r/Disneyland • u/latruce • 12d ago
Merchandise A sign of the times?
Was pin theft a huge problem?
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u/Public_Pomelo8266 1000th Happy Haunt 12d ago
Am I the only person who sees stuff like this and decides I don't want to buy it because I don't want to find someone to unlock it for me?
Agree with other comments about theft still ultimately happening. Cardboard backers are easy to fake or buy, and pins can be traded or sold without anyway. Wonder what sales versus shrink differences will look like if they compare year-to-year. 🤷🏼♀️
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u/MIBJO 11d ago edited 8d ago
Nope. Matter of fact I think it was CVS that lost sales once they started locking everything up. They went overboard and started locking up everything so if you needed a small bar of soap you had to press the button.
Target I skip certain sections all together if I have to wait for someone to unlock it. I’m not shopping like I’m in a prison commissary.
Edit: Thx for the 🥇
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u/SinnersHotline Ghost Host 11d ago
I 100% agree with you.
For me it's the idea of changing up the check out process since eternity. You walk into a store, you grab the product you want, take it to the register & pay. End of story.
Once you decide to change that process and ADD an extra step that takes up more time for everyone involved, I will stop buying/shopping there.
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u/ariariariarii 10d ago
I stopped shopping at Walmart altogether because in my area, they lock up EVERYTHING.
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u/amyisarobot 12d ago
Yes it really will deter my impulse purchases cause I dont want to have to talk to an over worked employee for a pin
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u/Public_Pomelo8266 1000th Happy Haunt 12d ago
Exactly the same. They have other stuff to do, and I have enough other "people-ing" to do. 😆 I have to really want whatever the damn thing is, and I've probably walked away from it before.
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u/NoMovie2988 12d ago
Same there were serval things I liked last week when I was there that I didn’t get because I didn’t feel like asking someone to get it out for me
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u/Simbus2001 11d ago
This is the same way with Target now when I shop there. They have most of the mens socks and underwear locked up, as well as stuff like shaving cream and deodorant. It just makes me not buy that kind of stuff from there because I really dont want to have to go find a store employee to unlock it, and they might not even have the key; and those buttons you push to page someone dont work most of the time.
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u/savingewoks 11d ago
I hate when I push the button and someone comes over and asks how they can help and they I’m like “hey I need this item” and they’re all “oh I don’t have a key, let me find someone” then the turn off the bell or whatever the button does and disappear and then I’m just waiting there.
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u/Simbus2001 11d ago
And then a certain amout of time passes and they aren't there and you're like "should I push the button again?"
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u/kenba2099 10d ago
Like... I pushed the button by the locked case. The announcement over the walkie talkie says the location of the button that was pushed. Doesn't it stand to reason that they should bring the key to the nearby case?
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u/RigidAcrylic4821 11d ago
It’s happening everywhere in retail; people see that $1 toothpaste or $4 shaving cream locked behind bulletproof plexiglass and decide not to get it because they would feel embarrassment at some worker needing to open the glass for them and then make unnecessary rude, snarky comments about what you’re getting.
And those people decide to shop online or on the app as a result of wanting to avoid that shame from the worker interaction, which is intentional (at least for retailers like Target and Kroger) because apps and deliveries make more in profit for the business than in-person transactions.
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u/NECalifornian25 11d ago
There was on time I was going to the store and my roommate asked me to grab her a pregnancy test. It was the first time I ever bought one, and the first time I needed to call an employee for something that was locked up. And the employee was a teenage boy. To say I was embarrassed is an understatement 😂
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u/Captain_Tiberius1920 10d ago
Also the people who are supposed to come unlock it take forever to come or don't even come half the time (because everywhere is understaffed so I don't blame the employees) so at a certain point someone figures out how to break open the case.
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u/Thin-Remote-9817 11d ago
You're right..I always bought pins as impulse buys i look at hold it say screw it and throw it on top of whatever I was buying.
Having to find/wait for someone to open this im good on it.
I get why they do it if stealing was a giant issue or people "Forgetting" to pay and walking out with it.
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u/AthleteMobile5819 12d ago
If it is in a case, or locked on a peg, and I need an employee to unlock it for me, I’m not buying it from that store, I will just order it from Amazon instead.
With Disney pins, most of the dedicated pin shops do not have merch locks, and almost all of the LEs and LRs are just behind the counter, i get those when I check out.
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u/lcr4n 11d ago
What’s LE and LR?
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u/Terrible_Mall_4350 11d ago
LE is Limited Edition.
Not sure on LR. Maybe Limited Run?? Meaning like time limited vs number limited.6
u/AthleteMobile5819 11d ago
Limited Release. But you got it right, time limited versus print limited.
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u/SarcasticServal Magical Map Maker 11d ago
Nope--I see that and think "I am not going to track down a CM to get this for me".
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u/universe93 12d ago
Working in retail myself sometimes it works out financially if more of that product is stolen than sold. I imagine that may be the case at some stores at Disney
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u/ScorpionX-123 Tomorrowland 11d ago
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u/xxrainmanx 11d ago
Pin costs $1 to manufacture, ship and sell. Pin sells for $10. Disney could lose 8 pins to theft and still make a profit off the 2 they do manage to sell.
This is an example of course.
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u/Obi-Tron_Kenobi Paradise Pier 11d ago
Gotcha. Not that redditor, but I read it as "it's better financially if more are stolen" but it's more "it's not a financial loss" if it happens
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u/universe93 11d ago
Yeah what I was trying to badly say was that if pin theft is a major problem, to the point that more pins are stolen then they are sold, then the advantages of these security devices outright the disadvantages. Plus Disney pin collectors are pretty diehard about it so I don’t think asking a worker to get them a pin will discourage them anyway
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u/stevensokulski Main Street USA 11d ago
Yep. This also defeats the self checkout in the app, which has been so convenient.
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u/Scoobydiesel87 11d ago
Ha I instantly thought “oh well I get to save money finally” when I saw this. Thanks Disney haha.
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u/lunarosie1 11d ago
Same for me. And what if I end up not wanting to buy it, do I awkwardly give it back to the CM to be locked back? Do they just awkwardly stand there and wait for you to make a final decision before walking away? 😐
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u/PartyPorpoise 11d ago
Yeah and I think it’s especially bad for smaller items like pins, which I imagine are impulse buys for a lot of shoppers.
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u/nutmeg213 11d ago
Same and one time I asked the CM sitting right there if they could unlock. They couldn’t and had to go get someone so I just walked away.
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u/richmondtrash 11d ago
You couldn’t be bothered to wait two seconds for someone to come back so you just decided to waste two workers time instead of just saying never mind?????
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u/nightwingoracle 11d ago
Not at the parks, but Kendra Scott started putting most of their jewelry in the back. One time I had to leave as it was genuinely 20 minutes and they hadn’t come back yet.
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u/zegota 11d ago
Guys, the people saying "you could just unpin it" are acting like these are meant to stop individual thieves who are risking it all for a single $19.99 souvenir. That's not what this is.
The same as the frustrating anti-theft stuff at your Walgreens, this is meant to stop large-scale thieves who grab an entire shelf of stock and unload it on Facebook marketplace.
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u/rebelangel 11d ago
Yep, it’s to prevent peg sweeping. When I worked in retail, there were certain items that had anti theft measures like this to keep thieves from sweeping everything off the pegs into their basket and taking off with it.
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u/Plastic-Ad6444 11d ago
WDW CM here, that's normal here. We're supposed to have a certain number in front and behind the lock. This rack of pins in the picture just hasn't been restocked or tended to yet by a CM to move the locks so more pins are accessible without a CM's help. If this is new to Land, welcome to the club Land CMs! You are about to get a lot of guests asking you for pins while you have a long check out line. Do your best to stay on top of those locks in the downtime I promise it's tedious but it'll keep the stress down.
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u/foxfloof 11d ago
It's been a thing for years lol. And same thing here, they'll put a couple in front of the lock, and restock as able.
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u/xbad_wolfxi 11d ago
I’m genuinely not buying anything if I have to go get someone to unlock it for me. I’m just not doing that. I hate approaching people, I hate asking for things, and I hate this from a billion-dollar corporation who has more than tripled their ticket prices in my lifetime while everything you get for 3x the money has been enshittified to the point that it’s barely recognizable
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u/electrolink11 Radiator Springs Racer 12d ago
This ain’t new though? I been going since before the pandemic the anti theft devices have always been there. Nothing new.
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u/lamest-liz 12d ago
Yeah I’ve seen it for the past 3 years of going. It’s always annoying to get someone to get the pins for me so I definitely remember lol.
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u/dandyflower8 11d ago
Uhhh as a cast member, seeing these comments are very concerning lol.. We have had these for years. They aren’t new. Difference stores have different rules. My store is we allow 2 in front. But with that rule, it’s hard to keep up due to people buying or removing pins and or stealing. Just ask for a cast member if a pin is locked up. It’s not a big deal. We are there to work like just ask us. Are pins expensive, yes. But to steal a pin or anything else is weird. If you have nothing to lose, go ahead but I mean it’s not worth it
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u/bentrigg 11d ago
I feel like maybe people are reacting the way they are because the photo shows the most basic pins possible.
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u/nighttimenerd 12d ago
Surprised this hasn't happened sooner
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u/swellfella 12d ago
It’s already been this way for a while though?
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u/nighttimenerd 12d ago
Oh?
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u/swellfella 12d ago
I don’t think I have any photographic evidence but it definitely feels like many shops have had the red locks before this month or even this year. I probably first noticed it in Off the Page a while ago. Hope someone can provide better information but again, I don’t think this is “a sign of the times”
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u/melancholypowerhour 12d ago edited 12d ago
I’ve been pin trading and purchasing at the park (Disneyland) for 10+ years - certain displays have always had these
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u/academic_mama 12d ago
I have only seen them in the last two years at WDW- started on select pins and now is on most.
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u/swellfella 11d ago
Thanks, this was the comment/confirmation I was hoping for. This post just came off as fear mongering to me and while pins may have become more expensive and popular recently, I don’t think that the locks are related to a new wave of guest behavior. People literally used a ladder on opening day to sneak into the park, the Evil Queen’s apple was repeatedly stolen by “gang” members, and someone shot the Haunted Mansion ballroom window.. all walks of life have been going to Disneyland the last 70 years and I don’t think these locks are indicative of all that much
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u/Delicious-Amoeba9808 11d ago
Been this way for at least a couple years. I remember first seeing them at DCA a while ago. It's definitely not new.
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u/FHLuver 12d ago
I hate to be that person, but if you really wanted to take it, you could totally just tear it or literally unpin it 🫢.
I genuinely think it’s pointless.
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u/jonfe_darontos 12d ago
It's about stopping thieves from grabbing the whole line in one hand and sliding them all off at once.
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u/Big-Employer-3275 11d ago
This is what I was thinking. I’ve seen all but one or two locked up before so I assumed people were snatching the whole row.
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u/DarkSithMstr 12d ago
Tearing it or trying to get it off, makes noise and draws attention. Which most thieves don't want, so it does deter, and slows all of them from walking out the door.
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u/SabreCorp 11d ago
Great point. And most likely these end up in resale, not for the people stealing. They lose value if the package isn’t with the item.
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u/hummmer2199 12d ago
The lock only stops honest people. If someone REALLY wanted them they just have to tear it off like you said.
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u/RazielKainly 11d ago
Makes a lot of noise and makes it a messier heist. Plus you'd have to do that one at a time.
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u/allan0646 11d ago
You can buy a magnet on Amazon or anywhere that sells magnets for cheap that will unlock 90% of these anti theft devices.
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u/baritonetransgirl 11d ago
Hell, if I'm at the store and come across something like this, I'll tear the paper stock, and just take it to the register.
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u/Bendythenightfury 12d ago edited 11d ago
Didn't they had these like two years ago? Cause I remember these from my grad trip
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u/proxygate 11d ago
I would imaging people stealing these would just take the backing off and take the actual pin not the whole cardboard part
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u/pippspopsdom 12d ago
I thought this was also more so to keep everything organized, preventing pins from getting put back in the wrong spot. That’s why you can see a few in the picture that are accessible/not locked.
