Trading Pins 101

Let me first say that I have been creating and producing trading pins since 2002. I laugh when I read websites that say they have a huge number of years of  experience, when I remember training that person myself only a few years ago. I started in March of 2002 and am very proud of my track record. Recently I have been appalled at the misinformation that is being sent to customers on a daily basis. I wish to address these concerns one by one so that you may understand the TRUE nature of trading pins, and are able to make a much more informed decision regarding your pins. Below is the list that I have compiled and PLEASE take the time to read them (I will TRY to be brief)

1.)    Photo Etched Trading Pins Are More Better Than Other Style Pins Due To The Fact That They Are Laser Etched Not Hand Struck From A Die. FALSE! Not Only are they not more accurate, they are thinner, have thicker plating lines, and have to have an epoxy dome over their face to keep the glitter  and paint fill from falling out. They are much less expensive than our pins because they are thin as a dime, NOT thick as a quarter like our Epola Cloisonné  Pins. Also, they are pint filled not glass filled as the Epola. A thicker pin with a glass fill has a deeper luster, more beautiful colors and blows away a  thin paint filling. We choose Epola Cloisonné.

2.)    Soft Enamel Cloisonné Pins Are Exactly The Same As Epola Cloisonné FALSE! Not only does this style of pins not exist, (I remember the idiot who created this false term and remember him laughing about it) but this pin is  paint filled and covered with an epoxy dome to make it appear the same as an Epola Cloisonné. The difference between these two pins is HUGE especially when you add glitter or transparent colors to the fill. It’s simple really. Epola Cloisonné is glass filled and the Soft Enamel pins with Epoxy Domes are not. We  choose Epola Cloisonné as our pin of choice.

3.)    Pins Created From Iron Are Just As Good As Copper Based Pins FALSE! This is insane, and yet I see it all the time. Most pins companies don’t even bother to tell you that your pins are made of iron. The Iron based pins are FAR less expensive than copper for a reason! They are a cheaper metal that is harder to bend and therefore has thicker plating lines and, at times, surface pitting of the colors (Holes in the finish if you will). The gold plating of an Epola Cloisonné looks like gold. The gold plating on an iron pins looks brassy and clouded. The image on an Epola pin face are clear, clean, and graceful. An iron based pins looks blocky and the pin face is difficult to  discern. Copper and only copper will form the base metal of all of our pins. The most hilarious comment yet from a pin company-“The Iron is cheaper to mine and is covered by the plating and coloring of the pin”…wow…I guess you have to ignore the fact that the image is less accurate with thicker plating lines and the surface color fills have pitting…still…you cannot see the cheaper Iron underneath…at least they got that right….

4.)    A Design Created In Hours Is Just As Good As A Design That Takes Days FALSE! A design created in just a short time is the result of clip art and the re-use of designs that have been used and re-used for years. I see the same old designs from other companies year after year after year. Who wants to show up with a trading pin that has been seen by other teams over and over? Our designs take days for a reason. They are unique, original, fun to trade, and can sometimes border on the unusual. Our choice is hand made artwork over clip  art and cutting and pasting of old designs.

5.)    Our Quote Says That Our Pins Are True Cloisonné. Is that true? Guess What? FALSE! True Cloisonné is a rarity and can only use simple base colors. VERY few production facilities even make this pin any more and it has been  replaced with the Epola Cloisonné which results in a brighter, more lustrous finish with many many more color choices.

6.)    More Pins That Are Less Expensive Are Better Than Fewer Pins That Are More Expensive Just my opinion here….FALSE! More pins that no one wants to trade for, is not better than fewer pins that everyone can’t wait to get their hands on. Simple enough!

7.)    RUSH Trading Pins Are The Same As The Trading Pins That We Will Be Trading Against This is yet another crime against the customer. These are “Digi” pins which are basically stickers placed upon predetermined pin shapes. Watch the other teams run from these like the plague. And most companies charge more for them claiming that there is an extra charge for rushing the delivery. No. Stickers just take less time to make and stick upon the pre made shapes.

Folks I could go on and on here. These are just a few of the more glaring examples, and I am sick and tired of you all being fed a bag of goods by companies looking to profit from your lack of knowledge. Here are my final thoughts for you…

1.)    We make Epola Cloisonné trading pins for a reason. They look better, trade better, and will last for years and years. No one wants to show up with lousy pins. 2.)    I would rather you have less pins that are a sought after commodity than more pins that no one wants and you fell for a bag of tricks based upon a low price. 3.)    We will keep on making the best pins in this industry always. It keeps you coming back and our stamp on the back of your pins brings us more business the following year. Other teams see these pins, realize that they have been had, and come running to us the following year. 4.)    We will never mislead you, or provide you with misinformation that profits us. EVER. We DO NOT sell you Iron Enamel pins and pass them off to you as copper!!!!!!! 5.)    If you believe that you have found what appears to be a better pin at a better price. PLEASE discuss this with me, and I will be more than happy to beat any price from any company, apples to apples, any day. Always.

Sincerely,

Ross Parker (877) 746-7702 E-mail- ThePinFanatic@gmail.com Website- www.PinFanatic.com