:(

[rik1138]

There are a lot of people that missed this release because locals called all their friends. The word was kept quiet and in no time the line was full. I heard plenty of people there telling me about the random non-trading people that didn't even know what DSF was or had ever been there. They were just told to ask for Kevin. So the few that live close found out, the info wasn't posted on FB, the pin listed on eBay wasn't immediate. I have an alarm on my phone for "pin trader delight" and it didn't pop up until my first text message about it which was at 1:11pm yesterday. The release was kept mum just so the locals could make as much money off it as they could.

I got the hint from a post here at 12:45 and confirmed it at 1:05... But that was in a wanted thread in the sale section, so it probably wouldn't have been seen as quickly. Then the 'official' thread started a few minutes later. When I was in the store a few minutes after 12:45, Patty was still changing out Lilo with the Kevin pin in the display case, so it couldn't have been available for too long prior to that...

My point was though, that Kevin PTD simulated very well what an All surprise release would be like. Locals find out, no info is posted, all pins are spoken for in a matter of hours with 300+ people cramming into Hollywood.

If it's a surprise release, there's probably no way to announce it where this wouldn't be the case. Forum, DSF website, FB, etc, it's still the locals that will get there first. I admit, I'm one of them (on weekdays), that's the only way I was able to get the pin at all. If it came out on a weekend, I'd have missed it completely myself since I don't spend a lot of time on the internet on the weekends.

continue to attract people looking to make a non-taxable/reportable buck.

Keep in mind, as of last year the non-taxable argument won't be an issue anymore. eBay/PayPal are now reporting the money made off auctions sales to the IRS if you reach a certain amount. If you are selling more than $1500/month worth of anything on eBay (and at least 200 transactions a year), the IRS will know. Doesn't affect small-time sellers, but anyone making a _living_ off of selling on eBay now has to report it all...

Of course there's other ways to arrange sales, but most of their profit is from eBay sales, so a lot of that will be changing soon.

 

[Lamorak]

I don't think there are very many altruistic and noble people who would not first confirm the Kevin release rumors, prior to informing all their friends. Nor do I believe these same people would not attempt to secure their place in line before ensuring one for themselves or friends. I would even go so far to say that I would not act any differently myself. It's human nature to be a little greedy and nearly everyone is going to use their advantage to acquire an LE item.

I think it is unfair to attack and accuse members of willful malice and those that do so often find themselves ostracized from the group. Not a threat; just an observation.

 

[Nathan95]

Nathan it is very clear that there were members there with several "extra" people that were being used as mules. While I do not know you personally I have read your 101 list so I feel that I do know some things about you which makes me feel like I do know you. Because you are a part of a group that "looks out for one another" you will never feel what we the outsiders feel on a regular basis. Because of that you cannot possibly imagine what a slap in the face that comment alone feels like. You are saying "WE" all help each other out, while the rest of you can just suck it, pay up or like most of us feel like we are outsiders looking into a group of back slapping friends that continuously say good for us and screw the rest of you.

I never said we all help each other out, I said we all look out for each other. When something big like this goes down we inform our friends, people we know that need the pin or we just spread the word in general. Clearly that didn't happen with this one. The person that normally gets the first word is either Gis or Steve, neither of those two gentlemen would hold that kind of secret to themselves.

. The comment about us looking out for each other was taken the wrong way. I meant that in the sense that calls would have been given out but because this one was a storm waiting to happen some people might have suggested that it would have been better to keep it low key instead of causing a bum rush at DSF

 

[Molly]

@ Rik regarding ebay/taxes..... that is why people are here selling at ebay prices instead of there. This site isnt reporting anything and Paypal cannot report payments sent as gifts which 99.999 % of seller REQUIRE to buy pins from them here. Which of course attract even more sharks to this group.

 

[rik1138]

I don't think there are very many altruistic and noble people who would not first confirm the Kevin release rumors, prior to informing all their friends. Nor do I believe these same people would not attempt to secure their place in line before ensuring one for themselves or friends. I would even go so far to say that I would not act any differently myself. It's human nature to be a little greedy and nearly everyone is going to use their advantage to acquire an LE item.

