Evil_Bay fun conversation...

Heh, an exchange with a seller, per what Evil-Bay asked that I do if I have any questions, mail questions to them before bidding.

Disney Pin Trading Commander Mickey's Sci-Fi Adventures Tron Helmet Disk PP Rare
This pin -
Pin 83271: DLR - Sci-Fi Academy - Framed Set - Commander Mickey's Sci-Fi Adventures - Tron Helmet With Identity Disk Only
Their picture


Their Description: Disney Pin featuring Tron Helmet. The back of the pin is stamped with the Official Disney Pin Trading Logo, Disneyland Logo, Limited Edition of 250, and the Disney Copyright. Pin is also stamped PP for Prototype Pin. This pin is a prototype pin and is not painted with Glow in the Dark paint like the eventual pin that was sold in the framed set.



Our E-mail exchange:

Me: Is this a genuine authentic Disney pin, produced and released by Disney? Or is this a reproduction?

Them: This is actually a version my cat created inspired by the late great Top Cat.

Me: Should I take that as a no it is not produced by Disney and authentic?

Them: No you should probably look up the definition of sarcasm. If you know anything about Disney pins, you know this comes from a framed set. I have the prototypes of a framed set but since they are prototypes there is no original packaging. If you choose to believe they are not "real" that is up to you and I doubt anything I say will really change your opinion. Me and the Disney Cast Member who traded me the pins know they are real but again I am pretty sure you have your mind made up.

(Ahhh, the classic "I traded for it at the park" defense. From a person who sells hundreds of Disney pins... from Missouri...)

Me: I actually know quite a bit about Disney pins. I do know that this would be from a framed set if it were not an AP or PP. I ASKED because EBay has demanded that in order for me to be protected I have to ask sellers if the pin is real. Your sarcastic answer rather than just stating it is or is not a real authentic Disney produced pin was unwarranted from someone who is trying to sell an item to a bidder who asked an honest question. So you are saying that you traded for this pin off a cast member?




Seller has decided not to correspond anymore. I think this may be a new form of fun, scammer baiting.

wow!

what interests me is that the pinpics pin has that blue-green coloration, but the ebay picture does not. hmmmmm

Sarcastic comments aside, just the fact the pictures don't match would make me not even bother.

Whoa how do they wanna sell if they're so rude.

They are claiming it doesn't have the glow in the dark paint because it is a PP. *snort*

Oh, yes, I forgot to mention, they started the bidding on this "PP" at 99 cents. Yeah, SURE you have a prototype pin...

Oh, I know the seller you are talking about. Her lovely pins (Jessica as Alice, Jessica as Queen of Hearts, etc) have been discussed here in detail. She sells tons of scrappers. Why are you so surprised ?? Everyone knows about her :lol:

I don't understand ebay's position that you must ask if it's a counterfeit in this situation. If someone list a "pin" and says it's trade-able in the parks, they arguably are not claiming the pin is genuine (let's just ignore ebay's complicity in copyright infringement for the moment). However if someone lists a "Disney pin", the plain meaning is that the pin originally came from Disney and is, as far as the seller can reasonably ascertain, genuine.

That is absolutely ridiculous! I feel like you asked a legitimate question and you got THAT for an answer!?! You were not snarky or sarcastic. I am so sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble.

I don't understand why this is a big deal. If a seller is snarky or rude, just don't purchase from them. If you think they might be selling scrappers just trust your judgement and buy from someone else. I don't think questioning the authenticity of a seller's merchandise is going to give you the confidence that something is legit if you're already having misgivings about the pin. It's better to just trust your judgement and hold back the second there is doubt. Chances are if someone is selling fakes they aren't about to admit it which further leads to the conclusion that is can be a giant waste of time conversing back and forth when no favorable outcome is possible. Just my opinion, to each their own.

I'm in Canada, so the reality is that I have to get most of my pins from ebay. With that reality comes the risk of ending up with counterfeits. Ultimately we can't fix the problem. If I tell ebay the pin is a fake, and the seller insists it's genuine, how is ebay supposed to resolve this? - why should they accept one opinion over the other?
On a related note, I've seen posts about people demanding refunds but refusing to return the pin because it's a fake - again, I don't see how ebay can support you on this, because ebay isn't in a position to determine authenticity.
Only Disney can do something about the fakes - Disney could buy pins and determine who is selling fakes, then go after the offenders. I assume that Disney doesn't do anything about it because Disney is a business and it doesn't deal in re-sale pins - ie. the ebay sellers aren't hurting Disney's business so why spend money going after them?

I had a seller outright admit to me yesterday that his pin was counterfeit when I asked. Does ebay even care? Do they have policies against counterfeiting?

Some sellers just dont like questions, and get sarcastic, upity and are quick to ban buyers for no reason! I had one seller who acted as if I had insulted their honour when I asked about a pin. I pointed out that in a market where fakes and scrappers are abundant, they must expect customers to ask questions and ask for photos before shelling out large sums of money. All you can do is avoid sellers like this, and of course report their rudeness.

On the rare occasion I sell via eBay, I have a statement in my description that is always there....

"I am an avid honest pin trader. If you have questions or concerns about the pins I am selling please contact me,"

Jee, why don't these folks with counterfeits and scrap lots have that?