Discussion Forum: Messages by calsbricks (8503)
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 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Nov 21, 2018 12:03
 Subject: Inventory Change Request for Set 40222-1
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 Topic: Inventories Requests (Entry)
 Status:Open
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
Please make changes to the following inventory:
 
Set No: 40222  Name: Holiday Countdown Calendar
* 
40222-1 (Inv) Holiday Countdown Calendar
250 Parts, 2016
Sets: Holiday & Event: Christmas

* Add 2 Part 4085b Orange Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip Vertical - Type 2 (thin U clip) (Alternate)

Comments from Submitter:
5 Sets parted out - all b's not d's
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Nov 21, 2018 11:50
 Subject: Re: Projectile Launcher
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 Topic: Catalog
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
In Catalog, TheBrickGuys writes:
  In Catalog, calsbricks writes:
  In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
  In Catalog, calsbricks writes:
  Change for the sake of change is often followed by complaints - it rarely serves
any real purpose. Agreed changes often come with compliments and welcoming. There
is a difference.

That's a reasonable assessment. However, I'm fairly confident that the
changes I've made or coordinated in the catalog so far were all improvements.
Still, I've gotten a number of complaints about nearly all of them.

How does that go - you can please some of the people all of the time but not
all of the people all of the time

NB - We haven't had reason yet to complain other than taking up the entire
forum with catalogue and inventory change requests ....

There are certain ones that talk allot about the changes needed yet they disagree
with just about EVERY change made. Hmmmm, makes you wonder.....


About what?
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Nov 21, 2018 09:39
 Subject: Inventory Change Request for Set 40222-1
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 Topic: Inventories Requests (Entry)
 Status:Open
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
Please make changes to the following inventory:
 
Set No: 40222  Name: Holiday Countdown Calendar
* 
40222-1 (Inv) Holiday Countdown Calendar
250 Parts, 2016
Sets: Holiday & Event: Christmas

* Add 1 Part 44567b Light Bluish Gray Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 1 Finger on Side without Bottom Groove (Alternate)
* Add 1 Part 44302b Dark Bluish Gray Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 2 Fingers on End without Bottom Groove (Alternate)

Comments from Submitter:
5 sets parted out all without groove.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Nov 21, 2018 08:43
 Subject: Re: Projectile Launcher
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 Topic: Catalog
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
  In Catalog, calsbricks writes:
  Change for the sake of change is often followed by complaints - it rarely serves
any real purpose. Agreed changes often come with compliments and welcoming. There
is a difference.

That's a reasonable assessment. However, I'm fairly confident that the
changes I've made or coordinated in the catalog so far were all improvements.
Still, I've gotten a number of complaints about nearly all of them.

How does that go - you can please some of the people all of the time but not
all of the people all of the time

NB - We haven't had reason yet to complain other than taking up the entire
forum with catalogue and inventory change requests ....
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Nov 21, 2018 07:56
 Subject: Re: Projectile Launcher
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 Topic: Catalog
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
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Store: CalsBricks
In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
  In Catalog, Teup writes:
  What do you think?

That was the point of the Projectile Launcher category: to group all of these
together in one place. However, I'd prefer to wait for the launch of the
parts reclassification project to move these.

The first part of that project will be creating precise written definitions for
every category of parts. Once written definitions exist, then people will have
less room to bring out the torches and pitchforks when parts start moving.

Don't know if you noticed or not, but people sometimes want change and then
complain when it happens.

Change for the sake of change is often followed by complaints - it rarely serves
any real purpose. Agreed changes often come with compliments and welcoming. There
is a difference.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Nov 8, 2018 11:45
 Subject: Re: Try that again
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 Topic: Catalog
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
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Store: CalsBricks
In Catalog, Rob_and_Shelagh writes:
  In Catalog, calsbricks writes:
  
 
Part No: 29112pb01  Name: Plant Venus Flytrap Half with Marbled Red Spikes Pattern
* 
29112pb01 Plant Venus Flytrap Half with Marbled Red Spikes Pattern
Parts: Plant
- Not swure thie is correct in the catalogue. In all 3 sets that
it comes in there is an
 
Part No: x71  Name: Rubber Belt Small (Round Cross Section) - Approx. 2 x 2
* 
x71 Rubber Belt Small (Round Cross Section) - Approx. 2 x 2
Parts: Rubber Band & Belt
white rubber band which holds the two halves
together. The instructions show the rubber band being used in each case. Should
there be an inventory for the part?


