What makes for good traders?

[johnomnom]

Hi everyone!

I'm trying to get more involved with the trading scene when it comes to pins. My pin trading has been pretty much with cast members lanyards/boards with a few here and there from friends and some on DPF/pinpics. I've been too intimidated to go up to the traders at the parks ever since I accidentally mistook a well dressed man as a DLR cast member manager and asked him to trade and he rudely wove me off because of the lack of OE/HM pins on my lanyard. I've gotten a few mystery trader lots from here as well as some booster packs from the parks but it seems like no one really wants those (judging by the ratios on pinpics). So I'm just wondering what the best way to acquire a good amount of traders so I can be able to find some decent pins to add to my keepers. Is the best way really just to try to buy the LE's or other pins in the glass windows at the pin stores or go to DSF releases and get the newer pins and trade those off? Most of the time if I want to buy a single pin from somewhere, I try to make it a pin that I'm for sure going to keep. But I guess that has to change sooner or later...

 

[D3COY]

from my experience (which isnt very much lol) I have had the best luck with trading LE and rack pins. Ive been able to get some pretty good trades off of pin pics using LE's and racks pins I buy at the parks. I try and pick up the new releases becuase everyone wants those so I am able to trade for older pins that I want. To be honest I still havent traded with other people, mostly because my collection is rather small so I'm intimidated by traders with those huge pin bags haha. I have traded with CM's though and i usually use booster packs because theyre cheaper.

 

[docfish2u]

Your best bet is to get the new releases, those of us who don't live near a Nirvana spot (Any of the Disney Parks) have to trade or buy those pins. It can be hard when you are first starting. I find I have great luck with these: princess, stitch, haunted mansion, and pirates. If you have a chance and or the money getting pins from the DSF or special locations also work great as traders. Booster packs work great if you are trading with cast members, but remember you are not the only ones doing that. You are better off buying fewer pins and getting the LE's or new rack pins then to get the booster sets for trading online or even in the parks.

When we were at Disneyland last year they had a Pirates pin and Haunted Mansion pin that were just rack pins, but they still trade great online. Try to get stuff that has mass appeal.

To all of you newbies who are intimidated by us scary people with pin bags, remember you never know who might say yes until you ask. You may get turned down 10 times, but then you meet a big scary looking guy who trades for the fun of it. I have been pin trading for 10+ years and that is why I come down to Disneyland. Just to pin trade. I have met some great people trading in the park. Please don't take it personally if you get turned down, just don't go back to those who are not nice. It is possible to find really nice people (PsychoPixie comes to mind, she has always been fantastic to us outsiders) who are there to have fun and are really easy to trade with. As you acquire more pins to trade it will be easier to trade with more people. We were all newbies at one time or another. Consider it a treasure hunt and have fun.

 

[D3COY]

To all of you newbies who are intimidated by us scary people with pin bags, remember you never know who might say yes until you ask. You may get turned down 10 times, but then you meet a big scary looking guy who trades for the fun of it. I have been pin trading for 10+ years and that is why I come down to Disneyland. Just to pin trade. I have met some great people trading in the park. Please don't take it personally if you get turned down, just don't go back to those who are not nice. It is possible to find really nice people (PsychoPixie comes to mind, she has always been fantastic to us outsiders) who are there to have fun and are really easy to trade with. As you acquire more pins to trade it will be easier to trade with more people. We were all newbies at one time or another. Consider it a treasure hunt and have fun.

Thanks for the encouragement I live close to Disneyland and I go all the time, so maybe one day i might decide to come bring my pins and muster up the courage to trade! See you in the parks!

 

[docfish2u]

Thanks for the encouragement I live close to Disneyland and I go all the time, so maybe one day i might decide to come bring my pins and muster up the courage to trade! See you in the parks!

We should be coming back down in the first part of April. You will definitely have to come out then and do some trading. I always have a great time there!!!

 

[shooting4ownhand]

I've had really good luck trading Tangled and Brave pins. Anything tangled is pretty popular. While I love limited edition pins, I trade a lot of rack pins. Depending on the booster set, you can trade for them as well. The new Princess shoes are rather popular. So is the Tangled DLRP pins.

 

[kupo1121]

I would definitely listen to doc's words of fishdom lol xP As of right now Tangled is big, but the long lasting ones that haven't gone out of style in a long time are the one's doc listed. I would definitely stick to buying pins that you absolutely love and if you feel like you never want to let it go, then buy 2 in case. However, if you end up with one pin that you absolutely love and don't want to give up in a trade just consider what pin you are getting in the trade and decide which one you want more.

Just come to the fact that you'll never have all the pins you want (I don't think anyone does), but just try to get as many of the ones you want most