Total Newbie Pin Collector

[Aiobhan]

I'm totally, completely new at pin collecting. So new, in fact, I haven't even started!

I decided to start because I keep hearing how fun it is, and how nice everyone is in the pin-trading community. I also need a new hobby XD I haven't started yet, but hopefully I'll be able to get a few starter packs!

If anyone has any advice for me, such as where to buy pins (other than the Disney store), how to trade them (Do you trade online, too?), or anything else, I would so appreciate some wisdom from veteran pin-traders!

Thanks y'all!

 

[wdwpins]

Hi,

I have a few suggestions. Search ebay.com and bonanza.com for Disney pins. Also, when buying pins at WDW or DL, politely ask the salesperson for a few sheets of tissue paper, and wrap your pins in them to prevent scratching. Buy a binder or other container to store them. I bought sheets of felt at AC Moore to create layers of pins in my storage box. The felt protects them, too.

Finally, checkout disneypins.com for upcoming pins and their release dates. If you become a pin fanatic, you'll start to schedule park visits to coincide with pin release dates.

J

 

[pixiewings71]

odpt.com is the official site. Remember that there are scrappers (fakes) out there and the best way to avoid them is to educate yourself, don't buy from eBay if the pins are extremely cheap, they won't be real. We have an eBay thread that will help you buy from eBay.

 

[redboxcar]

eBay is a good place to look for pins outside of the park, but follow the thread here on the disboards so that you can know who is selling real pins and who isn't. Unfortunately with pins, there are a LOT of fakes out there.

Most people buy lanyards to keep their pins on (at least while they're at the parks... sometimes people store them differently when they're at home), but I don't like the lanyard around my neck, so i usually just keep them attached to the inside of my backpack or something similar.

You can trade up to 2 pins per cast member per day (technically) and you'll want to stay away from cast members with teal/green lanyards, as they are only allowed to trade with kids. On top of that, you cannot trade a pin to a cast member that they already have on their lanyard. (That is, they can never have two of the same exact pin, so if they have pins A, B, and C on their lanyard, and you have pins C, D, and E... you can give them either D or E in exchange for one of their pins, but they cannot accept pin C since they already have it.)

There are many places to trade! Not just in the parks themselves, but at all of the resorts as well... even the sweepers in Downtown Disney sometimes have pins!

There are also pin trading nights once in a blue moon at the parks/resorts where tons of people come out and bring their giant binders and giant corkboards full of pins to trade! It's a great way to make friends and see lots of different pins.

There's a ton more info out there, just keep reading the boards, and you'll be good to go.

(Warning: it can get addicting! )