BrickLink Discussion Forum

In Suggestions, BrickItYourself writes:

There was a thread earlier in the week about crazy prices on parts and how to
report them.

While there is no way to report things like this (because it isn't an actual
offense), I am suggesting that something is done about price guide manipulation.
My little experiment on taking one piece and setting it to an astronomically
high price and letting the messages flow in was quite helpful to gain insight
on ways that this ACTUALLY takes a toll on buyers and sellers.

Several things that were pointed out:

It only changes the ASKING price, not the price that this has actually sold for.

It really skews part out values (on asking price)

It causes more work for sellers who use the asking price to determine prices
for their actual part outs

There were many other issues pointed out, but they all had to do with ASKING
price, not SOLD price, which begs the question, what if some would have bought
this part from me and toyed around and stretched out the NPB (of course if they
paid I would go retire

) I would have a headache from the fees bill on May
1.

That being said, nothing good comes out of such listings. They are either mistakes
that cause other headaches, intentional for some other reason to not sell that
part at that price.

So, my suggestion is that we ask bricklink to use clause 9 of the TOS for people
that are abusing the price catalog for any reason other than to legitimately
sell the listed item.

"9. Breach:
We reserve the right to terminate your membership, delete all of your data and
deny you access to any or all of your data stored at BrickLink.com if you breach
this Agreement or if we are unable to verify or authenticate any information
you provide to us. We also reserve the right to terminate your membership, delete
all of your data and deny you access to any or all of the site's features
at any time for any reason without prior notice."

This includes the people that have absurd prices to attract people to their store
to see custom items and even using the superlot function of listing popular minifigs
in large batches to draw attention to this.

Yes, I was guilty of using the superlot feature to draw people to my store, looking
back on this, I do see it as wrong.

I also apologize for listing a 2x4 dbg plate for just under $2,000,000.00 this
weekend.

Thanks,

Ken

This is a major issue of sellers relying on the BrickLink Price Guide as their
pricing source. What prevents a random person/kid from listing a dozens of common
parts for $1,000,000 each and creating other account to buy them? Never pays
fees, 1000s of sellers are doomed for months, no one gets punished besides the
"junk" account.

Look. BrickLink is great, but the fact that so many sellers rely on a platform
they do not control is extremely dangerous.
~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Aug 4, 2015 14:45

Subject:

Re: Remove from Catalog Guidelines

Viewed:

54 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, tEoS writes:

Please consider removing this from the catalog guidelines:

"Items that should not be added to the catalog:
Items which you do not possess or have physical proof of - Do not submit items
which are rumored to exist or items which are being produced but have not yet
been released, even if images are available. This also applies to undecorated
versions of parts that are normally only decorated. Submissions made too far
in advance of expected or reported release are subject to summary rejection.
Things such as LEGO Dealer Catalogs, which provide information to retailers several
months before item release, do not necessarily provide admissible evidence of
production. Also, do not submit items which have been verified as never released,
even if a picture is available."

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?itemStatus=N

Delete all of those or remove the rule if I read that correctly?

~JU

It is not enforced. The only thing that happens is people are rewarded for breaking
the rules, which goes against all logic when you want to enforce some, but not
all. If you don't wish to remove it, then discontinue giving credit to these
people and the bulk of the submissions will stop. Rewarding bad behavior only
allows it to continue.

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Jul 25, 2015 22:23

Subject:

Re: Inventory Change Request for Minifig col056

Viewed:

24 times

Topic:

Inventories Requests

In Inventories Requests, RedFiveKBS writes:

Please make changes to the following inventory:

Minifig No: col056 Name: Hockey Player, Series 4 (Minifigure Only without Stand and Accessories)

col056 (Inv) Hockey Player, Series 4 (Minifigure Only without Stand and Accessories)
Minifigures: Collectible Minifigures: Series 4 Minifigures

* Add 1 Part 93559 White Minifig, Utensil Hockey Stick

This is a minifigure entry. Not a set. Therefore accessories are denied for minifigs.

Please discard this inventory change.
~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Jun 26, 2015 13:18

Subject:

Coupon Code suggestion

Viewed:

75 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Vote:

[Yes|No]

There is one post about this from almost 5 years ago, but I feel like it should
be brought up again. http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=476836

The current coupon system is fantastic. It prevents spamming coupons everywhere.
However, sellers need a way to send out coupons to customers who want
discounts. Like a coupon code.

Seller can create a coupon code
Set limitations, expiration date, and other information.
Then the seller can send out the coupon on their social media or other mass communication
services to draw in customers. Current "codes" are based on the trustworthiness
of a seller instead of a system code. This code could still not be mass messaged
to BL members because the system is only generating a store specific code and
not a coupon for a specific person.

Thoughts?
~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Mar 26, 2015 13:29

Subject:

Re: Inventory Change Request for Set 30271-1

Viewed:

24 times

Topic:

Inventories Requests

In Inventories Requests, randyf writes:

Please make changes to the following inventory:

30271-1 (Inv) Mikey's Mini-Shellraiser polybag
43 Parts, 1 Minifigure, 2014
Sets: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

* Delete 1 Part 3794 Red Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with 1 Stud (Jumper) (match ID 1)
* Delete 2 Part 3794 Yellow Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with 1 Stud (Jumper) (match ID 2)
* Change 1 Part Red 3794b Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with 1 Stud with Groove (Jumper) {Alternate to Regular} {match ID 1 to 0}
* Change 2 Part Yellow 3794b Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with 1 Stud with Groove (Jumper) {Alternate to Regular} {match ID 2 to 0}

Comments from Submitter:
This inventory was submitted originally from "Instructions". My set only has the jumpers with grooves, and the jumpers with grooves were added as alternates after the set was inventoried. Therefore, I think this set should only list the jumpers with grooves unless someone finds a set later that has the old ones to add back as alternates.

My copies also included jumpers with grooves.
~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Mar 25, 2015 17:26

Subject:

Re: Handling Minimum S&H charges in new estimator

Viewed:

45 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, dmoser22 writes:

I currently have a $3.00 minimum charge for S&H. In my terms, I state that S&H
can include up to $1 of additional charges to cover shipping materials. In practice,
on orders where actual postage is above $2.50 or so, I just round up the S&H
charge to some multiple of $0.25. This has been working fine; no complaints
from customers, and I still get packaging and other miscellaneous costs covered
without having to have a minimum buy.

In the new estimator, I can simulate this in a rate table by setting the first
few ounces to $3 and then bumping the amount up as the actual postage rises.
Ideally, though, I'd prefer to have a flat $.50 "other charge", but still
maintain the $3 minimum.

So my table might look like:

______________3 oz___4 oz___5 oz___6 oz___7 oz___8 oz___9 oz
____Total______3.00___3.00___3.00___3.00___3.00___3.09___3.26

This is how you should do it

In order to do that, I'd need to be able to set the Other Charge amount along
with the postage for each weight.

Does anyone else see value in that? Is there already a way to do it and I just
missed it?

Thanks,

-djm

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Mar 22, 2015 23:39

Subject:

Search inventory remarks in top search bar

Viewed:

114 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Vote:

[Yes|No]

I don't think it would be too complicated to implement, even though the code
is outdated, a search feature for when I search

0142* or 142* on the top search bar (with the drop down on My Inventory) to be
able to bring up remarks. It gets annoying having to go to the inventory tab,
check the dot, then type it in every time. I know remarks are inefficient, but
I need them for my current storage system.
~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Feb 18, 2015 17:14

Subject:

Re: address / name normalized form as standard

Viewed:

60 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, WoutR writes:

In Suggestions, steffen89 writes:

Hi

it would be nice if every user would have his address and name as a normalized
form.
Especially in aspect to the use of the API to work with the address for shipping
and invoice.

No.
The required format is different in every country.

Although true, it would be nice to have it formatted like this

Name:
Address/Address Line 1:
Address Line 2 (If applicable):
City:
State/Province/whatever is applicable:
Postal/Zip code:
Country:

And actually have the words above in the applicable language. Sorry, but some
address are too darn confusing just to "guess" and messaging a customer shouldn't
be needed.

~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Feb 17, 2015 18:18

Subject:

Re: Please allow status of packed to still show

Viewed:

40 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, AlltRightBricks writes:

It would be nice to be able to set an order to packed, and have the order still
show under my orders yet to be invoiced.

I don't do this very often, just when I have an order I need to tape up or
a mailer I need to seal when I finish pulling it. I just threw myself for a loop
when I pulled the order, set it to packed, came back a few minutes later to send
the invoice, and saw that it no longer showed in my uninvoiced orders, and I'm
thinking "I know I didn't send that invoice--or did I?" (It's been
one of those days). Good thing I checked or I might have been waiting on payment
for awhile.

Thanks,
Katie

Voted no as I use this status a LOT for orders that are paid..

~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Feb 8, 2015 18:53

Subject:

Re: Time to address seller quality issues

Viewed:

61 times

Topic:

This all seems to me to built on some sort of weird assumption that small stores
"care more about Lego" or are "bigger fans" of Lego and those assumptions make
no sense at all. There may be just as many small sellers "in it for the money"...I
don't see how anyone would know that one way or the other. As I said in
a recent post about that issue, many of the large stores have contributed far
more to the BL site than many of the small stores, which seems to go against
the claims that large stores don't care.

