BrickLink Discussion Forum

In Suggestions, fosterbengoshi writes:

In Suggestions, BrickItYourself writes:

I would like to see something like this.

a seller gets 1 completed and confirmed NSS they are shut down for 48 hours

What is a "confirmed NSS" and how is this different than a completed NSS?

Thor

hey, when I'm auto correcting spell check in an e-mail with a baby in my
other arm I don't need people to be that nit-picky

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 27, 2014 14:36

Subject:

Re: Seller Assistance Program

Viewed:

38 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Garys_Toys writes:

In Suggestions, superchicken77 writes:

Some people take offense when other people offer unsolicited help. It's
one thing to ask for help on the forum but it's another to be approached
by somebody else telling you what you're doing wrong. I don't have a
store but if I did and somebody pointed out that I was doing things wrong, I'd
tell them to mind their own business. Unless there are BL rules about shipping,
packaging etc.. every store will do things their own way. Sure there are "best
practices" (and best being a subjective term because what's best for some
isn't best for others) and maybe those can be posted somewhere in the help
section.

In Suggestions, Garys_Toys writes:

In Suggestions, Brettj666 writes:

In Suggestions, Garys_Toys writes:

Upon reading the forums over the last few weeks I have noticed a few sellers
that are getting a lot of negative feedback, having issues with customers, getting
NSS, etc... A couple of these sellers I know personally. I do not know of their
issues and what is causing them and frankly it has been my experience not to
even get involved.

However, it does give me an idea that I think could only help. I know not all
sellers are bad and there are plenty that are. But what if we had some sort of
Seller Assistance Program that could reach out to some of these stores that are
not looking so good. Maybe we can get them on the right track and show them things
that we notice that may improve their store and their overall customer experience.

I know I will be helping one of these stores over the next few weeks as I have
already talked to him. Just from having a look at the forum posts, his feedback,
etc... I seen multiple things that I do that may help him improve on his end.

I know its easy to just warn everyone, ruin their name, and go on about your
business but helping them when they may be in need can't hurt and it can
only help the Bricklink community as a whole IMO.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Gary

People can and have come into the forum and ask "why am I not getting any orders"
or "any ideas to improve my store", but to those people that are racking up negatives
or NSS, we can't go and pro-actively seek them out.

For the most part, unless the idea is to steal money it should be 'fairly'
simple

list the items you have for sale
When you get the money for the items, ship the items for which you got the money
if there's a problem, deal with it as if you were on the buying side.

I have three times experienced more orders than my free time would allow, and
each time I shut down my store, forgoing other orders to service the customers
that I have.

To continue to take orders is just vanity and greed if you can't service
your customers the way you have to.

For the people spiraling out of control (from the buyer'ss perspective),
what's really going to help but the obvious. SHIP MY ORDER

Sure if one shoe fit every foot that may make sense. However, every situation
is different. Many of these complaints involving NSS are a bit inflated on the
seller I am helping as the orders were shipped. He had shortages and missed them
when pulling and packing. A piece or in some cases a few pieces were missing.
I know for an absolute fact he was trying to rectify the situations as I shipped
a good deal of parts out of my inventory directly to the customers for him to
help him out. I have also figured out what caused his issues as far as inventory
goes. I keep using him as an example as I am working directly with him to figure
things out and I know his situation. It wasn't about being to busy or being
greedy as you put it. In his case it happened over a couple weeks time but it
still haunting him a month later. Most of the times here in the forum we see
one side and our mind is made up. Why not try?

My point is I am trying to offer assistance and opinions to assist other sellers
to better Bricklink as a whole. I am not sure why most wouldn't agree if
something can be done to stop some of the rubbish why not try.

There is no sense in losing a potentially good seller over mistakes.

Gary

Just to clarify I wasn't talking about browsing feedback looking for sellers
to contact. My idea was to basically have a list of sellers who would volunteer
their time if called upon to help others sellers that requested it. They would
have to reach out for help. I didn't intend on looking for them.

Gary

This kind of goes with my idea of having volunteer dispute resolution

users volunteer to take cases, you get statements from buyer and seller (no user
names exchanged and they never know who heard their case)

users agree that they will accept the solution from the mediator and feedback
is exempt so there are no personal transgressions brought out

that would be something I would volunteer for too

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 27, 2014 14:31

Subject:

Re: Seller Assistance Program

Viewed:

54 times

Topic:

Gary,

I like the idea as a starting point, many directions to go.

