Redisplay Messages: Compact | Brief | All | Full Show Messages: All | Without Replies| Author: | calsbricks  | | Posted: | May 27, 2019 10:54 | | Subject: | Re: Helpful but .... | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Suggestions, bje writes:
| | I voted yes, but I am not entirely sure this would be as simple as is believed
on first glance.
The reason that part number gets dropped is because in BL world, that part number
is not something used to differentiate inventory items.
|
That would be a valid argument, if BL weren't already showing the item description
on that exact same screen. If the program is able to show the description (which
is a lookup into the items table), it already knows the part number (or at least
grab it from the same table the description came from).
So yes, it is a request easily implemented.
Niek.
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Thanks Niek
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| Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | May 27, 2019 08:42 | | Subject: | Re: Helpful but .... | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, bje writes:
| | I voted yes, but I am not entirely sure this would be as simple as is believed
on first glance.
The reason that part number gets dropped is because in BL world, that part number
is not something used to differentiate inventory items. What you are adding are
lots, and not individual stock items or even different colours of an item. This
is the reason you cannot cost 2 different batches of the same inventory item
with different cost prices added at two different dates on BL, as you are merely
adding to existing lots, and not adding a new batch which must be reported on
separately. Showing the part number when importing would probably have to mean
that the lot would need an additional characteristic added to it to move it into
the realm of actual inventory of parts and not lots.
My information may be a tad wrong, but from experience, lots (that is your inventory
items) are differentiated only on the comments and the condition, nothing else.
It is, sadly, a throwback to auctioneer inventory where the lot is costed as
a unit and fees are earned on the unit. To get to a basis of project costing
or at the very least some average costing for your inventory items as actual
items and not lots, would possibly take a redesign of the entire inventory handling.
|
Thanks for adding your comments/thoughts to this. I am not convinced they should
apply, though. The xml file to the mass upload feature includes the part no -
if it is in that file it can be displayed on the verify page. I understand the
lot concept but as Bricklink does not really have an inventory management system
built in we believe picking this field up from the xml file that it receives
should not be a problem.
Having said that as the code is referred to as spaghetti by the development team
they may not understand how to do this.
Speaking of average costing that would be a blessing - but again little chance
of that as BL move towards no stores, no inventory just Amazon/Ebay esque model.
We won't be involved with that as, when and if it ever appears, and from
the comments we have had from others neither will an awful lot more.
Brickowl also doesn't have a proper inventory management system and although
handling Lego items isn't easy - Lego have an in house modified system -
they do not have to deal with condition. Here you have part no colour and condition
to cope with.
A fresh design would be ideal but development investment is not high on the priority
list, it appears.
If you look at a sample of a small file we did yesterday, in-between server 500
errors, you will see what I mean
95345
88
18
P
3
0.270
U
The lot number is checked based on item no, colour and condition and if there
is a match it adds to that lot; if not it creates a new lot and adds that but
it still knows the item no. Displaying it, ther4efore is a couple of lines of
code to be added (according to my head of development).
Thanks again for your comments and for voting for the suggestion.
|
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| Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | May 27, 2019 05:50 | | Subject: | Helpful but .... | | Viewed: | 233 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | | Status: | Open | | Vote: | [Yes|No] | |
|
| Firstly let me say that we know suggestions are not being implemented and according
to MP no work is being done on the classic site however this is a small request
which doesn't require huge amounts of development time and would make life
a bit easier.
Currently the method of manually adding inventory is long winded, provides no
audit trail of what has been done and at best is clumsy.
We use Brickstock for most of our updates to our store. It is much easier, quicker
and provides us with a complete audit trail - the only real snag is what happens
when the file gets to Bricklink, The verify screen drops off the Bricklink part
number for some reason so we are left with an audit trail which, when variants
are involved, isn't really all that helpful, although to be fair we have
used this for some time.
Simply placing the bricklink product code on the verify screen would be very
helpful and this is not a major programming issue. At the same time give us a
print button to print that screen Using the print command from the browser doesn't
work well with the page setup falling short of what is needed.
This is a simple matter and could be resolved in minimal time - please implement.
|
|
| Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | May 1, 2019 11:17 | | Subject: | Re: Make website mobile-friendly | | Viewed: | 50 times | | Topic: | General | |
|
| In General, crazylegoman writes:
| | I cannot figure out why someone would try to use Bricklink on a phone. A tablet
maybe, but even the biggest phone screens wouldn't be enough to make good
use of this site in any form.
David
|
Couldn't agree more. 
|
|
| Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | Apr 22, 2019 13:11 | | Subject: | Re: Random Stockroom Items | | Viewed: | 33 times | | Topic: | Inventories | |
|
| In Inventories, Teup writes:
| | In Inventories, antiquer88 writes:
| | Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone could tell me why random items show up as stockroom
items in my inventory. I have no items I have intentionally marked for retention
in stockroom, yet every Monday I go to my inventory and delete random items that
have shown up as zero count stockroom items.
Is this something I have done in error, or is it a system problem?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Stan.
|
It's one of those persistent problems that Bricklink is trying to fix. I
think something is really wrong in the bug fixing department, it seems their
ability to isolate a problem and target it effectively with a fix is really compromised.
