Disneyland quiety revoking Annual Passes of Guests who Buy and Resell Souvenirs - OC Register

[TheDisneyNurse]

Disney is going after those that have online shops and ebay profiles dedicated to flipping and reselling Disney products purchased with an AP discount.

There would be no way to prove a person bought something with their AP discount for a friend at home, then got reimbursed for it. Nor do they care about something like that. They’re targeting the people that are making money off of reselling.

Example: When I was there in September, I picked up a halloween tank for a friend to match mine for our upcoming Oct trip. We’re both AP’s, and she paid me back, not a single penny extra. Nothing illegal about that.

 

[cmwade77]

This is pretty much only enforceable on pass holders, although I suppose it might be possible to have a no resale rule for anyone. Disney would hardly have an incentive to go after anyone since that may not be considered a commercial purpose. It's kind of hard to identify that though. I've bought stuff from a discount outlet that restricts purchases to 3 of each item per customer and has a no resale policy. I believe they probably start getting suspicious and cut off people who shop too often and get the same items repeatedly.

I don't know exactly how Disney categorizes "resale". However, if someone is asked to buy an item on behalf of a friend, it's going to be hard to identify that person without a trail such as eBay. It's the big time resellers they're really going for.

But as you stated, the only terms that bar resale are about using the discount. If someone doesn't use the discount, theoretically they're not breaking their rules.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/annual-passport-terms-conditions/
Such benefits and discounts are for personal use only and may not be used for any commercial purpose including, without limitation, to obtain or purchase items or services with the intent to resell such items or services.​

There are of course the other rules, such as pass holders can't use their passes for commercial purposes. That came up with the disability pass abuse where people were hired to allow their customers to skip lines. We were discussing how they might be breaking the passholder rules if they were also using an annual Passport. I see outside tour guides leading groups all the time. Obviously they get around that by typically using group tickets.

Buying and reselling for a profit is against the terms of all admission tickets, you can get written permission to do so, but you have to do it prior to entering the parks to purchase the items. It doesn't really matter if you got a discount on the product or not, you would still be violating the rules.

 

[cmwade77]

But why does Disney need to drive more traffic into the park? The place is jammed packed all of the time.

It is not about driving traffic into the park, it is about making sure that those who actually go to the parks can actually get the merchandise to remember their trip without standing in a 4 hour line to get merchandise. Ultimately this comes down to improving the guest experience.

 

[cmwade77]

Disney is going after those that have online shops and ebay profiles dedicated to flipping and reselling Disney products purchased with an AP discount.

There would be no way to prove a person bought something with their AP discount for a friend at home, then got reimbursed for it. Nor do they care about something like that. They’re targeting the people that are making money off of reselling.

Example: When I was there in September, I picked up a halloween tank for a friend to match mine for our upcoming Oct trip. We’re both AP’s, and she paid me back, not a single penny extra. Nothing illegal about that.

As long as the money and products don't change hands on Disney property you would be fine and you could explain it to Disney if they did take issue.

 

[bcla]

Buying and reselling for a profit is against the terms of all admission tickets, you can get written permission to do so, but you have to do it prior to entering the parks to purchase the items. It doesn't really matter if you got a discount on the product or not, you would still be violating the rules.

I haven't really seen that. As a practical matter it doesn't make all that much sense to worry about that with someone buying a ticket who otherwise isn't planning on coming back or could buy a new one with cash. I don't see anything in the official terms, and certainly it would be difficult to have that on the back of a ticket.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/faq/tickets/eticket-terms-conditions/

 

[Dee McGee]

I wasn't aware this was a serious problem.

 

[bcla]

Ah, Last Chance, I love you. Yes, they do know and have banned people who, for instance, buy three TUMI suitcases every day when the store opens. But they don't hold hard and fast to the "three items" rule - if I'm buying five pairs of shoes that are clearly for me (random brands, all the same size), they'll let it go.

I recently had a regular DLR AP holder offer to buy me an item (not particularly expensive or exclusive) that was no longer available online but was in the parks. I was grateful that he did it for me, and I'd never dream of taking advantage of his AP-holder status for a discount.

I was thinking of one my wife's favorite outlet stores - Designer Fragrances & Cosmetics Company, although I think they were renamed Luxury Beauty Outlet. They're owned by L'Oreal/Lancome. Their rule is 3 of any particular item. That doesn't mean that it can't be 3 of this, 3 of that. I remember on one particular Black Friday we came out with 6 of several items my wife really wanted that were really cheap. They were items that are normally only available in promotional sets - you know, buy $50 worth and get this set. We weren't reselling anything though.

 

[bcla]

I wasn't aware this was a serious problem.

It may not be. It was done "quietly". If it was a serious problem Disney would be issuing press releases and talking to media about it like they handled the disabled access issue.

 

[disneydentist]

It has at least some running scared in Disney World. On the Disney World Junkies Facebook group they have one personal shopper that they allow to post and advertise her services. She does so through a separate Facebook page, BUT she and her husband both changed their personal Facebook page names. It's really funny since they left all their other information and photos. I don't think they're gong to fool Disney if the crackdown in Florida.

 

[cadien]

Why isn't Disney charging more for the limited addition items?

That's what I keep asking.

 

[JasonMouse]

You guys are not helping yourselves by telling your story publicly about how you sold some merchandise to a friend. The exact wording of your passholder contract is this:

"Such benefits and discounts are for personal use only and may not be used for any commercial purpose including, without limitation, to obtain or purchase items or services with the intent to resell such items or services."

Ref: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/annual-passport-terms-conditions/

 

[Broncobilly83]

I am of a very split mind about this, as I see it from every angle having been both a reseller at times (not Disney) and a buyer (of Disney who used personal shopper/friends) and while every side has valid points, I disagree with points on every side as well.

From the ticket holders POV, yes they broke the rules as posted, and deserve the punishment as dictated by their agreements but I also see Disney as a whole lacking the ability to truly police this issue if you never use your AP/DVC/MagicBand to pay, and in turn pay cash for every transaction. True, you do not get the discount, but then the resellers will just mark it up that much more. I also wonder, not being an AP myself, do the agreements actually specify things like you still have to pay for the pass even if Disney takes it away?

From a buyer's POV, I personally hope that Disney DOES NOT get into the personal shopper business until they fix major issues with their own online retail experiences. Their actual website, ShopDisney, has flaws that I point out EVERY time I get one of those surveys about how to improve the experience, and nothing has changed in years. A perfect example is quantity counts and cart protections. Being a pin collector, if I want to purchase a LE pin from their website, once I have placed it in my cart, as long as that cart's cookie is actively on their site, that item SHOULD REMAIN in my cart until I either check out with it or manually remove it. There have been numerous times I go to check out, either directly after adding the item, or after doing other shopping, just to be told that item is no longer available.

IMO, they would need an entirely new system in place to accurately sell park items to online customers to prevent overselling, etc; as if they can not get the ShopDisney experience to run smoothly, how can we hope this will run right? I also have utilize the personal shopper method before as being in great state of Maryland, I do not even have a Disney Store within an hour's drive, so if I want something park related that is not on ShopDisney, I would rather use a personal shopper who I have built a rapport with instead of trusting bluk resellers bent on high profit. If I am willing to pay the extra, and Disney is making a legit sale, to me there is no harm.

From Disney's POV, it seems odd that this is something they are cracking down on when there are other, more internal issues that I feel should be looked at when it comes to resellers (cough, cough, WDI Pins), but this is within their rights to do as owners of the IPs and the products as well. Working for companies currently and in the past that have had items which would make for excellent reselling values, I have always been told you are more than welcome to do so, however, no discounts/coupons can be used when purchasing said items, so I do not see why Disney can not allow that method until they have a better plan in place, as if the buyer is willing to pay the markup to get it, that is between the buyer and reseller/private shopper.

As someone who has quite a few Disney items, some bought while there, and some bought online either via ShopDisney or a personal reseller, I think Disney should look at the fans willing to spend the money and see not only the appeal of personal shoppers, but the financial gains it might have. If they truly want to prevent scalping, offer a workable and legit service to supplant the scalpers, and thus removing the middleman. If not, resellers will continue to find ways to game the system.

 

[Andrea Simmons]

What would stop it is people not buy the marked up stuff. Really in the end none of it is worth it above retail value (which even that most isn’t). As long as people are willing to pay more then people will continue to buy to flip.

For those of us who don't live in America buying marked up stuff from resellers is a lot cheaper than paying for flights and accommodation.

 

[Skywise]

For those of us who don't live in America buying marked up stuff from resellers is a lot cheaper than paying for flights and accommodation.

This is true for people even living IN the US. Even as an AP holder I've used one of the online sites plus EBay to purchase seasonal items available only in store because it's impossible for me to travel to WDW in that time frame. Cost is always a factor let alone getting the time/having the time to make the jaunt. And yes, I HAVE considered a one day trip where I fly out at 6am then take the 11pm flight back!

 

[Andrea Simmons]

This is true for people even living IN the US. Even as an AP holder I've used one of the online sites plus EBay to purchase seasonal items available only in store because it's impossible for me to travel to WDW in that time frame. Cost is always a factor let alone getting the time/having the time to make the jaunt. And yes, I HAVE considered a one day trip where I fly out at 6am then take the 11pm flight back!

My flights from the UK are 9 hours long and because of the times I wouldn't be able to do that!

 

[Kender]

Technically, even if the AP holder didn't use his discount, he broke the rules unless he charged you the exact cost plus actual cost of shipping with no markup at all.

I never said they didn't so I'm not sure the point of this?

However, I'll bite. I looked at the terms of use for regular tickets. I see nothing like the verbage on APs that specifically prevents purchasing for the purposes of resale. The closest thing I found us this:

All tickets are nonrefundable, nontransferable and exclude activities/events separately priced. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial use. Tickets may not be resold.

It only specifies that tickets themselves may not be sold or transferred for commercial use. Would you please help me out and give the exact quote from the ticket terms of service that bans reselling merchandise bought on a regular, non AP ticket?

 

[WonkaKid]

Hmmm. I am looking at that photo and not sure what to believe.

Which photo?

 

[cmwade77]

I haven't really seen that. As a practical matter it doesn't make all that much sense to worry about that with someone buying a ticket who otherwise isn't planning on coming back or could buy a new one with cash. I don't see anything in the official terms, and certainly it would be difficult to have that on the back of a ticket.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/faq/tickets/eticket-terms-conditions/

The last time I had a paper ticket, it was quite clearly printed Not to be used for any commercial purposes.

 

[cmwade77]

I wasn't aware this was a serious problem.

It is a very serious problem, there are a small group of people who managed to by about 98% of the limited edition merchandise and resell it for a profit. Disney has been trying a number of steps to fix this, including releasing limited edition items in batches, in several different locations, limiting to one per guest, etc. But no matter how hard they have tried they haven't made a dent in this and hopefully people hearing that Disney is starting to crack down on this will reduce people doing so.

 

[cmwade77]

I am of a very split mind about this, as I see it from every angle having been both a reseller at times (not Disney) and a buyer (of Disney who used personal shopper/friends) and while every side has valid points, I disagree with points on every side as well.

From the ticket holders POV, yes they broke the rules as posted, and deserve the punishment as dictated by their agreements but I also see Disney as a whole lacking the ability to truly police this issue if you never use your AP/DVC/MagicBand to pay, and in turn pay cash for every transaction. True, you do not get the discount, but then the resellers will just mark it up that much more. I also wonder, not being an AP myself, do the agreements actually specify things like you still have to pay for the pass even if Disney takes it away?

Yes, the terms quite clearly state that if Disney revokes a pass because YOU broke the rules they will not refund the pass. Monthly payments technically paid for the pass up front using a 0% interest loan from the bank that Disney uses for this, so you still would be required to pay that back to bank. Much like if your car got into and accident and was totaled, the bank would still hold you liable for the remainder of the payments. Granted insurance may have paid for some of the car, but if you owed more than the car was worth, you would still be on the hook unless you had gap insurance of course.