BrickLink Discussion Forum

In Problem, mfav writes:

In Problem, calsbricks writes:

I'll stick with analyst I cannot, for the life of me, understand why there
is such open hostility towards that.

Pretty much every pro football/TV/media talking head "analyst" in the US is an
example of why there's open hostility towards that term. Less accurate than
weathermen and infinitely more obnoxious.

interesting they are pundits over here.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 6, 2020 15:38

Subject:

Re: Analysts Ruin Everything

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Topic:

In Problem, yorbrick writes:

If it was the AFOL design program that got LEGO interested in the purchase of
BL then it might have done a huge amount for the stores here, at least in the
long term if not the short.

somehow I doubt it but the early press we have seen has reflect Ted a keenest
on it and stud.io

how that is going help existing stores is still very much up in the air

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 6, 2020 14:49

Subject:

Re: Analysts Ruin Everything

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Topic:

In Problem, mfav writes:

In Problem, StormChaser writes:

It's difficult to offend me, so do not trouble yourself in that regard.

Well, first this: http://v4ei.com/mini-fig-ure-outer/comics/index.php

Second:

Oh, good grief. You can't solve this problem alone, Robert. You can't.
You don't have the requisite tool set.

Bill suggests we get some help from people with the proper tool set to augment
the knowledge you have and you see fit to throw him under the bus.

Tell me the site has worked out all the problems you point out over the past
10 years. Has it? Those problems persist, don't they? Those problems do exist,
continue to not be resolved, and clearly you, we, the community, cannot solve
the problems by ourselves. If they could be resolved by us, then certainly they
would have been over a period of 20 years of community involvement.

Hell, in the thread about what's a tile and what's a plate and so on
you can't come to consensus. So let's have some rules. Because rules
fix everything. F--- all that. Redesign the database properly (this probably
does warrant the involvement of somebody other than you or the community) and
that argument of what something is and what something isn't becomes moot.

Really really wish you'd expend all this good energy you have in investigating
information studies instead of beating the dead horse. Again. Maybe you'd
feel better if Bill stopped using the word "analysts" and started using "information
design specialists".

Anyway, you keep beating your drum, and Bill keep beating his drum, and I'll
keep doing whatever the hell it is that I do.

hi mark

fancy titles like that usually cost more money

I'll stick with analyst I cannot, for the life of me,understand why there
is such open hostility towards that. it's as if what everyone wants - improvement
is just going to happen. we have had 6 years of very little, if any real improvements
(blamed on spaghetti code) and tangent developments like mosaick and the afol
design program which certainly helped the cash situation for BL but did little
for the stores.

I believe it is time to take this seriously now - back to the drawing board -
redesign, program, test, reprogram, test, etc. then document properly then launch.
in the interim period keep the existing site running, fix the bugs and grow the
site via Tlg marketing muscle

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 6, 2020 13:07

Subject:

Re: Analysts Ruin Everything

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Topic:

In Problem, WildBricks writes:

I'm not against volunteerism. I'm against working for free for a for-profit
company on something for which they then claim complete ownership.

I certainly understood your reasoning then and I think it is doubly true now
that the site is owned by a company with pockets as deep as TLG's. Some sort
of compensation for the insane # of hours and planning you were putting into
the site was absolutely a reasonable request.

I do not believe anyone disagrees with that. The problem was the former owner
did not agree and as it was his organisation he felt compelled to refuse the
reasonable request. TLG have much deeper pockets than JK and we hope a much better
idea of how to take the site forward. To that end, I think they should develop
a 'compensation method' for those that spend exhaustive hours helping
the community (and of course the site). Whether that is monetary or otherwise
depends on lots of factors. It should also not be something that can be easily
abused.

Good luck to them in working out a scheme for that, if they decide to.

They have a lot to learn about Bricklink, much more than is apparent and it will
take time for them to adjust, but they do have one thing in abundance that the
former owners did not and that is knowledge of the product. The site has always
had more than its fair share of Lego guru's and now with TLG joining the
foray we must be top of the tower and we as stores have to use that to help grow
our businesses.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 6, 2020 11:51

Subject:

Re: It's a funny old world we live in

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Topic:

In Problem, StarBrick writes:

Good thinking, but it feels like 'Kim' all over again.

Gosh I hope not.

I think it wiser to organise a round-table conference like was done before (US
and Europe round tables that was?
Where a delegation of the community collectively with Lego-corp would try to
outline a future for the site including all that has been posted/shared/invented/promised
in the last few years but never saw the light emerging at the end of that tunnel.
And based on that make a schedule with priorities and deadlines and thén get
people on it, managed by... Lego! They own this site and I am sure they will
make have a mucg better approach than 'Kim' had.

Don't disagree totally with that and it could work but it still needs analysts
to take the ideas that are agreed and turn them into design. It also needs experienced
people to sort out the elements of the site - we certainly do not need to redevelop
the 'wheel'. Most accounting systems will deal with the order processing
and billing system - but we need one that caters for linking and that should
come from very senior experienced people.

(Still not sure he saw this as just another investment vehicle instead of a truly
Lego addicted AFOL community with real treasures....)

The former we believe. He also tried to acquire several other Lego sites (and
did not succeed).

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 6, 2020 11:47

Subject:

Re: Analysts Ruin Everything

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Topic:

In Problem, SylvainLS writes:

In Problem, calsbricks writes:

[…]

Yeah. Maybe I should be gentler with them. I just have a fondness for getting
things done within, say, a given decade.

That isn't how it works normally. We have 2 senior analysts on board and
another contractor we can use when and if required. They are given jobs with
timelines and get paid based on that.

That’s because you’re a (relatively) small structure and have a direct, person-to-person
relation with your analysts.

Correct but my colleagues in this business also have the same results (some are
much larger than us and some are about the same size as us). I agree with you
on large corporates usage - that is strangely why some of us smaller dudes get
the business we do. I cannot reveal names here but our largest customer is a
worldwide organisation with an it department that is probably as large as Microsoft
but they came to us to develop their risk management system and have been using
it for 17 years now - quite happily (Yes and it works - not because we are risk
management people but because our analysts did a good job of listening and design)

TLC hires the likes of Accidenture and Debacle.
Look at the S@H website (and even, there you’re relatively lucky because you
speak English).

Everyone makes mistakes

I agree with you that TLG and their current software
site are in need of assistance and that is a worry - but then again what is worse
- no development, development by the seat of your trousers or by someone who
does not understand the application? I know where my choice would li and it isn't
with any of those 3.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 6, 2020 11:25

Subject:

Re: Analysts Ruin Everything

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Topic:

In Problem, StormChaser writes:

In Problem, bje writes:

I really hope you are not offended by this, but with the greatest of respect,
you yourself walked away from this very idea that it should be a community thing.

It's difficult to offend me, so do not trouble yourself in that regard.
My position on this is commonly misunderstood. I believe I came close to explaining
it well two years ago:

https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=1066807

I'm not against volunteerism. I'm against working for free for a for-profit
company on something for which they then claim complete ownership.

Again, it's like going to a major chain supermarket and putting in eight
hours a week stocking shelves for free. It's nonsensical unless you just
enjoy the feeling of being used. But there is a vast difference between that
and volunteering for Wikipedia, which is a non-profit.

I did not walk away from the idea that it should be a community thing.

I walked away from the idea that the work should be a community thing
and the profit and ownership should belong to those who weren't doing
the work.

I walked away from being used and my philosophy is very simple: either pay me
for the work I do or give me some ownership in the work I'm doing.

Analysts are paid to do a job

Yeah. Maybe I should be gentler with them. I just have a fondness for getting
things done within, say, a given decade.

That isn't how it works normally. We have 2 senior analysts on board and
another contractor we can use when and if required. They are given jobs with
timelines and get paid based on that. It is like everything in life really. Just
look back at the former owners initial letter to the community - filled with
promises that, quite honestly did not make it into reality, or at least most
of them. We, like many others would like to see progress here on the site. That
might have something to do with running a successful business or it might have
something to with something else. Volunteers to non-profit organisations often
do lots of unpaid work and that is normally for a cause and, as you say for a
non-profit organisation. When a business is either making money or increasing
the value of its assets for free there is something not quite right about that
and we agreed with you when you posted your 'goodbye thread'. But as
you say things move on - we want the site to improve (and so do lots and lots
of others) but it isn't going to happen by the seat of its trousers. It
needs thought, careful analysis and a plan that everyone can commit to (including
the members). We feel the only real way to achieve that is get the drawing board
out and get started. That needs 'experts' as well as analysts working
together to achieve what is the way forward.

I think every project you had in place to start, has been on hold for all of the time you've not been here.

I noticed that and I confess some disappointment.

