Yet another question from the boss.

[Sparrow'sLady]

As asked above, can someone describe how to tell what a scrapper looks like? I’m sure I have some and unknowingly traded with one.

A "scrapper" Disney pin is a low-quality, often counterfeit, Disney pin that is produced without Disney's authorization. They are typically made from the same molds as legitimate Disney pins, but the quality control is often lacking, resulting in defects.

IS MY PIN A SCRAPPER??

• Jagged Edges
• Outside of edges not cut clean
• Lines in surface of pin
• Dull/matte finish
• Coloring is overly bright and glossy
• Dips in surface of pin
• Incorrect coloring
• Uneven coloring
• Back of pin is very hard to read
• Pin colors have yellowing or too much green, which are clearly not something yellow or green
Faces may be grey-scales, light blues, etc.
Pluto has a green tint
Goofy has a green or yellow tint
• Pin feels very light
• Pins from 2012 and forward should have serial numbers
• Should have prongs on back (so do some scrappers)
• Small holes (pin holes) in surface of pins
• Mickey heads do not run off back and sometimes raised
• **Most Hidden Mickey and Cast Lanyard Pins Have Been Scrapped
o Mickey Ears are not defined on Hidden Mickey series pins

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

So "Scrappers" are non-official Disney pins? Like something someone would get counterfeit at a flea market or shady site online?

They are mass produced illegally in China using an existing pin or mold they were not supposed to use.

A "scrapper" Disney pin is a low-quality, often counterfeit, Disney pin that is produced without Disney's authorization. They are typically made from the same molds as legitimate Disney pins, but the quality control is often lacking, resulting in defects.

 

[lovethattink]

Our trip earlier this month, I saw a ton more full pin boards including pins that were definitely current, real pins. On the way into HS one morning, there was a trash can with full cork boards on all 4 sides and my girls spent a LONG time making choices. (I wasn't getting impatient, I have no idea what you're talking about!)

We were there in the fall and, by comparison, I'd say locations had a ton more boards and they were stocked with way better pins for July.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

"Scrappers" don't bother me in the slightest. I like looking for pins featuring my favorite themes and characters, or trying to complete sets. Their provenance is irrelevant to me. If a pin is clearly off - like when a princess has green skin - I avoid it, but I'm not inspecting the backs.

I have a lot of scrappers myself. I am okay with them.

I just feel it is unfortunate that people pay good money for real pins to trade and yet the parks/hotels are full of scrappers that the guest paid 50 cents for.

The one place where I see very few to no scrappers is at AKL Jambo when King Pin comes out. He told me at one time that he will trade a kid for a scrapper, because they are just kids, but he does not put them on his lanyard/satchel to trade back out.




I commented this on another thread:

My thoughts on this will not be popular, but here goes....

I have been going to Disney and trading pins for almost 25 years. I have over 2500 pins on my office wall framed in over 56 decorated shadow boxes of various sizes. I have spent a lot of money on pins, mostly Christmas. I purchase what I like, with zero intention to trade.

I have a ton that I traded for. Almost 500 of them are from traders. I purchased scrappers before I knew what scrappers were and I traded for scrappers, even for some that looked very "off". Today I can spot a scrapper very easily. If I like it, I will trade for it.

Disney is not doing diddly about scrappers. They never will. CMs will even trade with kids who offer a pin from Universal or something else non-Disney or their own flag pin from another country. Plain and simple, they do not care. They have made zero effort to get the scrappers of the pin boards, off the lanyards or stop the thieves in China from mass producing them. Until Disney makes a real effort to stop the scrappers, the boards and lanyards of CMs will be full of them. Who in their right mind would spend $4 - $15 to trade for a 50-cent scrapper?

Is it ethical? No, not really. Is it stealing? No, it is not because you are essentially trading a scrapper for a scrapper. It is very rare to get a real pin from a lanyard or pin board anymore.

Each person should do what they want with their pins. Even if 100 of us say we will make sure we are not going to trade scrappers, it will not make a difference. The only thing we will be doing is trading legit pins for junk pins.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

View attachment 984899

The one we saw was on Hollywood Blvd on the way into HS. The corks were probably about that size but that were *much* fuller. They definitely weren't spaced out like that

 

[lovethattink]

The one we saw was on Hollywood Blvd on the way into HS. The corks were probably about that size but that were *much* fuller. They definitely weren't spaced out like that

This one was at the Contemporary

 

[lovethattink]

It’s also the 25th anniversary of pin trading.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

It’s also the 25th anniversary of pin trading.

THAT is probably the real reason there were more pins. Not sure if it will look the same at the end of the year??