Where to get budget-minded prices for Disney pins?

[LisaZoe]

My DD, almost 3, and I are going to WDW for the first time soon. Recently, I decided that we'd try pin collecting and possibly some trading. My problem is that I'd hoped to get some before we leave in mid-September but at a good price so if we trade, I don't have to worry if the pin we got is a "good value". Later, I'll worry about "investment value"

I've found some deals on eBay but I've never bought through eBay before and I'm hesitant to buy things that I can't look at in person first. I'm going to try a couple of auctions anyway since they are probably worth the low price I'd be willing to pay. However, so far I've been outbid on 3 so this isn't a guaranteed place to get them unless I'm willing to keep raising my bid - and I'm not.

Does anyone know of a good place to buy pins on a budget? I read about a website called cheappins.com but that site doesn't seem to have Disney pins anymore. I've also heard the Disney Stores don't sell them anymore so I can't look for clearance or sales there. Disney Auctions seems to have only limited edition pins starting at $10 each so that would quickly blow the budget.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

BTW - I considered posting this on the collectors' board but decided it was more a budget question than about collecting.

 

[Amirah95]

I started my collecting Pins too. Post over on the Collectors board. They gave me great advice on how and where to start. They are so very helpful over there, give them a try.

 

[canwegosoon]

I brought several lots on ebay...pm me if you want the name of sellers I look for.

 

[snowgooseltd]

I have several groups of pins up for sale. I'm slowly downsizing my collection because we're moving. I think my prices are very reasonable with low shipping. I'm losing money on the pins but have to move them. Hope you see something you like.

 

[marydmjj]

I've bought a few pins on E-Bay. There are a couple of things to look for in a seller. Look at how many items they have sold and the positive feedback. I always read the feedback of sellers I may buy from. Also, make sure the pin has Disney stamped on the back. That will guarantee they are tradeable. I too am looking for inexpensive pins to buy before our trip. My oldest DS started trading last year at Disneyland. I want our youngest DS to join the fun this time around.

 

[LisaZoe]

Thanks, all. I've made the first winning bid and will see how this goes (I bought a single pin that caught my eye). I'm definitely looking at lots and trying to remember as I look at the current bid that the total needs to be divided by the number of pins to get an average price. I've also considered selling on eBay any that I get in a lot that I don't get traded at WDW in hopes I can lessen the cost of this new hobby.

Since I feel like such a novice, I've been checking PinPics.com for information about these pins - mostly to reassure myself that they are most likely officially licensed pins. I'm not adverse to getting a few Sedesma as many I've seen are attractive although I know there are concerns about their tradability.

Now I just need to keep in mind that this is a mother/daughter hobby and not just for me

 

[castleri]

I bought one of the boxed sets that has been on sale at the Disney store online and plan to break it up so I have 7 pins for trading. I think it was $16-$17 I have found that I usually don't have any luck trading with the pin traders at DD or Epcot but have gotten some nice pins from cast members. I have one lanyard that is for trading and one that is for the special ones I get ( those I like - not always those that others think are collectible) Good luck and have fun. I also started out by buying one of the lanyard sets at WDW that had the lanyard and 4 pins. I think it was about $25.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Yesterday I was at Epcot Pin Central and talking to Jim, who is the Pin Manager for Epcot (and has been for five years (almost)).

I asked him specifically about the Spanish "Sedesma" pins. He said they are Disney Licensed and metal and are therefore tradeable under the WDW guidelines and rules. He said that some CMs will make up their own rules, but under the published WDW rules they should be accepted by an CM when you make a trade.

 

[webprinter]

Snowgooseltd., what is your ebay name? Thanks. Debby

 

[snowgooseltd]

snowgooseltd

 

[Lthouseprincess]

I also have a boatload of them i am trying to get rid of. I was thinking of $3 per pin plus shipping. I was planning on putting them up in lots on Ebay but I am getting frustrated with our Digital Cam, the pictures are not turning out great. PM if you want any details. Hopefully I can get some up on Ebay this weekend. My daughter and I have realized we have way too many.

 

[drgnfly30]

just a suggestion but I've found with smaller, more detailed items just putting them on my scanner, instead of taking a picture of them with my digital camera, works like a charm....
Christine

 

[minniesota]

Lthouseprincess-
Sent you a pm. Thanks.

 

[msfredna]

I won a pin on ebay and emailed the seller and asked if he had any more inexpensive pins that he would want to sell. He sold me 20 pins for $1 each! So, it doesn't hurt to ask. I told him that I didn't care about the value because my daughter just wanted to have a good time trading. She was sooooooo excited when we got them in the mail. I think the total was $30 for 20 pins plus the shipping.
Hope this helps!

