Request from Lars regarding Knockoff Guild Pins

[KissMeKate]

Although it seems like most people are thinking the knockoff pins are pewter, I have a comment on the Guild pins. The older guild pins were bronze and unmarked (at least mine doesn't have a number on it). So perhaps the guild number isn't going to be a good indicator.

[araquen]

Although it seems like most people are thinking the knockoff pins are pewter, I have a comment on the Guild pins. The older guild pins were bronze and unmarked (at least mine doesn't have a number on it). So perhaps the guild number isn't going to be a good indicator.

I think that those fortunate enough to wear the bronze really don't need numbers, or prove their guild association (and I'd hate to be the person wearing a bronze knock-off).

But whether they're made of pewter or lead (I can't tell the difference), the only way to peacefully resolve the issue IMO, is to have each guild member do something temporary to their pin that is common and in agreement with the entire guild. Whether that be ribbons or even a kind of temporary banding that can be applied - anything that can be done with minimal outlay of money and/or skill and something every guild member (across the guilds) can do. People who are not part of the network won't know, and if/when questions come up in casual conversation, it will give a guild member the opportunity to determine if the pin is legitimate or not without being confrontational.

Think of it as an expression of solidarity. I mean, how many of you have those ribbon magnets on your car, or wear little ribbons for whatever cause you support? Why not an adornment that shows your support and loyalty to Lars?

[Cassandra]

One way to possibly tell a fake pin from a real one is to look on the back - a wench number should be hand-stamped into the back.

I, too, have an unnumbered pin, and a bronze one at that, purchased at NYRF. I didn't get it numbered until years later when I was at NYRF and my rogue said to me, "You really should get that thing numbered." So off we went to Lundegaard and got it stamped.

[emalia]

ummm guys...

How do we know that the people aren't reading these boards? Perhaps they don't know they have a knock -off.. Perhaps they have no idea who Lars is, so they think that they got the real thing.

[Nitestar]

We've been members for a number of years. Just checked our pins... Wench's, RenMerc and Privateer are stamped, and Rogue's is Sharpie.

Question... didn't everyone get a membership card with their packet? Are the knockoff ppl giving cards out as well? If not, just ask to see their membership card! We carry ours all the time!

[araquen]

Speaking for other Guilds, I received my pin at NYRF and my packets in the mail. My husband received only partial packets. He still has not received anything from the Rogue's Guild, and he was pinned back in September '04. But our pins are bonked.

Our pins are stamped because we bought them at NYRF and they were bonked on site. Since bonking is such a time-consuming method, I can see how writing the number on a pin with a sharpie would suffice in a pinch.

No matter how many ways you look at it, there is no way to determine legitimacy based on what we all have now, since pretty much everyone can claim an exception to any rule set forth. The only thing left is to do something new - whatever it is - even if it means physically going to Lar's booths and having the pins "legitimized" somehow . . .

Unless the culprits are caught, but there is still no guarantee someone else won't begin this anew.

IMO, any decision on short-term solutions should be coordinated between Lars and the Guild Masters and conveyed through "member-only" sections of each Guild's boards. To me, this is not a case of "clique," but of cheating a man of his livelihood and every precautionary measure should be taken.

EVERYONE PLEASE STOP FREAKING OUT!!!!! I just spoke with Lunde abou tthis situation.

Yes it is true, as I have said before, Lars has sent out unnumbered pins, hand etched pins, sharpied pins and stamped numbered pins.

Everyone who bought a pin from Lars, his site, NYRF at his booth or from other approved Lunde minions, you are fine.

The fakes are supposedly sloppy, very sloppy.

Also, if you buy a pin from a lunde person or boothie (not from his phone number or website) you probably got the pin and the packet was mailed to you.

If you are waiting on a packet from a pervious order, please send him an email, BUT KNOW HE HAS VERY LIMITED INTERNET ACCESS!

All memberships come with a packet, so IF you bought a pin from a person and never was told about a packet, never received one AND the person did not work for the LUNDE, then PM me please and I will try to help you out as best as I can.......and figure out just what the heck happened. This is all doe with his approval due to the limited internet access and being in an area with limited cell access.

As of now, it sounded like the fakes came from FLORIDA faires and that was all.....SO FAR as is known

I just hope it was a person who sold a few and then thought better of himself and stopped.....

Lunde asks that you please forgive him for the Sharpie numbered or no numbered pins, he lost his stamp kit and has not had a chance to get a new one!

ANYONE WITH ANY CREDIABLE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY KNOCKOFFS PLEASE EMAIL LARS AT
[email protected]
please do not use the website address for funneling the information to him as he is having issues getting into that for the time being.

Thanks,

Muffin

[Bean]

As somebody said earlier, just walk up and introduce yourself and ask what local they are a member of. If you get the "deer in the headlights" look, you can be sure it's most likely a fake. Or better yet, play dumb and ask general questions about the guild. I highly doubt that whoever is making the fakes is giving out website info, or has much info about the guild, such as what wench really stands for.....

I do hope Lars finds out who is faking the pins, it is taking money out of our Lumpkin's pocket, and we definately don't want to see that happen!!!

[Psyche]

Aw heck, I always introduce myself to anyone I see in a pin. I do a general "Hi! I am Psyche on the Wench/Rogue boards and Madame of Local 74." Works every time.

[daBaroness]

We must also remember that probably a larger majority of our legitimate members do not frequent these boards. Nor do many of them have contact or affiliation with their local chapters. Some of those same incognito individuals might just be more long-term members than many of us. I know I first heard about the guilds in 1999 from a wench visiting KCRF from ... somewhere?!!? I just came to the Web site she told me about - and had to become an official member.

I then met a number of women from KCRF (performers and participants) who were already members and I don't know that I've ever asked them how they first heard about the guilds - but since I joined in 2000, it had to be before that. Most of these goils aren't active on the boards or in any local activities - they just like wearing the pin and being affiliated with the IWG.

Our original madame and vice madame were already members when I met them, but I don't know that I ever knew just how they became involved. I do know most of the members I've met - I've met through the boards - especially my long-distance brothers and sisters. Some I've had the pleasure of meeting in person and they've become great friends I look forward to seeing on visits to their home faire or vice versa. Others are great friends though the longevity and sharing done on this here board.

I have noticed we tend to flock together and find one another at faire. I know if I see a guild pin I always greet the person and strike up a conversation with them - it's absolutely one of the best parts of membership as far as I'm concerned. It's like getting to meet pre-screen friends - you know you're going to have lots in common by the mere fact they're members. And when I meet new people - I do my best to introduce them to old friends as well - it just enlarges the circle.

I'll even brag a bit - I met Vada and Shadow at Scarby a few years ago when I noticed them sporting guild pins. I just struck up a conversation with them. They introduced me to Isa and the Captain and I introduced the four of them to Rae and Kae who already knew a lot of other members from Scarby. It's just blossomed from there and now when we visit Scarby or vice versa - we always know we have friends there and it's like old home week when we spot one another across a lane for the first time.

Just get to know folks and the rest will fall into place. As I said in a previous post - all someone would have to do to copy the pins as a novelty would be to make a mold from an existing pin and then pour new pins. I'm sure the quality is pretty poor - confirmed by Lars. It shouldn't be difficult to spot a rip-off either by sight or by talking with the person wearing the pin. I wouldn't ever approach someone with a pin in a hostile way - it'll be apparent soon enough if they're really a guild member or not - and remember, they've been ripped off too - who knows how much the bootlegger is charging for the pin - and imagine the surprise of someone who's bought one and finds out as a bootleg pin, it's pretty much worthless as anything but a substandard piece of jewelry one would only wear on infrequent occasions.

I just hope we can help discover who is making these pins and help Lars reclaim what is his. In the process perhaps we might even get ourselves a new member or three by befriending the customer who was ripped off in the first place.