stopping pins on ebay? - Page 2

SigkapAlumWSU · #16 02-17-2002, 04:16 PM

When this discussion had popped up earlier, someone said that they have the instructions on what to do with their pin in a tragic evet already in the pin box. Although a tad depressing, I think this is one of the best ideas I've heard. Even though nothing may happen to you for years, at least you know that your pin will be safe. I know a lot of us young 'ums do not have wills yet, and might not plan on it for years, but this is a simple thing we can do.

As for pins on ebay, my GLO does not endorse purchasing or trying to "outbid" others on ebay. We have a group that is trying to work with the sellers to explan to them the significance these pins have to us since some sellers are not aware. But please be careful about approaching these sellers, they can be mean, and not very understanding, and if you say the wrong thing the wrong way, it may be cause for legal action.

Optimist Prime · #17 02-28-2002, 07:29 AM

Yeah it sucks people who aren't members have badges, but...
they do not know what they mean. If if some how they have accquired part of the ritual, they can't know the emotional meaning. I would have a problem with someone who is not in Theta Chi wearing our badge, but as for actual possesion. I don't know. Even though I doubt my international fraternity will ever fold, it is kind of comforting knowing that some will have our emblem, and that it will "survive."

Beryana · #18 02-28-2002, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maharet

I wish there was more that could be done, but other than individuals buying them and getting them back to their Greek groups, hands are tied...

Sorry to be such a downer about it, but I've accepted that there isn't much to be done...Yes, it is a VERY good idea to let a family memeber know what to do with your pin when you pass on...
(

One suggestion that I can make is to send the pin back to your organization yourself. I have just gone through the historical badges at AOII and there were actually a number of them that were sent back before the person's death so that she knew that the badge would go back to AOII. That's what I'm planning on doing with my badge. There were even notes on some of them that if a granddaughter becomes an AOII that the badge is reserved for her.

This way you know where your badge is going and your family does not have to worry about what to do with it, etc.

Sarah

BlueAmbition · #19 02-28-2002, 12:33 PM

I've seen actual pledge books and what not on sale on EBAY...I think they should regulate that as well, because no one should be subjected to their organization's secrets and rituals getting out.

FuzzieAlum · #20 02-28-2002, 01:50 PM

Quote:

I've seen actual pledge books and what not on sale on EBAY...I think they should regulate that as well, because no one should be subjected to their organization's secrets and rituals getting out.

I don't know about that. I know there is nothing secret in my pledge manual. When I was a new member, a gal down the hall who was a Phi Mu and I spent one morning sitting around looking at each other's books, and I know I checked out now-ex's Theta Chi pledge manual. We were still new at this Greek life thing and it was fun to see how the other groups were similar and different. The thing is, at least in NPC groups, nothing a pledge/new member learns is secret - it's all stuff anyone could learn (although why would they bother?). Even after you are initiated, nothing secret is written down.

Of course, if anyone DOES have anything secret in their pledge manual, I would totally agree that it should be kept secret and regulated!

BlueAmbition · #21 02-28-2002, 01:56 PM

Very interesting Fuzzy.. but see that's the difference between NPHC org's and NPC orgs. Our handbooks, 'pledge manuals', etc etc.. whatever you want to call them, are EXCLUSIVE to our own organizations... they contain things that are different from org. to org., and are secrets.

While NPHC and NPC overlap in lots of ways, we also differ in lots of ways, it's what makes us unique.

I can tell you that I would never be able to share my secrets with anyone else who is not in my org.

Just some insight for you.

FuzzieAlum · #22 02-28-2002, 02:36 PM

Understand, I'm not SUPPORTING the idea of selling pledge manuals, but for those that are non-secret, I think it is going to be a heck of a lot harder to stop than it is to stop badge-selling (which is challenging enough). I'd rather someone have my pledge manual than my badge, if I had to choose.

Now, for manuals that are secret, like Blue Ambition said the NPHC ones are, that is a TOTALLY different story. I mean, I never would have looked in the Phi Mu or Theta Chi manual if the person who owned it hadn't give me the OK - and I wouldn't dream of trying to find out another group's secrets.

SAEalumnus · #23 02-28-2002, 06:13 PM

Check out the following thread:

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...threadid=15056

FuzzieAlum · #24 02-28-2002, 06:28 PM

That thread turned into a war about whether pin selling was right ... I haven't really seen an answer yet as to whether the fraternities and sororities have looked into strengthening their legal rights or just worried about it. Obviously pin selling isn't illegal or it wouldn't happen on eBay - they make a policy of not selling anything that breaks the law (getting sued doesn't make for profits). My question is more - has anyone tried to get legislation of any kind enacted?

And I'm guessing the answer is no, otherwise someone would have mentioned it by now.

SAEalumnus · #25 02-28-2002, 06:33 PM

The first post in that thread (mine) lists all of the available options short of bidding on a pin yourself. I intended the thread to be a source of information to those who'd rather not have their organization's stuff sold on ebay - someone ELSE turned it into a flame war.

kristiAZD · #26 02-28-2002, 07:13 PM

About the pledge manual issue, no, I do not think they should be sold on Ebay. But, unless your organization publishes your books themselves, what's in them isn't a secret. These books are published by publishing companies, who in most cases have no exclusive association with a certain GLO. None of the information in my book is a secret, although I was told to not let anyone see it. Our ritual is NEVER written down. It is passed down ONLY by word of mouth. The secret meanings of symbols, etc. are included only in one book, our ritual ceremony book, which is closely guarded and locked up with our ritual items. Everyone does not get a copy of this, that would be stupid, and asking for someone to let the word out.

FuzzieAlum · #27 02-28-2002, 08:11 PM

Quote:

The first post in that thread (mine) lists all of the available options short of bidding on a pin yourself. I intended the thread to be a source of information to those who'd rather not have their organization's stuff sold on ebay - someone ELSE turned it into a flame war.

Oh, I know - it was a pin buyer, and I'm afraid I was stupid enough to keep arguing with him, which isn't a winnable fight.

I know you started the thread, and I know you aren't responsible for what it turned into.

Kevin · #28 03-01-2002, 01:01 AM

Unfortunately, as long as there's a market out there for it, people will find some way of selling it. If not on ebay, then on another service..

There are also some major sellers/resellers of badges... One guy in particular who had posted one of my fraternity's pins had something to the tune of 9,000 auctions to his credit. These are people only interested in the investment potential...

Funny, I worked 3 years as a colonist and am finally getting a badge. It's going to be buried with me. If everyone else had the same attitude they'd become much more difficult to collect =)

LHT,
Kevin

deltaphi94 · #29 03-01-2002, 01:35 AM

To answer the original question, I know NPC groups have tried to stop the sale of pins on ebay, and I'm sure they are not the only ones.
However, ebay has said there is nothing they can do to prevent the sales. I haven't checked the list to see what is not allowed to be listed on ebay, but I'm guessing they're all things that have restricted sales (ie, ammunition), are protected by copyright (to avoid piracy), or are illegal.
In the case of pins and badges or the like, as far as ebay is concerned, these items are the personal property of the sellers, and they have the right to do as they see fit.

Maharet · #30 03-01-2002, 01:44 AM

deltaphi94....

You are correct...The pins are of personal property and sellers may do what they wish.

Sad isn't it...but as I told someone at A-Phi Eo's, the meaning and sentimentality of the pin will belong to the member, the seller or in some cases the buyer, will never have that joy. And in those cases, we are the winners.

I did find an Alpha Phi pin in an antique store and am waiting for the right person and moment to give it away!!!

Peace to all.