Previously there was an issue with remark fields being deleted and it also took
a very long time and was also "fixed" in an "ok this time it really seems to
work but if you have problems let us know" way.
Several people have reported this issue. Hope for you guys they will do something
about it.
|
It is called by some 'spaghetti code' and they are far too busy with
getting XP off the drawing board (and it is nearly 2 months overdue (according
to Admin-Russell's suggestion of a March release.
Forecasting the release of new products is always difficult to be exact but ........
The Future of Bricklink as MP called it at Brickworld seems to be taking an eternity
(and we plan to opt out of it anyway, as will many others we are informed.
They are about to release a product which requires a feature that only 20% of
the total stores use - that isn't the best base for acceptance and if they
honestly believe that XP will convince the non IC users to move to it - their
crystal ball must be a bit murky.
Why not fix bugs - there are too many to go into here with a dedicated programmer
and focus the other developers on the new features, especially the ones that
are massively overdue (Sellers tools with what the stores want, please) e.g.
inventory management, sales metrics, query by form, improved printing capabilities,
updated price guide, major improvements to the store front and search capabilities.
Drop the API and provide tools that all members can use without having to be
a programmer.
NB - Why isn't your ID Pic amongst the ones in
https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=1137907
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|
| Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | Apr 15, 2019 06:53 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory backup | | Viewed: | 33 times | | Topic: | Inventories | |
|
| In Inventories, waterman writes:
| | I was wondering if there is a way to backup the inventory of whats in your store,
and how to restore it if there was a problem with the website. I saw a section
in the Inventory screen for download would this be it and how is it done. If
anyone can help with this question that would be great, thank you so much.
|
HI there
There are 2 different ways to backup your inventory. The first is the one you
mention - download the inventory and save it as a xml file. If you then have
to restore it you can use the mass upload inventory feature to bring it back.
The 2nd way and somewhat easier, in our opinion is the use of Brickstock to download
your store inventory - that saves it as a bsx file and there is a reverse command
to upload it back to Bricklink.
Hope that helps
|
|
| Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | Apr 15, 2019 06:49 | | Subject: | Re: Item changes gives problem in Brickstock | | Viewed: | 20 times | | Topic: | Inventories | |
|
| In Inventories, JE_Romijn writes:
| | There are 10 items in my inventory in Bricklink that will not import any more
in Brickstock.
Bricklink changed the item numbers from this minifigs by adding a extra 0 on
the 10th of April I noticed.
Have tryed to delete 1 and add it again did not solve the problem. Any body here
knows what to do?
cty0055 cty0128 cty0146 are a few of theme
Greetings Ronald
|
Open up Bricksstock
Go to Extras - Update database - you should then see a screen telling you it
is updating the database - when that finishes then import your inventory - that
should fix things for the catalogue/database changes that Bricklink are making.
As an on-going thing you should always run the extras - update database command
each time you open Brickstock - this ensure you are working with the latest catalogue
updates.
Hope that helps.
BTW we see the sets you are querying in our Brickstock so they are in the catalogue.
|
|
| Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2019 13:59 | | Subject: | Re: Attach files | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TGS_brick writes:
| | Hi
I think it would be really nice, if I can attach files to my massages.
Regards
TGS-Bricks
|
Voted yes but it isn't going to happen. This has been asked for on countless
occasions and like many other good suggestions simply gets bypassed by other
development priorities. We have been waiting over 5 nearly 6 years now for sellers
tools (and no one really knows what we are going to get or when we are going
to get them - development are too busy with 'other things'.
Shame - the messaging system is one of the two most archaic elements of Bricklink
- we have gotten around the attachment thing by using Dropbox - but that doesn't
work for everybody.
|
|
| Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | Feb 28, 2019 10:01 | | Subject: | Re: Brickstock questions | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Inventories | |
|
| In Inventories, Teup writes:
| | In Inventories, calsbricks writes:
| | In Inventories, Teup writes:
| | In Inventories, calsbricks writes:
| | In Inventories, wilton1975 writes:
| | Guys,
Appreciate both your responses as they shed some much needed light. It is a little
strange that BrickStock doesn't seem to have a Help section explaining all
this.
|
HI there sorry I missed this thread earlier
Please bear in mind that Teup's comments do not really apply to the UK.
|
Well.... it does. I'm just saying that the averge price that you see here
in Bricklink is not equal to the average price in Brickstock. These do not match.
Parting out a set at average price on Bricklink will result in you having higher
priced items than parting out that same set at average price in Brickstock.
Whether you wish to match the price of other stores including VAT, or whether
you want to compare yourself to their prices ex VAT... yeah, here you're
right, those are all your own business decisions.
But the fact is that the Bricklink priceguide does not match the Brickstock priceguide.
It's important to be aware of this. Pricing at the Brickstock average is
pricing below the Bricklink average.
|
As I said or at least implied - average pricing in the UK includes VAT and once
you adjust the downloaded price in Brickstock it matches as close as can be expected.
Nothing is perfect and Brickstock could use work on this but so could Bricklink.
The currency conversion is a bigger issue than vat as it applies to all apart
from the USA. Bricklink could do a lot more there and haven't.
Do USA prices include sales tax ? That differs depending on whether you ship
in state or out of state. So the whole pricing scenario based on Bricklink is
a bit shaky - it should be used as a guideline only not a 'real figure'.
Do the last 6 months sales prices include tzes of any kind or is it net. If something
sells at 10p that is the price that should be reflected. If you are vat registered
and can claim back the vat go for it - but for the majority of UK sellers that
is not the position - what you see is what you pay and that is what your cost
is. Pricing needs to be based on cost + not some weird price guide which no one
fully understands. They can tell you how it works but when you look at it you
only see a single figure not how that figures has been made up.
Again for example 1000 units sold at 8p one month but 10p the next month so average
is 9p, but that is not remotely accurate. If the currency conversion rate has
fluctuated then they might be selling at a totally different price, or the same
price.
The price guide needs major re-working and I do not believe that is going to
happen. It currently is a very crude tool which has to be manipulated to get
anywhere near reality.
If the design of the system is anywhere near what it should be there is only
one table with prices and those are converted from an exchange rate table each
time they are displayed, Somehow I doubt that.
|
Well, I guess that's all true enough. Some take the priceguide as just a
guide, some ignore it, some take it as some holy prescription. I tend to be kind
of the latter type... but that's not because I think these numbers are inherently
all so correct (you pointed out some of its shortcomings) but I just remember
that when I was a buyer I'd check the priceguide on everything and buy things
depending on them being at or below average. So it's more a presentation
matter that I want my prices to line up with that reference than that I give
that reference any "scientific" credit. So the priceguide is my starting point
and from there I decide what to buy. Instead of first buying, and then based
on what I spent deciding what my prices should be.
But that's just a personal decision of course. You could invent any kind
of pricing policy for yourself and there are good arguments for all of them.
Maybe in some of them it is actually a blessing that Brickstock downloads the
ex.VAT value.
But in what ever case, no matter what your pricing policy is, and no matter whether
you are VAT registered, no matter if you're a buyer or a seller, if you live
in the area where Bricklink displays prices including VAT for, for all these
people, it is just important to know this difference: priceguide on BL includes
VAT, priceguide downloaded through Brickstock excludes VAT. Then you can do whatever
you want with that information. But knowing it is important as it prevents us
from sleepwalking into a race to the bottom.
|
Ah what a grand place to start re-developing
(I think something might freeze over before that happens) 
|
|
| Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | Feb 28, 2019 07:51 | | Subject: | Re: Brickstock questions | | Viewed: | 40 times | | Topic: | Inventories | |
|
| In Inventories, Teup writes:
| | In Inventories, calsbricks writes:
| | In Inventories, wilton1975 writes:
| | Guys,
Appreciate both your responses as they shed some much needed light. It is a little
strange that BrickStock doesn't seem to have a Help section explaining all
this.
|
HI there sorry I missed this thread earlier
Please bear in mind that Teup's comments do not really apply to the UK.
|
Well.... it does. I'm just saying that the averge price that you see here
in Bricklink is not equal to the average price in Brickstock. These do not match.
Parting out a set at average price on Bricklink will result in you having higher
priced items than parting out that same set at average price in Brickstock.
Whether you wish to match the price of other stores including VAT, or whether
you want to compare yourself to their prices ex VAT... yeah, here you're
right, those are all your own business decisions.
But the fact is that the Bricklink priceguide does not match the Brickstock priceguide.
It's important to be aware of this. Pricing at the Brickstock average is
pricing below the Bricklink average.
|
As I said or at least implied - average pricing in the UK includes VAT and once
you adjust the downloaded price in Brickstock it matches as close as can be expected.
Nothing is perfect and Brickstock could use work on this but so could Bricklink.
The currency conversion is a bigger issue than vat as it applies to all apart
from the USA. Bricklink could do a lot more there and haven't.
Do USA prices include sales tax ? That differs depending on whether you ship
in state or out of state. So the whole pricing scenario based on Bricklink is
a bit shaky - it should be used as a guideline only not a 'real figure'.
Do the last 6 months sales prices include tzes of any kind or is it net. If something
sells at 10p that is the price that should be reflected. If you are vat registered
and can claim back the vat go for it - but for the majority of UK sellers that
is not the position - what you see is what you pay and that is what your cost
is. Pricing needs to be based on cost + not some weird price guide which no one
fully understands. They can tell you how it works but when you look at it you
only see a single figure not how that figures has been made up.
Again for example 1000 units sold at 8p one month but 10p the next month so average
is 9p, but that is not remotely accurate. If the currency conversion rate has
fluctuated then they might be selling at a totally different price, or the same
price.
The price guide needs major re-working and I do not believe that is going to
happen. It currently is a very crude tool which has to be manipulated to get
anywhere near reality.
If the design of the system is anywhere near what it should be there is only
one table with prices and those are converted from an exchange rate table each
time they are displayed, Somehow I doubt that.
|
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