Not for pin releases, but to control reentry into the parks. When you would leave, they would stamp your hand with an invisible ink that would glow under a black light. It was vaguely yellow-greenish and had a distinct odor when they stamped you. You could see it in the dark rides, and there would be names like Wendy and Mickey. When you would reenter after a mid-day nap in your hotel room, you would have to show your ticket and your hand under the light. It was to stop a group from entering, one person going out with all the tickets, and using them to bring in even more people. Now, they have the finger scans to make sure your ticket is actually your ticket.
This is an interesting conversation. I find it amazing that there is a focus on someone buying a higher number of pins in one day because ultimately this has NOTHING to do with those who buy more than the "2" Disney allots each person. The only reason this is a focus is because you read it on the boards and are actually privy to the information. It just so happens that they are helping out others who are not able to get to the park to get the pins for themselves - no over charging, no sharking - just straight across the board, I am helping you out as I am there getting pins too. BUT, let me assure you, there are PLENTY of people in the parks buying over their allotted number of pins and THEY are the ones that are reselling on auction sites or shark trading for "good" scenes who are NOT on the boards...
This conversation is completely missing out on the other problems that customers are faced with that I think are more important than someone buying more than 2... Cast Members going through each bag, picking out the good scenes and putting them behind the counter for their friends to show up, Pins in drawers "on hold" for other guests, the VAST variation in methods of distribution of the pins and MANY other issues.
Me personally, I agree with Grim ~ we have all decided to collect these pins so we either sink or swim. We are collectors by CHOICE. No one has forced us to collect these.
The complaint of not being their on the day of release but showing up the next day and they are sold out... Well how about driving from Northern California TWO WEEKS in a row to get these pins!!! Yes, I did that. I drove for the original release date and drove back again the next week for the actual release. Yes, I created my schedule around this release. Did I complain about it? No. Why? Because I CHOSE to collect these pins, what OTHER people do with their time is NOT MY or really quite frankly your business. I know what I need to do to get the pins that I want. If I cannot be at the park, I make arrangements otherwise.
I think the bigger issue of the POMH release that needs to be discussed is how no two Cast Members know the same rules of distribution!! You can walk into any store and the method will be completely different:
*You can only see 4, if you buy 2 I will bring 2 more out for the next guest.
*Oh, we decided to do first come first serve so we as cast members went through them all picked the best scenes and put those out first. So if you came to the store late, you got the crummy scenes.
*We can only open so many bags per hour.
*Oh you want to buy 10, sure thing, no problem.
*Free for all stores - self explanatory.
*We need to sell out of the ones we have out before we will bring out another bag.
*We don't have any more in this store (5 mins later they whip out another bag of pins from under the counter).
The excuses from the Cast Members go on and on. IF Disney were to actually educate their employees that are working the day of the release, there would be less chaos, less attitude and less confusion. Stores need to be issued the same number of pins, whatever arbitrary number Disney chooses and they should all abide by the same "releasing" rules.
Bottom Line:
Disney is going to continue their methods of organized chaos ~ we either deal with it or we don't. It is what it is.
This conversation is completely missing out on the other problems that customers are faced with that I think are more important than someone buying more than 2... Cast Members going through each bag, picking out the good scenes and putting them behind the counter for their friends to show up, Pins in drawers "on hold" for other guests, the VAST variation in methods of distribution of the pins and MANY other issues.
How about all the bad behavior on Black Friday? Will we be seeing pepper spray at Disney too? I would not be surprised.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/26/us-usa-retail-violence-idUSTRE7AO15H20111126
:soapbox:
IF you don't like rants, then you should probably skip this thread.
Anyone try to buy a POMH pin lately? This is getting insane! I am sick and tired of people (including some here from DPF) that go and buy 50-60 of them on the day of the release, just so they can sell them on eBay. I have heard so many excuses, like people are doing favors for others, etc. but I don't buy it. I remember when they first came out and no one cared. I could buy Snow White for a month after the release. I didn't get mine until several weeks after the release and I still got good scenes. Now, I have to wait one day (ONE DAY!!!) because I have to work, and I get to the park and they are sold out?
Now, honestly, I don't entirely blame the people buying them. Hey, its a way to damn near double your money for a day's work. If you go through and buy 50 pins for $20 each and sell them for $40, you are making $1000 profit thanks to eBay. I did say I didn't blame them ENTIRELY though because they are blatantly violating Disney policy of not buying more than 2 limited edition items per person per day. I know people that have mapped out routes of how to hit every single store in the park that sells them in the fastest way possible, and they make hourly rotations going from store to store so they can buy as many as they can. At this point, I feel like these people would steal them if they could get away with it; hey, if you are breaking one rule, why not break more?
There have been fights, thefts, and little mini riots in pin stores because of these pins. I have been witness to shoving, arguing, yelling, pushing of children, destruction in stores, and other travesties. Pin sharks take advantage of lesser traders by getting them to trade $50-$100 worth of pins just for one "with a good scene".
So, my issue is two-fold I suppose. First, I cannot stand the people that manipulate and take advantage of the system, ruining it for other traders. I just wanted to buy two of each so I had a set and had one to trade. Now I can't even but one because of these people. And two, Disney has never done anything pin related to piss me off this much to date. They wristband the stupidest crap and then nothing for these pins? No stopping people from buying every damn one in the store? I watched a cast member let one person buy 20 of them in one purchase!!!
