Redisplay Messages: Compact | Brief | All | Full Show Messages: All | Without Replies| Author: | cosmicray  | | Posted: | May 15, 2024 15:41 | | Subject: | Re: Where is the scale for box condition ? | | Viewed: | 23 times | | Topic: | Selling | |
|
| In Selling, Dhobeck writes:
| | In Selling, yorbrick writes:
| | In Selling, cosmicray writes:
| | In Selling, infinibrix writes:
| | Obviously people will always still interpretate condition slightly differently
but I feel overall this would be a lots less subjective than a 1-10 grading system
and sellers will have a much better understanding of the most appropriate option
to choose for their sets condition
|
I have never specified a box as MISB, not ever. Recently a buyer tried to tell
me that "Factory sealed in original box" meant I was claiming it was
MISB. 🤦♀️
When buyers begin to assign meanings that were never stated/intended, that's
when it is time to look out for the falling sandbag from above.
|
I tend not to describe the box at all. That is what the (new, sealed) condition
is for. Unless there is any damage, then I'd note it.
I never really know what people mean by MISB. Do they mean the parts are mint
inside the box, or that the box is mint, or that the box is in a sealed shipping
box?
|
It means mint in sealed box. I think
|
Mint is a plant that grows in my garden, it's nothing to do with box conditions.
Nita Rae
|
 |
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | May 15, 2024 13:44 | | Subject: | Re: Where is the scale for box condition ? | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Selling | |
|
| In Selling, infinibrix writes:
| | Obviously people will always still interpretate condition slightly differently
but I feel overall this would be a lots less subjective than a 1-10 grading system
and sellers will have a much better understanding of the most appropriate option
to choose for their sets condition
|
I have never specified a box as MISB, not ever. Recently a buyer tried to tell
me that "Factory sealed in original box" meant I was claiming it was
MISB. 🤦♀️
When buyers begin to assign meanings that were never stated/intended, that's
when it is time to look out for the falling sandbag from above.
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | May 15, 2024 08:18 | | Subject: | Where is the scale for box condition ? | | Viewed: | 116 times | | Topic: | Selling | |
|
| I'm seeing a large variety of sellers, grading box conditions with numerical
numbers.
Is there a place where the list of what those numbers mean is defined ?
When I see 9.3/10, or 7/10, without a defined grade list, they are (essentially)
meaningless (or something the seller made up out of thin air).
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | May 15, 2024 07:54 | | Subject: | Links are acceptable in the extended descrip? | | Viewed: | 60 times | | Topic: | General | |
|
| While scrolling thru various listings (by other sellers), I noticed one that
said "You can see photos of the set in the extended description". Clicking
thru to the listing, then the extended description, showed me an external link
(without actually displaying the photos). I was surprised that external links
are allowed in the extended description.
My concern is that there is nothing vetting that the external link is actually
going to display an image, and my concern is heightened by this CVE:
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-38171x
While it has been addressed, not everyone may have applied the patches, and it
did expose a (very cunning) zero-day exploit that affected lots of platforms.
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | May 14, 2024 17:47 | | Subject: | speed-bump for spamming new members | | Viewed: | 166 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | | Status: | Open | | Vote: | [Yes|No] | |
|
| Please add a speed-bump, such that new members can post to the Forum,
but not if they insert more than three links into the message text. Right now
all the spam messages I see (like the one this morning, and the parade of gummie
spam over the past year) have 10-20-more links sprayed down the body of the message.
Limiting zero feedback members to three links, should in no way impact legitimate
users, but it might slow down the spam kids such to make spamming here more difficult.
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | May 13, 2024 13:55 | | Subject: | Re: USPS shows delivered | | Viewed: | 51 times | | Topic: | Feedback | |
|
| In Feedback, CSC writes:
| | Hello everyone,
I had been contacted by a buyer saying "Hi, just letting you know that this
item was not received even though the post office says it was put in my mailbox
yesterday. i have filed a inquiry with USPS but i'm not hopeful."
Now the buyer left neutral feedback for not receiving an item.
I have provided tracking and it shows "Delivered, In/At Mailbox"
Now while I understand that this is frustrating for the buyer, what else can
I do and is there a way to get this feedback removed?
The buyer said in his feedback "Didn’t receive item. Seller did not offer
anything for lost items!"
Again, I understand the frustration, but why should I offer something for a lost
item that was lost by USPS or placed in the wrong mailbox?
Thanks
|
What value was involved in the order ? Did it exceed the $100 standard coverage
provided by USPS ?
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | May 12, 2024 09:13 | | Subject: | Re: User requests buying outside of Bricklink | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Selling | |
|
| In Selling, dstiefel writes:
| | I was looking under terms for sellers but didn't see anything specifically
on topic, but does anyone have a definitive answer or knowledge if it goes against
Bricklink terms to sell items from store without documenting them? I know if
I wanted I could just remove the items from inventory and work out a deal separate
from Bricklink but I prefer not to do that and just curious if there are rules
against it.
|
Buyers are not supposed to be asking sellers to complete a transaction outside
of BL. If they use the BL Contact system to do that, it is a very specific violation
of the ToS. If they contact you via FB or some other non-BL method, it is merely
frowned upon (because you are using BL to advertise what you are offering, without
giving BL the opportunity to collect a fee from the sale that results).
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | May 12, 2024 09:06 | | Subject: | Re: Buyer used wrong address forgot app. # | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
|
| In Shipping, W_C_B writes:
| | Hi everyone, been selling on bricklink now for a few years and came across this
today. This person who purchased from me is new to bricklink and I guess did
not put there apartment number on their address under their Paypal account when
completing the transaction. The package was supposed to be delivered today but
being sent back to me now for an incorrect address. The buyer is asking me If
I can re-send the order when I get the package back with their apartment number
added to the address. I would think the buyer has to update their address on
their end in their Paypal account right or am I wrong, IDK. Also in this situation
would you charge the buyer another shipping label with a new tracking number?
Kind of of need some help on this one.
Thanks
Will
|
Depending on whom is generating your postage, you may be able to detect these
prior to buying the postage. An address that is incomplete, or dubious, may not
be able to generate a full 9-digit Zip+4. If you see a proposed address (on Pirate
Ship) that does not generate a full Zip+4, then it may be to your benefit to
halt processing the order, and reach out to the customer questioning the supplied
address.
I am aware (from personal experience), that in a few limited situations, an address
that USPS was good with (say 10 years ago), they no longer feel is specifically
correct, and may randomly reject mail sent to that previously correct address.
In your situation, the ability to do this has already passed. Good luck !
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | May 7, 2024 17:26 | | Subject: | Re: Debugging shipping rules | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Selling | |
|
| In Selling, Nubs_Select writes:
| | | | Is there any way to debug these kind of things? Like making a fake order in my
shop?
|
You can create a second account for testing purposes
|
Correct, just do not click to the point where an order is actually created.
Just use it to see what numbers are being calculated for the shopping cart.
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | May 1, 2024 18:08 | | Subject: | Re: Import tax | | Viewed: | 30 times | | Topic: | Taxes | |
|
| In Taxes, yorbrick writes:
| | In Taxes, Hm79.botay writes:
| | Hello,
Is there any country that does not tax Lego imports?
|
Yes, the USA doesn't. However, individual states charge sales tax.
|
USA imports are exempt under the Section 321 de-minimas rule, up to $800
USD per day. If someone orders a large amount of LEGO from a single non-USA seller,
and they ship it all in one package with a proper customs declaration form, then
the Section 321 rule does not apply.
The seller could, in theory, break it up into multiple packages and ship them
spaced out to avoid this.
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | Apr 29, 2024 07:26 | | Subject: | Re: US sellers: Shipping methods update | | Viewed: | 48 times | | Topic: | Administrative | |
|
| In Administrative, dcarmine writes:
| | I changed to the new API last Wednesday and all orders stopped. I don't
think it's working yet? No way for me to tell exactly, I changed mine back
to a my manual chart. Maybe you can test it on your side.
Thanks
Donna
|
An observation, is that orders (without any shipping method changes) went into
a very slow patch for a several days. Do you have a test account ? Might be worth
putting a few things into a shopping cart and see if they calculate correctly,
and based upon the correct zone.
What is not clear (from the announcement) is ... how is BL arriving at the zone
(and the correct postage). The old API method pre-dated when USPS switched to
zone based PM and FCPS. With the new system, you can do it via a API call to
USPS or by loading your own tables and doing a 2-step table lookup (one lookup
for the ZIP-code to zone calculation and one lookup for the actual postage values).
More recently USPS has applied a need for package dimensions, because larger
packages get surcharges. Presumably the API calls also have to supply package
dimensions, else then will generate incorrect results (or possibly refuse to
generate any result). Any table lookup methodology should also need to be sensitive
to package size (because large packages have surcharges).
If BL is using the API calls, then the package dimensions would be a requirement
(just like they are on Pirate Ship). I hope someone from BL can enlighten us
about how this was implemented.
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | Apr 24, 2024 18:05 | | Subject: | Re: How does USPS even operate? A short rant. | | Viewed: | 55 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
|
| In Shipping, kzinti writes:
| | Received a high dollar order on Feb 10th. Pulled, Packed, Invoiced, Paid, Posted
all in about 24 hours. Post office received package on Feb 11th. As it's
an international shipment, it goes through the Chicago International Distribution
Center on the evening of Feb 16th. Then it basically disappears until April 12th.
No one knows where it went, how it got there, what cruise line it detoured through,
nothing. Here's what the time interval looks like on the USPS tracking page
looks:
- Processed Through USPS Regional Facility
CHICAGO IL INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
February 16, 2024, 7:43 pm
- Processed Through Facility
NETHERLANDS
April 12, 2024, 9:46 pm
Did they travel through the Bermuda triangle? Where did it go? I cannot express
the amount of appreciation I have for an understanding customer who paid so much
for this order, and then patiently waited almost two months for a tracking update
from USPS. TWO MONTHS! It's almost like the postal service is purposefully
trying to kill off international business opportunities. First with huge price
jumps, then with a decreased level of service that borders on apathy.
The postal service told me that after it leaves the US there's not a lot
they can do, 'it's out of our hands'. Why offer tracking at all when
it's of little use? And when I asked them about filing a case for a missing
package, they tell me that it has to be missing at least 60 days before I can
file as a missing package. Insane, absolutely insane. Going to send a Christmas
box of dog poop to Mr DeJoy... through Fedex.
|
Based on a de-minimas amount of information that I am aware of ... When it clears
an ISC (Chicago, Miami, whereever) it is typically loaded into a shipping container
(ULD for air, probably TEU for sea cargo) then it is not tracked until the receiving
agency gets it, and finds the time to enter it into their system. Some national
post offices do better and some do not [1]. In any case, the national post office
should have a manifest of what is in a particular shipping container, because
USPS knows that. Somewhere in all of this is inbound customs inspections.
As a complete side issue (but still illustrative) over the last 6 months I've
placed 12-15 orders for electronics components from a large distributor in China.
All but the first couple of small orders went via FedEx International Economy.
Typically, the package would get to some FedEx warehouse in HK, then appear to
just sit there. But in actuallity, it was (sometimes) already in transit. I've
watched them transit thru Anchorage, Seattle, Chicago, and one or two other landing
points. A FedEx rep told me that the inbound customs clearance was happening
in Memphis. Tracking said otherwise. So it's not just USPS. I've seen
these orders take 3 days to move from HK to my receiving box, and I've seen
9 or 10 days. Unless I was willing to pay for the premium level service, it gets
there when it gets there.
Nita Rae
[1] and some countries, in less traveled parts of the globe, don't even attempt
to deliver to your street. You have to go to the post office (with fingers crossed)
and ask if they have seen any packages with your name on them. What we have here,
is worlds better.
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | Apr 24, 2024 17:50 | | Subject: | Re: US sellers: Shipping methods update | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Administrative | |
|
| In Administrative, CE_Anastasia writes:
| | Dear BrickLink sellers in the United States,
We have removed these outdated API-based shipping methods:
• Domestic USPS First-Class Packages (retail),
• Domestic USPS First-Class Packages (commercial).
Starting from today, you will be seeing the following shipping methods in your
Store Settings instead:
• USPS Ground Advantage (commercial),
• USPS Ground Advantage (retail),
• USPS Priority Mail (commercial),
• USPS Priority Mail (retail).
As usual, you can access the new USPS rates for Courier API methods upon selecting
each method in the Rate Chart.
Thank you,
The BrickLink Team
|
This is great news ! Now, will they (the new and improved methods) correctly
identify and select the zone (as determined by the first 3 digits of the seller's
zip and the first 3 digits of the buyer's zip) ? All of the Priority Mail
methods (ignoring flat rate) and all of the Ground Advantage require knowledge
of the zone.
The old API methods did not identify/use the zones.
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | Apr 12, 2024 07:25 | | Subject: | US Tax Exemptions | | Viewed: | 166 times | | Topic: | Taxes | |
|
| Yesterday I received two messages from one of the BL CE accounts, informing me
that US sellers are now able to submit their reseller certificate, in order to
be allowed tax exempt purchases.
I'm seeing no announcement about this in the Community. Is this official
? Personally, I do not see myself making use of it going forward, as I don't
wish to acquire additional inventory.
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | Apr 8, 2024 07:13 | | Subject: | Re: Order Item Removal Requests Too Complicated! | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Problem | |
|
| In Problem, infinibrix writes:
| | My customers always seem to have trouble following the process of approving an
item removal request therefore can these steps not be simplified?
|
Two thoughts ...
Dan designed the IRR to be fair to both parties, and to protect BL from IRR being
used to evade fees. That was 20+ years ago. Back then, sellers and buyers had
(roughly) the same level of expertise with BL. Times have changed, and that is
no longer the case. Most sellers today have much more expertise than the average
buyer. The way of doing an IRR needs to be revised
Part of the entire flow, has to do with payments. Back when IRR was designed
into the system, IC did not exist. Maybe 5 or 6 years back, I asked that BL allow
us to do 2-step payments (authorize then capture). That has not happened. With
a proper 2-step system, the buyer could be given X hours to revise the order,
then the capture would automatically be done (and revisions would be sealed).
That would greatly simplify the flow (and bring it in line with how many other
e-commerce sites operate). We can only dream.
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | Mar 27, 2024 11:36 | | Subject: | Re: How should I react to NPB? | | Viewed: | 32 times | | Topic: | Help | |
|
| In Help, salbuchim writes:
| | I am a buyer and
I made an order on March 7th
the price of total item total was around 120 euros
this seller didnt answer me for a week
then charged me 90 euros for the shipping
|
What was it you ordered, parts, sets, or a combination ?
If it was sets only, and in original boxes, the shipping might well have been
high. Cost of order does not have a direct relationship to cost of shipping,
especially when it involves international shipping.
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | Mar 25, 2024 20:54 | | Subject: | Re: Another scam | | Viewed: | 113 times | | Topic: | Announce | |
|
| In Announce, jandbbricks writes:
| | Just received an email from blservice@briicklinks.com (notice the two ii in the
name) telling me someone has signed into my account. There are links for contacting
support and/or logging out of all devices. Both require you to enter your password.
|
The IP address in that bogus email belongs to ...
inetnum: 26.0.0.0 - 26.255.255.255
organisation: Defense Information Systems Agency
status: LEGACY
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | Mar 21, 2024 18:31 | | Subject: | Re: How many mistakes in an order are OK? | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Buying | |
|
| In Buying, BrickBonder writes:
| | -If you receive an order containing a printout with a hand-written check mark
next to each lot, consider favoriting that seller. Those sellers are rare and
almost never make mistakes.
|
Oddly, that is how I do my orders. Each line item is checked, using a basic no-name
Chinese fountain pen. Ink I'm using is Noodler's Lexington Gray.
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | Mar 21, 2024 16:55 | | Subject: | Re: WARNING! Login from new device phishing emai | | Viewed: | 79 times | | Topic: | Problem | |
|
| In Problem, chetzler writes:
| | BE DILIGENT! I’m a pretty suspicious person when it comes to online activity,
but, in my groggy state when I woke up this morning, I almost fell for a phishing
scheme presented as a very authentic looking email.
|
There are a couple of takeaways from that ... first, steer away from the need
to reply IMMEDIATELY to anything you see prior to your first cup of java, tea,
or whatever. Second, do not trust any link that comes in an email, unless a site
is sending you a validation link, has told you it was just sent, and you just
received it. Everything else, including smishing attempts within SMS texts should
be considered suspect dangerous, and unreliable.
The whole paradigm of social engineering attacks is to make you react without
thinking it all the way thru. Take the slow paranoid path, log into the site
using a known good bookmark, and ignore any links that come via dangerous paths
(no matter how real they appear).
Nita Rae
|
|
| Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | Mar 21, 2024 16:45 | | Subject: | Re: WARNING! Login from new device phishing emai | | Viewed: | 60 times | | Topic: | Problem | |
|
| In Problem, randyf writes:
| | And judging from the people who are receiving phishing emails (e.g I'm not),
the phisher is probably part of an online BrickLink group somewhere else (Facebook?
Discord?) that all of you are also part of or maybe they ordered from all of
the phishees in the past and already have all of your contact information to
use.
|
I have not received these phishing emails. That said, I am not a member of any
online BL groups, other than reddit, where I visit infrequently. So there may
be something to this theory.
Nita Rae
|
Next Page: 5 More | 10 More | 25 More | 50 More | 100 More
|
USA, Florida
