How do you stock up your traders?

[bizliz1]

I live in Norcal and we go to Disneyland maybe once every 2 or 3 months. Every 2 years or so a Disney World trip. The last time we went to DW I got home and kicked myself because I got back into trading but made the mistake of only buying pins I wanted. The few traders I got were from mystery packs. I had a hard time justifying buying pins I didn't want even though there were some good LEs available. So this time when we went down to DL I made sure to buy all the LEs available and stop by DSSH even though there wasn't anything I wanted. Still picked up a few good pins for myself at DL though! Yey! I kind of made myself think, you can always trade these since not everyone has access to them. Even the OEs mean something to someone! So how does everyone else do it?

 

[luckyboyblu]

I buy them off Facebook and ebay from people who have great reviews to avoid scrappers.

 

[Orph]

For those living near WDW, there are several "Character Warehouses" which has Park merch for huge discounts.

 

[mttmilner]

I'm in about 15 different Facebook groups and buy cheap pins from there. I also have a Disney outlet store about 20 minutes from my house so I head over there periodically. Sometimes they have pins for a dollar or two a piece.

 

[Purplemandms]

For those living near WDW, there are several "Character Warehouses" which has Park merch for huge discounts.

That's what my family and I do! Or, well, did. Back when we were really heavy into park trading (and had no idea what a scrapper was,) we would go to the character warehouse where they had pins for $1-$2 each, and would stock up on the parks! There are two in Orlando to my understanding, and one in SoFlo.

 

[Orph]

What you can also do is join the various FB grps...people sell grab bags there...$1 to $2 per pin.

That might help too.

 

[docfish2u]

I look for deals on ebay. I don't buy the cheap fake pins and only try to deal with people I think I can trust. I also trade a lot overseas, it works great for them because they get pins they can't get over there and I get pins we can't get from here. I also spend thousands a year on my traders. It is not a cheap hobby to be involved in.

 

[Jabberwocky]

I would never buy super-cheap pins from ebay, Facebook, Instagram or frankly anywhere other than directly from Disney (or a Disney authorized outlet). You get what you pay for. Buyer beware.

As docfish2u said, this is not a cheap hobby. Real pins, like real anything else, cost money.

 

[MomeRathsOutgrabe]

I live in Southwest Florida, which is a retirement mecca about 2 hours from WDW. So my hands-down favorite way to acquire traders for a good price is by scouring estate sales and auctions. Sometimes I find them mixed in with in bulk lots of costume jewelry.

 

[noone]

As docfish2u said, this is not a cheap hobby. Real pins, like real anything else, cost money.

Okay for some reason this totally tickled my funny bone but i thought you were going to say "Real pins, cost real money" lol, well anyways i found it funny for some reason....:roll:

 

[timeerkat]

Huh, my real pins always cost Monopoly money.

I am lucky enough to live close to DSF and now have access to WDI through a friend, so I can get most of my traders at cost from those two locations.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Okay for some reason this totally tickled my funny bone but i thought you were going to say "Real pins, cost real money" lol, well anyways i found it funny for some reason....:roll:

That too.

 

[JASBG]

I had no idea there are Character Warehouses! Are these all "disnry offical" and what not? Do they usually have pins?

I live in Tampa and have two Disney trips planned in the next month (actually going tomorrow ). Thinking I may stop by on the way.