And those were to a large extent also cosmetic

Possibly so. I was working on things that could be worked on within the limited
scope of my position. Obviously I couldn't force the site to implement new
functionality.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 6, 2020 11:09

Subject:

Re: It's a funny old world we live in

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Topic:

In Problem, EnchantedBricks writes:

In Problem, calsbricks writes:

For quite some time now there have been discussions on the forum about catalogue
changes as well as other areas of improvement to the site (Performance etc.).
There have been lots of different people involved and Russell has commented on
a couple of occasions but of course nothing is out in the open for plans at present
whilst the Lego takeover completes.

One thing I find strange and that is with all the talent (Programming wise) that
exists on the site, coupled with the technical Lego knowledge that also exists,
no one other than a couple of people have chimed in about getting some senior
analysts involved with a plan to redevelop. This is a very complex site but it
can be broken into segments |(elements) many of which can be handled by existing
software. For example the core processing behind the site is an order processing
system. We are aware of at least two products which could deal with that side
of it easily and have been built with 'linking in' other elements in
mind.

Inventory control, which in our opinion, is an essential element which has been
needed for some time is also out there and fits nicely into either of the two
above products. Again this needs an analyst to look at it and report to the decision
makers what needs to be done. It doesn't, with all due respect, require a
programmer to sit down and write the code first.

The catalogue is a different animal and needs a huge amount of thought. The data
currently held is priceless - not sure even Lego have it all, so that needs some
TLC and a significant amount of time spent to come up with the best way forward.
But, and it is a little word with a great big meaning here, the costs of doing
this are nowhere near outrageous and if libraries of code can be used e,g, order
processing, inventory control etc, then huge amounts of money and time can be
saved in achieving what is required.

The redevelopment of this site will not cost a fortune and it was well within
the means of the former owners to accomplish. They chose, for whatever reason,
not to do that - Lets hope that Lego will look at it differently.

Lets get behind hiring some senior analysts and get the project off the ground.
There was never a better time to start than now. With the strength of Lego and
its marketing machine behind the site who knows where we can go.

I support this message !!

Thank you for your support.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 6, 2020 10:57

Subject:

Re: Analysts Ruin Everything

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Topic:

In Problem, bje writes:

In Problem, StormChaser writes:

In Problem, calsbricks writes:

The catalogue is a different animal and needs a huge amount of thought.

Lets get behind hiring some senior analysts

I refuse to get behind, in front of, beside, over, or under this in any way until
someone can demonstrate that we, as a community, are incapable of catalog construction
and maintenance.

I really hope you are not offended by this, but with the greatest of respect,
you yourself walked away from this very idea that it should be a community thing.
I think every project you had in place to start, has been on hold for all of
the time you've not been here. And those were to a large extent also cosmetic
as it cannot change the true nature of the catalogue or inventory on here as
the one is maintained with a view to manage a library and the other is done with
a view to manage auction lots.

Analysts are paid to do a job, they have measurable outcomes against a set of
pre-defined goals and they can be held to account. Community based jobbing, on
the other hand, comes to a screeching halt everytime something happens which
somebody somewhere has got some or other issue with. I will not get behind a
community based improvement again until such time as as we can be sure that the
involvement of members do not lead to the improvements being derailed because
of issues beyond the control of the very members who are trying to make the changes.

For 20 years the community has managed the catalog without the help of senior
or junior or any other kinds of analysts. We haven't done things perfectly,
but we have the potential to do much better with member involvement and the support
of management.

I agree that members should be involved, but the process of how to manage that
involvement is what is important. The idea that the catalogue is the be all and
end all, is one side of the coin only. Sellers sell lots, and no inventory management
can be efficiently done on site for as long as the disconnect between the catalogue
and stores exist. For that to happen, it will require community involvement,
but more importantly, it would require a major rethink of how things are done
from the ground up - which is precisely why measurable and responsible management
of input is required, thus analysts.

Thanks Jean - couldn't have put it better myself.

BTW did you see the article 62bricks published the other day about the use of
My Pictures in your terms page. It works and I will be improving mine shortly.

https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=1173080

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 6, 2020 10:27

Subject:

Re: Analysts Ruin Everything

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Topic:

In Problem, StormChaser writes:

In Problem, calsbricks writes:

The catalogue is a different animal and needs a huge amount of thought.

Lets get behind hiring some senior analysts

I refuse to get behind, in front of, beside, over, or under this in any way until
someone can demonstrate that we, as a community, are incapable of catalog construction
and maintenance.

For 20 years the community has managed the catalog without the help of senior
or junior or any other kinds of analysts. We haven't done things perfectly,
but we have the potential to do much better with member involvement and the support
of management.

I am somewhat surprised at your comments. You have also misinterpreted them no
one least of all us is suggesting that we need analysts to get into the catalogue
- that is a community thing and always will be. We have suggested analysts are
required to re-de4sign the site, which includes the catalogue. Remember the catalogue
is two components - software and data. The data comes from the community - the
software comes from analysts and then programmers.

When you were a catadmin you had to ask the bl development team for software
changes to the catalogue - that was to9tally different than making suggestions
as to how the catalogue should be designed.

Look at it another way. If you were to sit down with an analyst and explain how
the catalogue worked and where it needed improvements and they then went away
and came back with a design to make it work that way, they would have done their
job and you as one of the 'experts' in the catalogue would have done
your job by providing them with the information they need to put together a proper
design.

I strongly believe I am asking for them to get involved in technical discussions
about the catalogue - I am not and that is not the job of an analyst - they are
here to listen to how things are supposed to work and then come back with suggestions
as to how to achieve that.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 6, 2020 10:04

Subject:

It's a funny old world we live in

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Topic:

Status:

Open

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 3, 2020 13:06

Subject:

Re: Show item quantity on catalog item page!

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Topic:

Suggestions

In Suggestions, mfav writes:

This isn't it?

Hi Mark

Not sure which is the answer. If he goes to settings as I implied he will have
the ability to change the no of lots to no of items, but doing it as you have
shown shows both the lots and then below but I am not an 'ex' Pert we
will let him choose.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 3, 2020 12:22

Subject:

Re: Show item quantity on catalog item page!

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Topic:

Suggestions

In Suggestions, metropolis1927 writes:

Hello
Can you put somewhere quantity (Qty), shown on item search page, on catalog item
page?! See pictures.
That would be very useful!
Thank you.
Cheers,
Marko

Already exists - it is a setting here

https://www.bricklink.com/catalogOptions.asp?viewFrom=P

Show no of items by No items of r lots.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 2, 2020 23:21

Subject:

Re: Experts

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Topic:

http://v4ei.com/mini-fig-ure-outer/comics/index.php

In General, Adjour writes:

In General, mfav writes:

The use of the sig figs make me laugh every time.

Looks like you have quite a collection now.

That and bugs.

Far too many of both

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jan 2, 2020 22:49

Subject:

Re: Experts

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Topic:

http://v4ei.com/mini-fig-ure-outer/comics/index.php

In General, mfav writes:

Hmmm = Good laugh at this time of the morning.

Happy New Year Mark.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Dec 31, 2019 13:22

Subject:

Re: hope for the new year

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Topic:

In General, mfav writes:

In General, calsbricks writes:

BYW - why would I want to sign up to the experts ..... system. It is very rare
that BL listen to anyone on the forum me least of all.

Well...they don't tell you anything the most often.

Truer than you know. I even get the odd private message telling me nothing

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Dec 31, 2019 12:57

Subject:

Re: hope for the new year

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Topic:

http://v4ei.com/mini-fig-ure-outer/comics/index.php

In General, mfav writes:

Thanks Mark - a good laught at this time of the year is always handy.

BYW - why would I want to sign up to the experts ..... system. It is very rare
that BL listen to anyone on the forum me least of all.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Dec 30, 2019 06:05

Subject:

Re: Don't set "Ready" as default order status.

Viewed:

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Topic:

Suggestions

In Suggestions, Gaston.La.Brick writes:

After a user places an order, it gets the default status "Ready".*
This confuses buyers: they think the order was processed and is ready for shipping.
I would like to suggest setting the default order status always to "Pending".

*(Unless they pay at once using BL, it is set to "Paid" automatically. I can't
set it to that status manually. This is confusing since there is a payment status
as well. So that's double info and I would remove that possible value for
the status.)

Hi there

Don't use IC so do not have this problem . but I think it is worth noting
that lots of sellers use the status indicator for different situations.

For example - in our store we see Pending as order placed. We change that status
to Processing when we pick the order up and send out our acknowledgement to the
buyer. When the order is picked and pre-packaged the status changes to ready,
and when it is invoiced it goes to packed. We don't change it to paid - we
ship within 24 hours of being paid and change it then to shipped. So paid is
not something we use and we change the status at various times throughout the
process to match our processes. That seems to work well for us but it probably
would not suit others. Just depends on whether you use IC or bother with the
status at all. I don't believe Bricklink should get involved with changing
the status automatically in most cases - that should be left to the stores and
when appropriate the buyers.

Bill @ Calsbricks

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Dec 22, 2019 04:53

Subject:

Re: Guardian " lego take ovrer BL"

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Topic:

In General, calebfishn writes:

Whenever I read the original announcements, I am still struck by the very miniscule
amount said about Bricklink as a marketplace. Although we, as sellers are very
conscious of the selling aspect of Bricklink, the announcement text indicates
that Lego's motivation is about fan community and interaction. I take them

at their word in that regard.

And that was from both sides - well spotted. It seems the focus is to be on AFOL
Designer program (which could be a minefield

The trend toward customer interaction, user experience, and related brand-consumer
relationship is growing across a number of industries, because companies see
value in it. Based on that, we should not assume that profit arising from Bricklink
seller's fees is of key importance to Lego's business decision to buy
Bricklink. It may even be peripheral.

There are quit4e a few of us who believe Bricklink did not reach profitability
(overall)but their accounts are buried in amongst the groups so we will never
really know. It is perhaps a bit of a moot point as they have been sold now and
the site is now part of Lego. They are still a family owned business so it will
not really be possible to determine what contribution they will be making.

My suspicion is that Lego came into the deal with a clear idea of how Bricklink
would fit within their strategies for fan based customer brand loyalty and all
that, but probably have a much fuzzier idea of what to do with the actual marketplace
and its sellers. And, I think it will take them a while before they learn enough
about the marketplace to decide what to do about it, either positively, or negatively.
This suggests to me that dreams of Lego investing in enhancements to sellers
experience are fanciful.

You may be closer to reality than you think. With the mountain of data they now
own and their ability to 'data mine' it lots of things cvould happen,
none of which we should be discussing here.

Time will tell and by this time next year a heck of a lot more will be known.
Brickowl could grow substantially, a new site could spring up or all will be
well under the Lego flag.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Dec 21, 2019 13:45

Subject:

Re: Guardian " lego take ovrer BL"

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Topic:

In General, StormChaser writes:

In General, calsbricks writes:

41% said they were undecided, 24% were negative and 35% were positive. That is
from 60+ stores - the majority of whom are in the USA.

I've gone through every response to the original announcement (except for
a couple that just came in during the past few minutes whilst I was working)
and here's my take on the positions expressed.

I tried to be completely unbiased and, for the sake of data transparency, am
including my data. It shows that, even though a range of opinions exist, the
majority opinion was negative. This is also what the news article reported.

Interesting - thanks for taking the time to do that. The trouble is there were
multiple threads about it and not everyone commented in each thread. In addition
only a couple of our forum people are on there (The majority of them do not use
this forum and as the stats on the forum prove that has always been the case
) But still it is a representation and that adds to the flavour. I wonder what
Lego feel about all this - we were supposed to have AMA sessions but that hasn't
transpired yet.

Almost like politics - lots of promises but not much in the way of realties.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Dec 21, 2019 12:22

Subject:

Re: Guardian " lego take ovrer BL"

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Topic:

http://v4ei.com/mini-fig-ure-outer/comics/index.php

In General, mfav writes:

I somehow knew you would get in on this.

By the wsay why can't I find your configurator anymore?

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Dec 21, 2019 12:16

Subject:

Re: Guardian " lego take ovrer BL"

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Topic:

In General, StormChaser writes:

In General, calsbricks writes:

the peddlers of bad news far outweigh the good news people.

Any evidence to support this claim, or just a personal opinion based on your
experience with news media?

None to hand but I am quite confident if it were that would be the case.

The article in question
takes a relatively downcast view of the takeover of Bricklink by Lego.

The reaction I've personally seen from the community has definitely trended
toward negativity (which, frankly, surprised me). A quote from the article:

Not really sure why it surprised you. As you are very well aware (More than most
of us) the last takeover didn't work out the way we all wanted it to.

"Adam White, editor of the Bricksfanz site, said fans’ reaction had been mostly
negative."

Is it possible that the reporter is unfamiliar with the adult LEGO fan community
and this is the impression received from reading what's out there? How much
of what has been posted right here in the BrickLink forums has been negative?

Highly - that is what we meant about taking snippets and turning that into doom
and gloom. On our own forum site the view of the majority of stores that responded
was 'undecided' - need to wait and see and that is our view as well.
It may not turn out the way we hope and then again it might surprise all of us.
But we won't know that for a while yet.

I haven't done any serious research on the overall trend of the reactions
to the sale of the site, but it is entirely within the realm of truth to see
the reactions as more negative than positive. An outlook I don't share,
by the way.

I think all of us are aware of that being your thoughts.

nor is it correct to take
things and make up stories about them when you have no idea what is really going
on.

Did we read the same article?

I am sure we did - not sure your question there,. The author took quotes from
various sites and wrote a doom and gloom article, almost completely ignoring
the Lego statements on the subject. We certainly did read the same article.

The writer in the Guardian (A relatively well thought of paper in the UK)
has taken a few quips from others and turned it into a doom and gloom article
and yet he knows less than we do about it.

She. Zoe Wood was the reporter. Could the story have been researched better?
Yes. Was the Guardian willing to pay for that kind of research for a low-priority
story like this? Probably not.

Apologies - She. They waited nearly a month before this article so the answer
is no and obviously the ran out of things to put in the paper , hence this article.

Still, the general feeling I've gotten from the community seems fairly in
line with what was reported in the article. If you have hard data to prove your
point that the community is collectively rather complacent and has taken a let's-wait-and-see
approach to the sale, then I'd like to see that data.

We do have our data from our site but only the results are available here not
the raw data.

41% said they were undecided, 24% were negative and 35% were positive. That is
from 60+ stores - the majority of whom are in the USA.

Time will tell on all of this and people have to have patience to see what the
new owners intend to do. Then it will be time to decide what to do.

You opinion. I share that opinion and additionally have a positive view of the
sale. But the way we look at things is not, from what I've seen, the majority
viewpoint.

Not from the Bricklink forum posters it isn't. Hence why we would like a
poll capability here on this forum where people can vote in anonymity. But until
and unless Lego look at the redevelopment of the site, that isn't going to
happen.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Dec 21, 2019 11:46

Subject:

Re: Guardian " lego take ovrer BL"

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48 times

Topic:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/dec/20/lego-accused-of-muscling-in-on-fans-after-bricklink-takeover

In General, legoman77 writes:

In General, Teup writes:

In General, stacey_love writes:

My goodness why the focus on all de doom thinkers, now it sounds like everyone
assumes it will be terrible. That's neither correct, nor to our advantage.
I thought the replies to the news were really pretty balanced. We've seen
a whole range of different opinions and expectations. But I guess that's
how media work.

Every sale or transfer of this site has shown a decline in the functionality
of BrickLink. I do not see that there will be an improvement and that Lego will
consider this site a money making proposition. If they did not think that, they
would not have bought it. Lego, after all, is for profit. That is their bottom
line. So far they have kicked off Brickarms. And yes, I am in the doom column
and there is nothing wrong. I hope that I am wrong.
I see the 3% fee going away. I see something more like ebay feedback or the
feedback being eliminated. I see Lego making sellers not undercut the cost of
bricks that they sell in their Shop at Home site. I also see not allowing current
sets to be sold on Bricklink. At one time they gave Peeron permission to post
the instructions, except for the current and I believe the past years. So they
could do that with new sets. Lego is all about profit. They are not Lego enthusiasts
unless it is about sales.
I hope that I am wrong.

John P

I think it is fair to say JOhn that we all hope you are wrong

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Dec 21, 2019 11:28

Subject:

Re: Guardian " lego take ovrer BL"

Viewed:

43 times

Topic:

In General, StormChaser writes:

In General, Pippyblocks writes:

Since when have the media ever spread good news, they focus on the negative,
its what sells and allows 'them' to try and brainwash the masses.

What I saw below is not about politics.

I find it deeply disheartening to watch the slow spread of distrust and dislike
for news media and the critically important work they perform.

Journalists around the world are tortured, imprisoned, and murdered every year
for bringing the truth to light. Don't allow the missteps, greed, and biases
of some news outlets to inform your opinion of all media.

I don't believe we do. But it is the sensationalists that sell stories and
the peddlers of bad news far outweigh the good news people. The article in question
takes a relatively downcast view of the takeover of Bricklink by Lego. We all
will make up our own minds on it after it has had time to settle in and we understand
what is happening. Yes there are journalists who go through the pains you have
mentioned as well as their families. That is not right nor is it correct to take
things and make up stories about them when you have no idea what is really going
on. The writer in the Guardian (A relatively well thought of paper in the UK)
has taken a few quips from others and turned it into a doom and gloom article
and yet he knows less than we do about it.

Time will tell on all of this and people have to have patience to see what the
new owners intend to do. Then it will be time to decide what to do.

The other thread about 'here's a thought) showed that over 100 store
owners have invested well in excess of what it would cost to redevelop this site
- there is food for thought.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Dec 21, 2019 10:37

Subject:

Re: Guardian " lego take ovrer BL"

Viewed:

70 times

Topic: