Who else is going is going to the UP release?

[markheardjr]

I got to the dSF around 9. There was an unofficial line started in the back of the parking lot. I was about 50. Questions started to form. This is NOT a line eventhough there was. Someone there since 2 pm. Then a security guard came to tell us that this peaceful line was not official and both sides of the alley were free game to line up. Well the line split in two. One at the end of the alley and one in the front of the alley. Rumors started that the front line was getting tickets to line up. Then everyone went to the front line. People started to bubble the front. All the people that were there originally stood our ground and made the unofficial line. Ed finally came out to tell us that he was going to hand out 1 by 1 tickets to stand in the official line in the alley. One by one we filled in. A few tried to blend in but we all yelled and Ed knew not to give them a ticket. Actually around 10 there were only about 90 people in line. By the time 11:00 was here there was about 180 people in line. Ed made the comment that all you have with you is all you have. No leaving the lines. Restrooms were available in the Soda Fountain. . Many were turned away and few still trickled in at 1, 2 and 1:30. One everyone was setteled in, Ed let us all gi to cars for blankets ect and for food. Ed even surved us hot coffee or coco with marshmellows. From crowds of chatting to whispers and snores we are all waiting in 50* temps with a slight wind chill. Now just waiting for Ed to come and hand out the official tickets and get our pins to go to a warm bed.

One note. There will be released 156 pins. There were 6 samples that were sent incase of error or damage to the pins. 4 lucky line holders were given these tickets in line. 2 tickets are still held incase of damaged pins.

You are miss-informed. 6 pins are held to replace errors or damaged pins. After the sale, the extra 6 go into the "scrap book" that DSF keeps. They strictly control that book to maintain the specified edition size. Only AP's or PP's would be above and beyond the 150.I was number 154 in line, I asked Ed if he'd sell any extras and he said no.

I do have to say to all the people that feel they need to say "there's always people upset" or whatever that I felt very let down by DSF. There were many shady things going on and DSF just didnt' have the staff to handle the chaos. 1 security guard was not enough. Cutters, the mass group moving from back to front, tickets being "transferred", etc are all reasons why I feel that I was cheated out of a set I wanted for me. I'm tired of seeing parents drag their 4 kids with them just to sell all the sets. I maintained my integrity and did not move ahead in the line even though I had the opportunity. I was in the 150 numbers when the line started moving, but it took so long to pass out "line tickets" that people cut. If I was legitimately late or not in the original 150 then oh-well. But when I was and then last minute I am not because no security manned the line as it moved, that's frustrating. I stayed all night hoping a few folks didn't buy all 4. The veteran traders were spreading rumors that some people were only buying the balloons pins. Not the case, every person bought all 4. Some that planned to only buy 2, bought the other extra's for traders inside the 150, rather than let the over 150's that stayed have a chance.

To top off the insult to injury, when I finally did get in, to buy my Marquee that was left over...they had sale pins. I found 2 nice ones in the $5 bin that was right in front of the cashier. She watched me pull 2 of the pins right out of the sale bin. They rang up $11 and $14. She wouldn't sell them to me for the $5 sale price and said someone put them in there. I was livid. Spent all night for no UP pins and then when they make a mistake and put a pin in the bin they don't honor the price. Shame. I hope Ed listened to me about online lottery style releases now. Gives everyone a fair chance and avoids these families that come just for the profit.