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Has Pin Trading Shrunk?

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Has Pin Trading Shrunk?
GrayTiger

GrayTiger

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Maybe not the hobby itself, but do you get the impression that Disney itself is shrinking pin trading? I'm pretty late to the party since I only started collecting this year, but I remember in the years past when I went to disney there seemed to be a greater variety. I noticed pretty much the same stock everywhere I went, but I had hoped that each park might vary with pins that fit each one's themes. I usually trawl through Ebay for my pins(Haven't had the pleasure of a trade yet, I think because I don't deal in high-dollar, high LE pins), but I often find the same things over and over. Is it my imagination?
 
Yup. They have definitely dialed back. I expect that there is also less demand. We have been trading for 10 years but not as seriously early on. I've heard stories about lines and crowds at WDW similar to what DSF sometimes have.
 
It does feel like it is shrinking. No more DisneyStore.com pins, less pin events. A lack of updates to the "What's hapPINing" blog, and kind of lackluster releases. I wonder why there is this change in the hobby. At least we have DPF to keep it alive!
 
Well, I doubt it will ever go away but I beleave it may get better since they have backed down. Think about it a new pin release would be more worth it than what it is now. Wouldn't just be a "New pin on the rack".
 
heyo all,

I havent been trading in a while but when i stopped in 2007 they were killing us with so many new pins, especially haunted mansion, that the pins became less wanted. then they came out with anniversary pins that were just copies of really good pins with a dangle saing remember when or anniversary. I also think that trading has moved far from its roots and it has become more of a value thing rather than a trade thing. People value pins more and to trade them they want something better, trading is not worth the time otherwise.(for some)
I've been back trading for a few months and havent made 1 trade. ive sent out requests but received very few responses. I, like many people find it easier to sell my pins and to buy the ones i want. I have tried trading for the happy haunts 2004 diorama set for 6 years and never even got a trade in the working. I just sold a bunch of pins on the forums and bought it on ebay last night.

So i think trading is getting smaller in more ways than one, i think people are getting greedier with their trades=less trading online, and disney is saying it is not worth having all these employees watching trade tables and controlling pushy,rude, or nasty people who are on line at the parks trying to get new releases. Unfortunatly this part is much our fault. (not everyone but the ones who ruin it for the rest of us) Many people are only buying the pins to sell them, they dont even collect. Its a business for them.


10 years ago you didnt pay $14.99 for a pin and immediately want a grail in trade for it. It shouldnt be called pin trading anymore since so many have lost the values we once shared. Of course there are still sooo many of us that are good people and we talk and meet up and chat like friends, and others who trade for the fun in it and dont lose hope. the ones who post positive things and push the hobby in the right direction. then there are those who are quiet but everyone knows them.

there are good traders in the world so even if trading is shrinking hopefully its not the good ones we are losing. plus it will make the new releases mean more when they do come out.

Happy trades
Kirk
 
I have to agree with everything Jabberwocky said, especially that you have to love the pins you are collecting and not be in it for the money. I'm hoping the hobby will continue since there seem to be a lot of young people coming into it and they will hopefully bring their children into the hobby. There is just something about holding that shiny, glittery piece of metal in your hand. A memory in time. I hope it keeps going for a very long time.
 
Pins, like pretty well anything else, follow the product life cycle. However I'm not so sure that it's a macro-scale thing where pins are going to disappear altogether. One of the things that prompted me to take my collecting more seriously is the ubiquity of pin wearers around Disneyland. Last time I went, it seemed like every one in three or four visitors had a lanyard on. The life cycle seems to be more oriented around particular lines of pins.

To me, one of the worst developments is this mystery pin stuff. It's a cheap attempt to manufacture collectability instead of providing desirable content, and I hate that sort of thing. They're just trying to artificially drive up purchases by making people buy things they don't want in the hopes of getting what they do, which is a model imported from Vinylmation. I don't think it can really last though... I expect Vinylmation to crash hard in the next couple years, like Beanie Babies and pogs and other fad collectables did before them. Pins seem to be one of those things that stick around (so to speak)... There's just about nowhere you can go in the industrialized world and not be able to buy lapel pins. I don't think Disney will give up on them entirely, though the shape of the pins and the collector's community may change.
 
I don't have enough history in this hobby to be able to recall the glory days of pin trading, but most of these types of hobbies tend to either be affected by the general economy or reach a popularity and price point that tends to shrink the base audience to those with a considerable amount of disposable income.

Not unlike sports card collecting, the introduction or realization that some serious money can be made from a simple collectible hobby tends to drive prices up to the point where casual collectors drop out and shrink the collector base. Once the manufacturers realize they are no longer doing the volume any longer, they start tweaking edition sizes and create elite levels of merchandise that better appeals to their hardcore collector base.

In the case of pins, I believe the weak economy has shrunk the collector base and Disney has dialed back the pin releases and availability to match the demand. Many pin traders have probably had to drop out, due to financial reasons too. This also shrinks the collector base.

Dillution may also play a factor. With the introduction of new collectibles (Vinylmation), many former pin collectors may have opted to make the jump to something new and have abandoned pin trading.

I'm of the opinion that Disney is probably following the natural course and lifespan of any collectible. They have seen the initial surge and the inevitable tapering off of the hobby and have adjusted accordingly. Most likely, the hobby of pin trading will continue at a reduced capacity and may have a chance of resurgence if the economy picks up and pin trading also picks up. Or it may go into a steady mode of operation where it will never see a return of the glory days.
 
I just started recently and do hope Disney does not give up on the pins. Looking at what is coming out for Cinderella and Mickey's Circus I have some hope that Disney wants to put some resources to pins still. (But I don't really know how it was before.)I do agree that during my short time I have met/talked with many nice people who enjoy helping those of us still getting our bearing. It has been great. But also we occasionally run into people who are trying to make a large profit on pins that really should not be. Again, can't let the bad apples ruin it for everyone else. Just have to be aware so you can watch for them.

I have hope look at the Olympic pins. I would say the grandfather of pin collecting. that appears to still be going strong.
 
I think Disney is constantly shifting to the newest, hottest collectables and right now pins aren't it. Vinylmation really took off and in a few years it will be something else. Patches (what I collect), magnets, buttons, you name it... Disney is always looking for the next hottest thing.

Pins won't go away (there is just too much profit in it) but they aren't as big as they used to be.
 
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