Whats worse, I heard they might continue this next year. 12 more little pieces of hell.
I know people will want to scream "free enterprise!" and "don't be jealous of those who are making money!" and "hey, that's not me, don't be pointing fingers" and "I really am just doing favors for people", but really, have you seen eBay? Just because you can get away with something doesn't make it right.
Its just one more way to me that pin trading is getting ruined by idiots without morals.
Opinions?
:soapbox:
we can't blame people for selling these pins(I, just like you personally don't sell these pins or any pins, i just keep it fun and don't make it a business AT ALL), but we can definably blame this Idiots for taking advantage of the system and buy multiple when that is not allow. and u right, might as well still and stuff, if u breaking one rule, might as well break the others.
I have to say at least one person for sure IS purchasing them as favors to members online and not re-selling them. She has been kind enough to offer her help to everyone who asks.
I am thankful to her and for her really hard work. I have me er heard anyone say anything negative about how she gets the pin, running or anything, and I feel confident that she does everything above board.
She does not charge an amount over the cost she pays, and does the best she can to ensure everyone who wants one can get one.
Just wanted to make sure she got her props for doing something positive!
Thank you Crystal!!!!!
Vicki
They need to put these pins in a plastic bag so you get a "random" scene. I think this will discourage horders. This will also fix the cast members getting the good scenes before the store opens.
This is an interesting conversation. I find it amazing that there is a focus on someone buying a higher number of pins in one day because ultimately this has NOTHING to do with those who buy more than the "2" Disney allots each person. The only reason this is a focus is because you read it on the boards and are actually privy to the information. It just so happens that they are helping out others who are not able to get to the park to get the pins for themselves - no over charging, no sharking - just straight across the board, I am helping you out as I am there getting pins too. BUT, let me assure you, there are PLENTY of people in the parks buying over their allotted number of pins and THEY are the ones that are reselling on auction sites or shark trading for "good" scenes who are NOT on the boards...
This conversation is completely missing out on the other problems that customers are faced with that I think are more important than someone buying more than 2... Cast Members going through each bag, picking out the good scenes and putting them behind the counter for their friends to show up, Pins in drawers "on hold" for other guests, the VAST variation in methods of distribution of the pins and MANY other issues.
Me personally, I agree with Grim ~ we have all decided to collect these pins so we either sink or swim. We are collectors by CHOICE. No one has forced us to collect these.
The complaint of not being their on the day of release but showing up the next day and they are sold out... Well how about driving from Northern California TWO WEEKS in a row to get these pins!!! Yes, I did that. I drove for the original release date and drove back again the next week for the actual release. Yes, I created my schedule around this release. Did I complain about it? No. Why? Because I CHOSE to collect these pins, what OTHER people do with their time is NOT MY or really quite frankly your business. I know what I need to do to get the pins that I want. If I cannot be at the park, I make arrangements otherwise.
I think the bigger issue of the POMH release that needs to be discussed is how no two Cast Members know the same rules of distribution!! You can walk into any store and the method will be completely different:
*You can only see 4, if you buy 2 I will bring 2 more out for the next guest.
*Oh, we decided to do first come first serve so we as cast members went through them all picked the best scenes and put those out first. So if you came to the store late, you got the crummy scenes.
*We can only open so many bags per hour.
*Oh you want to buy 10, sure thing, no problem.
*Free for all stores - self explanatory.
*We need to sell out of the ones we have out before we will bring out another bag.
*We don't have any more in this store (5 mins later they whip out another bag of pins from under the counter).
The excuses from the Cast Members go on and on. IF Disney were to actually educate their employees that are working the day of the release, there would be less chaos, less attitude and less confusion. Stores need to be issued the same number of pins, whatever arbitrary number Disney chooses and they should all abide by the same "releasing" rules.
Bottom Line:
Disney is going to continue their methods of organized chaos ~ we either deal with it or we don't. It is what it is.
I think that could make it even worse. If a seller bought 5 pins and got two "good cels" and three "duds" then they would be prone to charge even more for the good ones to cover the potential losses if they can't unload the duds.
As it has been said numerous times, the mystery thing would only work if there were no "dud" cels. And at that point, if all the cels were good this problem wouldn't be what it is. Based on the scenes that have been released thus far, even if I lived near a park, there is no way I'd buy these direct if they were mystery pins. I'd much rather pay more for a cel I know I like than risk throwing away 20 bucks on a cel I don't like or that is a complete dud.
We are collectors by CHOICE. No one has forced us to collect these.
Bottom Line:
Disney is going to continue their methods of organized chaos ~ we either deal with it or we don't. It is what it is.
This conversation is completely missing out on the other problems that customers are faced with that I think are more important than someone buying more than 2... Cast Members going through each bag, picking out the good scenes and putting them behind the counter for their friends to show up, Pins in drawers "on hold" for other guests, the VAST variation in methods of distribution of the pins and MANY other issues.
Me personally, I agree with Grim ~ we have all decided to collect these pins so we either sink or swim. We are collectors by CHOICE. No one has forced us to collect these.
IMO it is crazy that Disney thinks it is ok to charge $20 for a pin with sparkles or phallic fireworks in the frame. There needs to be some quality control with these.
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