Not really going to add much, but I know some mega stores (500,000 and even in
the millions of items) that build some fantastic MOCs. This guy isn't in
that big of range yet, but he still builds awesome stuff with a pretty significant
store (With 43 feedback this week!)
http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=theHellmouth

(He is not a close friend nor did he ask me to advertise.)
~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Feb 5, 2015 12:11

Subject:

Re: Sort by Last 6 Months Sales

Viewed:

27 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, speshy writes:

I would like to suggest the "Sort by" function add "Last 6 Months Sales" as an
option. This could be used when looking at a Wanted List, a set's Inventory,
and anywhere else with a Sort By feature (applicable to sets & parts).

I think it would be very helpful to arrange items on my Wanted List by Last 6
Months Sales averages, or to see which items in a ses I am parting out are most
expensive, without doing exhaustive research.

Perhaps 3rd party software has these capabilities, but I'm not interested
in those.

Thanks,

K

PS - I don't know if this has been discussed before (A quick forum search
reveals nothing). Sorry if it's been brought up already.

Been brought up, but probably stuck in the lost world of suggestions....

Can't
wait till we see some small features like this added.

~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Jan 12, 2015 15:35

Subject:

Re: Inventories to show unique items

Viewed:

40 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, LordSkylark writes:

In Suggestions, superchicken77 writes:

I don't know if this is already available but when I look at an inventory,
I'd like to see which parts are unique to that set. For example, UCS Falcon
(since it's everyone's favourite set to reference) has boat mast riggings
in LBG and they only appear in that set. It would be helpful when trying to part
together a set to know which pieces will be harder to find.

47996 Boat, Mast Rigging Long 28 x 3.5
Parts: Boat

I agree with the suggestion.

However, that part is only a temporary unique part.
It appears in some Serious Play set that has never been inventoried.

Andy

No it doesn't. The serious play images are wrong...

~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Jan 12, 2015 15:08

Subject:

Re: Inventories to show unique items

Viewed:

32 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, superchicken77 writes:

47996 Boat, Mast Rigging Long 28 x 3.5
Parts: Boat

I have wanted this for years... Another great suggestion that will pile up...
~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Jan 9, 2015 15:00

Subject:

Shipping Options with Same Name

Viewed:

80 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Vote:

[Yes|No]

Another suggestion that probably won't get read, but shouldn't be too
hard to implement.

For shipping options I would like to have 2 with the same name, 1 for international
and 1 for domestic, but different notes about each method.

Just would be nice.
~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Dec 18, 2014 12:15

Subject:

Re: A simple sugestion

Viewed:

54 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, A2ZBricks writes:

In Suggestions, jamesuniverse writes:

Dear BrickLink,

Please read the suggestions and take action.

The end
~JU
http://www.brickhack.com

You should try to write the explanation better. You have a few fragments and
incoherent statements in there, especially if it's supposed to be a instructional
blog.

If you are talking about my blog, I am still learning. I'm novice in the
blogging area, but I am trying. If you find errors, I would love to see! I try
to fix the ones I notice. I simply am just trying to help out the community.

~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Dec 18, 2014 09:11

Subject:

A simple sugestion

Viewed:

298 times

Topic:

Status:

Discarded

Dear BrickLink,

Please read the suggestions and take action.

The end
~JU
http://www.brickhack.com

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Dec 14, 2014 18:48

Subject:

Inventory Change Request for Set 970665-1

Viewed:

37 times

Topic:

Inventories Requests (Entry)

Status:

Open

Please make changes to the following inventory:

970665-1 (Inv) Universal Joints (Pack of 10)
10 Parts, 2002
Sets: Educational & Dacta: Service Packs: Technic

* Add 10 Part 9244 Light Bluish Gray Technic, Universal Joint 4L (Alternate) (match ID 2)
* Change 10 Part Light Gray 9244 Technic, Universal Joint 4L {match ID 0 to 1}

Comments from Submitter:
http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=874002

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Nov 19, 2014 20:35

Subject:

Re: Make the price guide searchable.

Viewed:

47 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, picabo writes:

In Suggestions, jamesuniverse writes:

So what if we could sort by average price? Or what parts are sold often in quantity?
Or the many other things you could search for...

Just an idea that probably won't be implemented.
~JU

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogStats.asp

Pam

This is a very limited search and doesn't show many details, average prices,
or even many parts per search.

~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Nov 19, 2014 20:31

Subject:

Make the price guide searchable.

Viewed:

121 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Vote:

[Yes|No]

So what if we could sort by average price? Or what parts are sold often in quantity?
Or the many other things you could search for...

Just an idea that probably won't be implemented.
~JU

Author:

jamesuniverse

Posted:

Nov 8, 2014 10:38

Subject:

Re: Inventory Change Request for Set 79104-1

Viewed:

28 times

Topic:

Inventories Requests