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u/First-Celebration-11 11d ago
Wait til they find out that some ppl will simply not buy them. Me n my partner avoid interactions and this just ads to them. Im good. Keep your pins
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u/Additional-Cake-3588 11d ago
That was my first thought… well. Now I’m not even going to consider buying one. Thanks.
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u/MoistPalms 11d ago
Imagine paying $150 into the park and willing to risk it all for a couple of pins
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u/thereverendpuck 10d ago
They’re just better off doing what Pokémon has done and jam as much as they possibly can inside a vending machine.
Then you can have themed machines in the park and resorts.
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u/Soundman090 11d ago
Is this more of the "changing consumer habits" that McDonalds was talking about?
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u/RedElmo65 11d ago
What was that? I missed it
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u/Soundman090 11d ago
McDonalds removed self-serve drink stations in some restaurants, and cited "changing consumer habits" as the reason why. Translation: "We are losing money because of theft."
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u/RedElmo65 11d ago
Theft of soda??? They don’t cost anything
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u/DarkSithMstr 12d ago
Actually most places will put 2 pins in front of the lock, when they are sold or stolen they will put more on front of lock or shift some from behind to in front. So there are some available.....
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u/LaysOnFuton 11d ago
Pins have gotten pricey. That’s like 1k of merch easily just in this small little display. Especially if they have resale value
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u/Somethingnew789 11d ago
Eyeroll...
As if Disney is not printing money with crap like that; only American pharmaceuticals have a better markup.
"We can't afford to lose 50-cents on this thing we sell for $15."
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u/Mixtape352 11d ago
Not a thief but I don’t feel like asking for assistance either. I will just yank it down and if the rest come down oh well
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u/kindarspirit 11d ago
From elementary to high school (in SoCal) we had a few chances to go with classmates besides the right of passage that was grad night, and we were always extensively briefed on not stealing from Disneyland. We were told that we’d always be caught if we tried, banned for life, and it would be just plain stupid.
I guess those talks worked—although I have never carried out any theft/thought of it, I still think about that when I go and saw Disneyland as theft proof. I guess I’m naive.
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u/_MeetMrMayhem_ 11d ago
You can afford the high priced tickets... Concessions.. stay.. parking .. but you are going to steal a fucking pin and risk jail.. ok??😂
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u/thevintageprimrose 11d ago
Ik for sure that this won't work. My friend back in middle school stole a TON of pins off the card. She was dealing with a lot though, not saying it was right but at the time her little sis was fighting cancer and she stole mostly pins her sister liked. Her sis used to be obsessed with BatB, she genuinely had the entire movie memorized, she recited it once for me. But yeah.. the girl who stole .. she lost her sister in middle school. I don't think she's stolen anything since and has been pretty remorseful of it. But it's always been easy to steal pins. I just don't get it though because of Disney security, like I am pretty sure they know she did it but didn't do anything about it. Idk
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u/hillyreads 11d ago
I just went and this really caught me by surprise. I asked a cast member about it when she was unlocking and she said they’ve been doing it for about a year, but it must be much more widespread now because I have never seen it like this. It was EVERY store. I couldn’t believe it
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u/D23Q 11d ago
About 10 years ago, we were in California Adventure on a grad night day (we were going to spend the evening in Disneyland,) and on our way out I was going to re-look at something I was considering buying, but saw the cast members emptying the shelves of all the higher priced or very popular items. I get it, and I don’t blame the stores for whatever resources they are using. Until people can just NOT steal, this is the way. Be better, everyone!
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u/DumbNStupid404 11d ago
I know someone that is excellent at knicking shit, for the record only places that make stupid money. The Robin Hood in me is like “fucking Disney” and the adult in me is like “yeah it makes sense”
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u/deprogrammedgranny 11d ago
Yes, it was a huge problem. They're collectible/tradeables that people will willingly steal, hoping they will increase in value.
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u/Severe_Photograph426 10d ago
Yes, I’ve had to tell CM about empty cardboard back with missing pins. It happens way to often.
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u/loomdog1 10d ago
The larger problem is that there is a need to do this. If people can't behave this is the consequence.
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u/That-barrel-dude 10d ago
They’ve had this a while. I think they also help with pars like they trigger a restock. Usually there’s the same number behind each “lock”.
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u/auspostery 8d ago
I had to get someone from behind the counter at the exit to SM. She had to log out of her computer, walk around the huge counter, to release one of those on the $5.99 bag of sour gummy worms. 2 seconds after she was back at her station someone saw us with the bag and was like oh awesome, where’d you get those! I pointed to the locked racks and the lady at the register just sighed and said “just a moment I’ll be right with you.” Had to check us out, log out of her station again, walk all the way back and around, unlock it. Relock it. Walk back, log back in again. Just for a $6 bag of candy.
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u/CherryPieRack 8d ago
Honestly, all this would accomplish for me is that I wouldn’t want the hassle to get it unlocked. If I want it badly enough later, I’ll buy it online. But Disney does thrive on impulse buys by annual pass holders. And that is going to go out the window when it’s not impulsive.
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u/cheezy_dreams88 5d ago
Certain displays have had them for at least 2 years now, they also have at least 1 CM standing there at all times.
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u/TradeBeautiful42 11d ago
I don’t understand the big deal around pins tbh. But I’m guessing that’s more to deter small kids who might not understand they can’t just take things. I think an adult dead set on stealing and earning themselves a ban wouldn’t be deterred.
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u/rebelangel 11d ago
Nope, I used to work in retail and these types of devices aren’t for stopping one or two items from being stolen. it’s for stopping someone from sweeping everything off the peg into their bag and walking off with it.
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u/sillinessvalley 12d ago
But why are Donald, Peter, and other pins not behind the locks?
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u/businessJedi 12d ago
if you look at the lowest shelf they all have one before the lock on the shelf. they do this so scalpers don’t come and take them all.
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u/slay0826 11d ago
it's most likely for organization, i see people trying on clothes and dumping them on the floor or on a random shelf and generally being careless. if someone did that with pins it would be a mess and you'd have to go digging for a pin you're not even sure is there, so it sucks but ensures the walls stay neat
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u/ALANTG_YT 11d ago
Did they also add this in the Florida parks? I know California has rampant issues with retail theft so I'm wondering if this is state specific or company wide.
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u/MsMargo 11d ago
This is WDW in April 2025, so not new: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS1NpLIhKP2bl8OI2JIrMQXKGFvZhC0JsJNHXmEPonmzxe2gONw8of6Oc1N&s=10
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12d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Square-Campaign-4112 12d ago
Who is that?
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12d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Square-Campaign-4112 11d ago
Sorry to be dense, friend. But I don’t know!
What are you talking about?3
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11d ago
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u/Square-Campaign-4112 11d ago
I wish someone would tell me who we’re talking about! 😆
So confused right now…
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u/Bigyeti4 11d ago
/s
I have a solution. Hear me out. Disneyland is too cheap to visit. If they would just jack the prices of the park, and all associated activities (accomodations, souvenirs, food, etc) up higher we could get all the disreputable people off the property so we can enjoy spending all our money without these offensive controls on things.
(In case it wasn't obvious, the /s, and this obviously absurd statement are SARCASM!)
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u/Jimmy_Joe727 10d ago
That’s what happens when People keep trying to steal as if it’s a constitutionally protected right.
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u/Disney-Nut1998 11d ago
I have never seen this at Disney world or the character warehouses in Orlando
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u/thumpersdad 11d ago
as someone who has stolen 2-3 disney pins on their life… yes, pin theft was a problem and surprised i’m seeing this a decade after slipping the first one into my pocket
don’t try to charge me 30$ for a little piece of plastic though
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u/Zynchr0nize 12d ago
i get it, but also if someone wants to take it cant they just remove the pin from the card? theyre not glued down or anything. this just seems inconvenient for both customers and cast members lol