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QUESTION How do you value your pins?

QUESTION How do you value your pins?
Pidge

Pidge

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DPF Donor 2025-2026
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Pin & Pop
pidge
I found myself thinking a lot about how I value pins when considering offers during this weekend's Trade Arcade. There are so many factors to consider, and each weighs a little differently. For me, it's mostly subjective - based on how much I like a pin. If the original sale price and edition size are similar and I like the offered pin more than mine, I'll probably trade. If they are offering an OE for an LE, I'll still probably take it if I really like the pin.

I have a lot of difficulty choosing a pin to offer for others' LE pins, especially older ones, as I don't understand how they are valued by others. While I may accept an OE for an LE, I don't expect anyone else to do so. I often find myself shying away from making offers because I'm not sure what would even be considered fair for older low LE pins.

I would love to know how you all determine the trading value of your pins, especially older pins with small edition sizes.
 
It depends. How much did I pay for it, did I get it on sale, what is the value on the secondary market, how long have I had this trader (have I had any nibbles on it recently), how difficult is it to replace (how old is it, has it been scrapped), is it part of a collection I am downsizing, is it a mystery pin for a set I am trying to complete, is it part of a series I am trying to complete, how tired am I of looking at this pin in my pinfolio/binder, how much do I like the pin I am looking at/being offered(considering le, value, and how easy is it to get/replace)?

There are probably more considerations but I can’t think of them right now.
 
I don't have a good grasp on pricing for pins. I look at eBay, but it is only somewhat helpful, and lots of pins don't have much recent history. I do my best based on that and how much I want the pins. If a table has notes about matching value or lists costs or anything like that, I just skipped it. It's obviously important to them and my offers probably wouldn't meet their expectations.
 
Mcgilligan said:
It depends. How much did I pay for it, did I get it on sale, what is the value on the secondary market, how long have I had this trader (have I had any nibbles on it recently), how difficult is it to replace (how old is it, has it been scrapped), is it part of a collection I am downsizing, is it a mystery pin for a set I am trying to complete, is it part of a series I am trying to complete, how tired am I of looking at this pin in my pinfolio/binder, how much do I like the pin I am looking at/being offered(considering le, value, and how easy is it to get/replace)?

There are probably more considerations but I can’t think of them right now.
Click to expand...
I thought I was balancing a lot of variables! It sounds like it only gets more complex with richer collections and more experience!
 
I usually separate my pins into two groups. "Overperformers" and "regular" pins. I don't have a lot of good pins so when I manage to get one I want to make sure I get fair value for it. Pin & Pop says I have over 500 traders, maybe 40 (oh, with Tiny Kingdom it may be more) of them would fall into this category. It can be a rare pin such as a WDI or D23 Expo / Destination D pins or it could be an mystery box pin of a popular character like Figment or Orange Bird, or a popular LE series like the Windows or Dining pins, this year. For these I primarily use Ebay values or LE size. My regular pins is more about my cost, and how much I like your pin. When I complete a mystery set, I want my extras to move on and help other people complete their sets too.
 
Nursteve said:
I don't have a good grasp on pricing for pins. I look at eBay, but it is only somewhat helpful, and lots of pins don't have much recent history. I do my best based on that and how much I want the pins. If a table has notes about matching value or lists costs or anything like that, I just skipped it. It's obviously important to them and my offers probably wouldn't meet their expectations.
Click to expand...
I like the idea of skipping those tables or pins altogether.
 
hopemax said:
I usually separate my pins into two groups. "Overperformers" and "regular" pins. I don't have a lot of good pins so when I manage to get one I want to make sure I get fair value for it. Pin & Pop says I have over 500 traders, maybe 40 (oh, with Tiny Kingdom it may be more) of them would fall into this category. It can be a rare pin such as a WDI or D23 Expo / Destination D pins or it could be an mystery box pin of a popular character like Figment or Orange Bird, or a popular LE series like the Windows or Dining pins, this year. For these I primarily use Ebay values or LE size. My regular pins is more about my cost, and how much I like your pin. When I complete a mystery set, I want my extras to move on and help other people complete their sets too.
Click to expand...
Very interesting. May I ask how you evaluate what is an "overperformer" and what is a "regular"? It all still seems so random to this relative newbie.
 
AriasDisneyFun said:
I think about how much I paid for it or if I can’t remember or just don’t know I use the google lens option to look for listings or more importantly sold amounts to help me. In the end I try and get close enough and have fun 🤩
Click to expand...
I also look at original price and edition size to see if a trade is comparable. I'm not practiced enough in evaluating the monetary value on the secondary market. And doing that takes away a little of the joy for me. I do try to get a sense of it for bigger trades, though.
 
At this point, it’s mostly just feel and knowledge. But there are some pins that just have extra “buzz” surrounding them. People talk about them more than other pins. The reports that pins sold out immediately after park opening or the DisneyStore.com instant sell outs. I’ve managed to get traders of some of those pins. So those are the pins I know go look at Ebay before I trade. I just look for ranges though. Is it above $50? Above $100? I want to be in range but other people can be downright specific.

