Good/Bad Internet and eBay Pin Sellers

[Bella_Tink]

A friend of mine bought me a lot of 20 pins thru e-bay. I received the pins, and 2 of them had chipped paint! Now it makes me wonder if they are authentic pins. How can I spot the difference between scrappers and real pins?

 

[debranator]

A friend of mine bought me a lot of 20 pins thru e-bay. I received the pins, and 2 of them had chipped paint! Now it makes me wonder if they are authentic pins. How can I spot the difference between scrappers and real pins?

You just did!
The really bad ones..you will be able to see instantly...
the really good ones..perhaps..we will never know.
and..if I do not know..it will not bother me.
I have handled thousands of pins..and have only had perhaps 10..that screamed fake.
Although..one thing that I noticed recently...is...
A lot of genuine Disney pins..are not perfect.
Which makes it harder to tell the diff.
I bought about 10 of the "not so scary party" pins at Disney last week..
and..2 of them....
should have been..."scrapped".
One..the paint was a touch off between the colors..
and the other..had missing paint...
a tiny bit....
If i had bought them on Ebay..
I may have questioned it..
so..if Disney keeps getting lax on its quality control....
It will be harder to tell...
which is the actual scrapped..
and which is real.
backing and all.

 

[pixiewings71]

Believe it or not...
some CM's..are getting better at spotting fakes!
The other day..while in downtown...
1 of the younger CM's that I knew....
[I trade a lot..and talk to them]...
called me over to show me that she actually spotted her first fake!
i had never seen a Sedesma pin before..
so..I told her to get it the heck off of her lanyard..and traded her for it...

as..I wanted it..it was an oddity..and such a blatant cheap imitation..
that only a blind person..and not even then...
would not notice it..
they are just painted..no shine....no enamel...
very obvious....
but...as proud as she was to have spotted it..
I did not remind her..that she did trade for it in the first place.
Speaking of lots....and...actually..ANYTHING that you buy on Ebay...
just verify..in writing from the seller if necessary...
that the pic. of the item..is the item you will get.
not a stock pic..or a grab bag....
but,actual pics of what you are buying.
a good seller will agree to this..whether there are 2 in her lot..or 100.
a garbage seller..will always use the same pics.

I have a few Sedesma pins as well, some because they Meg (Hercules) and she is hard to find, some because the kids traded for them, Sedesma pins are smaller and I collect mini pins so the kids would trade and then give me the pin so I kept them.

fyi, in my eBay listings I always state that the photos used in the listing are the photos of the actual pin you will receive, I also state that I do not deal with scrappers.

A friend of mine bought me a lot of 20 pins thru e-bay. I received the pins, and 2 of them had chipped paint! Now it makes me wonder if they are authentic pins. How can I spot the difference between scrappers and real pins?

Well I've had "good" pins that had missing pieces of paint, are there other problems with those pins? On page 1 of this thread you will find links to more information regarding how to tell scrappers apart.

 

[Bella_Tink]

I was sent a Mickey and Minnie pin, and Minnie's hand wasn't painted at all! I think it's a scrapper. I don't know the name of the e-bay seller, so I can't check out his/her reviews. I'm very new to pin collecting, so I really don't know what to look for. I'm hoping I have some "good" pins, otherwise, I feel so bad for my friend that spent money on "junk" pins.

 

[pixiewings71]

I had a Goofy pin, he was dressed in a tux, the pin was legit but the pants section had completely fallen out. In that case it was not a scrapper simply a broken pin...I got it in a lot I bought in eBay before I knew about scrappers.........

You can go to pinpics.com and use the search function to try to find your pin to see if there are any scrappers alerts listed.

 

[quandrea]

I just bought a lot from shannon_l_h off ebay. Can;t find her on the list. Did I make a mistake or will everything be okay. Bought a big lot--new to this.

 

[pixiewings71]

I just bought a lot from shannon_l_h off ebay. Can;t find her on the list. Did I make a mistake or will everything be okay. Bought a big lot--new to this.

Did you buy one of the lots of 100 they have up? I think you made a mistake to be honest, notice the auction doesn't mention scrappers or make any guarantees of authenticity. Notice also that the seller states very clearly that you may or may not receive pins in the photo. Also note the seller offers free shipping and is only asking $79.99 (and is allowing offers to be made) for a lot of 100 pins, that means the seller is making $.80 cents per pin, those are very likely to be scrappers. Also, if you look at her feedback, she's had 11 negatives in the past 12 months, only ONE of those is for something other then pins, there are 9 that clearly state counterfiet pins were received. I would contact the seller and let them know you are not happy and want a refund, or if you haven't paid yet simply don't. Contact her and tell her you are not paying for fake items, if she argues you can let eBay know you suspect her pins are counterfiet and that's why you won't pay.

