Pinopolis/ACME/HotArt Pin Updates....basically messages from them

[bookhugger]

@Pinopolis Ambassador I'm also wondering since the perk of trading up to 12 pins on the lanyards was taken away for early entry at the evening events, if some other perk (i.e. one Pinopolis trader pin) would now be included in early admission.

If not, I would ask for a refund!

 

[Pinopolis Ambassador]

Thank you for your feedback. We really do value the feedback from our customers, especially Pin enthusiasts! At this time the rules for the event are set. We are listening and want to make the program fun for everyone. Thank you for reaching out.

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[Booger1964]

My problem with PinPics and Pinopolis as a whole is that you all seem to expect the community to invest time, money, and effort, and yet you are not willing/able to give time, effort, or money in return. Everyone affiliated with both projects keeps asking us to be patient. You say you're all busy and have other responsibilities in life. That's true of every person on this forum. I am also a stay-at-home mom with a part-time, at-home job, and I would never, ever dream of treating my clients the way you all treat the pin community. Why on earth should I give you money for pins I will never get? Why on earth should I put in the time and effort to add pins to PinPics when the entries will never appear?

The constant changes are becoming ridiculous. Someone says they will update shipping in one place, and then they don't. Someone else says they will update database progress somewhere else, and then they don't. You all say pin trading will happen one way, and then it changes. @PinPics_Ambassador has now said she will not update here anymore because it's too much to keep track of. You are all obviously in way over your heads, but instead of bringing on more help, you continue to put the burden on us to seek out information. We have to beg and plead to get what you have promised to us. It's not right.

Good points, but to be fair, Pinpics does have their own forum, so why should their admin have to come to this forum to answer questions regarding Pinpics when she is already doing so there?

 

[LittleBird]

Good points, but to be fair, Pinpics does have their own forum, so why should their admin have to come to this forum to answer questions regarding Pinpics when she is already doing so there?

I completely agree. My problem is that once again, a rep of the company promised something and then failed to follow through. Peachy said she would update here... and then later she said she wouldn't. If she had just popped in from the beginning to say, "Hey, if you want updates, come to the PinPics forum!" I would have totally understood. But she went to the trouble of making an account here, promised to provide information, and then bailed. It's just the continuing theme of the company overreaching and then not being able to deliver. (All that said, Peachy is a lovely person, and I have nothing against her personally. If this were an isolated incident as opposed to a pattern for the group, I would be much more understanding. The "we're too busy" excuse is just starting to wear a little thin.)

 

[Booger1964]

I completely agree. My problem is that once again, a rep of the company promised something and then failed to follow through. Peachy said she would update here... and then later she said she wouldn't. If she had just popped in from the beginning to say, "Hey, if you want updates, come to the PinPics forum!" I would have totally understood. But she went to the trouble of making an account here, promised to provide information, and then bailed. It's just the continuing theme of the company overreaching and then not being able to deliver. (All that said, Peachy is a lovely person, and I have nothing against her personally.)

True

 

[TheMickeyMouseRules]

I hardly want to be this person, but... technically, the offer of the LE 200 traders to the Pinpics users as still not an offer to the general public (from what I can tell.) Pinpics users in good standing IS a limited number of people and it is not the general public (yes, I know Pinpics users could be called the general public for the pin trading population, but the promise was not to offer to the general public (I do not believe the general public of the pin trading community was in the rules they posted.... thus the technicality.) The company did not post the extra pins on their website for sale and perhaps using Pins@cost is a way for them to avoid doing this. It may not be what we (the pin public) were expecting with the lanyard pins from Vegas, but the company does need to offer the remaining pins from Vegas somehow and Pinpics users is what they came up with. It remains to be seen if in their RSP everyone who wants the LE 200 pins will even get them. A lot were sold at Vegas (per my understanding), so how many of each even are available. ...An LE 200 pin is still an LE 200 pin.

So perhaps... we should look at this as the company trying to follow their own rules (which may have limited them too much), but they still need to distribute the pins... and to be honest, after I recovered from my disappointment of not being one of the few Pinpics users who qualified for 2nd quarter pins@cost (even with the uploading feature not working I still hit my 20 points), I am pretty happy to try for a few of the Vegas LE pins in pins@cost.

Okay, please be kind in your responses, but just playing devil's advocate...

 

[TheMickeyMouseRules]

I completely agree. My problem is that once again, a rep of the company promised something and then failed to follow through. Peachy said she would update here... and then later she said she wouldn't. If she had just popped in from the beginning to say, "Hey, if you want updates, come to the PinPics forum!" I would have totally understood. But she went to the trouble of making an account here, promised to provide information, and then bailed. It's just the continuing theme of the company overreaching and then not being able to deliver. (All that said, Peachy is a lovely person, and I have nothing against her personally. If this were an isolated incident as opposed to a pattern for the group, I would be much more understanding. The "we're too busy" excuse is just starting to wear a little thin.)

Didn't @starry_solo make the account for Peachy? …I don't think @PinPics_Ambassador made it?

 

[starry_solo]

Didn't @starry_solo make the account for Peachy? …I don't think @PinPics_Ambassador made it?

Nope, not me. @PinPics_Ambassador created the account. Or someone else associated with PinPics created it and then gave Peachy the log-in information.

Admin did change the username for @Pinopolis Ambassador from the originally named crazy bronco lady since this individual was speaking on behalf of Pinopolis and not as an individual pin trader

 

[Pinopolis Ambassador]

@Pinopolis Ambassador I still am missing a large number of classic cutouts #1. I received a shipping invoice for them back in JANUARY, I am aware that they were obviously not ready then. What can I do now? I am out over 2k and I was hoping to resell some of these pins trade some and keep the rest, but if I am the last to get them, that doesn’t work very well because everyone who wants them already has them. I ordered literally forever ago, are they filling orders in reverse order? I was thinking about renewing my gold membership, but now I’m wondering if I should just try to get my money back for promised goods! I’ve been promised a set a of pirate Pinopolis pins since last year’s event and I still don’t have those and they ARE made! I’ve heard now, that the ones that I will get are not going to be tradeable because they will be missing a seal on the back! This is crazy! I spent hundreds for that event which included that set of pins, and now they are worthless? I really don’t understand and I’m tired of being told to wait and then paying MORE money for the next thing and still waiting! I’m really not angry. I’m just at a complete loss. I don’t know what to do and I need some answers (and some pins!) Please help me resolve this issue.


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We see that there are several orders that you have received. The pins you are waiting on are the three series that I had mentioned were still coming from Acme. We do not have these pins yet. Our records show that you have the classic cutouts. They were delivered to you last week. Please let me know if you received those. Also, The Bao Bay pins that you purchased before were for the game. We just recently started a trading program with those. Since they are not Disney pins, They are not traders. You will have a great advantage when you play the game again. I remember you were doing pretty well when you played. I am not sure who it was that promised you a set of Pinopolis pins, but if you could message me and let me know I will look into that.

 

[Pinopolis Ambassador]

Nope, not me. @PinPics_Ambassador created the account. Or someone else associated with PinPics created it and then gave Peachy the log-in information.

Admin did change the username for @Pinopolis Ambassador from the originally named crazy bronco lady since this individual was speaking on behalf of Pinopolis and not as an individual pin trader

I am Kristi Sova. Pinopolis Ambassador. Customer service and social media for Pinopolis. I am also a rep for the SoCal Pinopolis Pinmaster. I can answer ANY question about Acme/HotArt pins, Orders, Events, etc. I can not answer questions about PinPics

 

[starry_solo]

I am torn on this issue. On one hand, I am happy that those who don't live close to trade events have a chance at the pins at cost, but on the other hand, these were marketed as only available at the trade events. A large part of the reason I went out to the Vegas event was to get the trading pins, since they were supposed to be event-exclusive. And then at the event we were told that the ambassadors would also have them and people could visit them once a day to trade. Ok, not exactly what was advertised, but the exclusivity somewhat remained, since you physically had to go to them in person. And then we were told that the first originally-event-exclusive set would all be available through pins for cost. And then we were told that with the next set, instead of trading other pins for them you just buy the pins directly, so they aren't even really lanyard trading pins anymore.

I understand that with any new program changes can be made, but so many changes were implemented so quickly that took the program so far away from what it started as that it feels as if they just dropped the trading program completely and added LE200s to the normal lineup.

