Selling your own GLO's badges on EBay

[dever860]

Originally Posted by MeiMeiCat

My GLO has a separate pin for pledges and the "real" arrow for actives. We are also one of the sororities (AXO does, too, I think) that does not allow pledges to have anything with greek letters. Jerseys, etc. must be in script. I have heard some chapters do not adhere to that, but what do I know?

Your correct, I should have clarified. We have an associate member pin for our associate members. What I should have said is that associate members are allowed to wear letters and the coat of arms, and all that good stuff. Sorry.

[MeiMeiCat]

Originally Posted by dever860

Your correct, I should have clarified. We have an associate member pin for our associate members. What I should have said is that associate members are allowed to wear letters and the coat of arms, and all that good stuff. Sorry.

Just wondering, why do some GLOs not allow letters on "new" or "associate" members aka "pledges" and some do? The reasoning for us was that because they did not know the meaning behind the letters, they could not wear them until initiation. Is that the case for others or is there another reason? Also, I don't know any frats that do that, only sororities...except, well, maybe Phi Sigma Kappa? I think they had that rule....anyone?

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by MeiMeiCat

Just wondering, why do some GLOs not allow letters on "new" or "associate" members aka "pledges" and some do? The reasoning for us was that because they did not know the meaning behind the letters, they could not wear them until initiation. Is that the case for others or is there another reason? Also, I don't know any frats that do that, only sororities...except, well, maybe Phi Sigma Kappa? I think they had that rule....anyone?

We've discussed this in other threads here.... if you perform a search, you may be able to find the answer.

[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.

Originally Posted by 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.

What you just said is great and all, but I really think some of you are missing the point.

This individual is NOT selling his own badge on eBay. He's selling the badges (or pins...whatever LXA calls em) of his own organization in addition to badges belonging to other organizations.

Alpha Gamma Delta members purchase a lifetime lease to the Badge when they are initiated because the Badges are the property of the Fraternity -- to be buried with the member or returned to the Fraternity upon her death.

I'm guessing that several organizations have a similar policy.

I don't know what LXA's rules are regarding their badges. If it's a-ok for their members to re-sell them online on eBay for a quick buck -- then so be it. However, I think we should all be cautious of this LXA possibly selling property that doesn't even belong to him. I mean, look. He can't even get his descriptions correct.

He should be reported to eBay.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

That's something I wonder about...the legalities of selling a badge that is actually owned by an organization. Can we get their auction taken down because of that?

I always wish I had the money to buy one from them...at the least I could give them to our chapter...there's some girls that could use the break. When they're paying dues and new member fee and initiation fee, even $35 more can break the bank.

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

That's something I wonder about...the legalities of selling a badge that is actually owned by an organization. Can we get their auction taken down because of that?

Nope! There's nothing that can be done legally. The various GLOs have looked into it and it's a dead issue. If someone buys a pin at an estate sale...they own it and they can do with it whatever they want (i.e. sell it on ebay). Whether or not our organizations approve is irrelevant.

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

I always wish I had the money to buy one from them...at the least I could give them to our chapter...there's some girls that could use the break. When they're paying dues and new member fee and initiation fee, even $35 more can break the bank.

You'd be better off cutting a check to the chapter so that the money can be used to buy Badges for these girls.

Giving your $$$ to these eBay sellers just keeps them in business and leaves the door open for them to buy even more of our Badges.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by OTW

You'd be better off cutting a check to the chapter so that the money can be used to buy Badges for these girls.

Giving your $$$ to these eBay sellers just keeps them in business and leaves the door open for them to buy even more of our Badges.

Loaning money isn't a problem...well...it is but...not if they really need it. I just hate to see them sell them to non members.

Leslie Ann: That sucks. What about people that sell their own bages though? Even though that's probably not the majority of the sellers.

[Trey_P-I_47]

Ok I think that it is time for me to step in on this nice little conversation. I too know the seller personally, hell we have a phone conversation at least once a week, if not more. So if there is one thing that I know, it is A) Who this person is, B) what he has paid for the items that he sells (LXA) , and who has ended up with most of them. As a matter of fact, as far as the LXA badges are concerned, most have gone to Brothers, and several items to myself, both through ebay, and through personal set-ups.

Now take for instance this TKN badge that is on ebay right now from LXAZ1, he paid well over $400 for it (If I remember correctly over $500), and I was actually going to buy it for myself, but came across a slightly better opportunity. ($675 for a founding member's badge). So to say that he is 'ripping' people off is absurd. His biggest delight when selling these badges is that they end up in a very fortunate Brother's Hands. Now sure, if there was some better way to do this, it would be done, but to even advertise it up here, probably isnt going to get it very far. Most of the LXA brothers either have one already (TKN or LXA, doesnt matter) and lets face it, not too many people know or make use of GC. There is a larger chance that a brother happen across it on ebay, than the much smaller world of Greekchat.

Now I happen to know that this particular gentleman is 'mature' to say the least (A little research will show that the Lambda Chi Chapter was founded in the 60s), so this person is no spring chicken, so to make a mistake such as a date on an Organization that isnt even his, can hardly be called fraudulent. (But hey everyone up here knows absolutely EVERYTHING about EVERY GLO)

Now lets look at the reason why he is selling some of these, this man has over 60+ LXA Badges, he feels that by putting them on ebay he has a much better chance of getting them into a deserving Brother's hands, and hardly ever for more than what he paid for them. Now y'all suggested that he donate them to IHQ, that would be a marvelous idea, IF they didnt already have a massive collection, of much rarer badges. So they are pretty much just gonna put them in a nice little box, say Thank You, and then deposit them in the basement. So I ask you now, what good is that for an item of such beauty?

Now lets look at donating them to a new colony or what have you, again this man is well into his 60's and may not have the means to get them into the proper hands.

So I think I pretty much covered all of the bases, and if you have any questions about them, just post up here and I will get back to you. Oh and feel free to test me on who actually got what badges, I will be glad to verify if in fact they are a brother (about 90% are and obviously trey_lca_pi47 would be me)

Oh an one more thing, would you rather pay a little more for a slightly older, better made badge, or one of the newer plastic like ones from Herff-Jones. The quality now-a-days sucks, and I will leave it at that.

[Kevin]

It doesn't bother me that much. I mean sure, it's a symbol and symbols mean a lot, but that's it.

Come to think about it, while it may be a symbol to us, if you haven't lived it, it's just a pretty piece of metal, maybe with some rocks in it... big deal.

Unless I'm a collector of my organization's own badges, if I have a couple of hundred bucks, or $600+ burning a hole in my pocket and needing to go to something fraternity related, then that money is going to be either donated to the active chapter to help with rush costs, or it'll be donated to the alumni chapter to help with long-term goals, or it'll be donated to the HQ Educational Foundation which will provide a nice writeoff.

Before dropping that kind of coin on a symbol, think whether you'd rather pay that much money for a badge, or if you'd rather make a pretty significant contribution to your organization/chapter's future.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by Kevin

It doesn't bother me that much. I mean sure, it's a symbol and symbols mean a lot, but that's it.

Come to think about it, while it may be a symbol to us, if you haven't lived it, it's just a pretty piece of metal, maybe with some rocks in it... big deal.

Unless I'm a collector of my organization's own badges, if I have a couple of hundred bucks, or $600+ burning a hole in my pocket and needing to go to something fraternity related, then that money is going to be either donated to the active chapter to help with rush costs, or it'll be donated to the alumni chapter to help with long-term goals, or it'll be donated to the HQ Educational Foundation which will provide a nice writeoff.

Before dropping that kind of coin on a symbol, think whether you'd rather pay that much money for a badge, or if you'd rather make a pretty significant contribution to your organization/chapter's future.

I mean yeah, it's not exactly the end of the world or anything. But it does suck when you know you earned the right to wear the badge and someone else is buying it because it's shiny. I don't see myself ever having the money to buy them, just wish I could, that's all. I think I'm gonna have to donate some good ole free time of mine instead of the moolah.