(Updated June 2008)

Since writing my original Disney pin article on Counterfeit Disney pins, I have received dozens of questions and about 29,000 people have read the original article.  But I felt it good to go more indepth into the issues of Scrapper pins to answer some of the questions that have been asked multiple times.

Just What is a Scrapper Pin?

A Scrapper Pin is a counterfeit pin.  The vast majority of these pins come from China, because the majority of real pins also come from China.

Here's what happens:  When Disney contracts with a company to make a pin, a mold is made.  Once the pin is manufactured, many times the mold is not destroyed but it's used again by the Chinese company to make "seconds."  These pins are usually of a lesser quality than the originals, and are NOT AUTHORIZED by The Disney Company.  It's like people making pirated DVDs...IT'S ILLEGAL.

If a Pin Says "Made In China" on the Back, is it Always a Scrapper?

No.  As stated before, 90%+ of the pins Disney has manufactured come from China.  It would make sense that the Scrappers would also come from there.

In addition, just because a pin doesn't have a Disney copyright on the back of it doesn't mean it's counterfeit.  There was a period of time when businesses didn't feel the need to place copyrights on their products (1960s-1980s); sometimes The Disney Company did and sometimes not.  In addition, you may see different copyrights, such as "WALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS," "DISNEY," "DISNEY PROD." and even "WDP."

How Can You Tell if a Pin is a Scrapper? 

Unfortunately, it's not easy, but groups like Pinpics are working hard to educate collectors.  But as more Scrappers enter the secondary market, it will become even more difficult...which is why it's important to catch this problem NOW, before it totally gets out of control.

• Scrappers are "seconds" so the quality may not be quite as good...look ESPECIALLY on the back where the Disney trademark and official pin trading stamp may be there, but may be clouded...in addition, backstamps may be different than the original. (Note: A different backstamp by itself doesn't necessarily mean a pin is a Scrapper, as sometimes Disney Corp. will update their pin backs, if they use the same design from year-to-year.  I know...it adds to the confusion.  That's why checking out pin trading sites for education is so important.)
• On individually-numbered pins, the number is not filled in.  Instead of saying, for instance, "15/500," it would say, "___/500."
• Use commonsense.  I saw a Limited Edition 15 pin sold on eBay in September 2006...a Pluto pin.  But oddly enough, I have 10 of them myself I got in a large lot purchased years ago.  THINK.  Surely between the two of us, we don't have 11 of the 15 pins in the pins WHICH CAME FROM A FRAMED SET.  My guess is that the pins I got were overruns that Disney had made, so they could pick the cream of the pins for their framed set.  But I certainly would never sell them as being legitimately LE 15 pins!
• The BEST way to tell if someone is selling Scrapper Pins is to get to know what pins are Scrappers, then look for trends from Sellers.  eBay has made this easier with their new Snapshot feature they're testing and will soon impliment.  You can go to Dizpins and look on their boards under "Counterfeit Pins" for pictures taken from an actual Scrapper catalog!  There are more Scrapper Pins than this, but you can get a good idea of what pins are being actively marketed as Scrappers.  Then LOOK AT SELLERS' BULK SALES as well as their individual sales.  If you're seeing these Scrapper pins being sold over and over and over by the same Seller, you have to wonder where they are getting the pins.  Once you memorize (or just print out a copy of the list) these pins, you'll be SHOCKED at how many Scrapper sellers there are on eBay.
• Just because a pin is on the Scrapper list doesn't mean that ALL pins of that design are Scrappers.  To have a Counterfeit pin, there has to be a REAL one, originally.  Pins that don't have REAL pins manufactured aren't Scrappers...they're BOOTLEGS (still illegal, but not counterfeit).  Bootleg pins are pins that have been designed and manufactured, stealing characters from Disney and creating new pins.  People who call their pins "Fantasy" pins are really marketing Bootlegs, if the Disney character is being shown fully on their pin.  They are illegal.

Common Phrases Used By Scrappers

I want to be clear here: I'm NOT saying that everyone who uses these phrases are Scrapper sellers.  What I AM saying is that many times Scrappers will use these phrases to make you think that their products are DISNEY-AUTHORIZED pins - ORIGINALLY SOLD AT A DISNEY PARK OR STORE - when in fact, they haven't been.  Here are a few ploys used by Scrappers...

• "All these pins can be traded in the parks."  Unfortunately, this is probably true, as most Cast Members aren't going to study a pin close enough to know if it's a Scrapper.  "So what's the deal, Mark...if I can trade them, why don't I buy them?"  It's an ETHICAL issue.  It's like buying pirated DVDs...yes, you can do it.  No, it's not right...and ultimately, it will hurt Disney Pin Traders if you purchase and trade fake pins.
• The Seller claims they have lots of satisfied customers.  Just because there are lots of misinformed people doesn't bring legitimacy to a Scrapper Pin.  P.T. Barnham said, "There's a sucker born every minute."  Don't be one of them!  Just because a mob is heading for the edge of cliff doesn't mean you have to!
• "All my pins have a Disney Copyright."  Big whoop.  These are Scrapper pins.  Anyone can slap at copyright on a pin...and remember: Many of the times these pins are coming from the same factories that made the original pins...these are just overruns and seconds.  They have the stamp to put on the copyright.
• Deflecting the Issue.  They may say, "My pins aren't Sedesma" or "My pins aren't Disney Store."  Okay...that's fine.  But are they fake pins you purchased directly from a factory in China?  Don't be afraid to come straight out and ask Sellers, "Did you buy these from the park or did you buy these directly from China?"  Many times, you'll get a response that doesn't answer the question (such as, "All my pins can be traded in the park.").  That's not an answer... that's a deception.

Unless a Seller is willing to tell you WHERE they get their pins and HOW they get their pins, you have to ask yourself, "Why are they being so secretive?"  Since creating my first article, some folks have asked where I get pins.  Without totally destroying my business plan, I tell them some of my strategy:  Hard work, study and hours and hours of research, going to sales,  pin events and auctions, and buying private collections.  If you are a legitimate Disney pin seller and sell in bulk, I would strongly urge you to condemn Scrapper sales in your auctions and explain in your auctions where you got your pins - from trading in the parks, from buying collections from someone Stateside - whatever.  If you are a legitimate Seller, you don't have to be hurt by Scrappers...JOIN THE FIGHT!

I Think I've Bought Scrapper Pins...What Do I Do?

If you've bought pins from a Scrapper seller, you have an ethical issue to deal with.  Like Jiminy Cricket says "let your conscience be your guide..."

Obviously, you're dealing with illegal pins.  Do you choose to help the Scrappers by trading counterfeits?  Do you knowingly sell pins that you know to be fake?  Scrapper pins hurt all of us.  If you have bought pins and already traded them away...well...you've now learned.  Next time, don't buy pins from Scrapper sellers.

Why Doesn't The Disney Company Shut Down These Companies?

Good question.  I've talked with management at Disney about this issue, and I must tell you that I'm more encouraged, recently, by the responses I got than in the past.  Although the individual I spoke with was purposely vague, they made it clear that they were quite aware of the situation and working to "deal with" both scrapper sellers on eBay and the factories producing such pins.

The louder pin collectors speak out about Scrappers - to The Disney Company and to other collectors - the better chance we have to shut down this pathetic industry of counterfeit pins.  Write Disney, report Scrapper sellers to VerO (the copyright infringement organization, of which Disney is a member).  DON'T BUY FROM SELLERS OF SCRAPPER PINS!  FIGHT BACK and preserve real Disney pin collecting for all the wonderful folks who have discovered the joy of this great hobby.

I've also been greatly encouraged by the reporting being done on pin sites such as Dizpins and Pinpics.  It appears that they have not only been reporting more Scrapper pins, but listing the differences in the descriptions of many of these pins, helping collectors avoid the scrappers.  Many times, the differences are subtle...but at times, a change in the backstamp will be the clue you need.

In a separate Guide, I have listed - with pictures - what I consider the Top 10 Fake Disney Pins/Pins Sets being sold on eBay, currently.

Please click on "YES" is this article was helpful to you.  I have quite a few articles on saving money and time on Disney Vacations, and more articles to help you make the most of your Disney Pin Collecting.