Thanks for everyone's responses, I am SO impressed at what everyone is doing to help the whole scrapper situation..so a BIG Thank you all!!:thumbsup
In response to Mount's post about the seller unknowingly buying scrappers, I just had to smile. Technically, her response COULD make sense, here's what I mean. She posted that she buys from an licensed manufacturer that supplies Disney. Scrappers are made in the same factories, using the same molds (for the most part-there are exceptions to this) that DO supply Disney. I believe that the EXACT way this seller phrased that is VERY misleading to buyers and "technically" could be true.
Here's the problem, they are NOT authorized by Disney NOR do they use the same quantity/type of materials that the authentic pins are. For example, Disney orders 10000 of one type of pin. They then order and pay for the specific amount of materials and labor it would take to produce it. Once that "quota" is met, the scrapper makers, use the molds and whatever materials (if any) are left over and add substandard materials to make the scrapped pins.
As a disclaimer, this is what I was told by someone who is very aware of this situation @ Disney. This is not my personal assessment as to the production of scrappers, and I am, by no means an expert on knowing everything about this subject; just sharing what I was told and my own experience.
Bottom line is, there is NO ENTITY of the Walt Disney Company or its subsidiaries that supply this amount of pins to ANYBODY or ANY company anywhere PERIOD!!! Ask youself this...WHY would Disney have an overseas company that would DIRECTLY compete with its US Park and Retail sales??? Why would they have ANYTHING ANYWHERE that would offer its products for 90% off the retail price they command? IT WOULD'NT!!! Has anyone been lucky enough to find ANY Disney merchandise ANYWHERE for 90+% off regularly? I can tell you, being a penny pincher, I HAVE lucked out here and there and found sale merchandise from Disney, but it is VERY rare, and I'm lucky to find one or two things, not thousands, and certainly not on a regular basis.
Anyone who knows anything about the Disney company and how strictly it manages its copyright (this problem excluded thus far) knows they would NEVER and I mean NEVER have anything that would even REMOTELY compete with its MASSIVE retail sales using its copyright.
I think we can dissect and investigate this to death and never fully know exactly how this works or what these sellers are doing. The bottom line is this, I think we all know that these people are not selling Disney products legitimately. I think if we all look at this simply and logically, there is just no way these people could have come into this product in any other way than illegally. Whether it be buying scrappers from overseas or theft, bottom line is, don't buy from them. Buy from Disney and there is no question.
Sorry for the vent, it just makes me so mad that these people are hurting a hobby and company I love. It takes me SO much of my personal time and effort to fight this fight. But if I can make even ONE person NOT buy from these people and not infiltrate scrappers into the pin trading community, I will continue to educate as best I can. Thanks again to everyone who is taking the time to educate themselves and making a difference!!!!!
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and I believe I lucked out on every pin but the Sorceror, Tink, Dumbo, and Snow White pins. The backstamp fonts are exactly the same as my rack pins on the sets and Pluto. What should I do with pins that I know are scrappers? Also, if Art is unsure about the others, do you think that it is okay to trade those pins, since I think that they are real?