I agree with Scott that there are some bad apples out there that are not helping
this site.

There is a group of sellers out there that their biggest problems is a combination
of the following, just poor personality for business (and would never have a
successful B&M store), cheap, dishonest, and on and on.

How do we make these people become clairvoyant on what the other 98% of members
want Bricklink to be?

I don't know, but the current process allows some people to take advantage
of people, make them feel bad, and make them not like bricklink anymore.

Will a "new" system prevent this? Probably not, just deter it a little bit.
Of course we as users could be vigilant about it, but turning against other
members isn't ever a good thing either.

I think Bricklink setting up criteria to have a banner installed on stores that
are performing at a level just above 3 NSS/NRS to stay open could have a a warning
banner or something along those lines until they straighten their act out.

Problem is about it being objective...

Think of a Restaurant that closes due to health code violations, they get a nice
closure notice stuck on their front door. Then when they fix the problem health
inspector lets them back open, but they now have to overcome their stigma of
a dirty place.

They change their act, over time everything will be fine

They don't change they get permanently shut down.

I would like to see something like this.

a seller gets 1 completed and confirmed NSS they are shut down for 48 hours

next NSS 1 week

third NSS shut down

I'm hesitant about feedback though, because this is subjective, one of my
3 is because USPS tore up a package, I refunded, the buyer said they would change
the feedback, never heard from buyer ever again, so this could be hard to work
around. Plus one could buy several orders and leave a bunch of negative feedback
as retaliatory just to get them shut down

its hard because negatives don't always mean it isn't "safe" to buy from
some one or that that store is bad, sometimes its personal.

Of course this means more work for the admin, but problems don't fix themselves

Thanks,

Ken
Brick It Yourself

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 23, 2014 22:10

Subject:

Re: Definition of Shipped

Viewed:

69 times

Topic:

I was only pointing out the self definition in the BL wording

let us define some other words the same way

Good - An adjective to describe something good

Ugly - An adjective for something ugly

Bad - An Adjective for something bad

Doesn't really help right?

I've always thought we have too many options for an order status

I'm good with pending, invoiced, shipped, received, completed, cancelled

thanks,

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 23, 2014 21:22

Subject:

Re: Definition of Shipped

Viewed:

57 times

Topic:

Pete

I started a thread here about a package I shipped (dropped off at the post office)
didn't get a scan because the postal worker (that I am familiar with) gave
me the nod that they would take care of it.

It never got scanned until delivery, package was $450 too...

Ken
Brick It Yourself

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 23, 2014 21:06

Subject:

Re: Definition of Shipped

Viewed:

53 times

Topic:

My postal employee gives me several postal boxes to put my orders in. When an
order is in the US Postal Box it is shipped, the problem rests in people not
moving the order to the next phase of being shipped.

Does it really matter if an order was marked shipped or packed if they were sleeping
on it?

Or if someone lost it on the way to the post office with a batch of orders would
they even realize it is under the seat?

I had this happen to me with an international order, it slid under the seat in
the car, but I was shipping 10 or so other orders.

Buyer messaged me in two weeks that they haven't gotten to it, I went to
look for the customs form couldn't find it but found the package itself,
nicely apologized and refunded their shipping and shipped the item out

most of these situation would be solved by people being nice and owning up to
their mistakes

change the system and something will still irk you, me and the rest of us at
sometime

Thanks

Ken
Brick It Yourself

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 23, 2014 20:57

Subject:

Re: Definition of Shipped

Viewed:

62 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, tylerawalters writes:

BrickLink Help defines the statuses this way:
Paid- Payment received.
Packed - Package has been sealed but not yet shipped.
Shipped - Package has been shipped but not yet received by buyer.

shipped - package is shipped but not yet recieved by the buyer

shipped is still yet to be defined

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 16, 2014 12:01

Subject:

Re: Restrictions on forum posts

Viewed:

62 times

Topic:

voted no

This is something I don't like about Euro Bricks

a well policed forum doesn't need this. The admin part of it just needs
to be able to remove (out of site) canceled posts.

Thanks,

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 6, 2014 15:20

Subject:

Re: 3 strikes you are out(dated)...

Viewed:

73 times

Topic:

Thanks, this is the correct way to do this. I voted yes, and I think most of
us would. But, then we would all bicker about what to change it to.

A few possibilities

Transactions between strikers

Time between strikes

Monetary amount (kind of like the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony)
no state has a three strikes and you're out policy on misdemeanors, but they
do for felonies.

some other ways to do this would be well posted here.

