BrickLink Discussion Forum

So how can this be addressed?
These 4 instructions are identical, but have different part numbers on Bricklink.
(and as was also mentioned for the minifig series instruction).

In Catalog Requests, randyf writes:

In Catalog Requests, atkk writes:

Instructions for sets 41927, 41928, 41929 and 41930 should be combined into a
single listing since they are all identical.

This is not possible as the instructions entry for each set is directly linked
to the set entry for each set.

Cheers,
Randy

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Aug 13, 2021 17:18

Subject:

Instructions - combine

Viewed:

71 times

Topic:

Catalog Requests

For:

Catalog Associate

Status:

Discarded

Instructions for sets 41927, 41928, 41929 and 41930 should be combined into a
single listing since they are all identical.

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Jul 8, 2021 12:51

Subject:

Re: Offer an option to "Cancel without feedback"

Viewed:

32 times

Topic:

Selling

Yes, this is a good idea.
It should be submitted as a suggestion.

Andre

In Selling, greg_zielinski writes:

I see this discussed a lot. A buyer wishes to cancel an order and the seller
is more then willing to offer this service. However, this leaves the seller
open to negative feedback even though they are allowing the buyer to cancel (the
seller could go through a NPB).

Please add he ability for the seller to
A. Cancel per buyer's request
or
B. Cancel order (the way it is today)

For option A. the buyer is shown I dialog stating they request to cancel the
order has been received. They choose 1 or 2
1. I did not cancel the order
2. Cancel the order and leave positive feedback (or cancel and no feedback allowed)

This way a seller can cancel the order in an act of good customer service without
risking any negative feedback from the buyer.

Author:

atkk

Posted:

May 5, 2021 20:22

Subject:

Re: We have a new Catalog Associate!

Viewed:

31 times

Topic:

Welcome Randy!!!

In Catalog, Admin_Russell writes:

Greetings BrickLink catalog enthusiasts!

You will be pleased to learn that we have just today appointed a new Catalog
Associate - Randyf. Randy has served as an Inventories Administrator for the
last couple years and has done a fantastic job. We feel this promotion, though
it has been long in coming, is very well deserved.

As a reminder to those who are still learning about the BrickLink Community Expert
Program, the Catalog Associate position gives admin privileges over the entire
catalog half of our BrickLink system. After one year's experience, Catalog
Associates are eligible for promotion to full Catalog Admin, which gives them
full privileges on both sides, for both catalog and inventories.

https://www.bricklink.com/memberAdmins.asp

We plan to update the Hall of Fame page very soon. There are several things to
add, including Randy's time serving as Inventory Admin.

Please welcome our new associate!

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Apr 27, 2021 21:57

Subject:

Re: We have a new Inventories Administrator!

Viewed:

39 times

Topic:

Congrats Turez!!

In Catalog, Admin_Russell writes:

Dear BrickLink members,

We have appointed to the Community Expert Program one new member today! His username
is Turez and he will be assuming the role of Inventories Administrator. As with
all other admins in this area, he will be eligible to move up through the ranks
after a period of time:

https://www.bricklink.com/feedback.asp?u=Turez

https://www.bricklink.com/memberAdmins.asp

Turez comes to us as a well-known and trusted catalog contributor who has a sharp
understanding of LEGO history and catalog related issues. He has contributed
extensively, and his contributions are of a very high quality. You can see some
of his part images here:

https://www.bricklink.com/catalogListOld.asp?pg=1&imgLID=346378&sortBy=N&sortAsc=A&catType=P

We look forward to what he will bring to the team. Please welcome him.

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Mar 8, 2021 12:44

Subject:

Re: Leg and torso dimensions

Viewed:

20 times

Topic:

So how do I know which items have packaging dimensions for them, and what they
are (without searching on the forum)? I have had a few orders last week that
the system said could not be shipped as lettermail, since dimensions were missing.

In Catalog, StormChaser writes:

In Catalog, atkk writes:

Why are there no dimensions for torsos and leg assemblies in the catalog?
I think this is messing up instant checkout options, since without dimensions,
lettermail probably does not appear in shipping choices.

Packaging dimensions are stored in a separate, hidden field and are completely
separate from catalog dimensions. Catalog dimensions (or the lack thereof) have
no effect at all on the Instant Checkout feature.

If you wish to add or change packaging dimensions, please post in the Packaging
Dimensions topic here in the discussion forum.

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Mar 7, 2021 10:44

Subject:

Leg and torso dimensions

Viewed:

39 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Jan 23, 2021 20:27

Subject:

Please add more specific shipping methods

Viewed:

71 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Vote:

[Yes|No]

Can you please add the ability for shipping methods to be specific to provinces
(not just countries)?
Shipping rates within Canada vary depending on the destination, so a specific
shipping method would automatically generate the correct cost depending on the
buyer's location.
Thank you!!

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Jan 6, 2021 09:47

Subject:

Re: We have a new Catalog Admin!

Viewed:

35 times

Topic:

Thanks for the good news. Congrats StormChaser!!

In Catalog, Admin_Russell writes:

We have just promoted our Catalog Associate, StormChaser, to the Catalog Admin
position. This change will give him privileges on the inventories side of the
catalog while he retains the catalog side privileges.

Thank you, StormChaser, for your continued efforts to improve out catalog system!

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Apr 20, 2020 13:16

Subject:

Order Item Removal Request

Viewed:

63 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Vote:

[Yes|No]

Hello,
Can a link for "Order Item Removal Request" please be added to the page for when
a seller view's an order, so that it can be found much easier.
Thanks
Andre

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Jan 19, 2020 16:47

Subject:

Package restriction

Viewed:

116 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Vote:

[Yes|No]

Hello,
Please add "Maximum number of parts" as a Package restriction in the shipping
options. I just had someone place an order for 500 parts; this cannot be shipped
as lettermail, since 500 parts is too big for this option.
Thanks,
Andre

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Dec 1, 2017 23:40

Subject:

Re: Instant Checkout Package Restrictions

Viewed:

44 times

Topic:

OK, 1x1 plates was not a good example to use.
Anyway, orders are never for a huge amount of just one type of part, but rather
for a variety of parts.
I have found over the years that an average of 150 parts fits nicely into a bubble
mailer.
It is a very easy option to add, and would be beneficial for those of us that
need it.

As an example to highlight this, I received a $100 order today, containing 450
various parts. However, this will not fit in a bubble mailer and will have to
be shipped as a package.

Thanks!
Andre

In Suggestions, qwertyboy writes:

In Suggestions, atkk writes:

In the Instant Checkout, Package restriction, please add "Maximum # parts" This
is required in order to ensure that a package is not larger than permitted.
For example, an order of 100 1x1 plates would be fine as lettermail, however
1000 of them would not fit, and thus would need to be shipped as a package.

A 1x1 plate is almost perfect for what BL set up to be weight-bound. These items
are considered a fluid when filling your packaging. Admin_russell has provided
an explanation on this several times.

I did a very un-scientific test. I used 3”x4” baggies, and a large bubble mailer
can comfortably hold 9 of them. So, I measured how many 1x1 plates I can drop
in one baggie. Turns out each baggie can easily fit 240 plates (and be no thicker
than 1.6 cm), which means I can ship well over 2,000 1x1 plates in a large bubble
mailer.

So not sure where you get your 1,000 number from that would require parcel shipping.

Furthermore, according to the catalog, BL says each plate is 0.2 grams, so I
can easily fit 400 grams of plates (again, according to BL calculations). I am
sure you know from experience that, with a “random” collection of parts in a
customer’s order, it is pretty difficult to go over 300 grams in a large bubble
mailer because you will run into volume issues. So in setting up instant checkout
shipment methods, you would be wise to limit your letterpost methods to say 300
grams (or maybe 325 if you are adventurous). With BL’s fluid packing of 1x1 plates,
it will cap the amount of 1x1 plates a customer can order with letterpost to
1,500.

As you see, both weight-wise and volume-wise, 1,500 1x1 plates easily fits letterpost.

Did I miss anything?

Niek.

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Nov 12, 2017 20:10

Subject:

Instant Checkout Package Restrictions

Viewed:

113 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Vote:

[Yes|No]

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Mar 3, 2017 19:55

Subject:

Re: "Help" and "To Top" icons, what gives?

Viewed:

49 times

Topic:

I agree.
Get rid of this crazy useless option, or at least give us the option of wanting
it or not.
Andre

In Suggestions, chetzler writes:

I've seen the "To Top" floating button when in stores and found it to be
only mildly annoying, but now it seems to be in the lower right of EVERY screen
along with a "Help" button. There is already a link to "Help" at the bottom
of every page, why do we need another one (that moves around no less)? Additionally,
I think I can manage manually scrolling to the top of my home screen without
the aid of a bow and arrow.

Is this a recent change or have I just not noticed it before? Do we have to
have these controls that hover and move around on the screen erratically? It's
especially frustrating on a small mobile screen--it's just clutter.

Can we drop them or at least have an option in our settings to turn them off?

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Feb 20, 2016 20:17

Subject:

Inventory Change Request for Set 76027-1

Viewed:

25 times

Topic:

Inventories Requests (Entry)

Status:

Open

Please make changes to the following inventory:

76027-1 (Inv) Black Manta Deep Sea Strike
367 Parts, 4 Minifigures, 1 Book, 2015
Sets: Super Heroes: Justice League

* Add 1 Book 6112153 Super Heroes Comic Book, DC Comics, Gorilla Grodd & Darkseid (Justice League Logo) (Alternate)

Comments from Submitter:
from MISB

Author:

atkk

Posted:

May 30, 2015 21:35

Subject:

Add inventory suggestion

Viewed:

92 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Vote:

[Yes|No]

Hello!

I would like to suggest adding the ability to add/delete more lines/entries in
the manual add inventory page (http://www.bricklink.com/catalogInvAdd.asp?viewType=S).

It is a pain getting to the end and realizing that there is a line missing for
an extra part.

Thanks for considering this,
Andre

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Apr 3, 2015 15:58

Subject:

Inventory Change Request for Set 41039-1

Viewed:

20 times

Topic:

Inventories Requests (Entry)

Status:

Open

Please make changes to the following inventory:

41039-1 (Inv) Sunshine Ranch
713 Parts, 2 Minifigures, 2014
Sets: Friends

* Add 2 Part 3794b White Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with 1 Stud with Groove (Jumper) (Alternate)

Comments from Submitter:
from 3xMISB

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Jul 29, 2014 11:12

Subject:

Inventory Change Request for Set 30227-1

Viewed:

23 times

Topic:

Inventories Requests (Entry)

Status:

Open

Please make changes to the following inventory:

30227-1 (Inv) Police Watercraft polybag
26 Parts, 2 Minifigures, 2013
Sets: Town: City: Police

* Add 1 Part 3024 Trans-Dark Blue Plate 1 x 1 (Extra)

Comments from Submitter:
from 4x MISB

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Nov 14, 2010 19:30

Subject:

Re: Multi-Part Instructions - listing snafu

Viewed:

29 times

Topic:

No, there are not incomplete. BUT, they could be considered as a complete set
of instructions.
Either way, there really should be a way to list the individual instruction booklets...for
the benefits of sellers AND buyers.

Listing them as incomplete still messes up the price guide.

Andre

In Catalog Requests, B0RIS writes:

Perhaps a new item state "complete / incomplete" like we have in sets. That can
be combined with the rule that missing booklets should be listed in the description
when an item is listed as incomplete.

Boris.

In Catalog Requests, brickcounter writes:

Seriously, something needs to be done about multi-part instructions.

For example, the instructions for

7994-1 City Harbor
Instructions: Town: City: Harbor

comprise 3 separate booklets, but currently there is no way to list just one
of them.

This results in complete and utter listing chaos (apologies to featured sellers,
not your fault - I know):
http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID=67271

Don't even start thinking about the futility of the price guide for such items.

Would it be possible to suffix multi-part instruction booklets thus (or similar):

7994-1 (set of 3)
7994-1a (1 of 3)
7994-1b (2 of 3)
7994-1c (3 of 3)
etc...

I have booklet 1 of 3 which I can't properly list as things stand. Obviously
there are workarounds such as unsorted lots etc, but let's not get distracted
from the purpose of this suggestion, which is a proper solution to the problem.

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Nov 14, 2010 19:29

Subject:

Re: Multi-Part Instructions - listing snafu

Viewed:

29 times

Topic:

I totally agree.

Andre

In Catalog Requests, brickcounter writes:

Seriously, something needs to be done about multi-part instructions.

For example, the instructions for

7994-1 City Harbor
Instructions: Town: City: Harbor

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Oct 19, 2010 20:36

Subject:

Re: Automated Immediate Invoicing on Check-Out

Viewed:

33 times

Topic:

That is no go for us shipping with CanadaPost...it goes by weight AND dimensions
AND location.

Anything less will not work.

Andre

In Suggestions, fleury writes:

In Suggestions, atkk writes:

Yes...please...I really want this.
Weight is already known, by BrickLink. You could enter various known shipping
costs according to known weights, and a spot to include packing materials weight.
Also, the shipping would have to depend on size. For example, CanadaPost allows
you to send lettermail up to 2cm. So, the system would have to know if the parts
are thicker than that...this already exists (dimensions) for most items. Additionally,
there could be a checkbox that sellers would select stating that "this item must
be shipped as a package".
A third condition would be based on the quantity of parts in the order...I accept
up to 150 parts for lettermail.

Those are the types of tweaks that make the suggestion very difficult to implement.

I think if the suggestion is going to work, it needs to be a lot simpler than
that. As Foster described: fixed, tiered, or percentage.

So something like:

Orders up to $X ship for $a.aa
For orders above $X, shipping is b% of the total order.

--
Marc.

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Oct 18, 2010 17:24

Subject:

Re: Option to Sell to Non-Members

Viewed:

38 times

Topic:

I sort of agree...but why can't we just get buyers to signup on checkout. I
have used other online stores, where you shop, and then enter your name personal
info(...) upon checkout. That is when they get registered.

I agree with anything to increase sales!!

Andre

In Suggestions, fosterbengoshi writes:

Currently, there are 145,984 BrickLink members. Of those members, 81,929 or 56%
have a feedback score of 1 or less. I think it is safe to say that the vast majority
of this 56% are casual one-time buyers who place a single order and never return
to BrickLink. I also think we need to recognize that BrickLink loses a great
many sales from other casual buyers who prefer to purchase from more user-friendly
competing online sites such as Amazon, Target and TRU which do not have annoying
cumbersome registration or membership requirements which deter quick impulse
buying. For all of us who are already members with multiple purchases under our
belts, we can't really understand why casual non-AFOL buyers may be reluctant
to register, nor can we say it is no problem to register and become a member.
We simply are not casual buyers.

I go to my local Lego Store once or twice a week. Every time I am there I hear
the cashiers asking customers if they want to join the Lego VIP program. At least
half of them refuse even though it costs them nothing and gives them 5% back
on later purchases. Why do they refuse to sign up for this program? Because they
don't want to be bothered with it, think it is a gimmick, don't have time to
do so, or are just buying one time for a special occasion. It is the same for
many potential buyers who visit BrickLink but never bother registering and becoming
a member. Why go through the time and hassle of registering and becoming a BrickLink
member if you only want to quickly buy one time and can easily do so at so many
other competing online sites? The fact that there are tens of thousands of buyers
who have gone through this hassle just for one purchase leads me to think there
are just as many, if not more, potential buyers who declined to do so. That translates
to a loss of tens of thousands of sales and maybe even more than 100,000 lost
sales. Sure, I am guessing with these numbers. But I don't think they are far-fetched,
nor do I think anyone can deny that BrickLink and its sellers have lost a great
many sales from buyers who chose not to register and become members.

The casual impulsive non-AFOL buyer market is undoubtedly very substantial and
I think BrickLink should do more to tap that market. One way to do this would
be to allow sellers to accept orders from such buyers without requiring those
buyers to register and become members of BrickLink. How can this be done?

Well, when a buyer wants to place an order with a BrickLink seller, the first
thing BrickLink will ask is whether he is a member or not. If the buyer is not
a member, rather than rejecting his order and requiring the buyer to register
and become a member (thereby scaring off a good percentage of such buyers), BrickLink
will prompt the buyer to enter their name and shipping address for the seller.
What happens next needs some further discussion and brainstorming. In other words,
I am putting forward as a suggestion the general idea of allowing sellers to
opt into accepting orders from non-members. That is the only thing I am suggesting
now. The finer details of how this will work are NOT part of this suggestion
and are just ideas for improving and refining this suggestion.

If we want to allow sellers to opt into accepting orders from non-members, here
are some of the other issues which will need to be resolved:

1. What terms and conditions will be imposed on these non-member buyers when
placing their orders? My thinking is that they should be told and have to mark
a checkbox acknowledging that they accept the seller's terms AND BrickLink's
ToS. or, instead, should these buyers all be subject to the same terms regardless
of where they shop?

2. Shipping. Should these buyers pay fixed shipping with immediate invoicing
and payment upon checkout, or should they be invoiced later in the normal BrickLink
manner?

3. How to explain to these buyers what BrickLink is about and encourage them
to upgrade to a member account. Among other things, we need to nicely explain
to them the benefits of membership and the limitations of non-membership.

4. Feedback. I suggest that no feedback be exchanged when dealing with non-members.

5. Access to other BrickLink features. My thinking is that non-members should
only be allowed to place orders with sellers who have opted to accept such orders
and that non-members should not be able to post in the forum or chat, file any
NSS claims, open their own shops, create wanted lists, etc.

6. The downsides. Allowing these orders may entail more risk to sellers who
accept them. For example, buyers who have been banned for multiple NPBs or PayPal
scams may use this feature to place orders they would may not otherwise place.
But on the other hand, a determined scammer or troublemaker is not likely to
be deterred by having to open another multiple or bogus BrickLink account.

What else have I missed? If you can think of other concerns that will need to
be addressed, please say so. And if you have better ideas for getting more casual
mom and pop buyers on BrickLink, please do let us know.

This will certainly involve some work. Is it worth it? It may *IF* it if it means
an extra thousand or so orders on BrickLink every month.

Thor

BTW, this suggestion is separate and different from my previous suggestion for
pre-registered accounts.

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Oct 17, 2010 16:18

Subject:

Re: Automated Immediate Invoicing on Check-Out

Viewed:

40 times

Topic:

I would like to give some(1) of my buyers the option of being invoiced and paying
immediately when submitting their orders. The way this would work is that I would
have a fixed, tiered or percentage based-shipping charge for buyers who opt into
this. Buyers who do not choose this option will be invoiced later in the usual
manner.

One hurdle for implementing this option is whether the order can still be submitted
if the buyer does not immediately pay after selecting this option, and how BrickLink
will know whether or not a buyer has paid. One solution might be for the system
to generate a seller-defined payment link upon checkout for buyers who choose
this option and for the BrickLink system to simply recognize if the buyer has
clicked on that link(2). Or, to keep it simple, if the buyer fails to pay immediately
when using this option, they will just be billed later by the seller in the normal
manner.

In the almost 8 years I have been a member of BrickLink, one of the greatest
limitations I have repeatedly heard about BrickLink is its inability to offer
immediate payment and checkout options where exact shipping is known in advance.
I understand the reasons why it is so difficult to tell buyers exactly what shipping
may be, but I would still like to give some of my buyers the option of paying
a fixed shipping amount(3).

Thor

(1) I say "some" buyers because I am not sure I would want to offer this option
right away to overseas buyers. Probably at first I would only offer this option
to domestic buyers who choose first class or priority shipping.

(2) The link would have to open in a new window so as not to have the buyer indavertantly
leave BrickLink or my store before submitting their order.

(3) Fixed shipping charges are likely to be higher than actual postage costs
which are calculated and billed later. However, I think some buyers would not
have any problem paying more than actual postage costs for the convenience of
knowing up front exactly what shipping would cost and paying immediately. This
is what happens many times when buyers order from LS@H and other online retailers.

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Oct 3, 2010 15:19

Subject:

Suggestion: Currency settings

Viewed:

101 times

Topic:

Status:

Already Exists

Hello Admin!
Please allow the currency to be changed on the orders received page, or allow
currency conversion on invoices.

Thanks
Andre

Author:

atkk

Posted:

Sep 13, 2010 21:38

Subject:

Re: Search Within Search Results

Viewed:

19 times

Topic: