DLR Trading Night / How Do Trading Events Work?

So being on the VinylNation.net forum boards we constantly are gaining new members all the time. Most are new to the Vinylmation collecting game and thus we always see very similar questions being asked when a trading night comes around. So I thought it would be helpful to take a pictorial tour of the last trading event that took place at the Paradise Pier hotel, at the Disneyland Resort.

Quoting one of VinylNation.net's members Stephrz, here are some very commonly asked questions to those whom have yet to attend a trading event:

"(1) is this event only for pins or do people bring vinyls?
(2) how many traders usually attend these events? I've never been to a trade event and this sounds like fun."

And to answer the first and second question, these trading night events are still predominantly pin traders. I would say the vinylmation traders make up about 15-20% of the population. But we "VinylManiacs" are most definitely there in force faithfully every time.

Another common question is how trades take place. So here is a simple run down on how all the action works:

1.) Gather up all the vinyls you are willing to trade. I like putting my vinyls in little plastic bags so that I keep the vinyl and the cards safe, and it's easy to simply hand it to someone when I make a trade. Below is my humble set up I had going on for this particular night. As you can see I had select vinyls from Urban #4, #3, #2, some Vinylmation Jr.'s, Park #4's, and Park #3's to trade. (The Space Mountain 9" I acquired from Soulchild [Thank You!!!])

2.) Do some homework before the event. Know the value of your vinyls. Most of all, know what you're looking for. Obviously, you wouldn't walk into a trading event and trade your Park 1 Yeti for an Urban 4 Strawberry Field (or maybe you would?). Your Yeti is valued around $90 versus the $10 price tag for the recently released Urban 4. Now I have seen some people make great trades like the example above. The trader just had a duplicate vinyl and really wanted a vinyl another trader had to offer regardless of it's lower value. You really determine the value of your own collection. But it's good business to make the most of your trades. You should have an idea of what your looking for, and which of your vinyls could help you achieve that trade.

I have had traders come up to me and and offer their Cutester Owl for my Urban #2 Green Tea Mickey Chaser. I respectfully declined their gracious offer, for I know I could get 4 or 5 and possibly even more vinyls for my one chaser. So again, knowing your vinyls worth, and knowing what you want go hand in hand at these trading events.
3.) Pick a table, setup shop. All of us VinylManiacs usually sit in one central location and take up about 4-8 tables. Like the picture shown above, I think the best approach is to have everything you have out on display ready to go. When I first started going to the trading events I had all my vinyls for trade inside their boxes. I had a list of what vinyls I had available. But people like to actually see your vinyls, and will come to your table and stop and look if something catches their eye. I quickly switched to using the little plastics baggies, so that anyone can quickly glance at all I had to offer.

The Feisty One & The Outsider

4.) Trade Away! Trading is as simple as asking. Let's say you need a Fozzie Bear to complete your Muppets set. After you setup shop, you decide to walk around and scout for who has Fozzie. You find two people with that vinyl. I personally like to start by saying hello (of course), then asking if that person was looking for anything in particular for that Fozzie! Usually the person will ask "Well, what do you have?" Meaning they're not really looking for anything too in particular. You let the person know which vinyls you have that your willing to trade. They can either say yes, or no. As simple as that.

Now that first person you asked may say no. So you can always go ask the second person who had Fozzie. Or I like to ask both persons what they would trade their Fozzie for, and then I get to decide which trade benefits me the most.

The same situation applies when people approach you at your table. They ask if you need anything. They tell you what they want of yours. And you say yes or no. And since you have already done your homework as discussed in step 2 above you should have no problem making smart trades.

5.) And most importantly, have fun! Trading nights are suppose to be fun! Trading can be somewhat political and maybe even a little intimidating, but it is what you make it! I remember at my first trading event I was a little shy because I didn't really know anybody and everyone seems very familiar with each other. But I was so excited! I was running around the trade floor like a little kid in a toy store! I had so much fun! And now every time I go to an event, I recognize all the usual people whom are there all the time just like me!

Souldchild's setup, including her "My Neighbor Totoro" 9" and 3" custom, and her famous Care Bear 3" customs!
Steph's Keith Lapinig custom. An awesome spin on the Park 1 chaser, with Winnie the Pooh hanging on to a balloon made with a Clear Red vinyl head. Awesome job! Single vinyl display case provided by HauntedCollector created by ProTech!

Another nice setup, including some Toy Story 3's and a Mickey Bandleader 9"!

Our beloved Doug's amazing Vinylmation setup, including several one-of-a-kind customs! Awesome display!

Toy Story 3 9" Lotso and (a drunk looking) Buzz customs!

A custom 9" Maleficent ! Very cool!

Another awesome custom! Soulchild's 3" Cheshire Cat with Glow-in-the-Dark smile and eyes! Unique use of the newest "CYO" color!

More awesome customs! Hades from "Hercules", Emperor Zurg from the "Toy Story" series, and Ursula from "The Little Mermaid".

Christopher "Evilos" Avalos's Vinylmation setup! With plenty to trade and many customs to gawk at!

The famous "Mickey in Carbonite" custom by Evilos!

More amazing work from Evilos including custom 3" Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh, Evil Pooh, Cheshire Cat, and Tron! Love his work!

9" Custom Winnie the Pooh with custom Eeyore! Heavily guarded by an army of Orange Gears!

The Outsider & Evilos!

They have some coloring pages to keep the kids entertained and/or to satisfy your inner artist!

A sample of the many pin collections also at the event! Very neat and organized!

Another successful Trading Night in the books! :)