Scrappers And Counterfeits: The Black Market of Disney Pin Trading
We take a closer look at the dark side of Disney Pin Trading to expose the problem and teach you how to solve it
The act of pin trading evolved from a casual pastime of friendly interactions between Disney park goers into a beloved tradition we Disney fans have grown convivial to over the years. Disney Pin Trading has brought people within the Disney community closer.
Over the years though, this innocent activity has slowly manipulated into an epidemic that tarnishes most good things this world offers. A thing so vile, so sinister, that it has contributed to the extinction of magnificent beasts that used to walk this earth. This “thing”, Ladies and Gentlemen, is called the Disney Pin Black Market!
There are two products in the underground world of the Disney Pin Black Market a smart trader keeps an eye out for: Scrappers and Counterfeits. Disney outsources most of their pin trading items to manufacturers in China. Nevertheless, Disney’s standards in quality are quite high and a pin with any imperfections such as distorted images or blurred edges are marked as “scrapped” pins and are set for destruction. But somehow, these scrapped pins don’t make their mandate and find a way to weasel themselves into the society of pin trading and into your pockets.
Counterfeits, however, are worse than Scrappers, for they are something untouched by Disney entirely, whereas Scrappers are deformed originals. Counterfeits are amateur-made copies of original Disney pins. In one way or another, they are meant to trick Disney pin traders and collectors into making a quick buck for the manufacturers.
We know that some of you collect and trade pins yourselves and the last thing we want is for someone to cheat you out of a rare, costly pin for something fake and worthless! For that reason, we hope the following tips will safely guide you as you continue your journey in the world of pin trading and collecting. Now, there are a few ways to tell a Scrapper and Counterfeit from an original:
- Feel the edges of the pin with the tip of a finger. If there are any sharp edges, that pin is a Scrapper.
- If any outlines on a pin do not pop out on the surface, and are instead smooth when fingers are run over them, is considered a Scrapper.
- Any pins that are not listed in pinpics.com are dubbed as Counterfeits.
- Blurred images, dents, or any imperfections are Scrappers and Counterfeits.
- Though Purchasing packets of pins at stores is the best way to obtain them, these stores are still susceptible to having Scrappers.
- Training yourself with these tips to detect defected pins is essential to pin trading.
If you’re just starting your own journey of into pin trading and collecting, here are some other helpful aids that could help on the way.
Getting started on the road of pin trading is simple: the possession of pins. According to veteran pin trader Nicole Nguyen, the best, efficient, and safest way to get pins is to purchase them. The best way to purchase pins is in either packets or lanyards, with each one containing 5 or more pins. Packets may be located in most merchandise locations at Disney Parks.
Once these pins are obtained, the next step of the process takes place: trading. The safest, coolest, and most fun way to trade pins is at your favorite Disney Park and with a Cast Member. Cast Members hold pins that have either some new or exclusive content. It is in their best interests to have you take the best pins they can supply you with. With a little time, practice, and a dash of magic, an intermediate pin in a collector’s library may as well grow into one that is quite exotic and rare!
Another form of trading, of course, would be amongst fellow collectors, but remain wary because a Black Market trader may be offering you Scrappers and Counterfeits. Just remember what we told you above on what you should look for in the pins and you’ll be alright.
Well there you go, Disney pin enthusiasts. I have laid upon you the terrifying dangers and risks that lurk among the road of pin trading. It may seem frightening, and it does sound rather risky, but knowing Disney, what would a magical adventure be without it?
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A special thank you to Nicole Nguyen and Tim Le for the pin-formation!
Do you currently trade Disney pins? If so, why do you buy and trade them? Have you ever been scammed by a Black Market trader with a Scrapper or Counterfeit? What have you done to prevent being taken advantage of now? Comment below!
interesting read, but sadly, pin trading at the parks you need to very carefully examine the pin you want! I went to downtown disney (WDW) the other day and nearly 80% of the pins on the cast members were scrappers, and the cast member had NO clue! I did inform them that they were fake and they asked how could they tell for future reference, and I did tell them so atleast they know now! but they had no clue that fakes/scrappers were a problem!
They know. They just say that so you feel good about explaining something to them. They don’t care what pin they get or what pin they trade. The pins don’t belong to them so they don’t put much value in it at all.
This is a great post! Thank you for sharing Lance! We are getting acquainted to pin trading!
Great post!! More people need to know about the fakes and scrappers. Sadly, the cast members don’t care when trading. I traded with a cast member and the pin was obviously a fake (very wrong colors, and the back of pin looks nothing like a normal pin, even the word Disney was spelled wrong). I informed the cast member and they put it back on their lanyard to trade again.
That’s the sad thing. Cast members are not allowed to refuse taking a pin from someone, so they have no choice when it comes to receiving a scrapper.
I had to laugh when I read “Nevertheless, Disney’s standards in quality are quite high and a pin with any imperfections such as distorted images or blurred edges are marked as “scrapped” pins and are set for destruction.” Disney’s quality is garbage compared to what it was just a few years ago. I have bough MANY mystery pins from the parks that had dings, dents and rough edges. You say Disney has quality standards…think again.