BrickLink Discussion Forum

This has been a most instructive thread. I see my "contact" messages
only go back one month, which to me means, if a message is about an order, it's
very important that it is attached to that order, because after one month, it
will be gone otherwise.

I've made sure messages go to my email as well, which I wasn't doing
to prevent myself replying to them by email.

THank you so much for replying Sylvain

In Selling, SylvainLS writes:

In Selling, RubyGirl writes:

Gosh thank you. I am confused though, if messages are purged after one month,
how does it make sense for messages to be used as evidence in the case of a dispute?

It’s “all other messages are purged after 1 month.” The messages attached
to an order are only purged when the order is purged. So they are still visible
when there’s a dispute.

Also, I only quoted a small part of the help page.

First, there’s a difference between “deleted” and “purged.” “Deleted” means
you’re not seeing it anymore on your My Messages page, but it’s still in the
database. “Purged” means it’s entirely removed from the database.

It seems to work this way:
— If a message is still linked somewhere (in the recipient’s inbox, or in the
details of an order), then it’s not purged.
— If there’s no link any more, the message is purged.

So, if you deleted your order messages and the order is purged, then the messages
are purged too. But if you didn’t delete them, the messages should still be
there and visible in your My Messages, even if the order is purged.

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 20, 2024 16:53

Subject:

Re: Messages about orders

Viewed:

40 times

Topic:

Gosh thank you. I am confused though, if messages are purged after one month,
how does it make sense for messages to be used as evidence in the case of a dispute?

In Selling, SylvainLS writes:

In Selling, RubyGirl writes:

Hi Everyone
When orders are purged, are messages about them also deleted? Thanks for reading

“Messages regarding orders are purged when the order is purged. All other messages
are purged after 1 month.”
— https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=125

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 20, 2024 15:45

Subject:

Re: Sales to new members

Viewed:

50 times

Topic:

That sounds very uncomfortable. In my terms I put "In unusual circumstances
I reserve the right to cancel an order" or words to that effect, but I don't
think you can guarantee
that BL will remove any bad feedback you get as a result.

I wonder what would happen if you said in your terms that you don't sell
to new memebers with no feedback? Then any order you get would be "against
your terms" and might then be removed if you asked.

In Selling, BigBrickLab writes:

I know that you can choose not to sell to members with no feedback. I do sell
to new members but I was wondering if anyone has set up a dollar limit on what
a new member can purchase. I have someone asking about a $900 set as a new member
and I feel reluctant to move forward with a purchase that large to someone with
no buyer feedback. What are your thoughts?

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 20, 2024 15:41

Subject:

Messages about orders

Viewed:

132 times

Topic:

Hi Everyone
When orders are purged, are messages about them also deleted? Thanks for reading

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 14, 2024 21:43

Subject:

Re: Using BL messages when buyers won't

Viewed:

47 times

Topic:

That is alarming. I went a week or two without getting order emails but it cleared
up as the others promised it would.

In Selling, Ziegelmeister writes:

In Selling, RubyGirl writes:

Hi I have had a few problems lately with buyers and have finally seen the sense
of using BL messages for all communications so there is a readable record, but
cannot get my buyers to cooperate or, seemingly, withhold my email address. How
does everyone handle this?

I thought it was just me... This past week barely anyone has been "reading"
their messages in BL. I don't know if they're getting a copy to their
email either. The bottom one was finally read today.

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 14, 2024 21:41

Subject:

Re: Using BL messages when buyers won't

Viewed:

32 times

Topic:

I know buyers don't read terms or anything else, but I think the idea of
having it in there is still valid because if there is a dispute, the buyer cannot
force you to go against the terms you have written. It doesn't matter that
they have not read them.

I agree that you can't change much in advance.

In 9 years I have actually needed to use email for a buyer not one time.

I don't need to report that particular buyer because he slipped up and gave
me abusive feedback which has now been deleted, so they know all they need to
know already.

Thanks again for the support

In Selling, 1001bricks writes:

In Selling, wildchicken13 writes:

Please do not email me. If you need to contact me, please use the BrickLink
message system.

I don't like this idea, as:

* 99% of Buyers don't read anything, especially Terms - or Banner, or whatever
(I've discounts written anywhere, but sill people ask me "do you have
discounts?" )

* you may need to use e-mail like for receiving pics (ex: damaged part) or send
them, and using wetransfer, Imgur or such is a pain.

RubyGirl could also use a "disposable" e-mail, like ry1445@whatever.com,
and if it becomes really toxic, simply open a new ry2689@whatever.com (and put
the old one in auto-reply or destroy it - after having transfered emails maybe),
etc

In any case, in case of any personal pressure DO report the member to BrickLink,
at least!
Provide PDF's of e-mails for example.

You never know, they may already been reported, so if you're a couple or
more it'll have a huge weight IMO.

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 14, 2024 20:31

Subject:

Re: Using BL messages when buyers won't

Viewed:

31 times

Topic:

Thank you so much, I like this advice.

In Selling, wildchicken13 writes:

In Selling, RubyGirl writes:

If you have a strong preference for communicating by BrickLink message, then
you may want to put that in your store terms and conditions somewhere. For example:

Please do not email me. If you need to contact me, please use the BrickLink
message system.

It may not prevent buyers from trying to reach you by email, but at least it
gives you a valid reason to ignore emails and only respond to BrickLink messages.

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 14, 2024 20:13

Subject:

Re: Using BL messages when buyers won't

Viewed:

31 times

Topic:

Thank you, I agree with what you have said here and am changing my ways now.
I thought I was being quite strict and distant but I see I was still too friendly

I think I had better treatment while my gender was more ambiguous.

In Selling, 1001bricks writes:

In Selling, RubyGirl writes:

I confirm it could be the case

It may be difficult to write as a woman and make sure you're respected by
men.

I'd say be polite, very pro, business oriented - a bit strict(er) maybe,
like "I'm fine keeping my distances"

Bon courage !

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 14, 2024 17:45

Subject:

Re: Using BL messages when buyers won't

Viewed:

29 times

Topic:

Haha yes I forgot about the RubyGirl. He was trying to help. A few males seem
to think if you deliberately talk like a man, you will be respected and responded
to reasonably and it just is not so but you can't prove it. I think racism
works the same way.

Thank you for the moral support there

In Selling, SylvainLS writes:

In Selling, RubyGirl writes:

Report him anyway. BL (says they) can’t use e-mails as proofs for transaction
problems but toxic is toxic.

So far, it's
always been males, no offense intended, but someone said to me that it could
be because I am female.

Wouldn’t surprise me if it were the case. *Grumbl and redacted expletives*

They suggested I pose as a male, but I said the way males
and females write is different. I didn't like being addressed as a male by
the one friendly customer who did get it wrong.

With ‘RubyGirl’ as a username? Maybe they thought they were being ‘neutral.’
Native english speaker? Translating politeness / language levels isn’t always
easy.

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 14, 2024 17:19

Subject:

Re: Using BL messages when buyers won't

Viewed:

29 times

Topic:

Thank you Niek, that is what I can do for now.

In Selling, qwertyboy writes:

In Selling, RubyGirl writes:

PS Thank you for the autoreply idea.

I had one buyer, I told him about the BL message thing, so he started abusing
me by email, and appearing "reasonable" by BL message.

To keep a record of these messages, reply using the BL system and copy/paste
their message in your reply. It is not perfect, but at least that way their correspondence
gets attached to the order in question (or at least to their account).

Niek.

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 14, 2024 17:00

Subject:

Re: Using BL messages when buyers won't

Viewed:

35 times

Topic:

PS Thank you for the autoreply idea.

I had one buyer, I told him about the BL message thing, so he started abusing
me by email, and appearing "reasonable" by BL message. I didn't
respond to the emails at all, just the messages, but it was toxic. So far, it's
always been males, no offense intended, but someone said to me that it could
be because I am female. They suggested I pose as a male, but I said the way males
and females write is different. I didn't like being addressed as a male by
the one friendly customer who did get it wrong.

In Selling, zorbanj writes:

Tell the buyer that you cannot respond to messages outside of the BL system if
you are emailed directly. I knew a buyer who had auto-replies sent from his Bricklink
email saying the email box was not monitored and to please reach out through
Bricklink. He did in fact monitor the email box and would respond if needed.

My own experiences with problem transactions is that the result would have been
the same whether I communicated inside BL or directly through email.

In Selling, RubyGirl writes:

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 14, 2024 16:53

Subject:

Re: Using BL messages when buyers won't

Viewed:

31 times

Topic:

I do tell them, but they sometimes persist. I used to copy their email into
a BL message and reply that way, but this gives the buyer no reason to stop emailing
and it takes extra time. Now I am trying sending a message to say "thank
you for your email, how can I help?" but I think that will annoy them. Lately
I seem to be using defensive stoplisting all the time.

I had some bad feedback that was removed immediately by BL, and I think it was
because they could se the record right in front of them of what had happened.
Sebdubg a whole lot of emails as "evidence" is very time-consuming and
my income per hour spent is continually dropping anyway.

In Selling, zorbanj writes:

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 14, 2024 16:45

Subject:

Re: Using BL messages when buyers won't

Viewed:

36 times

Topic:

I hear you, but I never know in advance which relationships are going to fall
apart, and it can be very surprising, for example one buyer had four orders with
me and then suddenly became unreasonable
.
I've been told that BL does not count emails, I suppose because they can
be edited

In Selling, 1001bricks writes:

In Selling, RubyGirl writes:

Use e-mails.

BrickLink messages may not be received, and you can't make nice editing/quoting,
add pictures, etc.

Apart for NSS/NPB or such ultra important text you absolutely need to be associated
with the order. In this case I send an e-mail THEN a message, but it's rare.

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Mar 14, 2024 16:16

Subject:

Using BL messages when buyers won't

Viewed:

177 times

Topic:

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Aug 17, 2023 17:13

Subject:

Seller not hearing about new orders by email

Viewed:

122 times

Topic:

Technical Issues

Hi,
I have stopped getting new orders information to my email, so I get a surprise
when I look at my orders received page. My email address has not changed and
I am getting other emails, such as copies of messages I send in BrickLink.

I hope you can help
RubyGirl

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Nov 24, 2022 21:31

Subject:

Re: New member with store, but at same address

Viewed:

71 times

Topic:

Terms and Policies

In Terms and Policies, 1001bricks writes:

In Terms and Policies, Speciale writes:

In Terms and Policies, RubyGirl writes:

Hi, can anyone tell me what to do to help a family member open a store, from
the house and same street address as me? I don't want to break any rules.
How do I talk to admin?

https://www.bricklink.com/problemMember.asp

No no, not this link - I guess the (duplicate) question hasn't been understood?

Ah I see not a duplicate.

But you can't contact BrickLink administration like this, in forum (except
cases where Russell reads...)

I'm not sure what the proper way to contact them, but I'd try:
https://www.bricklink.com/v3/help/contact.page

Or open a ticket here (opening an account with the same member name):
https://helpdesk.bricklink.com

You may expect a long delay unfortunately.

Ah now that is progress. Thank you so much 1001bricks, it is okay I have time.

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Nov 24, 2022 20:24

Subject:

New member with store, but at same address

Viewed:

152 times

Topic:

Terms and Policies

Hi, can anyone tell me what to do to help a family member open a store, from
the house and same street address as me? I don't want to break any rules.
How do I talk to admin?

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Nov 24, 2022 20:17

Subject:

Re: Second member of household selling Lego

Viewed:

55 times

Topic:

In Selling, 1001bricks writes:

Like the Noname you've got?

I would first ask administration to be sure, as with the same postal address
it may be a problem (one or both being closed...)

That actually IS funny. No, they would be FluffyBunny9 or something with their
own store called, um, BunnyBricks.

Where do the problems with the same postal address come from?

This one:
https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=1377719

And more generally the fact that 1 account is permitted, especially for selling.
I don't know more, but I would ask before, not to endanger the current
one you've

A very good point. But it does say "you" can have 1 account, and this would
not be "me" but my family member. But don't worry, I am motivated to talk
to administration. Thank you

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Nov 24, 2022 19:49

Subject:

Re: Second member of household selling Lego

Viewed:

74 times

Topic:

In Selling, 1001bricks writes:

In Selling, RubyGirl writes:

Hi, can anyone give me some clues about setting up a second store from the same
address? It would be a family member. Is there a problem?

They would have their own identity of course.

Like the Noname you've got?

I would first ask administration to be sure, as with the same postal address
it may be a problem (one or both being closed...)

That actually IS funny. No, they would be FluffyBunny9 or something with their
own store called, um, BunnyBricks.

Where do the problems with the same postal address come from?

Author:

RubyGirl

Posted:

Nov 24, 2022 18:59

Subject:

Re: Second member of household selling Lego

Viewed:

56 times

Topic: