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+--- Forum: Watch Out! Scrappers! Counterfeits! (https://www.pintradingdb.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=19)
+--- Thread: What's the difference?? (/showthread.php?tid=20)
What's the difference?? - Psycho Pixie - 08-28-2013
As images become available I am hoping we can update this thread to help everyone out. Please add information, and discuss this! The more we as a community know, the better it will be for us!
What is the difference between a "scrapper" and a "counterfeit" pin???
Scrappers are pins from the Factory where the Authentic pins are made. They did not pass quality control, and were "scrapped" or tossed for recycling or destruction. These pins are often pocketed by factory workers and smuggled out, then sold into the trade market. Scrap pins often have underfill in the paint, rough edges and sloppy backstamps.
Over-runs are pins that were created over the edition size to account for pins that would not pass quality control. Sometimes more are made than nessisary. These pins are also supposed to be destroyed, but make it into circulation the same way scrappers do. Over-runs can often times be indistinguishable from authentic pins.
Counterfeits are pins that were copied from authentic Disney pins illegally. Weather the factory used the pattern without permission, or someone used a photo of the pin to make a new press, made in china or in the USA...
These counterfeit pins have typically had a couple tell tales:
A~ lighter weight. Usually due to a different metal composition.
B~ Slight variance in color. This can be from either lower quality paint, or a slightly off shade being used.
C~ difference in size. Some of them counterfeits were made from a photo as the pattern, so a tiny varience in size can be seen when held next to an authentic.
D~ Backstamp errors. One example would be an incorrect edition size. Or even a completly wrong backstamp.
Some myths about the differences....
- Not all disney Authentic pins have a paint on them which glows under blacklight.
- a boarder on a backstamp does not indicated a scrap/counterfeit pin.
- a Backer Card does not mean it is an authentic pin. Cards can be swapped. AND DS.com and DA backer cards and PACKAGING have been manufactured by counterfeit dealers.
RE: What's the difference?? - Stitch - 08-29-2013
Thank you!!! Great overview!!! I'm going to have to expand more later/haunt this thread as questions come up!
RE: What's the difference?? - docfish2u - 08-30-2013
Very well stated, but that should be no surprise to anybody who knows the psycho one!!!
RE: What's the difference?? - Saphenous - 08-30-2013
also with the counterfeits, another tel tail sign is extra metal where metal doesn't belong...
RE: What's the difference?? - Psycho Pixie - 09-04-2013
(08-30-2013, 07:50 PM)Saphenous Wrote: also with the counterfeits, another tel tail sign is extra metal where metal doesn't belong...
This is actually usually a feature of scrap rather than counterfeits. Scrappers are low quality often unfinished looking. While a counterfeit is typically something they attempt to make "look" authentic, so the rough edges are usually removed or smoothed away.
RE: What's the difference?? - xpelld4mheavn - 06-30-2015
I was also told that counterfeits are magnetic so maybe try running a magnet through them. I found some the other day from trades in the park
RE: What's the difference?? - JF3662 - 08-10-2015
This is a very interesting discussion. Keep in mind that I am very new to pin trading. I bought 100 pins on an online seller, who has a very high rating. We took some to WDW and had no issues at all trading with cast members. Now, I had no idea that there are scrappers and the like out there. The pins I received all appeared very high quality and had the proper markings on the back. I would like to think that these online sellers would not last long if they sold inferior products.
Question to all - have any of you ever had issues with buying pins from places like Ebay and others?
Thanks,
Jeff & Jenean
RE: What's the difference?? - DaPack Ratz - 10-01-2015
(06-30-2015, 07:50 PM)xpelld4mheavn Wrote: I was also told that counterfeits are magnetic so maybe try running a magnet through them. I found some the other day from trades in the park
Please do not rely on this method. I have a bag of known scrappers and when I ran a magnet through them, only 25% (5 of 20) were magnetic. I also have Imagineering LE300 pins (for example Pinpics #69157) on cards bought directly from the California studios store that ARE magnetic. I would have hated to throw that one out just because it stuck to a magnet.
RE: What's the difference?? - DaPack Ratz - 10-01-2015
(08-10-2015, 03:10 PM)JF3662 Wrote: This is a very interesting discussion. Keep in mind that I am very new to pin trading. I bought 100 pins on an online seller, who has a very high rating. We took some to WDW and had no issues at all trading with cast members. Now, I had no idea that there are scrappers and the like out there. The pins I received all appeared very high quality and had the proper markings on the back. I would like to think that these online sellers would not last long if they sold inferior products.
Question to all - have any of you ever had issues with buying pins from places like Ebay and others?
Thanks,
Jeff & Jenean
Back when I first started collecting I bought a bunch from eBay. Needless to say now that I am more experienced I have found that nearly all of them are scrappers and I am currently in the process of weeding them out and replacing them. Do your homework and research is all I can recommend.