Two “How To” Q’s!

Hi!

I’m new and learning and I have two big questions that don’t seem quite Google-able. Can you all guide me?

1. How do you get your hands on quality, high-value traders that others want? Getting lucky getting chasers in mystery bags seems like one way. Going to exclusive events (MNSSHP) to buy there seems like another. But if I’m going to spend money (like $30+) on a single pin, I’m going to buy one I’m looking to keep. But that doesn’t help me get discontinued pins that I want… I have to trade for those. So do you all buy multiples of pins you love? Buy every expensive pin you stumble across and hope they’ll be valuable to others? Do you get bored of pins and are just willing to trade them over time when maybe you thought you’d keep them at first? Do you just buy anything that seems like a good deal and hope someone else wants it? If folks don’t want to break down their high-value pins, I need to find high value ones to offer!

2. Can you walk me through a pin trade interaction in the parks with other guests? Is there a not-rude way to ask if they’re trading scrappers vs authentic pins? My kid traded a $10-12 pin for a scrapper to some lady in our only interaction. That felt gross to me. She clearly knew what she was doing and my kid didn’t. If I have “kid pins” where she can trade whatever on the board and I have ”mommy pins,” how do I approach the trade appropriately? I’m getting better at recognizing factory directs for the new pins, but I really can’t do it with older pins. Also, is it okay to touch/check out the pin? If I’m not wanting loungefly pins, is it okay to say that?

Thank you!!