An Ode to Sharks, or It Pays To Be Nice To Everyone You Meet

[Disney_Noir]

This city never sleeps. I lay awake, staring at my ceiling as I listen to the yelling from the streets outside my window. Insomnia sets in and the cracks on the walls start forming shapes….. Sharks. Sharks everywhere. Could this be a sign? What does it all mean? I have been in this apartment for too damn long. I sit up, turn on my bedside lamp and light up a cigarette. I keep a stash under my pillow for emergencies like this. As the smoke fills my lungs, my head clears and the shark-like figures start to fade. Maybe it is time to get back on the case. I have laid low for weeks now, but there’s blood in the water, and I’m the bait.

 

[Nathan95]

This city never sleeps. I lay awake, staring at my ceiling as I listen to the yelling from the streets outside my window. Insomnia sets in and the cracks on the walls start forming shapes….. Sharks. Sharks everywhere. Could this be a sign? What does it all mean? I have been in this apartment for too damn long. I sit up, turn on my bedside lamp and light up a cigarette. I keep a stash under my pillow for emergencies like this. As the smoke fills my lungs, my head clears and the shark-like figures start to fade. Maybe it is time to get back on the case. I have laid low for weeks now, but there’s blood in the water, and I’m the bait.

David Fincher, get off pin forum!!!!

 

[Psycho Pixie]

This city never sleeps. I lay awake, staring at my ceiling as I listen to the yelling from the streets outside my window. Insomnia sets in and the cracks on the walls start forming shapes….. Sharks. Sharks everywhere. Could this be a sign? What does it all mean? I have been in this apartment for too damn long. I sit up, turn on my bedside lamp and light up a cigarette. I keep a stash under my pillow for emergencies like this. As the smoke fills my lungs, my head clears and the shark-like figures start to fade. Maybe it is time to get back on the case. I have laid low for weeks now, but there’s blood in the water, and I’m the bait.

there is soo a part of me that wants to continue this from a gal's perspective but no.... I wont. your to fun to read as you are.

 

[Combatdre]

I can only say that when people decide to do these stupid call outs and turn everything negative it makes me sick.
Geoff, you should not have to explain yourself and all those who post, bashing another member are just rediculous.
If you have an opinion and it is negative, just keep your mouth shut and dont spray your unbacked negativity on everyone else just to tr and make someone else look bad.
is this mean, rude, nasty, good because its just what some of you did to Geoff.
Theres always a lynch mob on here turning positive posts into drama

Very classy :bigthumb:!... However, its a discussion forum. Everyone is entitled to an opinion wether is negative or positive, wether you like it or not. Nobody tried to make anyone look bad, we just had another perspective since most of have been sharked. On another note, I'm glad Geoff was honest. I wish my first trading experience would have been that positive, kudos!

 

[AcmaThespian]

While the pins Geoff got are valuable, I would not at all call him a shark. Podms go for some crazy prices and for all we know, the guy could have had a friend at pixar that helped him get the pins. I know of a pixar emplyee that has helped normal people get merchandise before, so it happens. I think Geoff did good

 

[RiftRaftStreetRat]

This city never sleeps. I lay awake, staring at my ceiling as I listen to the yelling from the streets outside my window. Insomnia sets in and the cracks on the walls start forming shapes….. Sharks. Sharks everywhere. Could this be a sign? What does it all mean? I have been in this apartment for too damn long. I sit up, turn on my bedside lamp and light up a cigarette. I keep a stash under my pillow for emergencies like this. As the smoke fills my lungs, my head clears and the shark-like figures start to fade. Maybe it is time to get back on the case. I have laid low for weeks now, but there’s blood in the water, and I’m the bait.

Th-that's it. Someone has to make this a comic. It would be epic.

 

[Merryweather]

He will NEVER pay 200, he thinks more than 75 for this LE650 plain as bones grey pin is dumb. It's not worth 100 let alone 200. So, this all comes down to percieved value. Sorry, but to me, that pixar logo just is NOT attractive. And I do not think it is going to hold value at 200 like you keep insisting.

