Tracking you Pin Inventory Log on Excel/GoogleSheets
iloveyourpins
New DPF Member
I'm brand new to pin trading, and am interested in suggestions from others who may use Excel or Google sheets (or similar spreadsheets) to track or log your pins.
I recognize that for many folks doing something like this would sap all the fun out of it. But I've also read here in the forums that some people wish they had implemented a more robust system early on before they had such a huge backlog to go through, so since I'm starting from scratch I figured I should heed that advice. I also know myself well enough to tell that I'll probably branch out into non-Disney IPs as well, which don't appear in the online databases.
I guess the first question for anyone who keeps such a list (or wishes they did) is what's the scope of what you log? Do you only log pins that are in your permanent (keeper) books and displays? Or do you also log pins that are traders, or ones that are in the mail or in process? Do you keep a log of your ISOs and Grails, and if so how extensive is it? (ie. only your top few, any set or series you're working on currently, or something more extensive like every pin you'd like to have some day). And do you keep this all as one long sheet, or spread out Keepers, Traders, and ISOs into different sheets? Do you keep track of fakes/scrappers if you happen to get them? Do you track series or sets differently than individual pins? And what about Backer cards or special pinbacks/mickeybacks, or other types of things?
The second question would be what columns or fields you include in your log? I've started gathering a possible list based on my reading, but would be interested if there are things I've missed? Or if I've included too many things that I'm never likely to use?
Here's what I'm thinking so far:
Pin Info
Unique ID Number (Order added to list, include non-Disney pins and duplicates)
Description
Pin Origins, Identification, and Manufacturing
Original Source
Original Link (if bought online)
Edition Size (Open/LR/LE/AP/PP/etc.)
Universe, Film or IP
Characters
Set or Series
Original Year
Original Price
SKU
FAC
Original Notes/Other
Physical Location (Where I Store My Pins)
My Location
Condition
Backer Card/Box/Bag
Mickey Backs
Location Notes/Other
Incoming Sourcing/Trades/Sells (Where I got the pin)
My Source
My Link (if acquired online)
My Price (Paid or what I traded for it)
Date Ordered, Purchased or traded
Tracking Number (for Mail tracking)
Date Received
Sourcing Notes/Other
Outgoing Trades/Sales (Where I'm sending the pin)
Sold/Traded to
Their link (for online trades)
Their Price (Paid or what they traded for the pin)
Date Requested
Date I mailed
Tracking Number
Date they Received (confirmed confirmation)
Outgoing Notes/Other
Indexing and Databases
PinAndPop Number
PinPics Number
PinTradingDB Number
MyPinCentral Number
Pinsdex Number
MagicPin Number
iCollectEverything Number
Universal/Harry Potter Shop Number
Coleka Number
DisneyPinventory Number
CollectivePinTrader Number
Indexing Notes/Other
Values (will include 1 for 1 or like for like, as well as dollar amounts)
Original Price
What I paid or traded for it
Historical High Values (Ebay or others?)
Historical Low Values (Ebay or others?)
Historical Average Values (Ebay or others?)
Personal Value for Trade
Personal Value to Sell
Date values were checked
Value Notes/Other
A third idea I had was that I might need to create a list of Trusted Traders/Sellers -- especially at the beginning while I'm trying to learn to spot fakes/scrappers on my own. And by extension, a list of non-trusted and less-trusted sources (pinboards in the parks, bulk ebay lots that are suspiciously priced too high or too low, etc.). I'm thinking of something like this:
Name/Source
Link (if online)
Recommended By
Percentage Trust Rating by Site (for example, when PinAndPop evaluates authenticity for me, or here on DPF where there's reputational certainty related to the site)
Percentage Trust Rating of Person (when going it alone without those protections)
Do they Sell?
Do they Trade?
Do they do Park Pickups?
Notes/Other
Does anyone do things like this? Anything I'm missing that you wish you had known to track from the beginning? I'm looking forward to hearing your ideas!
I recognize that for many folks doing something like this would sap all the fun out of it. But I've also read here in the forums that some people wish they had implemented a more robust system early on before they had such a huge backlog to go through, so since I'm starting from scratch I figured I should heed that advice. I also know myself well enough to tell that I'll probably branch out into non-Disney IPs as well, which don't appear in the online databases.
I guess the first question for anyone who keeps such a list (or wishes they did) is what's the scope of what you log? Do you only log pins that are in your permanent (keeper) books and displays? Or do you also log pins that are traders, or ones that are in the mail or in process? Do you keep a log of your ISOs and Grails, and if so how extensive is it? (ie. only your top few, any set or series you're working on currently, or something more extensive like every pin you'd like to have some day). And do you keep this all as one long sheet, or spread out Keepers, Traders, and ISOs into different sheets? Do you keep track of fakes/scrappers if you happen to get them? Do you track series or sets differently than individual pins? And what about Backer cards or special pinbacks/mickeybacks, or other types of things?
The second question would be what columns or fields you include in your log? I've started gathering a possible list based on my reading, but would be interested if there are things I've missed? Or if I've included too many things that I'm never likely to use?
Here's what I'm thinking so far:
Pin Info
Unique ID Number (Order added to list, include non-Disney pins and duplicates)
Description
Pin Origins, Identification, and Manufacturing
Original Source
Original Link (if bought online)
Edition Size (Open/LR/LE/AP/PP/etc.)
Universe, Film or IP
Characters
Set or Series
Original Year
Original Price
SKU
FAC
Original Notes/Other
Physical Location (Where I Store My Pins)
My Location
Condition
Backer Card/Box/Bag
Mickey Backs
Location Notes/Other
Incoming Sourcing/Trades/Sells (Where I got the pin)
My Source
My Link (if acquired online)
My Price (Paid or what I traded for it)
Date Ordered, Purchased or traded
Tracking Number (for Mail tracking)
Date Received
Sourcing Notes/Other
Outgoing Trades/Sales (Where I'm sending the pin)
Sold/Traded to
Their link (for online trades)
Their Price (Paid or what they traded for the pin)
Date Requested
Date I mailed
Tracking Number
Date they Received (confirmed confirmation)
Outgoing Notes/Other
Indexing and Databases
PinAndPop Number
PinPics Number
PinTradingDB Number
MyPinCentral Number
Pinsdex Number
MagicPin Number
iCollectEverything Number
Universal/Harry Potter Shop Number
Coleka Number
DisneyPinventory Number
CollectivePinTrader Number
Indexing Notes/Other
Values (will include 1 for 1 or like for like, as well as dollar amounts)
Original Price
What I paid or traded for it
Historical High Values (Ebay or others?)
Historical Low Values (Ebay or others?)
Historical Average Values (Ebay or others?)
Personal Value for Trade
Personal Value to Sell
Date values were checked
Value Notes/Other
A third idea I had was that I might need to create a list of Trusted Traders/Sellers -- especially at the beginning while I'm trying to learn to spot fakes/scrappers on my own. And by extension, a list of non-trusted and less-trusted sources (pinboards in the parks, bulk ebay lots that are suspiciously priced too high or too low, etc.). I'm thinking of something like this:
Name/Source
Link (if online)
Recommended By
Percentage Trust Rating by Site (for example, when PinAndPop evaluates authenticity for me, or here on DPF where there's reputational certainty related to the site)
Percentage Trust Rating of Person (when going it alone without those protections)
Do they Sell?
Do they Trade?
Do they do Park Pickups?
Notes/Other
Does anyone do things like this? Anything I'm missing that you wish you had known to track from the beginning? I'm looking forward to hearing your ideas!
