Reboot: DSF wri~stband info for choc boxes

[Nathan95]

There is a parking lot behind the alley that is about $20 for overnight parking. Some park there, some across the street in the $10 overnight lot, but pretty much everyone blobs around that parking lot. The parking lot guys got pissed last time and then pulled some shady deal where they lead people that paid and stayed in their cars to the front of the line. If that is how it is, then say it. You should have been there for the pixar event when 130 of us watched in disbelief as a non-disney guard from the parking lot lead a line of people to the back of the alley. The people in line didn't say a word to anyone, just put their heads down and walked.

They blocked the front of the alley off, so the only place to go was the back of the alley. So everyone crammed in there. Once it was obvious it was a free for all, everyone moved in and the baby stepping and elbowing ensued. Slowing moving all in. They had 2 lines to go in. one line was 1-75, other line was 76-150. The people the parking guard led got 76-150. I was one of the first to go to the gates once I saw them being led, I wasn't going to to wait for some announcement to commence. I ended up with #33 after I watched people block me and let their friends scutty up the side of the building like cockroaches.

Security told everyone to get back in their cars and nobody did but a select group of people. Security beloved that the people who followed the rules and went back to their cars as we were told to were taken to the front of the line.

 

[Psycho Pixie]

Ok, I really like some of the ideas presented here and I think we need to put together a discussion thread to solidify one idea that everyone agrees would work. THEN we can have someone present it to DSF management.

I shall get to work on the thread.

so far the idea's i have seen are:

• sign in sheet
• ticket under seats
• random starting number

I am not doing it as a poll, as least not to start with, because first off, I am betting more idea's pop up. But also because I really want folks to get in depth with the pro/con of each idea. I have noticed with polls, people don't read the whole OP, just say what they voted without getting into the nitty gritty details.

The topic will post shortly. Gimmie a bit to put it together.

 

[Luis75]

Want to know the best solution, Do not announce releases, do like they did the jessica calendar, POOF its released. then would of mouth will spread and there will be no chaos whatsoever. people will come in, buy their pins and leave simple as that

I've said this ALL ALONG. I know it sounds unfair but if you REALLY think about it, it's fair to EVERYONE. No one gets to know when or what is released. Just take out your pins on a random Thursday or whatever and that's it. They will sell out. They aren't gonna loose business. If anything it's a better business plan because you don't have to pay security to keep an eye on us all night saving you money.

Whatever you all decide to do let me just say this: NO UNOFFICIAL LINE. You will have the BIGGEST fight in pin trading history on your hands. I've death with this before. A group decides this is the line, another group who thinks they will miss it takes their chances at running to the front. The group complains. DSF says hey we said no unofficial line. Fights break out. Managers are yelled at. Chaos. Don't even THINK about it.

We all want these pins for every reason. Most to resell or trade up to get better stuff (be honest) and those few to keep. Whatever the case, in the end of the day it's first come first serve like mentioned before. I know that in a perfect world the person who can't run across the street to line up should have a fair shot but when has anything in life been fair. Just because it's Disney doesn't mean it HAS TO BE fair. Line up and hope that someday they change the procedure for the better. If not, make sure your shoes are on tight and be prepared for anything. Sad but true.

 

[Luis75]

Ok, I really like some of the ideas presented here and I think we need to put together a discussion thread to solidify one idea that everyone agrees would work. THEN we can have someone present it to DSF management.

I shall get to work on the thread.

so far the idea's i have seen are:

• sign in sheet
• ticket under seats
• random starting number

I am not doing it as a poll, as least not to start with, because first off, I am betting more idea's pop up. But also because I really want folks to get in depth with the pro/con of each idea. I have noticed with polls, people don't read the whole OP, just say what they voted without getting into the nitty gritty details.

The topic will post shortly. Gimmie a bit to put it together.

Con to each of these ideas: No matter what you have to camp out for something whether it's getting into a theatre, grabbing a sign up sheet, or getting a ticket with a random number.

The solution must have one FUNDAMENTAL idea behind it. IT MUST NOT REQUIRE A CAMP OUT. Whoever thinks of that...wins hahaha

Like I said before and I'll say again. Random releases. Only solution I can think of.

 

[dis22]

Yep, like I said as well...NEVER ANNOUNCE THE RELEASES. I've heard the same problems for every release....waiting days in an alley, tension in line, cutting in line, etc. This is an accident waiting to happen. Everybody sees it. You're in the middle of Hollywood...in an ally...at night...some with kids...for days. I'm not concerned about arguments among pin people. I'm more concerned with some type of crazy drunk/drunks walking by after closing time and looking for trouble. I'm shocked that DSF doesn't do something to at least eliminate overnights to happen. There has to be a way. The same people will by in large end up getting the pins...whether they do an online sign up or distribute the wristbands as soon as 150 are in line.

 

[fortune]

Im kinda curious is everyone whos going planning to buy all four or is anyone going for just the UP or just the Tangled? I myself like the of them picking names out of a hat for who can buy them. That way no one waits in line! I also think they should limit how many you can by to 1 per person I get some people may want to keep 1 trade 1 but when those trades are being price gauged it makes it VERY hard for the actual collectors

 

[wyllieam]

Want to know the best solution, Do not announce releases, do like they did the jessica calendar, POOF its released. then would of mouth will spread and there will be no chaos whatsoever. people will come in, buy their pins and leave simple as that

agreed

 

[H2454]

I like the idea of camp out whenever you feel like it. Bathroom only open the night prior to distribution.

 

[Luis75]

Im kinda curious is everyone whos going planning to buy all four or is anyone going for just the UP or just the Tangled? I myself like the of them picking names out of a hat for who can buy them. That way no one waits in line! I also think they should limit how many you can by to 1 per person I get some people may want to keep 1 trade 1 but when those trades are being price gauged it makes it VERY hard for the actual collectors

It doesn't matter if pins go to actual collectors or resellers. Pins go to whoever is there. Remember, money drives this hobby and if we think that trying to bring down prices by cutting out "fake collectors" will be a solution it will never happen. I collect watches and books and trust me, its all about the $$$ in every hobby. If it wasn't it wouldn't be worth collecting.

 

[matt24256]

The problem with not announcing releases is that they have a business to run. Take this release for example. Say they do a surprise release at 4:00 today. All of a sudden they have to deal with 200+ people scrambling to get there (once its posted on the forums) and their phone lines being swamped. All that and trying to run the food / movie side of the business. Their normal business day would come to a stand still. At least with these early morning releases its a little bit of controlled craziness before the rest of the store gets going.

 

[dis22]

But with surprise releases people will show up more often at the store to see if there's anything new...and buy more. It's actually better business for them. As it is now, a majority of the people at the releases only go to DSF for a release.

 

[drb195]

The problem with not announcing releases is that they have a business to run. Take this release for example. Say they do a surprise release at 4:00 today. All of a sudden they have to deal with 200+ people scrambling to get there (once its posted on the forums) and their phone lines being swamped. All that and trying to run the food / movie side of the business. Their normal business day would come to a stand still. At least with these early morning releases its a little bit of controlled craziness before the rest of the store gets going.

This is not really a problem, because if the management knows the release info, they will staff the store accordingly. Not only that, theater staff and store staff are two different entities. Theater business would actually be less intruded because of the lack of a line.

 

[Psycho Pixie]

thread posted!!

a better bright dsf line up idea <<linked.

 

[bombardon3]

Whatever you all decide to do let me just say this: NO UNOFFICIAL LINE. You will have the BIGGEST fight in pin trading history on your hands. I've death with this before. A group decides this is the line, another group who thinks they will miss it takes their chances at running to the front. The group complains. DSF says hey we said no unofficial line. Fights break out. Managers are yelled at. Chaos. Don't even THINK about it.

I agree, the unofficial lines never work. I was just suggesting we arrange a place to meet up be it Hooters or the parking lot if the attendants are OK with it. It'd give us something to do while we wait since I'm pretty sure most people will arrive before 6. Also we would have strength in numbers in case someone pushed their way up front. The word of all of us will carry more weight in getting someone that cut removed. I would also suggest everyone get their phones out and start recording so we have video to help identify any pushers and shovers to security.

 

[ashkai]

I disagree that people would buy more at the DSF if there were random releases.

I've looked in stores for specific things before (whether monster high dolls for my niece or what have you) but if they don't have what I'm looking for then I just leave. Most of those stores are multi purpose stores to where you could buy things for the house, groceries, etc.

DSF is much more specialised than that. People come in for something specific. Its not there. What will happen, most likely, is people will just start to get upset and/or discouraged and stop coming by the DSF.

 

[peterpanfan]

The raffle idea was discussed, but their most loyal customers who have been there from day one years ago hate that idea as they feel the re-sellers would all show up for the drawing and the true collector would really suffer...

I may not be near DSF (or in the USA for that matter :lol: ) BUT... I defiantly agree with Moe here, if you had a raffle you could end up rewarding some of the people who push, shuv and abuse others and people who have only waited patiently ending up with nothing... :/

 

[markheardjr]

I'd say surprise releases would be ok, if only the DSF staff could keep quiet shut about it. Too much info leaked to people already for me to trust that method. Also, I'm tired of seeing a PTD sell out 10 minutes before closing and a CM all the sudden has 5-10 new ones before everyone else. I know they would sell out 1000 Rapunzel's. At $18 a pop that's a grip of money for them. And it won't be such an insance scramble. Why on earth do you make a LE500 Ray for PatF PTD but LE300 Rapunzel? Why? If anything, the Rapunzel should be like 750.

Also, to the person saying do online and require a drivers license. The sharks have already told DSF what they would do. They'd sign up fake people, and then go themselves in the stand by line. I suppose the only way to do that is to draw past the 150, say draw 200 names, but tell the 50 outsiders they may not get the pins. Then the 2nd chance is after that. But still enough people signing up bogus names and the process is only a partial fix. But still better. I mean, if we can all mad dash at 6pm Thursday, why not just say the mad dash is 7am Friday? or 7am Saturday? Why make it 6pm thursday? Are they hoping to scare away people not willing to spend the night? I don't get it. RSP works for the parks, make it work for DSF.

Here's a random idea that just popped up in my head, shoot holes at it. Make everyone go to DSF and register for a DSF shopper number. Then make a site where they sign up with their DSF shopper number. Then RSP the shopper numbers. Check the list of names to make sure people don't sign up multiple times. Like a AP RSP or D23 RSP but for DSF.

I think DSF likes the pins to sell out and then people that don't get pins buy other stuff instead. I know I get books, shirts, hats, keychains, etc at DSF sometimes. I mean, I just made a trip here for what? Usually I get a PTD everytime too just to make sure I get a LE pin for my effort.

 

[fortune]

It doesn't matter if pins go to actual collectors or resellers. Pins go to whoever is there. Remember, money drives this hobby and if we think that trying to bring down prices by cutting out "fake collectors" will be a solution it will never happen. I collect watches and books and trust me, its all about the $$$ in every hobby. If it wasn't it wouldn't be worth collecting.

oh yes I am well aware. As a matter of fact I have told multiple people the same thing. It doesnt matter to the business who buys them as long as it gets bought my idea was also not to drop the price by any means at all! It was simply to spread the amount of people who would get them. Trust me the chocolate boxes would sell out if the were 2 per person or 1 per person but at 1 per person more people, thus more TRUE collectors would get them

I'd say surprise releases would be ok, if only the DSF staff could keep quiet shut about it. Too much info leaked to people already for me to trust that method. Also, I'm tired of seeing a PTD sell out 10 minutes before closing and a CM all the sudden has 5-10 new ones before everyone else. I know they would sell out 1000 Rapunzel's. At $18 a pop that's a grip of money for them. And it won't be such an insance scramble. Why on earth do you make a LE500 Ray for PatF PTD but LE300 Rapunzel? Why? If anything, the Rapunzel should be like 750. Also, to the person saying do online and require a drivers license. The sharks have already told DSF what they would do. They'd sign up fake people, and then go themselves in the stand by line. I suppose the only way to do that is to draw past the 150, say draw 200 names, but tell the 50 outsiders they may not get the pins. Then the 2nd chance is after that. But still enough people signing up bogus names and the process is only a partial fix. But still better. I mean, if we can all mad dash at 6pm Thursday, why not just say the mad dash is 7am Friday? or 7am Saturday? Why make it 6pm thursday? Are they hoping to scare away people not willing to spend the night? I don't get it. RSP works for the parks, make it work for DSF. Here's a random idea that just popped up in my head, shoot holes at it. Make everyone go to DSF and register for a DSF shopper number. Then make a site where they sign up with their DSF shopper number. Then RSP the shopper numbers. Check the list of names to make sure people don't sign up multiple times. Like a AP RSP or D23 RSP but for DSF. I think DSF likes the pins to sell out and then people that don't get pins buy other stuff instead. I know I get books, shirts, hats, keychains, etc at DSF sometimes. I mean, I just made a trip here for what? Usually I get a PTD everytime too just to make sure I get a LE pin for my effort.

I may be a bit naive/optimistic but I agree with everything you just said

 

[dis22]

Curious. To those that go to these releases, is it usually the same people in the first 150 in line? What percentage are the same people? 50%? 75%? 90+%?

 

[markheardjr]

Curious. To those that go to these releases, is it usually the same people in the first 150 in line? What percentage are the same people? 50%? 75%? 90+%?

I'd guess 50% come to every release. 20% come to the releases they want (see them often but not all the time), and 25% come when there's money to be made. If there is no money to be made, then that 25% doesn't come and the pins go to the rack. In that original 50% I'd say 75% of them keep one and sell one. The remaining 25% of the "always show up" 50% maybe picks up for friends or puts them in the trade books.