As currently set up in the catalogue 29112pb01 is for 1 piece i.e. half of the
assembly and the band is just another separate part. For an assembly the inventory
would need to be 2 x 29112pb01 plus one band but typically assemblies like this
are not catalogued.

Robert

Hi Robert - I thought there was all this talk and discussion about assemblies
a short time ago and that has changed but I will bow to your knowledge and separate
them out.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Nov 8, 2018 11:39
 Subject: Try that again
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 Topic: Catalog
 Status:Open
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
 
Part No: 29112pb01  Name: Plant Venus Flytrap Half with Marbled Red Spikes Pattern
* 
29112pb01 Plant Venus Flytrap Half with Marbled Red Spikes Pattern
Parts: Plant
- Not swure thie is correct in the catalogue. In all 3 sets that
it comes in there is an
 
Part No: x71  Name: Rubber Belt Small (Round Cross Section) - Approx. 2 x 2
* 
x71 Rubber Belt Small (Round Cross Section) - Approx. 2 x 2
Parts: Rubber Band & Belt
white rubber band which holds the two halves
together. The instructions show the rubber band being used in each case. Should
there be an inventory for the part?
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Nov 5, 2018 05:28
 Subject: Re: The 87552/94638/35378 saga
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 Topic: Catalog
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
  In Catalog, calsbricks writes:
  Good morning

You already have an open request for this issue. I have copied your message
and reposted it to the open request and moved this request from Catalog Requests
to Catalog.

I haven't had time to look at this issue closely, but I will soon.

Noted - we will carry on with our investigations as well.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Nov 5, 2018 03:59
 Subject: The 87552/94638/35378 saga
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 Topic: Catalog
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
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Store: CalsBricks
Good morning

It is now clear from the evidence we have gathered that the catalogue is not
currently correct for these part id's. The part
 
Part No: 87552  Name: Panel 1 x 2 x 2 with Side Supports - Hollow Studs
* 
87552 Panel 1 x 2 x 2 with Side Supports - Hollow Studs
Parts: Panel
is correct but
should only be used for solid colours, similar to the 3004/3065. Both the 94638
and 353787 are for Transparent colours of the same part - we are in the process
of investigating those two parts to see if there is any difference in them.

So far the 94638 comes in 4 transparent colours Trans-Clear, Trans Bright Green,
Trans-Black and Trans-Light Blue. The part also carries a slightly different
description with Lego - incorporating the Letters PC (PolyCarbonite) at the end.

The 35378 is currently only available in Trans-Clear, Trans Light Blue and Trans-Black.

All 3 parts are available through the Lego Bricks & Pieces site as separate items.

What we suggest in the first instance is to separate 87552 and restrict it to
solid colours only. Hopefully in due course we will have the answer on the other
2.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 29, 2018 13:02
 Subject: Re: New Catalog Roadmap
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 Topic: Catalog
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
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Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
  In Catalog, calsbricks writes:
  Can we get some agreement on standards for reporting stud sizes please. some
are re[porting width and length and ignoring height and others are including
height. This happens quite frequently on 1 x 1 items.

Just set a rule or guideline and reject any that do not meet that.

There are already rules and guidelines set:

https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=261

However, they could definitely be clarified when it comes to parts which don't
fit easy definitions. Therefore, I've added your project to the list:

https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=2473

As for the part you mentioned in a subsequent post, it simply needed a correction
to remove the height and I have fixed it. Thank you for pointing it out.

That was only a single example - there are plenty more.
  
