Pin trading is huge at Disney and so much fun. Today I am going to be talking about something that a lot of pin traders have very strong feelings about- scrapper pins. Many people just don’t know how to tell if a Disney Pin is a scrapper. Sometimes you will never know for sure, but I have a few guidelines that will help!

What is a scrapper pin? A pin made during an official run and is meant to be discarded or destroyed (scrapped) for not meeting quality control standards. It can also refer to someone getting their hands on an old pin mold and remaking the pin.
The sad truth, probably over 75% of pins on a cast member’s lanyard are scrappers.
How to Tell if a Disney Pin is a Scrapper
If you are buying a large number of pins from Amazon or eBay, most scrappers come in a plastic bag with one staple closing the bag.
Many scrappers may have an error on the pin, whether it be on the coloring or on the back stamp. Some do not have any errors noted. On the pins below, the coloring is wrong on the scrapper.

If you are unsure of a pin, check it out on Pinpics, as many scrappers sold are pins that are not yet released or pins that have been pulled for release by Disney. I wouldn’t have known one of the above pins was a scrapper without checking pinpics. A novice trader would have just thought the pins are from the same collection.
Scrapper pins have rough edges and poorly cut parts.
LE numbered pins that do not have a number noted are most likely scrapper pins. For example, if the backstamp is ____/1000 with no number or a blank space before the “/”, it is most likely a scrapper.
If a character in a pic is in a position/attire that would not be Disney approved it is probably a scrapper. Though Jessica Rabbit is a bit sexy, she would never be nude. Disney princesses are usually fully clothed.
If a person is selling online and they use the words “tradeable” or “real” they may be scrappers. A cast member can not deny a trade so all pins are tradeable even if they are scrappers.

If the back of the pin has messy edges or is very hard to read print because the print is jumbled it might be a scrapper.
If the seller is selling thousands of pins for less than $1 a piece, they might be selling you scrapper pins.

If a pin has paint dips, chipped paint, or oddly colored parts, it is probably a scrapper pin.
So, what does all this mean? Are your scrapper pins bad? In my opinion, if you like the pin it is a good pin. You will not be able to trade that pin with other people though. Many Facebook pin trading groups will ban you if you trade a scrapper. If you are collecting just for you and your collection, then I wouldn’t worry much about it.
I love my collection and I know there are a few scrappers in there, my husband seems to be really good at liking the scrappers. LOL. On the other hand, if I bought a Disney pin at Disney and then found a pin I loved on a cast member’s lanyard and it turned out to be a scrapper, I would be upset at the money lost.
If you don’t want to chance buying scrapper pins, I suggest buying a starter set from the Disney Store or at Walt Disney World. They have some really cute ones and the prices are not too bad.

Consider planning and booking your next Walt Disney World vacation with a Concierge Vacation Planner like Favorite Grampy’s Travels. I’ll take away the stress of planning a Disney vacation and help you get the best price! Let’s Start Planning Now!
Tammy
Monday 1st of March 2021
Do you have any eBay sellers you recommend for pins? My daughter wants to get into pin trading on our next trip.
Rod
Friday 8th of November 2019
I have a large number of authentic Disney Pins to sell or trade please fell free to call me at *** ***-****
April
Monday 11th of November 2019
I have removed your phone number for safety reasons, there are a lot of Disney Facebook groups where you can sell/trade your pins.
Mike
Thursday 4th of January 2018
Cant find these online, dumbo with timothy limited edition 300 and circus Dumbo can anybody help me? Wondering if they are real https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4011ca4a1309ece4e2373074c6dfe5b2d4b5c0f062fcf0b15e47937df4a6a0e0.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3a1157d63484a7e7985c30c8f26d1b4e321f95dc91c755ae90313a73aac98051.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7eaa468df7996d6e99d9f1687997279fcf04fff83c0a79418519a44a19882b0f.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bfd6c9af5656a08f591bfaee0ec78796bdac6c903b69d57875c3e3439d18b932.jpg
Mike
Thursday 4th of January 2018
I have a piglet pin with a black back it has a disney mark on it but can't find it online anyplace can anybody tell me about this https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/aec66255fffffa1fb099d86d645ed3900b8bbe66588954d080f0b141b754f89b.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c8feceed6d44ebcb392b9be1180b4e3d9dcdbc148e6d14dfeaf25db58fcb1caf.jpg
Tips for Trading Disney Pins - Clever Pink Pirate
Monday 20th of February 2017
[…] that are meant to look real. Here is an in-depth article on how to tell if pins are scrappers. Here is an article with photos to learn to tell the […]