 

[quandrea]

Did you buy one of the lots of 100 they have up? I think you made a mistake to be honest, notice the auction doesn't mention scrappers or make any guarantees of authenticity. Notice also that the seller states very clearly that you may or may not receive pins in the photo. Also note the seller offers free shipping and is only asking $79.99 (and is allowing offers to be made) for a lot of 100 pins, that means the seller is making $.80 cents per pin, those are very likely to be scrappers. Also, if you look at her feedback, she's had 11 negatives in the past 12 months, only ONE of those is for something other then pins, there are 9 that clearly state counterfiet pins were received. I would contact the seller and let them know you are not happy and want a refund, or if you haven't paid yet simply don't. Contact her and tell her you are not paying for fake items, if she argues you can let eBay know you suspect her pins are counterfiet and that's why you won't pay.

Thanks for getting back to me. I didn't do any research and am paying for it. I'm glad I found this thread. I'll probably just let this one go and follow the advice I've read here from now on. Not interested in a fight over the computer with someone I know nothing about.

 

[quandrea]

Are these sellers any good? Cool-disney (only sells five pins per lot). Sunshinesunwear, gold747, no1disneyqueen, 2busy2sleep, 123goinggoinggone, dizninut? I've noticed on ebay that even some of the red listed sellers have 100% positive feedback. How can I protect myself?

 

[pixiewings71]

Feedback is not a good way to judge a seller on eBay, personal experience is. Please use the listed sellers on page 1 and please do not use the red listed sellers. They are red listed because some of us on this thread have had personal experience with them, you don't have to read all 66 pages of the thread, you can click on the links in page 1 to see why people are listed as they are.
Unfortunately there are too many pin buyers on eBay that simply don't know what scrappers even are and those are how people get the good feedback.

 

[swim2sea]

I have been blocked by nannub, snowdog! and several others for asking the question about where the pin came from and if it was a scrapper/counterfeit. That says all I need to know. If it was the real deal, why would they block me.

I know that Miami Pins (cfc93) does have some real pins and he goes to all the pin trading events. But he also sells bulk scrappers so you have to know what you are buying.

 

[debranator]

Another reason..that you may have been blocked is....
the seller thinks you may be a pain...
I only sell real pins..or real anything for that matter..
but,If i read in a buyers feedback..that he left any sort of unwarranted or
misguided feedback..i block him.
that simple..
most of the folks i have blocked..have no idea that I have even done this..as..
I have blocked most..just by reading the feedback that they give to others...
you see...a good seller..who busts their bum..trying to make everything perfect..
can get badly burned..by someone who is either overly suspicious or a possible problem.
no seller wants to have to deal with bad DSRs over a pin..they may have sold for a couple of bucks.
It is so not worth it...
and..many times..I have traded for a pin..that i could swear is real...
but...perhaps..you might think otherwise.
so...just to let you know...
that the sellers may have been fine..and..just wary of..you.

 

[daisy 'n donald]

hi!
just wanted to say that i had some successful recent transactions....
i just got the mr. pricklepants and buttercup pins from seller levitz13...both were still on their cards and in great shape...i was so super excited because i couldn't find either of these pins in wdw when we were there last month...and all i wanted was mr. pricklepants...
and i also just got another pin, one of louie (donald's nephew) that dh and i were looking to trade for while in the park since we got hewy and dewy....dh was looking for all duck related pins..
anywho, i just won one from kconrad32....from what i can tell, it looks legit enough to me...i think i've seen it on the possible scrappers list, but, the coloring and the back all look good to me (i'm no expert though)...but even if it's not, that's ok for us, we plan on keeping it...dh's name is lou, i call him louie, and he loves things all donald duck related....
just thought i'd let you all know that these 2 sellers were good for me

 

[quandrea]

Just received my pins. Was told last week that my seller sold scrappers. Anyway, how can I tell good pins from bad. I looked on dizpins.com and many of my pins are pictured on the counterfeit page. Does that mean they are scrappers for sure even if they look good and didn't come in bags with a staple? Also noticed the Mickey imprint on the back of some didn't go to the edge. I know they are not any good. Any more feedback appreciated. Asked for a refund, haven't heard back yet.

 

[debranator]

Just received my pins. Was told last week that my seller sold scrappers. Anyway, how can I tell good pins from bad. I looked on dizpins.com and many of my pins are pictured on the counterfeit page. Does that mean they are scrappers for sure even if they look good and didn't come in bags with a staple? Also noticed the Mickey imprint on the back of some didn't go to the edge. I know they are not any good. Any more feedback appreciated. Asked for a refund, haven't heard back yet.