Thanks,

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 3, 2014 19:42

Subject:

Re: BL 2.0 suggestion for seller fee collection

Viewed:

33 times

Topic:

I think I would use the system for more than a month to get a good idea of how
everything works and also realize forum posts don't amount to much unless
they tick off an admin or maybe I missed something

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Dec 6, 2013 16:13

Subject:

Re: Allow CSS features

Viewed:

45 times

Topic:

to me CSS feature means Customer Satisfaction Survery

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Dec 5, 2013 23:05

Subject:

Re: mega blocks, kre-o, best lock etc.

Viewed:

82 times

Topic:

wow, they let those guys in now?

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Nov 30, 2013 18:17

Subject:

Re: Inter Brick Link Money system

Viewed:

70 times

Topic:

I think he was thinking of BL having it's own Paypal like system.

Users could send money to and from an assigned bank account and then make payments
internally.

However, given the past problems of hacking and the site's security at this
point this is probably a miserable idea at the time.

let's call it BrickPal and see how long it takes for the Ebay conglomerate
to attack.

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Oct 22, 2013 14:02

Subject:

Re: Minifigures "In My Collection''

Viewed:

36 times

Topic:

do you have a Chrome Gold C-3P0? if not I can help you out.

thanks,

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Oct 15, 2013 10:54

Subject:

Re: remove old link to chat room

Viewed:

46 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Brettj666 writes:

In Suggestions, WILYKAT writes:

Click MyBrickLink tab
click My Activity
scroll down to the bottom

If you have been in the chat room before it was killed over a year ago, it'd
show the time spent in char room. Oddly the link still "works" even though it
leads to error page since the chat no longer exists.

Suggestion: remove link tag, convert "Minutes in Chat" to plain text for us old
people.

It doesn't hurt anything to stay there though. Even if it only takes an
hour to do, does it really matter.

12055:20 Minutes in Chat, gulp, almost 201 hours of my life..

22617:51 Minutes in Chat

376 hours, 15.7 days, sweet I took a two weeks vacation in chat, but most of
the time was split sreening while uploading inventory or packing orders...

don't think anyone will have Rolf beat though...

thanks,

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Aug 15, 2013 19:51

Subject:

Re: BL2 Inventory Improvements

Viewed:

39 times

Topic:

its not the credit

IT's about the Benjamins baby!

or, in your case the funny multicolored and multisized currency notes that vary
within your union!

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jul 18, 2013 21:55

Subject:

Re: Fair competition pt1

Viewed:

57 times

Topic:

you're only 39 dollars away from the cheapest for sale, didn't look it
up to read it if was damaged box or anything though

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jul 18, 2013 19:40

Subject:

Re: Fair competition pt1

Viewed:

40 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, eileenkeeney writes:

In Suggestions, kanownik writes:

Anyways, sorry to make something complicated even more complicated.

Ken

OK,
So tax laws start to make what seemed simple, more complicated.

They always do.

But this is also why I would love a priceline.com type system of "Sellers, this
is what I want, here is what I'll pay, anyone want to make a sale"

I'm waiting for a consumer goods site that will follow the priceline method

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jul 18, 2013 14:43

Subject:

Re: Fair competition pt1

Viewed:

43 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, eileenkeeney writes:

In Suggestions, Bricktrain writes:

In Suggestions, enig writes:

In Suggestions, Brickfinger writes:

I'm voting "no" on this (although what I'm voting no on is a lil vague
to me.

I agree, the problem you mentioned happens, but it's up to buyers to work
it out. Buyers also have the option of "least favouriting" the stores that are
doing it obviously.

Makes sense?

thank you for your vote and opinion - we need all points of view here.

I disagree though. Once you are shopping for a large number of lots (hundreds)
at once just how much time it would take for your to look over 20-30 shops terms
and conditions, work out exactly how much your grand total would be in each and
every store? With high number of different fees that each store has or has not,
and then try to juggle around trying to figure out what's the cheapest for
you?

Some projects are very expensive and I know people who are literally putting
their last pennies into their passion for LEGO. Spending 1000 EUR or 1100 EUR
is a big difference. And that's also the 100 EUR that some sellers get with
cheating the price guide, without working all the costs and extra profits straight
into their prices.

I agree on shopping via the price guide but if the fees are listed it is easy
enough to move away to another store, it is the ones that overcharge on shipping
that are the real robbers. Check my feedback if you want an example.

I would MUCH rather have a stated fee, than be overcharged for shipping.
I dislike the model of the new bricklink competitor, where fees are just hidden
inside shipping.

These are two different thing

Stating a shipping price is not hiding fees into shipping,

If a store states shipping starts @ $2.50 that might be their exact cost to ship
a 3 ounce first class mail parcel

but a store that says we charge exact postage plus $0.81 (same price as above)
is charging a fee

while as a consumer you feel, hey it's the same price, what is the big deal.

As a business owner doing accounting they make a big difference. If you do accounts
based accounting.

See how it was explained to me by a tax accountant is that if you charge flat
rate shipping you can lump the costs differently than charging a handling fee.
If you charge the handling fee you have to set up seperate accounts and expense
things differently.

However different people's adivse on this might be different and I'm
not offereing advise.

I'm just saying while a consumer doesn;t see the difference in price, how
these things are stated do make a difference.

Just like I got the OK from my tax guy to hire "contractors" to work for me because
they go around with a flyer that says we mow lawns, we cut trees, we clean your
house, we'll do anything.

So although I am hiring them for something specific, they have other clients
and perform other services and I will just write 1099's for them.

Kind of the same thing for Mr. IRS I pay them the same, they do the work for
me, but it is all how it is defined.

Anyways, sorry to make something complicated even more complicated.

Ken

It is even more irritating when I am gouged on shipping, after completely forgiving
(without asking any compensation) mistakes on a previous order. (Sent me the
wrong part, but the one they did send me was useful anyway, and about the same
value).
But I feel like someone has decided I am easy to take advantage of.
But I won't likely complain to the seller. I will note it, and it will effect
my future purchasing decisions.
I don't expect perfection in the shipping calculation, but when the difference
is high (in comparison to total shipping cost), it is harder to think that it
was not an intentional overcharge.

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jul 18, 2013 12:43

Subject:

Re: Fair competition pt1

Viewed:

38 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, theboyslegos writes:

In Suggestions, Rogue11 writes:

This is certainly true. But superlots can be excluded in searches, right?
How about doing the same with extra fees?
Sellers have to select if they charge extra fees (and how much) in the same way
as they select payment options, minimum buy etc in their store settings.
Then the search engine could use that info to exclude or include stores with
extra fees at the buyers discretion.

This would also make the extra fees easier to find in the store terms. Sometimes
one has to read through a lot of fine print to find whether or not there are
any.

Personally I don't mind the extra fees as much as long as they are clearly
listed. I have found many stores that still have lower prices even if they charge
$1 or so for packing material or so. I'm more irked by stores that use a
1 size fits all shipping option, for example shipping everything via priority.
I have recently bought the 4 different Fantasy Era Dragons from 4 different sellers.
3 shipped regular 1st class mail and 4th shipped it with priority in a box that
was way too large (maybe the only box he had) and the cost was more than 3 times
higher than with the other orders.

Sylvia

I don't mind fees either.....when the seller is honest about it. A seller
who charges actual shipping + $1.00 fee is fine. But a seller who has their shipping
charges start $2.00 over the actual cost then in bold font states "NO FEES" just
irritates me. They're not being honest with me and that's not a good
way to start a healthy transaction.

A possible BL solution may be to require any additional costs over actual shipping
costs to be listed on a separate "FEES" page in the stores. That way they don't
get buried in the terms.

"LOT LIMIT FEES" are just crazy to me. It you're well organized there's
no need for them. Yes a 79 lot 83 piece order is annoying to pick and takes longer,
but not every order can be simple.

Just my opinion,

Matt

My store I charge a dollar fee and it's the first thing listed on my T&C
page

and what if that order is 79 lots with 83 total parts and the total cost is 83
cents and the store doesn't have a minimum buy?

I think lot limit in place of a low order fee is a better alternative

I don't have this, but I'm just where I would rather shop

So think about it,

instead of a store having a $5.00 minimum they have no minimum

but if you want 1 part for a dollar you are good to get just the one part.

However they could say purchases under 5 dollars and over 20 lots incur a $1.00
fee

I see this as completeley valid and reasonable.

If you are doing this for money you don't want the 79/83 purchase anyway,
you won't "lose" money unless you pay people to pack orders, but you will
lose your time which is money when running a store from your house.

People value their time differently and we all put that price in our stores.

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jul 18, 2013 09:30

Subject:

Re: Fair competition pt1

Viewed:

61 times

Topic:

There are other ways to "manipulate" the price guide to attract busniess.

Another tactic is to price certain parts super low but then they are attached
to a superlot.

This is a popular tactic with the CMF. A few stores have the Zombie from series
1 priced the lowest in the catalog but then you look at the super lot for the
whole set and the others are jacked up. This also occurs with some other parts
that are sub parts of another part. All and all it is just a way to pull in
customers.

This happens in B&M stores with all kinds of sales and other tactics.

Comparative shopping is an art and any guidelines and rules that are laid down
by Bricklink Limited will be manipulated somehow or another.

You will still have to fill carts and compare total costs when buying multiple
parts, etc

including asking sellers for a quote on shipping (unless they go automated shipping)

to be 100% sure

Thanks,

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Mar 13, 2013 13:47

Subject:

Re: Show EU flag in stores

Viewed:

57 times

Topic:

sorry the gold stars just don't match up to the stars and stripes

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 22, 2013 22:00

Subject:

Re: Aall Caps - Forum Rule Please

Viewed:

44 times

Topic:

So political posts arent allowed but what about people PMing political posts
to me?

I've gotten a few of those today.

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 22, 2013 12:48

Subject:

Re: All Caps - Forum Rule Please

Viewed:

63 times

Topic:

Re: All Caps - Forum Rule Please

Please make a forum rule that posts in all caps will be removed. This shoud
be considered because it is a known mannerism that all caps is shouting. Posts
by users in all caps should be taken as rude as many requests to those users
are ignored.

Perhaps if those people are reminded by admin that their manners are rude to
other people (since they are clearly ignoring requests from other users) by their
posts being deleted people will stop shouting (by using caps lock)

Thanks

Ken

And my phone typing typo in the title

Not a real suggestion, I will just save the thread to forward to people.

As for the butt munch that replied via PM to me that my burger picture is offensive
for the portraying the slaughter of meat go suck it. How do you not know its
a very large veggie burger?

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 22, 2013 12:45

Subject:

Re: Aall Caps - Forum Rule Please

Viewed:

58 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, smokking writes:

My mother types in all caps because it's too difficult for her to see the print
on the screen in lower case. It's a personal opinion, not a rule, to not use
caps.

Teach her ctrl + and ctrl - to adjust the screen to her liking

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 22, 2013 11:24

Subject:

Aall Caps - Forum Rule Please

Viewed:

397 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Vote:

[Yes|No]

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Dec 30, 2012 09:25

Subject:

Re: Reinstate Inventory Tracking

Viewed:

45 times

Topic:

Add my problem with white ladders (just one example over the last year) that
I posted on 1brickstreet's similar post

There are some Gremlins, Hackers, or something

If I sell one more white ladder...

I could say some funny stuff about where to shove them but its a family site

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Dec 17, 2012 15:20

Subject:

Re: Hidden fees

Viewed:

79 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Legopeter writes:

Hey,
We really need to do something about all the hidden fees and fines on BrickLink.
And by "hidden" I also mean fees that are mentioned in store terms but are, to
the common sense at least, abnormal. I for one am very bad at reading store terms
but have managed to buy from over 600 different sellers without being really
upset over fees until today.
I shopped with a big German seller with the following rule:

Lot Maximum:
Your order should have an average lot value of at least €2.00. You derive the
number by dividing your order total by the number of positions you have. (100
black 1 x 1 bricks are merely one lot).
Otherwise you still place the order for free!
If not, a small fee of €0.59 per surplus lot is added. Example 1: an order with
an order total of €20 and 10 lots does not include ANY FEE. Example 2: an order
with an order total of 20€ and 20 lots effects an additional fee of €5.90. Thank
you very much for your appreciation.

I ended up with a lot maximum fee of EUR 28.59 for an order of EUR 37.08. That's
78% surcharge, almost as much as the order itself. How do you feel about this?
Do we really want this to be allowed? I think we should go the same way as we
did a couple of years ago when we abolished fake exchange courses, remember them?
They were very popular amongst European, especially German, sellers. Who wants
them back?

Peter

is he the Fee Nazi?

(in a play on the soup nazi from Seinfeld not actual National Socialist Party
Members)

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Oct 19, 2012 12:59

Subject:

Re: Automatic Forum Ban with Revoked Privileges

Viewed:

77 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, goshe7 writes:

Let's get the discussion started in a fresh thread...

Following up this post
http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=672934

The more I think about this problem, the more I personally would like anyone
who looses their buying or selling rights to also loose their posting rights.
Perhaps not perfect but clear and avoids a lot of the issues we've been discussing

I would be opposed to automatically linking a forum ban with a loss of buying
or selling privileges.

