BrickLink Discussion Forum

In Shipping, Adjour writes:

In Shipping, Allaboutpins writes:

I'm a longtime Bricklink member, but am trying to set up my store to sell
for the first time. For some reason, I'm having trouble setting up shipping,
it just isn't making sense. More like it's overwhelming. I want to offer
rates straight from USPS, none of the 'Shared Shipping Methods', etc.
Something simple where I enter box dimensions and weight, and the sending and
receiving addresses, and can then see all shipping options available to me (just
like pirateship.com). Is this possible? Or does it have to be a customized shipping
method?

To dumb it down, you essentially set up weight bands where you "guess" shipping
costs.

The only way to not guess is to manually invoice all orders.

Just do manual invoices and shipping, the system makes no sense. I don't
know why Bricklink can't just do like every single other site on earth and
allow you to enter size and weight and calculate it for the buyer using the usps
or ups api. I really honestly do not know why this site is still like 1998.

Author:

mscheaf

Posted:

Nov 29, 2021 22:06

Subject:

Re: NO orders being received

Viewed:

87 times

Topic:

Technical Issues

Have you looked at your prices? The last 4 sets I bought I got cheaper on Ebay
than here. I don't know what nerve you guys have charging more while paying
a third of the fees but maybe that is affecting your sales? For example look
at 10225 and 75187. Both cheaper on ebay than here.

In Technical Issues, Aprils_Paradise writes:

We have not had any orders for the past couple of days. This is odd since it
is normally the busiest time of the year. Anyone else having this problem?

Author:

mscheaf

Posted:

Sep 12, 2019 14:31

Subject:

Re: Change NPB Timeline

Viewed:

38 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, JerseyGirl689 writes:

In Suggestions, MidwestBrick writes:

I had enough of these in the last few weeks that waiting 2 full weeks is painful
to complete them.

I don't mind the 1 week to pay before it is started. But another full 7 days
to complete the NPB is not necessary.

I would propose 3 additional days and that is it. Let us get our stock back
in our stores to sell to someone else instead of being held at our will for 14
full days when 10 is plenty enough.

I can't be the only one that feels this way and 14 days might have worked
10-15 years ago when access to Smart-Phones wasn't as widespread, but these
days, you can't go far without having the ability to respond. Thanks

I completely agree, 7 days to open, 3 days to close, with or without a response.
If they have time to respond they can use that time to pay. If they can't
afford to pay, they shouldn't have made the purchase to start with.

Also, to those sellers who simply cancel and move on, you're leaving yourself
open to a retaliatory negative FB and enabling a NPB to continue doing the same
thing to other sellers. I have inventory held hostage right now for a NPB, despite
the fact his FB clearly shows this is a habit. If those sellers had used the
NPB process, as they should have, he would have been suspended and my inventory
would be free right now.

Darcy

Yes they can leave a neg, but 90% of the time it a a zero feedback buyer doing
this. When they get the negative back from the seller they will find themselves
at -1 and find it much more difficult to buy from anyone.

And I do agree that I am making the problem worse by not following the process,
but the process just plain sucks and I'm not wasting my time dealing with
it.

I wish I could figure out the instant payment for the single boxed sets I sell.
I know exactly how much they will weigh and how big the shipping box is for each
sealed set I have. But I am just too stupid to figure it out. I really wish it
would just calculate it for me like ebay does. I'm considering actually just
offering free shipping and having instant payment but I would be buried so far
in the listings I would never be seen.

Author:

mscheaf

Posted:

Sep 12, 2019 14:23

Subject:

Re: Change NPB Timeline

Viewed:

43 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, bje writes:

In Suggestions, mscheaf writes:

In Suggestions, bje writes:

In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:

In Suggestions, mscheaf writes:

In Suggestions, MidwestBrick writes:

This is exactly why I just cancel the order and never file NPB. It just takes
two long. 2 weeks is insane. It shouldn't take a week to pay. It shouldn't
take more than a few days to pay, if you don't have the money don't order
stuff, pretty simple. I know a lot of buyers are getting let off the hook by
this but I don't have the time or patience and I don't want my inventory
constantly tied up for a fortnight. I just cancel the order ban the buyer and
move on.

Once again a constant thread and everyone agrees with it except Bricklink for
some strange reason. Why should we have to let our inventory be tied up for two
weeks or longer when someone isn't going to pay for their order.

Bring the business side of the site into the 21st century, please - IC doesn't
work for all and for those that do not use it this is a real pain and totally
unnecessary.

And while we are at it, as a buyer, how come an NRS can tie up my buying money
for three weeks!? If a seller is not interested in selling, can I not please
just cancel the order myself after 3 days and go somewhere else? This is the
one part of Bricklink I have always found very unfair to buyers.

As a buyer you can file a paypal claim or a chargeback with your bank. Sellers
have no options except the npb system

?? If the seller has not invoiced, how do I have a claim? Because of exchange
controls I've had cancellations cost me 26% of the order value after three
weeks, with still no invoice from the seller concerned and no way to cancel and
move on except to wait it out.

Bear in mind also, BL is a contracts based systems, so even if a seller invoice
on day 20, he can still start an NPB after 7 days, irrespective of the time he
took to invoice or even if the buyer's circumstances have changed. Imagine
a wait of two weeks for an international order and exchange rate drop of 10%,
making the order 10% plus rate pips more expensive for the buyer. These are not
the most extreme examples.

Sellers also can cancel irrespective, buyers have to request a cancellation as
a favour from a seller who is not responding, go figure.

????If you haven't paid how is your money tied up for weeks?????????

Author:

mscheaf

Posted:

Sep 12, 2019 11:53

Subject:

Re: Change NPB Timeline

Viewed:

33 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Teup writes:

In Suggestions, MidwestBrick writes:

I don't know about other countries but over here 14 days is a widely accepted
standard term for invoices to be paid. Sometimes it's longer, but it's
never less than 14 days. I wouldn't find it professional if a company gave
me an invoice that had to be paid in less than 14 days.
Also, inventory moves slowly and parts typically take over a year to sell. I
don't see how a few extra days for a fraction of the inventory are so important.
Bricklink downtime should be a way bigger concern.

In USA bills due upon receipt are quite common, especially for medical bills.
Also, I often get bills in the mail for various things that are due in less than
2 weeks. Again, if you can't afford it, don't buy it. This isn't
water or medicine or food. It's a freaking luxury item toy.

Author:

mscheaf

Posted:

Sep 12, 2019 11:50

Subject:

Re: Change NPB Timeline

Viewed:

28 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, bje writes:

In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:

In Suggestions, mscheaf writes:

In Suggestions, MidwestBrick writes:

As a buyer you can file a paypal claim or a chargeback with your bank. Sellers
have no options except the npb system

Author:

mscheaf

Posted:

Sep 12, 2019 10:56

Subject:

Re: Change NPB Timeline

Viewed:

34 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, MidwestBrick writes:

Could you imagine
how frustrating it would be if you went on Amazon or Walmart to buy something
and were restricted in anyway?

You mean like when I go to Amazon and the products I want to buy are for Prime
members only. Not the sale price, mind you, the actual item. If you aren't
in prime you can't buy it for any price. Yeah it sucks bad and is one of
the reasons why Amazon is always the last place I check now after exhausting
literally all other options.

Author:

mscheaf

Posted:

Sep 12, 2019 10:52

Subject:

Re: Change NPB Timeline

Viewed:

41 times

Topic: