I've consolidated some of the more important posts which can help a newbie. So if you are a new trader, or a veteran trader who needs a refresher, the following posts or "guidelines" will be helpful to use for online trading.
There's quite a few posts to read below, so keep scrolling down.
PIN TRADING 101: RESEARCH YOUR PINS!
If you are new to online pin trading, please take a moment and look up your pins on PinPics.com.
1)When starting out, LEARN some information about your pins, such as:
*the year it was released,
*how many pins were released (ie: Limited Edition size),
*if the pin is retired,
*how many people want the pin,
*how many people are trading the pin, and
*the retail cost of the pin.
2)What makes one pin more valuable or more desire over another?
* Some pin traders will see their pin as more valuable than your pin because their pin was made many years ago, is sold out (or sold out in minutes versus months), or has a lower edition size.
* Some pins may have a been pulled or cancelled, so even though a pin may have been released as an Edition Size of 1500, it may actually be lower because many pins were damaged or destroyed. Therefore the edition size is not 1500, but realistically 500. Knowing a pin has 500 in circulation would make this more valuableK especially if the pin is sold out, or retired!
* Some pins are more valuable based on the character. Some characters like Tinker Bell, Maleficent, or themes like Haunted Mansion will be more popular than characters like Lion King or even Mickey Mouse. Like the stock market, some characters or themes has its high values or low values. For a time, Winnie the Pooh, Stitch, and Jessica Rabbit were THE HOT characters to collect. Then the market got over saturated, and the popularity teetered or slightly declined. Then, new traders came on board and some of the characters made a come back in popularity.
* Some pins can be more desired because you had to attend a specific event, had to purchase specific merchandise to obtain it, or it could be an exclusive pin to Cast Members (ie: employees).
3) Ask questions about the pin! This forum is a great place!
Unless you know the pin comes from a Disney Resort or an authorized Disney location, ask questions about the pin if you are not sure about its origin.
* Read the description or post questions on the Dizpins forum regarding the pin in question. Chances are, someone will have the answer!
Email info@pinpics.com or info@dizpins.com if you see this message:
*** ATTENTION ***
The person that you are trying to look up a reference for has been banned from the Dizpins Reference Center (DRC) by the DRC Administrators. If you have any questions, or feel that this message has been reached in error, please contact info@dizpins.com.
How to make that trade....
You get an email and a Trade Requst you want to make.
Before accepting a trade, always Check References at the Dizpins Reference Center!
1) Get the trade agreement in writing, and confirm the trade by exchanging mailing addresses.
For example:
I would like to trade Pin 12587: Japan Disney Store - Theatre Pin Series #8 (Alice in Wonderland) in exchange for your Pin 12588: JDS - Theatre Pin Series #9 (Peter Pan)
My address is 1313 Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92801
Please confirm with your address.
Thanks, Minnie Mouse
The other trader responds with
I agree to trade my Pin 12588: JDS - Theatre Pin Series #9 (Peter Pan) for your Pin 12587: Japan Disney Store - Theatre Pin Series #8 (Alice in Wonderland). Here is my address
a) Keep a copy of the email agreement (showing the swapping of addresses) until the trade is complete.
In the event you need to file a complaint, you have proof that both parties agreed to the trade, and that you agreed to any extras that may not have been shipped to you.
b) Do not accept a "verbal" agreement such as in the chat room or in the post forum.
c) If the trade sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.
If the trade is one sided (regardless in whos favor) point out the lopsided trade. If you believe in Pin Karma, it could reward you later when you least expect it!
d) Do Not Assume that the pin trade comes with the extra frills. If the pin you want comes in a box, special backing, or a display card, please verify that the other trader is sending you the special items. Request certain items be packaged with extra cardboard or in a box if you do not want items to be bent.
(1) If the other trader will be spending more postage, you can compensate the other trader with more pins or reimburse the person the added postage.
2) If the other person has little or no references, or, if you are unsure about a trade, email a moderator who can be the neutral party.
a) The moderator can be a third party where both traders will send the package to the moderator. (see the 3rd party trade post below)
3) Plan on mailing the pin within 24-48 hours of the agreement.
a) Notify the trader if you cannot ship within 48 hours, but advise when you can.
b) The Moderators do not approve of holding pins. Meaning, not shipping yours until you receive the other person's pin. This practice will not be tolerated, and if a complaint is made against you, the Moderators will side with the other pin trader, regardless of your reason for doing this.