Also the number of people who have it as an
ISO vs number available for trade. Like if you go to a pin page on PinPics or Pin & Pop and see approaching 100 people are ISO but you are the only one who has it for trade. You might want to do additional research.
 
Unless you want your pin collection to become a business proposition I think someone already mentioned that initially go with whatever you paid for the pin, then the rarity (LE) of the pin. I heard one trader tell a kid that the OE Stitch pin he wanted was worth two regular pins because it was a Stitch pin!
 
firechief18 said:
Unless you want your pin collection to become a business proposition I think someone already mentioned that initially go with whatever you paid for the pin, then the rarity (LE) of the pin. I heard one trader tell a kid that the OE Stitch pin he wanted was worth two regular pins because it was a Stitch pin!
Click to expand...
I hope that kid found lots of other fun traders to counter that annoying one!

I personally have no interest in turning this into an investment. It would diminish the joy, and the pin market seems way too volatile for this risk-adverse investor.

I asked this question because I was curious how many people look at their pins through a dollar filter. If I'm offering a trade, I am a little more conscious of the monetary value, but if I'm looking at accepting an offer, I think my general process is:
  • Is it similar in original price?
  • Is it similar in edition size?
  • What is the love quotient? Is it meh? Kinda cute? Absolutely irresistibly adorable?
    • I'll happily accept a cheaper original price or larger edition size depending on the love quotient.
It is heartening to see so many here are also in this for the love of the pin, not the love of the profit.
 
Certainly my first factor is do I like the pin, does it fit my collections, is an ISO, etc. If it doesn't meet those criteria, I'm not interested.

Then my first thought for a fair trade is edition size. I generally try to match low LE to low LE, higher LE to higher LE, HD to HD, etc. I's certainly not a hard rule as there are some HDs I would trade an LE for, but it generally holds.

And then finally, before finalizing a trade, I try to always check recent sold prices on eBay. I'm not looking for an exact match but that they are both around the same. As I've said before in other threads, I do not want to trade my pin worth $200 for one I can buy on ebay for $20. And while I have a general sense of where my traders are at, I can't know it for all my ISOs. And I sometimes get surprised on my traders too.
 
It's so subjective but it's cool to read about everyone's process.

I do try to gauge based on secondary market sales like eBay and match up edition sizes if that makes sense. If a pin is from an event, I try to consider the popularity of the event. Whether we want to believe it or not, characters matter in valuation as well - princesses or Marie are going to demand more than an Elio or Captain Marvel pin, in my estimation

Frankly, though, I will always make what might be a lopsided trade to get something I love, like Space Mountain, Hatbox Ghost or Tink in a red dress. It's more important to me to love my pins than get the best deal value-wise.
 
Sithathoriunet said:
I don't have any useful advice, because for me, personally, both collecting and trading are based on how it feels. Does it feel exciting? Does it feel reasonable? Or... Does this trade fill me with anxiety? Does it make me sad to part with my trader? If the vibes are off, it's a no go for me.
Click to expand...
I love hearing about how people think through evaluating a trade. Your process is very interesting and I think those questions would all be very useful for me to keep in mind! Thanks!
 
momin.ator said:
I offered a Disney Auctions LE100 for the Pooh D Hidden Mickey. Admittedly it wasn't my best, but I wanted to see
what would happen. The person came back with - you know this pin is worth $400. I replied with, why don't you
sell it. 🙂
Click to expand...
It still blows my mind that a Hidden Disney pin could sell for $400. I wonder what the most expensive Disney pin is?
 
ohanagalaxy said:
It's so subjective but it's cool to read about everyone's process.

I do try to gauge based on secondary market sales like eBay and match up edition sizes if that makes sense. If a pin is from an event, I try to consider the popularity of the event. Whether we want to believe it or not, characters matter in valuation as well - princesses or Marie are going to demand more than an Elio or Captain Marvel pin, in my estimation

Frankly, though, I will always make what might be a lopsided trade to get something I love, like Space Mountain, Hatbox Ghost or Tink in a red dress. It's more important to me to love my pins than get the best deal value-wise.
Click to expand...
Agreed! It is so subjective but I find it fascinating to learn how people think about these things.

Interesting that I feel guilty if I am offering a pin of lesser monetary value or edition size but I am also happy to do a lop-sided trade for something I love.
 
Pidge said:
I had to search some of these out of curiosity. $5000 for a pin?! I'm speechless.
Click to expand...
People are shelling out big bucks for profiles too. I’m off topic….I consider a ton of factors like @Mcgilligan described in his post, and it can be overwhelming for me, although trading within mystery sets is usually nice and easy, so those tend to be what I trade the most.
 
cyke23 said:
People are shelling out big bucks for profiles too. I’m off topic….I consider a ton of factors like @Mcgilligan described in his post, and it can be overwhelming for me, although trading within mystery sets is usually nice and easy, so those tend to be what I trade the most.
Click to expand...
I love those nice and easy trades! And helping someone complete a set adds another layer of happiness to the process.
 
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