 

[H2454]

I see the same 1-50 in line, usually.

 

[Boogieman]

Curious. To those that go to these releases, is it usually the same people in the first 150 in line? What percentage are the same people? 50%? 75%? 90+%?

From what I have seen it used to be the same first group because they would show up at the same time due to work etc. Now, that campouts have been so crazy, it really does vary.

 

[PinHunters]

I've said this ALL ALONG. I know it sounds unfair but if you REALLY think about it, it's fair to EVERYONE. No one gets to know when or what is released. Just take out your pins on a random Thursday or whatever and that's it. They will sell out. They aren't gonna loose business. If anything it's a better business plan because you don't have to pay security to keep an eye on us all night saving you money.

Whatever you all decide to do let me just say this: NO UNOFFICIAL LINE. You will have the BIGGEST fight in pin trading history on your hands. I've death with this before. A group decides this is the line, another group who thinks they will miss it takes their chances at running to the front. The group complains. DSF says hey we said no unofficial line. Fights break out. Managers are yelled at. Chaos. Don't even THINK about it.

We all want these pins for every reason. Most to resell or trade up to get better stuff (be honest) and those few to keep. Whatever the case, in the end of the day it's first come first serve like mentioned before. I know that in a perfect world the person who can't run across the street to line up should have a fair shot but when has anything in life been fair. Just because it's Disney doesn't mean it HAS TO BE fair. Line up and hope that someday they change the procedure for the better. If not, make sure your shoes are on tight and be prepared for anything. Sad but true.

The problem with this is that yeah sure everyone has to scramble to get the pins they want but it's fairer for people closer to DSF. We live super close to DLR so we have to travel, not much, but still enough where pins might still sell out. The reason they don't do that is because these are not only releases that go along with movies being played at the theater (which is a boost of advertisement, per se) but because it actually gives people a chance to plan out WAY AHEAD OF TIME if they can make it or not. Granted, sometimes you will not be able to make it and sometimes you will - it's not their job to make so that everyone can make it.

And yes, they are sellers and people that just go to sell pins and make profit out of them. Who REALLY cares what people do with their pins? We particularly don't like a guy that we (and I'm sure most people) know only goes to sell his pins (though we dislike him for very rude comments, not so much his selling habits), but at the end of the day those are his pins - he put the time in for them and he can do as he pleases with them.

We do agree that this unofficial line thing is going to be chaotic (and if you ask help for security - they will blatantly tell you there is no line (only that wristbands are being given out) because that saves them from being liable). They just turn the other way and are (in the business side) simply unaware that there are lines despite knowing that we're all here for the pins (wristbands). And even if 150 people show up it isn't fair to give out the wristbands before the allotted time because then they'll be liable for giving out 150 way before the actual time posted (so if 150 people leave and then more people come unaware of the fact that all of them are gone and then camp out - we will get people that complain).

I agree, the unofficial lines never work. I was just suggesting we arrange a place to meet up be it Hooters or the parking lot if the attendants are OK with it. It'd give us something to do while we wait since I'm pretty sure most people will arrive before 6. Also we would have strength in numbers in case someone pushed their way up front. The word of all of us will carry more weight in getting someone that cut removed. I would also suggest everyone get their phones out and start recording so we have video to help identify any pushers and shovers to security.

Although arranging to meet up at Hooters sounds like a great idea, we don't know many of you guys (we do have a few number of friends and find most of you friendly) and a lot of people aren't necessary members of the forum so if you plan to make that group as 'first' in line or rather a number of people (however big or small) that will tell someone (here on the forum or not) that you guys get first because you all decided to arrange a predetermined spot it isn't going to work and more chaos MIGHT happen.

 

[PinHunters]

Curious. To those that go to these releases, is it usually the same people in the first 150 in line? What percentage are the same people? 50%? 75%? 90+%?

We typically only come if it is going to our collection or if we can trade these for pins that will go for our collection, but we almost always see the same people in the front of the line and always meet some nice people (new to pin trading or not).

 

[bombardon3]

Although arranging to meet up at Hooters sounds like a great idea, we don't know many of you guys (we do have a few number of friends and find most of you friendly) and a lot of people aren't necessary members of the forum so if you plan to make that group as 'first' in line or rather a number of people (however big or small) that will tell someone (here on the forum or not) that you guys get first because you all decided to arrange a predetermined spot it isn't going to work and more chaos MIGHT happen.

It would be more to socialize, trade, and kill time before 6pm. There would be no expectation that we'd be first in line. If the resellers are coming with a dozen or so of their friends why shouldnt DPF members roll deep