4) Each trader is responsible for their own trade until it reaches its final destination!
a) Package the pin(s) with foam, bubble or padded material.
b) Do not use a common #10 paper envelope or a regular paper manila envelope. The envelope may tear or the pin may be crushed when the USPS runs it through their machines.
c) You can reuse old bubbled envelopes or buy the bubbled size #00 or #000 envelopes at an office supply store, the Dollar store, Walmart, Online stores (ie: mailersandmore.com) or even the US post office!
* If the pin is fragile, consider using a box instead of an envelope
* If you are trading a hard to find pin, or an irreplaceable pin, spend the extra money and use a tracking service like delivery or signature confirmation.
* You can also insure the item.
* For international trades, send it by Registered Mail. It may cost more, but this is extremely secure!
5) When mailing your pin, make sure the envelope is legible!
a) If you do not have legible handwriting, use a computer to type a label.
b) Provide the sufficient postage. Remember that mailing a pin is considered oversized and a 41 cent stamp is not sufficient!
c) Effective May, 2007, the US First Class Mailing domestic rate using a bubble envelope:
1 oz - without deliver confirmation $1.13
2 oz V without deliver confirmation- $1.30 * (most common weight)
3 oz - without deliver confirmation- $1.47
Add $0.75 for delivery confirmation
Add $2.10 for signature confirmation
6) Got Paypal? Paypal offers a shipping service (see additional information below!)
7) Email the other pin trader the date you shipped the package.
a) Email the tracking number if applicable.
b) Be patient after mailing your package!
i) Mail within the US can take from 1 to 7 days, even if it is within the same city.
ii) Packages from the US to Europe and Asia packages can take anywhere between 3 days to 6 weeks.
8) Even though the package has been shipped, the trade is still not complete!
a) Check your email regularly. Checking email does not mean every day, but at least once a week.
b) If you will be on vacation or there's an unexpected illness in the family, use your email "out of office/ auto reply" or email info@pinpics.com and notify the Moderators what is going on.
c) Local libraries, FedEx-Kinko, and internet cafes have low cost or free computers.
d) Got a cell phone? You can also send a text message from any cell phone to info@pinpics.com with a quick note telling us your username or real name, and you are away on vacation, family emergency, etc.
e) Always communicate until the pin trade is complete.
There's quite a few posts to read below, so keep scrolling down.
PIN TRADING 101: RESEARCH YOUR PINS!
If you are new to online pin trading, please take a moment and look up your pins on PinPics.com.
1)When starting out, LEARN some information about your pins, such as:
*the year it was released,
*how many pins were released (ie: Limited Edition size),
*if the pin is retired,
*how many people want the pin,
*how many people are trading the pin, and
*the retail cost of the pin.
2)What makes one pin more valuable or more desire over another?
* Some pin traders will see their pin as more valuable than your pin because their pin was made many years ago, is sold out (or sold out in minutes versus months), or has a lower edition size.
* Some pins may have a been pulled or cancelled, so even though a pin may have been released as an Edition Size of 1500, it may actually be lower because many pins were damaged or destroyed. Therefore the edition size is not 1500, but realistically 500. Knowing a pin has 500 in circulation would make this more valuableK especially if the pin is sold out, or retired!
* Some pins are more valuable based on the character. Some characters like Tinker Bell, Maleficent, or themes like Haunted Mansion will be more popular than characters like Lion King or even Mickey Mouse. Like the stock market, some characters or themes has its high values or low values. For a time, Winnie the Pooh, Stitch, and Jessica Rabbit were THE HOT characters to collect. Then the market got over saturated, and the popularity teetered or slightly declined. Then, new traders came on board and some of the characters made a come back in popularity.
* Some pins can be more desired because you had to attend a specific event, had to purchase specific merchandise to obtain it, or it could be an exclusive pin to Cast Members (ie: employees).
3) Ask questions about the pin! This forum is a great place!
Unless you know the pin comes from a Disney Resort or an authorized Disney location, ask questions about the pin if you are not sure about its origin.
* Read the description or post questions on the Dizpins forum regarding the pin in question. Chances are, someone will have the answer!
Email info@pinpics.com or info@dizpins.com if you see this message:
*** ATTENTION ***
The person that you are trying to look up a reference for has been banned from the Dizpins Reference Center (DRC) by the DRC Administrators. If you have any questions, or feel that this message has been reached in error, please contact info@dizpins.com.
How to make that trade....
You get an email and a Trade Requst you want to make.
Before accepting a trade, always Check References at the Dizpins Reference Center!
1) Get the trade agreement in writing, and confirm the trade by exchanging mailing addresses.
For example:
I would like to trade Pin 12587: Japan Disney Store - Theatre Pin Series #8 (Alice in Wonderland) in exchange for your Pin 12588: JDS - Theatre Pin Series #9 (Peter Pan)
My address is 1313 Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92801
Please confirm with your address.
Thanks, Minnie Mouse
The other trader responds with
I agree to trade my Pin 12588: JDS - Theatre Pin Series #9 (Peter Pan) for your Pin 12587: Japan Disney Store - Theatre Pin Series #8 (Alice in Wonderland). Here is my address
a) Keep a copy of the email agreement (showing the swapping of addresses) until the trade is complete.
In the event you need to file a complaint, you have proof that both parties agreed to the trade, and that you agreed to any extras that may not have been shipped to you.
b) Do not accept a "verbal" agreement such as in the chat room or in the post forum.
c) If the trade sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.
If the trade is one sided (regardless in whos favor) point out the lopsided trade. If you believe in Pin Karma, it could reward you later when you least expect it!
d) Do Not Assume that the pin trade comes with the extra frills. If the pin you want comes in a box, special backing, or a display card, please verify that the other trader is sending you the special items. Request certain items be packaged with extra cardboard or in a box if you do not want items to be bent.
(1) If the other trader will be spending more postage, you can compensate the other trader with more pins or reimburse the person the added postage.
2) If the other person has little or no references, or, if you are unsure about a trade, email a moderator who can be the neutral party.
a) The moderator can be a third party where both traders will send the package to the moderator. (see the 3rd party trade post below)
3) Plan on mailing the pin within 24-48 hours of the agreement.
a) Notify the trader if you cannot ship within 48 hours, but advise when you can.
b) The Moderators do not approve of holding pins. Meaning, not shipping yours until you receive the other person's pin. This practice will not be tolerated, and if a complaint is made against you, the Moderators will side with the other pin trader, regardless of your reason for doing this.
4) Each trader is responsible for their own trade until it reaches its final destination!
a) Package the pin(s) with foam, bubble or padded material.
b) Do not use a common #10 paper envelope or a regular paper manila envelope. The envelope may tear or the pin may be crushed when the USPS runs it through their machines.
c) You can reuse old bubbled envelopes or buy the bubbled size #00 or #000 envelopes at an office supply store, the Dollar store, Walmart, Online stores (ie: mailersandmore.com) or even the US post office!
* If the pin is fragile, consider using a box instead of an envelope
* If you are trading a hard to find pin, or an irreplaceable pin, spend the extra money and use a tracking service like delivery or signature confirmation.
* You can also insure the item.
* For international trades, send it by Registered Mail. It may cost more, but this is extremely secure!
5) When mailing your pin, make sure the envelope is legible!
a) If you do not have legible handwriting, use a computer to type a label.
b) Provide the sufficient postage. Remember that mailing a pin is considered oversized and a 41 cent stamp is not sufficient!
c) Effective May, 2007, the US First Class Mailing domestic rate using a bubble envelope:
1 oz - without deliver confirmation $1.13
2 oz V without deliver confirmation- $1.30 * (most common weight)
3 oz - without deliver confirmation- $1.47
Add $0.75 for delivery confirmation
Add $2.10 for signature confirmation
6) Got Paypal? Paypal offers a shipping service (see additional information below!)
7) Email the other pin trader the date you shipped the package.
a) Email the tracking number if applicable.
b) Be patient after mailing your package!
i) Mail within the US can take from 1 to 7 days, even if it is within the same city.
ii) Packages from the US to Europe and Asia packages can take anywhere between 3 days to 6 weeks.
8) Even though the package has been shipped, the trade is still not complete!
a) Check your email regularly. Checking email does not mean every day, but at least once a week.
b) If you will be on vacation or there's an unexpected illness in the family, use your email "out of office/ auto reply" or email info@pinpics.com and notify the Moderators what is going on.
c) Local libraries, FedEx-Kinko, and internet cafes have low cost or free computers.
d) Got a cell phone? You can also send a text message from any cell phone to info@pinpics.com with a quick note telling us your username or real name, and you are away on vacation, family emergency, etc.
e) Always communicate until the pin trade is complete.
