Frustrated by pin suspicions

[froggerway]

Do people think there are there more fake pins nowadays or are we more paranoid or are we more paranoid because there are more fake pins?!

It's kind of a glass half-full/ half-empty observation. To me, it appears as though the people who started scrapping pins, started at the bottom with Hidden Mickeys and OE's. Sure, people spotted them but the catchers were usually people who spent a lot of time in the parks and could see that on Monday Pin A had green eyes but on Tuesday Pin A suddenly had orange eyes. Then they went online, informed the rest of us and assuming we read the threads or studied the pictures, we became aware of the insidious scrappers.

So are there more fake pins than before? Ehh, I don't think so. I think it's just that there are more warnings available and we see them so much it looks like there are more fakes. On the flip side, though, I think the scrappers have become more bold in reproducing the lower LE's. Even when caught, they still make a profit because there are always new people to the hobby who haven't read enough warning forums to be made aware of the dangers.

In the end, though, the longer you have been in the hobby, the more paranoid you do become about pin acquisitions. It's almost guaranteed. The only improbable solution would be if Disney set up a registration (kind of like they do for purebred animals). Except in this case, LE's would be listed and every time one was purchased an owner would be listed on the title. Then if the pin was traded or sold off, the old & new owner would contact the registration office to record the title transfer. A lot of work for a hobby that's supposed to be fun and anxiety free. :sad:

 

[bretu]

I buy a Lot. Trade a lot mostly in person and sell sometimes. We are hoarders and sometimes bought 20 of the same pin during Disney shopping sales. If a old pin I have multiples of goes for a high price I will put one up on ebay every time. I have not encountered but one suspected Disney auction pin and it was a masterpiece pin. I have seen a seller who sold Disney auction pins with out the hologram that were fake and think there is a thread about them.

 

[DisneyMum]

It's awful. I started buying pins in 2009, literally only bought a few, then sort of forgot about them but still kept an eye on eBay for any that I liked. Then, this month decided to get into them again and have very quickly become almost frightened to buy or trade any in the fear of getting a fake/scrapper. It definitely takes away a bit of the enjoyment from the hobby. But I totally agree that those who are new to it can be totally unaware, as I was. But forums like these are great for information and such. It's just something you have to deal with, as with most things, there is always some sort of rip off/fake. We just have to not let it get to us

 

[earchivist]

It's really become too much of a hassle nowadays to try and buy online without knowing the seller. As far as Disney auction pins go one added layer of confidence in the authenticity of a pin is the certificate of authenticity that they gave out early on with many of their auctions (pins and non pins too). Usually the COA was marked with the item number of the item as well so you could verify that the certificate really goes with the auction item. The certificates started out as large 8 1/2 by 11 pieces of paper that came in large letter sized envelopes. Later on towards the end of the Disney auctions life the certificates really shrank in size as did the envelopes.

 

[Ninpin]

I am extremely paranoid and have spent a great deal of time comparing my pins to photos of known authentic ones.

I really don't like to buy pins that are plentiful and cheap on eBay, as I always assume that the reason they are so plentiful is because they are fake. This is mostly referring to HMs and popular character OEs/LEs though. As for the rare pins that suddenly popped up at the same time, perhaps one person saw the other pin was listed for such-in-such a price, and thought "Hey, I should get in on that?"

I guess it would depend on how many of that pin showed up at once. Just two, I would say is a coincidence. Especially if they weren't from the same area. I've seen it happen before with stuff that I watch, too. It's almost like the sellers were watching those keywords, saw their pin pop up and decided to list it as well, maybe trying to undercut by a couple bucks, thinking it was listed do to sudden popularity and now they can get rid of it.

Just an idea!

 

[rik1138]

If you lose the claim with paypal, and then file a chargeback claim, you will get your money back on your credit card.

BUT paypal will then take the money from your paypal account, making it a negative balance. So you would need to replenish it before you buy something on paypal again. And if you dont replenish it, paypal will take you to collections.

So determine the amount it is, and whether you want to fight that battle.

I don't know if they've ever actually done that to anyone (never seen proof), but the times I've done this they take the money out of the _sellers_ account (as they are the ones that have the money you are trying to get back). It's against the credit companies policy to do what you are describing, and possibly even illegal. (This is something they may have done years ago, but after being sued repeatedly they've finally started to follow the guidelines required by the credit card companies. That's when people really started to hate them because they made it so easy for buyers to get their money back for any stupid reason.)

I've personally _done_ everything I'm describing, not just reading about it on forums. I have first hand experience with all of this. Sometimes it takes a little time and effort, but you will be able to get your money back.

Another thing you can do is report the item to PayPay as counterfeit. You will need to file a police report, and then you return the item to _PayPal_, not the seller. PP will then destroy it and refund your money. In the case of pins, that might be the safer route. In order for the seller to fight it, he'd have to appear in court to prove the pin is genuine. No mythical 'shenanigans', he'd be dealing with the police report.