by M. Sparga

Created on: August 10, 2009

Why get into Disney pin trading? Ever since pin trading took Disneyland and Disney World by storm at the turn of the millenium, people have both flocked to the hobby and scratched their heads at the idea. Like any pastime, it has its good and less-than-desirable aspects to consider.

Advantages

As collectibles, pins are small and therefore easy to store, display, and transport for the most part. They're easy to pack, and they're relatively inexpensive to ship. They're shiny and attractive to look at, a nice addition to any spare corner of a bulletin board or an all-out framed arrangement. Since the pins are available at a range of prices, you can choose how much of a budget you want to devote to this hobby.

Also, Disney is constantly releasing new pin designs, so collectors are able to enjoy the thrill of adding to their collections over time. They make fun souvenirs of a Disney vacation, and there are so many designs available that you're bound to find a theme to make the main focus for your collection. You can hunt for pins of your favorite Disney movie, character, or even theme park attraction.

The Disney pin trading community is largely welcoming and helpful, whether you meet a fellow trader while waiting in line for a ride at Disney World or you actively seek out an online pin trading forum. Many traders become "pinpals," helping each other build up their collections and of course forming friendships that transcend just sharing a common hobby.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantage that most traders will admit to is pure addiction. Pin trading can become very time consuming and draining, particularly on your wallet if you're not careful. Some pins, especially certain limited edition (LE) pins of highly collectible characters, are released in very small quantities, making them cost prohibitive for some collectors.

It can also be tricky to determine the value of certain pins or whether a proposed trade will be fair for both parties. Some traders value their pins based on how much the pins originally sold for or how many were released. Some traders go off of the current selling price on eBay. Still others use sites such as Pinpics to see how many people are willing to trade a certain pin vs. how many people want to add it to their collection. Of course, some traders assess a pin's value based purely on how much they like it, regardless of its purported market value.

Also, some traders at the parks are more aggressive than others, dealing with proposed trade offers rudely, insulting lesser collections, and trying to take advantage of newcomers with lopsided trades.

Of course, any hobby will have its advantages and disadvantages. Since the main point of having a hobby in the first place is for your enjoyment, the key is to figure out how to make it worthwhile to you. Disney pin trading isn't for everybody, but there are many reasons why it has been going strong and gaining legions of new fans for so many years. Is it right for you? Only you can tell.

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