Well, that is exactly what I did... Someone saw it on eBay and asked about it, so I went down to the DSF to check it out... As soon as I saw Patty putting the pin in the display I posted here that the pin was out. _Then_ I walked over to the counter to buy one (only one person there at that time). While waiting I texted someone else that specifically asked me to do that for this release months ago...

I then sold the one pin I got to the person that brought it to my attention here for exactly what I paid for it...

Might be why I didn't mind sharing the info- I don't sell the pins for a profit. I have easy access to the store during the day so I just buy things for others here that can't make it... I don't even collect PTDs. I eBay pins occasionally, but I don't buy them for that purpose...

 

[ILuvAriel922]

Imagine how I feel...6000 miles away in NY? No one helps me, no one calls me...instead if I want a pin my wallet and bank account suffer for it because all the Cali people "look out" for each other and each still somehow manage to get "handfuls" of a pin that was limited to 1 per person. In my opinion, you can only claim someone isn't greedy if they were satisfied with 1 of the pin. If you have 10 people on line with you to get 10 copes of a particular pin than your straight greedy and you should wear your title with pride as the greedy, money-hungry, opportunist you are. Nuff' said.

 

[beeatingu]

People in Cali do not look out for each other. On the contrary, some people make sure that people who will have 10 people with them don't show up!

I mean, we can call our friends who live close by but what good would it be to call someone out of state for a release like this? No one can just fly over here? I dint mean to target anyone with this/ that comment. I can see how it would make a difference if it were an online release, then a call would make sense.

Any state that you live in, the designer villains came out online and. I didn't see the out of Cali people looking to help out anyone either. So it isn't just Califorinia people who are money hungry. It is whoever had access to pins that will make you money! LOL

 

[Jrdnsmom]

Have you ever been a part of something but never really felt like you actually "fit in"? Have you ever put forth your best effort, but still came up short? Well, that's exactly how I feel right now. Like so many people on this forum, we don't live near DLR or DSF. Some may consider us "local" since we are from SoCal, and although we are closer that many, we have the unfair disadvantage of being so close, yet so far. We live only 10 minutes from the US border. The commute to DLR alone is about 1.45 hours (with no traffic) and to DSF is about 2.15 hours (without traffic). However, when is there never any traffic in LA on the way to Hollywood?!?

Anyways, my hubby got the heads up text about the Kevin PTD today from our friend Kim. Since our little ones have modified days at school on Tuesdays, it seemed like a good idea to head up there to try and get the pin. We headed up there just before 2pm and got to DSF at about 4:40 or so... Sadly, the realization came that they were just about to sell out and it did! We stayed in line anyways and ordered the ice cream that we came all the way up for. We had dinner at In & Out and then headed back home.

On the way back home, my hubby and I agreed that it sucks to be so close, yet still so far. It seems that it will be more cost effective for us to just buy the pins that we want, going forward. Most likely will have to be in the secondary market, which sometimes sucks! We definitely won't get the 8 hours back that we spent on our journey to obtain Kevin on Tuesday. The last release that we might try to make is the upcoming BT release. This one is making me very nervous since there are already so many people pre-selling and pre-trading them. Anyways, I'm very glad to have met some nice people on here and others that are not so nice too! Lol

Happy pin trading all! Thanks for letting me vent! Hopefully DSF comes up with either a higher LE or online registration system or something. I personally think there's a lot of sharks now swimming in the ocean and it's getting too crowded up in here! Lol

Don't feel bad at least u made it to the "line" lol I live only 45 min, when I saw the post I jumped in the van picked up hiddeb miki and raced there only to be halfway there and found out it had been sold out already "face palm" anyway I didn't even get to buy a PTD because there were no more pins at all, but I did run into Ozzie and some other amazing Members all at one table, loved seeing all you. And at least got to see it in person, may I say wow!

 

[kupo1121]

I'm really sorry you didn't make it thel. You aren't alone either I'm afraid as jrdnsmom said and so have others in the Kevin thread. There were a bunch of people who were on their way to DSF when she sold out so I'm really sorry about that

Look at the bright side, at least you can go really early and at least have a chance at getting the BT's next month ^_^ People outside of CA don't even stand a chance at that haha

Dear Friend, I like you find myself in the sameposition. Living in Northern Ca a full 7+hours away from the ability topurchase what should be a reasonably priced hobby/collectors item. I also am ofthe opinion that while there are some very very VERY nice people thatare members on this board there are others that simply use it as a fee freeebay right on down to "matching" ebay prices as if they were doing usa favor. Well I like most of you can use a computer so if I want to/can affordto pay ebay prices that is where I will be doing that from today forward.

I can definitely see where you are coming from with this and I can't help but agree (I don't usually give +### posts, but if I did, I would definitely + this quite a bit!).

I cannot say that people on DPF don't look out for each other, and by "each other" I mean "everyone." Did anyone read rik's post? Rik ALWAYS buys pins and resells them at cost plus shipping. He doesn't make judgments or hold it for a specific person unless they asked months in advance like with Kevin. He doesn't care who you are as long as he knows it is going to a good home who will love the pin and I would say that he looks out for everyone. His case isn't alone either, there are numerous people here who picked up Kevins for zaps or to resell at cost here to many Up collectors (I don't want to name names as I don't recall if some of them are supposed to be surprises haha but you know who you are ;D).

However, I completely agree that while there are those who even sell them for a small amount of profit (hey, it is their time, I can understand wanting a little bit of profit, maybe $20-$40 profit) there are others who are hoarding the pin or selling it at Ebay costs (maybe $10 more or less than Ebay prices) and trying to pass it off as if they aren't anywhere as bad as Ebay sellers when it reality, they are exactly like Ebay resellers down to the decimal point. I don't want to start unnecessary drama, but sometimes the phrase "look out for each other" and things like that brings me back to the memories of those who aren't in this for helping each other out at all, but those who can only be friends when they are on the winning side of the trade.

Imagine how I feel...6000 miles away in NY? No one helps me, no one calls me...instead if I want a pin my wallet and bank account suffer for it because all the Cali people "look out" for each other and each still somehow manage to get "handfuls" of a pin that was limited to 1 per person. In my opinion, you can only claim someone isn't greedy if they were satisfied with 1 of the pin. If you have 10 people on line with you to get 10 copes of a particular pin than your straight greedy and you should wear your title with pride as the greedy, money-hungry, opportunist you are. Nuff' said.

I'm in NJ so we are nearly within 100 miles of each other haha but I can see where your coming from. However, if someone did text you that the Kevin PTD was released, how would that have exactly helped you? In fact, if I were in CA, I wouldn't have texted you because I wouldn't have wanted you to misinterpret that text as me bragging. Let's face it, it is physically impossible for you to do anything with that text besides get on DPF and PM everyone or just wallow in the fact that you can't get the pin seeing as it is only in CA. Same thing goes for anyone who isn't located in CA. For those not by parks though, being told about surprise releases doesn't really help all that much. Now being told about online sales are a completely different thing since everyone can get those, but DSF, DLR, and WDW surprise releases can't really help us out too much I'm afraid. Maybe one day if we move closer to one of those places it will, but at the moment, it can't do anything

However, there are still people in Cali who look out for others not in Cali. Heck, with what rik just said it can't be stated that only the Cali people look out for other Cali people. I have been on the receiving end of many times when people in Cali were looking out for me as well. Also, I don't think many people here got handfuls of the pin, I can only recall I think 1 person on this site who apparently has handfuls according to eye witnesses, but they may be a unique case in this moment of "greed" if it's true ^_^

 

[markheardjr]

I also am ofthe opinion that while there are some very very VERY nice people thatare members on this board there are others that simply use it as a fee freeebay right on down to "matching" ebay prices as if they were doing usa favor. Well I like most of you can use a computer so if I want to/can affordto pay ebay prices that is where I will be doing that from today forward.

My rule is if it's on eBay and I want to sell it here, the max I will ask is 10% lower than eBay sold price. Because that one that sold lost 10% to eBay and 3% to Paypal. Be fair, people will like you more and will remember and reward generosity. I think anyways.

There are also members on this forum that go to lenths beyond what I would do to acquire pins and then auction them off on here. They usually get bids above and beyond what the pin is worth yet get hailed a hero for auctioning it to DPF members. Um, they are taking advantage of both you and the system. Why are they heroic again? (I know I know, be nice, don't poke the bear...)

 

[kupo1121]

There are also members on this forum that go to lenths beyond what I would do to acquire pins and then auction them off on here. They usually get bids above and beyond what the pin is worth yet get hailed a hero for auctioning it to DPF members. Um, they are taking advantage of both you and the system. Why are they heroic again? (I know I know, be nice, don't poke the bear...)

In their defense, they are auctioning off this great pin at a risk for themselves. I mean, on the off chance that the highest bid is an HM (it'll never happen though), they have to trade away that great DSF pin for the HM pin. So I think people, like myself, commend them for two reasons:

- They are willing to risk their pin on anything, even things they don't want, to give the pin to someone else
- It helps those people who can't afford to buy the pin for $100 but happen to have a bunch of spare pins lying around that they don't want but others like

I mean, in the end, it shouldn't be the auctioneer who is blamed, but the highest bidder for creating such a great bid. Same thing when pins sell for so much on Ebay. Don't blame the auctioneer for excepting $1,800 for a Rapunzel R/C, blame the top bidder who, because they bid $1,800 on it, now jacked up the prices of all the other Rapunzel R/C's to minimum $1,500.

 

[Nathan95]

There are also members on this forum that go to lenths beyond what I would do to acquire pins and then auction them off on here. They usually get bids above and beyond what the pin is worth yet get hailed a hero for auctioning it to DPF members. Um, they are taking advantage of both you and the system. Why are they heroic again? (I know I know, be nice, don't poke the bear...)

+1,000,000
I got to agree with you on that one

 

[Shannon]

5 months away and I come back to this!! Same ol same ol!

 

[Nathan95]

5 months away and I come back to this!! Same ol same ol!

It's actually gotten worse

 

[Shannon]

It's actually gotten worse

OMG Kiddo, I see that, I don't know whats going on!! Maybe I came back too soon!

 

[Nathan95]

OMG Kiddo, I see that, I don't know whats going on!! Maybe I came back too soon!

Don't let it deter you from being a part of this forum. It's still home but things just have gotten rough

 

[Thel91]

I had a feeling this thread would stir some drama. While I do agree with a lot of different points made here, my main point was probably overlooked.

Simply put, this hobby has become increasingly tainted. In our case, we realize that since we are "close, yet so far", it just makes more sense to simply forego any subsequent releases and just buy the pins that we want to purchase.

Thank you to everyone that empathized and understood my whole "rant".

Mods ~ please close this thread. Thank you!

 

[Mali87]

Aw, Thelma *big big hugs* I felt terrible yesterday I saw you two in line and wanted you guys to get one so badly. Dan showed up too late (45 minutes after I got there) and so didn't get an extra When he came there was already 27 people in line behind me and I told him not to bother getting in line because I didn't think even I would get one. You and your family are hands down awesome. You guys are some of the kindest pin traders that I know and I absolutely LOVE seeing and chatting with you at the releases. Chin up and stay positive, I know getting pins at cost can be a supremely frustrating process sometimes, just don't give up *more big hugs* :hug:

+1,000,000,000 What Mrs. Aquata said! I was so bummed to hear u guys didn't get Kevin either I know it's been frustrating as of late with trading and resellers and all that gunk, as I feel that pain too, but a really good side effect of this hobby is that is teaches patience I know in time u'll get the pins u want, as all of us will... depending on the Pingods and the timing. Who know u didn't get Kevin... but maybe this means ur gonna get a super duper crazy awesome epic princess pin... or 3 :rofl: and even so.... I wish that upon u... so there... hehe!

U guys are super awesome peeps and I really hope this doesn't completely discourage u from trading in the future.... who are Aquata and I going to chat with during the campouts?! *whines* LOL

BIG :hug:'s and we'll hopefully see u soon at the BT release

 

[dancecats]

And this thread has reached and exceeded its drama quotient. Thread closing, both at request of starter and before infractions become necessary.