Reselling..... Mental crisis!

:eek2:OK, this might just open a can of gross dead worms that ends up in a closed thread but I really want to know.....

What is so wrong with reselling on eBay or here for above retail price?

Here's the reason I ask this. Every month when a PODM releases we get a thread on here that basically says, "I hate that people resell PODM's on eBay for a marked up price because I am not local to a park and cannot afford it.":sigh:

Those on here who know me, know I am a fair trader, and if I need to sell pins, i try to make sure it is a fair price. I do not collect PODM, so the ONLY reason I have for going to PODM releases is to buy for other people, for traders, or for resale. This BatB PODM release is going to be hectic.:ugh: I was planning on skipping it entirely. But I look at the demand and ask myself, :dunno: "Why not? Why not buy a few and resell them on here or eBay for a little extra cash?" Granted I wouldn't likely sell them for tremendous mark up, it would be for a decent mark up depending on the frame. (( I would never ask 200 for one pin! OMG))

:ugh:What if I got my hands on a "grail" frame? If i sold it at the prices these "grail" frames are going to be sold for, would i get attacked here on the forum for it? For selling it for what its going rate would be? For selling it for what people are willing to pay? For selling it for what it would be worth?

:sad:For me to attend a PODM release, Since it is DLR I go to: I have to pack up my kids, and get hubby up 2 hours before his normal time so he can drop us off for the WHOLE DAY. We get there at 6.am for wrist bands, buy the pins and then stay at the park all day. Going to PODM releases can be a hassle. This BatB release would mean going at 4.am on black Friday. The ONLY way I would attend is if it was to resell to people who cannot buy it themselves.

:hs:In the recent releases that I have attended, I have been selling the PODM or trading them extremely fair or even low. But this BatB PODM to me seems like the hassle would mean I need to charge more, and because of demand, if I got a very nice frame, it would need to be marked up decently. Am I going to get attacked by my fellow DPF people for that? Honestly? :anxious:

I think this thread is not just about me, it is also about many other people who are in the same position I am. We want to help, we want to get other people these pins, but we also don't want to get ripped off by underselling or yelled at/shunned for selling them at going rates when the frames are known. We also want to see something for our time and effort.

:angel:When i decided to skip this PODM release, a VERY KIND :hug:WDW trader offered to assist me and get one for me to re-trade or keep, at retail+shipping price. Which brings me to this conundrum. If they are willing, why should anyone sell them above retail????? :bowdown:


:banghead:Mental crisis!:banghead:


Please try to keep it civil, and no finger pointing. I know this is a "hot topic" but lets stay level headed and debate it politely ok?

I live 8 hours from Disneyland (well the way I drive anyway), I have paid prices that are a little higher to multiple times the retain value for pins. I accept this as just a part of living far enough away from the park and something I have to do if I want to be involved with this hobby. On the other side, I am not having to pay for gas or time to go to the park and get the release myself. The down side is that you have to be a little more picky with what you want to collect. If you decide you want a release that is an immediate sellout, then you are ultimately going to pay a lot for it.

There is an advantage for people that live close to the parks. Is it their fault that some of us in the hobby live out of the area? No. There are some offering to pick up pins for people at retail and I thank them. Do I expect that on popular releases where the pins could possible become another Rapunzel R/C? No.

The main deal is that retail price is good for one thing, what you pay at the actual cash register. After that pin is out of Disney control, the value of the pin changes depending on the it's desirability in the secondary market or to the individual person. Would I pay anywhere close to the prices going for the Rapunzel R/C pin? No, I don't collect princesses, but some people are fanatical about them. So while I don't find any value in the pin above $10, to others it is worth the going rate.

My 2 cents: Some people are near the parks, most of us aren't - that sucks for us, but we knew that when we got into this insane hobby. If you buy a pin for $25 and it instantly multiplies in value, that's a windfall, but it's YOUR windfall. The reality is that the pin is now worth $X, based on demand for that particular pin - you now own an asset worth $X. I say this as someone who has no access to LE pins at the time of release except through the kindness of others: if someone offers to get me pins at retail, that's a very nice thing to do, BUT I should ever expect anyone to do so. It simply isn't fair to demand that someone sell for less than it's worth, or criticize you for charging what it's worth.
If I own a pin that's worth $200 on the open market, and I sell it to someone for $30, I am essentially giving that person $170, because I am giving them a $200 pin for $30 - people don't like to think of it that way, but that's the economic reality of the situation. Some will say that your ability to get the pin at retail isn't fair; well life ain't fair. The pin is yours and it has a certain value. You are not obliged to give that value to someone else.
So no, I don't think anyone should criticize you for trying to get market value for a pin. If you sell it on DPF for a little bit under that value, because you avoid ebay fees and the buyer pays paypal 'gift' fees, everyone wins. But no one should expect you to essentially hand over that windfall.
Having said all that, I expect that we're going to see some contrary views here....

Two things in my opinion, 1) when you buy the pin it is yours to do with as you please. You invested the time, energy, gasoline and money to purchase it, so to H E double hockey sticks to anyone who try's to tell you what to do with your property. 2) in relation to #1, SOME people do not understand what exactly it takes to get these pins. I have been going on release day since Jungle Book. It has gotten crazier and crazier with each pin. SOME people do not want to INVEST the TIME, GASOLINE and ENERGY it takes to get these, but want to pay cost for someone else to do it for them. That aggravates me more than pure capitalism. and I am going to add a third thing on here even though I said two points. 3) SOME people on here want to constantly refer to ebay as "evilbay" yet i have seen threads on here where prices are WORSE than on EBAY.

I hope this helps. And if anyone attacks this thread, they are doing it out of guilt!!

Its called supply and Demand. You have the right to sell your pins for whatever price you choose. As a consumer, I have the right to decide how I want to spend my hard earned dollars. Yes, it is frustrating that often I cannot access new releases at retail - that's the breaks of our hobby. By the same token, pins that are purchased at retail for resale end up going at below cost on the secondary market - thats why its called speculation. I may roll my eyes at your asking price, but I won't chastise, belittle or berate you; because the next collector may think your pricing is fine. Its all in the eyes of the beholder.

For me personally, I've always gotten things for people at cost plus shipping in the hopes of pin karma coming back to me, or being able to trade fairly with these people in the future when they have something I want, etc. It's called symbiosis, having a mutually beneficial friendship. However due to several of the people I've gotten things for at cost then refusing to work out a trade with me later on when they had something I want, has made me rethink doing this for people in the future. I personally have no problem with people reselling the pins they get. What I do have a problem with is people(not naming names) getting their significant other, their two cousins, and three babies, and having each person buy their max so they can turn around and sell them for outrageous prices on ebay. But hey, if you want to get a set for yourself either for you or to trade, and get a set to sell, then go for it! Just my two cents.

In the short time that I have been here, I have read too many posts about people crying over what others charge for their pins. I totally agree with the other posters. it is YOUR property to try and sell as you see fit. I say, if a person doesn't like the price then they can pack sand. No really if they don't like the price then don't buy it. Just because you live near a park, you have absolutely no obligation to get anything for anyone and give it to them at cost. If you did, they should consider themselves very lucky and/or loved by you.

People whine about the unfairness of prices all the time, but its also many of the same people who have no problem charging an arm and a leg as soon as they get something desired. The entitlement of some people is what really rubs me the wrong way. Life isn't fair, some people will have an advantage obtaining something while others will be at a disadvantage its part of life. I think most people are aware that distance to a park will determine to some extent how easy or difficult something will be to obtain. I agree with everyone else that when someone purchases something it becomes their property and they can do with it as they see fit. Worrying about fairness is quite subjective as we all value things differently. If you like the price buy it, if not wait until you find a price more to your liking. I find the best way to get something valued at cost is to either go to the release or trade services. I find people are more than willing to help each other out when the favor is not considered one-sided. Demanding something popular at cost on the basis life isn't fair is not going to fly in the long run. But to each their own.

I recently sold a pin to someone. It was a PoDM pin, for 200$. I needed the extra money and it was like...a huge important pin to them...I discussed it with my family for over a week and am not proud of letting this member pay such a crazy price, I was very upset with myself for this for a long time And yet they thanked me for selling them this grail pin, they may not have had another chance to ever get it.

I would also own no pants or tires for my car at the present.


The way I feel about it is this:

If the pin sells out the value of the pin goes up, because people are considering their own time and efforts. I understand this having myself, waited in a like for about 4 hours in the cold...then ridiculous heat, not to mention the hour and a half both ways. People have to understand that for MYSELF, I traveled along way to get a chance, a CHANCE at getting a nice scene or pin. My time, effort and money was invested and if I buy it for 25$...what was the point of ALL THAT EFFORT to resell it for 25$ when I get home UNLESS for a friend or something was already promised/worked out? If I get a scene that was not what I wanted, I can sell it to make back my gas and the price of a pin I wasn't keeping or trading it and or even auctioning it.


WHAT I DON'T Like is if a pin doesn't sell out, there are a TON left, and someone is here trying to resell them for 200% of cost to people out of state or international. ESPECIALLY when the thread SAYS it's aimed at only those people, it's like saying "HEY I can go grab 18 more of this pin, but I'll sell it to you for 40 bucks (when it cost me 8) because I know you can't get it yourself." Whether or not the person means it this way, that's how it feels. And I think that sometimes this is what people are ranting about.


DON'T GET ME WRONG I'm not pointing out anyone I saw quiet a few people doing a reverse kind of thing as fo late (Auctions for people out of state country and GOOD sales for out state and country too! I think goofy_moe did one for the nightmare pins so yeah.)

Romancing_Train said:

WHAT I DON'T Like is if a pin doesn't sell out, there are a TON left, and someone is here trying to resell them for 200% of cost to people out of state or international.

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Yeah, that's a good example of some of shady side of resale. I think, as with everything, honesty is the crux of it. If you're trying to pull one over on people, or you buy everything up and jack the price up yourself (like some people did with ds.com pin sets), then yeah, people are going to be pissed. But honest supply/demand value increase? No problem with that except coming up with the money

Yeah, it chafes occasionally...but in the end, a lot of it balances out when you get good deals.

And btw, I think the whole "Evilbay' thing is freakin' ridiculous. I LOVE eBay...for pins, and for other things. If it weren't for eBay, there's no way I'd have several of my favorite pins. I can only imagine the "Evilbay" thing is left over from when we literally couldn't say the word "ebay" on Dizpins, and people tried to get creative with ways to mention it. Or maybe because of scrappers, but...you know- just be smart with your purchases.

Well, I live about 9 hrs or more from WDW. I love pin collecting. At first, I almost gave up on the whole thing because I didn't know how I would be able to keep up with the pins coming out. I was very frustrated. Then I found disneypins.com. I was able to order from the website and be able to get basically the same pins everyone else was getting except for limited editions. Now, its the LE pins that I struggle to obtain. I'm so thankful that I have a few folks that out of the goodness of their hearts have helped me with those I can't buy myself. Personally, I wished that disney would allow a certain predetermined quantity of LE pins to be sold online. That way everyone would at least have a shot at it. I have no problem paying extra for a pin if someone takes their time, gas, and effort to get one for me. I appreciate all the help offered to myself and others through the forum. I must say.... If I lived even remotely near a park, I would certainly help others at face value who are less fortunate but I would also get some pins to resell. The best of both worlds. Helping others and making a little money.

The BatB release will be nuts. I would be shocked if these pins did not sell for $50 bucks for bad scenes right away. They might go down over time but BatB is one of the most popular films and like you said, the release will be nuts. If people buy this pin at retail for other people, that is really nice of them but should not be expected. It sucks that I cannot go to this release but I also would never expect anyone to give me this pin at cost. I would expect to pay at least $50 for it because of all the trouble people will have getting it. Long story short, people are going to complain about not being able to get this pin at cost and its not fair. Sell the pin for what you think it is worth. Your best bet is honestly going through ebay. You could probably set the starting price at 40 and easily make close to 80 or 100 on the pin if its a good scene. I recommend going through ebay because then people are choosing to pay ridiculous prices for the pins and you cannot then feel guilty over it and you have extra cash.

Thank you to everyone commenting. So far it has stayed very clean and drama free and I appreciate it soooo much!

Psycho Pixie said:

Thank you to everyone commenting. So far it has stayed very clean and drama free and I appreciate it soooo much!

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Oh. *throws a rock*

I've never sold a pin before, I stritctly trade, but that's just me

That being said, it's hard for me to say what I think. In my opinion, any pin being sold above retail price should be okay. If you spent the time, used gas, and slept in the cold to get them, you should be able to sell them for whatever price you think is fair. But people who live far from the parks and can't get the pins should NOT whine about the prices people offer. Most of the time, the prices tend to go down after a while. They are pins for crying out loud, you'll get them eventually!!!

So Psycho Pixie, I think you are fine selling this pin for above retail, especially considering how crazy the release will be

Romancing_Train said:

Oh. *throws a rock*

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Lol!

My 2 cents:
what about a good, old-fashioned auction? Start it at retail, or even $5-10 over retail, so you at least make back what you paid (if it's not a great scene), and if it's a desirable one, let the ultimate buyer decide the value. It would be nice to see what people are willing to pay, instead of deciding for them.

That being said, I know that doesn't often happen, and it is about supply and demand. I'm cool with that. As I've found with plenty of other pins, as a buyer, many times it is about having patience. Some of these podms will stay highly desirable and valuable, but many come down in price if you're just willing to wait until that right one comes along. I've been collecting these from Bambi onward, and it took me just about a year to get Snow White, but I got it, and for a great trade. I've paid more, I've paid less. It's the timing.

On the flip side, as a seller, strike while the iron is hot, as I see it. Get what you can, when you can.

Romancing_Train said:

Oh. *throws a rock*

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ok, lol at that.
On to top.

As so many others have said, if yours, its your choice to sell and how much to sell it for. As another person who lives a good distance from the parks (16-18 hours) I can't go to the release. I am always super happy to be able to trade for a PoDM or pre-pay for a little over cost (Caligurl was super great with this until the wristbands came in). But when these pins got popular, and I saw the prices, I made the choice to keep collecting them. Yes, they're expensive but it's my choice as to how much I'm willing to spend on one. I don't have to buy it, its not a matter of life or death. I will survive without a pin (or at least I keep telling myself that). I watch eBay when they come out, and I've paid for the scenes I want.
If I don't like a price, I can move past it. Maybe I'll find a better deal later, maybe I wont. I don't think it's wrong for you to go to a release and buy a couple extra pins. You should be able to sell them if you want to, trade them if you want to or swim in them if you want to (I don't really suggest the last one).
I do not, however, think it's fair to buy 40 pins and jack the prices way up and be an *** about it. I think at that point, you need to be kicked. But if you got to park and buy a couple for yourself, and a couple for trading/selling, why shouldn't you?

shooting4ownhand said:

If people buy this pin at retail for other people, that is really nice of them but should not be expected.

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This is what I really dislike about doing pickups because I've been doing it for long. Everyone expects me to give the pin to them for retail ESPECIALLY PODMs.
No, I'm sorry... not anymore. I can't. Not worth my time because I'm tired as heck by the time the release is over. No sleep, gas money, a good amount of time standing in lines, etc... you think all of us picker-uppers would get a pat on the shoulder but nope! Just nasty PMs about retail pricing.

wow... way to much to read... just dont mark up to much. its ok to cover your gas or mayb duble up the price... i think and its just me... that its bad to ask for 100s of bucks for a 20 pin that was bought hours b4. if u love the hobby... help ppl and sale at a fair price if u must sale....

ok i will go read now... should take 3 hours... lol

Yea I think the consensus is if you are selling on DPF, you should use ebay prices - 11%(ebay cut). You are free to try for more but people are going to give you dirty looks in the halls, and you may even receive a friendly visit from the Price Police.

I think as enthusiasts that we all can acknowledge that pins are gonna have a certain value at any moment in time, whether trading for pins or money. It is truly a service to the enthusiast community when people sell for cost + expenses rather than market value, and should be appreciated but never expected. Someone trying to charge more than market should be met with the same scorn as someone trying to shark you in a trade. For people who are strictly using pins opportunistically as a source of income, such as buying a set and listing it for 300% markup before the set sells out, I think an extra amount of scorn is warranted.

ryanfury said:

Yea I think the consensus is if you are selling on DPF, you should use ebay prices - 11%(ebay cut). You are free to try for more but people are going to give you dirty looks in the halls, and you may even receive a friendly visit from the Price Police.

I think as enthusiasts that we all can acknowledge that pins are gonna have a certain value at any moment in time, whether trading for pins or money. It is truly a service to the enthusiast community when people sell for cost + expenses rather than market value, and should be appreciated but never expected. Someone trying to charge more than market should be met with the same scorn as someone trying to shark you in a trade. For people who are strictly using pins opportunistically as a source of income, such as buying a set and listing it for 300% markup before the set sells out, I think an extra amount of scorn is warranted.

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After I read this...honestly I said to myself, "I wish I didn't care about people and had enough money to invest so I can get rich off pins." I wanna be a pin super villain.

I'm just stuck being a silly hero *cry*

Like other people said, I don't think there's anything wrong with reselling pins to make a profit, as long as you're honest about it.

I came so close to buying the Designer Villain pin set the night it came out - not because I collect villains, or because I loved the pins, but because I knew I could make a tidy little sum reselling it. I ended up chickening out for two reasons: (01) - I didn't want anybody to call me a shark (people scare me!), and (02) - As much as I could have used the money right then (man, I could still really use the money), I knew I'd end up falling for somebodys' sob story and selling the pins for much less than they were worth.

PinKitten said:

Lol!

My 2 cents:
what about a good, old-fashioned auction? Start it at retail, or even $5-10 over retail, so you at least make back what you paid (if it's not a great scene), and if it's a desirable one, let the ultimate buyer decide the value. It would be nice to see what people are willing to pay, instead of deciding for them.

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This is pretty much my SOP when I do sell pins on eBay (which is really only once every year or so). I think about what price is the lowest I'd let it go for, then start it there and use auction-style. I'm not sure I've ever used BIN, actually. But that way, the buyers set the value.

My husband sells on ebay he starts the price for what he buys the item for or maybe a few bucks more. but he does bidding so if the prices go up from others it is due to others bidding on the item he does not do buy it now. but he buys his own pins to make the money to counter act my trading and my crazy buying.