FAKE PINS - How Long Before it affects Merlin/Potter

With my collection mainly being Merlin/Potter, both very small and niche sets I have not come across fake pins, but after having seen some Disney pins I liked my eyes have been opened to the world of fakes out there.

Not outright fakes as such, but extra copies of the original pins made by unauthorised 3rd parties.

For example : Limited Edition Pins designed to be sold in a run of 500 or 1000. After the official batch is made in China for Disney the stamp molds are then sold on to 3rd Party companies who continue to produce them and flood the market.

Disney seem to be turning a complete blind eye to this market and are even allowing them to be traded on park as official pins.

Lets hope when Merlin start doing Limited Edition Pins in the UK and start Pin Trading on Park we do not see the same thing happen here.

Here are some images of some Disney pins purchased. And everyone is an unofficial reprint.

The Mickey Eyes Pin Cover is missing the (c) Disney on the side (It is incorrectly printed on the face that touches the pin back)

The printing on the back is not distinct (Worn out stamp). And the letters and numbers are miss spaced.

All 300 Below are fake, (Reprints or Originals using overruns and sold on stamps)