Pin on eBay

DixieMom · #1 08-29-2008, 01:20 PM

I was looking on ebay and saw this pin advertised:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-14kGOLD-...QQcmdZViewItem

It says it's "Alpha Phi Omega" but looking at the shaft of the key, I see KKG big time. I know someone would like to get this off eBay , I know my daughter's sorority keeps a lookout for their pins on eBay in order to return to the original owner, if stolen, or to offer members as a replacement badge. This one is dated 1930 and could even be part of any museum you may have. It's beautiful and shouldn't be on eBay!

heartafire · #2 08-31-2008, 07:00 AM

It is a Kappa Key ~ and the sorority chapter is the other insignia. The description says that it has "Betsy Roberts, 2-22-30" on the back.
How hard would it be to track down the person who should own this? The bidding is currently around $70.

Maharet · #3 08-31-2008, 10:26 PM

This is really 'not ok'...Here is another key for sale on ebay and th reasoning is just plain wrong...Sorry to crash (I am an Alpha Phi), but I am passionate about 'our' pins and had to pass it along to you all...Please read her reasoning for selling her pin...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kappa-Kappa-Gamm...QQcmdZViewItem

Hope someone can buy it or talk her out of it...

Maharet

FlaGirl07 · #4 09-01-2008, 02:35 AM

I just don't understand why someone would sell her pin??? Quite frankly it's just not worth it for me to have something like that in someone else's hands...

ETA: In the past, have genuine sapphires been available to be put on badges? According to Herff Jones, all sapphires are lab created/synthetic.

Kappamd · #5 09-01-2008, 05:10 PM

I seriously doubt there were ever REAL sapphires on the pins.

That listing just makes me mad.

MSKKG · #6 09-02-2008, 12:14 AM

I recently won a badge off eBay, and I think the seller is a Kappa. She sent it in a cute decorated box with KKG on it. Her first and last initials were on the side. Funny thing is that her initials are EK, so I will probably give it to the USC chapter.

LucyKKG · #7 09-02-2008, 04:20 AM

Ha! The first pin is labeled Alpha Phi Omega because they read the Alpha Omega Omicron wrong. Oh and Beta Beta chapter is St Lawrence.

And OH THE HORROR! Why would you intentionally sell your own badge? Omg!

KKGTay · #8 07-17-2009, 03:19 PM

I don't understand why people COLLECT all the fraternity and sorority badges either. They have no significance to independents or even to members of other chapters. I did buy a Tri Delta badge (at a FLEA MARKET, OMG) as a birthday present for my friend who had hers stolen.

owlkeyalumna · #9 09-01-2009, 09:23 AM

I thought Kappa had someone who kept an eye on websites like Ebay for Kappa "memorabilia". I know I saw a Kappa family weekend t-shirt on Ebay a year back, and I was so mad.

The badges part made me irritated. I almost considered buying my own on Ebay, but reconsidered.

ISUKappa · #10 09-01-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owlkeyalumna

I thought Kappa had someone who kept an eye on websites like Ebay for Kappa "memorabilia". I know I saw a Kappa family weekend t-shirt on Ebay a year back, and I was so mad.

The badges part made me irritated. I almost considered buying my own on Ebay, but reconsidered.

There is a group called the Keepers of the Key who watch out for badges on eBay and other places. PM me if you'd like more information.

RedRover · #11 09-01-2009, 05:53 PM

I have a friend who makes jewelry. He seeks out auctions and flea markets and garage sales for interesting items that could be turned into rings, cuff links, brooches, etc. Fraternity and sorority memorabilia is some of his favorite materials to work with.

He said often spouses and offspring don't care about the pins and like the fact that some one is willing to pay good money for them.

He said he knows of a woman who also uses fraternity and sorority pins in her artwork. He said she takes a personal glee in using such items. Apparently, she was passed over during rush many years ago.

To each his/her own

naraht · #12 09-01-2009, 08:49 PM

I've corrected several people who've labeled the keys with Alpha Omega Omicron as Alpha Phi Omega. I haven't been sure which group it is though. From what's been said, I presume the key with Alpha Omega Omicron is KKG?

Also, not all Greek Letter Organizations react the same. I'm a member of the National Alpha Phi Omega History and Archives committee and while I'd want the Fraternity to have examples of all of versions of the pin that we've had, I've never met anyone in APO as devoted to purchasing them as some NPC and NPHC sorority sisters.

Both the pledge pin and the brotherhood pin for Alpha Phi Omega are $5 (and have been at approximately equivalent prices relative to inflation since WWII). These pins are made of brass (so anyone who tries to sell the standard brotherhood pins as 10k gold is full of it. We do have jewelry that is more ornate versions of the pin that are significantly more expensive (up to $200) though. (Examples for both are visible in store on the APO website, but proof of membership is required for purchase from the website.)

thetygerlily · #13 10-05-2009, 11:17 PM

I saw a Theta thread about some of their badges on ebay and it spurred me to look for Kappa items. There are several Kappa badges listed right now- and one from 1962 shows a photo and text description of the full name & chapter of the original owner! I immediately looked her up on kappa.org and sent her an email- I hope it doesn't go to spam. Has anyone ever done this to any success? I'm assuming she either hasn't seen it (it's listed as buy it now) or doesn't want it. I hope she does want it and is able to purchase it. There's another that shows the name but it is dated 1940, and she isn't listed in the directory. I'm assuming she's no longer with us, although it's possible she isn't listed for various reasons. Too bad there's no "family of" category on our site.

You can bet I'll be anxiously checking my email to see if she responds!

AZTheta · #14 10-05-2009, 11:31 PM

*lane swerve* Call me "miss cautious" b/c I was just on the losing end of that Theta badge auction... you might want to take these badge notifications to a PM level. I'm in the process of setting up a group list serv for Theta. There are also ways to set up private chat rooms.

I am sure there are non-Greek "collectors" lurking on GC (why wouldn't they be? foxes in the hen house!).

*back into my own lane*

ISUKappa · #15 10-05-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzTheta

*lane swerve* Call me "miss cautious" b/c I was just on the losing end of that Theta badge auction... you might want to take these badge notifications to a PM level. I'm in the process of setting up a group list serv for Theta. There are also ways to set up private chat rooms.

I am sure there are non-Greek "collectors" lurking on GC (why wouldn't they be? foxes in the hen house!).

*back into my own lane*

We appreciate the lane swerve.

There is a group of Kappas called the Keepers of the Key who are always aware when a badge is up for sale on eBay. If anyone has any questions or wants to alert us of a badge, feel free to PM me.