What to look on CMs Lanyards... For noobs like me, please.

[Mahrii]

Hello,
I was wondering if we could have those of you that are more experienced at trading, those who have done this for a while help me out with some questions that I think may also help others who are also new at this.
While visiting WDW last week, I noticed that many of the CM's lanyards were full of scrappers, or things that did not interest me. I became discouraged from trading at the parks and thought maybe purchasing pins may be a better, safer, way to obtain pins. After spending tons of money on ebay, and doing a few trades, I realize part of the fun is being able to trade for pins and that's the reason I bought a season pass at WDW, right?

Well, my questions have to do with what to look for on CMs lanyards, someone pointed out last night in the chat room, that you can find some really cool pins such as "chasers" on lanyards and that it is a viable and great source if done right. Ok, well. What should I look for? Are chasers part of every mystery set? or just some of them? I know to look for the usual sought after pins such as Stitch, Tangled, Little Mermaid, BatB, and to try to get to the parks early. I heard Scoop was a great source, I still have to run into him, just bad luck I suppose. (he was fishing last Weds.)

I try to stay away from Hidden Mickeys because they are so commonly scrapped. So, what are your tips on trading from lanyards at the parks? I read the WDW trading location guide in this forum, and that was great information as to where to go. What should I look for? What pins should I be looking to purchase at the parks? they seem to be mostly open editions, so is there really a point in buying them unless is for trading or because you like it for your collection?

Thanks in advance for your help, I can't wait to see what you all have to say.

 

[TinkerSprouse]

Those are some great questions. I am not close enough to go to the parks, but maybe soon for a visit and that would be good info to have

 

[dawny]

awe man, i am the wrong gal to ask. tbh the trading at wdw has been horrible. At least when they had the tables at epcot you stood a chance, or get aggressive with folks wearing lanyards or have trading books, hit trading nights...trade online...sorry honey, but i have nothing but poor pickins and scrappers down there seems like california (who are usually mad at the east coasters for getting better releases in the parks) have the trading market hands down.

 

[Goofy_Moe]

This is the challenge we all face experienced or not... Scrappers are getting better and better and the are getting in faster and faster... My only advice is to collect hidden mickeys from CM lanyards within the first month or so of the new wave release... after that there are for sure scrappers floating around... Best thing you could do is trade, trade, trade... get home and take a close look at what you've collected to determine what is good or not, then do it all again... When looking for older hidden mickeys, stay away from the evil bay... all fakes!!! Do trades with DPF members for older ones, members are very trustworthy for the most part... Chassers as far as I know have been recently added to all new releases, but were not in the older years...

I hope this helps a bit... Good Luck and Have fun, That is the key...

 

[Mahrii]

Well, most of the pins I like are not HMs. I, of course, like The little Mermaid, BatB, Stitch, and finding nemo. I love the Beloved Tales Series and I am determined to get some pins that are really hard to get. Up to last night I thought I had to get my hands on low # LE's in order to have something good to trade. However, I am finding out that there are open edition pins that nobody will trade for even LE 250's. So, I am looking to find out what those "special" pins are that I need to look for. I know I am not going to find those hard to find pins, like the Stitch Bath Story series, or the Beloved Tales or the Reveal/Conceal princesses on lanyards.
What about CM exclusive pins? How do I know if one is a good one to have? I traded the LE 1000 Snow White Scary Adventures pin for a CM exclusive pin and after I went on Pinpics I no think I got a bad deal. The pin he traded me for was: Pin 28991: WDW Cast Exclusive - Stars Behind the Magic
(Pooh and Friends)
I have been taken care pretty well in a couple of trades by some nice people, but on a couple of others I feel I had my shirt taken off my back. I am getting ready to go to the parks tomorrow and Saturday and I would love to have some intel before I get there.
Thanks again.
Mahrii

 

[IsaacandAmanda]

It's all a game of chance. We try not to trade with CM's because of the fake and scrapper issue. When we do, it's usually with stuff we dont mind getting rid of. We do it for fun. We don't get too serious with it. I mean, this is a fun hobby. It takes away from the fun when you try to find that authentic pin at all costs. If you have good pins to trade, trade with fellow guests. They always or, most of the time have a pin or two you like. Whether waiting in line or buying food or in the store. In fact, we found most of our LE's and HTF pins with guests. Just a suggestion. If you get a fake, don't worry :] It's all about having fun. Makes finding real pins more of a treasure hunt. Like Gold and Fool's Gold.

 

[TinkerSprouse]

Makes finding real pins more of a treasure hunt. Like Gold and Fool's Gold.

That is for sure the best way I have heard it put. I like that comparison. I am new to the pinning, and so far not interested in trading. I just want to collect the ones I really want. And even if it's a scrapper, I think I would be ok with that too. Would even like some scrappers for some craft projects. That will be fun! You gave some great advice!!

 

[Mahrii]

So leaving scrappers issue aside, what pins are you guys usually looking for when looking at lanyards?
Is there a way to tell which pins you want to buy at the parks? which sets to invest in?
Which sets have "chasers" or "hot" pins?
What do you look for?

 

[IsaacandAmanda]

There are the vinylmation sets which go for 30, or cheaper if your an AP, and usually have a chaser pin for a total of 7 pins. And at the parks, All pins appeal to us, but we hae other things to do so only buy 4 or 5 a month both in and outside the parks. But most mystery sets have a chaser pin most love (Most common characters would be Tinker Bell, Maleficent, Stitch, Pooh and Friends, Jessica Rabbit, etc.) and many will often try and get it with a pin worthy.

As for Lanyards, we try to look for pins that are rack pins (Saves us 8 or 9 bucks, you'll be suprised to see what guests trade with on cast members lanyards) or pins that you can only buy in a set. Just us though.

 

[shellymo]

We were just at WDW in March. My family looked for pins that are interesting to us, keeping a good eye out for obvious scrappers. We also looked for pins that were different. We ended up with a pins that we could not buy at the park, had fun finding and will make us remember our trip:

Pin 38452:

Cinderella Castle Window - Cinderella Castle - Walt Disney World Resort

my daughter loved finding this one

Pin 44595:

Princess Minnie Mouse (Sparkle)

Pin 45471:

Golden Ears Hat Collection (Chip 'n' Dale)

Pin 47850:

WDW ~ Cast Member ~ Independence Day 2006 ~ Chip and Dale with Donald Duckthis one is limited edition and cast exclusive

Pin 48005:

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Strolling

Pin 50440:

WDW - 35th Anniversary Logo

Pin 63137:

Vote For Mickey (2008)

Pin 65760:

Create Your Own - Captain Hook, Evil Queen, Maleficent

Pin 78651:

WDW - Deluxe Starter Set - Walt Disney World - Daisy Duck at Disney Cruise Line Only

Pin 82468:

WDW - Booster Set - Pixar Cars Attraction Posters - Monorail Only

again my daughter loves this pin

Pin 82303:

Keep on Tradin' Mystery Collection - Mickey Mouse (Black and White)

this one is great!

Pin 83506:

Disney Cruise Line Puerto Vallarta I could go on and on! This is why we still love to pin trade in the parks! Shelly

 

[Masamune]

In my opinion, all you should be looking to trade for are pins that you actually like yourself. That way, if it turns out to be a scrapper, there's no harm in just keeping it. If you go looking to trade for pins to use as traders, and then you end up with a scrapper, it's a lot more disappointing. If you only trade for pins you like, there shouldn't be as much of a problem, as you should already like that pin enough to keep it.

 

[tinkerbellfan117]

Be careful. The scrappers have gotten really good and I cannot tell.

 

[starry_solo]

If you ever have a question about a potential trade, post it and we can give you our comments!

 

[markheardjr]

You can always ask the CM to see theirs first and see if the edges are clean and colors are good and glossy. I find that the larger the pin the better the chance it is special or LE. All silver is good to look for too.

 

[Sirsnoozit]

If you trade with CM'S, you're going to get scrappers. That's just a fact. Everyone brings up HM'S and to stay away from those. What nobody touches upon is every series of pins have been hit by scrappers. Just because it's a HM doesn't mean it's necessarily a fake pin. Normally the Sharks pull the HM'S off of CM'S Lanyards first thing in the morning. And, normally, the Sharks trade out Rack Pins that are scrappers for the HM'S. So, not collecting the HM'S because of the scrapper issue is becoming a soar spot with HM Collectors. Look at Vinyl Pins, FAR MORE Scrappers in Vinyl's than in HM'S because they all are the same shape. It's far more easy to press 10,000 pins that are all the same shape than 10,000 pins that are different shapes. So, don't just point fingers at HM'S and say SCRAPPER!!! We actually have our best luck with the HM'S, especially if they are the newest series. So, don't pass up HM'S just because you fear Scrappers. Disney would much rather put HM'S on CM'S Lanyards simply due to cost. It is much more expensive to put rack pins on CM'S Lanyards than it is to put a HM on there. Just pick pins that you like then sort out the junk when you get the chance. It's just a harsh fact that, if you do trade with CM'S, you're going to get scrappers...