  NB - We are not all that bothered by this as the stud measurements have no real
meaning

Perhaps not to sellers who only sell and don't use the product. To people
who actually build with LEGO parts, these dimensions can be quite helpful. I
have used them many times.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 29, 2018 05:05
 Subject: Re: New Catalog Roadmap
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 Topic: Catalog
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
In Catalog, calsbricks writes:
  In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
  Want to know where we're going with the catalog? Hard to do without a map,
isn't it?

I'm excessively pleased to announce the all-new Catalog Roadmap in the Help
Center:

https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=2473

If you lose that link, you can always find the page in the Help Center for the
catalog:

https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?topicID=21

This is an effort to increase transparency about what is happening with the BrickLink
catalog and to make it feel more like a community effort. And, of course, to
get some stuff done.

And no, before anyone asks, I don't know what's going on with the site
roadmap. I thought it was a fantastic feature and I'm quite excited to finally
have something similar for the catalog.

Feedback? Ideas? Comments?

Morning

One more little item which needs attention

Can we get some agreement on standards for reporting stud sizes please. some
are re
 
Part No: 15535pb02  Name: Tile, Round 2 x 2 with Hole with Propeller with 3 Silver Blades Pattern
* 
15535pb02 Tile, Round 2 x 2 with Hole with Propeller with 3 Silver Blades Pattern
Parts: Tile, Round, Decorated
reads 2 x 2 x .33 whilst
 
Part No: 15535  Name: Tile, Round 2 x 2 with Hole
* 
15535 Tile, Round 2 x 2 with Hole
Parts: Tile, Round
reads 2 x 2
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 29, 2018 05:02
 Subject: Re: New Catalog Roadmap
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 Topic: Catalog
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
  Want to know where we're going with the catalog? Hard to do without a map,
isn't it?

I'm excessively pleased to announce the all-new Catalog Roadmap in the Help
Center:

https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=2473

If you lose that link, you can always find the page in the Help Center for the
catalog:

https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?topicID=21

This is an effort to increase transparency about what is happening with the BrickLink
catalog and to make it feel more like a community effort. And, of course, to
get some stuff done.

And no, before anyone asks, I don't know what's going on with the site
roadmap. I thought it was a fantastic feature and I'm quite excited to finally
have something similar for the catalog.

Feedback? Ideas? Comments?

Morning

One more little item which needs attention

Can we get some agreement on standards for reporting stud sizes please. some
are re[porting width and length and ignoring height and others are including
height. This happens quite frequently on 1 x 1 items.

Just set a rule or guideline and reject any that do not meet that.

NB - We are not all that bothered by this as the stud measurements have no real
meaning it is the actual dimensions which are important but until we can both
see that and use it getting some form of standardisation would be nice/helpful.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 28, 2018 03:03
 Subject: Re: New Catalog Roadmap
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
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Store: CalsBricks
In Catalog, jennnifer writes:
  In Catalog, calsbricks writes:

  Okay - our fist suggestions:

1. Get the dimensions field added to the catalogue page display as well as in
stores.
2. Introduce a level above the categories for the purposes of reporting and searching
e.g. Bricks would cover all sub categories of bricks e.g. modified, decorated
round etc. Without the catalogue it is unlikely Bricklink would still be here.

Just those two thoughts will take development time and careful planning and I
am sure those that are more heavily invoiced with the catalogue and inventory
updates will have tons more they wish to see.

Good luck getting any of that done - a roadmap is an interesting start and welcome
but it has to fill out with actions rather than just remaining a blueprint (as
the other one has done).

I would just like to quickly point out that the Catalog admins don't have
the ability to make developmental changes to the site. It won't be their
fault if your suggestions can't be implemented in a timely way. This road
map contains projects and ideas that don't require the BL office to facilitate.

Good ideas though!
Jen

Pity really. Comments understood. Best we leave at that. When the single most
important element of your organisation (e.g. the catalogue) has no programmer
involved and has no direct influence on development plans - something is not
quite right?????
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 28, 2018 02:57
 Subject: Re: New Catalog Roadmap
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
  In Catalog, calsbricks writes:
  Good luck getting any of that done - a roadmap is an interesting start and welcome
but it has to fill out with actions rather than just remaining a blueprint (as
the other one has done).

The programming stuff is, as you say, out of my control. The projects you see
on the catalog roadmap, however, are things I have the ability to accomplish.
If you've been paying attention to inventories over the past year, you'll
see that this is not just idle talk. There were more changes to inventories
in the past year than any other year in BrickLink's history.

Not all of the catalog projects on the roadmap will be accomplished and some
of them may not even be attempted. But I can promise that you will definitely
see some catalog changes in the next 12 months.

  Again - good luck with the new role.

Thank you!

Your comments are noted and understood - so as far as development goes it remains
status quo. Pity really - getting the data right in the database is only half
of the equation - the other half - getting it out in a meaningful and helpful
way is the other half and so much more needs to be done there. That helps both
sides of the market sellers and buyers.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 27, 2018 13:40
 Subject: Re: New Catalog Roadmap
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
  Want to know where we're going with the catalog? Hard to do without a map,
isn't it?

I'm excessively pleased to announce the all-new Catalog Roadmap in the Help
Center:

https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=2473

If you lose that link, you can always find the page in the Help Center for the
catalog:

https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?topicID=21

This is an effort to increase transparency about what is happening with the BrickLink
catalog and to make it feel more like a community effort. And, of course, to
get some stuff done.

And no, before anyone asks, I don't know what's going on with the site
roadmap. I thought it was a fantastic feature and I'm quite excited to finally
have something similar for the catalog.

Feedback? Ideas? Comments?

Catalogue administrator - a promotion? More work and still in a queue for development
(despite the fact that the catalogue is the single most important asset of the
organisation - it is what brings both buyers and sellers to the site and is known
throughout the planet as the most comprehensive database of its kind for Lego.
You need a developer (one with SQL experience and knowledge) dedicated to it
and in your control.

Okay - our fist suggestions:

1. Get the dimensions field added to the catalogue page display as well as in
stores.
2. Introduce a level above the categories for the purposes of reporting and searching
e.g. Bricks would cover all sub categories of bricks e.g. modified, decorated
round etc. Without the catalogue it is unlikely Bricklink would still be here.

Just those two thoughts will take development time and careful planning and I
am sure those that are more heavily invoiced with the catalogue and inventory
updates will have tons more they wish to see.

Good luck getting any of that done - a roadmap is an interesting start and welcome
but it has to fill out with actions rather than just remaining a blueprint (as
the other one has done).

Again - good luck with the new role.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 25, 2018 12:21
 Subject: Re: Price guide improvement
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 Topic: Suggestions
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
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Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
In Suggestions, hpoort writes:
  Reverse engineering and assuming the API provides us with a clue about the underlying
data structure, I would conclude that the price is recorded in the local currency
of the store. This makes sense as this would remove all currency calculation
from the equation when looking at the internals of a store.

The API for the GetPriceGuide says:
"This method returns price in the specified currency code
- If you don't specify this value, price is retrieved in the base currency
of the user profile's"
http://apidev.bricklink.com/redmine/projects/bricklink-api/wiki/CatalogMethod#Get-Price-Guide

The page generator will have to convert from many different currencies to the
currency requested by the viewer. No intermediate conversion through another
currency is needed, although mathematically there will always be any reference
currency in the currency conversion table.

For the 'items sold' prices, the engine will look up the currency conversion
table of that specific time frame, according to the help.

It seems pretty clear to me how it works.

Thank you for your thought's and comments they are helpful and it now seems
that several things are obvious. We do not have access to the API so it is not
possible for us to determine the information you have introduced.


A lot of calculations seem to be taking place when the price guide is called
up by an individual member, e,g, UK store looks up a common part which is sold
everywhere in the world and the system is converting all those store held currencies
(Could be 37 of them) to GBP at a rate that is being held in a currency conversion
table. That table gets updated by a link to xe.com on an hour by hour basis,
but the rate used for the page is not shown - this would be clumsy and create
a vastly complicated screen display. Maybe a link could be created against the
currency which would reveal the exchange rate used. Maybe that is not worth it.
Hmm. More to think through now.

Thank you again for adding your comments to this thread. They are helpful.
  
Hans-Peter

In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
  In Suggestions, yorbrick writes:
  
  I would prefer it on the price guide so I didn't have to go back and forth.
Mind you this is all hypothetical cause they really are not doing anything with
the classic site whilst they work on XP.

I understand why you'd want it in the price guide, but there are many (37)
exchange rates to GBP, or any other single currency. While many pieces are listed
in USD, plenty are also in EUR, with other currencies also used. That's a
lot of extra information to list. You also wouldn't need to go back and forth,
as if it was set for one hour, you could note down the exchange rates of interest
and you would know they are guaranteed until the next exchange rate update time.

Interesting point - might need a bit more detail from Bricklink now. We understand
how the currency thing works in certain areas but we thought that the underlying
base currency for all prices was USD which Bricklink converts everything to and
then uses the xe.com exchange rate as and when necessary. So if what you are
saying is correct and the prices being shown for each country on the price guide
are converted directly from their currency to gbp that is a different story and
more thought would have to go into this. Unfortunately the help page isn't
really clear on how they are holding the currency from the outset. What you are
suggesting that if someone in India adds items in rupees then the system would
have to convert from rupees to gbp as well as any other currency and that would
be a different proposition entirely.

I do believe Bricklink should clarify this issue which would be helpful.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 25, 2018 10:16
 Subject: Re: Price guide improvement
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 Topic: Suggestions
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
In Suggestions, yorbrick writes:
  
  Interesting point - might need a bit more detail from Bricklink now. We understand
how the currency thing works in certain areas but we thought that the underlying
base currency for all prices was USD which Bricklink converts everything to and
then uses the xe.com exchange rate as and when necessary. So if what you are
saying is correct and the prices being shown for each country on the price guide
are converted directly from their currency to gbp that is a different story and
more thought would have to go into this. Unfortunately the help page isn't
really clear on how they are holding the currency from the outset. What you are
suggesting that if someone in India adds items in rupees then the system would
have to convert from rupees to gbp as well as any other currency and that would
be a different proposition entirely.

I would imagine so, as converting a to b to c doesn't always give a to c,
even at xe.com.

Agreed but the way most multicurrency systems work their is a base currency as
well as a reporting currency as well as individual, currencies. You define what
is the base and you advise how you wish that to be reported. You also have things
like spot rates, rate tables etc, which just about covers all angels. Here it
looks a little bit like a free-for all in trying to accommodate all frequencies.
In fact if this was the case the price guide is almost useless on current items
listed - as for those items sold - you would need to see what rate they were
converting at when they were sold and factor that in. All in all vry messy and
inaccurate. Mixing 37 different currencies into gbp is problematic at the best
of times.

Hmmm.
  
For example, right now, 1 USD = 0.878393 EUR and 1 USD = 0.777160 GBP. Also 1
EUR = 0.884895 GBP. (They use six sig figs).

1 USD = 1 USD, so 0.878393 EUR should equal 0.777160 GBP. Yet this gives the
rate as 1 EUR = 0.884752 GBP, different in the fourth figure to the EUR-GBP rate
they quote.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 25, 2018 09:29
 Subject: Re: Price guide improvement
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 Topic: Suggestions
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
In Suggestions, yorbrick writes:
  
  I would prefer it on the price guide so I didn't have to go back and forth.
Mind you this is all hypothetical cause they really are not doing anything with
the classic site whilst they work on XP.

I understand why you'd want it in the price guide, but there are many (37)
exchange rates to GBP, or any other single currency. While many pieces are listed
in USD, plenty are also in EUR, with other currencies also used. That's a
lot of extra information to list. You also wouldn't need to go back and forth,
as if it was set for one hour, you could note down the exchange rates of interest
and you would know they are guaranteed until the next exchange rate update time.

Interesting point - might need a bit more detail from Bricklink now. We understand
how the currency thing works in certain areas but we thought that the underlying
base currency for all prices was USD which Bricklink converts everything to and
then uses the xe.com exchange rate as and when necessary. So if what you are
saying is correct and the prices being shown for each country on the price guide
are converted directly from their currency to gbp that is a different story and
more thought would have to go into this. Unfortunately the help page isn't
really clear on how they are holding the currency from the outset. What you are
suggesting that if someone in India adds items in rupees then the system would
have to convert from rupees to gbp as well as any other currency and that would
be a different proposition entirely.

I do believe Bricklink should clarify this issue which would be helpful.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 25, 2018 07:01
 Subject: Re: Price guide improvement
 Viewed: 40 times
 Topic: Suggestions
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
Member Since Contact Type Status
Aug 12, 2008 Contact Member Seller
Buying Privileges - OKSelling Privileges - OK
Store: CalsBricks
In Suggestions, yorbrick writes:
  
  
  I thought current items for sale were all displayed using the exchange rate of
this moment. Why is it that important though if the exchange rate would be an
hour older?

That isn't how it works unfortunately. They change hourly, according to the
help pages. It would be far simpler to show the rate used at the top of the column.,
hence the suggestion.

I imagine doing instant lookups is just not efficient, as every time someone
accesses the price guide or looks at a store or a cart in another currency,
BL would need to access the exchange rates from xe.com. Plus I don't think
their (xe) rates are continuously updated anyway - aren't they something
like every 10 or 15 minutes, plus they also have some lag. I can totally understand
why BL sets them and fixes them for one hour, given how slowly they change (at
least change significantly, not in the 4th or 5th decimal place).

Understand what you are saying but it all depends on how the code is put together
to display the current data. It would be highly unusualk as well as inefficient
if they were storing the figures - good code isn't written that way, so when
we call up the price guid for a given element it should be doing those calculations
then and presenting the data - if that is the case then it is a simple matter
to add a single or couplof fields to the display.
  
It wouldn't do any harm to either have the exchange rate on the price guide,
or possibly better still, have a separate page where all the current exchange
rates being used are listed along with the time they were updated for those interested.
That way, it is one less thing on the price guide page. Of course, you can always
get the current BL exchange rate, by doing the calculation yourself, to about
4 decimal places.

I would prefer it on the price guide so I didn't have to go back and forth.
Mind you this is all hypothetical cause they really are not doing anything with
the classic site whilst they work on XP.

Still one can hope - it really isn't rocket science or a lot of development
time to simply display the number you have used for the calculation.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 25, 2018 01:40
 Subject: Re: Price guide improvement
 Viewed: 30 times
 Topic: Suggestions
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
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Store: CalsBricks
In Suggestions, BricksThatStick writes:
  In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
  Thoughts ?

It's just a guide.

Yes, true so why not make it informative, rather than having to use guesswork
and trial and error.
  
If sellers want to use it to actually price their listings to the averages they
accept its not 100% perfect.

I am not sure anyone makes that assumption - we don't it is supposed to be
a data average and the currency conversion should be dynamic not hourly. Not
sure why this would cause any real problem for any developer.
  
Otherwise sellers should just see it for what it is and adjust their prices/set
prices as they see fit.

Many of us do but the adjustment should be based on real - not supposition.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 25, 2018 01:37
 Subject: Re: Price guide improvement
 Viewed: 39 times
 Topic: Suggestions
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
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Store: CalsBricks
In Suggestions, Teup writes:
  In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
  We are aware that nothing is going on on the classic site whilst the development
team focus on Bricklink XP, so we will make this as short and sweet as we can.

Having contacted the forum and put all elements of this together it is plain
that a subtle but important change needs to be in place for the price guide screen.

Understanding full well what happens with the 'sold at' columns those
can be left as they are until the whole price guide is revisited, whenever that
is going to be. The current items for sale, however needs s small but important
change, in our view. It is currently not possible to determine the currency conversion
rate for those figures. It could have been anyti8me in the last hour or this
hour or whenever.

Please simply add the two fields which are used to convert e.g. for example $1
= 'x' £;s and £1 = 'x$). This will enable any member, buyer or seller,
to at least get their figures correct when working offline. This is not a complicated
change/fix - it merely requires placing those fields on that screen each time
they change. The fields are held somewhere in the system even if it is a temporary
table, so it should be relatively straight forward to display them on the price
guide screen.

Thoughts ?

I thought current items for sale were all displayed using the exchange rate of
this moment. Why is it that important though if the exchange rate would be an
hour older?

That isn't how it works unfortunately. They change hourly, according to the
help pages. It would be far simpler to show the rate used at the top of the column.,
hence the suggestion.
  
By the way, in case you didn't know and it's useful - you can always
flip the currency of the priceguide by changing the vcID parameter in the URL:

Euro: https://www.bricklink.com/priceGuideSummary.asp?vcID=2&vatInc=Y&a=p&colorID=110&itemID=3005

Dollar: https://www.bricklink.com/priceGuideSummary.asp?vcID=1&vatInc=Y&a=p&colorID=110&itemID=3005

I just wish this was properly interfaced (and that there was an easy simple to
understand API to access these things without downloading the page and run into
download limits imposed by Bricklink)

Don't we all.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 24, 2018 13:01
 Subject: Price guide improvement
 Viewed: 217 times
 Topic: Suggestions
 Status:Open
 Vote:[Yes|No]
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
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Store: CalsBricks
We are aware that nothing is going on on the classic site whilst the development
team focus on Bricklink XP, so we will make this as short and sweet as we can.

Having contacted the forum and put all elements of this together it is plain
that a subtle but important change needs to be in place for the price guide screen.

Understanding full well what happens with the 'sold at' columns those
can be left as they are until the whole price guide is revisited, whenever that
is going to be. The current items for sale, however needs s small but important
change, in our view. It is currently not possible to determine the currency conversion
rate for those figures. It could have been anyti8me in the last hour or this
hour or whenever.

Please simply add the two fields which are used to convert e.g. for example $1
= 'x' £;s and £1 = 'x$). This will enable any member, buyer or seller,
to at least get their figures correct when working offline. This is not a complicated
change/fix - it merely requires placing those fields on that screen each time
they change. The fields are held somewhere in the system even if it is a temporary
table, so it should be relatively straight forward to display them on the price
guide screen.

Thoughts ?
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 21, 2018 09:51
 Subject: Re: Inventory Change Request for Set 10258-1
 Viewed: 14 times
 Topic: Inventories Requests
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
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In Inventories Requests, StormChaser writes:
  In Inventories Requests, StormChaser writes:
  I also notified the original inventory
submitter of the change in case that person can provide any further insight.

Confirmed from the submitter to have been an error.

Great - all sorted now.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 20, 2018 13:02
 Subject: Inventory Change Request for Set 10258-1
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 Topic: Inventories Requests (Entry)
 Status:Open
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
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Please make changes to the following inventory:
 
Set No: 10258  Name: London Bus
* 
10258-1 (Inv) London Bus
1686 Parts, 2017
Sets: Creator: Creator Expert: Traffic

* Add 1 Part 62462 Metallic Silver Technic, Pin Connector Round 2L with Slot (Pin Joiner Round) (Alternate)

Comments from Submitter:
2 sets parted out both had metallic silver not flat.
 Author: calsbricks View Messages Posted By calsbricks
 Posted: Oct 4, 2018 07:44
 Subject: Re: Lego 10214 Tower Bridge 2 types of blue
 Viewed: 42 times
 Topic: Colors
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calsbricks (8503)

Location:  United Kingdom, England
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Store: CalsBricks
In Colors, Brick_Buyers writes:
  Hi, I recently purchased The Tower Bridge and have noticed that the medium blue
4x8 plates are actually 2 different colour. I have shown pictures below that
outline this. The instructions say there are 18 4587271 plates, actually there
are two slightly darker plates. The lighter 16 say 4-35 on the bottom but the
darker 2 say 2-35. Can someone explain this? It is the same with some of the
other medium blue colours in the set as well.

Hi there

We just finished parting out 2 of these and there was not the difference you
have had. Could be they came from a different batch of plates;.

Everything we had was the right hand side of your photo. The left acutally looks
like dark azure or ish.

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