by M. Sparga

Created on: July 22, 2009   Last Updated: January 04, 2011

Trading Disney pins is one thing, but you need a base of pins from which to start. If you're looking to bulk up the number of pins you have, you have plenty of options. The strategy that many traders use, especially as they plan for an upcoming trip to Disneyland or Disney World, is to stock up on inexpensive traders ahead of time and then exchange those for pins that they want to keep. Other collectors will cherry pick from the start, hunting for places to buy their keepers.

If you're able to visit a Disney theme park, you might want to purchase your pins during your trip. You can use them for trading, both with cast members (employees) and other visitors, or you can keep them as souvenirs of your trip. Just be sure to do a little research ahead of time so you have an idea of how much pins cost in the parks.

If you aren't able to get to a Disney resort, or if you want to stock up on traders before you do, the internet is your go-to source for pins. Online you can track down and buy specific pins for your collection, you can find partners to trade with by mailing each other the agreed upon pins, or you can take a chance bidding on a grab bag lot to get plenty of traders.

The Disney Store online is, of course, your main source for newly released pins. Keep an eye out for discount codes, sales, and other specials that will help ease the costs of ordering the latest releases.

Many pin traders trust eBay for its wide selection of pins, its continuously refreshed offerings, and its tough-to-beat prices. If you have your heart set on a specific pin, such as a "holy grail" for your collection, chances are that the pin will pop up at some point in an online auction. Of course, you may have to bid against other potential buyers, but in some cases you can find a pin for your collection being offered as a "Buy It Now" option.

Beyond eBay, you can also find pins up for sale on Amazon (usually through the Amazon Marketplace), Craigslist, online pin stores, and even reputable message boards such as DisneyPinForum. These venues are worth exploring to see what works best for you. Of course you should always check references, feedback ratings, etc., and make sure that both parties are clear about the transaction terms.

Disney pin traders and collectors can flesh out their collections no matter what their budget is. Whether you scour the internet for cheap lots of traders, or you bid on one of your holy grails, you can keep up the addictive fun of Disney pin trading long after you've left the parks.

Of course, if you're looking for yet another way to bulk up your collection, make sure your loved ones know about your passion for Disney pins. You never know when they might run across a little gift with your name on it.

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