Be careful buying lots of pins online

[magicalmom]

A number of unauthorized copies of Disney pins (AKA "scrappers) are turning up in online auctions. Manufacturers in China make more pins than Disney orders, and then release the unauthorized ones directly into the secondary market.

Signs that you risk getting scrappers:

• a seller offers multiple identical lots.
• an inexpensive lot contains hard to find pins, or pins that were released on very limited quantities.
• a single lot contains several of the same pin.

Don't buy mystery lots; make sure the photo is of the exact pins you will receive. Once you receive them, check them over. Fortunately, the manufacturers tend to cut corners with scrappers. Look out for blemishes, blurring, inadequate paint coverage, unreadable back stamps, colors that look "off," or areas that should be painted dark instead being bare silver metal (e.g. Chip's nose) If you receive suspicious pins, contact your seller before you leave any feedback, and try to work it out.

You probably can't avoid scrappers totally - I've got a dozen or so here that came in otherwise nice lots. I'll either throw them away or use them as thumbtacks.

So why does this matter? Aside from the rather important legal and ethical problems with scrappers, they inhibit trading, because cast members are highly likely to have the most commonly available pins on their lanyards before your child tries to trade with them. The people who unwittingly buy scrappers end up with mostly the same pins, and your child can't trade a pin that the cast member already has. In addition, if you paid Disney prices for a Limited Edition 200 pin, and then there are suddenly 2000 copies of the pin out there, you no longer have what your thought you paid for, right?

Disney pins are a great hobby - I buy them, sell them, collect them, and trade them. (I also give them as gifts, so be nice to me ) The scrappers are very frustrating, and I think it will take all of refusing to accept them from anybody to clean up the marketplace.

OK - end of rant

[Urbss]

I agree with you completely, but I also realize that there are so many conterfeit pins that it is almost impossible to avoid them. And, in some cases, you can't even tell the difference.

It is just sad that we live in such a corrupt world.

[magicalmom]

there are so many conterfeit pins that it is almost impossible to avoid them. And, in some cases, you can't even tell the difference.

Yeah. >sigh<

[idreamofdisney]

bought my pins from a seller on ebay. I looked and this seller has multiple auctions with the same picture. I bought 25 and paid $19 so I thought I got a great price. My parents always said if it is too good to be true it is. I was so excited to surprise my daughter with these so she could trade pins when we go in June. We have been saving for this trip forever. She is 9 years old and I read about pin trading and I was trying to save money since we have spent every cent on our trip. Oh well...I'll keep my fingers crossed that I get some good pins when they come in - if they ever get here at all. Thanks for the tips.

[idreamofdisney]

I just rec'd my package of pins. Though I couldn't believe it there it was Chip's nose had no paint! They look ok to me but I guess to experts they will not be good. Most say Hidden Mickeys, some are Cast Lanyards, and some are Disneyland. Will my daughter(9) be able to trade any? I don't want anyone to embarass her and say they are not the right kind. I'll have to look more closely to see if there is anything else to indicate a problem. Very disappointing....

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I really wouldn't worry - she will be able to trade.

We've purchased a couple of lots of ebay, and had a couple of clearly-obvious fakes, but in general they seemed OK, and DD had a blast trading them.

[clausjo]

I bought a lot from ebay - 20 pins for $17 - they all look good. I bought them for the kids to trade at our trip to DL in a few weeks. I hope there's no issue with them trading. I've read stories of CMs refusing to trade because the pins aren't real. Anyone have this happen?

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

DD is the pin trader in our family, and she has never had any issues ... I really wouldn't worry.

[showmethemouse]

My son and I buy pins online all the time and we never had a problem trading then at Disney world
we keep the ones we need and we trade the ones we have. its a lot of fun trading them. Have fun trading.

[DisneyMom12]

I just got my lot today. 100 pins for $67. Got some great ones too. I finished one Donald Duck set, and the beginning of a few different sets. Only 1 duplicate. I am getting so excited, only 17 day til we leave.