DSF Pins: Buy Now or Wait to Trade?

[raikipins]

Is it better to buy DSF LE pins soon after they release (like a week - 2 months after)? Or is it more worth it to try to trade for them at a later time (6 months - a year or longer)?

I don't live near DSSH, so I can't pick these pins up myself, but I've seen people doing pick-ups for around $22-$35 (or more) depending on the pin. Are these prices likely to be the cheapest you'll ever see them for?

I'd rather trade for them, but the thing is, I don't have any LE traders at the moment, and by the time I do, I'm afraid the pins I want will become impossible to find and really expensive. I don't want to feel like I've missed out on these pins.

Of course, the question of buying them now wouldn't be an issue if my budget wasn't $25 or less for a single pin. Unfortunately, I tend to like the more popular characters, like Vanellope. -__-

If this makes a difference, the pins I have in mind are the Big Hero 6 pins from the November 7th release. I'm actually a little terrified of more BH6 pins being released from DSSH because I'm gonna want them and they probably won't be going for less than $30.

 

[twintraders]

We're in the same situation. Not near a park, and we mostly have to rely on friendly people to pick us up the pins we want! And it's hard to get traders when you pay extra for pins just to get one in the first place. I think it really depends on the pins/release, but $22-35 from what I've seen is pretty good. I've seen a lot of people charge way more than that. I feel lucky anytime I can get a pin under $40.


Also right after releases the prices tend to go way up, then a few months later they cheapen out. We like to get them right away if we can.


(Now these are just our experiences recently and I tend to want the frozen pins which are popular at the moment.)

 

[raikipins]

I think it really depends on the pins/release, but $22-35 from what I've seen is pretty good. I've seen a lot of people charge way more than that. I feel lucky anytime I can get a pin under $40.

It is, isn't it? I agree with you, a pin under $40 is decent. I just wish I were willing to pay that $30, but I personally haven't managed to justify spending that amount on a single pin quite yet. Which does not bode well for future (or current) pin endeavors...D:


But anyway...I guess it's probably better to get a pin as soon as possible?

 

[twintraders]

It is, isn't it? I agree with you, a pin under $40 is decent. I just wish I were willing to pay that $30, but I personally haven't managed to justify spending that amount on a single pin quite yet. Which does not bode well for future (or current) pin endeavors...D:


But anyway...I guess it's probably better to get a pin as soon as possible?

I know, it's hard to think about spending that much money on something so small. That's why we only buy the ones we really want, and no extras for trade. I prefer to get them asap just because I don't like the uncertainty and waiting.

Like I said I think it really depends on the pin for how easily you can get it at a later date. Good luck with whatever pins you're wanting!

 

[raikipins]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[jazzytrumpet]

Is it better to buy DSF LE pins soon after they release (like a week - 2 months after)? Or is it more worth it to try to trade for them at a later time (6 months - a year or longer)?

I don't live near DSSH, so I can't pick these pins up myself, but I've seen people doing pick-ups for around $22-$35 (or more) depending on the pin. Are these prices likely to be the cheapest you'll ever see them for?

I'd rather trade for them, but the thing is, I don't have any LE traders at the moment, and by the time I do, I'm afraid the pins I want will become impossible to find and really expensive. I don't want to feel like I've missed out on these pins.

Of course, the question of buying them now wouldn't be an issue if my budget wasn't $25 or less for a single pin. Unfortunately, I tend to like the more popular characters, like Vanellope. -__-

If this makes a difference, the pins I have in mind are the Big Hero 6 pins from the November 7th release. I'm actually a little terrified of more BH6 pins being released from DSSH because I'm gonna want them and they probably won't be going for less than $30.

if you can get the pins you want for around $22-35 each, that would probably be the way to go. If you want to trade for those pins, most likely you'll end up spending the $22-35 on trader pins anyways just to get those pins. and there would be no guarantee that your traders would get you the pins you want.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Here's the thing - I am pretty local to DSF - and to buy a pin there costs me say $16.95 plus tax plus $2 parking if I park at H&H plus when gas was most expensive almost $10 in gas to get there (now more like $7 in gas). So an average pin, directly from DSF, costs me almost $30 to go and get. And that doesn't count the couple of hours of my time waiting in line to try to get one. If you're getting DSF pins for less than $30, then it's cheaper than if I go and get one directly myself!

Just some perspective from a local collector.

 

[raikipins]

if you can get the pins you want for around $22-35 each, that would probably be the way to go. If you want to trade for those pins, most likely you'll end up spending the $22-35 on trader pins anyways just to get those pins. and there would be no guarantee that your traders would get you the pins you want.

True.

What would you recommend for pins costing over $40?

 

[shooting4ownhand]

True.

What would you recommend for pins costing over $40?

Depending on the character, the pin could go up in price in the future.

You could wait it out and see what comes up on ebay. If it's not a popular character and there is an auction, you could get pins that generally sell for $40 for less. I've gotten pins for $15 that normally sell for double just because people didn't find the auction.

 

[starry_solo]

It is all going to depend on the character. DSF has increased the price of pins lately although the cats release at 12.95/pin is the cheapest I have seen.

there are a lot of resellers now trying to make a quick buck at DSF so there are deals to be had if you're patient and it's not a popular character

 

[tiggeriffic]

Almost any DSSH LE pin that you can get for $25 or less is a pretty good deal if it's something you want. If you want one of the popular pins it's not very likely you'll get it for that price, but maybe you can save up for the ones you really reaaalllllly want and pay a bit more.

If it was as easy as parking on the street and just going into the shop to buy the pin, some of us would be happy to do that for fellow collectors but as Jabberwocky mentioned above, it's kind of a hassle going there. Add to that the fact that they usually only allow one pin per customer and if it's a pin we want, then it goes straight into our collections rather than become available to someone else. And those lines. They are often very long and usually move very slowly. I've been there and seen the line and just gone home a couple of times.

It would be really nice if those of us who live near DSSH, one of the parks here or overseas, etc. could set up some kind of at-cost pick up and just trade/buy that way. I know someone here does that for DLR but I don't hear much about anyone else doing it. Maybe it happens and I just don't know about it.

 

[bcol]

My advice is if you see something you like, buy it before it's not around anymore (remember those Beloved Tales pins for $25? :banghead: ). I am in a similar situation. They haven't built the new Disney Park in NJ yet so I rely on my friends here on DPF and the bay to get what I need. I don't have the option of standing in line. It's a crapshoot. You will always wish you did what you didn't do. Good luck!

 

[Ninpin]

I buy the ones that are for my absolute must have(s) collections as soon as possible. Sometimes the prices go up later, sometimes they go down, so it's really a gamble but hey, it makes me happy. That being said, I used to do the whole pre-sale thing and spend way more than I had to when I wanted something badly, but now (unless the price is really good) I just wait a couple of days to see what the prices look like after the fact. I've saved money avoiding the hyped up pre-sales lately. Sort of learned my lesson about those after I realized how much I overpaid on a couple of them before.

For pins that fit into my side collections that I'm not super crazy about, but would like to have someday, I just let them slide. I figure I can buy them later, trade for them or put them on a Christmas wish list, haha.

 

[bookhugger]

A DSF pin for $25 is a good deal!

 

[raikipins]

A DSF pin for $25 is a good deal!

Especially if it's a character I'm collecting! For under $30, I would definitely buy it. I just personally become more hesitant when any pin costs over $30-35, which a lot do, especially DSF pins.

After reading everyone's posts, I'm definitely going to try to buy these pins soon after they release (provided it's a character I'm collecting). For DSF pins, I guess I'll have to get over my reluctance to spend $30+ for them. I'm already feeling it fade as I get more desperate to find the BH6 pins.

Thanks for your input and advice, everyone!

 

[OlafOlaf]

For the prices they're selling right now I just buy them. DSF quality has gone down and there are just too many people that resell them now, so prices aren't that high. And even if I could trade, it's cheaper for me to just buy. Plus, it's easier.

 

[tiggeriffic]

Especially if it's a character I'm collecting! For under $30, I would definitely buy it. I just personally become more hesitant when any pin costs over $30-35, which a lot do, especially DSF pins.

After reading everyone's posts, I'm definitely going to try to buy these pins soon after they release (provided it's a character I'm collecting). For DSF pins, I guess I'll have to get over my reluctance to spend $30+ for them. I'm already feeling it fade as I get more desperate to find the BH6 pins.

Thanks for your input and advice, everyone!

Good idea to move now on the Big Hero 6 pins. There aren't that many yet and they could easily become very desirable once the movie is on dvd/bluRay. I remember some Wreck it Ralph pins sat around for a little while but collectors wanted them once there was the video release. Have fun with your collection!

 

[Ninpin]

For the prices they're selling right now I just buy them. DSF quality has gone down and there are just too many people that resell them now, so prices aren't that high. And even if I could trade, it's cheaper for me to just buy. Plus, it's easier.

This is also true. I've been comparing the pins that I've gotten in the last few months with some of the older ones that I have, and there's a really noticeable difference in a lot of them. I know different companies make different series, but still.