No..just because your seller has..
and does sell scrappers does not mean that everyone that he sells are fake..
the odds are..that they are...but..not always.
If they are all the common scrapper pins..[IE..the warhol HM squares..ect...]..
and..you bought them in a lot...
most likely..they are.
If you wrote for a refund..give them a day./
If they do not respond...
and...you spent over 10 bucks[under 10 bucks..may not be worth it to ship back]....
give them a Neg. feedback..
and...ASK EBAY FOR A REFUND>>>
they do that...
now...just a neg. feedback..is nothing..
it means nothing on ebay right now..
if the seller has enough volume...
more important..
MUCH more important....is to leave them one star...across the board.
The star ratings are MUCH worse to a seller..
than any neg. feedback can be.
There are thousands of recommended sellers on Ebay..
with horrible feedback...
but, because ebay uses the sneaky star system...
folks do not realize...
that ONLY THE STARS COUNT.
so...wait a day..
and..then..open a case.
but..ONLY if you are positive..you are stuck with fake pins.

 

[quandrea]

Looking on ebay for small lots--ten, 20. When I look at the pics, even the ones that say what you see is what you get, they are full of the pins that are flagged as potential scrappers. Are those lots not to buy, or could they be fine? Should I only buy individual pins on their backs. Or do I just abandon the idea of buying traders online? Sifting through this scrapper info is difficult. The last lot I bought is full of scrappers I fear, of the 100, at least 70 are known for being scrappers. Don't want to make another mistake. Retiredreadingspecialist has a lot of 40, she's a green seller, is it safe.

 

[pixiewings71]

Another reason..that you may have been blocked is....
the seller thinks you may be a pain...
I only sell real pins..or real anything for that matter..
but,If i read in a buyers feedback..that he left any sort of unwarranted or
misguided feedback..i block him.
that simple..
most of the folks i have blocked..have no idea that I have even done this..as..
I have blocked most..just by reading the feedback that they give to others...
you see...a good seller..who busts their bum..trying to make everything perfect..
can get badly burned..by someone who is either overly suspicious or a possible problem.
no seller wants to have to deal with bad DSRs over a pin..they may have sold for a couple of bucks.
It is so not worth it...
and..many times..I have traded for a pin..that i could swear is real...
but...perhaps..you might think otherwise.
so...just to let you know...
that the sellers may have been fine..and..just wary of..you.

Not with the sellers that the PP listed, the sellers listed in that response are definitely scrapper sellers and yes, they blocked her (or him) because of the questions they were asking.

Looking on ebay for small lots--ten, 20. When I look at the pics, even the ones that say what you see is what you get, they are full of the pins that are flagged as potential scrappers. Are those lots not to buy, or could they be fine? Should I only buy individual pins on their backs. Or do I just abandon the idea of buying traders online? Sifting through this scrapper info is difficult. The last lot I bought is full of scrappers I fear, of the 100, at least 70 are known for being scrappers. Don't want to make another mistake. Retiredreadingspecialist has a lot of 40, she's a green seller, is it safe.

I did receive 2 or 3, maybe 4, scrappers from RRS when I purchased a lot of 40from her but it was hard to tell they were scrappers at all. They were very well done scrappers. We did keep them and I would buy from her again for sure but it is good to know that yes, I did get a few scrappers from her so if you do order from her just check the pins over before you trade them. it is possible to get smaller lots and get great pins for trading, you just have to look at the lots closely and use your gut instincts. It gets easier as you find trusted sellers and as you get used to determining scrappers. Always remember that just because a seller has a pin listed that has known scrappers out there, that in no way means that the seller only has scrappers, sometimes you have to take a chance and hope that you get "lucky". I'm buying a bunch of pins right now from someone that doesn't have a ton of FB, I'm buying because the pins she's got up are pins my DD14 collects (I'm planning to give these to her as Christmas gifts) and because once I've determined her trustworthiness I'll post about her here. So, if all else fails and you do get scrappers (or if you get the real thing) come back here and let us know, your efforts won't be in vain!

 

[pfeifferdcat]

I'm not very Ebay savvy, so what do I do? Just click on all the pins for sale until I find some that are on the green list on page 1? Then ask them if they have more for sale? I'd like to buy at least 10 (5 for each kid) for our trip & not spend a fortune.

 

[pixiewings71]

I'm not very Ebay savvy, so what do I do? Just click on all the pins for sale until I find some that are on the green list on page 1? Then ask them if they have more for sale? I'd like to buy at least 10 (5 for each kid) for our trip & not spend a fortune.

visit page 1, find the list of green sellers, then visit their pages to see if they have small lots available. If not you'll have to decide on a seller and start bidding hoping to get pins at a good price. Always check to see what the terms are for combined shipping to make sure you follow the sellers guidelines. Most of our green sellers do not sell lots, most sell individual pins so you will need to have a $$ amount in mind to not go over that. how old are your kids? how long will you be trading? It's very possible you will need more then 5 pins per child to trade......

 

[Kiann3]

Anyone know if Elisabethturner is reputable? She is not listed on the page with all the ebayers names.

Thanks in advance