Friday 13 July 2012

12/7: Coca-Cola Pin Trading Centre in Hyde Park

The Coca-Cola Pin Trading Centre (PTC) for London 2012 is now open in Hyde Park.

The first official day of pin trading takes place next week on the 17th July, so although there is no pin trading at the moment, the PTC is open for purchases.

This must be the place...

The PTC stocks all the pins that can be found in the online Coke Store and it will be the place where exclusive pins will be available such as the countdown pins and Pin of the Day. There will be pins at both PTCs (the other one is in the Olympic Park) that you cannot buy online.

View of the PTC as you enter

Not only is July 17th the day when official pin trading kicks off, but it's also the day when Coca-Cola's first countdown pin is launched. That day marks 10 days to go to the Opening Ceremony and the 10 day to go pin will be available exclusively at the Hyde Park PTC.

The PTC is part pin trading centre and part retail outlet for Coca-Cola pins and other Coke branded Olympic merchandise such as T-shirts and lanyards. There is a queuing area to access the centre ensuring that it will not get too crowded during the Games. The pins are on display in frames and a simple numbering system allows you to write down the numbers and quantity of the pins you wish to buy, go to the counter and the staff will put your order together.

Choose your pin from the frames or the chart

There is a large 'Coke Bottle' display marked up with the outline of the Pin of the Day shapes and I imagine that each morning as the pins go on sale, that day's pin will be revealed on the bottle to gradually build up the complete picture.
The Coke bottle waiting for Pin of the Day

The PTC is connected to the large London 2012 Shop at Hyde Park. This is a large retail space selling lots of merchandise, some of which we have seen in other locations, but most of it Games Time and Olympic Venue stock which has branding and logos we have not.

The exterior of the London 2012 Shop.
The PTC entrance is through the orange section at the far end

During Games time, the PTC will be open from 10am until 10pm. At the moment, the closing time is a little earlier.

30 comments:

Tim said...

Cool! Going there tomorrow morning, on my way to my venue training.

sleathy said...

Bit concerned about the daily build a bottle pins..... Will you be able to reserve one on a given day if you cannot get that day???

Robert said...

Looks fantastic!

TJ said...

I am so jealous looks fab wish I could go but no chance..bit miffed re venue only and coke only pins because it's impossible even if your able but for others who can't get to the games etc just a tad frustrating. Wish there was something you could sign up to for genuine collectors and only allowed to purchase 1 pin of each sort to stop people who only want to make money or flog them on eBay and not really interested in pins.

Anonymous said...

wouldnt it be defeating the object to produce pins that are meant to be sold at venues, as a keepsake of your visit there, if you could buy it without visiting there?!!???

TJ said...

To anonymous yes maybe it is defeating and agree its nice to have a keepsake when you go somewhere to take away with you but the games were supposed to be accessible for all and they are not. Just because your not at an event doesn't mean you would not like to be able to buy a venue pin and have a keepsake to remember the olympic games by. Getting tickets has been near on impossible and if your disabled only select tickets for wheelchair access etc so not a games for all.

Anonymous said...

TJ, i agree that the ticketing issue has been disastrous. but that is a whole separate issue. whilst i think it has been handled horrendously, i never expected the whole british population to be able to attend the 100m final and the essence of venue pins is that you have attended the venue

Anonymous said...

Whilst I do see the point of making some pins exclusive, it is a real slap in the face for some fans.

E.g. having applied for over £1500's worth of cycling tickets, only to not get any, and then to be told I can't buy a velodrome pin either (even though I've probably spent longer in it than most Olympic ticket holders ever will) is a bit annoying!

Why don't they go the whole hog and make sure that people who didn't get tickets can't watch on TV either? :-p

Anonymous said...

as you are clearly such a cycling fan, do you not know any other cycling fans that did get tickets and could pick up the pin for you? personally, part of the fun of collecting is the challenge of trying to find some pins and if you could just go online and buy all the venue pins, then they stop being venue pins and just become another cycling or athletic or swimming pin. the essence of those pins must remain they can only be bought at the venues or dont bother making them

Miss Happy said...