I typed similar lines to these twice yesterday yet I refrained from hitting "post" because I was worried that someone might bite my head off

For the record, last sale when I was following on Ebay was for $66. The seller is on this forum, if you do not believe me just ask him. I stopped following these pins on Ebay because I lost interest, if any more sold after that, I am unaware. I think also a pair with one of each sold for $130 on Aug 21.

I will present you another side to this medallion which will get a lot of you disgruntled. This logo pin, with its simple metal design, high LE count, coupled with the fact that not many people outside CA have seen it in person makes it a perfect candidate for being scrapperred. Only my opinion of course so pls do not flame me.

Think about it: If Sleeping Beauty Stitch Valentine LE 100, Jessica as Ursula LE 300, Jessica as Queen of hearts LE 300 can get scrappered, this one also has a high chance. I have invested in some LE 300 pins from DSF & WDI (sadly rarely at face value) only to see them as scrappers on Ebay 8-10 months later. And for my part, I do not think these 2 pins will be immune to it. They have a high LE count and yet an incredibly simple design. And if you think that you are safe because yours are on card, I would say: Think again!! Right now, they are pumping out WDI Jessica Redhead, Evil Queen etc on cards and they are being sold in multiples by those scrapper sellers. And yes, these pins are on card because cards can be faked too.

I think that Geoff gave this trader a fair offer by saying "anything" and made him aware of his pin's value. For all we know, this trader might have a heap of these Brave pins at home because uncle what's-his-name works at Pixar or something.

 

[Bullet]

so much salt!
Can't blame geoff for what the guy wanted from his book. It's not like he limited him to 5 pins. Some people who trade might not think about i need to trade this 80$ pin for a 80$ pin. If the pin they are trading was given to them for free or they acquired the pin in a very cheap they, the trader then might not have the same value for the pin that other traders would have. Just because he picked a PODM doesn't make geoff a bad person or a shark. The guy wanted an even lesser pin, geoff offered more. I'm sure both were happy.
Congrats on the trade geoff. ;]

 

[DisneyOlivia]

Also, I think that a pin has very different values according to each individual person. Geoff clearly indicated to the guy what his pins were worth, so the young man was able to make an INFORMED decision on which pins to take.
He loved the PODMs, and whatever the other one that Geoff gave him. He really liked the pins that he took. Both traders were happy with their pins. Isn't that how pin trading should work?

I know that there are certain pins LE 900 that I would pay much more for than some of the LE 150s. But that's just me and my personal taste, and it really depends on how much I like a pin.

I think that congratulations to both the boy and to Geoff are in order, because both walked away with pins that they really wanted.
No harm or sharking done - just two happy pin traders ! :hsd:

 

[GhostTrains]

Very classy :bigthumb:!... However, its a discussion forum. Everyone is entitled to an opinion wether is negative or positive, wether you like it or not. Nobody tried to make anyone look bad, we just had another perspective since most of have been sharked. On another note, I'm glad Geoff was honest. I wish my first trading experience would have been that positive, kudos!

Many of us have been taken advantage of so i get it. Freedom of speech blah blah blah is just an excuse so people can say what they want with no repercussions.
Geoff is a nice guy but he is also a hard but honest trader. He started a nice post about pins he got from a person others may not have traded with due to his small book.
That is the conversation here. I dont understand why people feel the need to say such things on his post.
Why are some people driven to post the negative side. This is even more so when it is all based on false information.
Then people jump on the band wagon and make it worse. How do we think this makes the person feel?? How does it make people feel about the person they are talking about.
Many will see this and say im not gonna trade with them now.
People need to be held responsible for what they say but many say what they want since it is online. Most would never say it in person.

As for class, I give respect when it is earned and this way of acting deserves none. My reply may be strait up Ghetto but it is honest and to the point.
I may not be Classy but i am definitly not into calling someone sharky or saying shame on you in an open forum. If you dont think that is making someone look bad then i guess im just from another era.

I didnt even want to keep posting on this post since it is taking away from Geoffs topic but i said my part and I leave it at that.

Hope you get the other pin Geoff

 

[Shannon]

+1kirk.

 

[caligirlUCR]

I think this thread is a little crazy - if the two people were involved in the trade were happy in the end that is all that matters.

People value pins differently, people want different things. If someone comes to my book and offers me one of my grails and I tell them to pick anything they want and they pick an LE pin. I ask them if they are sure and they say yes and are happy with the trade AND then I give them another pin they liked just because - and somehow I am a shark??? You are kidding? Well then I am a shark!

People here are so quick to judge others. This story had a great moral and peoples over analysis has tarnished that. When I had just started pin trading I traded pin for pin and just traded for what i liked. Then I left the hobby for a while and came back and people really wanted the pins on my lanyard - so I traded those away for pins I liked better - I had no idea of values or LE sizes or anything other than I knew what I liked. So I am sure that some people got the better end of things - but I dont feel "sharked" about it. I was very happy with the trades at the time.

Also we have all had trades in our favor and some not in out favor - it all evens out, and even if it doesn't if everyone leaves happy - who cares?

 

[Disney_Noir]

I wish I could make it all go away. I guess these goons outside my window aren't going to close their kisser about these "sharks". You can bet your bottom dollar though: whoever these "sharks" are, I'm going to find them and make a clean sneak outta there before they know what hit them. This may be my last hurrah, so I pour myself a glass of the best gin in the city. I had myself a new case and a new cause. If only I had a new dame to hold in my arms and call mine. My head fell to my chest. I was ashamed that I let myself get this bad, but I'm done hiding. I stand up and hobble to the door, throwing my overcoat over my shoulder. It's about damn time.

 

[HandA]

A whole lotta drama for drama's sake in this thread. I think Caligirl said it best, so I won't try to say it any better. This seemed like a good story after my initial read and put a little smile on my face. I came back to the thread after seeing it go three pages and wondered WTH.

Figuratively speaking ... I am that 19-20 year old. (maybe not that young, but I did say "figuratively", right?) I'd much rather have an Aladdin PODM than a Brave logo pin all day everyday. Call me crazy or prime for a good sharking, but just because some loon behind a keyboard is willing to drop mad cash on a pin because he hears how rare it is doesn't mean it'll blow my dress up (still talking figuratively here). I like what "I" like (and whatever puts a smile on my kids' faces) not what I'm told I should like.

If this is sharking, this bait fish will be in the water at the Circus ... come and find me. I'll even drop some chum in the water in the form of my paltry three ring binder! LOL

Well done, Geoff!!


(Oh yeah ... and DisneyNoir, keep doing what you do)

 

[scarsiandam]

Awesome!!!!

 

[stitchfan1015]

I admire Geoff for being a generous trader. That is what pin trading is all about, ensuring both parties involved get something that they want. As long as both sides feel good about the trade then what does it matter about the $ value. Unless you trade pins purely to make a profit and that's how you make a living then that is one thing, but for the majority of us here this is a hobby we CHOOSE to spend and how much we spend is entirely up to us.

For me I'm not in to make money, I love Disney and its pins. I expect to spend money for this hobby, and I have been involved in trades that I didn't feel to great about (especially when the trader starts to boast about the trade as soon as you take 2 steps away from them) but I've also had trades where I was extremely excited to receive a pin.

I realize money is a huge concern for everyone but if you're pin trading to turn a profit then you're missing the fundamental reason for pin trading, which is to have fun trading with people and building friendships from this common interest.

just my thoughts...

now a picture of 2 unlikely friends to lighten the mood

http://i.imgur.com/cc2uU.jpg

 

[tinkerbelle1956]

Geoff... You did good . Your an honest trader and in it for the fun and not the value . The negativity is others jealousy and I wanted to say it so many times .
sincitychip... you more than once went off on me calling me drama . Take a good long look in the mirror before ever saying that I start drama .

 

[KT07]

rock on Geoff.... Most of us know what a good guy you are. i can say first hand that you were one of the very first traders my fam met at DLR. We didnt have many pins but you said what the heck and u never know unless you look. also you took your time with my son and helped us learn about pins as a whole. Its now been almost 2 years later and we still remmebr how nice you were and how u help other ppl to learn as much as they can.

Thank you for being one of the good guys....

 

[Merryweather]

KT07 !!! Good to see you We are coming over in October hopefully. What-a-burger or Kolaches ??? Sorry, I can not carry Blue Bonnet :lol:

 

[tinkerbelle1956]

A whole lotta drama for drama's sake in this thread. I think Caligirl said it best, so I won't try to say it any better. This seemed like a good story after my initial read and put a little smile on my face. I came back to the thread after seeing it go three pages and wondered WTH.

Figuratively speaking ... I am that 19-20 year old. (maybe not that young, but I did say "figuratively", right?) I'd much rather have an Aladdin PODM than a Brave logo pin all day everyday. Call me crazy or prime for a good sharking, but just because some loon behind a keyboard is willing to drop mad cash on a pin because he hears how rare it is doesn't mean it'll blow my dress up (still talking figuratively here). I like what "I" like (and whatever puts a smile on my kids' faces) not what I'm told I should like.

If this is sharking, this bait fish will be in the water at the Circus ... come and find me. I'll even drop some chum in the water in the form of my paltry three ring binder! LOL

Well done, Geoff!!

(Oh yeah ... and DisneyNoir, keep doing what you do)

Tell them Handa ! I will be at circus too and would be honored to meet you . I'm so sick of some being so negative . OMG, Geoff now has a pair of pins that he got with both traders being happy . Bread & Water for the next year . Jealousy is showing through the negativity . If the shoe were on the other foot, they had done the same and giggled as you walked off . That's my personal belief by reading their dramatized remarks .

 

[Aquata]

Just my two cents (I know I'm newer and don't know most of you but I read the entire thread), I think Geoff has nothing to be ashamed about. As long as he told the guy the pin's value up front, he wasn't doing anything backhandedly. At that point, the guy knew the value of the pins and chose to go ahead and trade anyway. Both traders walk away happy, end of story. Perhaps the pins weren't all that special to that guy and he saw Geoff's reaction to the one and chose to be nice. There are still kind people in the pin trading world. Geoff seems like one of them because look at all the nice trades he did that day (that weren't necessarily BETTER trades) prior to mentioning the Brave pin trade. I see nothing wrong or sharky here, just two happy traders

 

[chumlee]

Geoff... You did good . Your an honest trader and in it for the fun and not the value . The negativity is others jealousy and I wanted to say it so many times .
sincitychip... you more than once went off on me calling me drama . Take a good long look in the mirror before ever saying that I start drama .

Its not drama....or jealousy or negativity...its just another persons opinion....which is what this forum is for. OPINIONS!!!! Some may think that was fair and some may not. We are all allowed to state our minds. To me and several others this was not a fair trade. Thats all folks

 

[chumlee]

. If the shoe were on the other foot, they had done the same and giggled as you walked off . That's my personal belief by reading their dramatized remarks .

And just to add...anyone that knows me...knows that I am a super fair trader and would not have done that to anyone. Most of the time I give people more than something is worth.

 

[tinkerbelle1956]

No one said that you weren't a fair trader . But don't make Geoff hang his head in shame . He got the pin he wanted and the other trader got what he wanted . He even stated he was going to give him multiples when he returned .
Can you please answer a question for me, if I'd had posted what others did to make Geoff feel bad, it would have been called drama . When I have spoke my mind or gave out important info, I'm A Drama Queen . When you, sincitychip or anyone else does, it's your opinion, speaking your mind, freedom of speech . Geez, how I wish that could be answered, but I already know . Some are liked, others are not, but its all good .

 

[Psycho Pixie]

And on that note....

hoiw about them Angels huh??? great game!