BrickLink Discussion Forum

In Suggestions, cosmicray writes:

Please implement a testing framework for Instant Checkout such that …

1. Any seller can determine a number of test cases to valudate their IC shipping
parameters.
2. Those test cases can each be expresed as a script (textual or GUI object based).
3. The seller can then select all, or a subset of the test cases.
4, The seller can then submit those test cases as a batch request.
5. The BL system will then schedule and run those test cases.
6. The seller will then receive an email back showing which test cases were run,
what shipping methods were allowed, etc. This would be roughly analgous to what
is reported via the shopping cart display.
7. This would not involve actually taking any items out of inventory, nor creating
any real orders, but would be a test case simulation of that.
8. The seller could retain those test cases for later reuse, as various parameters
are modified.

thank you, Nita Rae

For what?

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Sep 30, 2018 04:18

Subject:

Re: Help identifying part.

Viewed:

36 times

Topic:

Catalog

In Catalog Identification, qwertyboy writes:

In Catalog Identification, jblock writes:

In Catalog Identification, TheBrickGuys writes:

I can not for the life of me figure out what this is or where in the catalog
it exists.

Any ideas?

[P=bbw008]

I tell you, for as often as I see questions about what this part it in the forums,
BL should put its picture and identifier on the front page for all to see...

There are a few parts that come up with some regularity:

http://www.qwertyboy.org/files/parts.php

Niek.

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Aug 25, 2018 03:50

Subject:

Re: 75203-1

Viewed:

35 times

Topic:

Inventories

In Inventories, Hygrotus writes:

In Catalog Inventories, nectara writes:

Hi
What's going on with 75203?
More than one month still ,,Inventory In Progress,,
Regards
Nectara

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfc4eim6XCA

Not only this one from SW is still missing inventory, also 75220 and 75221.
BTW Sandcrawler was added on the beggining of July, so almost two months without
inventory now

If you want to do it I can release this set to you to inventory it?

Hi
I have no idea how to do it
Regards
Nectara

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Aug 24, 2018 07:36

Subject:

75203-1

Viewed:

75 times

Topic:

Inventories

Status:

Open

Hi
What's going on with 75203?
More than one month still ,,Inventory In Progress,,
Regards
Nectara

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Mar 7, 2018 07:54

Subject:

Re: Separate professional and private sellers

Viewed:

57 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Teup writes:

I have no real personal reason to be posting this suggestion and haven't
thought about what it would mean for my own business, but just something I want
to throw out there as I've been thinking about it for a while.

Why not separate professional sellers and private sellers? I mean with an icon,
a label, a colour, something like that. Right now there are private persons just
getting rid of some old parts they aren't using, and online stores that use
Bricklink as their platform. An entirely different world in every aspect, but
they will show up in exactly the same way.

For years and years there's this eternal clash going on between buyers and
sellers and it seems like they sometimes speak different languages when the buyers
demand "their rights" and the seller has no idea what they're talking about.
Much if not most of the grief going on on Bricklink may be caused by buyers buying
from private sellers and expecting business service. The main example I can think
of now is about whose problem it is when a package is lost, but also tax and
refund issues get confusing if it's unclear whether we're talking about
two people trading or about consumer rights.

So how about labels for private sellers and professional sellers?

You don't really need a complex wine with pasta dishes; a fruity, often hearty,
rustic wine is often a good accompaniment. Tomato sauce based pasta dishes like
lasagne and spaghetti bolognese pair well with red wines with refreshing acidity–
try a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, young Chianti, or Barbera.

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Feb 28, 2018 19:32

Subject:

Re: Getting Frustrated Now With Bricklink

Viewed:

78 times

Topic:

Problem

In Problem, Icetrent writes:

I had never heard of Brick Owl until I started reading this forum.
I have logged on and it is actually not a bad website.
If the people here don't fix this website soon I think I will be packing
up shop here and head over there too.
This website so slow and frustrating to work with.
It took me over 15 mins. to leave feedback for 10 customers today. This is a
1 min task at most. I am so sick of this.
I have sent an email to IT and still no answer.

In Problem, nectara writes:

In Problem, CheshireBricKs writes:

I'm starting to get really frustrated now with Bricklink. Maybe you'll
reply?

Is the quote function broken? I had a quote come in 5 days ago and I had no notification
or anything regarding it. I only knew because the buyer messaged me last night.
This is not acceptable.

Your site has duplicated lots on numerous occasions, this is not acceptable.

Also on numerous occasions I've had customers tell me that they cannot checkout
after ironing out potential issues I have found out it's the site, not me.
I've lost money to this and again, this is not acceptable.

Most things you post are vague from every angle and you sit in the shadows whilst
everyone is up in question. Regardless of if the feedback is good or bad you
still push out the garbage updates anyway. This is not acceptable.

Your site is very slow at times and it's getting more and more frustrating
when trying to work. All of a sudden the site will grind to a standstill. This
is not acceptable.

Your ability to inventory used Lego is appalling. Why not work on this rather
than Brickarms? that's right. Money. If it won't make you money then
you won't bother. This is not acceptable.

I sell on BrickOwl too and I've never had a single issue. You may be the
market leaders currently but your cockyness will catch up with you soon. I pay
my monthly fees on time every time and this is the mess I have to work with?
Can't it just 'work'? Why is everything difficult and half made?
Not acceptable. I'm tired of apologising to customers because of the issues
on this site. I dread to think how many people have turned away from my store
and not said anything.

I'm just frustrated and the quote issue lastnight was the tipping point for
me. Fix your site.

I'm aware there's trolls on here so please keep your witty comments to
yourself.

Thanks
Reece

Hi
I don't want to say Bricklink is a high tech online selling platform quite
the oposite
I don't want to say Bricklink is working flawless
Nothing is perfect in this world
You know this I know this.
Why you don't simply accept that here on Bricklink is exactly like in the
real world.
Stock loss? Never think about it? Every commercial company have a calculated
stock loss.
How big is your's?
You complain about a lost Quote...
What's about Bricklink going offline for a week because of a server problem?
What's about Brickling losing their database? Must have backup?
Maybe they lost their backup together with the actual database? In a fire?
There are so many possibility that something will go wrong that I have no time
to think about?
Just try to overcome?
Drink one beer?
Regards
Nectara

Don't understand me wrong but on my side I need 5 seconds to leave a feedback
Regards
Nectara

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Feb 28, 2018 14:53

Subject:

Re: Getting Frustrated Now With Bricklink

Viewed:

126 times

Topic:

Problem

In Problem, CheshireBricKs writes:

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Feb 23, 2018 12:17

Subject:

Re: Interface improvement

Viewed:

47 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, TheBrickGuys writes:

Don't forget the typical forum response to ANYTHING that admin tries to do....

Wrong
Is more like this

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Feb 23, 2018 10:47

Subject:

Re: Interface improvement

Viewed:

60 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Teup writes:

In my opinion, icons that accurately represent functionality are a key part in
having a good interface. It has come to my attention that the icon of the Community
tab is outdated and needs improvement. Briklink has changed alot and the smiley
face simply does not suit a modern Bricklink where a forum is intended for poorly
informing the community of unwanted selfish business decisions only to ignore
the responses.

I've designed a better icon for this tab. Hope to see this implemented soon!

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Oct 24, 2017 06:10

Subject:

Re: Convert all units to Metric

Viewed:

34 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, WhiteHorseMatt writes:

In Suggestions, yorbrick writes:

In Suggestions, Brickler writes:

Hi,
I do prefer the metric system, hands down, but in the US we have standard measurement
system.
So all our weights and sizes for the mail are in Standard. Changing it make no
sense.

In the rest of the world we also have a standard and universal measurement system,
the metric system.

Sort of, but when was the last time you were out for the night and bought 0.568
litres of beer?

Fortunately metric / imperial isn't the end of the world to convert.

Matt

A glass of beer? One beer? A bottle of beer?

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Aug 22, 2017 16:27

Subject:

Re: [IMPLEMENTED] Allow IBAN payments in new stores

Viewed:

56 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Admin_Jaclyn writes:

Hi everyone,

First of all, thank you to Teup for writing this post. I've heard from many
other users about this and since we certainly have no intention of "killing"
the European market, nor do we want any users to feel marginalized, we've
decided to allow IBAN for new sellers again.

Here's how it will work:

-New sellers who have not upgraded from a buyer in good standing† will need to
go through the verification process to open their store and will also need to
request IBAN permission.

-New sellers who have upgraded from a buyer account in good standing will need
to contact the help desk to request IBAN payment.

†"Buyer account in good standing" = Has had an active account for 100 days and
has received positive feedback from 5 different legitimate sellers.

***All new sellers will be required to have at least one onsite payment method
available in their store in order to accept IBAN**

I'll be updating the help topic for onsite/offsite payment methods and will
mention this on the new seller verification page as well. If anyone would like
to request IBAN for their store, please send me a direct message.

Thanks!

-- Jaclyn
BrickLink Customer Support

In Suggestions, Teup writes:

In another thread someone brought this to my attention:

Offsite Payment - No longer available for new users as of June 8, 2017.
To cover various payment options, BrickLink also provides Offsite Payment Methods.
Please note that BrickLink cannot provide any transaction related support for
the Offsite Payment Methods listed below. All responsibility for Offsite Payments
is solely upon buyer and seller.

I'm lost for words. Does Bricklink really want to kill the European market
or something? In my real life I don't even know anyone with PayPal (or a
Credit card). In the NL €20,000,000,000 is spent in webshops per year, and almost
all of these transactions are bank transfers. Almost no-one that I know will
consider PayPal, certainly not since it costs money while bank tranfers are free.

IBAN has really become simple in use; Transactions are free, fast, and bank account
numbers have been standardised to IBAN recently. Interfaces for bank transfers
(such as iDeal in the NL) are thriving more than ever and are the undisputed
standard.

And now Bricklink is moving in the opposite direction.

They will lose the Dutch market, which is the 4th largest country on the platform
in terms of store count. Bricklink always seemed a bit America First but this
decision right here really changes my opinion of Bricklink. I personally will
survive since it doesn't affect existing stores and I will move more of my
business over to BO which does support bank transfers. But they will certainly
scare away lots of potential customers here, and for new sellers this is crazy
unfair. This is either a huge mistake or Bricklink just isn't interested
in the European market..

Please support my suggestion to re-enable IBAN/Bank transfer, also if you don't
use it. For an accessable and thriving site that benefits all of us, and a site
that is fair to everyone.. it's really in all of our interest if you want
Bricklink to be #1..

So the legend that Bricklink didn't care what seller's ask is not true
Jaclyn I'm in need for a new car can you please ask your financial team for
a donation?
Regards

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Aug 21, 2017 05:01

Subject:

Re: Offsite payment no longer possible??

Viewed:

53 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Teup writes:

In Suggestions, nectara writes:

In Suggestions, Teup writes:

In Suggestions, nectara writes:

In Suggestions, Teup writes:

and basically, PayPal is something for internet nerds. That is simply a reality.
Limiting Bricklink to PayPal is limiting it to internet nerds and lose a massive
market..

Your huge market is almost NON in other country's
From 1300 orders in my store only 3 where payed by IBAN
Saying that PayPal is for nerds...
,,This payment volume was generated through the 1.73 billion transactions which
PayPal processed during that quarter. In 2016, the payment provider's annual
payment volume amounted to 354 billion U.S. dollars.,,

mean the nerds one pay half of the volume of your country in one year

,,The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Netherlands was worth 770.85 billion US
dollars in 2016.,,

As MarieA put it, this is not about opinions, arguments, preferences. I don't
like this kind of d*measuring contest but anyway, UK and NL are not that far
apart in size on Bricklink.

In the NL and many other countries PayPal is limited to a handful of internet
nerds, such as me. This is simply a fact that does not change depending on what
numbers you throw at it. These numbers are just total sums and say nothing about
distribution. The vast, vast majority of people here who buy online either don't
have it, don't know how it works, or have never even heard of the name.
You may not like it, but this is simply a reality. PayPal-only would mean virtually
eliminating a portion of Bricklink turnover that is really significant, bigger
than the UK portion.

Even if you would explain to the European (and perhaps Australian) consumer how
PayPal is really the bees knees, they will not understand why they should pay
money for a transaction. It's an anachronism to them.

These are just realities, I'm not talking about what payment method is best.
If the entire world suddenly decided to pay by doing a silly dance, I will happily
do silly dances. I don't care how, I just want to be able to pay my bills
and not be cut off from my customers.. they want IBAN, so I want IBAN.

Don't understand me wrong I agree with you but bank transfers are so yesterday
and without any protection
I do offer IBAN and Stripe but I don't like them I prefer to pay PayPal fee
but to be protected
None of the payments platforms offer protection like PayPal so be sure PayPal
will be bigger and bigger...

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Aug 21, 2017 00:51

Subject:

Re: Offsite payment no longer possible??

Viewed:

56 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Teup writes:

In Suggestions, nectara writes:

In Suggestions, Teup writes:

and basically, PayPal is something for internet nerds. That is simply a reality.
Limiting Bricklink to PayPal is limiting it to internet nerds and lose a massive
market..

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Aug 20, 2017 08:24

Subject:

Re: Offsite payment no longer possible??

