Just So Frustrated...!!
 

I know this sentiment has been expressed by greeks in almost every forum here, but I just had to vent. I recently moved and cannot find my pin. I have looked everywhere, but cannot find it, and it was a gorgeous one--emeralds with pearl points. (sigh).

I am now an advisor and active in my alumni association, and have occasions when I want and need to wear a pin---besides, I have had a KD pin since 1974, and just WANT one.

I have been watching and bidding on pins on ebay, but always seem to lose out to deep pockets collectors.

There is now a pin on ebay from my own beloved chapter, and it is an early one--number 332 in a chapter founded in 1919, so I figure it must be from the late 30's. (I was initiated in the mid '70s and was in the high 1200's). I especially love it, not only for its history and connection with my chapter, but because it is the type most of my sisters had--all pearls with emerald points.

I have been waiting till the end to bid, however, it is already very high. The current high bidder's recent purchases include a Sigma Sigma Sigma badge, a Delta Gamma Badge, AOII items, Gamma Phi items.... well, you get the picture. Nothing anyone can do, but it is very frustrating to see a piece of history from my own chapter go to someone who just wants to acquire greek items from a variety of chapters.

Oh well. Bidding ends in three hours, so we will see. Wish me luck!

I hope you get it! However, if you don't, maybe you can find solace in the idea that this person bidding may simply come from a great big Greek family. Maybe he or she is buying pins and memorabilia for his or her daughter, niece, granddaughter, etc. Just a thought... :) Good luck!

Hmm, I have lots to say about this but I don't know where to begin.

Katmandu, I'll just send you a PM so I don't have to edit my thoughts.

I hate to hear about the loss of your pin, Katmandu. Good luck with your search on eBay. I'll PM you with an eBay-er's name you might want to avoid... here's an odd story for you:

A couple years ago I looked to eBay to buy a jeweled pin. Mine is plain, and I'd always wanted one with a little more pizazz to it. I found a beautiful pin on eBay and was the high bidder - yay!

When the package arrived in the mail, I was so excited. I couldn't wait to wear my new pin. I opened it and, instead of a beautiful jeweled KD pin, a Tri Sigma pin was inside the box. I emailed the eBayer I bought it from and explained what had happened. The response, "Uh-oh. I must've sent the KD pin to the purchaser of the Sigma pin. I'll see what I can do."

The person who ended up with the KD pin didn't want to return it. The eBayer offered to pay me back if I returned the pin, but I felt like the Sigma pin deserved a better home than what that eBayer could provide. So, I have a Sigma pin.

I recently got a jeweled KD pin like I had wanted, so the story has a happy ending (for me). I'm still in the process of finding a home for the Sigma pin. Oddly enough, one of my former roommates was a Sigma. I'm hoping she can find it a proper home, but I haven't been able to reach her for a long time. :(

Sorry, but no it's most likely a collector. Recent Gamma Phi badges have only been purchased by either Crescent Catchers returning a badge to IH (and hence the person wouldn't have those other purchases) or collectors who beat us out.

Does Kappa Delta sell refurbished pins to members? That's how I replaced my badge when it was stolen. Check with headquarters.

Hey, I was just trying to be optimistic! :) If you dwell on the negatives, you're just going to get angrier. It stinks that people do this, when individuals from those organizations would love to have those badges.

You should check with your HQ...some of them will reimburse you for the purchase of a pin off of ebay to get it off of ebay.

Oh my Gosh, that's a strange story about the Sigma Badge! I'm sure you will find the right person for it. Perhaps some new member whose finances are tight--it would be a blessing to her!

Thanks for understanding everyone. Didn't mean to sound like a cranky old lady, even though that's pretty much what I am. I did get the badge I was bidding on, but paid entirely too much for it, and in the end, I think I was bidding against another KD, as I believe the collector dropped out, so hope I didn't ruin a sister's dream. However, I am glad I was able to get an early pin from one of my own chapter sisters. She would have been initiated about 950 sisters before me--I think in the late 30s.

On the positive side, collectors and traders prevent these pins from being melted down for scrap, which is good. And, I have to admit, pins from other organizations, especially some of the mysterious locals, are absolutely beautiful. I have drooled over recent listings of vintage AOII and Kappa badges, (one Kappa pin was obviously made by hand, and had size and design differences from modern badges) and there are some amazing Zeta badges out there---turquoise, opal...lovely! So I can certainly understand the lure, especially if someone is panhellenically minded, or as kathykd said, a member of a large greek family.

I still want to get an all emerald badge or one with pearl/diamond points like the one I lost, but now that I have a replacement, perhaps it will turn up!

Happy hunting to all Crescent Catchers and Keepers of the Key and to all who surf ebay and estate sales in the hopes of finding something special!

Katmandu....I also lost my pin. :( But here's to hoping for an upgrade for Christmas! ;-)
(And that your pin shows up) O:)

I don't know...if it's this recent crap that HJGreek's been turning out, I think I'd rather have my pin melted down than in the hands of a collector. My new pin I got from them is pretty much crap. The clasp doesn't work and the enamel doesn't look good. :mad: Now, if it was one of the older ones with the letters, crown and star actually engraved into the badge, I'd rather that not get destroyed.

I have no love of HJGReek. I received my pin (plain one) when Balfour was our official jeweler and was told it was 14K. The next year, they started giving 10K with the initiation dues. I bought a beautiful pin on e-bay in spring with all pearls. It is small, and very old (around the early '30's). My badge backing with the open back are due any day now. Can't wait to see how they look with my antique pin. I did not want the one with the solid back as you have to send you badge to them so that they can fit the holes properly and I don't trust them to get my same badge back.

DaffyKD

There is currently a badge on e-bay - it has 6 days left, so I'm just going to watch it.

you can buy badges from HQ
 

You can buy "used" badges from KD HQ. I did that about 10 years ago. My badge was stolen when my parents' house was burglarized (I was out of the country).

I've also bought a few badges on ebay... & now I have a little collection. But nothing like some of those professional badge collectors have.

What department did you contact?

I never have much luck getting a response to anything.....even when they have me mixed up with another initiate 10 years earlier than me!

I would love to see if there is one that is similar to the one I have lost.