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QUESTION How do you value your pins?

QUESTION How do you value your pins?

Pidge

DPF Donor
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.
 
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.
 
I like the idea of skipping those tables or pins altogether.
 
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.
 
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