Disney Trading Pins

[rioannidis]

Hello

I'm pretty new to these boards, only posted once so far, but find myself reading them nightly Anyway, we have booked a trip for 2014 so lots of time. The last time we were there they decided they wanted to do the trading pins on our next trip. I was speaking with a fellow tourist in the Trading Store in DTD and she suggested I get them a bunch of pins online (ie ebay) so they have some to start with and then can trade for what they really want while there. I started looking tonight and see that apparently many of the sellers on ebay are selling fake pins, I definitely don't want to get them those, that would be so disappointing. SO...does anyone know of a reputable online seller? I read that mousepinsonline.com is good???

On the morning we leave, I want to hand them each a lanyard with some pins and say "you might be needing this today" and watch them freak out!!!

Thank you for any tricks and tips...

 

[luv]

If you want real pins, your best bet is to buy them from Disney. They even sell starter sets with lanyards.

Also, don't trade with the CMs. So many people buy the fake ones online and trade those to CMs that you will likely get fakes in return. But most kids couldn't care less if the pins are fake or not, so there is that.

I collect the pins, but I don't trade. I only buy pins I actually want, so there would be no point to trading them, KWIM?

 

[litaljohn]

I say start collecting "conservation hero" pins! (only so they are not the same kind of pin and they are pretty dull and on this last trip I may have one home with roughly 30 of them, but you get them when you give like a buck or any change to the foundation. in the kadani village little gift shop I was told Disney matches the donation. so instead of getting a vending machine rip off soda at 3 bucks if I needed a drink I went to the shop where thu were only 2.59 and so the foundation got the extra 41 cents in markup instead of coke or Disney and assuming I wasn't lied to will turn to 82 cents total for the foundation for each soda I got.

 

[coilback]

There is a pin trading section to this board, but as an experienced pin trader / former cast member, here's a few things:

1. Yes, there are TONS of fakes out there, but the cast members don't necessarily have a ton of fakes, at least early on in the day (depending). When I was in Operations at Indy, I had a lanyard and we "refreshed" it up to two times a week. This meant, when I came in for my morning shift, I could get all new pins (up to 6 at a time usually). Most of the time, these were the "cast member only" pins and were brand new straight from Disney. I'd usually stash a few of the more rare ones in my pocket so that I could replace them later in the day (because most of the "pin vultures" come into the parks and try to clean off rare stuff from cast members first thing in the morning) or help someone out looking for a special pin (many times, I'd ask, "is there a certain pin you are looking for?").

2. A lot of the fakes are hard to spot and only matter to "real collectors" as they like to call themselves. Yes a fake isn't worth as much to a collector, but if it's a character you really like or whatnot and all you plan to do is keep it to yourself or whatever, they aren't a huge nasty thing. I'm sure some of mine I still have are fakes, but they are just for my personal enjoyment.

3. Pin trading isn't just about what you get. It's a great way to socialize with some of the cast members (and sometimes other guests) and you'll be surprised sometimes what you'll find, what you'll learn, etc etc.

4. I think there was some seller called "mycoolstuff" or something that had some ok deals (prob not the exact name) that I used to buy from on Ebay - you can try there.

5. If you are really concerned with genuine and are collecting for value - take the advice up there and buy them straight from Disney. If you are just being casual, just have fun with it - don't take it too seriously.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We tried pin trading for the first time this past Nov. I bought my girls a handful of authentic pins prior to this trip... half were very cool (or very them) pins that I figured they wouldn't want to trade, while the rest were just avg pins. By the end of the trip, they'd traded pretty much everything away that they started with. I say "pretty much" b/c by the end of the trip, they tried to trade with a CM who wouldn't. Not b/c they had scrappers...but b/c they had traded for some really cool pins and he wanted to teach them that some pins are keepers. He wound up just giving them each a pin so they wouldn't trade away something good for a lesser pin.

One of the things I realized in this is that my kids really didn't care too much about the pins ... it was more the act of trading with the CMs that they enjoyed. So, I went ahead and bought a lot of pins from a seller on ebay and before we head back...we will be deciding which pins travel with us to be traded and which stay home as keepers. I honestly don't know about the authenticity of the pins from this ebay lot (didn't see any feedback about scrappers though), but since my kids have no interest in trading beyond the CMs...I don't want to go nuts sinking $ into authentic pins that could be traded for scrappers (although we got quite a few that seemed authentic). I know - I know...in doing so, I am perpetuating some of this, but until they get older and really appreciate the better pins and authenticity...it feels like a waste to not buy lots like this. As it stands...the girls bought a few special pins last trip and they've already decided that those are keepers...so, they're learning, but it's a process. Ultimately, they're having fun with it and the scrappers are really hard to spot to those who aren't really into it...which most kids aren't. i.e. this is about fun to them...and that's our goal.

 

[Yelloweaver]

There is a pin trading section to this board, but as an experienced pin trader / former cast member, here's a few things:

1. Yes, there are TONS of fakes out there, but the cast members don't necessarily have a ton of fakes, at least early on in the day (depending). When I was in Operations at Indy, I had a lanyard and we "refreshed" it up to two times a week. This meant, when I came in for my morning shift, I could get all new pins (up to 6 at a time usually). Most of the time, these were the "cast member only" pins and were brand new straight from Disney. I'd usually stash a few of the more rare ones in my pocket so that I could replace them later in the day (because most of the "pin vultures" come into the parks and try to clean off rare stuff from cast members first thing in the morning) or help someone out looking for a special pin (many times, I'd ask, "is there a certain pin you are looking for?").

2. A lot of the fakes are hard to spot and only matter to "real collectors" as they like to call themselves. Yes a fake isn't worth as much to a collector, but if it's a character you really like or whatnot and all you plan to do is keep it to yourself or whatever, they aren't a huge nasty thing. I'm sure some of mine I still have are fakes, but they are just for my personal enjoyment.

3. Pin trading isn't just about what you get. It's a great way to socialize with some of the cast members (and sometimes other guests) and you'll be surprised sometimes what you'll find, what you'll learn, etc etc.

4. I think there was some seller called "mycoolstuff" or something that had some ok deals (prob not the exact name) that I used to buy from on Ebay - you can try there.

5. If you are really concerned with genuine and are collecting for value - take the advice up there and buy them straight from Disney. If you are just being casual, just have fun with it - don't take it too seriously.

I wouldnt know how to tell a real one from a scrapper. I buy lots on Ebay so my (now) 6 year old can trade at Disney. We have a bulletin board at home that she pins up the ones she wants to keep and the rest go into a bag for the next trip.

I believe I have purchased pins from (mycoolstuff) though the name on Ebay is real.cool.stuff. He has a great rating and the pins seems really nice.

 

[openendedsky]

If you want real pins, your best bet is to buy them from Disney. They even sell starter sets with lanyards.

Also, don't trade with the CMs. So many people buy the fake ones online and trade those to CMs that you will likely get fakes in return. But most kids couldn't care less if the pins are fake or not, so there is that.

I collect the pins, but I don't trade. I only buy pins I actually want, so there would be no point to trading them, KWIM?

Why am I just now realizing this??

 

[luv]

Why am I just now realizing this??

Do you buy pins?! I buy pins. I have a more than a few!!

It's a sickness. I caught it from my son. One year, they were doing the "Build a pin" thing and he insisted I do it with him, so I did. And it began...

Pin collecting isn't cheap!

 

[openendedsky]

Do you buy pins?! I buy pins. I have a more than a few!!

It's a sickness. I caught it from my son. One year, they were doing the "Build a pin" thing and he insisted I do it with him, so I did. And it began...

Pin collecting isn't cheap!

I do! And no it isn't, but it's fun.

 

[ddbowdoin]

so many fakes and scrappers.... google "good bad Disney pin sellers list" and you'll find a thread on another forum of good, bad, and yellow (which is the "unsure" category) of sellers.

Basically, I hit ebay up and if I find a pin I like I cross reference the seller to that list. If he/she are a green seller, I am in.

I buy, upon receipt of the pin I head over to pinpics.com and review the pin for accuracy.

Following this method 100% of the pins I've purchased on eBay are authentic.

edit: don't buy "lots" of pins... they're almost always 100% fake.

 

[Skippy's Pal]

This might make me something of an inadvertent enabler, but I've never given much thought to scrappers and fakes. I collect but don't trade, and I only collect pins that trigger a specific memory of a ride or experience or family time we've had on a past trip. The occasional pin I get from eBay builds up that " memory warehouse" that's consuming a wall in my home office. My favorite pins go back to the Millennium Celebration of 2000 - our best trip of all time. Tapestry of Nations Parade <sigh>. I'll let my kids discover which ones are really real -- but my favorite "2000" logo pin is coming with me in the box!

 

[coilback]

This might make me something of an inadvertent enabler, but I've never given much thought to scrappers and fakes. I collect but don't trade, and I only collect pins that trigger a specific memory of a ride or experience or family time we've had on a past trip. The occasional pin I get from eBay builds up that " memory warehouse" that's consuming a wall in my home office. My favorite pins go back to the Millennium Celebration of 2000 - our best trip of all time. Tapestry of Nations Parade <sigh>. I'll let my kids discover which ones are really real -- but my favorite "2000" logo pin is coming with me in the box!

Yeah I like getting pins that signify either an attraction I like, a time I was there (I almost always get a pin that has the year in it somewhere when I'm at WDW), an event I was there for or a character I like (mainly Stitch and Maleficent). I used to be a hardcore collector that went for all the limited editions and stuff, but not so much anymore.

 

[Soarin2u]

This might make me something of an inadvertent enabler, but I've never given much thought to scrappers and fakes. I collect but don't trade, and I only collect pins that trigger a specific memory of a ride or experience or family time we've had on a past trip. The occasional pin I get from eBay builds up that " memory warehouse" that's consuming a wall in my home office. My favorite pins go back to the Millennium Celebration of 2000 - our best trip of all time. Tapestry of Nations Parade <sigh>. I'll let my kids discover which ones are really real -- but my favorite "2000" logo pin is coming with me in the box!

My family does the same.We buy one or two to remember something. Such as my first time to Disney; I loved Marry Poppins so much that I cried when I first met her! Afterwards I bought a pin of her! Last year we went on a cruise so, I got a cute stitch dressed as a pirate! I think they are one small thing that helps make some memories last longer!

 

[Tink0102]

This will be our first trip and we heard about pin trading and thought it sounded like fun so I bought a lot off of ebay. We don't know the first thing about pins and wouldn't know an authentic one from a scrapper if it slapped us in the face. We will decide on one's to trade based on whether we like the pin or not, not based on it's value. We want to do it for the fun of it not to become serious collectors. My only fear in buying off of ebay and possibly having some scrapper is that CM' s might refuse to trade with my DS which would hurt his feeling through no fault of his own (it's not his fault his mama is a cheapo), but I was told (or read) that they are not allowed to refuse. We liked several of the ones we got and plan to keep them instead of trading. With all that said I think you have to decide whether you want to be a serious collector or a for fun trader.

 

[Soarin2u]

This will be our first trip and we heard about pin trading and thought it sounded like fun so I bought a lot off of ebay. We don't know the first thing about pins and wouldn't know an authentic one from a scrapper if it slapped us in the face. We will decide on one's to trade based on whether we like the pin or not, not based on it's value. We want to do it for the fun of it not to become serious collectors. My only fear in buying off of ebay and possibly having some scrapper is that CM' s might refuse to trade with my DS which would hurt his feeling through no fault of his own (it's not his fault his mama is a cheapo), but I was told (or read) that they are not allowed to refuse. We liked several of the ones we got and plan to keep them instead of trading. With all that said I think you have to decide whether you want to be a serious collector or a for fun trader.

..... Congrats on your First Trip! It will surely be one to remember! Those trading pins will surely capture some of those great moments! Ah, I wish I could hear all about it!

 

[Figgy1]

Welcome and congrats on your first trip!

 

[Tink0102]

Maybe I should say it is our first "real" trip. DS has never been before. I had a day trip there back in the 90's and DH has been before again back in the late 80's early 90's. So this will be our first "real" trip and our first as a family.

 

[lunchbox1175]

DW needs to learn to not go into the Pin Trading store at DTD on the first day...never fails that we drop like $100 in the first 10 minutes we are there.

 

[RedDad]

This will be our first trip and we heard about pin trading and thought it sounded like fun so I bought a lot off of ebay. We don't know the first thing about pins and wouldn't know an authentic one from a scrapper if it slapped us in the face. We will decide on one's to trade based on whether we like the pin or not, not based on it's value. We want to do it for the fun of it not to become serious collectors. My only fear in buying off of ebay and possibly having some scrapper is that CM' s might refuse to trade with my DS which would hurt his feeling through no fault of his own (it's not his fault his mama is a cheapo), but I was told (or read) that they are not allowed to refuse. We liked several of the ones we got and plan to keep them instead of trading. With all that said I think you have to decide whether you want to be a serious collector or a for fun trader.

My experience has been that CM's will rarely refuse a trade from a child. For that reason, particularly if you're trading with pins purchased off of ebay, I would recommend only attempting to trade with CM's. That's what we do, as some of those serious traders out there will get their panties in a wad if you try trading a scrapper.

 

[kfergdisney]

Your first trip! How exciting!!
While I've never actually traded pins with a CM before, it is something I look forward to on my next trip. I'm more of a horder collector.... The first time I got involved with pins was when I was "selected" to do the "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire" game in DHS (I'm sure it was MGM back then). Once you are down there answering questions, all your knowledge seems to escape you. For my prize, I got some pins and a lanyard and that secured the pin addiction.
But, back to the pins...I like to buy the pins while I'm in the parks and not anywhere else...I have this issue with other things as well....have to buy Atlanta Braves items in Atlanta or Turner Field...it's a strange problem I have. If you want to make sure you are buying the real thing, they do sell some off of the Disney Store website.