Pin Trading Online or In Person
tiffychann
DPF Nut
- Messages
- 427
- Location
- California
I have stopped buying online (ie, auction site)... for the most part. I have actually obtained better quality pins through online trading than through the auction site.Always in person I'd say, but it's not always that easy. I certainly have yet to find a irl trading situation unless I'm at the parks, and that's a rare thing for me! I've not traded online at all yet, but started buying online, and it's been hit and miss; some good buys and one dodgy dealer who has never posted. But then like anything online it's unfortunately a bit of risk!
Nice question... my answer is I like both.
Regarding, in-person traders... I feel I am more likely to get sharked. (my Sharked def.: made to feel uncomfortable, feel taken advantage of.) I thought trading in the parks would be a good place to trade, but I have been sharked there more than anywhere. It may be the fast nature of the trade that leaves me that way. I have started following the information about pin trading events. I have had good luck trading in person at events. There is a place to post about events here in the forum and I believe there are at least 2 on the schedule for Anaheim area (March and May). There is also the big one at WDW which will probably be in August. I anticipate good trading at these 3 events.
Online trading: I have traded maybe 120+ times online now. I have not had any really bad experiences... just ~3 difficult ones. I also have learned some ways to avoid trades and traders to avoid who sent me obvious fakes/scrap, but luckily these were for lower demand OE pins.
Some of my guidelines for online trading:
1) trade for newer pins.
2) trade only if the pin does not appear to have fakes out there.
3) set up trade online and see if you could complete in person at an event (this has worked really well for me).
4) review the person's pins for trade, if they look like a Disney park pin board (ie, full of the same pins which have been faked/scrapped), I would politely decline the trade.
5) ask for pictures of the actual pin(s) (especially if they are older pins). Back and front is nice.
6) ask and check references and provide trader access to your feedback here in DPF.
7) ask if pin is in original packaging.
I always assume the receiver is a child when responding online trade requests. Be as gentle and encouraging as possible, so you do not ruin the experience for them. Also, don't be discouraged by the lack of responses... some people just don't know how to respond if not interested in your suggested trade, but others just don't check their account, etc.
I have traded for some amazing pins through online trades, so don't rule it out.
I also do international trading (always a multi-trade... except for one where I gained my best pin ever). Trading international has opened a lot of doors in the pin trading world for me.
As I am following this thread and reading a lot of comments of sharks during in-person trading I would like to warn others that it happens too via PinPics.
I got an offer for an older marquee I need for my collection. The person sent out an offer of the marquee for 3 of my high end pins. I agreed to the trade but the trader came back to me saying that he got a counter offer worth $700 worth of pins and that he wanted to add more pins from my traders to counter the other offer. I was a little surprised by this as how could I confirm he really got a better offer for the marquee for better pins then the 3 he requested from me.
Basically I wanted to share this to say that discussion about pin-money value and/or sharking happens in person or via mail requests. Sadly it's part of pin trading
I agree. I recently declined a trade for the PTD Maleficent. They wanted 3 of my LE 300 pins for it. I do my best to avoid anyone who tries the 'my pin is selling for X amount', so your pin is not worth my pin. I walk away. Those people are not my kind of pin trader, but I accept they have a right to exist in this hobby... I just don't need to engage with them.Very true, but it's so much easier for me to say "no thank you" via messaging.
Tracking number... check references... I always ask for references and share mine from DPF... ask for pictures of the actual pins (front and back)... trade for newer pins... just asking questions may be enough to scare off the scammers. Oh and if the other trader becomes non-responsive after I send them the tracking number, I do not drop it in the mail until they respond. I think this caution has saved me one or two times. But again, I have not had many problems.Question from someone who’s only done in person trading/buys all the pins she gets online: how do you guys not terrified trading online and getting scammed?? Especially for things like the heroines, which are such high value.... do you do thinks like pay for insurance/shipping so you have a tracking number?
I agree. I recently declined a trade for the PTD Maleficent. They wanted 3 of my LE 300 pins for it. I do my best to avoid anyone who tries the 'my pin is selling for X amount', so your pin is not worth my pin. I walk away. Those people are not my kind of pin trader, but I accept they have a right to exist in this hobby... I just don't need to engage with them.
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