Patch Tradin'

[Don Baker]

The following words of wisdom are from comments that have been supplied to us by Allen McBroom:

There are some professional patch traders who have hundreds or thousands of cheap, flimsy patches or flaps (like 30 cents cost each) made with images of scantily clad buxom females on them. They'll have a series of five or six of these, usually with some acronym on them that make them look like Scout patches. There are always a bunch of these at NOAC. They'll have some fetchin' looking babe on them, and the trader tells the boy '"trade even, or double, for your lodge flap". Then the boy finds out there's a series , and he should "collect the whole set". He ends up giving out numerous real lodge flaps in exchange for absolutely nothing, just a bunch of thin, cheaply made 'things' he can't wear, and nobody else wants. The trader then markets the boy's flaps on his site or ebay for $25-$100 bucks each.

Boys should be cautioned that these sort of hucksters are out there, so they don't end up with "trader's remorse" when they get home.

Here's a link to some of our lodge flaps on ebay. They are asking, and frequently getting, $35 to $1,100 for our lodge flaps.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=watona ... m270.l1313

Outside of our council, Watonala flaps and patches are highly collectible and much sought after. Only Watonala members can buy our flaps or patches, and all our patch runs are small quantities. It's not unusual for Scouts and Scouters to offer five or six of their lodge flaps for one of ours.

Trading is fun, and boys should trade for what they want to trade for, but they should also be aware that many of the patches and flaps they see being offered for trade (even many of the ones made by councils) are made purely as trading material. They are designed to draw the attention of boys, so the trader can swap "trader" patches for 'real" patches. because we are from a small council, our patches, CSPs, and flaps are all sought after by collectors.

Boys should also be cautioned that trading with an adult should be done only if he knows what he's trading away, and what he's getting, preferably with some third-party adult supervising the trade to make sure he doesn't get taken.

All real Scout flaps and patches made from the last 25 years or so will have either BSA on the flap/patch, or will have a fleur-de-lis on the flap or patch, or both.

Those made in the last ten years will have a hard plastic back, and will also have a BSA hologram sticker on them.

Standard issues patches and flaps have more collectible value than patches and flaps made solely for the purpose of trading (such as our white border CSPs). The red borders are a lower quantity, harder to get, and certainly worth more in a trade than the white border CSPs.

If a boy isn't sure if he's looking at a trading patch or a standard issue, he should look to see what the other Scout is wearing on his sleeve. THAT is the CSP he wants to trade for, if possible.

There will be special OA-only trading areas where boys can trade lodge flaps for lodge flaps. OA flaps should be traded there, if possible.

One last thing: Unless extremely rare (and they won't see any of those), patches having collecting value or trading value are brand new, never worn, and never washed.

_____________________________________________
Thanks Allen! Now a few thoughts from me:

Like OA, the only way ANYONE could purchase one of our Jamboree Troop 1523 patches was to be a member of our Jamboree troop.

For the record, this is the number of patches produced for Troop 1523:

Troop 1523 Numeral Patch - 120
Magnolia Patch - 202
Red Border Official JSP - 301
White Border Trading JSP - 301

These numbers are extremely low for this type of event. There are councils who are reporting purchasing THOUSANDS of patches. So, ask the person you are trading with to tell you how many they produced. You will be surprised. Print out this email and show them our official numbers!

Remember that patch trading began as a way for you to have a memento of your visit with a Scout from another area. Scouts (and Scouters) would trade patches only after they had a positive experience meeting and visiting with someone. It is no wonder that there are individuals taking advantage of the situation. Scouts are only human.

Don't forget the collectors in our council who may desire a Jamboree patch! They may have something nice to trade with you! (Make sure they need the patch, your leaders have already given most of the serious collectors a patch or two!)

Remember also, ultimately it is the human relationships and NOT a patch collection that you will treasure!

Yours in Scouting,

Don Baker