Selling your own GLO's badges on EBay

[OrigamiTulip]

I know we've discussed the sale of badges by non-members before, but I came across a couple of ebay listings that got me thinking about this issue from a different angle. How do you feel about people who sell the badges of their own GLO on Ebay? Especially when they are badges that have historical significance to the GLO? For example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lambda-Chi-Alpha...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Theta-Kappa-Nu-P...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lambda-Chi-Alpha...QQcmdZViewItem


Personally, I think that it's really sad that people are so disloyal to their GLO that they would stoop to selling their badges to non-members. Don't most GLO's have policies to deal with such traitorous behaviour?

[cuteASAbug]

Oh dear. I've only been an ASA for a couple of days, but I love my badge and everything it symbolizes. I can't imagine parting with it, let alone selling it to a stranger on ebay. Maybe the seller deactivated from Lambda Chi Alpha and is selling the pin because he left on bad terms?

[kddani]

I've come to accept the fact that there are pin collectors and sellers out there. What I can't accept or fathom is someone who would sell a pin of their own GLO for profit. If you have a pin that you no longer need - why not donate it to either your HQ or a local chapter? You could still get a tax write off.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by kddani

I've come to accept the fact that there are pin collectors and sellers out there. What I can't accept or fathom is someone who would sell a pin of their own GLO for profit. If you have a pin that you no longer need - why not donate it to either your HQ or a local chapter? You could still get a tax write off.

I would NEVER sell my own Alpha pin! That is ridiculous and disloyal. When I don't need something, I give it to a younger Brother. If it is of value, I would sell it to BROTHERS. To put your own pin on ebay, especially if it has historical significance..... shame.

[Sister Havana]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I would NEVER sell my own Alpha pin! That is ridiculous and disloyal. When I don't need something, I give it to a younger Brother. If it is of value, I would sell it to BROTHERS. To put your own pin on ebay, especially if it has historical significance..... shame.

Exactly. I would never sell my APO pin! If I was ever in such dire financial straits that I had to sell APO things of value, I would sell to Brothers and Brothers ONLY.

I have bought a couple APO badges and pins off Ebay. I don't like to see things like that going to non-Brothers. (And I did tell people I bought them from that I am an APO Brother.)

[AchtungBaby80]

Originally Posted by kddani

I've come to accept the fact that there are pin collectors and sellers out there. What I can't accept or fathom is someone who would sell a pin of their own GLO for profit. If you have a pin that you no longer need - why not donate it to either your HQ or a local chapter? You could still get a tax write off.

I agree.

It took me a long, long time to see and accept the reasons why pin collectors do what they do, and while I still wouldn't do it myself, I recognize that they're not evil and horrible. I don't, however, understand people who sell their own GLO's badges. Why? Is it the money? Do they just not care about their organization that much? I think donating them would be a much better alternative than trying to get as much $$$$ out of them as possible on eBay.

[kathykd2005]

Originally Posted by kddani

I've come to accept the fact that there are pin collectors and sellers out there. What I can't accept or fathom is someone who would sell a pin of their own GLO for profit. If you have a pin that you no longer need - why not donate it to either your HQ or a local chapter? You could still get a tax write off.

Aside from the tax write-off, it would also make a member really happy to have a badge that an older sister owned, one that has a "history." I know I would have loved one when I was a student!!!

[honeychile]

I've known of three ADPi sisters who have sold their own pins. One, I bought, the second, a sister made a deal with her prior to the end of the auction (and that's all I can say right now) and a third had a quiz you had to answer in order to even bid on it. I thought at the time, and still do, that if you're in such circumstances that you have to put your pin on ebay, the quiz part was definitely the way to go.

I've made arrangements for each of my pins (I have a very small collection of ADPi pins), which goes to my chapter, which goes to another chapter, which goes to Executive Office, and which ones would go to the daughters of sisters, if they went ADPi.

[DZRose]

I can only think of a few reasons why someone would sell their own badge.

1. It has no special meaning to them.
2. They had a falling out with their sorority.
3. They were in some dire straits and needed the cash.

For us, the fees we pay to HQ actually are more like a rental. Our badge actually doesn't belong to us, even though we are in posession of it, it actually belongs to the sorority. When we die, we're supposed to either be buried in it, or it's supposed to be sent back to HQ (yes, they actually have a vault at HQ with a huge box of badges in it) and there are very specific guidelines for disposal of a badge upon a members deactivation or death. When we initiate, we have to pay for a badge, there is no option to purchase badges no longer in use by other sisters.

Now, I will say that my mom is also a DZ, and I am not sending hers back when she dies. It was the badge I was initiated with, and I intend to hang onto it. If they want it, they can come and get it...lol.

On a brighter note, there are some sisters I know who devote a serious amount of time and resources to retrieving badges off e-bay. They buy them and send them back into HQ, who reimburses them up to about $50. I have also known of a woman who had her badge stolen in a home-theft years ago turn up on e-bay and she was able to get it back. So while the whole thing kinda sours my stomach, there are some bright spots in the whole thing.

DZRose

[MeiMeiCat]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I've known of three ADPi sisters who have sold their own pins. One, I bought, the second, a sister made a deal with her prior to the end of the auction (and that's all I can say right now) and a third had a quiz you had to answer in order to even bid on it. I thought at the time, and still do, that if you're in such circumstances that you have to put your pin on ebay, the quiz part was definitely the way to go.

I've made arrangements for each of my pins (I have a very small collection of ADPi pins), which goes to my chapter, which goes to another chapter, which goes to Executive Office, and which ones would go to the daughters of sisters, if they went ADPi.

I really wanted to buy that gorgeous arrow from ebay for my younger daughter in case she pledged Pi Phi, but it looks like neither of my daughters will rush, and that's okay. But my pin will still stay in the family , even if no one ever pledges Pi Phi.

[DSTRen13]

That it's your own GLO's pin makes it even worse ... I always kind of assumed that pin sellers/traders/etc. were mostly GDIs who just didn't understand. That's really sick.

[banditone]

No one sells their own badge. At least in my world, I can't fathom anyone actually selling their own badge.

[Tippiechick]

Selling your own badge is completely deplorable.

This seller, from Kansas City (according to Ebay), also is kind enough to also sell other glo badges ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=260076124842

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=260101696574

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=260098648549

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=260098655381

You MUST wonder what kind of sick bastard would do such a thing to make money off their own brothers! But, to do it to ALL greeks, is just... WOW.

[FirstAndFinest]

Originally Posted by banditone

No one sells their own badge. At least in my world, I can't fathom anyone actually selling their own badge.

I think it is sad anytime a GLO member sells his/her own badge. I don't agree with it, nor do I understand it. I try not to pass judgement on the seller, though. Once, I bought a badge from an ADPi on Ebay. Her story was sad and she was glad to see it go to a member who would cherish it. However, some non-member easily could have outbid me!

After seeing so many badges on Ebay that come from estate sales, I have instructed my husband that, upon my death, my badges go to specific members & to our Executive Office if those members have pre-deceased me.

[AlexMack]

It drives me nuts when I find my own GLO badges on eBay but then the seller usually doesn't know any better. This guy seems to if his user name is anything to go by.
I just posted a thread in my GLO's forum the other day about badges on ebay. Seriously, have a little respect.