Pin lots

[Kikimyste]

What would your guys' thoughts be on buying 25-100 pin lots from ebay?

Any reputable sellers you guys may know of?

Im trying to get into trading but it seems like whenever i buy a pin it's to keep so i dont have any trades.

 

[BilgeRat]

I think most of those bulk lots are scrappers/counterfeits. I have seen sellers who claim their lots are all authentic pins (and they may be), but the price per pin will be a LOT more then the typical seller with bulk lots.

If you're getting a bulk lot for something less than $1.00 per pin, I'd bet those are always fakes. Those are being traded at the parks all the time, unfortunately.

 

[Kikimyste]

I think most of those bulk lots are scrappers/counterfeits. I have seen sellers who claim their lots are all authentic pins (and they may be), but the price per pin will be a LOT more then the typical seller with bulk lots.

If you're getting a bulk lot for something less than $1.00 per pin, I'd bet those are always fakes. Those are being traded at the parks all the time, unfortunately.

How would you recommend i build my collection and get some valuable traders?

 

[Jabberwocky]

How would you recommend i build my collection and get some valuable traders?

Be prepared to spend actual money. Collecting pins is not a cheap hobby unless all you want to collect are Hidden Mickey pins or as noted above, cheap fake and scrapper pin lots from eBay. Good authentic desirable pins are expensive.

 

[Kikimyste]

Be prepared to spend actual money. Collecting pins is not a cheap hobby unless all you want to collect are Hidden Mickey pins or as noted above, cheap fake and scrapper pin lots from eBay. Good authentic desirable pins are expensive.

Yeah im aware haha, just dropped a nice chunk of cash on the pixar studio inside out pin set.

I just dont know how to get a good amount of traders

 

[BilgeRat]

Unfortunately, there is no "cheap" way to accumulate valuable traders. It took me years to realize that trading with Cast Members at the parks was simply a pleasant diversion, and NOT a way to accumulate nice pins. Sure, you'll discover some nice pins occasionally on cast lanyards, but you luck onto those. I've pretty much given up worrying about whether Hidden Mickeys on cast lanyards are real or not. If I like the pin, I'll trade for it, and I pretty much assume it's a scrapper! If it's not, then it's a bonus! I'll find a few authentic older pins, some genuine OE pins, and lots of scrappers on cast lanyards.

But trading online, either here or on PinPics, is going to require that you have quality pins in the first place! You're not going to find those in bulk lots! Online traders can be pretty sophisticated collectors, and they know their pins!!! You won't be trading many low quality pins online! I only started trading for the really COOL pins when I started buying COOL to begin with!!! You can find some deals on eBay, but you'll have to be on the look out for fakes. There are some quality sellers there, though (and some awful ones!).

I'm fortunate in that I get to Disneyland quite a bit, so I buy open edition and limited edition pins whenever I'm there. I often buy them specifically knowing I'll be trading them off. And I have two Disney Park Pack subscriptions which give me valuable traders. I also scour estate sales and garage sales when I can; you'll find good pins for good prices there, when you luck upon them.

So, I found that I wasn't able to trade for really good pins until I started to accumulate really good pins!!! It's as simple as that. It won't be cheap, but I'm not sure of a better way.

EDIT: I should note that I was in your position not too long ago. While I have been trading at the parks for over 8 years, I have only been trading QUALITY pins online for the past several months. It wasn't until I began buying quality pins, OE and LE, that I began getting nice trades in return.

 

[Kikimyste]

Unfortunately, there is no "cheap" way to accumulate valuable traders. It took me years to realize that trading with Cast Members at the parks was simply a pleasant diversion, and NOT a way to accumulate nice pins. Sure, you'll discover some nice pins occasionally on cast lanyards, but you luck onto those. I've pretty much given up worrying about whether Hidden Mickeys on cast lanyards are real or not. If I like the pin, I'll trade for it, and I pretty much assume it's a scrapper! If it's not, then it's a bonus! I'll find a few authentic older pins, some genuine OE pins, and lots of scrappers on cast lanyards.

