I think the point is holding the pin with dignity for your fellow GLO's. Why do you think there are so many posts, pin rescuers, and the like? There are collectors who use their pins for educational purposes. I love my Beta Sigma Phi pin collection and I use it to teach the pledges. Those pins are a source of pride. Do you want to see your pin being sold for money rather than being revered? That's the point.

If you don't like the way your pins are being made, talk to your Nationals and help fix the problem rather than ranting here! Use the energy for something worthwhile!

Dunno how I feel about this site. On one hand I'm sad to see them sold like this, but at the same time, I wonder if this site might be a way to recover one of my org's pins.

I'm pretty sure Phi Mu uses Masters of Design. I love my badge, but one semester our Phis got shitty looking badges. I can't remember if they were ordered wrong, or if it was the company. They ended up getting new badges. I think our badges cost maybe $30 or so... I don't remember them being too expensive. I'd love one of those jeweled ones, but there's no way I'm paying $300 to someone who has no right to be selling a Phi Mu badge.

We use Burr-Patterson, part of the Herff Jones empire. I know there was a problem a few years ago with complaints about the quality of badges, but I think that was resolved, with replacements being provided.

So this is all the same company? Who bought who? Why don't they just go under one name and be done with it?

So far as I know, Balfour and Masters of Design are still separate companies. Herff Jones bought Burr Patterson & Auld and maintains that mark for its Greek Division.

Masters of Design bought someone else but I can't remember who it was. But it was the company who used to do our badges (did my 1988 one) which is how we now have MoD. Burr is separate but I thought there were only two companies who did them.

But I am far from an expert.

MoD bought Pollack........(my brain hasn't completely failed):D

All have been bought up over the years, and the quality has gone down!:(

Balfor has of course been bought out, Burr-Patterson and Ault has also been purchased and now, it is down to I beleive Herf-Jones in Providence, R I.

I cannot remember all of the Pin Companys, but the quality has gone down and the price has gone up!:(

Of course The GLOs make a % but I am not sure how much, maybe you can help me out with this?

The way I understand it MoD bought the remnants of Balfour (hence the "Legacy" division) and you say they bought Pollack too. Herff-Jones bought BurrPatt and MoD. So now it's all one. Check out their website. It's Herff-Jones - Legacy - Burr Patterson.

http://www.hjgreek.com/index.cfm?FromSite=ld

Jono

LOL, got the catalog of Herrf-Jones in the mail today.

Still had Burr-Pat on the catalog listing but Herff-Jones on the envelope! Providence, R I!

Dang, need to go to store in morning and keep that!:)

When I got my badge in 1988 too! it was from Pollack. I still have the original case it came in from the company, somewhere......

Sigma uses MoD and when I got my badge in 97 the quality was pretty good. I have never lost any pearls. I am not sure how the quality is these days, but I have not heard any complaints.

I'm a little confused. I'm finding separate websites for Balfour and Masters of Design. Balfour seems to mainly be rings now. But neither websites give any indication of a connection with Herff Jones. The Masters of Design website says it is "A Cookson Company" (here is Cookson's website).

ETA: About Herff Jones clarifies it somewhat.

With the acquisition of Burr Patterson & Auld in May 2004 and the addition of the former Legacy Division of Masters of Design, Herff Jones has proudly enhanced its 85-year commitment to quality collegiate recognition products and emblematic jewelry excellence.

Since its founding in 1920 by Harry J. Herff and Randall H. Jones in Indianapolis, Indiana, ironically then both employees of Burr Patterson, Herff Jones has considered the fraternal jewelry market as a desirable addition to its growth plans in the venerable and deeply traditional collegiate market. The deep-seeded historical connections of the three companies were further intertwined when Lloyd G. Balfour, a former salesman with Burr Patterson, founded the L.G. Balfour Company in 1913, and whose ultimate successor became Legacy when it acquired Balfour’s former Fraternal Division in 1994.

Now part of a rapidly growing and well supported Herff Jones College Division, Legacy and Burr Patterson have combined their respectively rich histories, loyal customers, intricate trade skills, and highly experienced management teams to create a newly formed and largely autonomous Greek Division of Herff Jones. Our Greek Division is wholly dedicated to meeting our customers’ highest expectations for fine craftsmanship, reliable order fulfillment, and uniquely personal, proactive service.

So apparently Master of Design still exists, but it sold the Greek related part of its business, which had earlier absorbed Balfour's Fraternal Division. Some Googling makes me think J.O. Pollack Co. hasn't been bought, though.

I don't know about other GLO, but I know that if you want to buy an older badge from Gamma Phi you can contact IHQ and get a "refurbished" one. That's what I did after my original was stolen at Convention in Palm Springs (by a maid or something I'm sure - certainly not a sister!)

Powerful accusation. Was any of your other jewelry missing?