 

[nuzmom]

We're trying the pin trading "thing" for the first time this trip, too. I have 2 sons (3 & 8). DS8 is really getting into the pins - I'm not sure if he'll be able to TRADE any of them

I bought off of ebay, but I look for dealers that have multiple pins for sale and will combine shipping. The pin prices come way down if you buy for $3 to $4.25 and shipping is only .25 or so per pin.

If you'd like to know who I've bought off of, you can PM me.

 

[LisaZoe]

Well, my plan for an inexpensive new hobby for DD and me has turned out to cost much more than I'd expected My problem is my thing for Tinker Bell... and the large number of really cute ones that are, of course, limited editions so cost more. However, I am being very careful in making sure I'm not paying more than I would buying them directly from Disney (well, OK, the 1st one I bought I paid too much in the heat of the bidding but I've learned my lesson).

I'm very new to eBay - my first purchase was that Tink pin on Saturday. However, a friend gave me some pointers about checking the seller's feedback, numbers, etc. I'm also checking the pins themselves on pinpics.com to be sure they're Disney licensed. Most sellers seem to be honest about this as well as listing the ones that are made by Sedesma, apparently a manufacturer of lower quality Disney licensed pins. The other thing I've learner, luckily before it "bit me", is to check the shipping charges. It's amazing how much this can vary from one seller to the next on the same pin.

I'm somewhat "obsessive" at times and even have a spreadsheet where I list a short pin description, the Pin Pics #, the current bid, S&H charges, my maximum and the original price of the pin (this is listed for most pins on PinPics). Seeing these dollar amounts all in one place makes it harder for me to ignore the total cost of these purchases so I don't start bidding $2 here, $4 there, etc. and later realize I've spent $$$$.

 

[nuzmom]

LisaZoe, ebay even has a "my ebay" page that will have the listing like your spreadsheet. I constantly use it. Just go to ebay and up towards the top of the page will be "browse, search, sell, my ebay, ..." in boxes. Click on "my ebay" and check it out. You can really customize it too.

You can even just "watch" some items before deciding whether to bid or not and this is where ebay has you "watch" them.

It even gives you a buying total, so you can see how much you've spent and how much you will spend if you win all your auctions.

I'm not sure if you knew this or not, but it's so handy I just had to pass the info on to you just in case you didn't.

Have fun!!!

 

[LisaZoe]

Thanks, I have been using My eBay which is very useful for checking on bidding of all watched and bid items. My Excel spreadsheet, though, is useful for also adding things like PinPics #, retail price of the pin, if it is Limited Edition, etc. Knowing that a pin is probably still available for purchase for $6.50 helps keep me from bidding more than a couple of dollars on eBay. Also knowing if a pin is no longer available from Disney might make me feel I could pay a bit more than I would have for retail... if I really wanted that pin.

One thing about the My eBay totals is that it doesn't include shipping - which can add quite a bit to the final price of an item, as I learned to my chagrin on my first won auction. Unfortunately, not all items show the shipping in the My eBay summary so having those also listed in my spreadsheet keeps we aware of that added cost. It might all be psychological but it's working so far

 

[Az Pirates]

LisaZoe, I'm impressed - you really are organized with this.

My kids like the pin trading too.
One thing I've done is to buy a few pins I know they WON'T like. ie: princesses for my DS, any dark character for my DD. Makes it easier for them to trade that way.

Just be prepared. I couldn't believe it the first time my DD traded a BEAUTIFUL Tinkerbelle for some tiny, silly napkin looking thing off a CM. Must have either been a giveaway or part of a cheap set that everyone broke up and traded beacause I think EVERY CM we saw that day had one on - well, except the one my DD traded the Tink pin to.


Oh well - she still has it and she thinks it's very cool, guess that's what counts.

 

[LisaZoe]

AZ pirates - I'm already prepared to give DD her "pick" of the pins... after I set aside the ones I don't want to have traded As I indicated before, I can be a bit obsessive... and right now I have almost too much time for it because I'm doing nothing until school (for me) starts up after we return from vacation. I've even started noting on the list of pins I've bought which are "keepers" and which will be designated as traders. DD will get to pick from the latter and the former will go on one side of my lanyard (or stay home if I get too many to take).

I just won an eBay auction for a lot of CM lanyard pins and hope those will be good ones for DD to use. That way her collection will be the ones she wants and not the ones mommy thinks are cute. Who knows, she may end up with all villains