What is the deal w/pin trading?

[southlake]

Will someone please explain pin trading to me? Do you buy pins, and then go trade them somewhere else? Where & how do you trade? I'm finding this really confusing. Obv I would only buy pins I love, why would I want to trade them away??

 

[SMD]

I totally get it, I keep most of my pins on the card in a box. I only have about 20, so I don't think I'm in any danger of hoarding behavior yet.

There are pins on CM lanyards that aren't for sale, you have to trade for them. I wouldn't but a pin for $8-9 to trade. But I've bought some of the blind boxes and I would trade the doubles if I see something I really want.

 

[kP72]

Pin trading is a religion for many.

I know someone out there can explain it better than I, but here's a shot....

Yes, you purchase Disney pins and possibly trade them with certain CM's in hopes for something better/more to your liking.

There are CM's that have pins only for kids. They will let you know.

Those who know and understand the value/importance of certain pins (location, dates, characters, etc.) will be on the lookout for what they vie for, and will want to trade a pin of theirs for another's.

Example: DLR's 60 anniversary is next year. A pin with that anniversary date will be worth something to someone who was not able to attend that year, so they would be willing to trade another pin for that 60th anniversary pin.

Many people will buy multiple pins of a certain style/date knowing it has worth in the "pin market".

I'm not part of the pin trading community so I'm unsure how it works with guest/guest trading, but I'm betting they do trade if they are sporting their goods for others to see (hence, the lanyards that weigh 85 lbs!)

I've witnessed pin traders with portfolios that are set up like a booth in DTD, where other pin lovers can buy/barter/trade.

With that said, we collect pins... started the kids on it back in 2004, but we keep them all (hundreds of those buggers ). Never have we traded, but have witnessed it and it seems like it's all in good fun.

On that note... Just a few weeks ago I checked EBay on a few specialty pins we've purchased from the parks and they were double in price... not enough to pay for college, but it's proven to do better than our silver stock!

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Will someone please explain pin trading to me? Do you buy pins, and then go trade them somewhere else? Where & how do you trade? I'm finding this really confusing. Obv I would only buy pins I love, why would I want to trade them away??

We are not Pin Trading Gurus, by any means(we've only traded a few times), but, Pin Trading(in our opinion), is much easier, and more fun with Cast Members! We have just traded away pins which no longer interested us, or that we had been give, or received for free.

We did not enjoy trading with the people(pin sharps) who lay in wait outside of the store in Frontierland, with their gigantic inventory! Just wasn't a pleasant experience for us(others might have had a different experience and may chime in)!

We are pin hoarders! Not really, but we just buy what we love, and keep them to display at home(no 85 pound lanyards for us!) We try to get one or two every trip, which have to do with a specific event/ memory/attraction, and they are so fun to look at and remind us of each visit.

 

[Jairy]

We like to buy a blind set off eBay (from a reputable seller). The kids love getting the pins in the mail before the trip. They take turns picking from the collection. We bought a group of 25 for 30$ (including shipping). Obviously they are going to get down to pins they don't really care for. Then, when we are in Disney, they trade those less desirable pins for ones they want from the CMs. It's a lot of fun!

 

[figment_jii]

Pin trading can be a lot of fun, but it can also be very addictive and expensive! I love to trade pins and it's a major part of my trips to Disney, but I only trade with Cast Members. Essentially, you purchase some pins (there are many options for where, how, etc.) and then take them with you. You'll see CMs that are wearing lanyards (either neck or hip) of varying colors (e.g., black, maroon, green/teal). The green/teal lanyards are for trading with children only. When you see a CM with a lanyard, you just go up to them and ask if you may look at their pins. If you see one you like, you offer to trade one of your pins for that pin. Aside from a few limitations, the CMs cannot refuse a trade.

The CMs can only refuse to trade if the pin you are offering is already on their lanyard (i.e., a duplicate), if the pin is not in good condition (i.e., scratched image, broken, etc.), not a Disney pin, or not a pin (i.e., buttons cannot be traded). For the CMS, they only have to trade the pins on their lanyards, so any service pins that they might be wearing on their costume or nametags are not for trading.

Disney has published some guidelines:
http://disney.go.com/eventservices/howtopintrade.pdf

In addition to the neck or hip lanyards that CMs may be wearing, you may also find pin boards or books. Those can have lots pins to look at. I've seen a board at the Frontierland Pin Trading Shop and a book at the Buena Vista Street Pin Shop on a fairly consistent basis. Other boards/books may only come out at certain times.

In terms of the CMs that wear lanyards, look in the shops, at the ride entrances, janitorial, management, and (sometimes) security. The ride operators and loaders tend not to have lanyards.

Costs: Pin trading can be very expensive, especially if you buy pins after you get to Disney. Disney sells individual pins (don't buy these for trading) and starter/booster sets. Starter/Booster sets are usually sets of 7 or so pins for about $30. If you run out of pins or decide to start trading after you've arrived, booster/starter sets are your best bet. Other sources include the Disney Stores, Disney Outlets, DisneyStore.com, etc. I would keep an eye on the DisneyStore.com's clearance section for good deals. You can also buy pins on eBay, but be careful. Those can often be scrappers/fakes, especially if they're cheap (e.g., less than a few dollars per pin).

Caveats: there are a few other things worth noting about trading. The first are the "professional" traders and the second are "scrappers".

Professional Traders: My advice is to be wary of the professional pin traders. These are the non-CM traders that are sometimes found outside of the store in Tomorrowland, Frontierland, and over in DTD (they might be elsewhere, but that's where I've seen them). These folks do not have to trade with you nor do they have to adhere to the Disney trading guidelines (e.g., one pin for one pin). I'm sure some of them are nice folks, but I would be cautious when approaching them for a trade because for many of them this is a business so they're out to get the most valuable/expensive pins possible from you. So if they will trade your pin for their's, that's probably fine. If they ask you go buy a pin or pins for them, I'd walk away. If you're new to pin trading and do not have a sense of the value (in terms of dollars) of the various pins, I'd avoid the professional traders.

Scrappers: The second issue is scrappers. For some folks this matters, for others it does not. You'll need to decide which camp you are in before you get heavily into pin trading. Basically a scrapper is a pin that looks legitimate, but is not. It can be a factory overrun (i.e., the factory was contracted to make 1 million, but they made 1.1 million instead) or a pin that has some kind of error that should have been "scrapped". You'll often be able to tell a scrapper because the colors are weird/off or the back stamp (the copy right) is wrong/missing/damaged. Others say you can tell because they feel "rough" or the edges are sharp/pronounced. Sadly, there is no sure fire way to tell a scrapper.

The general rule of thumb is that you buy a "lot" of pins (e.g., 25-pins) for less than a couple of dollars each, you're likely buying scrappers. Also, if you buy pins that come in little baggies (instead of pin cards like the ones you see at the stores in WDW/DLR), those are more likely to be scrappers as well. So, unless you only buy from Disney directly, it is hard to say whether you'll get scrappers or not.

It's worth noting that if you do end up trading with CM, the CM lanyards tend to be filled with scrappers. So if you really dislike scrappers, I would avoid trading with CMs. That's the crux of the argument: those that dislike scrappers feel they cheapen the trading and make it not worthwhile. Those that don't care, tend to say that they like the pin, so it doesn't really matter if it's a scrapper or not (they also say that if you can't tell, does it really matter?). Both points are valid.

 

[wiigirl]

We like to buy a blind set off eBay (from a reputable seller). The kids love getting the pins in the mail before the trip. They take turns picking from the collection. We bought a group of 25 for 30$ (including shipping). Obviously they are going to get down to pins they don't really care for. Then, when we are in Disney, they trade those less desirable pins for ones they want from the CMs. It's a lot of fun!

 

[Girimama33]

Pin trading can be a lot of fun, but it can also be very addictive and expensive! I love to trade pins and it's a major part of my trips to Disney, but I only trade with Cast Members. Essentially, you purchase some pins (there are many options for where, how, etc.) and then take them with you. You'll see CMs that are wearing lanyards (either neck or hip) of varying colors (e.g., black, maroon, green/teal). The green/teal lanyards are for trading with children only. When you see a CM with a lanyard, you just go up to them and ask if you may look at their pins. If you see one you like, you offer to trade one of your pins for that pin. Aside from a few limitations, the CMs cannot refuse a trade.

The CMs can only refuse to trade if the pin you are offering is already on their lanyard (i.e., a duplicate), if the pin is not in good condition (i.e., scratched image, broken, etc.), not a Disney pin, or not a pin (i.e., buttons cannot be traded). For the CMS, they only have to trade the pins on their lanyards, so any service pins that they might be wearing on their costume or nametags are not for trading.

Disney has published some guidelines:
http://disney.go.com/eventservices/howtopintrade.pdf

In addition to the neck or hip lanyards that CMs may be wearing, you may also find pin boards or books. Those can have lots pins to look at. I've seen a board at the Frontierland Pin Trading Shop and a book at the Buena Vista Street Pin Shop on a fairly consistent basis. Other boards/books may only come out at certain times.

In terms of the CMs that wear lanyards, look in the shops, at the ride entrances, janitorial, management, and (sometimes) security. The ride operators and loaders tend not to have lanyards.

Costs: Pin trading can be very expensive, especially if you buy pins after you get to Disney. Disney sells individual pins (don't buy these for trading) and starter/booster sets. Starter/Booster sets are usually sets of 7 or so pins for about $30. If you run out of pins or decide to start trading after you've arrived, booster/starter sets are your best bet. Other sources include the Disney Stores, Disney Outlets, DisneyStore.com, etc. I would keep an eye on the DisneyStore.com's clearance section for good deals. You can also buy pins on eBay, but be careful. Those can often be scrappers/fakes, especially if they're cheap (e.g., less than a few dollars per pin).

Caveats: there are a few other things worth noting about trading. The first are the "professional" traders and the second are "scrappers".

Professional Traders: My advice is to be wary of the professional pin traders. These are the non-CM traders that are sometimes found outside of the store in Tomorrowland, Frontierland, and over in DTD (they might be elsewhere, but that's where I've seen them). These folks do not have to trade with you nor do they have to adhere to the Disney trading guidelines (e.g., one pin for one pin). I'm sure some of them are nice folks, but I would be cautious when approaching them for a trade because for many of them this is a business so they're out to get the most valuable/expensive pins possible from you. So if they will trade your pin for their's, that's probably fine. If they ask you go buy a pin or pins for them, I'd walk away. If you're new to pin trading and do not have a sense of the value (in terms of dollars) of the various pins, I'd avoid the professional traders.

Scrappers: The second issue is scrappers. For some folks this matters, for others it does not. You'll need to decide which camp you are in before you get heavily into pin trading. Basically a scrapper is a pin that looks legitimate, but is not. It can be a factory overrun (i.e., the factory was contracted to make 1 million, but they made 1.1 million instead) or a pin that has some kind of error that should have been "scrapped". You'll often be able to tell a scrapper because the colors are weird/off or the back stamp (the copy right) is wrong/missing/damaged. Others say you can tell because they feel "rough" or the edges are sharp/pronounced. Sadly, there is no sure fire way to tell a scrapper.

The general rule of thumb is that you buy a "lot" of pins (e.g., 25-pins) for less than a couple of dollars each, you're likely buying scrappers. Also, if you buy pins that come in little baggies (instead of pin cards like the ones you see at the stores in WDW/DLR), those are more likely to be scrappers as well. So, unless you only buy from Disney directly, it is hard to say whether you'll get scrappers or not.

It's worth noting that if you do end up trading with CM, the CM lanyards tend to be filled with scrappers. So if you really dislike scrappers, I would avoid trading with CMs. That's the crux of the argument: those that dislike scrappers feel they cheapen the trading and make it not worthwhile. Those that don't care, tend to say that they like the pin, so it doesn't really matter if it's a scrapper or not (they also say that if you can't tell, does it really matter?). Both points are valid.

Very well said Figment...
I love getting pins, but I am part of the camp the will not trade due to all the folks that purchase lots of scrappers and fakes off of ebay and trade in the parks. It does cheapen it to me, so it is not worth it to me. I don't want to perpetuate the fakes in the parks, and support the sellers illegal practices...but to each their own.
I prefer to purchase the ones I want for my collection.

