Badge and pin trading… It’s a big deal at BlizzCon!! I actually had some badges already, including some duplicates that I didn’t really even want singles of so I thought I’d give this a try and WOW!! I learned about a whole new sub-world and community of amazing humans!! My own badge trading was a PHENOMENAL SUCCESS and I think I have a new addiction!!
These before and after pictures below show which badges I originally had and traded away for ones I appreciate so much more…. AND LOOK AT THAT HAT!!! The hat on the right of course, it has a Velcro front and sides for displaying badges… I foresee this hat being a very multi-functional item and not just specific to Blizzard badges!!
A funny thing about the backpack I acquired from BlizzCon 2017, because I had a virtual ticket and was therefore allowed to purchase some con-specific items online. I loved that it has the large area for Velcro badges but other than that, I wasn’t really a fan of the bag itself. I took it to BlizzCon with me and as it turns out, this was THE BAG TO HAVE at the con. And it was sold out of course, so this bag has a whole new value to me now. I probably could have traded it for a TON of stuff!! It was actually quite comfortable to wear too, as any gear I’ve come to expect from Blizzard.
Most of the trading was done at the Darkmoon Faire, a special area set up for traders in a hall separate from the rest of the convention. The Darkmoon Faire is an event in World of Warcraft that comes around once a month and offers unique items for sale, along with a myriad of carnival games that can be played to win or earn special items. The official Blizzard store was below this Darkmoon Faire, and it was kinda neat that with the trading of Blizzard items (this was more than just badges,) that a completely unique area was available for traders to just come and set up all their items… And anyone could walk by and strike up a deal. It was so much fun and I was shocked at how friendly and accommodating everyone was. I found too that this truly proved the concept of, ‘One person’s trash is another’s treasure!’ Except it’s all treasure, really.
Pin trading was huge just like Disney, as were Blizzard game swag items from previous years and events. I had some unwanted items from Timewalking (mystery) Treasure Chests I acquired at BlizzCon, and was able to easily trade them away for things I actually wanted, the experience was amazing!! And speaking of mystery, I think I FINALLY see the VALUE in purchasing those mystery mini packs and boxes… If I buy a non-mystery item that I like, then I won’t want to trade it, kind of like how I experienced with buying pins I liked at Disney, and I NEED STUFF TO TRADE… Addiction, yes?
Got a BlizzCon 2019 badge and pin, murloc shopper pin, and Genn Greymane pin. These are NOT FOR TRADE! 😛
Traded some items I had for these mystery mini Cute But Deadly figures:
I don’t even play Overwatch yet somehow I’ve managed to develop favourites as seen in my small Reaper and McCree collection below. Some of these I had before BlizzCon (like the art print and Reaper Pop! figure) but for some reason, I managed to acquire more!! For example I traded two badges I didn’t want for the McCree Pop! figure, WHAT A STEAL!! Thank you so much to that trader!!
If I do another BlizzCon ever again (and I fully intend to do so), I will be armed with trade items, as I already have so many at home that I didn’t even know I could have brought with me and traded for better stuff!! There will be no traveling light on these trips!!
Thank you BlizzCon, I HAD A BLAST!!