At the end of the day, I'm not really mad. Just kind of....frustrated? And kind of feel like the trading program was a bait-and-switch to get people to go to the Vegas event. If I knew then where this program would be at now I honestly would have probably not gone to Vegas after all and just applied for the pins at cost. And I will probably have to think hard about attending any future event where I have to travel significantly since I may be able to get the pins just as easily afterwards without the time and expense of traveling.

Me too! I highlighted the portion that irked me the most. Why bother advertising them as a "trading" program at all? Seriously, if the company is that disorganized that they have to change the rules once a week, there is something seriously wrong with the people running this. All the employees and owners need to get together in a conference call (there are ways to do free conference calls), Skype, something, so that everyone is on the same page.

I hardly want to be this person, but... technically, the offer of the LE 200 traders to the Pinpics users as still not an offer to the general public (from what I can tell.) Pinpics users in good standing IS a limited number of people and it is not the general public (yes, I know Pinpics users could be called the general public for the pin trading population, but the promise was not to offer to the general public (I do not believe the general public of the pin trading community was in the rules they posted.... thus the technicality.) The company did not post the extra pins on their website for sale and perhaps using Pins@cost is a way for them to avoid doing this. It may not be what we (the pin public) were expecting with the lanyard pins from Vegas, but the company does need to offer the remaining pins from Vegas somehow and Pinpics users is what they came up with. It remains to be seen if in their RSP everyone who wants the LE 200 pins will even get them. A lot were sold at Vegas (per my understanding), so how many of each even are available. ...An LE 200 pin is still an LE 200 pin.

So perhaps... we should look at this as the company trying to follow their own rules (which may have limited them too much), but they still need to distribute the pins... and to be honest, after I recovered from my disappointment of not being one of the few Pinpics users who qualified for 2nd quarter pins@cost (even with the uploading feature not working I still hit my 20 points), I am pretty happy to try for a few of the Vegas LE pins in pins@cost.

Okay, please be kind in your responses, but just playing devil's advocate...

Actually, I believe the Las Vegas LE200 pins were advertised as exclusive and that once the trading was done, it was done. Then, the ones that supposedly "sold out" started popping up as being "found" and traded at the Southern California pin-master events (strange that it wasn't any Las Vegas pin-master events but I'm not a member of all the Pinopolis pin groups so maybe some were.)

Unfortunately, since Pinopolis took information about the Las Vegas event off their website and we didn't copy & paste the information here, it can't be verified as to what was originally advertised. But wait, hold on, I did screenshot them so I'll be back with the screenshots in the next post (there are 11).

Thank you for your feedback. We really do value the feedback from our customers, especially Pin enthusiasts! At this time the rules for the event are set. We are listening and want to make the program fun for everyone. Thank you for reaching out.

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Why bother setting rules when they are going to be changed? They were already changed originally for the Orlando event.

 

[starry_solo]

As promised, screenshots from the Las Vegas event - pay close attention to #4.

#1

#2

#3

#4

Specifically the language that says "These awesome pins can only be traded for, they will never be offered for direct sale." (bolding was from the original wording too)

 

[starry_solo]

#5

#6

#7

#8

 

[starry_solo]

#9

#10

#11

 

[starry_solo]

What does "not for direct sale" mean to you?

 

[TheMickeyMouseRules]

Nope, not me. @PinPics_Ambassador created the account. Or someone else associated with PinPics created it and then gave Peachy the log-in information.

Admin did change the username for @Pinopolis Ambassador from the originally named crazy bronco lady since this individual was speaking on behalf of Pinopolis and not as an individual pin trader

Okay, thanks for clarifying.

 

[TheMickeyMouseRules]

What does "not for direct sale" mean to you?

Not the best verbiage to use... probably not well thought out when it was added. Perhaps we are expecting too much (we all now know how things work with the company) when we take everything posted by the company to mean exactly what we think it should mean.

I am in this hobby for the fun and it is on me to keep it fun. No one will do this for me.

Okay, done being Pollyanna now.

 

[Zack_attack]

The LE 200 "trader pins" are nothing more than generic cut-out clip art versions of plain characters. Some of them are the same character and art in a slightly different pose. A few even look like recycled pins Disney officially released at one point or another. They put no creativity into these pins and tried to release them at an event for a quick cash grab but it backfired when it failed to make as much money as they hoped. Selling them other places and changing the rules only benefits them, the customer does not benefit by having products they purchased being released by easier means and cheaper methods. When you spent $100 on gas and food to attend an event for the privilege (can we even call it that at this point?) of being able to buy perceived rarer pins only for the company to decide that not enough sold so they need to dump inventory somehow. That doesn't make the pins more rare, it makes them less rare and less desirable. Weren't these pins marketed as being rare and special? This company only cares about the bottom line, they could care less about the product, the customer, or consistency in their business practices. Exclusive means they are sold for a time period to the people who attend a certain event. You can't change the rules of the game simply because you want to nickel and dime every last penny.

PS: Don't worry, if you miss out I'm sure each design will be released again in at least four other different metal colors.

 

[Arendelle]

@Pinopolis Ambassador
What I am still missing from Pinopolis according the the invoices I can put my hands on at the moment:
Pirate of Bao Bay 25 pin set ordered 8-5-2017 (I expected to receive these at the event in August last year, since then I was told these would be the pins we would trade for the “lanyard” pins, then I was told they have since been modified to include a seal to prevent counterfeits, so these originals will not be accepted, also now they are just selling not “trading” the LE 200s? I’m so confused! I bought extra coins and now I feel like there has been a bait and switch!)
Batman Caped Crusader LE Jumbo ordered 8-5-2017
Alice Classic Cutout ordered 12-14-17
Ariel Classic Cutout x 2 ordered 12-14-17
Belle Picnic Classic Cutout x 3 ordered 12-14-17
Mali Dragon Classic Cutout ordered 12-14-17
Marie Classic Cutout ordered 12-14-17
Stitch Reading Classic Cutout x 2 ordered 12-14-17
Rapunzel and Flynn Classic Cutout ordered 12-14-17
Rapunzel and Flynn Classic Cutout ordered 4-14-18
Golden Magic Sunflower -Rapunzel x 3 ordered 12-14-17
Golden Magic Prior to Adventure - Alice x 2 ordered 12-14-17
Taste of Royalty x 11 ordered 12-14-17
Princess Dreamers x 8 ordered 12-14-17

Princess Profiles x 13 ordered 12-14-17
Princess Dreamers (5 Pins) ordered 10-21-17
Princess Dreamers Rapunzel ordered 4-14-18
Ariel and Sebastian Classic Cutouts x 2 ordered 4-14-18
Kiss the Girl Classic Cutout x 2 ordered 4-14-18
Princess Profiles x 2 ordered 4-14-18




What I have received:
-Ariel Classic Cutout x 1 ordered 4-14-18?
——I have ordered a total of 3 of these, 2 in December and 1 more in April and so far, I have received 1.

Rapunzel and Flynn Classic Cutout x 2
——I order a total of 4 of these, so far I have received 2. I ordered 3 in December and 1 more in April.

I have received all of my “Happy and Carefree” and “Notably Noble” Pins. I got those so long ago now, I had kinda forgotten about them!

I received the Ariel’s Ohana ordered that I ordered 4-14-18.

I received the Full Order placed 8-5-17 minus the two items listed above

This is just what I have access to at the moment. All the invoices and records unfortunately get sent to my dad because I pay for my Pinopolis pins through a PayPal account linked to his email. Because of this (my fault) I haven’t kept the best track of which pins I have already ordered and (as you see) often have ordered multiple sets of the same pin unintentionally. I need to keep better records. I am trying to get him to send me the invoices now, but we have had a death in the family so there is definitely more important things going on for him. Please keep in touch with me. I did not receive a package last week, and have only received 3 of the Cutout pins. Thanks for your help.


I just found another unfilled order from 12-15-17!

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[katelouise]

@Arendelle - the Princess Dreamers, Taste of Royalty and Princess Profiles haven't been shipped out to buyers yet as far as I know, the only update on these was that they would have them "soon". I've ordered the Rapunzel pins in each of those series and haven't had shipment notice yet.

I ordered the Golden Magic Sunflower Rapunzel but received that quite a while ago now.

 

[KT07]

What does "not for direct sale" mean to you?

Than this one time, Li had all the facts and no one was expecting you to have proof. Funny how things end up going. I'm tripping on the anwser to the member that says they are out over 2k and the pins were ordered in Jan.

My point has been that if any trader did this, the member would give a bad rating. We do not have that for sells like this.

Hey, also I trip out in one post here it was said that some pins could get held back or they made a pin with out the ok first. Sounds like more sttuff not being done correctly and money being the driving force on everything.

 

[Arendelle]

@Arendelle - the Princess Dreamers, Taste of Royalty and Princess Profiles haven't been shipped out to buyers yet as far as I know, the only update on these was that they would have them "soon". I've ordered the Rapunzel pins in each of those series and haven't had shipment notice yet.

I ordered the Golden Magic Sunflower Rapunzel but received that quite a while ago now.

I’m aware they are not all ready, I just wanted to be complete in my accounting...I’m just so done. I wanted to get the “new” pins tomorrow, but I just don’t think I can stomach it. I was told by the Florida Pin Master yesterday that the pins would be released at 12 at limited to 2 sets per person. Today, I get an email from Pinopolis saying they are being released at 10am and it’s now 4 sets per person (think they are worried not enough ppl are going to buy? That’s what I’m guessing!) Can they get their story straight?? Even two days before a release?
Last month (not even a full month ago) I was told I had to buy the Pirate coin pins which were only sold in sets of 10 for $130 and these could then be exchanged for the LE 200 pins. I was encouraged to get extra because they would be good “for the next release”. But now, I have these coins that cost MORE than $10 each and I apparently DON’T have to have them, I can just buy the new “trading” pins!
I really cannot believe I completely bought into all of this and thought it was going anywhere. At what point does this become a scam? I mean, practically all the same images? And LE 100 Pins, ha! Gold vs. Platinum....seems more like LE 200 jumbos to me! Then let’s devalue them further by making LE 500 “or LE 100 variations” of the main component of the most popular of those pins!
I hate to say it, but how can this improve? So many major business errors! There is a reason I love Disney that is much more than the characters they have created that is the legacy and the reputation that I can count on and that is why I have vacationed with them, dream about their stories, etc.
I am Not saying that Disney doesn’t make mistakes, they most certainly do, and I’ve definitely called them out on it. This however is where the similarity ends. Disney has always fixed their mistakes for me. Whether that’s at a meal, a hotel, or a merchandise experience through the shopping app, or at one of their parks, I’m over and over a delighted guest, and the errors are FIXED!


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[Arendelle]

I feel ill. I did something I should have done a LONG time ago. I actually went to my PayPal account and looked at the records.
Please note, these are just the payments made directly to “Lansam, Inc” and do not include ANY of the additional money I spent in person at the event last August or at the local Pin Master on “coins” to trade for the pins or for the LE 200 pins just directly for sale by them “on the secondary market.”
My total??? It’s horrifying, especially considering what I have to show for it...$4,556.79
I will NEVER get that back, I would have done MUCH better buying pins here on DPF. Somehow, I thought I was getting in on the ground floor of something, some ppl can be just so persuasive in person....just call me gullible I guess.
If I ever get all these pins, ya’ll let me know if you need them!


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[bookhugger]

I feel ill. I did something I should have done a LONG time ago. I actually went to my PayPal account and looked at the records.
Please note, these are just the payments made directly to “Lansam, Inc” and do not include ANY of the additional money I spent in person at the event last August or at the local Pin Master on “coins” to trade for the pins or for the LE 200 pins just directly for sale by them “on the secondary market.”
My total??? It’s horrifying, especially considering what I have to show for it...$4,556.79
I will NEVER get that back, I would have done MUCH better buying pins here on DPF. Somehow, I thought I was getting in on the ground floor of something, some ppl can be just so persuasive in person....just call me gullible I guess.
If I ever get all these pins, ya’ll let me know if you need them!


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If you paid with a credit card, file a chargeback for all the pins you did not receive and also for the ones that you bought based upon their promises that they could be traded. Anything with PayPal can be done for six months from payment date, not sure 're credit card company.

 

[Arendelle]

If you paid with a credit card, file a chargeback for all the pins you did not receive and also for the ones that you bought based upon their promises that they could be traded. Anything with PayPal can be done for six months from payment date, not sure 're credit card company.

I waited on hold with PayPal for over an hour...unfortunately, only my most recent purchase is within that 180 day mark! I really cannot believe that I let this escalate for so long. I need sleep now, but I have to seriously figure out what I’m going to do.


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