Info About Patch Collecting...
PERSPECTIVE: As Royal Rangers, patch collecting should be fun, not stressful. It helps build friendships and isn’t meant to be a financial burden. Deal with your fellow collectors ethically and fairly.
AVAILABILITY: With Royal Rangers celebrating its 60th Anniversary, patches are plentiful. However, older patches are rarer and often more expensive. These are harder to find due to their scarcity.
TRADING: There are no official rules, but many prefer trading patches of equal value. Trading helps collectors get the patches they need without spending money.
COST: The value of patches is subjective. Availability and rarity impact pricing. Some rare patches can be expensive, but purchasing for missions can sometimes increase a patch’s perceived value.
HELPFUL: Help new patch collectors by offering patches or trading tips. Share your experience and mentor them in collecting, researching, and evaluating patches.
COLLECTION: Start small and focus on patches you want to collect. Set realistic goals and allow your collection to grow over time. Remember, patch collecting is a marathon, not a sprint.
ONLINE: Online platforms like eBay and Etsy have made patch buying and selling easier, helping you fill holes in your collection. Not all collectors prefer trading, so sometimes buying is the only option.
LEARNING: Learn about the patches you collect. Understand their history and what makes them special. Online resources and communities like The Patch Page can guide your learning.
LIMITS: Know your spending limits to avoid financial strain. Rare patches can be costly, but patience is key in patch collecting. The right patch will come along again.
ETHICS: Let Your Actions Reflect the Royal Ranger Code. Be considerate to other patch collectors and strive for fairness in all patch dealings. Patch collecting is not about selling patches for big-time profit only. Being dishonest in your patch dealings will cause others to mistrust you. Be an outstanding patch collector … send payment right away for patches you buy, ship patches out right away, make things right if the patches don’t arrive, etc. Also, impress on new patch collectors the importance of ethics in patch collecting. Lead by example.
COMMUNITY: The more you get into patch collecting, the larger your circle of Royal Ranger patch collecting friends becomes. There is a great community of knowledgeable Royal Ranger patch collectors online, and worldwide! Trading internationally can add additional costs to your trades mainly due to shipping, but don’t let that scare you off.
TRADE CAPITAL: Know what you have available as trading capital. Buy patches at Royal Ranger events you attend so you will have patches available for trading. Event pricing on patches is usually the best price you will get; prices tend to go up after the event is over. Never trade away your only patch from an event you attended – it will be difficult to replace. Acquire patches that are good deals even if they might not be something you collect. Someone else might be interested in them for trades. Remember to keep your personal patch collection separate from your trading stock. When trading only show what you are willing to trade away.
INTEREST: Don’t just hide your patches away in a drawer or in a shoe box; draw interest by showing off your patch collection, especially to boys in your outpost and District. This will help others get interested in patch collecting, and keep the spirit alive in patch collecting. Displaying your collection also helps others know what you collect. This could help you fill in additional holes in your collection (see Needs List).
NEEDS LIST: It is good to have a constructive way to let fellow patch collectors know what holes you are looking to fill in your collection. A typed list (Word Doc, Excel Spreadsheet, PDF Document, etc.) will allow you the ability to send it to fellow patch collectors. A Needs List is extremely helpful in the trading process. It is also good to always have a printed or electronic copy with you. You never know when a trade negotiation might start up.
GOOD TRADE: When both parties are satisfied with the patch trade, acknowledge it with a handshake and agree verbally it was a “good trade.” It might be an old-school Royal Rangers way of sealing the deal, but it still brings a smile to my face.