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For some reason, as a Lambda Chi, this doesn't bother me as much as the majority of people on this thread, so I will offer the dissenting opinion on this topic. Personally, as a Lambda Chi, I would never sell MY OWN pin, never ever, ever. My father gave me his pin, that he got from his mother, and I hope to pass it down myself one day. I am totally against the selling of your OWN pin. I cannot hold it against someone if their faith in their own fraternity, has diminished less then mine, in my opinion its a personal life choice. I hold some things in higher regard then some of my brothers, I plan to be a life long member of LCA, and thats my choice.
Regarding the selling of pins/badges/random swag on Ebay, for a younger undergraduate brother like myself it is a great opportunity. Regardless of the motives of the seller(s), finding a 60+ year old TKN badge for sale only comes around a few times in a lifetime. I love buying items off Ebay, especially older items, and if I had the money I would snatch these up in seconds. The fact that this is being sold by a brother, and I have a good feeling who it is, I will automatically assume these things: 1. He is a life long brother of LCA, hell his name is LCAz1. 2. These are NOT his pins. 3. At some point he either had to buy them himself, or they were given to him. 4. $300 for a TKN pin is a steal, he by no means is trying to rip us off. It is actually worth a great deal more.
As a collector of LCA gear in an age where my fraternity is coming up on its one-hundredth anniversary, it becomes increasingly harder over the years to acquire these old items. This is one of the only avenues to get these things nowadays.
I think the general consensus is that brothers giving away/selling their pins for profit is a horrible thing, I will agree and disagree. Circumstances surrounding these pins are not by any means dishonorable, collectors are collectors. Odds are the money received is going to his chapter, or going to purchase other items he doesn't have. Keep in mind, many people I know buy several pins for themselves. Luckily, I got a very expensive pin from my dad, probably was worth several hundred when purchased, so I am told. Many people start off with cheap pins, and buy new ones when they can afford it. If they want to sell the old one, so be it.
Conversely, I think selling your own pin is like giving up your allegiance to the fraternity. I think I rather have someone sell their pin and it goto a brother who appreciates it, and if it has to be returned to the fraternity by monetary means, so be it. Someone had to pay for it, its priceless and expensive all at the same time.
In conclusion, it doesn't bother me. There are worse things that a person can do their fraternity, this is not one of them as long as the intentions are honorable, in this case I can guarantee they are.
Thanks,
John Dever
High Kappa
Lambda Chi Alpha - Gamma-Tau Chapter
The Ohio State University
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