While not every NSS/NPB thread is degraded, it's a fairly frequent occurrence
for a forum bashing of a single NSS/NPB. It's less frequent, but still down
the same path, for a revoked member to be part of a forum trashing. In these
events, the offended party starts a thread telling how he was wronged. Then
the offending party replies with his story about he was subjected to some unforeseen
event (hospitalization, death in the family, etc.) and is being wronged by the
offended party. The truth is somewhere in there. But I don't agree with automatically
silencing one side of the discussion.

I response to the message in the link as part of the "constructive" part of fixing
problems why not have 1 admin/moderator account that is elected by the membership,
for some period of time, so the group as a whole feel like the moderators aren't
an oligarch for which we have no input.

Of course this could get out of hand and would have many things to consider before
doing it, but many companies have board of directors, some of which that board
is elected by the shareholders.

However BL is a private company and can do what it wishes, however I think something
along these lines would be a great way to remedy a lot of the complaints for
topics along these lines

but the basics are pretty simple

develop some type of minimum criteria, feedback rating, length of membership,
etc

develop the actual role of said elected admin/mod and how long do they serve

develop nomination process

develop election process, who votes, when, etc

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Oct 13, 2012 21:13

Subject:

Re: handling fee posted upfront

Viewed:

40 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, organizizer writes:

some sellers charge handling fees (in addition to shipping), or shipping minimums.

currently, buyers don't find this out till after they've set their whole order
(sometimes dozens of items). its a bit of a gotcha.

it would be helpful if there were a way for sellers to post any handling fees
or shipping minimums upfront on their page, before we make the order... as it
is now is for minimum orders.

if they are not stated in the store terms then they shouldn;t be charging it

this is solved by reading a stores terms when you first get there

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Sep 19, 2012 12:12

Subject:

Re: wouldn't it be nice...

Viewed:

29 times

Topic:

Thanks for all the conjectures on my comments, I needed a laugh, work has been
a capital B lately.

Anyways, yes my remark was sarcastic about the number of people that put Rare
and Hard to Find on ebay

it isn't so hard to find if it comes up as the first result in my search, lol

my fault for not putting a smiley or something along those lines with my remarks
to show the humor

Thanks,

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Sep 19, 2012 09:04

Subject:

Re: wouldn't it be nice...

Viewed:

48 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, tonnic writes:

Wouldn't it be nice if the catalog has some search mode for out of the ordinary
colored items like prototype colors andsoone?

I have several dark purple Halberd Elaborate 6123 that might interest buyers.
But it's not something you generally look for if you don't know such an item
excists.

Maybe a search in the catalog named HTF or Hard to Find, rare or whatever term
Catmin chooses?

It would be nice for me/us as seller(s) but also for the buyer that looks for
something different he/she otherwise would not find.

If you want rare and hard to find go to ebay, they have tons of listings with
rare and hard to find in the title

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Aug 8, 2012 09:54

Subject:

Re: Button Solution (Requirements by German Law)

Viewed:

64 times

Topic:

I'm curious about this, having lived in Berlin before. Was this a consumer protection
pushed by people that had gotten scammed or was is pushed by the business community
that focuses more on physical shops to better compete against internet sales?

Thanks,

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

May 10, 2012 08:02

Subject:

Names on Bricklink account

Viewed:

317 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Vote:

[Yes|No]

This has happened to me a few times and it is starting to get annoying but...

It has been a few years since I have registered. So I don't remember what it
says, but I have been getting orders from people that have been putting fake
names, nick names, etc, on their account here. It causes a problem for a few
reasons. 1) If an order is a contract, I believe it would be null and void if
the person's name is not on it and some screen-name or other alias. 2) It can
make it hard to track down whose order is whose when you have two fake names
on orders (for the same amount) and they don't put the order numbers in the payment.
I know some people have company names on their account and I am ok with that
because if it is an LLC here in the US that company can enter into contracts
under the LLC, but if I registered with the First name "Baddest Dude" and the
Last name "On The Planet" how would anything on here actually be binding.

I don't want to cause work for admin, because more important things are being
taken care of, but I would like to know what others think.

Thanks

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Mar 25, 2012 15:42

Subject:

Re: "Report This Item" Button...

Viewed:

49 times

Topic:

I understood this, thats why he suggested the button. And my suggestion was
that it is only available for a mod.
In my area there are a few scummy lego people and they do some rotten things
on craiglistmlike flag everything lego for sale or make a low ball offer, then
flag it so others wont see it, etc. There is also someone that posts lego for
sale and then arranges a time and cancels at the last minute.

Keep authority away from the users

In Suggestions, RobErNat writes:

In Suggestions, kanownik writes:

voted yes, but I would want it to be moderators just like everything else,

Actually Ken,
everybody can report items when they are in violation of the listings ToS

people will make a fake account just to flag stuff

there is no need (see above line)

so if there were a few moderators that could flag stuff while shopping around I don't see a problem

Any item that gets reported is not removed at once, it is Admin who makes the
final call on that (and he only).

Items can be reported on this page:
http://www.bricklink.com/problemInventory.asp

What Kintzi is suggesting is a quick link towards that page (and a backwards
link to the page you were on, after reporting the item).

Eric

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Mar 25, 2012 15:11

Subject:

Re: "Report This Item" Button...

Viewed:

49 times

Topic:

voted yes, but I would want it to be moderators just like everything else, people
will make a fake account just to flag stuff so if there were a few moderators
that could flag stuff while shopping around I don't see a problem

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Mar 2, 2012 08:58

Subject:

Re: Add to NRS/NSS Undisclosed fees

Viewed:

32 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Master_Jedi_Rob writes:

In addition to seller penalties NRS and NSS I would like to add "Undisclosed
fees added to invoice."

Three strikes and out.

It's most probably illegal in all cases to add undisclosed fees to a "binding
contract" worldwide, so why is it tolerated here?

-R

If we are so worried about hidden fees you could just state in the order, any
hidden fees wil result in negative feedback from me.

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Feb 21, 2012 06:52

Subject:

Re: Variety of issues to make it easier to use

Viewed:

43 times

Topic:

Voted no

All these things, except the programming part, come with time learning BL. HTML
is a skill which some of us have and others don't. Everything on my page I had
to find out for myself. There is a thing called the internet it is wonderful
for finding bits of information on html.

In Suggestions, billduge writes:

Good morning

We have been using Bricklink for many years now and in December of last year
opened a store. As a result of that and all the work that has gone into that
we would like to make a few suggestions to help new and existing stores.

1. Make it easier to customize your stores pages. We are not programmers, but
we would like good marketing material on our store pages. Each time we create
something in Microsoft word and publish it to html, we get consistent errors
about use of Iframes, etc. We also get a constant barrage of item too large,
hence our rather non-marketing store pages.
2. When adding stock/inventory, we would also like the save settings to be in
place, whether we leave the site or not. We would like to see the storeroom option
re-worked so that when an existing part which has gone to zero is increased,
the item goes back into the store, without having to run an inventory update
to achieve this.
3. It would also be nice if possible to have regionlised pricing. We appreciate
that Bricklink is 'worldwide' and many of ths stores accomodate that, however
having the ability to look at your regions pricing would be very useful.
4. The Bricklink fees charges. Due to the fact that this is in USD, converting
on an almost constant basis, it is very difficult to pin down an exact cost for
Bricklink per order. It would help if this were in the local currency that the
store sets as its own and/or if there were a statement produced at the end of
each billing period which showed order by order what the fee was in USD and the
local currency that the store uses. This would also be ideal for the stores accounting
records.

There probably are many other issues to comment on however I will leave this
as it is for the time being to see what the reaction is.

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Feb 7, 2012 11:15

Subject:

Re: Way to make stores crazy fee settings easy

Viewed:

39 times

Topic:

I do like this suggestion. However I don't think it should be mandatory. But
since I agree I decided to change my store terms and put them right up front.

Minimum Order
If I have parts you need and don't meet minimum, PM me to make arrangements
No Domestic Handling Fees
No Lot Limits

Then all the details are on the shipping terms page

I also provide discounts for Minifig/instruction only orders, you can order a
minifig and get 99 cent shipping.

Ken

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jan 24, 2012 11:34

Subject:

Re: lot limits/handl. fee in store settings/terms

Viewed:

82 times

Topic:

The problem is a yes vote is for your terms you state out and not how I would
like to have lot limits implemented.

In Suggestions, dagealka writes:

Hi all!

Among the highlighted and honoured stores, several sellers with a huge selection
have implemented lot limits (e.g. each lot should average $1). I would suggest,
that sellers can choose (in his store settings so that they appear in the store
terms and that they are applied to each order), whether lot limits apply or not
(similar to minimum order). This makes it clearer for the customer than the comments
in the individual store policies.

