Bootleg trading pin?

[MissM]

So last time I was at WDW, I traded off a CM lanyard as I like to do and got a neat looking "A" Ticket Pin Featuring Mickey. Got home and when I went to add it to my pinpics list, I found out there are bootlegs out there of this pin. (And many others.) Mine apparently is a fake.

So the question is what do I do now? I'm out a legitimate pin for this one. I could trade it back to a CM but then someone else will get the bootleg. They might not care but it's still bad to keep the fake in circulation like that. I could take it to Guest Services and explain I got it off a CM lanyard but how do I prove it? And they'd probably just confiscate it....leaving me again, out a legitimate pin. Pins aren't cheap and I don't trade a huge amount simply because I don't often have cash to spend on traders. Hence my dilemma.

Anyone run into this problem before?

 

[tigsmom]

I've read about it before, but haven't come in contact with any, I've been watching them closely as I have been getting a lot of pins off of ebay. I guess the only thing to do is be more careful and examine the pins closely at the time of trade and make sure they have the correct Disney logos before accepting the trade. I don't think there is anything you can do about this trade :shrug: I would let Disney know about it though just so they can be made aware, it's possible the CM didn't know it was a fake.

 

[ChrisFL]

So last time I was at WDW, I traded off a CM lanyard as I like to do and got a neat looking "A" Ticket Pin Featuring Mickey. Got home and when I went to add it to my pinpics list, I found out there are bootlegs out there of this pin. (And many others.) Mine apparently is a fake.

So the question is what do I do now? I'm out a legitimate pin for this one. I could trade it back to a CM but then someone else will get the bootleg. They might not care but it's still bad to keep the fake in circulation like that. I could take it to Guest Services and explain I got it off a CM lanyard but how do I prove it? And they'd probably just confiscate it....leaving me again, out a legitimate pin. Pins aren't cheap and I don't trade a huge amount simply because I don't often have cash to spend on traders. Hence my dilemma.

Anyone run into this problem before?

I say trade it back with a CM, maybe someone will get a bootleg, maybe someone won't really care and don't "collect" the expensive ones the same way.

 

[MissM]

It looks 100% authentic. It's got the right copyright on the back and everything. There's just a little tiny piece of silver connecting Mickey's ears that is apparently the "tell" on this particular pin. Most are even less obvious and usually from what I'm reading, unless you bought it yourself, there's no way to know what's real and what's not. Many of the pins are second, unauthorized runs using the same molds as the originals!

I don't collect pins by value or worth only, but it does bum me out it's a fake and knowing that, I really don't want to keep it in my collection. (Though looking at other fakes and realizing I have some of that design which may or may not be fakes too is also disheartening.) I don't think many people would care but I do feel bad trading it back into circulation.

It's a real bummer anyway you look at it though.

 

[mickey7879]

Either trade it back or just get rid of it. I don't think talking to Disney about it will do any good. Think it will sound more like you're complaining and expecting to get something out of it instead of just giving them a heads up.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

So I'm going to answer in a form of a question. How much does being a fake truly bother you? I mean you liked it enough to trade for it, so does it really devalue it so much to get rid of it or trash it? I would say keep it if you like it but maybe not place it on a lanyard so you won't have the temptation to trade it later. Also you could always try to find the Real pin and have both, one will just have a fun story.

That being said I have a question.
I was gifted a pin recently that is real (the Jeweled Chernabog on top of Bald Mt.) which unfortunatley is missing two of the little jewels. My question is would a Disney store allow me to return it for a new one and if not would it be ok to trade it with a CM for something else?
BTW it was purchased at a Disney store, but the gifter didn't realize that it was defective.

 

[tigsmom]

So I'm going to answer in a form of a question. How much does being a fake truly bother you? I mean you liked it enough to trade for it, so does it really devalue it so much to get rid of it or trash it? I would say keep it if you like it but maybe not place it on a lanyard so you won't have the temptation to trade it later. Also you could always try to find the Real pin and have both, one will just have a fun story.

That being said I have a question.
I was gifted a pin recently that is real (the Jeweled Chernabog on top of Bald Mt.) which unfortunatley is missing two of the little jewels. My question is would a Disney store allow me to return it for a new one and if not would it be ok to trade it with a CM for something else?
BTW it was purchased at a Disney store, but the gifter didn't realize that it was defective.

Contact Disney Merchandising, they will more than likely replace it for you.
Have as much info available as possible when you contact them, I even sent a photo and that made it easier to replace my defective item. Having the sku # is very helpful.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

Contact Disney Merchandising, they will more than likely replace it for you.
Have as much info available as possible when you contact them, I even sent a photo and that made it easier to replace my defective item. Having the sku # is very helpful.

Thank you tigsmom! Hey do you happen to know where I can find the email address and other info I may need to get in contact with Disney Merchandising?

 

[tigsmom]

Thank you tigsmom! Hey do you happen to know where I can find the email address and other info I may need to get in contact with Disney Merchandising?

Sure...

Phone - [FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]407-363-6200
Fax - [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]407-352-6369
e mail - [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]wdw.mail.order@disneyworld.com
[/FONT]Hours -[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]Hours: Monday through Friday 9 am to 8 pm. All times Eastern time zone.


If you have the sku # of the pin that's great, if not the name an a description. If sending an email take a picture of the pin and another larger one of the defect.
[/FONT]

 

[timeman]

It looks 100% authentic. It's got the right copyright on the back and everything. There's just a little tiny piece of silver connecting Mickey's ears that is apparently the "tell" on this particular pin. Most are even less obvious and usually from what I'm reading, unless you bought it yourself, there's no way to know what's real and what's not.

Looking at the picture of the pin on pinpics does your match the picture? The description says the some counterfeits have been found with the gap between Mickey's Ear and hand filled in with a silver tone metal. The picture shows a tiny piece of silver connecting Mickey's Ears, so if this is where it is for you then it is genuine not counterfeit. Also the description states that the blue on the counterfeit is a darker blue.

 

[MissM]

Looking at the picture of the pin on pinpics does your match the picture? The description says the some counterfeits have been found with the gap between Mickey's Ear and hand filled in with a silver tone metal. The picture shows a tiny piece of silver connecting Mickey's Ears, so if this is where it is for you then it is genuine not counterfeit. Also the description states that the blue on the counterfeit is a darker blue.

Sorry, meant between the ear and hand. That's the sign of the counterfeit:

Some counterfeits were found with the gap between Mickey's ear and his hand filled in with silver-toned metal.

​

And that's what mine has. I have no way of knowing if the blue is darker or not as I've not seen the original in person.