Redisplay Messages: Compact | Brief | All | Full Show Messages: All | Without Replies| Author: | Teup  | | Posted: | Sep 12, 2019 20:15 | | Subject: | Re: Change time zone | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, SylvainLS writes:
| | In Suggestions, hpoort writes:
| | In Suggestions, HallBricks writes:
| | It would be great if I could change the time zone on BrickLink. Maybe not the
most necessary feature, but it feels like it wouldn't be that difficult of
a thing to implement.
|
Have you ever thought about it's complexity?
|
Very simple: everything is stored in UTC and presented in a local/chosen TZ.
The UTC → local TZ conversion is done with a standard, well tested library.
There. The complexity is outsourced.
Besides, it’s just about presentation. Official times are those in the database,
on the server, in UTC.
I stopped watching after he began talking about DST (“autumn in England”).
And that’s absurd. He talks about a programmer who:
1. doesn’t know what TZs are,
2. adds cases one by one instead of, finally, learning what’s it about,
3. and thus reinvents the wheel, spoke by spoke.
Yes, timezones are complex (and involve politics, therefore also totally insane)
and that’s why you don’t cobble up something in your garage.
Yes, timezones change frequently (remember, politics), but you just update the
TZ data the library uses.
One could do the same kind of video about 3D geometry or any other complex or
complicated but already well known feature.
Just showing a given UTC time in a chosen TZ should be easy peasy.
|
I thought it would be a sarcastic video. As you say, there's really no need
to reinvent the wheel, this has been done so many times over there must be plenty
of resources you can use very easily.
BrickOwl has timezones, other market platforms have timezones, forums have timezones,
social media have timezones.. and it all works without issues. Bricklink is really
the odd one out.
|
 |
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 12, 2019 12:52 | | Subject: | Re: Change NPB Timeline | | Viewed: | 30 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, mscheaf writes:
| | In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | In Suggestions, MidwestBrick writes:
| | I had enough of these in the last few weeks that waiting 2 full weeks is painful
to complete them.
I don't mind the 1 week to pay before it is started. But another full 7 days
to complete the NPB is not necessary.
I would propose 3 additional days and that is it. Let us get our stock back
in our stores to sell to someone else instead of being held at our will for 14
full days when 10 is plenty enough.
I can't be the only one that feels this way and 14 days might have worked
10-15 years ago when access to Smart-Phones wasn't as widespread, but these
days, you can't go far without having the ability to respond. Thanks
|
I don't know about other countries but over here 14 days is a widely accepted
standard term for invoices to be paid. Sometimes it's longer, but it's
never less than 14 days. I wouldn't find it professional if a company gave
me an invoice that had to be paid in less than 14 days.
Also, inventory moves slowly and parts typically take over a year to sell. I
don't see how a few extra days for a fraction of the inventory are so important.
Bricklink downtime should be a way bigger concern.
|
In USA bills due upon receipt are quite common, especially for medical bills.
Also, I often get bills in the mail for various things that are due in less than
2 weeks. Again, if you can't afford it, don't buy it. This isn't
water or medicine or food. It's a freaking luxury item toy.
|
Maybe it's a cultural difference. If the code of conduct is different in
the US, then I do understand you'd expect Bricklink to match with that.
As for freaking luxury toys, today I got an invoice from Lego.com in the mail
that is due in 18 days. That's pretty usual to me. I wouldn't want to
seem less professional than Lego.com. An invoice with a number below 14 days
would feel pushy to me based on what I am used to.
Anyway I do question how big a deal it is. Customer service costs money. And
of all aspects of customer service, patience is pretty much the cheapest one.
The average value of a Bricklink order is approximately $20. Let's say you
are always having one NPB going on constantly all throughout your Bricklink career.
I would say: Spend $10 (part selling value: $20) one time on a set, and call
it the NPB buffer. That compensates the $20 worth of inventory that is constantly
being blocked by NPBs. Maybe I'm too clinical and calculating but as far
as I can see that solves the problem 
|
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| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 12, 2019 11:26 | | Subject: | Re: Change NPB Timeline | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, manganschlamm writes:
| | In Suggestions, MidwestBrick writes:
| | I had enough of these in the last few weeks that waiting 2 full weeks is painful
to complete them.
I don't mind the 1 week to pay before it is started. But another full 7 days
to complete the NPB is not necessary.
I would propose 3 additional days and that is it. Let us get our stock back
in our stores to sell to someone else instead of being held at our will for 14
full days when 10 is plenty enough.
I can't be the only one that feels this way and 14 days might have worked
10-15 years ago when access to Smart-Phones wasn't as widespread, but these
days, you can't go far without having the ability to respond. Thanks
|
OK then in return I propose that we buyers can initiate and complete NRS and
NSS after proportionally shorter time. If sellers want to give us buyers less
time to make the payment, then they should also have less time to issue invoices
and ship. Something for something. As a side note, I would like to mention that
in Europe many payments are still made by conventional bank transfer, which may
take few days to complete (and will only be processed on business days).
Final comment: Sellers that want to push for high-speed payment should accept
the fact that for 99% of buyers this is a hobby whereas for a considerable fraction
of sellers it is a full- or part-time business. We buyers typically have a normal
job and need to find the time to do things related to BL.
|
+1
14 days is the basic level of customer service. And if nothing is defined in
the terms, the legal term is even 30 days.
14 days is also the legal amount of time a buyer has to change their mind about
an order and return it. It wouldn't make much sense to me to on the one hand
force a buyer to pay quicker than 14 days when after that they still have a couple
of days they can get their money back.
|
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| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 12, 2019 11:21 | | Subject: | Re: Change NPB Timeline | | Viewed: | 41 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, MidwestBrick writes:
| | I had enough of these in the last few weeks that waiting 2 full weeks is painful
to complete them.
I don't mind the 1 week to pay before it is started. But another full 7 days
to complete the NPB is not necessary.
I would propose 3 additional days and that is it. Let us get our stock back
in our stores to sell to someone else instead of being held at our will for 14
full days when 10 is plenty enough.
I can't be the only one that feels this way and 14 days might have worked
10-15 years ago when access to Smart-Phones wasn't as widespread, but these
days, you can't go far without having the ability to respond. Thanks
|
I don't know about other countries but over here 14 days is a widely accepted
standard term for invoices to be paid. Sometimes it's longer, but it's
never less than 14 days. I wouldn't find it professional if a company gave
me an invoice that had to be paid in less than 14 days.
Also, inventory moves slowly and parts typically take over a year to sell. I
don't see how a few extra days for a fraction of the inventory are so important.
Bricklink downtime should be a way bigger concern.
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 12, 2019 11:16 | | Subject: | Re: Change time zone | | Viewed: | 42 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, HallBricks writes:
| | It would be great if I could change the time zone on BrickLink. Maybe not the
most necessary feature, but it feels like it wouldn't be that difficult of
a thing to implement.
|
...and actually know when stuff happened on Bricklink? Like knowing when messages
between buyers and sellers were sent, or when an order status changed?! No
way, don't mess with cultural heritage! The internet's last forum without
timezones. It's like living in history! (also because, well, the time stamps
always indicate an earlier time than it is here) 
|
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| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 11, 2019 09:02 | | Subject: | Re: Can we have another order status? | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, edk writes:
| | In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | In Suggestions, irdroid3 writes:
| | It would be useful to have an Order status to go between "Received" and "Complete"
- something like "Queried" or "Querying" - for when I have started a communication
with the vendor - it's almost complete, but maybe a part missing?
Cheers, Ian
.
|
Yes, this has been suggested several times over the years and it would definitely
have been a useful feature. Also (maybe especially?) for me from a seller's
perspective, because I feel uncomfortable when I've asked the buyer a question
and I am not sure if they are waiting for their order or if they are aware that
I am asking a question first.
I'd call it "awaiting response". Maybe a dual one to make it clear who's
the one who should be responding But I think just one should've worked
too. Could be connected to the green dot notification in the upper right corner,
to the party who's supposed to respond.
Not assuming Bricklink will change anything, but perhaps we'll see it in
some future under a different management or something like that.
|
Then add.
invoiced
payment pending
payment in the mail
payment iniated
awaiting buyer response
|
Those mostly already exist in the interface - invoiced by the invoice icon, payment
pending by the grand total in regular letters, payment initiated by the grand
total in bold letters (but it's a bit cryptic.. interface could've been
better..).
|
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| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 11, 2019 07:59 | | Subject: | Re: Can we have another order status? | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, irdroid3 writes:
| | It would be useful to have an Order status to go between "Received" and "Complete"
- something like "Queried" or "Querying" - for when I have started a communication
with the vendor - it's almost complete, but maybe a part missing?
Cheers, Ian
.
|
Yes, this has been suggested several times over the years and it would definitely
have been a useful feature. Also (maybe especially?) for me from a seller's
perspective, because I feel uncomfortable when I've asked the buyer a question
and I am not sure if they are waiting for their order or if they are aware that
I am asking a question first.
I'd call it "awaiting response". Maybe a dual one to make it clear who's
the one who should be responding But I think just one should've worked
too. Could be connected to the green dot notification in the upper right corner,
to the party who's supposed to respond.
Not assuming Bricklink will change anything, but perhaps we'll see it in
some future under a different management or something like that.
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 9, 2019 16:51 | | Subject: | Re: More stockrooms! | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | We won't be signing up for xp either - it isn't aimed at our type of
store - its target is a large one - the 'Soccer Moms' so to speak who
want a set for little Johnny for xmas and do not need the complications of Bricklink
to hamper them.
|
(...)
| | Apparently xp requires Instant Checkout (not a problem for some), also requires
Paypal for Marketplaces (Again not a problem for some) but little else is known
about it.
|
And this is where it goes totally wrong. On the one hand, they seem to aim at
the broad casual consumer market, on the other hand, they force a highly specific
online-business-insiders-only payment method. If I would go to the local supermarket
and ask random people if they have bought something online last week, lots of
them are going to say "yes". If I ask them if they used PayPal, pretty much all
of them are going to respond "what's PayPal?"
And then I haven't even touched on PayPal's plan to dramatically increase
transaction fees by next month, which ruins their competitiveness compared to
other payment methods (but they are trying to circumvent the free market principle
by forcing sellers not to disclose the fees to buyers in as many countries as
possible, and encouraging the buyers to ask for PayPal because it is "free")
If they will implement a relevant payment method, then I will participate in
XP (for the Dutch market, the 4th largest country on Bricklink, this is iDeal).
If they don't, I won't. I'm done trying to make Bricklink see reason.
iDeal is one of the main reasons that I set up my own webshop, and now that I
have it, I don't really care what Bricklink does anymore. If they are not
going to add iDeal, that's just going to be more Dutch consumers for me in
my webshop 
|
Hi Teup
Never heard of Ideal - is that Dutch only? Irrespective of that the business
model of xp does not suit our store and we wouldn't adopt it whatever happens.
We are not into selling large one-off sets at bargain prices - ours is a part
shop from top to bottom. Our orders average several hundred items and over 50
lots - that isn't going to be bought by a google search result which is what
we believe BL are trying to bring about. Instant checkout doesn't' work
for our store either and with over 40,000 items without dimensions in the catalogue
it is fair to say, probably never will - it is not designed well around shipping
methods and was not built to be adaptable (zip code pricing in the USA - The
largest market on BL), volume and weight based in the UK and most of Europe.
We have 14 different box sizes 3 large letters, and 11 small parcels, we never
ship a medium parcel as that is too costly so we are using multiple small parcels
to deal with weights over 2Kg and yes I know this could be set up but what a
hassle a different delivery method for each box type (each box has a different
tare).
We also have no concept of Bricklink dealing with our funds by way of Marketplace.
Far too many things against it for us to even consider it,((we know they have
claimed they are not into that, but who knows what might happen if we all give
them the right to do that)). but then it might suit some - that will only be
found out as and when they launch it, as unfortunately no communications is the
norm for the site - so no one will know what it is about til they launch it and
based on previous launches it will be some time before it would be 'bug free'
so to speak.
IC, in our view, needed to be regionalised and much more flexible in its design.
It works for some and that is great, and not for others, which is a shame, but
that is how they have done it. No talking, no discussion, no customer agreement,
here it is - if you don't like it tough, - that is what you are getting.
And the funny thing is BO launched with it and it is much smoother over there
and far fewer complaints about missing bits.
I can say without reservation that we will not be adopting xp at any time.
|
I see, I think all in all it's a fair bottom line that this is just a plan
that was cooked up at someone's desk who just figured this would be kinda
cool - ignoring the massive wealth of knowledge, needs, suggestions, etc etc
that the community can offer, if you are looking for inspiration of what direction
to take Bricklink.
IDeal is Dutch only, yes. It's not a 3rd party by the way, it's simply
the default online interface for bank transfer, which is the preferred (and free!)
payment method. So every Dutch citizen has it, it does not require setting up
an account (other than a bank account), it does not require anything, all people
readily have it and can use it very easily. The transaction costs that I pay
for it in my webshop are €0.29 fixed price. Way cheaper than PayPal, and for
larger businesses I think it's virtually free.
That's my example of Bricklink doing its own thing without caring to listen,
and I am sure a lot of us have such examples. That's why I prefer Bricklink
just keeps on sleeping and not come up with ideas. They just don't seem to
be thought through in a professional way. An admin recently mentioned that Bricklink
is considering prices here to be really low. If anything, a bit too low. What
do you think will happen with XP where the individual store is all but taken
out of the equation? Even more downward pressure on prices. If you want higher
prices, you need to give stores space to profile themselves as unique individuals,
instead of stripping all that away and comparing them by price only.
I'm not talking about what I want here, I just see that Bricklink
wishes prices to be higher and at the same time develop something which will
push prices down. The MOC shop, the Chinese translation if anyone remembers that,
Bricklink XP, and - according to some of the members - the AFOL Designer program:
Just random side projects that weren't thought through and don't have
any consistent vision behind them in terms of what direction to take Bricklink.
Well enough talk about Bricklink from me for now, I'm back to order picking
and I don't want to be framed like someone who just complains. Alot about
Bricklink is pretty awesome. I just prefer it to be left alone if the alternative
is random changes that are not serious and not professional. And I have some
good hope it will. XP is not here yet, so so far everything is just fine and
business as usual
|
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| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 9, 2019 16:30 | | Subject: | Re: More stockrooms! | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, runner.caller writes:
| | | | In Suggestions, Teup writes:
And then I haven't even touched on PayPal's plan to dramatically increase
transaction fees by next month,
|
WHAT!? Are you talking the 2.2% to 2.9%?
|
Nope, the 3% to 5%
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 9, 2019 09:55 | | Subject: | Re: More stockrooms! | | Viewed: | 42 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | We won't be signing up for xp either - it isn't aimed at our type of
store - its target is a large one - the 'Soccer Moms' so to speak who
want a set for little Johnny for xmas and do not need the complications of Bricklink
to hamper them.
|
(...)
| | Apparently xp requires Instant Checkout (not a problem for some), also requires
Paypal for Marketplaces (Again not a problem for some) but little else is known
about it.
|
And this is where it goes totally wrong. On the one hand, they seem to aim at
the broad casual consumer market, on the other hand, they force a highly specific
online-business-insiders-only payment method. If I would go to the local supermarket
and ask random people if they have bought something online last week, lots of
them are going to say "yes". If I ask them if they used PayPal, pretty much all
of them are going to respond "what's PayPal?"
And then I haven't even touched on PayPal's plan to dramatically increase
transaction fees by next month, which ruins their competitiveness compared to
other payment methods (but they are trying to circumvent the free market principle
by forcing sellers not to disclose the fees to buyers in as many countries as
possible, and encouraging the buyers to ask for PayPal because it is "free")
If they will implement a relevant payment method, then I will participate in
XP (for the Dutch market, the 4th largest country on Bricklink, this is iDeal).
If they don't, I won't. I'm done trying to make Bricklink see reason.
iDeal is one of the main reasons that I set up my own webshop, and now that I
have it, I don't really care what Bricklink does anymore. If they are not
going to add iDeal, that's just going to be more Dutch consumers for me in
my webshop
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 9, 2019 06:44 | | Subject: | Re: More stockrooms! | | Viewed: | 49 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, nologolego writes:
| | But most importantly, it is sad to think we have no pilot or crew for Bricklink.
Is it fated to crash and burn eventually? Do we need to get our parachutes
ready?
|
I think it will be ok I am more afraid of stupid changes than of Bricklink's
inertia. I'm not going to participate in this new Bricklink XP they're
developing, and I wish they hadn't come up with that idea. Anyway, as long
as Bricklink is just asleep it's fine by me. It's not dying, just sleeping
It generates money so if anything would happen to it, even the least interested
management would take measures keep it running.
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 9, 2019 05:28 | | Subject: | Re: More stockrooms! | | Viewed: | 57 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Shintaku writes:
| | I personally am fine with three but I've heard people complaining that 3
stockrooms are very few, as you can have a lot of wanted lists, a lot of featured
items, it's limitating that you only have 3.
I don't think it would be dramatic to increaase this number.
What do you thinK?
|
I don't get the idea of "multiple stockrooms" in the first place. The way
I see it, it is a binary thing: something can either be for sale or not for sale.
(Maybe a second Schrödinger's stockroom for items that are neither for sale
nor not for sale? )
If I understand it correctly, multiple stockrooms are kind of like tagging items
with remarks. The remarks feature already exists. It's overlapping functionality.
I'm guessing multiple stockrooms are needed for inventory operations that
apply to one tag only, and the remarks field is not available for this operation?
Then Bricklink should have made the remarks field available to that operation.
That way, the whole multiple stockrooms thing could have been abolished and at
the same time you would have kept all the functionality. It's like you can
define an infinite number of "stockrooms", but in your remarks.
(Bricklink's cockpit is abandoned and we're left to our own devices,
it's not like it will change of course.. so I say "could have been" )
|
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| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 7, 2019 13:00 | | Subject: | Re: found wrong category | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, SylvainLS writes:
| | In Catalog, Teup writes:
| | […]
So if printed parts never even have a different category than their parent part,
why is it apparently needed that these parts are assigned a category manually? […]
|
There are lots of reasons why something isn’t automatized. The main ones are:
1. You have to realize it’s stupid work.
2. “You can automatize that?!” The users don’t even know they can ask for it
to be done.
3. And, of course, “there’s something else more urgent to do.”
You thought about it because you’re lazy (in a good way ) and you needed to
do the job yourself.
|
You're probably right, a lot if this may have to do with the fact that catalog
work is unpaid work for Bricklink. Why waste time on making something that's
free less work?
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 7, 2019 11:38 | | Subject: | Re: found wrong category | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, FloathBricks writes:
| | Hello everybody,
Hope the post is right here. I found an article that is listed in the wrong category:
3626cpb2423 is listed under "Mini Doll, Head". Should actually under "Minifigure,
Head"
Greetings
Florian
|
Interesting. Why can printed versions of parts even have different categories
than their parent part? Is there even a case where that is needed? I can think
of one case: 2 x 2 x 2 Slopes with dress prints could go under Minifig,Bodypart
(or better: change the "legs assembly" category in "lower body" and move all
short legs, mermaid tails and ghost lower bodies there too). But even in this
case, those parts are simply "slope".
