BrickLink Discussion Forum

I believe I read in this large forumpost and another one that decorated legs
and hips will not be in the catalog.

I think this is a shame and a shortcoming in the catalog.

A lot of us buy second hand minifigures etc.
All parts can be broken, scratched, have hairline cracks and legs are quite often
nibbled on and have bitemarks.

I think it would be silly to buy the whole assembly while for a fraction of the
price you might want to buy a left or right leg or a hip.

Not only would it be cheaper but this is also a chance to NOT throw away parts
that cannot be sold in a standard way, a way that a buyer can find.
If they are for sale a seller must use unfindable methods and they will probably
remain it store for decades.
A wast of time, effort, money and plastic.

Author:

tonnic

Posted:

Nov 11, 2018 14:33

Subject:

Re: Mark a buyer as "Refunded due to non-arrival"

Viewed:

49 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Gaston.La.Brick writes:

It happens a buyer says he didn't receive the items. When shipping using
an untracked medium, there is no way in verifying if the claim is legit. So I
usually make no fuss and either refund the total order amount (including shipping)
or re-send it (if I have the items in stock).

In these cases, I sometimes get the feeling the buyer might have done this before
and actually has received the items. But as I said: there is no proof, since
no tracking. Then I wonder: "has this buyer done this in the past before with
other sellers?". There is no way in knowing. And that's why I think a buyer
should get some sort of parameter/rating stating the number of orders that were
refunded due to non-arrival. It seems like a small feature. Not really that important,
but if it were there, it would give some extra statistics in the long run as
well.

Years and years ago I made a forumpost or answered one regarding this issue.
I even volunteered to put my name on the list too as I just prior to this post
had an order that did not arrive at my place.
It would be a good idea because there are some buyers that can misuse the system,
specially the Paypalsystem.
It is very rare but they are out there.

Just like you I always refund the buyer in the rare occassions it happens.

When it happens I always leave a positive feedback because my believe is that
a buyer should be trusted, I believe in most members of the Bricklinksystem.

I also make a note in the feedback like ‘sorry the order did not arrive at your
place’.
If all sellers would do something like this it might show if someone is more
than average victim of the postal service.

Author:

tonnic

Posted:

Oct 26, 2018 10:47

Subject:

Re: We have a new Catalog Admin!

Viewed:

46 times

Topic:

Catalog

A few days ago I already find out he is doing a great job!

Within’ a few moments after I posted a question regarding a change in inventory
regarding different headprints and new head studs he made a note on the sets
and 44 minifigs it was needed for.

So, yes, I am very glad he joined the Catmin team and he is already doing a great
job!

Thanks again and congratulations!

Author:

tonnic

Posted:

Oct 20, 2018 13:41

Subject:

Re: Alternate parts are what they are.

Viewed:

40 times

Topic:

Inventories

In Inventories, StormChaser writes:

In Inventories, tonnic writes:

Thanks already for your quick response!
Ton

You're welcome! I work for you, you know.

Well, you deserve a raise if I could afford it.
I never had a better employee, to be honest, I never ever had an employee but
otherwise you would be my employee of the month!

Minifigure inventories, by the way, can't include alternate parts. Okay,
so here is what I did:

1. Every affected minifigure in both sets now include inventory notes.
2. Both sets now include inventory notes.
3. Both sets now include the other heads as alternates. This is a new approach
which Marek and I are trying out.

This should correct all the issues you raised.

Three of the four possible variants have been confirmed to have appeared, so
the fourth variant (black eyebrows, blocked stud: 3626bpb0628) is the only one
I added without having confirmation that it appeared in the sets. I think the
likelihood that this variant would have appeared in these very popular sets at
some point in their production run was high enough to include it.

Thanks for taking care in such a short while!
I will go on putting them in my inventory tomorrow with an extra note and link
to the description.

Have a nice weekend!

Author:

tonnic

Posted:

Oct 20, 2018 12:48

Subject:

Re: Alternate parts are what they are.

Viewed:

27 times

Topic:

Inventories

In Inventories, StormChaser writes:

The big problem with E&D sets is that many of them have lengthy production runs,
resulting in all sorts of changes over time. It's not really practical to
create a new catalog entry for every change, so some compromises must be made
between an overstuffed catalog and an overstuffed inventory.

Give me a few minutes while I see what can be done with the inventories of these
two sets to make things better.

Thanks already for your quick response!
Ton

Author:

tonnic

Posted:

Oct 20, 2018 12:29

Subject:

Alternate parts are awful.

Viewed:

164 times

Topic:

Inventories

Status:

Open

I have 2 Lego education sets, 9348 and 9349.
In both sets the males have head 3626bpb0628 (head with black eyebrows) instead
of 3626bpb0121 (head with brown eyebrows).
In both sets the heads are not even with different eyebrows but also with stud
recessed instead of blocked open stud with triangle.

There is a note below the 22 minifigs of set 9348 regarding the two possible
different heads, not with the set 9349.
Also only a note below the list of 22 minifigs, NOT with the individual minifigs.
Eventhough the minifigs of set 9348 have a note regarding the black instead of
brown eyebrows I think this would not be enough, it does not show on a picture
or with the minifig inventory.
So it is very rudimentary in my opinion.

Although I have the minifigs in hands I do not have the possibility anymore to
upload the right minifigs due to the use of an iPad. Bricklink needs a code below
the minifig and parts, this cannot be done with an iPad.

Bricklink cadmin can make a note below set 9349 like with set 9348 but I think
this is not the real Bricklinkway.
If customers do not read the line below the 22 minifigs they might believe they
received the wrong minifig because inventory does not show the alternate head
and because the note regarding the different heads/eyebrows do not show at the
minifigure itself.

What can be done with this isue due to the lack of a laptop/computer?

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3626bpb0121&idColor=3#T=C&C=3
And
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/search.page?q=3626bpb0121#T=A

https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=9348-1&viewItemType=M
and
https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=9349-1&viewItemType=M

Author:

tonnic

Posted:

Nov 28, 2017 17:16

Subject:

Re: Force sellers to ship in boxes

Viewed:

71 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, MarieA writes:

In Suggestions, chetzler writes:

In Suggestions, MarieA writes:

In Suggestions, chetzler writes:

Perhaps because buyers aren't leaving appropriate negative feedback? If the
seller isn't getting complaints and/or public criticism about his shipping
practices, do they even know they're causing such issues?

Why should the buyers have to do any work? BrickLink should be forcing sellers
to operate within certain standards.

I know you're trying to make a point, and most people replying to your post
haven't understood that, but for what it's worth I think minimum standards
are a good thing. The question is where to draw the line?

You're absolutely right! And many people are drawing their lines too close
to my business. I take issue with suggestions that create additional burden
on me when I have done nothing wrong. I don't understand why people want
to impose broad rules on everyone when targeted rules on bad actors would be
more appropriate. Once this suggestion has played out, I'll be making a
more earnest suggestion to that effect.

An imaginative solution would be necessary in order for BL to *easily* deal with
the bad apples. The "three strikes and you're out" rule still leaves plenty
of scope for dishonest and disreputable sellers, as those sellers with 100s of
non-positive feedback testify.

A solution might be that not only 3 NSS or NPB strikes would mean ‘you’re out’
but something else too.
Maybe a certain percentage of negative feedback could mean someone is out of
business.
What percentage it could be is debatable but as you mentioned, there are a lot
of sellers and buyers with quite some non positive feedback. And if non of these
lead to 3 or more NSS or NPB they are still in the game.
I mention both sides, buyer and seller should be good members of Bricklink.

Are sellers required to list all items for sale against the correct part/set?
Are they required to list used items as used, and incomplete as incomplete?
Can they cut their prices in half and charge a 100% mark-up at checkout, thus
appearing higher in the listings price comparison pages and screwing over the
price guide?
Can they agree to falsify customs documents?
Are they expected to abide by local laws?

See? Minimum standards that BL already expects sellers to abide by. I think everyone
would agree that BL mandating sellers use a particular packaging method is a
step too far, thus negating your point, but surely everyone can agree that sellers
should be expected to pack orders appropriately?

Of course there should be minimum standards, but I haven't seen any policy
suggestions that are targeted towards basic standards. They are always oddly
specific and tailored to one user's bad experience.

Regards the parts you received that were damaged due to poor shipping. In the
EU (yeah, I know this gets on peoples tits sometimes), you would, in law, be
eligible for a full refund including the price of shipping. And if the seller
wanted the parts back, they'd have to pay for return shipping as well. Thus,
sellers are encouraged to pack appropriately in order to prevent such a financial
kick up the arse. I would imagine similar consumer laws exist across the world
to some extent.

Should BL force all business sellers to abide by consumer laws? No. But it is
a requirement of BL that all users abide by local laws, and once it's brought
to their attention that someone isn't doing so, there should be consequences
of that. It's impossible for BL to collate information on local laws and
act as judge and jury, but it's not impossible for them to collate statistics
on how often a member is reported for failing to abide by local laws, and take
action if/when patterns present themselves.

You and I have tangled a few times in the past but I suspect we'd probably
agree on a lot of points. I have very high standards about the way I operate
my business and I suspect you do too.

Author:

tonnic

Posted:

Nov 28, 2017 14:39

Subject:

Re: Force sellers to ship in boxes

Viewed:

49 times

Topic:

And PS,

Notify the seller, he is responsable for shipping and packaging.
In my opinion life is a learning curve, he needs to know not to ship these large
parts like this.

Author:

tonnic

Posted:

Nov 28, 2017 14:33

Subject:

Re: Force sellers to ship in boxes

Viewed:

70 times

Topic:

I would like to vote ‘yes’ but will vote ‘no’.

The smallest cardboard box/envelope I use is already 32,8 grams, the smallest
bubblewrap envelope is about 6 to 7 grams.

I believe USA shipping outside the USA or Northern America is already $10+ with
a decent amount of weight, weight enough to leave the seller room for a much
heavier cardboard envelope.

In the Netherlands I can ship a total weight below 20 grams international for
€1,33.
A cardboard envelope would give at least twice these shippingcosts, maybe even
triple.

Although I like and use cardboard envelopes for their protection and easier way
of packing/filling an envelope it would be too expensive for buyers with a low
value order to pay for this extra weight. They might walk away from these shippingcosts.

Saying this, I do believe your order was of enough weight to pack it into a cardboard
box and some extra ziplockbags.

Also it would never hurt Lego parts to use some extra lightweight bubblewrap
sheets.
And some parts or lage volume or large amount of parts should be packed much
better.
Use of extra bubblewrap, extra dividing parts by extra ziplockbags and maybe
some supporting tape to not let the ziplockbags slide over eachother will help
too.

Author:

tonnic

Posted:

Jul 24, 2017 22:46

Subject:

Re: Force sellers to show cart weight

Viewed:

42 times

Topic: