GUIDE New park authentication on pins

According to Disney pins blog, park pins are going to start having a cubic zirconia Mickey head on the back to help ID them as genuine. Anybody encountered this yet? Any guesses how long until it’s faked?

I wonder if this will be added later in the manufacturing process to help with scrappers or if it’s going to be early enough to make no difference there.

New Mickey Icon Stones Authenticator on Disney Parks Pins - Disney Pins Blog

Details on the new Mickey Icon Stones Authenticator on Disney Parks Pins!

disneypinsblog.com

 

[Jabberwocky]

Problem is those really aren't the rules.

Exactly. I reported her to the Chamber of Commerce and the plaid apologized profusely and said "of course I'd've given you your pin back if you wanted it." But yeah, what I've clearly picked up is 9 out of 10 doing blind trades at DCA and WoD are CM's who do NOT like pin traders or pin trading and are actively trying to discourage people from bothering them and/or are trying to scam good pins out of people in exchange for whatever they feel like giving them.

So now whenever someone tells me they are doing blind trading, I say "no thanks, that's never okay to force a trade" and walk away. And the consistent response from those CM's is a shrug of "too bad, so sad, don't care, go away." And then I report it. Because pin trading is supposed to be magical for the guests, not abusive, belittling and basically demanding pins of guests by CM's and then refusing to return them when asked aka theft.

I will note those bitter, unpleasant CM's are few and far between, but even one can and has ruined my day at the park on more than one recent occasion.

But... I still have awesome experiences with most other CM's doing regular trading, trivia trading or diamond trading. They're the ones that are about the fun of it and whether or not we exchange pins, I walk away with a smile and hope to leave them with one in return. That's a proper Disney trade.

 

[cyke23]

Completely blind trading….nope. Good to know so I don’t waste time with the CMs that do that, and I’ll move on.

 

[momin.ator]

Exactly. I reported her to the Chamber of Commerce and the plaid apologized profusely and said "of course I'd've given you your pin back if you wanted it." But yeah, what I've clearly picked up is 9 out of 10 doing blind trades at DCA and WoD are CM's who do NOT like pin traders or pin trading and are actively trying to discourage people from bothering them and/or are trying to scam good pins out of people in exchange for whatever they feel like giving them.

So now whenever someone tells me they are doing blind trading, I say "no thanks, that's never okay to force a trade" and walk away. And the consistent response from those CM's is a shrug of "too bad, so sad, don't care, go away." And then I report it. Because pin trading is supposed to be magical for the guests, not abusive, belittling and basically demanding pins of guests by CM's and then refusing to return them when asked aka theft.

I will note those bitter, unpleasant CM's are few and far between, but even one can and has ruined my day at the park on more than one recent occasion.

But... I still have awesome experiences with most other CM's doing regular trading, trivia trading or diamond trading. They're the ones that are about the fun of it and whether or not we exchange pins, I walk away with a smile and hope to leave them with one in return. That's a proper Disney trade.

Me and my big mouth. I’d probably say something like I hear you steal people’s pins. I will try to avoid that.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Me and my big mouth. I’d probably say something like I hear you steal people’s pins. I will try to avoid that.

Yeah, probably best to avoid that. But if you see it/experience it and don't like it, please report it. I feel like I'm the only one regularly complaining about it and that isn't enough to change the behavior unfortunately.

 

[Connies_Hobby]

So yeah, diamond trading has become a thing in recent months at DLR. Basically I think it's being taught to cast members who know nothing about pins as a way for them to avoid getting scrappers for real pins. It's becoming more common. I don't hate it as it's getting more real pins out there onto boards and lanyards. But it means I have to make sure I have a stash of diamond pins for trade with me at all times. It's silly when they wind up turning down legit nice older pins, but it is getting better stuff in general into circulation when they do it.

My FAR BIGGER COMPLAINT is now more cast members are doing "blind trading" where all the pins on their hip pack are backwards, you have to hand them your pin for trade and then they give you whatever piece of crap is on the pack. It's AWFUL. I have repeatedly complained about it at the Chamber of Commerce in DCA as this is not happening in DL where they just do trivia or diamond trading. It's something that only CM's in World of Disney and DCA are being encouraged to do and it is RUINING the trade experience. I complain loudly to leads any time I encounter someone doing this. Because every time it is with a CM who *hates* pin traders, promises they have great pins if you just give them something good, then you wind up with something less than what you traded that you don't want and they refuse to allow you to have your pin back instead. I literally had a CM sneer at me after swearing she had great pins for trade and then giving me crap "well, then you shouldn't have done the blind trade." Haha. She literally laughed at me.

Yes, I complained to the plaids. No, they can't do anything about it and keep suggesting writing to Disney corporate when this is clearly a local management issue. It sucks. But now I know anyone doing blind trading is intentionally trying to make pin trading a bad experience for guests by stealing their good pins and refusing to give them back. So yeah, THAT is the bad stuff and the bad CM's to watch out for.

I have NOT encountered this experience. It'S just down-right WRONG!