• Guest, Help The DPF Community Thrive - Join Our Donation Drive Today!

    We're launching a special DPF Donation Drive to ensure our beloved forum continues to flourish. Your support is vital in helping us cover essential server costs and keep our community running smoothly — This is more than just a donation; it's an investment in the future of our community.

    Join us in this crucial drive and let's ensure our forum remains a vibrant and dynamic place for everyone.

    Please visit the DPF Donation Drive Thread for details and instructions on how you can make your donation today!

Tactics for starting off collections?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Tactics for starting off collections?
T

Takeo7789

New DPF Member
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Messages
86
Location
South West UK
Hey guys, I'm interested to know how people went about beginning to start their collection. I'm sure many people started them at a Disney park but I haven't been to go to one since I decided to collect. I decided to look for unopened mystery boxes on auctions of series that would fit into my collection, that way I'd have traders if I got doubles. Any other suggestions? I'm still rather new heh^^
 
i went with the love of my childhood, disney movies. I saw the 5 pins set at epcot of peter pan...and starts the addiction. i had about 12 pins from prior trips over the years...now i have 1800. yeh its a problem
 
I started collecting when I was at Disneyland for my 5th anniversary with my boyfriend. He got me the Wall-E & Eve Vinylmations and then the next time we were there we found out about the trading & were like OMG!!! We went on the cast member trading route for a while since we didn't really have anything we were specifically collecting & didn't have anything good. That is how I started collecting Figment. The 1st pin I ever got through trading was a Figment pin. I had no clue who he was but he was cute! Then we realized that pretty much all cast member pins are fake. But we didn't have any good pins. Then we realized that we live close to DSF & people like those pins! Then I decided on what all I wanted to collect. Figment, Sleeping Beauty, Fox and the Hound, Holiday pins, random characters/pins I just like, and my new addition to my list, Stitch's ducklings.
 
Aww Figment reminds me of being young and seeing him at Epcot for the first time. I like hearing people's stories on here it's a good way to know them better. Ahh DSF I'm gonna be very jealous for a while with the Marvel pins coming out and me being stuck on the wrong side of the Atlantic grr! :P
 
1) Start by collecting only what you like. Everyone has a favorite Disney character or theme. This will ensure that you return home with pins that you want.
2) You will want to trade with cast members and ultimately fellow pin collectors. Starter sets and lanyard sets are a good way to get pins for trading.
3) When looking for higher level pins to trade, if you can afford them pick up extras of Limited Edition pins at the park. Again look for the more popular characters as they will be easier to trade.
4) You will be drawn to the collections of the older (been trading longer) pin "traders" at the park. For the first few visits, realize that you will be doing more looking, longing than trading. Think of it as visiting a museum of pins. While there are many friendly traders who will be happy to make a deal with you, beware as there are sharks in these waters.
5) Know what you are trading in both cost to you and what you are getting in return.
6) You are inevitablly going to hear about counterfeit Disney pins (aka: Scrappers). Sadly, if you trade, you will see them and you will ultimately get them. You can learn how to spot the more obvious ones in othe threads on this forum.
7) You can rapidly build your trading collection by taking advantage of Disney Character warehouse outlets - where old park merchandise goes to be sold, pin sell outs - see sales section of this forum, and via the Targets, Walmart, and souveinere stands selling authorized Disney merchandise such as "Jerry Leigh pins". Some of the recent Jerry Leigh pin releases are actually highly desired by collectors for their creative designs and originality. Thift stores/garage sales can be your friend as many near the park will be selling off pins not knowing their value on the secondary market.

8) MOST IMPORTANTLY have FUN. This is intended as a hobby that will allow you to gain a little bit of Disney magic, meet and interact with your fellow guests, and have an opportunity to interact with the Disney Castmembers. As with any collectable item, you could "someday/maybe" make some money when the time comes to part with your treasures or by trading up. But if you focus on just having a good time and the activities associated with your trading activity, I think you will later have those good memories and experiences to complement the momento of your journey.
 
JKrolak said:
1) Start by collecting only what you like. Everyone has a favorite Disney character or theme. This will ensure that you return home with pins that you want.
2) You will want to trade with cast members and ultimately fellow pin collectors. Starter sets and lanyard sets are a good way to get pins for trading.
3) When looking for higher level pins to trade, if you can afford them pick up extras of Limited Edition pins at the park. Again look for the more popular characters as they will be easier to trade.
4) You will be drawn to the collections of the older (been trading longer) pin "traders" at the park. For the first few visits, realize that you will be doing more looking, longing than trading. Think of it as visiting a museum of pins. While there are many friendly traders who will be happy to make a deal with you, beware as there are sharks in these waters.
5) Know what you are trading in both cost to you and what you are getting in return.
6) You are inevitablly going to hear about counterfeit Disney pins (aka: Scrappers). Sadly, if you trade, you will see them and you will ultimately get them. You can learn how to spot the more obvious ones in othe threads on this forum.
7) You can rapidly build your trading collection by taking advantage of Disney Character warehouse outlets - where old park merchandise goes to be sold, pin sell outs - see sales section of this forum, and via the Targets, Walmart, and souveinere stands selling authorized Disney merchandise such as "Jerry Leigh pins". Some of the recent Jerry Leigh pin releases are actually highly desired by collectors for their creative designs and originality. Thift stores/garage sales can be your friend as many near the park will be selling off pins not knowing their value on the secondary market.

8) MOST IMPORTANTLY have FUN. This is intended as a hobby that will allow you to gain a little bit of Disney magic, meet and interact with your fellow guests, and have an opportunity to interact with the Disney Castmembers. As with any collectable item, you could "someday/maybe" make some money when the time comes to part with your treasures or by trading up. But if you focus on just having a good time and the activities associated with your trading activity, I think you will later have those good memories and experiences to complement the momento of your journey.
Click to expand...

+9000

That is awesome knowledge.
 
JKrolak said:
1) Start by collecting only what you like. Everyone has a favorite Disney character or theme. This will ensure that you return home with pins that you want.
2) You will want to trade with cast members and ultimately fellow pin collectors. Starter sets and lanyard sets are a good way to get pins for trading.
3) When looking for higher level pins to trade, if you can afford them pick up extras of Limited Edition pins at the park. Again look for the more popular characters as they will be easier to trade.
4) You will be drawn to the collections of the older (been trading longer) pin "traders" at the park. For the first few visits, realize that you will be doing more looking, longing than trading. Think of it as visiting a museum of pins. While there are many friendly traders who will be happy to make a deal with you, beware as there are sharks in these waters.
5) Know what you are trading in both cost to you and what you are getting in return.
6) You are inevitablly going to hear about counterfeit Disney pins (aka: Scrappers). Sadly, if you trade, you will see them and you will ultimately get them. You can learn how to spot the more obvious ones in othe threads on this forum.
7) You can rapidly build your trading collection by taking advantage of Disney Character warehouse outlets - where old park merchandise goes to be sold, pin sell outs - see sales section of this forum, and via the Targets, Walmart, and souveinere stands selling authorized Disney merchandise such as "Jerry Leigh pins". Some of the recent Jerry Leigh pin releases are actually highly desired by collectors for their creative designs and originality. Thift stores/garage sales can be your friend as many near the park will be selling off pins not knowing their value on the secondary market.

8) MOST IMPORTANTLY have FUN. This is intended as a hobby that will allow you to gain a little bit of Disney magic, meet and interact with your fellow guests, and have an opportunity to interact with the Disney Castmembers. As with any collectable item, you could "someday/maybe" make some money when the time comes to part with your treasures or by trading up. But if you focus on just having a good time and the activities associated with your trading activity, I think you will later have those good memories and experiences to complement the momento of your journey.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna get this entire post tattoo'ed on my back, then walk around shirtless at every pin trading event.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top