But trading online, either here or on PinPics, is going to require that you have quality pins in the first place! You're not going to find those in bulk lots! Online traders can be pretty sophisticated collectors, and they know their pins!!! You won't be trading many low quality pins online! I only started trading for the really COOL pins when I started buying COOL to begin with!!! You can find some deals on eBay, but you'll have to be on the look out for fakes. There are some quality sellers there, though (and some awful ones!).

I'm fortunate in that I get to Disneyland quite a bit, so I buy open edition and limited edition pins whenever I'm there. I often buy them specifically knowing I'll be trading them off. And I have two Disney Park Pack subscriptions which give me valuable traders. I also scour estate sales and garage sales when I can; you'll find good pins for good prices there, when you luck upon them.

So, I found that I wasn't able to trade for really good pins until I started to accumulate really good pins!!! It's as simple as that. It won't be cheap, but I'm not sure of a better way.

Good luck!

BilgeRat

So pretty much buy le whether i want them for myself or not, got it haha.

What are disney park packs?

 

[BilgeRat]

What are disney park packs?

It's a deal on the Disney Store website. It's a subscription (I believe they're all sold out right now) where on a monthly basis Disney sends you one limited edition pin created just for the Park Pack, and two open edition pins that have not been released at the parks yet. I'm sure openings for subscription spots occur now and again, but you'll probably have to be diligent to secure a subscription (there are a limited amount of subscriptions, which would be REQUIRED if they are selling LE pins!!!).

 

[Kikimyste]

It's a deal on the Disney Store website. It's a subscription (I believe they're all sold out right now) where on a monthly basis Disney sends you one limited edition pin created just for the Park Pack, and two open edition pins that have not been released at the parks yet. I'm sure openings for subscription spots occur now and again, but you'll probably have to be diligent to secure a subscription (there are a limited amount of subscriptions, which would be REQUIRED if they are selling LE pins!!!).

Ooo i see. Thanks a lot for the help

 

[hopemax]

First thing is to figure out what you like and want to collect. Step 2, is figuring out if you have any money leftover to even purchase traders.

Most of my traders come from purchases I'm already making. I'll buy mystery boxes and get duplicates. Or maybe it's a booster pack that you only need one pin from, and can trade the rest. If "valuable" traders is your goal, I hope you live in California and have access to the Disney Studio Store in Hollywood or WDI, because those are pretty much the only places where that is likely to happen. If you are visiting the parks, and there is a Frozen or Princess LE pin coming out you could try to buy a few of those. Sometimes you can get cheaper traders at the Outlet stores around WDW, but those you have to tend to sit on for awhile before people want to trade for them.

But really, just focus on your collection. A lot of people end up selling off their traders in order to get funds to just purchase what you want. With so many different themes, it's difficult to find someone who has what you want and needs what you have.

 

[BilgeRat]

First thing is to figure out what you like and want to collect......But really, just focus on your collection.

This is great advice. When I'm buying on eBay or Amazon, I try to buy ONLY pins that complement my primary collecting interests. I don't buy online in order to trade those pins off later. On the other hand, at Disneyland and at the Studio Store I buy pins with the express purpose of trading them!

 

[broncobilly83]

Usually I stay away from any lot that stresses that they have the Disney copyright and therefore are tradable at any park with any cast member. To me, that is a flag that something is suspect with the pins themselves, because they are stressing a loophole that allows the pins to be traded at the parks, i.e. the Disney copyright

 

[xdattax]

But really, just focus on your collection.

Best advice ever!

I'm in a funny spot, pin collecting wise. I have very few traders, aside from some duplicate mystery boxes and an extra designer Elsa (which isn't as popular as I thought it would be). I buy what I love for the themes I collect. I don't get a lot of extra LEs when I'm in the parks because I'm an awful judge of what will be popular, (see previous statement).

So, make contacts with the good folks who do pickup in the various parks for reasonable prices, get what you love! Sometimes what you love today isn't what you'll love tomorrow so bam, insta-traders!

 

[Kikimyste]

First thing is to figure out what you like and want to collect. Step 2, is figuring out if you have any money leftover to even purchase traders.

Most of my traders come from purchases I'm already making. I'll buy mystery boxes and get duplicates. Or maybe it's a booster pack that you only need one pin from, and can trade the rest. If "valuable" traders is your goal, I hope you live in California and have access to the Disney Studio Store in Hollywood or WDI, because those are pretty much the only places where that is likely to happen. If you are visiting the parks, and there is a Frozen or Princess LE pin coming out you could try to buy a few of those. Sometimes you can get cheaper traders at the Outlet stores around WDW, but those you have to tend to sit on for awhile before people want to trade for them.

But really, just focus on your collection. A lot of people end up selling off their traders in order to get funds to just purchase what you want. With so many different themes, it's difficult to find someone who has what you want and needs what you have.

I live close to disneyland CA and have a pass.

The studio store youre referring to is the pixar studio store right?

 

[unibear]

Sometimes, it's a whole lot easier to buy pins for your collection than it is to buy pins with the hope of trading for pins you want. You can never guarantee that the person who has pins you want will actually want the pins you have to trade.

I bought lots of high-end trader pins, but then ended up buying pins I actually wanted for my collection. Now I have limited wants and lots of expensive traders. I could have saved a lot of $$ by just buying the pins I want and not buying high-end traders...

 

[Kikimyste]

Sometimes, it's a whole lot easier to buy pins for your collection than it is to buy pins with the hope of trading for pins you want. You can never guarantee that the person who has pins you want will actually want the pins you have to trade.

I bought lots of high-end trader pins, but then ended up buying pins I actually wanted for my collection. Now I have limited wants and lots of expensive traders. I could have saved a lot of $$ by just buying the pins I want and not buying high-end traders...

Yeah i see, it's good to know im doing things right so far then. Thanks for all the input

 

[hopemax]

I live close to disneyland CA and have a pass.

The studio store youre referring to is the pixar studio store right?

No, although access to that would be another way to get valuable traders. But I was referring to the Disney Studio Store Hollywood(DSSH), which used to be called the Disney Soda Fountain (DSF). It's in Hollywood, next to El Capitan Theater (also Disney owned), across the street from the Chinese Theater. They sell low edition pins 300-500 every few weeks, and they also have a very popular series of pins that come with the purchase of an ice cream sundae. There are many threads about the different releases, and the process to buy pins (many people show up, so it's a lottery), and they publish the rules on their Facebook page.

 

[Kikimyste]

No, although access to that would be another way to get valuable traders. But I was referring to the Disney Studio Store Hollywood(DSSH), which used to be called the Disney Soda Fountain (DSF). It's in Hollywood, next to El Capitan Theater (also Disney owned), across the street from the Chinese Theater. They sell low edition pins 300-500 every few weeks, and they also have a very popular series of pins that come with the purchase of an ice cream sundae. There are many threads about the different releases, and the process to buy pins (many people show up, so it's a lottery), and they publish the rules on their Facebook page.

Oh right i know that place, i got confused.

I went there to see the good dinosaur and picked up the ariel and ursela pins

 

[LuvSimba]

No, although access to that would be another way to get valuable traders. But I was referring to the Disney Studio Store Hollywood(DSSH), which used to be called the Disney Soda Fountain (DSF). It's in Hollywood, next to El Capitan Theater (also Disney owned), across the street from the Chinese Theater. They sell low edition pins 300-500 every few weeks, and they also have a very popular series of pins that come with the purchase of an ice cream sundae. There are many threads about the different releases, and the process to buy pins (many people show up, so it's a lottery), and they publish the rules on their Facebook page.

^^^ Good advice here. I was going to suggest the Soda Fountain as well since you are in CA (and sounds like you're fairly close). Lots of desired pins come from the DSSH!!

 

[Kikimyste]

^^^ Good advice here. I was going to suggest the Soda Fountain as well since you are in CA (and sounds like you're fairly close). Lots of desired pins come from the DSSH!!

I live an hour and a half away from disneyland and el capitan theatre

 

[LuvSimba]

I live an hour and a half away from disneyland and el capitan theatre

Not too bad, I live 3,000 miles from DL and DHHS lol But WDW is about an hour away for me.

Take advantage of both the park and soda fountain when you're in the area

 

[Kikimyste]

Not too bad, I live 3,000 miles from DL and DHHS lol But WDW is about an hour away for me.

Take advantage of both the park and soda fountain when you're in the area

Oooooo you got the cool park next door. Im jelly