Trading Pins

Sonconato

Sonconato

Well-Known Member
I am 57 and I always trade pins. It gives the trader a chance to talk to a cast member and sometimes it results in a new friend. To be honest, I see more adults at the parks pin trading than children, and in their off days cast members often trade as well.
 
Zipadeelady

Zipadeelady

Well-Known Member
I was always secretly jealous of my kids when they traded pins. We are headed to Disney in a few weeks and for my birthday my wonderful kids got me some pins to start trading!! I'm so excited!! I'll have to check out that other thread.:D
 
Zipadeelady

Zipadeelady

Well-Known Member
What I would like to know is how can you tell the fake pins from the true Disney pins? A few that I have were off Ebay. I want to make sure I don't try to trade a fake pin.
 
AndyS2992

AndyS2992

Well-Known Member
Zipitidoda said:
What I would like to know is how can you tell the fake pins from the true Disney pins? A few that I have were off Ebay. I want to make sure I don't try to trade a fake pin.
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Very honourable of you, if only everyone was like this.

You'll have to post pics of the fronts and backs and any packaging they came with to give a definite answer. But there are many ways to tell. Your best bet is to Google it and read some website guides or better yet, go on Youtube and search 'Fake Disney pins'.

If you bought a lot on eBay of say '20, 50 or 100 Disney pins' for a cheap price then they are 100% fake. If you bought singles which are still attached to the cardboard backing then they are more likely to be genuine. Singles that are loose with no backing are questionable.
 
Zipadeelady

Zipadeelady

Well-Known Member
AndyS2992 said:
Very honourable of you, if only everyone was like this.

You'll have to post pics of the fronts and backs and any packaging they came with to give a definite answer. But there are many ways to tell. Your best bet is to Google it and read some website guides or better yet, go on Youtube and search 'Fake Disney pins'.

If you bought a lot on eBay of say '20, 50 or 100 Disney pins' for a cheap price then they are 100% fake. If you bought singles which are still attached to the cardboard backing then they are more likely to be genuine. Singles that are loose with no backing are questionable.
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Each one was paid for separately but a few with no backing. A total of 8. They all look like they have the pin trading stamp on the back but a couple look questionable to me.
 
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
I've been a long time pin trader/ collector, and I'm over 50 yo. None of the CM's I've traded with has ever given me the impression that pin trading is only for kids. Trading pins is one of the highlights of my trip. Prior to leaving I plan out what I want to trade away and what I hope to find. I have so many pin books filled that some times I come home with duplicate pins I thought I didnt have. Pin trading has added to my enjoyment of my trips.
 
E

E-ticket Princess

Member
AndyS2992 said:
Very honourable of you, if only everyone was like this.

You'll have to post pics of the fronts and backs and any packaging they came with to give a definite answer. But there are many ways to tell. Your best bet is to Google it and read some website guides or better yet, go on Youtube and search 'Fake Disney pins'.

If you bought a lot on eBay of say '20, 50 or 100 Disney pins' for a cheap price then they are 100% fake. If you bought singles ,which are still attached to the cardboard backing then they are more likely to be genuine. Singles that are loose with no backing are questionable.
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There are many unofficial pins and cheap knockoffs included when buying by lot on Ebay. That doesn't mean they are all 100% fake. Many reputable people sell by lot on Ebay. However you can expect several that may be suspect. Even an honest seller can't be 100% sure all the pins are official. The only way to be certain is to purchase directly from Disney. There are many well done counterfits on what appear to be original backing cards. There is always a risk when buying in the secondary market. The best thing is like the op already said. Youtube or Google how to identify fakes. All the info is out there. Happy trading!
 
E

E-ticket Princess

Member
No way. There are thousands of adult traders and collectors. I am 54 and started in 2001. Back then there were very few kid traders at all. There weren't even green kids only cast lanyards when this madness all started. Disney launched pin trading as a part of the Millennium celebrations to encourage closer guest to cast and guest to guest interaction. Happy Trading!
 
Monorail_Red_77

Monorail_Red_77

Well-Known Member
AndyS2992 said:
I don't trade pins. I just buy the ones off the racks I like. I don't recommend pin trading/Collecting, it'll bankrupt you :grumpy: Ridiculously addictive.
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I bought a 25 lot of Disney Pins on Ebay and gave to my oldest son for Christmas to trade with. Def cheaper than buying them new and trading. The ones I got were in great condition still.

Yes very addictive. Most, if not all stores, resorts, restaurants have pin trading books where you can trade with CM's. This is in addition to the ones the CM's wear.
 
Monorail_Red_77

Monorail_Red_77

Well-Known Member
E-ticket Princess said:
There are many unofficial pins and cheap knockoffs included when buying by lot on Ebay. That doesn't mean they are all 100% fake. Many reputable people sell by lot on Ebay. However you can expect several that may be suspect. Even an honest seller can't be 100% sure all the pins are official. The only way to be certain is to purchase directly from Disney. There are many well done counterfits on what appear to be original backing cards. There is always a risk when buying in the secondary market. The best thing is like the op already said. Youtube or Google how to identify fakes. All the info is out there. Happy trading!
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All of the ones I have purchased on ebay have been official. You just have to pay attention to who you buy from. The better sellers will post pics of the backs as well. You run a risk when buying large lots, but I haven't had a problem. I have bought several limited edition ones not to mention some sold in lots of 25.

Like poster said, do your research before buying online.
 
Smiley/OCD

Smiley/OCD

Well-Known Member
Adam Snider said:
Am I the only person over 20 who enjoys collecting pins and likes trading with the cast members? Or is there an age where the cast members kind of give you the weird why are you still doing this look?
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My 18 yo and 16 yo daughters LOVE to do it!!! We're talking about Disney World, where EVERYONE, no matter how old you are, is a kid....SO, ENJOY IT!!!

I will give you a piece of advice...rather than paying for a starter set, go on ebay, and buy several collections of pins, no matter how cheesy they might be. There are plenty of collections that can be bought for less than $20 bucks, and might contain 15- 20 pins in the collection. You can then use those to trade for the ones you want...

We were there the week after Easter this year with friends and their 10 YO twin daughters that never experienced trading...I spent $40 bucks before we left for about 75 pins, and also bought them 2 lanyards on ebay as well for $5.00 each...they are VERY shy...once they saw my 2 girls trading, they were bitten by the bug, and absolutely LOVED it!!! Just make sure when you buy them on ebay that they are OFFICIAL Disney pins...all WDW pins will have Mickey ear pin backs and should also have a Mickey ear somewhere on the front of the pin. Also, if you have the Chase/Disney credit card, about 4 times a year, when you get their booklet, not the bills, there are usually offers for limited edition pins available for purchase that are exclusive to card holders...

ENJOY IT, and have a MAGICAL trip!!!
 
World_Showcase_Lover007

World_Showcase_Lover007

Well-Known Member
I still trade pins just because it gives me something to do when my wife is shopping and I'm standing around in the store. I'm in my early 30's and I've never had a CM look at me funny or weird. If anything, I always a bit surprised at how excited some of them get that I want to trade. Other CMs are just indifferent, but definitely no weird looks.

I've traded a bit less in the last couple of trips, but still actively do it. I figure if I keep building up my collection, I can give them to my kids one day if I have any, and let them take it over.
 
dreamfinder

dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
BigRedDad said:
There is no such thing as a "fake" pin. The ones on eBay for about $0.50 each are from the same factories Disney buys them from. The quality of pins CMs have now are the same as the $0.50 pins on eBay. I hate to say it, but pin trading has gone severely downhill.
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Perhaps this is because a vast majority of the pins on CM lanyards are ones from those bulk eBay lots? The one real exception is usually when a new series is first released and haven't made it to eBay yet.

And yes, there most certainly are "fake" pins, even if you simply overlook scrappers and overruns that make it into the marketplace. I have a few that Disney never made in pin form, but enterprising people took graphic art from other merchandise and turned them into pins, complete with the back pattern and "official" DPT stamp.
 

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