 

[carriemd]

I buy lots off ebay too. For Christmas, my gift to the family was 200 Disney pins. There are 5 of us, so we take a bunch (50 or 100) and lay them out and take turns picking. It's just fun. We do get a lot of repeats with the mystery lots but that's okay as there are several of us and we canalways trade away any extras.
We don't buy high value pins. I've only bought a couple at full price, like the one from my adopted child's birth country pavilion in Epcot.
The kids like to trade with CMs. We don't collect, but we do probably qualify as pin hoarders. Then we sometimes pull out our pin books and look at them (and trade with each other) at home.

 

[southlake]

Thanks for all the information on pin trading! I think I will buy my DD the Minnie starter set online (w/coupon code) and see how it goes from there.

 

[figment_jii]

Thanks for all the information on pin trading! I think I will buy my DD the Minnie starter set online (w/coupon code) and see how it goes from there.

They only the have the mini-bag at the DisneyStore.com right now, but they sell larger bags at the parks (I think they run about $50). They also sell pin binders and extra pages at the parks. Here's the link to the small bag:
http://www.disneystore.com/mickey-mouse-pin-trading-bag-disney-parks-small/mp/1341859/1000285/

Bags and books are really only needed after you start collecting pins. I wouldn't carry them around with me in the parks. They get heavy! I'd get either a lanyard to put the pins on or carry them in a baggie of some type.

 

[Girimama33]

..and don't forget to purchase the locking backs...you can find them usually where they sell pins and you get 10 for about $7. It is very easy to lose a pin with the mickey backs they come with. I highly recommend using the locking backs for the pins you do not want to lose.

 

[southlake]

They only the have the mini-bag at the DisneyStore.com right now, but they sell larger bags at the parks (I think they run about $50). They also sell pin binders and extra pages at the parks. Here's the link to the small bag:
http://www.disneystore.com/mickey-mouse-pin-trading-bag-disney-parks-small/mp/1341859/1000285/

Bags and books are really only needed after you start collecting pins. I wouldn't carry them around with me in the parks. They get heavy! I'd get either a lanyard to put the pins on or carry them in a baggie of some type.

How many pins can fit in the small bag?

 

[figment_jii]

How many pins can fit in the small bag?

According to the description, the bag is about 5" by 7" and has three pages. I would guess that each page (one-side) can fit about three big pins or 5-7 smaller pins.

 

[southlake]

Thank you.

 

[awdsmama]

My son loves pin trading and collecting. He really likes to find the Hidden Mickey pins.

I saw the pin bag Disney has online, but couldn't bring myself to spend $28 for it.

I found the same bag (minus the Disney logo) basically here for under $10!

http://www.classicpins.com/small-collector-lapel-pin-bag-black-w-red-piping/

 

[southlake]

Oh darn. I just bought the small bag from disneystore.com, but I used their 25% coupon code so it wasn't too bad. I don't buy a lot of stuff from Disney Store so I figure I can splurge here & there

 

[JadeDarkstar]

we use mousepinsonline (i think that's the site) and we have never had any scrappers we have been using them for i think 8 years. we buy 75-100 pins so we have 25 at least for each of us to trade normal. we will keep 3 or so and trade the rest.

 

[awdsmama]

we use mousepinsonline (i think that's the site) and we have never had any scrappers we have been using them for i think 8 years. we buy 75-100 pins so we have 25 at least for each of us to trade normal. we will keep 3 or so and trade the rest.

I've seen a number of threads on here that are not very favorable of mousepinsonline.

I don't see how the pins can be real. They sell 100 pins for $160 or $1.60 a pin? Doesn't sound likely that they are real - if so they are taking a HUGE loss and why would they do that? More like they are scrappers and only cost them .50-1.00.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3042230
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3094001

 

[Girimama33]

I've seen a number of threads on here that are not very favorable of mousepinsonline.

I don't see how the pins can be real. They sell 100 pins for $160 or $1.60 a pin? Doesn't sound likely that they are real - if so they are taking a HUGE loss and why would they do that? More like they are scrappers and only cost them .50-1.00.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3042230
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3094001

Exactly!