Ban pin trading with CMs
We are at WDW now and have had run in's with rude pin traders all day. If one more person cuts in front of me at a cash register to look at a CMs pins I may just lose it. (I need to post the funny story of the lady who lost it at a pin trader tonight).
You and I happened to be at the parks during a pin trader event weekend. Even the CM's themselves were complaining about the rude and thoughtless behavior that was running rampant as a result of "Pin Hawks". They circle and circle, snapping up anything they can sell or trade for a profit, they don't want to trade with you unless you can increase their collection value--they have no interest in making a new friend or the social benefits of pin trading, instead only in their selfish gain. They will shove people aside and yes, cut in front of anyone in line, as I noticed as well. I would wait patiently in line at a register to get to see pins on a busy CM. Others would run right up while I was waiting and interrupt the current transaction and also cut in front of me who was waiting patiently.
I was thanked and complimented multiple times this week by CM's who were grateful for my polite, "May I please look at your pins?" and "Thank you very much. Have a great day." to EVERY CM I approached to consider trading with. Because not only were these PinHawks being rude to other guests, but they were rude to the CM's. One we talked to was even threatened with violence by one of these kinds of "traders". I talked with them about their experiences, and whether they felt put out by people coming up and asking to see the pins, or if they would prefer they just try to peer at their lanyards without interrupting them. Every one of them said they vastly preferred politely being approached by someone just glaring at their lanyard wordlessly trying to scope the selection. They all preferred the interaction and getting to talk to guests, they said. I of course knew this had to be true, but was glad to be able to hear from them, and let them know some guests really do care about how the trade goes down and not just in the pins themselves.
I was desperately trying to finish a three-pin set of a cast lanyard series. This was the worst time to try and do that. By mid-morning, most of the CM's had long since been scavenged. My luck only appeared when I caught someone who just walked onstage from replenishing their pins, and it was rare.
Finally, my last night there, I was on Jungle Cruise and another young couple, festooned with pins, sat down next to us. I pointed to the gal's lanyard to show my hubby the pin I was looking for, as she had a complete set. "Oh! Are you looking for this one?" she smiled and she indicated the one I was looking for. "I have seen it everywhere and have a couple. I will trade it with you if you have something to trade." My heart leapt! Finally, I had found a pin trader who was kind and generous--a "pin sucker" like me (sucker for making fun trades, regardless of value). I held out my bag, on which I had attached all my traders, including any of the other cast lanyard series' that were much-coveted at the time. "Oh thank you! I have been looking everywhere for it! And I leave tomorrow morning so I thought I would never find it before I had to go home! Here are my traders. Which one would you like?" She screwed up her face and peered at them, then asked her husband if he wanted any. He shook is head. She said, "Sorry, you don't have anything I want," and sat back in her seat.
My heart sank. She said she had extras even, and she refused to trade with me! She even knew I was leaving, and this was my last chance to get one, and she couldn't see the value in making a trade?? I was so upset. But not surprised in the least.
So don't ban pin trading with CM's. It's about the only way I ever get to enjoy trading at all. So many other people trading are either PinHawks, or are so scared of having a run-in with PinHawks they don't want to trade for fear of being taken advantage of (I ran into this with another guest this week as well, and I had to trade her two pins for her one to convince her I wasn't taking advantage of her and simply genuinely wanted the pin she had to trade for my collection).
. I have rights too and I choose *not* to inhale noxious fumes. The problem is that smokers who don't stay in their designated areas take that choice away from me. I would fully support a full smoking ban on the whole Disney property - why not? Beverly Hills did it. Everyone always thinks that business will be lost. The pub owners in Dublin, Ireland staged a full scale protest when a law passed there outlawing it in bars and restaurants, and they did notice a drop in business for about a week. After that - all the people came back and remarked on how much nicer everything smelled and how great it was to be able to see to the other side of the bar!
) Heck, they could do a whole indoor winter themed place.!
