!!

Also dont forget to go to the register sections and ask to see their pin boards.....you can trade here to and not only with the CM lanyards!!

Have fun and tell Mickey we said hi!!

 

[msheriffm]

You can get locking backs at any of the Disney stores where pins are sold, which is pretty much every store! They are little metal cylinders that slide onto the pin stalk and you use a tiny Allen wrench to tighten the back onto the stalk. We use locking backs on all the pins on our lanyards that we don't want to trade, or that we consider 'keepers.'

Thanks for the info. I went on e-bay and purchased some that were in a disney package along with the allen wrench. I want to do exactly what you said put them on the pins we do not want to trade. I was glad to purchase them ahead of time.

 

[thelionqueen]

This is offensive and rude.......

OP I'm not going to go on about how the pins you bought might be ruining it for everyone else because I have no idea what you bought or who you bought from, but please be aware that there are scrappers out there and they are very prevalent on eBay. Before I knew about them I bought them as well and thought I was getting a killer deal....well know I know why the deal was so killer. I've since done a lot to learn about scrappers and try to avoid certain sellers on eBay. If you follow the link in my signature you will find a HUGE thread about pins and eBay, it's not there to bring anyone down but to (hopefully) help stop the sales of scrappers to people who know nothing about them.
I just purchased some pins from eBay and was extremely happy with them, will likely buy a few more from the same seller for an upcoming trip I have in the planning stages. There are good eBay pin sellers (I have a small list) but there are bad eBay pin sellers as well. If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask here or to PM me, I'm happy to help as much as I can.

Please note, I'm not an expert, I'm just an avid (and happy) pin trader. And for the record, I have quite a collection of scrappers in my collection at home, that I've traded for and purchased from eBay.

OP have fun trading, you and your kids will love it, we are a family of 4 and we all love pin trading!! We've been trading for 5 years now.

Very Well written Pixie!
All I want to add is this..Disney Vacations and Pin Trading are not cheap..they are in fact, very expensive. If you're buying pins for a buck or less a piece in large lots, they are most likely (if not absolutely) scrappers.

I know the kids just enjoy the trade and LOVE to pin trade..I get it and completely understand it. But when your kids save their allowance for a year to buy Authentic pins and trade them with CM's for Authentic pins, THAT is the experience Pin Trading was created for. NOT to buy cheap pieces of tin and circulate them with every other pin trader that comes in contact with that pin.

So...with that said...everyone is entitled to do what they think is best for them and their situation. I believe the financial aspect really does influence those who want to do the right thing, but simply can't afford to.

I personally teach my kids the difference between right and wrong..and they know scrappers on sight (many many many years of pin trading and education) and it ruins the experience for them. So..while you may be perfectly ok trading scrappers and your kids enjoy the experience...think of the CM or the people like me who DO know scrappers..and then have the experience diminished when that pin gets traded. Just my .02

 

[ksloane]

I think enough has been said about scrappers, but wanted to tell you instead of buying locking backs, we only keep a few pins on our lanyards and they are all traders. Once a pin is a keeper, it goes in the backpack (or whatever bag we are carrying that day) and is left in the hotel room for the rest of the vacation.