BrickLink Discussion Forum

Status:

Implemented

I was the kind of person that never wanted instant checkout to be implemented
here in BL. I thought it would bring problems, overpaying or underpaying,
and also would stop a way of communication with my buyers. I really like to communicate
with them.

However, I was recently invited to test out another Lego selling website that
is under production. This site in particular has instant checkout implemented.
Well, after receiving an order today... I was thoroughly impressed by how well
it worked.

When setting up your store, it requires you to add your shipping methods, either
by weight bands or price bands. On countries where you have dimension limits,
that could be hard to implement. Anyways, after some thinking, this would be
my solution.

First, the simplest things would be to add weight ranges from the cart (you'd
need to weight your envelopes/boxes) and add the price. In example, if my bubble
envelopes weight less than 20 grams, I'd add a shipping band from 0-75 grams,
and put the price for under 100 grams. Or, if my boxes weight about 150 grams,
I'd put another band from 450 grams to... 750 grams, for under 1 KG!

That is the simple part, now let's get to restrictions or special needs.
I'm not sure about restrictions on other countries, but here the restrictions
are not too harsh. For them, and special bulky items, my solution would be to
have a special intern mark in the catalog, so the system knows they are bulky.
For example, let's say I'm adding a raised baseplate to the catalog,
another field could be if it's bulky or not. Bulky could be considered over
2 centimeters high on all three dimensions, or something like that. Yes, it
would
require some work to be implemented in the actual catalog items, but with this
community's help, it would be easily done. You could also make differences
between big bulky items, such as raised baseplates, or semi-bulky items, such
as some panels. A raised baseplate would make a difference in my shipping costs,
but not a panel, normally.

Now, with the mark, what it would happen is, you get a special option on your
shipping methods to see if your store "cares" for bulky items. I mean, when the
system is making the shipping price to give it to the buyer, it would detect
that his order has bulky items, and then, predefined by the seller, you could
get two different options. Either the seller could establish new rates for bulky
items, or the make the buyer request a regular invoice, so the seller can calculate
the shipping cost.

Solved the restrictions problem. Now on to fees. All fees should be noted up
front, anyways. It's easy to automatize lot limits/fees, packing fees, etc.
The seller would be required to add them, and the system would add them to the
order and show them to the buyer along with shipping prices, before checkout.

Lastly, I would make automatic checkout, at least in the beginning, an option,
not a must. I'm sure many, many sellers would implemented, and those that
feel that they can't, just would not. Probably the former would be small
stores who cannot afford to loose 2$ on shipping and that. That way, you'd
make everyone happy.

On another note, I would automatize fees as a priority, and that cost should
be noted up front before checkout, even if you don't have instant checkout,
as you don't need postage to calculate them.

After this, and having all fees noted up front, postage should always be real
PO cost.

I hope you made it to the bottom of the page, as it was hard for me to write
this long thing.
I you have any more ideas, I'd love you to post them, or to refute my ideas,
that is what the forum is for. I posted is as a suggestion as it is how I'd
like the system to work, or how I think it would work the best. Lots of ideas
in my head!

Cheers,
Gerald

(Minor but huge typos in the other one

)

Author:

kzinti

Posted:

Mar 25, 2012 15:05

Subject:

"Report This Item" Button...

Viewed:

280 times

Topic:

Status:

Implemented

Currently, when shopping, if you run across an item that needs to be reported
for one problem or another, it is a multi-step process to do so. I would like
to propose a simple "report this item" button be implemented so that simply clicking
it will take you to the "problem with item for sale" section, bring with it the
lot number from the item and when you have submitted the item, have a button
to bring you right back to where you left off so you can finish shopping.

Too often things do not get reported due to the current reporting process. A
one click reporting button with a simple return to previous page button would
be wonderful.

Author:

renhoffman

Posted:

Apr 28, 2014 19:07

Subject:

Make reporting bad listings easier

Viewed:

190 times

Topic:

Status:

Implemented

The only way I know of to report offending items is as follows...
1) find listing
2) roll mouse over picture of the listing
3) write the number down
4) find the problem report page, and enter the number

Please find a way to make this process easier. This is even more annoying when
after all that, the item has already been reported

.

Darren

Author:

TorontoLego

Posted:

Dec 15, 2010 09:49

Subject:

Incomplete Minifigs

Viewed:

445 times

Topic:

Status:

Implemented

Rant:
I am tired of looking in stores to find Minifigs that are missing parts -- Particularly
Feathers and Plumes from Castle Minifigs -- frequently the most expensive part.

Suggestion:

A) Add complete/incomplete to minifig listings -- this might be too large of
a change - not sure how hard this would be.

OR

B) Make a rule that ALL minifigs MUST be complete as inventoried. Otherwise
they should be listed as their component parts.

OR

C) Make a rule that ALL incomplete minifigs must have the phrase INCOMPLETE included
in the comments so that they can be excluded from searches somehow.

Author:

ToddWebb

Posted:

Apr 26, 2011 07:56

Subject:

to to to

Viewed:

237 times

Topic:

Status:

Implemented

Above the [Submit Order] button, when placing an order in a store, is the "legally
binding contract" clause. It states in part, "...Failure to to follow..."
Funny, I wonder how long it's been there?

Author:

FigBits

Posted:

Feb 16, 2011 18:30

Subject:

Suggestion: Simpler URL for stores

Viewed:

222 times

Topic:

Status:

Implemented

Right now, my store's URL is www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=FigBits

It should be www.bricklink.com/FigBits

(or even figbits.bricklink.com)

The suggestion won't really help me at this point, since I have a much simpler
URL than either of those (figbits.com), but I think it would be good for others.

--
Marc.

Author:

DagsBricks

Posted:

Apr 4, 2014 11:10

Subject:

Extend cart timeout

Viewed:

153 times

Topic:

Status:

Implemented

I have been trying to put together several orders and get the most out of each
store. But I am not able to do this in one sitting. It may require a small
design change, waiting to hear back from the proprieter or *gasp* actually working.
So then all my carts expire after about 2-3 days and I have to work on rebuilding
them. It's enough to give up and source parts elsewhere.

Sure, I can save screenshots and try to save in Brickstock but these are extra
unnecessary steps. Likely there is a variable somewhere in the bowels of the
BL code that could be changed from "72 hours" to "720 hours". If Amazon, Target,
and the Owl can remember my carts indefinitely, I don't think it's asking
too much for BL to do the same.

And for those who would complain that it's unnecessary, tell me also how
it would inconvenience you to have a longer cart timeout.

Brian

Author:

bb138026

Posted:

May 16, 2014 11:52

Subject:

API: mass updates or >5000 calls/day

Viewed:

245 times

Topic:

Status:

Implemented

I don't believe much in forum's suggestions, but you never know...

The API lets us do "mass creation" of lots, but we can't do a "mass update"
to perform operations such as updating the prices of all lots at once.

We could send a bunch of "update inventory", a call for each lot, but then any
big seller will hit the limit of 5000 calls / day easily.

Can we please either get an API call for mass updates, or raise the limit of
5000 calls/day?

The software I'm writing will be free and open source once complete and tested
enough, so I don't really want just my personal limit of 5000 raised (as
the API docs suggest one can ask).

Thank you.

Author:

ash_274

Posted:

Mar 8, 2011 09:16

Subject:

Items in Order on Wanted List, add Quantity

Viewed:

116 times

Topic:

Status:

Implemented

This feature, described here: http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=520798
, is very useful when shopping by wanted lists. The only flaw is when the quantity
ordered differs from the quantity entered on the list. If a buyer orders any
quantity of an item on their list (regardless of the quantity entered on their
wanted list) the item appears in the Wanted Items in Order page.

Since Bricklink's system can see the quantity on the WL and can see the quantity
in the Order, then could the screen show an additional line below the item's
line when the quantities aren't equal.
When shopping and you click "All Items" it shows the quantity in red when it's
below the quantity on your WL. Something like this would be great in the IiOoWL
page and prevent accidental over-buying and save buyers time from having to manually
make changes.

-Ash

Author:

petries_palace

Posted:

Oct 26, 2010 23:09

Subject:

Suggest: Condition on Wanted List Detail Page

Viewed:

97 times

Topic:

Status:

Implemented