So if we work out who was going to which venue and to which event we could work together as a brilliant team so everyone is happy!

I love cycling too, but no velodrom tickets for me either )-:

But I will be at the Road races and TT...yippee

Just an idea

Miss Happy

Anonymous said...

Olympic track cycling tickets: I've no idea who has them. Up and down the country no-one seems to know of anyone who managed to get them. British Cycling got a few (literally) and sold them on to BC members who deserved to go. And that's yer lot, I'm afraid! The velodrome will be the hardest venue by far to get into (other than the Village, and Energy, Broadcast, and Media Centres).

Personally, I like the challenge of trying to find internal, sponsor and media pins, but I think a retail pin should be available to all. Presumably you agreed with the Faith, Diversity, & St. Patrick's pins lack of availability?

Anonymous said...

no but those are retail pins, the velodrome pin is a venue pin, sold at the velodrome, it is not a cycling pin sold by general pin retailers.

i think the difference is fairly obvious and suspect most reading this will have figured that out a lot higher in this thread

if you have an issue with the ticketing, as i suspect most of us do, that's a whole different debate but as far as pins go, its unfortunate that you cant get to the venue to get the venue pin but, in my opinion at least, thats how it should be

TJ said...

I'll have to sweet talk my ex. He is commentating at the velodrome and all the cycling and ask him to get pins for his son of course not that his mum is interested at all.....

noel 9 said...

Has any one rec'd their Coke ON LINE STORE pin orders yet ?

If Like me you are still waiting, You may like to sing this little ditty from NEW THE WEST END HIT...." Pin Collecting the Musical."

SOME DAY MY PINS WILL COME,
WHAT DAY WILL THEY ARRIVE ?
WILL IT BE TOMORROW, THE NEXT DAY
OR NEXT YEAR ?
ANY MORE DELAY - WILL BRING ME TO
TEARS.....

ONE DAY, THEY WILL ARRIVE,
UNTIL THEN - I HOPE MY WITS SURVIVE,
AND WHEN THEY DO - THEY ARE WELL WORTH THE WAIT,
COME ON COKE - ANSWER MY EMAILS, AND GIVE ME THE DATE.

HOPEFULLY SOON - THEY WILL BE HERE,
AND ON THAT DAY, TO THE SKY, I WILL RAISE A BEER
I HOPE THE WAITING WAS WELL WORTH IT,
AND THEY ARE GOOD AND NOT JUST A BIG PILE OF CHEAPLY MADE .......BITS !

(I had trouble with that last line !!! )

Keep smilling and hoping I say !

Anthony said...

no wonder Lloyd Webber is in such a slump with rivals like you Mr 9ham

DJ said...

I dropped by the hyde park shop too today, and found that i was the only customer there lol.

I was able to get me some cola pins though, including the hyde park trading one. I also popped next door and purchased a couple of those stripey logo venue collection pins.

All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable visit, and i have londonpins to thank for letting us know what's been going on.

Tim said...

I was there this morning. Great shop and really friendly staff, but again I was the only customer. I guess there aren't many people interested in trudging through Hyde Park in the the torrential rain! I bought some lovely pins and having had a good look at the "menu" at the till, there are some real beauties yet to come!

Tim said...

Noel, I still haven't received my orders from the online shop. I sent another message to customer services this week and not only did it get through this time, but someone actually replied..

"Dear Tim,

Thank you for your email.

I can confirm that your orders were received on the 3rd and 4th July.

Your order is being dispatched this week.

Unfortunately there has been a delay due to the website only just going live, of which I apologise for any inconvenience."

This was on Thursday, so presumably I should receive everything on Monday or Tuesday. Hmm..I'll keep you posted!

Acer said...

I'll bet our ebay sellers out of China will have the Venue Pins; they
already have all the new Coke pins
and Media Pins!They seem to get their pins well before even the sponsors.

Miss (not quite so) Happy said...

Coke UK claim no one has complained about the service from the pin website...

Here is the number to complain ask to speak to Coke customer service

020823730001

noel 9 said...

NO BODY KNOWS WHEN MY COKES PINS HAVE GONE,
BUT IT HAS BEEN A REALLY LONG TIME.
WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG,
IT'S A MESS, A SHAME AND A CRIME.

WHERE'S MY COKE PINS,
I WILL MOAN IF I WANT TO,
MOAN IF I WANT TO,
PHONE IF I HAVE TO,
YOU WOULD CRY TOO IF IT HAPPENED TO YOU.

LOOK THROUGH YOUR ORDERS,
AND FIND ME MY PINS,
AND PHONE ME BACK IN A WHILE.
WHY IS IT TAKING THIS LONG,
YOU HAVE FAILED TO DELIVER IN STYLE -

WHERE'S MY COKE PINS,
I WILL MOAN IF I WANT TO,
RAISE MY TONE IF I WANT TO,
SHOUT DOWN THE PHONE IF I HAVE TO -YOU WOULD CRY TOO IF IT HAPPENED TO YOU.

wookie said...

Has anybody got a straight jacket for Noel please?

noel 9 said...

Only a Stripey One !!!!

Am I a committed Pin Collector, or should I be a Committed Pin Collector....... ?

See all you fine people for "Pins in the Park" Tomorrow

Remember what Annie said,


The 10 Day Pins'll come out,
Tomorrow---
Bet your Bottom Dollar,
That Tomorrow ---
They will all -- sell out !

Just come to the Park,
Tomorrow--
to ensure you get your pins and all your traders,
come what may.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow.
Get your 10 days, tomorrow
Hyde Parks only - a train ride away,
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, bring your
brolly tomorrow,
it's gonna P down , with Rain ----all--- Day.

Miss Happy said...

It has been 18 days since I placed my order...I fear that the factory in China is making them to order...oh well may tomorrow...if tomorrow ever comes!

Graeme Sandwell said...

Placed order with the online Coke store on the 30th June. Finally received my order this evening, sent yesterday using Yodel 24 hour delivery.

noel 9 said...

GUESS WHAT !
MY PINS HAVE COME,
AT LONG LAST,
MY PINS HAVE ARRIVED,

THEY WERE ORDERED
ON THE 30TH OF JUNE,
BY THE LIGHT OF A SILVERY MOON.

SOON HOPEFULLY NOW, MY 2ND ORDER WILL COME,
MORE COKE PINS, TO BE DELIVERED BY THE TONNE,
BUT 3 WEEKS IS A LONG TIME TO WAIT,
WITHOUT A CONFIRMED DELIVERY DATE.

AT LONG LAST, WE CAN ALL START TO SMILE ONCE MORE,
AS OUR PARCELS OF PINS FINALLY ARRIVE AT THE DOOR,
SO ITS THE END TO OUR ON LINE MOANS,
AN END OF OUR SAD STORIES AND WOES ?

Tim said...

Update - Finally received my two orders today via courier, after two weeks and several messages to Customer Services. Great pins - lousy eCommerce site!

Miss Happy said...

Mean while I still wait, but there is no delivery man at my gate!

Anonymous said...

I have been to several Olympics and, unless it's different in London, pins were for sale in numerous retail shops not just at the venues. Even though the pin center is not busy and there are loads of pins available, buy now because 10 days from now the shelves will be empty. Trust me, don't wait.

Evelyn said...

Hi, there. I realized such as too many ppl that the country where the Olympic Games were born is missing. Glorious Greece, with Olympia where it was first lit the Olympic flame. Didn't you find that? Ι can not believe they didn't know geography. This is a sacrilege in the history of the Olympic Games. Shame on those who did that sin.