In his store settings, the seller has the possibility to choose that lot limits
do not apply, or that they apply. When they apply, the seller can choose, what
should be the minimum each lot should average. If this average is not met, the
seller should again have few possibilities. Firstly, not to allow orders meeting
his average, or, secondly, allow them with some charge each extra lot the seller
can specify. (There may by a bypass password such as for the minimum order.)

This implementation of a lot limit would also cover handling fees, when the average
is set to zero and the charge each extra lot is set to the requested value.

The big advantage of an implementation of implementing this into the BrickLink
system is, that the customer sees his extra charges in his shopping cart. (Or
his order is blocked.) This would avoid confusion when e.g. $20 is added to the
invoice and the customer has not read the store policies carefully. With the
implementation of these lot limits BrickLink would make another step towards
a clearer and buyer friendly platform, as Bricklink has done, when avoiding the
fixed exchange rates with implementing VAT.

Daniel

Please vote ‘yes’ for allowing the seller setting up lot limits in his store
terms or ‘no’ for no progress.

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Nov 17, 2011 20:16

Subject:

Re: Differentiate private and business sellers

Viewed:

81 times

Topic:

Not to give political statements, but maybe you should try to put into office
people that will abolish that VAT taxes that hammer down Europe...

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Oct 12, 2011 15:45

Subject:

Re: Filling NPB

Viewed:

33 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, RobErNat writes:

In Suggestions, change writes:

Implementing a 3 days filing for NPB will be a nice feature.
7 days was good when people used Money Orders, Personal Checks or even cash.
For those who still use them , marking as payment when place the order give the
seller option to wait more.
Why the seller must be penalized for someone who is just playing games?
The 7 days waiting for finalizing the NPB(canceling the order) is again a penalty
for sellers.
The worst part here is the buyer responds to NPB filling but without any intention
to pay for the order and the waiting time for cancellation is doubled to 2 weeks.

Sorry, voted NO.
In Europe people offently use Iban/Bic (banktransfer), that kind of money transaction
usually takes 2,3 or 4 days, sometimes even 5 or 6 if there is a weekend in between.
If the time is reduced to 3 days, it will simply not be possible for a buyer
to send the payment within that timeframe.
If a buyer responds within the seven days, he also should still have the possibility
to make the transfer.
So far, on all the NPB's I ran through, none responded, so all got completed
after the 1 week. I do wonder what would be the % of NPB buyers who do respond
to the NPB filing.
Maybe Admin could gives a % on that?

Eric

Plus not many sellers file a NPB when there is good communication.

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Oct 12, 2011 15:44

Subject:

Re: Filling NPB

Viewed:

44 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, RobErNat writes:

In Suggestions, change writes:

But the method of preffered payment is on the order. So if it was a cash payment
or iban you would know. I have an order where the buyer told me they were going
to pay, then told me some other lies, and now said they won't pay. So I have
to wait 7 days, I would just cancel the order, but I don't want any consequences
of feedback so I have to wait. In the meantime 200 dollars woth of sets sits
in pergatory.

Voted yes

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Oct 5, 2011 15:16

Subject:

Re: Shunning

Viewed:

31 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, kzinti writes:

In Suggestions, kanownik writes:

In Suggestions, Master_Jedi_Rob writes:

I would like the ability to not "Ignore" but "Shun"

When someone is being a Troll, or even being somewhat unhelpful, and also posting
on the wrong thread...

Shun, not block, just list in red. That way, I know he's being a "Troll light."
Posting relevant comments, but in the wrong thread...

Or, Reconnect would be good... Remove the posts from Brasletty's post, and put
them where they belong...

Or... Posters could bother to rename the thread (lazy BrickLinkers!)

-R (also with many

's)

I like fishing, does anyone else like fishing?

*Raises Hand*

sorry forgot to chang the subject line...

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Oct 5, 2011 15:04

Subject:

Re: Shunning

Viewed:

26 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Master_Jedi_Rob writes:

's)

I like fishing, does anyone else like fishing?

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Aug 29, 2011 09:29

Subject:

Re: Paperless picking list.

Viewed:

39 times

Topic:

Thanks for stopping the printing, you have a computer screen, the person that
ordered from you has a computer, this has always been my logic to not print

Author:

Made_In_Bricks

Posted:

Jul 28, 2011 18:37

Subject:

Re: Reinstate Auctions!

Viewed:

55 times

Topic: