Pin Trading - Etiquette
Pin EtiquetteCommon courtesy should be the rule for pin trading, whether it’s with other Guests or with Cast Members - calm and civility should be of primary concern - then get the pin you want. Simply put - be nice and play fair. Pin Trading is a hobby and not a full-body contact sport. Which means, no running, pushing, pointing, grabbing or invading another trader’s personal space without permission (a personal comfort zone is about arm’s length between people and a lanyard is considerably shorter). Also, when trading with people from other countries, who may not speak English, it’s polite to slow down and make certain that the trade is understood. It’s also nice to tell the person a little about the pin you’ve traded as it makes for a friendlier exchange and gives the pin some history. At the end of a trade remember to say thank you.
The Disneyland Resort has recently instituted an updated set of pin trading standards and etiquette. The following comes from the newly printed guidelines:
- The general rule on what constitutes a tradable pin is that it is a cloisonné, semi-cloisonné or hard enamel (all or in part) Disney pin, or an acceptable operating participant pin (House of Blues, Rainforest Café, ESPN Zone), that represents a specific Disney event, place or location, character or icon.
- Only operating participant pins that show a Disney, Disneyland Resort, or Walt Disney World Resort affiliation will be accepted for trading.
- Disney Service pins, Spirit of Disneyland ® Resort pins and Disney language pins will not be accepted for trading.
- Counterfeit pins and lower quality pins (e.g.. plastic pins, rubber pins, other non-metal pins, epoxy-coated pins, etc.) will not be accepted for trading.
- If there is any doubt as to whether a pin is tradable pursuant to these rules, the trading Cast Member shall make the final determination.
- Pins should be in good, undamaged, tradable condition.
- Trade one pin at a time, hand to hand.
- For safety, trade pins with the backs attached.
- Please refrain from touching another person’s pins or lanyard. If you need a closer look, ask the person wearing the lanyard if they can bring it into clearer view for you.
- Certain pin sets must be traded as sets. If a single pin from the set does not complete the intended picture or statement alone, such as carded pin sets, all pins in the set must be traded as one pin. (sets will soon be numbered 1 of 2 or 2 of 2, to let Guests know that they are part of a set)
- "Name pins" may not be traded with Cast Members. This includes Disney name pins.
- When trading with Cast Members, Guests should offer a pin that is not already displayed on the Cast Member’s lanyard.
- Monies or gifts may not be exchanged or used in trade for a pin.
- Guests may only trade one pin of the same style with a Cast Member.
- Above all… Have fun!! Pin Trading can be a great way to interact with and meet Cast Members and their Guests.
(Rules are subject to change without notice. Guests suspected of operating an unauthorized pin business in a Disneyland Resort theme park or Guests violating any Disneyland Resort rules shall be subject to, among other things, ejection from such theme park and/or resort premises.)
While the rules for what types and varieties of pins are tradable at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disney Land are not as strict as those for the DLR - the rules for courtesy and respect for your fellow traders are common to all resort properties.
P
in Trading FAQWhat makes a good pin trade?
A trade in which both traders get pins they want, and manage to have a good time while
they’re at it is a good trade. Pin Trading is supposed to be fun and both traders
should be happy in the end. A good trade is one in which a trader isn’t made to feel
pressured or coerced or bullied into the trade. Never make a trade with which you
aren’t comfortable or think you might regret - should you change your mind chances
are that you’ll be able to find the pin you want again.
Official Disneyana Convention 2001 Promotional Pin
What makes a pin
"valuable"?
This is completely subjective - to Mickey collectors, a pin featuring their favorite
rodent is "good". To some traders any pin not already in their collections makes
it "good". As a rule, the more difficult a pin is to acquire - makes it
"good". If a pin is old or rare or sold out, if it’s exclusive to a park or
other venue, or was made and sold only to Cast Members or Annual Pass Holders, or
available only at a specific time or event, or is a limited edition - all of these add to
the perceived "value" of any particular pin. Most - but not all - limited
edition or Cast Member pins are back stamped with this information - don’t be afraid
to ask to take a closer look at any pin you’re interested in.
Does Anyone Try to Get Them All?
It’s been tried but with so many new pin designs available on a worldwide market
almost weekly, it’s virtually impossible to get every pin released in every venue for
every division. The best advice is to specialize in a character, or movie, or park, or
attraction or event. Collecting every Mickey pin released at the Disneyland Resort is
considerably easier (and much less expensive) than collecting every pin released in the
Disneyland Resort. Special events are fun to collect, as are holidays, or villains, or
pins commemorating parades or shows. More adventurous traders can try to collect all of
the Cast Member pins released or go after only the limited edition or mystery pins.
How Can I Get Pins to Trade?
If you’re unlucky enough not to live close to a Disney theme park there are a couple
other ways you can get pins. If you live close to a Disney Store you can get the pins
released there - they released a 102-pin series in 2000 and are scheduled to release
another. If you live close to a Disney Character Warehouse you may be able to find pins
for sale there. If you have friends or family that travel you can always ask them to be
your personal pin shoppers. There’s always the internet and its myriad auction and
secondary market sites. Some pins are also available from mail order sales from both the
Disneyland Resort (800-362-4533) and Walt Disney World.Resort (407-363-6200).
Pin trading bags and vests
How Can I Store and Display my
Pins?
Some collectors keep their pins in bags in drawers, while others frame them to enjoy.
Still others wear their favorites. There are various pin bags sold as well as glass or
Plexiglas covered display cases that will keep pins safe and protected. Most are available
at local hobby and craft stores, through mail order and through Internet outlets. As your
collection gets to large to be easily remembered it’s a good idea to create a
database of some kind. From a simple written list to a more complex reference guide, a
list of what you have is an invaluable tool. You can keep an on-line list of your
collection at PinPics.com - it’s
a great service and allows you to track of your collection. The site also has a Palm
Interface for those Palm Pilot carrying techies to use.
Where Can I Learn More About Pin
Trading?
Knowledge is the key to making a good trade and there are several ways you can learn about
pins and how to trade them. If you are at a theme park when the pin bug bites, there are
pin trading seminars called "pin talks" held by Super Traders at trading venues
in both the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. There are also dozens of web sites
featuring pins, some for trade and sale, several news boards, discussion boards and
bulletin boards that feature pin themed discussion, there are collectable magazines which
offer articles which feature pins released on Disney properties and Collectors and
Enthusiast Clubs that feature Disney collectables.
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