Question About PinPics Trading Responses

Hi - still new and finding my way through the trading system but I am curious about getting replies from PinPics. I use the Trading Assistant and usually only get about 3 replies for 100 requests. Is this normal? Is there a better way? I'm using the advice for adding a message about accepting counteroffers but thought there would be more people "active" on the site.
Thanks!
Guyver68

Unfortunately, it IS normal. The same thing happens to me and most everyone else on here. It kind of ebbs & flows.

Don't give up! The trade offers and answers will come!

I have to say that it is normal yes, I recently sent out a splurge of requests & currently have 5 replies.
Then again sometimes I prefer no replies than an inbox full of "no thanks"!

Yes, I've been using the advice on that thread but it hasn't helped. That's why I was asking if there was a better way or if this was normal

I rarely use pinpics to trade. It is just to hard to get responses.

I'm usually one of the many traders that deletes the trade/email. Each day I have about 4-5 responses, and while I used to respond to all of them everyday, it started getting old AND I started running out of time. Sorry I'm the bad trader/responder...I just want to be honest and give you a different perspective. I've learned quickly that when I use the trade assistant chances are I won't get a response, but I expect it...

To end on a brighter note, I try to trade on this forum with forum members, using the PM system. I usually get a response, even if it is a yes or a not interested. I personally take the time to respond to all PMs, as I believe this site provides a little more interaction with traders than pin pins does...

I can understand it taking up too much time but shouldn't you remove yourself from the Trading Assistant if you no longer want can participate? For us newbies (or maybe just me) it is frustrating to send out 40 requests to get one pin we really want and no one replies. IMO the site is set up for trading and if you participate on it you should be trading.

That site has been up for a number of years now, a lot of people have come and gone. I try to answer all of my requests when I have time. I also check the ID's of all the people who are trading a pin I am looking for and concentrate on those members whose collections show newer pins. If a member hasn't added a pin for a few years, there is a good chance they are no longer involved in the hobby.

I don't use the T.A. often but when I get requests I do take the time to look at them. About half the offers in my inbox are unfair trades, making me not respond. If there's a decent trade that I'm interested in, I respond, its that simple. Its not required to respond but it is nice. If I sent out 40 requests and expected all 40 responses, I think I'd go crazy. But that's just me. Everyone has different ways of trading and I think there an expectation of patience and flexibility with this hobby.

You lost me on that - how do you check when they add pins? Or are you just checking for newer pins? Sorry - but still learning & new!

You also should take into account that people's emails have spam filters that even when cleared, their emails will go to spam. Also pinpics sends out all requests made on a given day at around 3-4 am. if you sent out a response, no one will get it until the next morning.

I'm not expecting 40 for 40 but 10 would be a LOT nicer than nothing. As I'm still new to Disney pins I really don't know what a good trade is and it would be helpful if someone could reply "sorry - this is a really unfair trade for this pin." I'm not so concerned with values - if I have a pin I don't want I'm willing to trade it for one I do whatever the value. I imagine my feelings will change after I've been doing this a while, but in the meantime communication is critical.

For me, when I get trade requests that are not even close to being fair (I will trade you my hidden mickey for your LE 300) I just delete them. If they are fair trade offers and I am not interested I will send a no thank you reply. If you send me a request that isn't fair for you, I will tell you that and usually offer an additional pin to make it more fair for both of us.

If you are looking for older or harder to get pins and you are offering newer open edition pins, don't expect replies. Try to make fair offers and you will get more replies that way. You still will not always get replies, but you are much more likely to get them if it is a fair trade offer to begin with.

If you only have newer pins then try to trade for newer pins. It is hard starting out, but when you do get the pins you want it will make it more worth while to you.

Just my 2 cents worth. Hope it helps.

Guyver68 said:

I'm not expecting 40 for 40 but 10 would be a LOT nicer than nothing. As I'm still new to Disney pins I really don't know what a good trade is and it would be helpful if someone could reply "sorry - this is a really unfair trade for this pin." I'm not so concerned with values - if I have a pin I don't want I'm willing to trade it for one I do whatever the value. I imagine my feelings will change after I've been doing this a while, but in the meantime communication is critical.

Click to expand...

I can understand your frustrations, I am also still learning. I don't know how often you go on auction sites such as eBay, but sometimes looking at several auctions of the same pin will indicate to me if the pin is "high value". Also looking at the want/trading ratio on pinpics. If there's a pin that has a high value of wants and a low number of the people trading that same pin, it is a high value/demanding pin. If there are pins that have a good amount of people trading that pin, you will have a good chance of trading depending on the pins you offer.

For example, one of your trades: http://gallery.pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=47405&sid=3970.1364858073

48 people are looking for this pin, but only three (including yourself) are trading. You can use this pin to acquire the trades that you want, with the 48 people looking for the pin. Some may respond, most won't, but that will start the path of trading...

I hope that helps, I did some research and reading to figure out what pins I can trade for. I'm still learning...

What is a reliable way to determine what a pin is worth? For instance I saw the Jasmine in the Hourglass pin and I really liked it. To me it just looked like an average run of the mill pin but when I looked it up on ebay it was very expensive. I went back and looked again on pinpics and saw it was super limited but sold for about $13 when it came out. There are others that are the opposite - came out more expensive and pretty cheap on ebay. Is there a guide I can use to show me what the going rate for pins is?

I know it can be frustrating, as I still get frustrated although I've come to not expect a reply on most of my requests. I have gotten a few replies and even just 2 days ago, was sent a request so it works. It does make sense that some people have come and gone, and I'm coming to understand the whole fair trade thing, but that is still subjective as what seems fair to you might not seem fair to the other person. Docfish2u was very helpful in seeing something else when looking to trade, it's not all about trade/want ratio. Age of pins and LE size are also things to consider. I also wouldn't suggest requesting the same trades everyday as that will most likely get you on their blocked list but every 2 weeks seems okay to me. You can also look at who the requests are going out to and either make a mental note or write it down so that you can see who is and isn't replying. Good luck and try not to let it get to you.

Thanks - I'm not letting it get to me tho - I'm just trying to understand. It's a big new world and I need the rulebook to it. Does Pinpics leave your account open forever? I don't send out repeat requests - I figure if no one replied then no one wanted them and I'm not going to pester them.

As far as checking if they have added newer pins, I check the members who are trading, many of them have email accounts associated with thier acounts. I check their collections, wants, trades and if they have new stuff, I figure they are still trading and send them an email. I probably get 3-4 requests a day, and complete a couple trades a week.

everyone trades differently..so when i "get" a trader in my hands, i list it and ask what can i get for this pin, and check off as many pins that ar close in either trade ratio/LE or both...price doesnt seem to be as big of a factor becaise a pin that sold for $7 and is an LE or popular may be "worth" about $40 now....its truly is ebb and flow also. I get waves where itrade alot and then a few weeeks of no trading. I dont really care f people are insulted at my offers or if they dont respond, but im a witch from Nj so there ya have it.

I usually put "no need to reply if not interested" in the comment box. I'd rather have an occasional "yes" than a bunch of "no thanks". I usually don't respond to trades I'm not interested in. My pet peeve is when I answer "yes I'd love to trade" to a request and I get no response back.

dawny said:

im a witch from Nj so there ya have it.

Click to expand...

Better be careful before someone drops a house on you.

Seriously though. Yes. Everyone trades differently. Some like to trade pin for pin. Some like to trade within same LE. Some will trade based on current market value (which you might be able to get an idea on if you search the sold listings on Ebay but may not always be a good indication). Some people weigh heavily on the "popularity" of pin (trades vs wants). Some people just think their pin is worth more than it really is. Some may decline a trade because they are holding out for "something better". Stick with us and I think you will learn what a "fair trade" is in no time.

I know it was hard for me when I started because I had no idea that PinPics was as outdated as it was. I thought well i'll just send off these requests and people will trade. Unfortunately it is not the case. All you can do is keep sending requests and hope you get a bite.

Like buckout911 mentioned, check to see if the people you are sending requests to are active. This is how you do it:

1. Make your trade selections
2. Go to "My PinPics"
3. Click on the "Click here to view your current pending trade requests" link
4. Click on a person's user name
5. Click on the View members wants or trades links. Sometimes I will check both
6. Click on the last few pins they have listed to see how old the pins are. For me if the pins are early 2012 or older I assume they aren't active and I delete the request.

This has helped me with getting more trades because I think I'm hitting more active people.

it ebbs and flows. Seemed like i got more when I first started. Pinpics has slowed down. I actually trade the most in my facebook groups.

Thanks - that helps to know what to look for on Pinpics. I hadn't thought about FB. Could you share some of the group ID from there?

are you on facebook. I will pm you my name and you can friend me and I will add you.