• Guest, Help The DPF Community Thrive - Join Our Donation Drive Today!

    We're launching a special DPF Donation Drive to ensure our beloved forum continues to flourish. Your support is vital in helping us cover essential server costs and keep our community running smoothly — This is more than just a donation; it's an investment in the future of our community.

    Join us in this crucial drive and let's ensure our forum remains a vibrant and dynamic place for everyone.

    Please visit the DPF Donation Drive Thread for details and instructions on how you can make your donation today!

Freakin Pin Meanie!!!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Freakin Pin Meanie!!!
As much as I understand the frustration, as a cast member I really dont appreciate reading about how someone would punch me in the face if I was told by my lead or manager that I wasn't allowed to sell pins to a child under a certain age. =\
 
echoharmony said:
As much as I understand the frustration, as a cast member I really dont appreciate reading about how someone would punch me in the face if I was told by my lead or manager that I wasn't allowed to sell pins to a child under a certain age. =\
Click to expand...

hey..since u are a CM... can u find out or do u know the rule??? It seems that if u have to pay for a passport and take your kid to the park all the time to trade... You should b ok to buy sum pins.. right... or no ?? just wondering. and yes no one should ever put hands on ppl
 
So I took three steps back and then three steps forward. Ok I'm back.
Click to expand...
Same here, I literally laughed out loud! Is that rude? Sorry...not. Hehehehehe...

This not letting children buy merchandise isn't new...I know that NursK8 had that problem with her daughter, at a PAID EVENT. I agree here, if the person has to pay admission to the park/is an Annual Passholder or in some way has been charged to get into the park/event, they have every right to pick out/buy a pin. Obviously, it's ridiculous for someone coming in with a 3-month old to say, "my baby is buying a pin." But a paying guest? C'mon.
 
My 6 yr old has to pay the same price for his AP as an adult does,
so I would be all kinds of pissy if he was denied the ability to
purchase anything at WDW. The rude behavior is unacceptable,
unnecessary and I'd make sure to let someone know. Sorry you
had such a negative experience.
 
Last edited:
No a lead never came!!! I don't think they actually ever called one - when she "called" it went like this "Hi I have a guest here and I just want to make sure we do not have any more wrstbands for the movie pins riigggghhhhhtttt????" then with like two seconds pause she said - "ok thanks thats what I thought" (hang up phone) No I'm sorry we don't have any more wristbands. ME: Ok great can you please call a lead for me. CM: Oh ok. (picks up phone) "Hi I have an AP guest who would like to see a lead. Ok thanks." (hangs up phone. ) They are on their way.

Yeah right!!!!! After they called and I waited ten minutes - then theyfinally let me then I was there for another 20 minutes talking with some guests who saw the whole thing and offered to trade me for their lonesome ghosts POMH's for older POMH's when Iwas told I would have to wait til 1pm. No lead ever showed up . . . . and they never "called" to cancel he lead.
 
Guy the Ghoul said:
I know what you all mean. I've also had my share of grumpy CMs! Especially when you want to examine pins or other merchandise for defects and are given a sigh or something similar. I feel like, sorry but I'm spending my hard earned money on your products of which many are damaged or defective, and I"m examining them all until I get a good one whether you like it or not!
Click to expand...

I did have to get a CM to get me the bag of Jack PTN pins from earlier this month so I could go through them. 3 of the 4 she got for me were fine; the 4th had dips all over Jack. And when I went through the bag, so did 5-10 more! Eventually, I found a 4th without a dip. :)
 
This was my first PODM release I have been to and I was not happy about how they handled it at DTD either. They lost some sales from me and my mom when they only let us look at 4 total pins, cause I would not see any worth buying. I got a lot of them but it would've been so much easier if they had just had them hanging up like they did for them in the other parks.
 
Last edited:
starry_solo said:
I did have to get a CM to get me the bag of Jack PTN pins from earlier this month so I could go through them. 3 of the 4 she got for me were fine; the 4th had dips all over Jack. And when I went through the bag, so did 5-10 more! Eventually, I found a 4th without a dip. :)
Click to expand...

There seemed to be a lot of issues with this year's PTNs. I hope next year's spinners are better.
 
So I'm sure I'm going to get in trouble for my opinion, but here goes...the devil's advocate side of things. I get that if your child has to pay to get in then they should be allowed to buy pins, but this is where the dilemma comes in, did your kid really buy their pass? Are they paying for the pins or are you? From Disney's perspective or the perspective of people who don't have kids, you're getting extra pins. If you're child is old enough to be in line by themself and they have money to hand the cashier on their own, that's one thing, but if you're the one paying for everything well than to everyone else it seems like you're getting to buy more pins than they are, and that goes doubley so when you're child is so young that they can't possibly understand what's going on. I'm sure if your kid does collect pins and it must be frustrating to be turned down, but think of it from the perspective of all of the people who don't have kids, who can only buy 2 pins, it seems like you're using the system to get more pins. So then what does Disney do when people who don't have kids complains that pin people are using their kids to get more pins than they are? It's a damned if you do damned if you don't situation.

Please don't get offended I'm not talking to anyone in particular, I'm just pointing out that there is more than one side to this issue.
 
i think its two very different things for people to give their kids money to buy pins for their collection and people using their kids to get extra pins. The rule sucks and hardly seems fair... but ruby is making an excellent point. Disney does need to draw the line somewhere, but they also need to make it very clear before hand. If they aren't going to let kids count as people, then they need to say so before hand. *shrug*
people should not be asses to cast members, but cast members shouldn't be asses to people. I've had my job for 7 years, working retail, it doesn't matter how annoying a customer is, or how much you dislike what they're saying, you grin, nod and be nice. But as someone who works retail, if I'm told I can't do something by my boss, there is nothing I can do, and I would have to hand you over to them. But that's no excuse to "pretend" to contact your boss, that's wrong.

I am not gonna argue with people about this, and I'm not trying to stir the pot. These pins have been wonderful and a pain. There's been all kinds of craziness. I love these pins, I do, but the releases are nuts! So I can understand the cast members being at the end of their ropes and I understand people's frustrations. On the plus side, these issues are coming out now, not for Beauty & the Beast.
 
I wrote to Disney tonight. I just cannot believe my day. This kinda sums up what happened...and Echo...I would never punch anyone in the face, and I know that you only have to do what you are told...but the treatment today was beyond horrid for me. I go to Disney all the time and I have NEVER EVER EVER been treated like this. I am waiting for a response from them...

Good Afternoon,

I am writing to you after arriving home from a day at the Downtown Disney Merchandising Area in Lake Buena Vista. I had a less than magical experience today and though feedback would be helpful and appreciated. My family and I hold annual passes and travel to the resort at least once a month and have become accustomed to the world class service that Disney World has become famous for. Today it was my intention to trek the 2.5 hour ONE WAY drive from my home to Downtown Disney to purchase pins at the Pin Trading Store. As you know, yesterday the Limited Release Pin "Lonesome Ghosts" was released. I was unable to travel yesterday but I was hopeful to arrive first thing this morning to be able to purchase these pins.


I reviewed the website carefully, and the only reference to limiting the amount of pins purchased was for ONLINE orders only; however, as an avid pin collector I am aware that it is standard to have a 2 pin per person limit. To this I am not arguing, I only think it is fair to be able to increase the amount of exposure and enjoyment the pins would receive. I traveled with my 2 children, 1 of which is a current pass holder. My youngest is not yet 3. When I arrived at the store in the morning I was greeted by a woman and when I asked if any of the Lonesome Ghost pins were still available she directed me to a different counter and register. There was a young man there by the name of Brandon. He was very nice and while he was getting the pins out for me the woman who greeted me came back over and abruptly took over the transaction explaining that I HAD to pick the ONE pin out that I wanted of the few that was already set out. When I asked about purchasing 2 per person and I intended to purchase at least that since I am trying to collect all the piece of Disney movie pins set for myself and one for each of my children. She was so rude and pointed to my youngest and verbilized that she "didn't count" because she was too young, and then looked at my son and said "he can't do it either. No kids!"


I'm sorry. First of all, to POINT to my child and say that they don't count...I do not even know how to respond to that. I will let you respond for me, because honestly....I am still so upset by it I have already considered with my husband about not renewing our passes when they expire in March because it has left such a negative impression I don't know if I will ever forget it. Secondly, my son is 9. He is an avid pin collector. He "works" around our neighborhood and earns money to buy his own pins. If he is old enough to be charged to visit Disney World, then he has EVERY RIGHT to purchase whatever he pleases. You have no idea how devistated he was to not be able to purchase the pins that we woke up early and drove the distance that we did for. I do regret that I was not able to retain the name of the woman who treated us with such distaste, but my memory has suppressed it because it was truly an aweful experience.


I asked for a manager, and spoke to one. But it was explained to me that it's a "global rule" about only allowing ADULTS to purchase pins and limiting the amount per adult to 2. Honestly at that point, I couldn't get away fast enough. My son was already in tears and I was about to be.


I had planned on coming up on Thanksgiving for the Beauty and the Beast release, but I do not want to put my son through this emotional ordeal again. That would just be cruel.


Knowing that Disney holds a high standard to their employees I am honestly speechless about the treatment that we received today. I wanted to make whomever needs to know about this experience aware so the proper action can be taken to prevent other guests from being treated this way.


Please feel free to contact me if you require any further information by either e mail, or my phone number -edit out-


Thank you,
 
You did a good job on that note. It sounds very nice even though its clear u are very upset. I hope they get back to you and cant wait to see if they sum how use the disney magic to help things b a little better...or do we now see another sign that Walt's vison is not being upheld?? :anxious:


LMAO..... when i read your post under this one. I didnt want to add another post but must say... you should have got all hunny boo boo on them.. u go girl!!!!
 
Last edited:
They probably had to start not letting kids get pins because of the sharks. There are so many people that make the rounds with their kids and end up with 20-30 PODMs for sale. A few bad apples ruin it for everyone.
 
just.... wow. I truely hope they respond!!!

At DLR, They do the wristbands as you know. They give my 3 yr old daughter a wrist band, count her for the 2 pins, and allow her to pick out her own frame/scenes when we do these releases.... I pay obviously. But the "global rule" is BS.

The global rule, from what a few of my CM friends tell me is that under 3 cannot buy. Your 9 yr old had every right to look at, and buy his own 2 pins, AND use his AP for the discount!
 
I don't expect my opinion to be popular around here either. So many people through the years use kids and family members to get extra pins they would not have been able to purchase otherwise. What people do is their business. However I think kids should only be allowed to buy pins if they wait in line like everyone else, and pay for pins themselves without the hovering parent "helping" the child pick out the pins. They should be treated just like any other customer. If a child is unable to pick out and pay for pins on their own, they shouldn't be allowed to get them. The limit is two per person, if it is so important for a child to have a pin for their own collection, the parent can certainly "share" their two. On popular releases the demand almost always exceeds the supply. Disney likely put this policy into effect to help more collectors at obtaining them rather then people soaking up the supply by bringing their three kids who probably couldn't care less about overpriced pieces of metal with plastic inside.
 
I agree that the 'global rule' is BS. Someone at DSF had kids waiting 12+ hours in line with them so that they could get extra sets of the Cheshire As pins to sell on Ebay and those kids got wristbands. And like Psycho said, her daughter always gets a wristband at DLR. If you would still like 2, Stacey, I can have a friend who works at DLR check and see if they have any left. If so, I'm sure she'd be happy to pick a couple up for you. I would but I'm very ill and my glasses snapped in half last night/early this morning so I shouldn't be driving :( Please PM me though if you need any. Same goes with anyone else that needs one, I have lots of cast member friends who I'm sure wouldn't mind helping out if there are any PODMs left. There were plenty left yesterday when I went home!
 
Wow. I'm sorry you had such an awful experience. I've had a few less-than-jolly CM experiences, but never any so openly hostile. I'm glad you vented your frustrations appropriately, and nobody got punched in the face! Here's hoping the Mouse makes it up to you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top