BrickLink Discussion Forum

Profit is not harming the planet. Exploitation is.

There are command and control economies in various totalitarian states of the
world in which the profit motive is reduced. Are those economies less harmful
to the environment, or more harmful?

Is it better for a society to convert forests into charcoal to be used for cooking,
and thus pollute the atmosphere with carbon smoke, or for an enterprising person
to invest in developing cleaner forms of energy that benefit people and the environment
in exchange for a profit/return on her investment? People are not going to invest
the time and money needed to bring environment-saving technological improvements
without getting a return on their investment.

Without profit motive we are left with two alternatives: Coercion by the more
powerful to force the less powerful to "work" without profit, or a global return
to a hunter-gatherer society.

Which one of the two do you advocate?

Author:

leggodtshop

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 15:24

Subject:

Re: Lego Resellers vs. The AFOL Community

Viewed:

60 times

Topic:

In Announce, firestar246 writes:

In Announce, patpendlego writes:

Yes, and that same profit is killing our planet. Because all profit eventually
is made on natural resoources taken from our planet at low or no cost at all,
harming nature, killing woods, animals, plants, etc.

Buiness may survice on profit, our planet is not.

But that is exactly what is happening! The rainforests are largly gone and NOT
renewable anymore, only and only for short term profit.

as that would then end

their business pretty quickly. So the good companies will make sure they don't
just destroy, but rather harvest and replenish.

Every company must first make profit before they can renew what they used, and
no company has ever renewed ALL or even MORE than they destroyed. There is no
perpetual mobile.

Author:

tons_of_bricks

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 15:17

Subject:

Re: Lego Resellers vs. The AFOL Community

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Topic:

In Announce, patpendlego writes:

Don't want to get into this hornets nest, but just want to point out that
every item you mentioned is a renewable resource and are being renewed. It doesn't
help out a lumber company if they destroy all the trees, as that would then end
their business pretty quickly. So the good companies will make sure they don't
just destroy, but rather harvest and replenish.

Author:

leggodtshop

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 15:06

Subject:

Re: Lego Resellers vs. The AFOL Community

Viewed:

74 times

Topic:

In Announce, firestar246 writes:

In Announce, psusaxman2000 writes:

What I've found recently is that there is a lot of animosity when
people tend to not get or find what they want. To me it sometimes feels like
a sense of entitlement and not realizing that you can't always get what you
want.

That's the big issue right there, at least in my opinion.

People don't seem to understand the importance of profit anymore. They think
that if someone buys something to resell it at a higher value, that they are
cheaters, scammers, scalpers. They don't seem to understand that profit is
needed for a business to survive.

Author:

tons_of_bricks

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 15:03

Subject:

Re: Lego Resellers vs. The AFOL Community

Viewed:

57 times

Topic:

In Announce, calebfishn writes:

Profit is not only needed for the survival of an individual business, it is essential
for making any type of consumer good dependably available and affordable. Just
think about Soviet Russia in the 1970's where people lined up for hours hoping
to find a loaf of bread and a bottle of vodka on the grocery store shelves. Without
incentive, people are not going to work at making consumer goods available and
affordable. Without the ability to profit from their work, Bricklink sellers
would not be spending hours sourcing, sorting, and listing parts for the AFOL
community to purchase. The variety of parts and sets available on Bricklink would
be much less and pricing would be variable and unpredictable.

For those who think that profit is immoral when it comes from selling toys, let's
all be thankful that Lego doesn't think that way, or we'd have no lego
at all.

This is what I like about (most) of the sellers here: they actually have a head
on their shoulders and a brain in it.

You hit the nail on the head.

Author:

yorbrick

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 15:01

Subject:

Re: Lego Resellers vs. The AFOL Community

Viewed:

48 times

Topic:

I've seen one and only one instagram comment where I posted the price guide
image next to a rare figure part and someone commented "rip off".

Just because they see it as a toy and not a commodity doesn't mean they're
right.

Yeah. It's funny how lego is just a kids' toy when someone wants something
cheap, but it's a valuable collectable when it is in their hands.

If they want a palantir for their LOTR collection, they can buy a 20c Zamor sphere
in red and yellow instead of a black and lime one. It's just a toy, after
all.

Author:

tons_of_bricks

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 15:00

Subject:

Re: Lego Resellers vs. The AFOL Community

Viewed:

45 times

Topic:

In Announce, waltzking writes:

IMO its more so the anti-capitalist (or communist) teaching of youth that has
created the idea that profit is bad, and everyone deserves the same outcome...thus
anything they want they deserve to get, and anyone who gets more than they wanted
is (quote) "scalping scumbag."

I once even ran into a buyer on eBay who I had to give a basic lessen in economics
to after he "felt terrible" he sold something to be for more than he had paid.
When I enlightened him that likely everything in life he ever bought had the
seller making a profit (be it Amazon, Walmart or a private seller), it was
like a light bulb moment for him... I just don't get how he reached adulthood
not realizing this absolutely basic component of a free market? Seemingly schools
noways are not even teaching basic concepts, but rather indoctrinating youth
with who knows what instead!!!

Rant over, but I honestly think it all stems from a disconnect on the way the
last generation or two has been taught. Especially in well-to-do societies where
a large sum of the children have been pampered and treated like self-serving
royalty, rather than trainees facing graduated real-life challenges aiming to
help them become the leaders they need to be for the next generation. Global
warming won't wipe us out nearly as quick as such lack of knowledge and training
will.

Jonathan

I have to agree 110% with you here!

Author:

calebfishn

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 14:54

Subject:

Re: Lego Resellers vs. The AFOL Community

Viewed:

70 times

Topic:

In Announce, firestar246 writes:

In Announce, psusaxman2000 writes:

Author:

yorbrick

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 14:50

Subject:

Re: Co-op type store.

Viewed:

34 times

Topic:

In Selling, Dirkpeek writes:

Hi all,

I have a small bricklink store where I sell stuff from my joblot buys that dont
interest me. It's mainly sets and figures.
I've had a couple of my friends and acquaintances ask if they could list
some of their sets. I said I'd be interested for a small percentage of the
final cost as I'll have to put time and effort into it. Has anyone done this
before? If so how did you work out payment etc? I'm not worried about payment
from my friends, it's the acquaintances I'd be sceptical about.

Is it worth it or am I open to a world of pain?

Any help is appreciated
Hendrik.

Minifigs are not so bad as they are quick to check. But sets, you need to make
sure every part is there in the correct colours. It is your reputation so you
need to do that. You should also have them on hand, so you can post them when/if
sold.

If you do it, insist on having the items in hand and you pay them when the items
sell.

Author:

waltzking

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 14:50

Subject:

Re: Lego Resellers vs. The AFOL Community

Viewed:

66 times

Topic:

In Announce, StickyBrickit writes:

In Announce, musen2100 writes:

In Announce, StickyBrickit writes:

I'm part of several non-BL Lego groups such as some of the FaceBook AFOL
groups plus some groups that are local to me (in the UK). I've noticed that
there is a range of opinions on people who sell / resell Lego and that (strangely,
IMO) some opinions can be vehemently negative. This can range from the odd comment
about how resellers are missing the "point" of Lego (i.e. it's a toy, it
shouldn't be resold for profit) to some downright nasty comments about me
being a "scalping scumbag" and that I'm "ruining the hobby, driving up prices,
taking food out of children's mouths" etc (not kidding about that last one!)

Tbh I'm never that bothered about any negativity as I'm sure you get
it everywhere, but I do think it's strange in that I guess people just misunderstand
how the market works. I can only set my own prices and not the general market
value, so if I overprice my Lego it won't sell, and if I underprice it then
I wouldn't make any money so there would be less Lego available (as I'd
be out of the market).

I guess Lego does retain it's value well when resold so maybe people are
angry about this, but I don't know of any resellers that are raking it in
at other people's expenses. In fact for the hours we put in I'd say we
generally don't get paid all that well. Especially when I put in extra time
for customer service (making sure we're good/very good at all aspects of
what we do, it takes extra time for which we don't actually get paid).

Just wondering if anyone else has come across this sort of negativity and accusation
that we're all driving up prices and making Lego unaffordable for most people
(I'd actually argue the opposite is the case as we provide an alternative
to buying from Lego themselves who would basically have a monopoly if resellers
didn't exist!)

I am assuming you are also talking about older sets. For me after learning about
bricklink I have been able to get sets that I couldn't afford when I was
a small child. I can afford them now but without resellers I wouldn't be
able to buy them. Recently I have finally been able to obtain the 10143 UCS Death
Star II New for $550 by buying the parts. That is incredible. I also got the
6211 here for a bit over $150 (no minifigs, but new). Without any resellers this
would never have been possible, ignore the hate comments, you resellers are awesome

I get comments around everything new and old, rare and common, but the worst
ones usually relate to new sets that sell out quickly and people can't get
them at RRP and instead have to pay the initial inflated price when they get
relisted. I get this is annoying for people, and tbh not something I do, but
I still don't think the people doing it are really doing anything "wrong"
as it's a free market and people can buy what they like and try to resell
it for whatever they like.

Author:

runner.caller

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 14:39

Subject:

Re: Lego Resellers vs. The AFOL Community

Viewed:

57 times

Topic:

In Announce, crimson30 writes:

Parting out sets clearly adds value to the Lego community. I'd much rather
pay $1 for a Sky Blue 2x4 plate than buy a $100+ set for it. If I had to buy
sets to get the parts for every MOC I wanted to make, it would be very cost prohibitive
and Lego would lose me as a consumer.

Maybe some people aren't considering MOC builders? I've seen a lot of
people who are tunnel-visioned into the paradigm of Lego only being about sets
and/or minifigs. With that sort of thinking, that value-added is marginalized.

As does bulk minfig listings.

If a seller undertakes the arduous task of ID'ing a ton of minifig components,
and then listing them or using them to complete figures, then they are getting
paid for that value added.

If I buy a used lot for $100, and everything sorted and combined and relisted
is worth $450, a collector who has more money than me, but less time is willing
to trade their money for certain figure(s) that they want, but don't have
time to hunt and compile themselves, then that is absolutely fair.

Try acquiring all of the Lord of The Rings figures now for a minifig collection
if resellers didn't exist.

I've seen one and only one instagram comment where I posted the price guide
image next to a rare figure part and someone commented "rip off".

Just because they see it as a toy and not a commodity doesn't mean they're
right.

I'd tell any negative peeps in regards to this to respectfully, pound sand.

Author:

mezoberenybrick

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 14:24

Subject:

-30% SALE OF PARTS!!

Viewed:

43 times

Topic:

Sales

-30% SALE OF PARTS!!

Author:

Fr0stByt3

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 13:54

Subject:

Re: Lego Resellers vs. The AFOL Community

Viewed:

98 times

Topic:

In Announce, StickyBrickit writes:

Recently bought a new copy of 1349 from Bricklink for roughly $170, which isn't
cheap but when you think about it, it's worth roughly what the set was worth
new. That's one set that hasn't really appreciated much in value but
most of the larger sets from the 2000s I've wanted appreciated a lot in value
and it's disappointing but understandable given how economics work.

Really can't say market manipulation is a problem on BL. If it is, it's
not noticeable compared to the stunts pulled frequently on Amazon and eBay where
the sellers think they've got gold and there are quite a lot of people out
there that give in and buy those sets because they often times don't know
sites like this exist.

Going back to set 1349, I'm glad I jumped on it because on eBay or Amazon
sellers were wanting $300+ from what I saw so it was a matter of time before
someone purchased it just to flip on another site for a profit. So not so much
a problem here as it is elsewhere and most of the sellers here shouldn't
be getting the flack.

Seller was nice and I'll enjoy using the set.

Author:

Stuart9

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 13:47

Subject:

Re: Mega Bloks

Viewed:

72 times

Topic:

Too true, Hilary Page didn’t seem to see the full potential of the self locking
bricks.

In General, runner.caller writes:

In General, Drevil44 writes:

In General, bearly30 writes:

This site is amazing!! I used the inventory area to put all my nephews sets back
together, as the legos were just a total mess. I was wondering if anyone knows
of a site in which to find instructions or the brick inventory of Mega Bloks.
I am trying to sort the pieces to find them all for the set. It is an older set
. It is called Mega Bloks Build A Bakery. Contacted the company but that information
is unavailable as the set is a few years old. Thanks a bunch!!

I can't believe that Mega Bloks has never been sued out of existence by Lego
for copyright infringement of their design/product. I can't tell you the
countless hours I have spent separating non-Lego from genuine Lego parts only
to dump these fraudulent pieces into the garbage. Family members who give these
Mega Blok sets to their children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews etc., are proliferating
a continual crime in my opinion. These inferior products may at the onset look
like they can be combined with the Lego system of bricks, but in actuality ruin
the building experience that that child might have otherwise enjoyed if using
pure Lego only.

LOL! the non-lego brands are super annoying when sorting bulk.

However, don't forget that LEGO was once a clone brick brand as well copying
kiddicraft. So if kiddicraft had sued lego out of existence in 1949, what you're
suggesting lego do to mega-bloks now, then lego wouldn't exist today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFELcl75CiY

I had a terrible experience with a mega-bloks monster truck as a little kid.
I was never able to put it all the way together bc the tolerances were so bad
that pushing a piece in would pop one off somewhere else.

I'm guessing uninitiated gift buyers think they are getting more bang for
their buck, but I'd rather have had a modest $20 lego set back then than
a giant $20 cheap monster truck.

I will say that the halo figures they make are actually pretty cool and they
have some resell value as well which helps fund more lego purchases.

Author:

cejorion

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 13:44

Subject:

15% off for the rest of July

Viewed:

38 times

Topic:

Sales

15% parts off for the rest of July! (excludes sets and minifigs)

Free shipping on orders $25+ (to USA only)

I'm moving and need to downsize my inventory. Thanks and have an awesome
day!

Author:

AngrySquirrel

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 13:27

Subject:

Re: Just Opened in Bangalore, India!

Viewed:

33 times

Topic:

New Stores

In New Stores, ProVijay writes:

Hello,

I'm so excited to finally be a seller in Bricklink.

We opened our store
(Bangalore Bricks) a month back and so far it has been a slow but steady progress.
We have shipped 3 international and 1 domestic orders. We primarily are selling
parts. Minifigures and some retired sets too we have got but just about a dozen
there. Excited to see what the future holds for us!

Thank you for all the support. Cheers!

Congrats!

Author:

runner.caller

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 13:12

Subject:

Re: Mega Bloks

Viewed:

74 times

Topic:

In General, Drevil44 writes:

In General, bearly30 writes:

Author:

Tracyd

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 13:00

Subject:

Re: Mega Bloks

Viewed:

67 times

Topic:

In General, Drevil44 writes:

In General, bearly30 writes:

They tried.

Author:

Dirkpeek

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 13:00

Subject:

Re: Co-op type store.

Viewed:

29 times

Topic:

In Selling, Dirkpeek writes:

Thanks for the help,

I think ye are right, there is to many variables that can go wrong.
I'll offer them a fair price and list them myself if they take it.

Thanks!

Author:

Drevil44

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 12:52

Subject:

Re: Mega Bloks

Viewed:

74 times

Topic:

In General, bearly30 writes:

Author:

StickyBrickit

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 12:47

Subject:

Re: Co-op type store.

Viewed:

21 times

Topic:

In Selling, Dirkpeek writes:

Given how many things you need to account for and how many things can (and will)
go wrong, I wouldn't bother. As already stated, better option is to buy the
sets yourself and then deal with it all yourself so you get to keep the profit.

Author:

tons_of_bricks

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 12:45

Subject:

Re: Co-op type store.

Viewed:

23 times

Topic:

In Selling, Drevil44 writes:

Is it worth it or am I open to a world of pain?

Any help is appreciated
Hendrik.

In my personal life experiences I have never found your good intentions to be
worth the hassle and potential conflicts over petty matters that may arise from
that sort of arrangement. I believe it is always better to offer a fair purchase
price from your friends/family and just make the goods your own inventory and
yours to do with as you may please. Saves many headaches, pointless calculations
and tracking of what belongs to whom, etc.

Yep. Just buy the items from your friends/family then sell them as your own.

Author:

Drevil44

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 12:38

Subject:

Re: Co-op type store.

Viewed:

32 times

Topic:

In Selling, Dirkpeek writes:

Author:

ProVijay

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 12:33

Subject:

Just Opened in Bangalore, India!

Viewed:

64 times

Topic:

New Stores

Hello,

I'm so excited to finally be a seller in Bricklink.

Author:

tonnic

Posted:

Jul 28, 2021 12:30

Subject:

Re: Co-op type store.

Viewed:

31 times

Topic: