I don't know about all the other organizations, but Phi Mu holds ownership of the badges, and they are actually supposed to be returned to the exec. offices in the event of death....
I really think it's a shame to see pins and badges on ebay, but the thought crossed my mind that, if the pin or badge belonged to a relative, and you had no idea what it was.... what would you do with it? Just a thought....

There was one of our badges on E-bay once and the dude who was selling it described the lamp as a "teapot"--I started to laugh until I realized what an idiot this person was and that he shouldn't have even had his hands on the pin to begin with.

...they hold ownership , huh? The way I see it , the person who paid for the badge, owns it. If you do return the badge will they give you back the money or at least give the money to your chapter?

One thing we tried that worked was just e-mailing the person selling it and explained to her what it meant. It was the number 7 pin of our chapter, so we wanted it really bad! The woman selling it was very apologetic and told us that she acquired it through a will and really had no idea what it was. She was proud to give it back to us, and we used it for an officer pin....

But what's chances that everyone is that nice? Well, it's worth a try at least!

I happen to agree with you on the ownership of the badge. What we're told, though, is that the badges can be willed to a legacy or we can wear them to the grave. Otherwise, they are supposed to be returned to national offices. As for what the fraternity does with those that are returned, they are passed to sisters who have lost their badges to theft or something of that sort. As far as I know, there is no return of money. Strange but true.

Maybe it could be considered paying money for the honor of wearing the badge (i.e. rent?)?

That's an interesting way of looking at it. I personally wouldn't object, but if they're going to do that it should be understood from the beginning...it's a little misleading to say that members BUY their badges, because that implies that the badges are theirs totally.

I don't totally object to the idea of returning the badge now that I know what happens to them. It could also be that there are stipulations to wearing the badge if you are not a 'member in good standing....'

So, what you all are trying to say is that sometimes newly initiated members can recieve badges from DEAD PEOPLE? :eek:

What is that stench?

...oh right, it's this dead horse.


I'm not going into the whole argument again, but I will say one thing:

To say that an ebay seller is stupid because they don't know the greek alphabet, or because they can't squint at a half inch wide DZ pin and tell whether it's a lamp or a teapot is, well... stupid.

I know plenty of brilliant people who couldn't recite the greek alphabet if you held a gun to their head (or if you made them hold a lit match in their hand!). Perhaps they were too brainy and nerdy to get a bid so they never learned, who knows? Anyway, knowledge of greek letters and symbols does not always equal intelligence (as evidenced every day on this very message board).

It's ironic how greeks complain so much about being stereotyped and then make the same superficial judgments about others.

wptw

Ouch! I wouldn't make a statement like that on GC if I were you. Unless you want to get flamed.

No, that's not what I'm saying. It isn't widely known what the return policy is used for. I just know that in extreme cases, a pin can be replaced using this method. New initiates' badges are ordered through a jeweler.

Oh, I don't know. I think it would be a safe thing if the sentence were changed to "Some Greeks."

Some of us do stereotype. Not all of us.

I guess what we have is a circular stereotype here. We're being stereotyped as being stereotypical.

Jeez. That's scary. I just want to be like everyone else.

Hey, now, don't go losing the rag, wptw! I'm just saying that this person obviously wasn't a member and really should not have been in possession of the pin. I love my sorority and I'm going to do my best to make sure that my pin doesn't end up on e-bay like that one--if I don't have a legacy to give it to, I'll have them bury me with it and if anyone wants it, they will have to pry my "teapot" out of my bony fingers. :p

Why, you wouldn't happen to be Teapot Dude, would you?

I would also agree that intelligence can not be measured by whether a person can recite the Greek alphabet BUT if I were to sell an item on ebay, I WOULD TRY to figure out what a funny looking letter is called. That is to the seller's benefit so he can get the correct people to view the item- thus getting a higher price! I think someone could easilyfind this type of information on the 'net.