Sad sorry scrapper truth

[jessatattoo]

I am so new in this hobby, but having been in a hobby with counterfeits before I have well educated myself.

I was just at DLRP and I went with my lanyard of legitimate pins (bought at dlrp) looking to do some CM trades for the new release hidden mickeys or maybe find some pretty pins to exchange for the princess boosters I purchased before.

.....

Paris is infected with scrappers. Wandering eyeballs, chinsey metal and poorly enameled pins were almost all I found. I went with moderately new release princess pins and some vintage french cute mickeys and left with almost all! Every pin I looked at was a fake or a scrapper. And I talked to at least 10 CM's! Only one knew anything about pins, they were all nice. I talked to one with a snow white hidden Mickey snowflake who looks like she had a glass eye poor darling and he said we only trade for 'real' here. I met with one who talked about ebay selling (which I don't do I'm in it for the cute and pretty pins and characters I like!), and tried to trade me for an Eyore who wasn't CM exclusive, but he told me it was (I saw it later on a card at disney village). Hmmm.

The pin collection is SCARCE in paris. the OE's I was looking for were nowhere to be found. I need some advice. Is pin collecting just like this at DLRP or have I hit it at an odd point?

Oh the one hight point was I got a cute Bullseye from Toy story 3 for my animal sidekick/villain collection for a Jasmine who I wasn't terribly fond of He's the cutest.

 

[Psycho Pixie]

Correct me if i am wrong. I thought dlrp didnt DO hidden mickeys? The cast lanyard refreshers are like standard OE pins....

 

[BugCatcherJenna]

Correct me if i am wrong. I thought dlrp didnt DO hidden mickeys? The cast lanyard refreshers are like standard OE pins....

That doesnt mean people don't buy lots and trade them to CM's.

 

[markheardjr]

They don't have hidden mickey logo's, they have cast refresh pins. Slightly smaller than a OE pin IMO, but bigger and nicer than a HM. But the Paris traders treat them like LR's. But when I was there I really just looked for recent cast refresh pins as they are bigger and easier to spot and not faked as often. Then I made sure to find out pin trading times at the park and the store in DTD. The cast members running that have a keen eye and often reject scrappers if someone offers it. They usually have 2 or 3 of each of the last few cast lanyard pins as well. If you're there multiple days and make a request on an early day, they may be able to find you one you need too. I asked for a Cheshire cat and got 2 the next day.

 

[orionismycat]

Well I have to say we have had varied experiences at Paris. Regular CM either don't know or care about pins but just wear the pins because they are told to so they don't know a scrapper if it hits them in the eye. Some CM wear there own lanyards which can be confusing as the "rules " in Paris are not the same as Florida. CM in Paris can and do refuse to trade. Cast lanyard pin in Paris are NICE and BIG but you need to have eagle eyes. Try Harringtons, emporium and World of Disney store for your best shot. Ask if Nadia, Patrick or Franc are working and when the pin board will be out. The Puablo pin trading station in frontier land is the place to go at the weekend to find other traders and the pin trading team. Hope this helps. Nadia is always very friendly. Never give up never surrender.

 

[jessatattoo]

Well I have to say we have had varied experiences at Paris. Regular CM either don't know or care about pins but just wear the pins because they are told to so they don't know a scrapper if it hits them in the eye. Some CM wear there own lanyards which can be confusing as the "rules " in Paris are not the same as Florida. CM in Paris can and do refuse to trade. Cast lanyard pin in Paris are NICE and BIG but you need to have eagle eyes. Try Harringtons, emporium and World of Disney store for your best shot. Ask if Nadia, Patrick or Franc are working and when the pin board will be out. The Puablo pin trading station in frontier land is the place to go at the weekend to find other traders and the pin trading team. Hope this helps. Nadia is always very friendly. Never give up never surrender.

Thanks! I just got my season pass and with the holidays here i hit my blockout day wall early. There's a pin board? I didn't try to trade with anyone who wasn't a CM, but a CM did request a pin off mine that I had just gotten and really like, from now on only traders on my lanyard I learned. Thanks for the never give up! My boyfriend said I was a business woman, and hates my princesses and didn't understand why I wouldn't trade them away for 'cooler' pins. I'm trading for my collection! No business involved other than not wanting crappy scrapper or fake pins! I know the beauty of real pins. Unfortunately there seems to be a rash of fakes coming through. I've got a few legitimate vintage ones I want to trade, knowing now I can be refused I'm curious if I'll be shot down...

 

[DisneyOlivia]

Now I'll tell you about my personal experiences at dlrp with the CMs
First off I might add that my lanyard is a trader lanyard full stop. That means that all of the pins are OE and are of equal value to me.
Second - I trade with CMs mostly to have fun, to engage in conversation with the CMs and to maybe find some cute pins to keep !
Yes, there are TONS of scrappers at DLP. But there are tons that are not. I think that you just have to keep looking and you'll surely find things that interest you.
Also when trading with CMs - I let them choose their pin from my lanyard. This also most of the time makes them happy lol, and they're more likely to look out for any pins that I'm looking for (say I tell them I collect BatB and tink, they'll keep an eye out and will sometimes find something for me).
Also, as has been said, the cast refresher pins are super beautiful, big and shiny.
If you see one, jump on it. Just going casually from time to time i have managed to get a full set for my mum (except one) and they look really great. They'll be out mostly in the mornings or at the change over of shifts.

Also I was gifted a cast refresher from a pin trading cm in the park, you know that collectibles shop on Main Street ? I can't remember which day it is but they have a pin board (just OEs) but lots of more serious traders pass through or just stop to chat with the employee. Sadly I forget his name but I got chatting to him for an hour or two. We also discussed other DLP LEs that had been scrapped etc and it was great.

I think one has to keep an open mind and just have fun. Don't let the scrappers ruin the rest of the experience ! )

 

[DisneyOlivia]

Also can I just say that I have never (not once) been turned down for a trade.

 

[jessatattoo]

Also I was gifted a cast refresher from a pin trading cm in the park, you know that collectibles shop on Main Street ? I can't remember which day it is but they have a pin board (just OEs) but lots of more serious traders pass through or just stop to chat with the employee. Sadly I forget his name but I got chatting to him for an hour or two. We also discussed other DLP LEs that had been scrapped etc and it was great.

Cool! You mean the one connected to the sweets shop? I think next time I'll go there, its the one I remember that had the most pins. I did have a few conversation, never accused the pins of being scrappers, just respectfully declined. I was just disappointed that any pins that interested me were potential fakes. I love the heavy shiny prettiness of pins, and these were so flimsy and light with lackluster or outright wrong details. I will try to find the board wherever it may be! And I don't know what the CM pins are at this moment, but I'd love to have a couple for my collection!

 

[chowdmouse]

Yes, there are TONS of scrappers at DLP. But there are tons that are not. I think that you just have to keep looking and you'll surely find things that interest you.

I must say, it is good to hear that DLP is not as bad as WDW. I assumed that flood of scrappers that is available on eBay in the USA was also available in France. Could you please elaborate on this concept of the cast member being able to refuse a trade? Does any cast member have the right to refuse a scrapper? I definitely wish it was that way at WDW.

It has gotten worse every year at WDW. I am thankful to be able to make a brief trip for at least a couple of days every year. And for the last two or three years, it seems like it is nothing but scrappers. Sometimes one is lucky enough to catch a cast member that is just starting their workshift, and they will still have a current HM on their lanyard. But overall, it is almost all scrappers.

 

[JayLeeJay]

Can Paris CMs say no to a trade, even if the pin is a real Disney pin? Can they refuse to trade just because they don't like your pin?

 

[DisneyOlivia]

Sometimes one is lucky enough to catch a cast member that is just starting their workshift, and they will still have a current HM on their lanyard. But overall, it is almost all scrappers.

This sucks for you WDWers. One thing that is good at DLP as well is that we have not even half as many people pin trading as you guys do in the US, so even if you find a CM an hour after their shift started for example there's a good chance they'll have everything they had when they started their shift.

It was so weird when I went afew Saturdays ago for the GL/BL BatB and I was the first one to have bought the pin in Disney village (DTD). This was at 11:15am!!!!!

 

[DisneyOlivia]

Can Paris CMs say no to a trade, even if the pin is a real Disney pin? Can they refuse to trade just because they don't like your pin?

People say different things, especially (no stereotyping or offense intended, this is just a general consensus) international (non French speaking) people have made comments that at DLP CMs can say no.
I had done my fair share of CM trades (admittedly in French) and no one has ever even tried to say no.
I wonder if it is maybe some CMs being obnoxious and taking advantage of the fact that some of you are foreigners ? I would absolutely flip if someone said no to a pin trade as it goes against the rules, and I am playing the game how it should be played with legit pins and a big smile !


NB: My little brother also traded with me during 10 days last Christmas, and he was a twelve year old not speaking any french except for "est ce que je peux voir votre lanière s'il vous plait?" And he was never rejected either.

 

[rranger]

I did bring some traders to DLP last year and was disappointed in all the scrappers I did find one Beagle Boy pin though. I stopped bringing trading pins to Disneyland in general although I sometimes regret not having something to trade in the rare event I find a pin I like that's a non-scrapper!

 

[rif-raf]

Scrappers are bad at WDW as was said. But you can find legit pins as well. It gets frustrating at first, but then once you start to learn what to look out for you can avoid them. The resort hotel store "boards" can be good and the wall at DTD Pin Traders has lots of stuff. Just don't expect to find an awesome LE. I picked up a cute Donald as Will Turner the other day and it went right into my pirates collection. Just make sure you have fun with it and treat it like a treasure hunt. You'll have to dig in many places until you find a gem.

 

[pinbum]

So SAD.....