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greek stuff on e-bay
hey gang,
i was wondering, what does your fraternity/sorority do if you see your greek pariphanalia(sp) on sale at e-bay? there have been quite a few instances where sigma alpha iota badges have been for sale there, especially older ones with dates on the back indicating they were members around when we were founded in 1907. how does your organization deal with this? in the past, sisters have bidded on the pin to "keep it in the fraternity" and then sent it to nationals. we've also just sent the problem to nationals. but how do your groups go about keeping your sacred fraternal things out of the wrong hands? etienne sigma alpha iota-the hartt school of music ------------------ "red is the color of music and has been since the very earliest of times. the caps of faeries and musicians are well-nigh always red."~*~w.b.yeats |
I don't know what HQ does when they see these, but I figure they end up in the hands of brothers, or their families. I don't know why anyone else would want these badges, except to perp., but I definitely don't understand why they would pay such a high price to do so. The LCA badges I see for sale are gold and jeweled, and usually go for over $50, usually more around $80! I assume that it's either a brother, the chapter the previous owner belonged to, his family, or a jeweler who buys them. If it's a jeweler who buys them, I assume they eventually make it to a brother. That's my take on it anyway! I could be wrong, almost happened once before http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif
------------------ Steve Corbin Lambda Chi Alpha Theta Kappa Chapter Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. |
I just got a reply back from a bidder on a Theta Kappa Nu (What my house was before merging with LCA) badge. He bids on all the TKN and LCA badges he sees on eBay and gives them to the outstanding associate each year at an awards ceremony. He said he's only found a couple of these on ebay, since the frat. has been part of LCA for over 60 years now, and that he bids high on them, hoping to win, but hasn't yet. So anyway, I'm sure there are other "good samaritans" like my bro. out there for other orgs. you may want to just try emailing the winning bidder on these auctions and ask them!
------------------ Steve Corbin Lambda Chi Alpha Theta Kappa Chapter Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. |
corbin,
it's nice to assume that there are good samaritans out there, but there ARE people that just collect fraternity/sorority pins as just that: a collection. i don't know, i just think that if someone dies and thier pins is still around, that it should be returned to HQ for a legacy or relative to have. also, and i didn't mention this in the first post, is the problem my fraternity had with "talking" to people that were selling the pins. not members, just people trying to make a profit. unfortunately, some sisters were kind of harsh to the seller of the pin. we tried to get them to "donate" it to nationals, or have one of us pay the flat fee that the badge would go for now, but to no avail, the bidding went on. so this is another dilemma that we face. how would you handle that? etienne sigma alpha iota-the hartt school of music |
etienne, I went to ebay and was upset when I found my org's pledge pin up for bid! Following Corbin's suggestion, I emailed the high bidder and asked very politely what his/her interest in the pin might be.
etienne, I think you are correct in that not all those buyers are members of the orgs. I saw someone's pledge manual for auction up there being sold as "a great read." The nerve! |
ettiene,
You might be interested in an older thread on this forum about the same subject (I think it was in June), if you've not already seen it. I do keep an eye out for our badges, etc. on those auctions (so far have not found any - but we're a fairly young group, so perhaps this is why). Some of our chapter fundraiser cookbooks have shown up and I thought that was kind of neat! Someone brought up a good point in the earlier thread: this is really not something we can get all hot and bothered with e-bay, etc. about (imho). When one becomes a GLO member, one should take on the responsibility of informing family where these materials go (back to national hdqters., the chapter, along with addresses, or to another family member who is also a member) should one pass on... I've also seen badges, paddles and other items in antique shops and flea markets so it is not as if this is a totally new thing. Perhaps each national organization should have a small group of people with instructions to watch these auctions and what to do when they find articles for sale? |
I got this email from the brother that was bidding on the pin i mentioned:
---------------------- I went to a meeting last year in Baltimore of Fraternity Pin Collectors Society. There are about 15 hard core members and maybe 30 softies, like me. The buy/sell/trade pins day and night. I think some of them go overboard spending so much money on pins, but it does help keep the histories of Greeks alive. Some of them know more about my Fraternity than I do, and they are not even Lambda Chi's. I don't think they are in it for a profit as much as for the satisfaction of knowing they are a hard to find item. The leader of the group is not even Greek. He likes the old and obsolete pins. He must have a thousand different pins, mostly early 1900's and older. He is a med student at GWU. If you are surfing Ebay, look for a bidder named SKIDMARKS. I don't have to search for pins. I just look at his bidding and they will all be there. --------------------------------- Anyway, I guess this shows I'm wrong, but there's nothing we can do about it, which sucks! The only thing I know to do is watch the auctions and try to outbid them. ------------------ Steve Corbin Lambda Chi Alpha Theta Kappa Chapter Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. |
corbin,
yeah, i think you're right. (bfulton, i didn't know there was a thread on this before...i just came in july!) who knew there was an actual SOCIETY of fraternity pin collectors? i don't think that the collectors of these pins are out fo do any injustice to the fraternity and like you said, are very interested in the fraternity itself, but it's just nice to know that something so integral to your fraternity is placed in national headquarters where it belongs, right? etienne sigma alpha iota-the hartt school of music ------------------ "red is the color of music and has been since the very earliest of times. the caps of faeries and musicians are well-nigh always red."~*~w.b.yeats "I think that happiness is when you can let yourself feel every emotion you want at any time instead of being a lying little fuck." - Tori Amos |
I am torn on this! I hate it when my sorority's pins are up for auction, but I used to work for a guy who collected pins, (he's a Greek alum) and his point was that when these pins end up in pawn shops, they can be bought by jewelers for the gold weight, and then melted down. That is much more sad than a non-Greek collector owning it! I think that all the Nationals should buy the pins off eBay, or that the sellers should try to only sell to initiated brothers or sisters. I always look for my badges, and would buy one if it didn't get too high (which it always does).
As for non-sacred items (like you could buy on campus at the bookstore), I don't see any problem with that. I bought a silver key chain on eBay that none of the Greek stores at my school had. |
I still don't know. Even if they like collecting them because it's cool for them to own something so old, we had several weeks in a pledge period just to get a pledge pin and depending on the finances and attendance and performace of some members, it took anywhere from a 3 months to nearly a year for some of us to receive our badges. And then Mr. So-And-So can just go buy one off of Ebay?
You are right in making sure that our families need to know what to do with our material, but no matter what, some things are going to end up out there, so I suppose it's pretty futile to get upset about it. Still . . . |
Yeah, I think it would be nice for them to go to:
A) Nat/Internat. HQ 2) Back to the chapter D) At least to another brother. ------------------ Steve Corbin Lambda Chi Alpha Theta Kappa Chapter Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. |
Looks like there may be some interest in previous threads about this topic. Here are the links:
http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/...ML/000287.html http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/...ML/000377.html ------------------ John Hammell Network Administrator, GreekChat.com |
I've noticed quite a few treds on this topic... perhaps each fraternity/sorority could pool a "slush" fund and bid on the pins... I know that not every pin can be purchased, but atleast the pins you obtain will be off the market (so to speak)...
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There's more than one way to skin a cat...
Honestly, I cannot fault someone for being a collector. To a serious collector, whether you're a philatelist, a coin collector, etc., it's the history and uniqueness of a piece that gives it its worth (not its monetary worth). I can completely understand being intrigued by the rich history of greek life...I am myself, which is a big reason for participating on greekchat. Having said that: why are these pins showing up in the first place? I doubt that it's due to desultory negligence on the part of members...but I do think it's because they make no arrangments for properly retaining/disposing of their badges/pins in the even of their passing. It would take such a tiny, simple step to make sure that one's pin/badge stays within one's fraternity/sorority. Here are a few ideas that came to mind: (1) Give the pin/badge to your national organization/chapter. A new member would appreciate the gesture. (2) If there's a legacy in your family (child, grandchild, niece/nephew), consider passing it on to them when they initiate. (My best friend's dad did this...he's a LXA, and when my b.f.'s brother initiated LXA, their dad showed up out of nowhere and passed on his pin (or is it badge? Corbin, please clarify!). (3) Make arrangments for it in your will, if you plan on keeping it for life. Of course, all of this is based on the assumption that there aren't any special restrictions/instructions already in one's GLO on how to keep or pass on the pin/badge. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif ------------------ equeen A Lioness has her Pride! @>--;-- Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies |
Is there a difference between a pin and a badge? It's small, about the size of a penny I think. I don't have it with me. It has a pin with a catch on the back, so I guess I would call it a pin. I hope to one day pass mine on to a son, grandson, nephew, or something like that. If I don't pass it on and I keep it though, I would probably put a notecard with it, saying what to do with it. I'm sure many of these men/women forget about them as they get older. It becomes just another pin in their jewelry box, and they don't think to make special arrangements for it.
------------------ Steve Corbin Lambda Chi Alpha Theta Kappa Chapter Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. |
Sounds like a good topic for those in charge of national and chapter publications (magazines, newsletters, etc.)
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i don't know if there IS a difference between PIN and BADGE. i know that when my pledges have them, they're pins and when sisters have them, they're badges. i've never used the term "pledge badge" it's always "pledge pin". and when you're initiated, you don't "wear your pin" you "wear your badge..."
food for thought... etienne sigma alpha iota-the hartt school of music ------------------ "red is the color of music and has been since the very earliest of times. the caps of faeries and musicians are well-nigh always red."~*~w.b.yeats "I think that happiness is when you can let yourself feel every emotion you want at any time instead of being a lying little fuck." - Tori Amos |
Do you guys have the same object as a pin and badge. My fraternity has one that is the pledge pin, and it is totally different from the brotherhood badge. I was just curious if you guys just used the same thing, or do have different ones.
AXPAlum |
We have an AM pin, which is like the old pledge pin from LCA and the member badge of Theta Kappa Nu. The member badge is completely different. you can check them all, and other LCA symbols, out at: http://www.lambdachi.org/the_symbols...a_chi_alph.htm
------------------ Steve Corbin Lambda Chi Alpha Theta Kappa Chapter Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. |
our pledge pin is similar, but seperate to our sisterhood badge. you can see there are big differences.
etienne sigma alpha iota-the hartt school of music *okay, can i just say that when i was typing my alpha, it came out as "aloha"...sigma aloha iota...just thought it was funny.... ------------------ "red is the color of music and has been since the very earliest of times. the caps of faeries and musicians are well-nigh always red."~*~w.b.yeats "I think that happiness is when you can let yourself feel every emotion you want at any time instead of being a lying little fuck." - Tori Amos |
etienneSAI, you naughty girl. you have a bad word in your signature, and the program didn't catch it! That's interesting http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif
------------------ Steve Corbin Lambda Chi Alpha Theta Kappa Chapter Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. |
More on the subject of definitions. I've always been under the impression that a difference existed between a badge and a pin. A badge was for use in formal attire: ceremonies, weddings, interviews, banquets. A badge can be jeweled and sometimes customized. Where a pin (sometimes called a recogition pin, active pin, etc) is normally something simple and is more for every day use from chapter meetings, to work, to class. Both are reserved for initiated memebers and are different then a pledge/candidate/new memeber pin - which is used to designate someone who is still in the learning phase of membership.
That has been my take on it. I'm not sure if its correct or not but that's the way i've always understood. *smile* |
I'm not too sure about the difference, some orgs. call theirs "pins," others "badges." I think they refer to about the same thing. And you're right, they mostly just slip one's mind.
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This is the kind of stuff I really hate to see: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...item=391080113
This guy didn't even have the decency or brains to find out the greek letters. He has about 3 other greek badges for sale, and screwed them all up, SAE as EAE, Iota as I with a circle around it. I mean, you would think he would at least want to get it right so he could sell it easier! ------------------ Steve Corbin Lambda Chi Alpha Theta Kappa Chapter Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. |
I went to my national conference last year (KD) and we had a discussion about all of this. They actually told us it is illegal to sell the pins (badges) because they are actually property of the National Organization, and only borrowed by the member. The pins should automatically be returned to the Nat'l Headquarters of the chapter, given to a member, given to a chapter, or guarded within the family.
I know that when a sister decides to resign from the chapter, she is required to turn in her pin, even though she payed for it. If she is no longer a member, she no longer has the right to be in possession of the pin. It is hard to get E-bay and the like to enforce this, however. I know my sorority has sent letters, though. |
Members of my sorority have formed a small, but dedicated national network which aims to bring KKG bages and pledge pins back into the hands of Kappas or Kappa Nationals.
So far, we have "rescued" over 50 pins (several of them dating back to the 1890s), plus other historic Kappa items that we have returned to the National archive/museum. We sometimes get help from members of other GLOs--a Chi Omega in California found an 1890 KKG badge at an Antique Mart just last week; she notified us through KKG nationals, and we got the pin back; it turns out to be the pin of one of the founders of an early Kappa chapter--very valuable to our history! (So thanks, Chi O!) Additionally, I have helped and have been helped by Pi Beta Phis, Alpha Phis, Sigma Chis and Kappa Sigs--who have either let me know about a pin they've seen for sale, or vice versa. This whole endeavor can get quite expensive, as you may be able to guess, and we don't have any "official" support from Nationals. But most of us are Alumna Advisors, and some of us are even National officers. We try our best to find other Kappas who want to buy these badges, or sometimes we donate them to the chapters they originally came from (as award badges), or sometimes we just buy them ourselves (I personally have over 10 KKG badges alone!) If anyone from any other GLO group would like further information on how we work to get these pins back, please email me at hawkeyehoosier@hotmail.com I'd be happy to help you out! ------------------ Oh, Kappa Kappa Kappa Gamma, I'm so happy that I am a Kappa Kappa Kappa Gamma, Nobody knows . . . how happy I am! |
I don't agree with the selling and buying of badges and/or pins. However, at one time I thought I had lost my badge and was considering bidding on one on Ebay. I figured it would be cheaper to bid on a pin, plus it would be a neat feeling knowing that I was wearing someone else's badge who probably love my GLO the same way I did (not to mention recovering it from the hands of a non-Chi Omega).
Luckily for me I found my badge, but I know plenty of sisters who would only bid on one if they knew theirs was gone for good! |
I know that Pi Beta Phi has a section on their website about this, and ask people if they see their pins on E-bay to notify the headquarters so they can get the pin. I know there are a lot of pins out there for sale, and I've also heard of people who just like to collect greek badges from all organizations. I know one woman, and her boyfriend collects greek badges (he's a brother somewhere, but I can't remember where). In any case, if it offends someone, I think they should go bid on it, get it back, and give it to their national. I've never seen one of my own though.
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I have seen only one Lambda Chi Alpha Badge on E-Bay. I so wanted to buy it it to get off the site. It was tied into a cluster of badges. I could only figure the reason it was there that the Brother died and the estate got it. My badge means everything to me as I went through something different than most to get it.
A badge is something that you earned not given to you because you were good. AS the founder of the local, I designed all of the paraphanalia and there are only two sets left. I have one and the International has one. I plan to Will mine to the chapter to give to the outstanding associate or the President to hold in trust. That is to make sure that it means as much to them as it did to me. Mine is no longer made as I went FULL OUT! I think we as Greeks should keep an eye out and get and do what we can as it is meaninful only to us, each Fraternity/ and Sorority, ------------------ Tom Earp LX Z#1 Pittsburg State U. (Kansas) |
I have seen only one Lambda Chi Alpha Badge on E-Bay. I so wanted to buy it it to get off the site. It was tied into a cluster of badges. I could only figure the reason it was there that the Brother died and the estate got it. My badge means everything to me as I went through something different than most to get it.
A badge is something that you earned not given to you because you were good. AS the founder of the local, I designed all of the paraphanalia and there are only two sets left. I have one and the International has one. I plan to Will mine to the chapter to give to the outstanding associate or the President to hold in trust. That is to make sure that it means as much to them as it did to me. Mine is no longer made as I went FULL OUT! I think we as Greeks should keep an eye out and get and do what we can as it is meaninful only to us, each Fraternity/ and Sorority, ------------------ Tom Earp LX Z#1 Pittsburg State U. (Kansas) |
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Re: pin collectors, here is a site worth checking out:
http://www.fraternitypin.com/ This site is run by Jeff Stern, who is a Sigma Chi, and his girlfriend is a Tri-Delta. If you're in a GLO, he's probably got one of your badges. ------------------ Oh, Kappa Kappa Kappa Gamma, I'm so happy that I am a Kappa Kappa Kappa Gamma, Nobody knows . . . how happy I am! |
I just checked out E-bay and sorry to say Tom, there's two bagde of Lambda Chi up there right now.
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Weeeee...he's got no D Phi E!
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Hes got tons of mine http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif
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Originally posted by Microbiomajor: I went to my national conference last year (KD) and we had a discussion about all of this. They actually told us it is illegal to sell the pins (badges) because they are actually property of the National Organization, and only borrowed by the member. ----------------------------------- Thought...could the sellers be prosecuted? If they are selling something that it's illegal to sell...bad comparison, but I'm sure if someone was selling wacky weed on ebay they would be prosecuted quite quickly! Just some more info to consider: The sellers cannot be prosecuted! Once a trademarked item has reached the second-hand market - i.e. flea market, antique sale, estate sale, eBay, etc., meaning the original owner who purchased it NEW has sold it to someone else, who is now selling it - the trademark rights and copyrights change. The owner of the marks doesn't retain the right to say who may own or purchase any longer. An example that might be clearer: If I buy a brand-new "officially licensed" Dallas Cowboys t-shirt from Oshman's Sporting Goods, I pay a price that includes the royalty fee, which the Cowboys get because it is a licensed product and they own the logo. If my mom later decides the t-shirt is ratty and donates it to Goodwill, who re-sells it for $3, the Dallas Cowboys don't get a cut of that, nor can they tell Goodwill not to sell it. IMHO: whether or not a badge/pin/manual is being sold on eBay will not change what it means to me and my sisters! A pin collector can buy all he/she wants, but he/she won't have the rights and responsibilities and memories and meanings of the fraternity/sorority. Now, here's another question... what's the general feeling about non-ritual Greek stuff on eBay? keychains, hats, frames, etc.? the same merchandise that you can find in your campus store? ------------------ Sterling Greek Purveyors of Fine Greek Gifts www.SterlingGreek.com [This message has been edited by Texas Alum (edited February 10, 2001).] |
The reason I brought up about prosecuting the sellers is I have seen people on ebay say "these are my pins from 1962" or whatever. Not only would I like a sister or brother who would do that prosecuted, I'd like them drummed out of the fraternity/sorority because they have no idea what it means. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif I realize a lot of the people who buy these at estate sales have no clue, even though they should. What's next, selling diplomas?
As far as selling the sweatshirts, keychains, etc....that to me really isn't different than the college's Greek store selling them. I mean, it's not like I had to show my member ID to buy something in the Greek store. I guess if you have the world's crappiest greek store ever at your college, it could be convenient, although the shipping charges are probably hideous. To me the best way to find paraphernalia if you don't have easy access is to contact your other chapters. |
Delta Zeta National Headquarters has a policy that they will reimburse any sister who "rescues" a DZ Badge from e-bay or elsewhere. They will pay $50 or the actual price of the badge, whichever is lower. We have many individuals who check e-bay regularly to see if any of our badges are up for sale and attempt to buy them back. So far, we've done pretty well, but occasionally one will slip away to some jerk who doesn't know or care how significant that piece of jewelry really is! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif
Lots of times, if a bid goes higher than $50, sisters will chip in together to pay for it. Per Delta Zeta policy, the badge is sent back to headquarters since it is actually property of Delta Zeta and not the individual. If ANYONE finds a DZ badge on e-bay or anywhere else, PLEASE notify me at dzrose93@yahoo.com so that I can try to save it! THANKS!!! |
Dear dzrose:
I am so thrilled to see that Delta Zeta is making such an effort to rescue its badges! I check ebay everyday for Kappa badges and pledge pins, and if I come across any DZ pins, I will definitely contact you! Panhellenically, imsohappythatiama ------------------ Oh, Kappa Kappa Kappa Gamma, I'm so happy that I am a Kappa Kappa Kappa Gamma, Nobody knows . . . how happy I am! |
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