So if printed parts never even have a different category than their parent part,
why is it apparently needed that these parts are assigned a category manually?
It's just extra work and extra risk of error. In my own webshop's catalog,
the data of the non printed parent part is used as much as possible. That saved
me a whole lot of work.
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 4, 2019 18:11 | | Subject: | Re: Add "Part Out Value" Link to Set Entry Page | | Viewed: | 41 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| Ah, I didn't read properly Yes, that should already cause a whole lot
less burden.
Good thing that at least the link to the part out value result page is directly
accessible and editable without having to go through the "get value" button.
That way, at least some of us that have some programming or perhaps Excel or
other skills are able to save a bunch of clicks. Seller tools aren't coming
to it seems we all have to make our own But yes, I think I agree this would
be a good feature.
In Suggestions, speshy writes:
| | In this suggestion I'm suggesting a simple link at each set's page (probably
the better function would be a button). Clicking on it would provide the same
function as navigating through Market Price Guide entering the set's
number, then clicking "Get Value". It doesn't need to be information saved
on the page, but if I'm looking at a set on BL and wondering what its part
out value is, I should be able to find out quicker than taking the above steps.
K
In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | In Suggestions, speshy writes:
| | I'd like to suggest that each set's "Part Out Value" be linked directly
from its Set Entry page (assuming 6 mo. value of "new" parts). It would remove
a few annoying clicks to obtain a set's part out value after browsing it
in the catalog.
Thanks,
K
|
I'm not an expert but I think this would be too heavy for the website. Even
asking 1 part out value the system needs to process all priceguide data of all
parts in that set. If a totally random user would be browsing through 10 sets,
that whole process has to happen 10 times. It's only useful for sellers and
only at those moments that they want to purchase something, so I think it would
be an overkill of constant processing on the server for a small advantage.
|
|
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 4, 2019 16:52 | | Subject: | Re: Add "Part Out Value" Link to Set Entry Page | | Viewed: | 21 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, speshy writes:
| | I'd like to suggest that each set's "Part Out Value" be linked directly
from its Set Entry page (assuming 6 mo. value of "new" parts). It would remove
a few annoying clicks to obtain a set's part out value after browsing it
in the catalog.
Thanks,
K
|
I'm not an expert but I think this would be too heavy for the website. Even
asking 1 part out value the system needs to process all priceguide data of all
parts in that set. If a totally random user would be browsing through 10 sets,
that whole process has to happen 10 times. It's only useful for sellers and
only at those moments that they want to purchase something, so I think it would
be an overkill of constant processing on the server for a small advantage.
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 3, 2019 13:28 | | Subject: | Re: download as XML actually saves as a TXT file | | Viewed: | 30 times | | Topic: | Inventories | |
|
| In Inventories, Jallington59 writes:
| | In Inventories, Teup writes:
| | In Inventories, Jallington59 writes:
| | Hi,
Trying to export my inventory into an xML file.
The download option offers XML as a format, but when the file saves, it is a
.txt file.
I cannot use TXT files with other sites so I need to know if there is a way to
truly pull my inventory as XML.
thanks
|
XML is not a file type, it just refers to a way to structure data in plain text.
It only means that item data is placed in between tags with pointy brackets.
A file in XML formatting can have any kind of extension: txt, xls, html, ...
If you need another extension, you can just rename the file. If that doesn't
work, then probably you need something else than an XML formatted file. What
do you need it for?
|
Thank you.
I am trying to copy my inventory over to Brickowl. They ask for XML files.
I get "Lot ID" errors from every format I've used
|
Ah yes. I've written my own converter for this. But you can use Brickstock:
Brickstock can read Bricklink xml formatted files, and save them as bsx. That
bsx file should be fit for upload on BrickOwl.
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Sep 2, 2019 18:27 | | Subject: | Re: download as XML actually saves as a TXT file | | Viewed: | 27 times | | Topic: | Inventories | |
|
| In Inventories, Jallington59 writes:
| | Hi,
Trying to export my inventory into an xML file.
The download option offers XML as a format, but when the file saves, it is a
.txt file.
I cannot use TXT files with other sites so I need to know if there is a way to
truly pull my inventory as XML.
thanks
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XML is not a file type, it just refers to a way to structure data in plain text.
It only means that item data is placed in between tags with pointy brackets.
A file in XML formatting can have any kind of extension: txt, xls, html, ...
If you need another extension, you can just rename the file. If that doesn't
work, then probably you need something else than an XML formatted file. What
do you need it for?
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| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Aug 30, 2019 16:39 | | Subject: | Technic heads: Do the categories make sense? | | Viewed: | 93 times | | Topic: | Catalog | | Status: | Open | |
|
| I'm not super technical and as a kid I was terrible at making anything out
of Technic Lego so in spite of my dad's efforts I quickly abandoned it and
never picked it up again. But I'm seriously wondering if the Technic categories
make any sense at all. I'm not good at the jargon and especially not in English,
but here's my observation:
- There's a category called "Link", which includes belt/chain items as well
as suspension parts. Is that just a random semantic, well, "link" between these
parts?
- It seems like there's a whole family of parts that have to do with driving/gears
- clutches, gearboxes, driving rings, changeover catch.. all of these parts are
scattered across categories but I think they are supposed to work together.
- There's a category called steering but it seems to be about wheel suspension
as well as, well, steers. And then there are suspension arms in both "Link" and
in the generic "Technic" category that I think are equally involved in this stuff.
- There's a generic "Technic" category which includes very random items.
While there was a fanatic impulse of emptying out the "(other)" category, apparently
the "Technic" category is still full of randomness. And it's now the biggest
Technic category (if you don't count decorations). That isn't very helpful
is it?
So... I never used this stuff, but a question to the Technic pros: Do you find
that the Technic categories make sense to you, or is it just a fairly random
division that you just memorised the way it is? Should it be improved?
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| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Aug 26, 2019 19:04 | | Subject: | Re: Do part numbers change? | | Viewed: | 44 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, SylvainLS writes:
| | In Catalog, Teup writes:
| | […]
€20 I spent on a programmer
|
That’s what, one pizza and a coke?
|
The programmer only asked for €13 for the tasks I gave him but I added a tip,
considering that programmers are usually too expensive and too busy
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Aug 26, 2019 19:01 | | Subject: | Re: Do part numbers change? | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Catalog, Teup writes:
| | I'm working on my own webshop and want it to synchronise well with my Bricklink
store. My software seems to work pretty well, but now I'm wondering, does
it happen that names/numbers of parts change on Bricklink, and if so, how often
does that occur? I want to gauge how necessary it is to do some extra coding
to accommodate for this.
|
Possibly you should be made aware that Bricklink considers its part names and
numbers to be its own proprietary information, and that using them on your own
commerce site might draw unneeded problems. They have taken action at least once
in the past to require another site to stop using the Bricklink part numbers.
As a result, other sites choose to come up with their own part numbering system,
or they use the LDraw names and numbers, which can be used freely with the proper
attribution.
Of course many BL numbers are the numbers actually molded on the parts by LEGO,
and these are probably safe to use. Also, many BL part names and numbers are
from LDraw. These should also be safe to use.
|
Thanks for the advice. Actually I'm not "using" Bricklink part numbers -
my sync system just needs to know what is what, so for that part, it's essential
that my software is able to "speak Bricklinkish" - I imagine that's the same
for BrickOwl and for Brickstock. I don't use it in the shop itself for the
customers. Names/descriptions I'm not using at all, I've described them
in Dutch (which was the most exhausting part of the job )
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Aug 26, 2019 17:05 | | Subject: | Re: Do part numbers change? | | Viewed: | 34 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, Andrsv writes:
| | In Catalog, Teup writes:
| | I'm working on my own webshop and want it to synchronise well with my Bricklink
store. My software seems to work pretty well, but now I'm wondering, does
it happen that names/numbers of parts change on Bricklink, and if so, how often
does that occur? I want to gauge how necessary it is to do some extra coding
to accommodate for this.
|
I'm eager to hear more about your webshop. As far as I've understood
you've been dreaming about it for quite some time now, and finally your on
the way. Do you have something to show? Screenshot? Do you have a markedplan?
How do you decide which features to add? How big development team have you managed
to put together?
Good luck
|
Thanks! You're right! Someone I know put me on the right track with a content
management system that's featured in my hosting package. I'm essentially
able to do it all by myself, thanks to the versatile system, a bit of programming
skills I do have, and €20 I spent on a programmer to tweak some things It
has been a huge amount of work so far, 1. tweaking the store, 2. writing software
that turns inventory files that I download from Bricklink into the format I need,
3. writing an entire database of all parts and 4. finding rights free pictures
of everything. I really don't want to take anything from Bricklink that was
given by contributers and isn't mine, so I'm really working like crazy
these weeks
I won't go sharing much of it, as I don't want to border on inviting
to buy outside of Bricklink. But anyway my main idea is to make a very white,
minimal site with good overview, and make it all Dutch. I'm going to try
to focus on the Dutch market, since I believe there's an untapped market
there for people who aren't insiders but would buy from a friendly accessable
webstore they can understand easily, and use the payment method they're comfortable
with that isn't featured on Bricklink. Also, having my own store means I
can go and advertise it everywhere. That's alot better than constantly having
to tell people that my store is on some platform called Bricklink.
I don't know if I'm right. I could be wrong, but if so, it'll just
mean one wasted summer If I am right, I could be having some great business
and stability for many years to come. But probably I will be having to boost
my inventory alot more in order for my store to be significant enough by itself.
I hope hierachical category system and independent filters for many part properties
are going to be selling points.
I was willing to gamble some €2000 on having someone build me a store, so if
everything fails, I'm fine with just having wasted a lot of time and still
have all my money - except from the €20
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|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Aug 26, 2019 16:52 | | Subject: | Re: Do part numbers change? | | Viewed: | 30 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
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| In Catalog, Hygrotus writes:
Thanks Marek, that's useful! Looks quite intimidating anyway, all those changes.
I've now put a module into place that recognises "new" parts that have new
part numbers but are linked to previously existing LotIDs in my inventory. It
then adds the new part and updates the lot with the old part number to zero quantity.
I think that should do the trick
|
|
| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Aug 26, 2019 15:37 | | Subject: | Re: Do part numbers change? | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, yorbrick writes:
| | In Catalog, Teup writes:
| | I'm working on my own webshop and want it to synchronise well with my Bricklink
store. My software seems to work pretty well, but now I'm wondering, does
it happen that names/numbers of parts change on Bricklink, and if so, how often
does that occur? I want to gauge how necessary it is to do some extra coding
to accommodate for this.
|
I imagine most parts now have the correct numbers but minifigure can change,
like the extra 0 in SW figs.
|
Yes, I noticed some added 0's in the pattern numbers of some parts, because
the Bricklink number did not match with what Rebrickable thought was the Bricklink
number. I wonder how regularly such things happen. If it's a rare thing then
I should be fine just whiping and reuploading my entire webshop once in a while,
but if it's regular I should think of some way to update these items specifically.
|
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| Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Aug 26, 2019 15:27 | | Subject: | Do part numbers change? | | Viewed: | 125 times | | Topic: | Catalog | | Status: | Open | |
|
| I'm working on my own webshop and want it to synchronise well with my Bricklink
store. My software seems to work pretty well, but now I'm wondering, does
it happen that names/numbers of parts change on Bricklink, and if so, how often
does that occur? I want to gauge how necessary it is to do some extra coding
to accommodate for this.
|
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