I feel like I am turning into the Pin Police.
Detective Dave at your service
Dave, THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to do all this! I feel SO WONDERFUL that people out there take this as seriously as I do, and I now feel empowered to keep doing what I've been doing and make it right!
Now you are getting the feel for how big this problem is and how it TRULY takes away the magic of pin trading. I for one feel more informed when I pin trade and don't let it steal the magic for me. I just remember "back in the day" when you didn't have to look and wonder. When you saw a pin you liked, you traded it and walked away with a big smile on your face; those days are the ones I'm working toward returning.
Mareed, I hope that after reading some of these posts and the passion and the message that you realize that trading counterfeit pins, no matter the person or situation, really damages the whole pin trading community. You said you wanted to be educated, and I genuinely hope you do. By reading the posts I hope you can see that this is and can turn into an even bigger problem for all of us. If we all do our part, which is buying authentic pins and let "our conscience be our guide" (thanks Jiminy) we can pressure the powers that be and the counterfeiters into stopping this damaging behavior.
Your questions of "pin laundering" @ WDW is even more troubling. So by the seller's own admission, he is taking counterfeit pins, trading them for authentic pins @ Disney and then selling the authentic pins on ebay. #1, you know that he's pulling your leg right? Why would he need to "launder" the pins when he has scrapper's he's selling. #2, if what he said is actually correct, then he is taking quality pins (that someone traded or Disney provided) and replacing them with scrappers for everyone else who trades @ Disney. Both of those scenarios are appalling. Someone (be it Disney or another trader) traded a quality Disney pin that a seller is taking, replacing with a counterfeit, then on top of that making money on ebay. I don't know how else to qualify a response like that except to say this person couldn't care less about pin trading and will do whatever they can to make money at everyone else's expense. Bottom line, Disney pin trading was created for trading Disney pins. Not for "upgrading" your cheap pin and infiltrating them into circulation for all Disney guests. I've said it before as have others, pin trading is NOT cheap. It takes money. And if you're looking for ways around spending the money Disney charges for their pins (by buying counterfeits) it is ruining it for everyone.
I cannot influence your decision or your judgment of buying pins from sources other than Disney, but I hope you can realize that you are likely adding to the problem by buying and trading pins off ebay, rather than helping add to the solution.
Dave, thanks again for doing what you've done, you have once again ignited the fire in my belly that most people have good intentions and working together we can make a difference!!!