Viewed:

85 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Teup writes:

People are not trustworthy and with IBAN transaction your protection is null
nada zero nulua нула nulový nul tyhjä μηδενικό nulo

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Jul 19, 2017 13:11

Subject:

Re: Employ real support staff

Viewed:

74 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Hypertrophy writes:

In Suggestions, RobErNat writes:

In Suggestions, MarieA writes:

As I understand it, BL sellers and buyers are earning BL several million quid
a year via commission. Can I humbly suggest that some of this profit is redirected
into giving the platform an active customer support staff that is available 24-hours
per day. That such a site relies on volunteers to keep the wheels greased is
a bit perverse given the circumstances.

The site does not run on volunteers, only the forum and the catalog does (translators
of pages as well).
Development and Admin tasks are run by 'professionals' (= paid staff).
A 24/7 service just on the Admin team would require 4x as much people (8 in stead
of 2) to cover a full week, I doubt Bricklink is making enough to cover that
(considering there is also an IT team working during workdays)

And if you check online, BL is not making 'several' million per year.
I can't access US tax reports, but I'm sure a larger US seller can obtain
actual figures?

There have been almost 1.3 million orders in the last 12 months. At a $40 per
order average, that's $52,000,000. The 3% fee on that is $1,560,000 USD.

Average order is much lower

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Mar 14, 2017 14:48

Subject:

Re: Better Forum

Viewed:

53 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, ranarn writes:

Haven't been using the forum much on Bricklink, but the recent change of
Average Price removal got me to want to discuss that topic.

And the forum is very poorly implemented, impossible to follow a thread or get
a overview of current topics.

So my suggestion is a modern forum, that works like most other forums, i don't
know what the current is, something from the 90:s ?

Waiting for the old farts to tell us that on Windows95 this forum works perfect
and no change need it

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Feb 2, 2017 15:27

Subject:

Re: This will reduce scammers by 95%

Viewed:

46 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, axaday writes:

In Suggestions, SylvainLS writes:

In Suggestions, axaday writes:

In Suggestions, Heartbricker writes:

I believe that if Bricklink will allow new sellers to set up a shop ONLY AFTER
THEY HAVE COMPLETED 10 successful transactions as buyers- the scams by 0 feedback
sellers (that pop everyday) will stop by a high margin.

The beauty of this is that they can't start multiple new seller accounts
to prop up their buying feedbacks too.

I think this will work...

What is stopping them from making a few fake seller accounts and "selling" themselves
some fake stuff and giving themselves feedback for it?

They can’t create those “few fake seller accounts” because these accounts also
would need to buy before starting selling.
If you can’t create one seller account before having bought, you can’t create
10 more.

Ah, yes. Just so.

Just setup a window chat on all new stores so the experienced user can ask or
write their opinion
After you have the window chat is enough to ask for real pictures and everybody
can see the answer
It will stop 100% of the scammers

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Sep 15, 2016 18:08

Subject:

Re: PLEASE enable Payment at checkout

Viewed:

50 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, FigBits writes:

In Suggestions, nectara writes:

In Suggestions, Cob writes:

Please make the site upgrade and enable payment at checkout. I have so many
buyers confused on what to do and how to pay. If they had the option to pay
at checkout it would be so much more streamlined and convenient for everyone.

I am fully prepared and ready to handle payment at checkout, I already give my
buyer the maximum they will be charged for shipping in my terms (and yes, I never
charge more than my terms state, even if I would lose money). Therefore, the
buyer already knows the cost of their order at checkout, why can't they pay
at checkout?

Cob

They are tens of thousands of active store each store with different fee each
store from different country with different postage fee
Who will take this huge task to solve?
Regards

It is already solved. ON BRICKLINK! It just isn't implemented yet.

Right now, hundreds of stores already use the Shipping Cost Suggestion tool.
All that needs to be done is make that visible to buyers (it is currently set
up so that only the seller sees it).

--
Marc.

Shipping Cost Suggestion tool didn't work properly everybody know this
Still long way ...
Regards

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Sep 15, 2016 17:06

Subject:

Re: PLEASE enable Payment at checkout

Viewed:

71 times

Topic:

In Suggestions, Cob writes:

They are tens of thousands of active store each store with different fee each
store from different country with different postage fee
Who will take this huge task to solve?
Regards

Author:

nectara

Posted:

Jun 13, 2016 03:33

Subject:

Re: BrickLink by Bookmark

Viewed:

29 times

Topic: