Redisplay Messages: Compact | Brief | All | Full Show Messages: All | Without Replies| Author: | 62Bricks  | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2018 10:48 | | Subject: | 12V Train 70026 and 73112 difference | | Viewed: | 70 times | | Topic: | Catalog | | Status: | Open | |
|
| Can someone educate me on how to tell which one of these I have?
* |  | 70026 Electric, Train 12V Remote Control Switch Motor 4 x 8 x 1 2/3 (Undetermined Type)
Parts: Electric, Train
Marked for Deletion |
The one I have has three electric contact holes in the end. The 3D image for
73112 does not show any electric contact holes, but I do not trust the 3D images.
Does 73112 have electric contacts?
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2018 06:40 | | Subject: | Re: Dark Grey 4095? | | Viewed: | 42 times | | Topic: | Colors | |
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| In Colors, BeauBricks writes:
| | Hey all!
Busy uploading bunches of parts when I came across 4x 4095, but they are in Dark
Grey?
According to the catalog, this part has never been released in DG.
Where does this piece come from? Is it real Lego? I have not found any fake lego
in the bunch.
Thanks!
|
In the Bricklink catalog, a part becomes "known" when someone lists it in an
inventory. There are still many parts that are known to exist in real life, but
are not yet in inventories, so the catalog does not list them as "known."
It looks like this may be one of those parts. You can see that other sellers
have this for sale in this color, and some have even sold recently - at a high
price for this part!
https://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?P=4095&colorID=10
As for where it came from I would guess one of these two sets:
These are the only two that currently have the DBG version inventoried, and they
are from 2006 and 2007, which is around the time Lego switched the colors. Possibly
early versions of these sets had the part in dark gray and later ones in dark
bluish gray.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 18, 2018 17:54 | | Subject: | Re: Brick 1 x 6 with two bottom tubes? | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog Identification, WoutR writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, normann1974 writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, WoutR writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, normann1974 writes:
| | I found this brick among my spare parts. I can't find this configuration
of bottom tubes anywhere in the catalog among 1x6 bricks. It doesn't look
to me like the missing tubes are broken off, they're just missing. Does anyone
recognize it?
|
I think it must be
|
Yes, and instead of a 3009, it is printed on a
I have tried to add printed variants like this to the catalog before and have
been told they will not be approved.
|
I would say it's neither of the two. 3009pb156 has 5 buttom tubes, and crssprt02
has none (but two cross supports). Mine has 2 buttom tubes with supports.
/Jan
|
Yes, and it has thin walls with vertical ridges. This is not an early brick design.
|
I didn't look closely. Weird. No point to the ridges without the pins. Some
kind of error?
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 18, 2018 16:37 | | Subject: | Re: Brick 1 x 6 with two bottom tubes? | | Viewed: | 48 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog Identification, WoutR writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, normann1974 writes:
| | I found this brick among my spare parts. I can't find this configuration
of bottom tubes anywhere in the catalog among 1x6 bricks. It doesn't look
to me like the missing tubes are broken off, they're just missing. Does anyone
recognize it?
|
I think it must be
|
Yes, and instead of a 3009, it is printed on a
I have tried to add printed variants like this to the catalog before and have
been told they will not be approved.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 18, 2018 12:12 | | Subject: | Re: Seeking Opinions on Part Assemblies in Invs | | Viewed: | 34 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In LEGO, randyf writes:
| | In LEGO, 62Bricks writes:
| | In LEGO, randyf writes:
| | In LEGO, 62Bricks writes:
| | If counterparts are threatening to run amok, then freeze the creation of assemblies, or restrict their definition.
|
Isn't that what we are trying to do here? 
|
No, you're wanting to change the definition of counterparts, not assemblies.
Doing that means we will potentially continue to have assembly entries added
that will not be included in inventories because there will be two decisions
based on different criteria.
Decision #1 is whether an assembly should be added to the catalog (made by the
cat admins) and decision #2 is whether that entry should be included in set inventories
as a counterpart (made by the inventory admins based on criteria under discussion
now).
Changing the rules for decision #2 does nothing to alter decision #1. I think
we should streamline the whole thing into one decision - if it's listed in
the parts catalog, it should be listed in inventories.
|
I misunderstood the original statement. I follow your logic here.
| | | |
| | For the ones that already exist, put them in inventories. This community has
already cataloged 50,000 parts and nearly 15,000 sets. Updating inventories will
not happen overnight, but it will happen. Arguing that it would simply be too
much work is, in my opinion, also losing sight of the purpose of the catalog.
|
I am one of the largest contributors to the site, and I will not be doing this
work. Are you going to?
Randy
|
Frankly this question angers me. I've seen it many times as a defense against
making much needed changes to the catalog. Many of those changes have been made
despite this line of protest, thankfully, and over time the catalog has become
better because of it.
|
Well, what angers me is those who do the most complaining and champion the increase
in work are the same individuals who do not end up contributing to the work.
See where I'm coming from?
|
Yes I do, and it is insulting.
Here is an example. I specialize in vintage parts. A good portion of my sales
are to people restoring Classic Space sets. Here is an assembly that was missing
from the catalog:
Judging by how often I sold the components, I determined there was a market for
it as an assembly. I submitted it and it was approved. Then I added it to the
nine sets in which it appears, as a counterpart. Also approved.
Just a small contribution. I've sold dozens of these since then, and they
are currently selling at the rate of about 20 per month. Not a huge contribution
to the catalog. Not a huge contribution to the income of Bricklink or any one
seller. But all these small contributions by the people to whom they are important
- as well as those of the people who have made regular contributions part of
their Lego hobby - have made this catalog what it is. Encouraging pissing matches
over who does more is counter to the spirit of community on which the site was
built.
| |
| | Behind this objection is the assumption I am trying to call out here - that we
need to change the catalog based on the needs of the people administrating it
rather than the needs of the people using it. If it's too much work to update
a portion of the catalog then it was too much work to create it in the first
place.
It's a ridiculous objection. No I am not going to update every single
inventory. We - the Bricklink users - are going to update them, probably
as it has always been done, with people choosing to tackle small parts of it,
or make the requests as they have need to. If you choose to work on other things,
that's fine. It all adds up. That you would refuse to work on this has no
bearing on whether others might.
The "too much work" objection was raised when this entry was created in December
2104:
Today it is inventoried in almost 500 sets, thanks to your hard work (and Russell's
and Robert's and that of many others). That didn't happen overnight -
it was most recently added to an inventory a couple weeks ago - but it would
not have happened at all if we had decided that creating a useful and accurate
catalog was just too much work.
|
I am not opposed to the work. I am opposed to the bloat of inventories that impede
my ability to do the work that I do on the site. Yes, my motives are selfish,
but your motives are based on what you want as a seller and in turn also selfish.
|
Ah. Well, I would just repeat what I have been saying in a slightly different
way - whose "selfish" needs are meant to be met by Bricklink? Catalog contributors?
Or sellers? (and buyers and collectors?)
| |
Like Robert said, not everyone will be happy no matter what decisions are made.
So that is why I wrote the following a few posts ago:
"So maybe we are looking at this too narrowly from both sides. Maybe we need
to ask ourselves if there should be multiple views of an inventory instead of
just one? One for those looking for historical accuracy, one for those looking
at what assemblies can be sold from a set, one for ...?"
Any thoughts on that?
|
Options are great.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 18, 2018 11:37 | | Subject: | Re: Seeking Opinions on Part Assemblies in Invs | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In LEGO, randyf writes:
| | In LEGO, 62Bricks writes:
| | The reason is that we follow a rule that is arbitrary. Even if that rule is "Lego
calls it a part, so it's a part," that is still arbitrary.
|
I don't think you understand what arbitrary actually means. When something
is arbitrary, it follows *no* system, can seem random, and is by definition *not*
defined. BrickLink has a system that is largely defined by LEGO themselves. That
is not arbitrary. That is the exact meaning of a definition - trying to define
something and make it not random. I think we are trying to tighten up that definition,
which leads to being more defined and less arbitrary (or not arbitrary at all).
Randy
|
It is arbitrary because we only follow Lego up to a point, then we depart based
on BL's own arbitrarily-applied "rules." I give examples of where we call
a part a part because Lego does, but where we define parts that Lego does not.
There are also examples of where Lego defines a part but we do not.
And those decisions are not consistent over time - not because we have no rules,
but because the rules we do have are often subjective and not consistently applied.
There seems to be no disagreement about that, but I disagree that the solution
is to replace one subjective rule with another. It will have the effect of shortening
the inventories, but as I have argued elsewhere, that is not in the interest
of the users who want to identify, buy and sell these assemblies.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 18, 2018 11:28 | | Subject: | Re: Seeking Opinions on Part Assemblies in Invs | | Viewed: | 32 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In LEGO, randyf writes:
| | In LEGO, 62Bricks writes:
| | If counterparts are threatening to run amok, then freeze the creation of assemblies, or restrict their definition.
|
Isn't that what we are trying to do here?
|
No, you're wanting to change the definition of counterparts, not assemblies.
Doing that means we will potentially continue to have assembly entries added
that will not be included in inventories because there will be two decisions
based on different criteria.
Decision #1 is whether an assembly should be added to the catalog (made by the
cat admins) and decision #2 is whether that entry should be included in set inventories
as a counterpart (made by the inventory admins based on criteria under discussion
now).
Changing the rules for decision #2 does nothing to alter decision #1. I think
we should streamline the whole thing into one decision - if it's listed in
the parts catalog, it should be listed in inventories.
| |
| | For the ones that already exist, put them in inventories. This community has
already cataloged 50,000 parts and nearly 15,000 sets. Updating inventories will
not happen overnight, but it will happen. Arguing that it would simply be too
much work is, in my opinion, also losing sight of the purpose of the catalog.
|
I am one of the largest contributors to the site, and I will not be doing this
work. Are you going to?
Randy
|
Frankly this question angers me. I've seen it many times as a defense against
making much needed changes to the catalog. Many of those changes have been made
despite this line of protest, thankfully, and over time the catalog has become
better because of it.
Behind this objection is the assumption I am trying to call out here - that we
need to change the catalog based on the needs of the people administrating it
rather than the needs of the people using it. If it's too much work to update
a portion of the catalog then it was too much work to create it in the first
place.
It's a ridiculous objection. No I am not going to update every single
inventory. We - the Bricklink users - are going to update them, probably
as it has always been done, with people choosing to tackle small parts of it,
or make the requests as they have need to. If you choose to work on other things,
that's fine. It all adds up. That you would refuse to work on this has no
bearing on whether others might.
The "too much work" objection was raised when this entry was created in December
2104:
Today it is inventoried in almost 500 sets, thanks to your hard work (and Russell's
and Robert's and that of many others). That didn't happen overnight -
it was most recently added to an inventory a couple weeks ago - but it would
not have happened at all if we had decided that creating a useful and accurate
catalog was just too much work.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 18, 2018 09:38 | | Subject: | Re: Seeking Opinions on Part Assemblies in Invs | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In LEGO, mhortar writes:
| | In LEGO, 62Bricks writes:
| | Using as an example, this part's components almost always appear
in pairs. When they do, they are always assembled in building the set. When the
set is taken apart and the pieces consolidated into those used lots that make
up the source of my stock, they are almost always still assembled.
|
Hasn't there been a set that had different colors for the two pieces in this
hinge brick? I can't think of what the set was though off the top of my head
and I couldn't find it in a quick search, so maybe I'm losing my mind.
Josh
|
There have been, yes. But this is not an issue. We already have a method for
dealing with bi-color parts, which is to define one color in the title and one
in the color field. Like these parts, for example:
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 18, 2018 09:34 | | Subject: | Re: Seeking Opinions on Part Assemblies in Invs | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| Call it a rule that has been applied arbitrarily, then. And the method under
discussion is just as subject to random application because it is apparently
based on how difficult it is to separate the parts. Randy has already disagreed
with me on the relative difficulty of pulling the hinge plates apart compared
to the hinge bricks. That would be how we would be deciding whether a part is
inventoried or not?
Does that not seem absurd?
The comparison to minifigs is not merely general - it is exactly analogous. They
are both common assemblies of easily-separated parts that collectors, buyers
and sellers want to deal with both as a unit and as individual components. We
include minifigs in inventories, we should include assemblies, too.
That Lego sets have photos of the minifigs on the box is meaningless - as I say,
we depart from Lego all the time because the needs of the secondary market are
different. And besides, the fully-assembled counterparts are also pictured on
the box and that does not bless them into the inventory. And besides again, see
the subthread about the Cars characters, which are also named and appear on the
boxes but are not inventoried as figures or counterparts. So - Lego defining
an assembly does not mean that Bricklink does, and vice versa. I have
no problem with that, because as I say our needs are different.
And I think we may have lost sight of what the needs of the Bricklink user are.
When we start layering rules on top of one another for the ease of administrators
rather than the needs of the user, we are failing to learn from the past.
It would be much simpler to have one rule rather than two, and the place to apply
the rule is in the creation of assembly entries. If counterparts are threatening
to run amok, then freeze the creation of assemblies, or restrict their definition.
For the ones that already exist, put them in inventories. This community has
already cataloged 50,000 parts and nearly 15,000 sets. Updating inventories will
not happen overnight, but it will happen. Arguing that it would simply be too
much work is, in my opinion, also losing sight of the purpose of the catalog.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 17, 2018 23:25 | | Subject: | Re: Seeking Opinions on Part Assemblies in Invs | | Viewed: | 43 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In LEGO, randyf writes:
| | In LEGO, 62Bricks writes:
| | I'll take a somewhat contrary position. I think many times we base definitions
on arbitrary rules about the parts themselves and we ignore how the catalog is
used.
Defining a counterpart as only something that cannot be returned to its original
state at first looks like an elegant and simple method to categorize counterparts.
But collectors, buyers and sellers are not here to appreciate the talmudic deliberations
over what constitutes a counterpart. They are here for three things: identification,
buying and selling.
Using as an example, this part's components almost always appear
in pairs. When they do, they are always assembled in building the set. When the
set is taken apart and the pieces consolidated into those used lots that make
up the source of my stock, they are almost always still assembled.
Any collector coming to Bricklink to try to identify a set that includes this
part is confused because it appears in no sets.
|
I would bet that most collectors trying to identify that part in a set would
have no trouble finding the constituent part entries, but we would need data
to back that up. In any case, writing "Any collector...is confused..." is extremely
hyperbolic.
| | Any buyer wanting to complete a set with the components of this part might never
realize he can buy it assembled. He may think his only choice is to add each
half individually to his want list and hope he finds a seller who has them both.
A seller wanting to list it has a choice - does he list it as an assembly thereby
disconnecting it from buyers who are shopping via set inventories? Or does he
take it apart and list the halves separately, hoping that he doesn't have
to wait for two separate buyers to come take each one?
Now look at a practically identical part:
Collectors, buyers and sellers have none of the same problems with this part,
because our arbitrary rule calls this a "part" even though it is made up of two
separate components that can be disassembled just as easily as 3830c01.
|
I understand the analogy you are trying to make, but the comparison is apples
to oranges.
This part in *no* way can be disassembled as easily as 3830c01. It is always
packaged as a complete assembly, and it is not meant to be taken apart, just
as steering wheel assemblies are not meant to be taken apart. 3830c01 is packaged
as separate components and is very easy to take apart due to the Technic pin
connection which everyone is used to handling.
Also, it is not *our* arbitrary rule that calls this a part. It is LEGO themselves
who call this a part. LEGO do not sell the halves of it separately to consumers,
so why would anyone expect them separate. However, 3830c01 is made of two parts
that are both separately recognized and sold to consumers by LEGO. No one gets
these parts as a whole from LEGO, so why would the expectation at BrickLink be
any different to what comes in the packages that we all open.
In the end, I fail to see where these items are in anyway similar besides their
function.
| | So rather than a more arbitrarily restrictive definition of counterpart, I would
propose a broader one that accounts for how the catalog is actually used:
If an assembly is common enough to be added as a catalog entry, it should
also be included as a counterpart.
Perhaps not the direction people were anticipating, but I think I'll sell
more hinges once they're listed as counterparts in inventories and people
can find them.
|
Your definition is a nice one at the other extreme of this debate, so thanks
for chiming in. As someone who works on inventories, I want them to be as simple
as possible, and currently they can get quite bloated with all the Counterpart
entries. Your definition would just lead to more bloat in the inventories that
I would have to wade through. However, I understand that sellers have different
priorities with the inventories.
So maybe we are looking at this too narrowly from both sides. Maybe we need to
ask ourselves if there should be multiple views of an inventory instead of just
one? One for those looking for historical accuracy, one for those looking at
what assemblies can be sold from a set, one for ...?
I don't know what the answer is, but I am glad the situation is being looked
into.
Cheers,
Randy
|
I think most people would not understand why one is in inventories and the other
is not. The parts are very similar.
The reason is that we follow a rule that is arbitrary. Even if that rule is "Lego
calls it a part, so it's a part," that is still arbitrary.
It's arbitrary because we depart from Lego in many ways that make sense from
the point of view of the buyer and seller. We define minifigs as a unit and inventory
them as assemblies, for one thing. Lego does not.
Why do we do that? Because that's how people want to use our catalog. Imagine
what it would be like if we applied this restricted counterpart definition to
minifigs and did nnot allow them to be listed in set inventories. It would make
it simpler to create inventories, right? People could still figure things out
by tracking down the constituent parts. So why not?
Because minifigs are assemblies that users want to buy, sell and identify as
an assembled unit. The same is true of many counterparts.
"Bloated" inventories do not concern me. I'm in favor of more information,
not less. But if we want to control it, then the place to do that is with the
parts catalog by not adding these assemblies in the first place. But if they
ARE added, it seems silly not to connect them to their sets by including them
in inventories. That is one of the basic features of the catalog.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 17, 2018 19:08 | | Subject: | Re: Seeking Opinions on Part Assemblies in Invs | | Viewed: | 50 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| I'll take a somewhat contrary position. I think many times we base definitions
on arbitrary rules about the parts themselves and we ignore how the catalog is
used.
Defining a counterpart as only something that cannot be returned to its original
state at first looks like an elegant and simple method to categorize counterparts.
But collectors, buyers and sellers are not here to appreciate the talmudic deliberations
over what constitutes a counterpart. They are here for three things: identification,
buying and selling.
Using as an example, this part's components almost always appear
in pairs. When they do, they are always assembled in building the set. When the
set is taken apart and the pieces consolidated into those used lots that make
up the source of my stock, they are almost always still assembled.
Any collector coming to Bricklink to try to identify a set that includes this
part is confused because it appears in no sets.
Any buyer wanting to complete a set with the components of this part might never
realize he can buy it assembled. He may think his only choice is to add each
half individually to his want list and hope he finds a seller who has them both.
A seller wanting to list it has a choice - does he list it as an assembly thereby
disconnecting it from buyers who are shopping via set inventories? Or does he
take it apart and list the halves separately, hoping that he doesn't have
to wait for two separate buyers to come take each one?
Now look at a practically identical part:
Collectors, buyers and sellers have none of the same problems with this part,
because our arbitrary rule calls this a "part" even though it is made up of two
separate components that can be disassembled just as easily as 3830c01.
So rather than a more arbitrarily restrictive definition of counterpart, I would
propose a broader one that accounts for how the catalog is actually used:
If an assembly is common enough to be added as a catalog entry, it should
also be included as a counterpart.
Perhaps not the direction people were anticipating, but I think I'll sell
more hinges once they're listed as counterparts in inventories and people
can find them.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 16, 2018 11:14 | | Subject: | Re: Flag sticker or stickers? | | Viewed: | 44 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, normann1974 writes:
| | | | | | Do they all have two stickers or is it one sticker that is wrapped around the
end of the flag?
|
Looks like most of them are individual stickers - am I imagining some that have
one sticker that wraps around?
At any rate, most of them are described as having a "sticker" when it appears
they have two stickers. I definitely looks like something that should be cleared
up.
Some of them already are entered as you describe
* | | 3596pb05 Flag on Flagpole, Straight with Oval and Two Crossed Cutlasses Pattern on Both Sides (Stickers) - Sets 6762 / 6769
Parts: Flag, Decorated |
|
I can't tell from the image of the sticker sheet from set if it's
two individual stickers or one large. The sticker sheets for sets
and seems to be two individual stickers and the flag which I'm
currently selling has two stickers on it.
/Jan
|
After looking at the note on the American flag version, I wonder if this is one
of those situations where many of these flags were entered long ago with no indication
that they had stickers on both sides, then never updated because some sellers
were selling them with only one sticker.
It might sound odd, but it would not be the first time incorrect entries were
allowed to persist simply because fixing them might confuse people. I would suggest
using the change feature to request new descriptions modeled on 3596pb05 above
and see what happens.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 16, 2018 07:01 | | Subject: | Re: Flag sticker or stickers? | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Catalog, normann1974 writes:
| | I have a question about flags like these:
The names of parts like this one suggest that they only have a sticker on one
side, but all sets that they occur in have at least two of every sticker (some
mirrored), suggesting that they should have a sticker on both sides. I suggest
that either a note is made on the items or that they are renamed so that the
name says that they have stickers on both sides.
Opinions?
/Jan
|
Do they all have two stickers or is it one sticker that is wrapped around the
end of the flag?
|
Looks like most of them are individual stickers - am I imagining some that have
one sticker that wraps around?
At any rate, most of them are described as having a "sticker" when it appears
they have two stickers. I definitely looks like something that should be cleared
up.
Some of them already are entered as you describe
* | | 3596pb05 Flag on Flagpole, Straight with Oval and Two Crossed Cutlasses Pattern on Both Sides (Stickers) - Sets 6762 / 6769
Parts: Flag, Decorated |
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 16, 2018 06:52 | | Subject: | Re: Flag sticker or stickers? | | Viewed: | 38 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, normann1974 writes:
| | I have a question about flags like these:
The names of parts like this one suggest that they only have a sticker on one
side, but all sets that they occur in have at least two of every sticker (some
mirrored), suggesting that they should have a sticker on both sides. I suggest
that either a note is made on the items or that they are renamed so that the
name says that they have stickers on both sides.
Opinions?
/Jan
|
Look at the note on this flag - seems this is an issue that has caused problems
in the past.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 16, 2018 06:45 | | Subject: | Re: Flag sticker or stickers? | | Viewed: | 33 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, normann1974 writes:
| | I have a question about flags like these:
The names of parts like this one suggest that they only have a sticker on one
side, but all sets that they occur in have at least two of every sticker (some
mirrored), suggesting that they should have a sticker on both sides. I suggest
that either a note is made on the items or that they are renamed so that the
name says that they have stickers on both sides.
Opinions?
/Jan
|
Do they all have two stickers or is it one sticker that is wrapped around the
end of the flag?
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 16, 2018 06:42 | | Subject: | Re: Identifying sets from inventory | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, malcolmsetter writes:
| | I was wondering if it was possible to identify from a store inventory what sets
could be made (or 90% made). This would be helpful with bulk buys and seeing
what sets could be made from the bulk purchase.
|
There used to be a search function where you could put in a set number and see
all the parts from that set that were in a certain store. It wasn't exactly
like what you describe, but it was useful for people looking to complete sets.
That function "broke" during one of the site updates and has not been fixed.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 7, 2018 19:19 | | Subject: | Re: Two versions of 33bc01? | | Viewed: | 45 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, patpendlego writes:
| | In Catalog, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Catalog, patpendlego writes:
| | In Catalog, normann1974 writes:
| | Hi
I just sorted my old doors and found that there are actually two versions of
. One with a hole in the top and one without. The BrickLink part shows
two images, one with a hole and one without. Shouldn't this part be split
into two?
/Jan
|
All of these doors have glued glass, hole or no hole, with one exception: 32b
with 32glass in CA plastic. I have not found these in ABS, nor have I found a
33b. Yet 
So there is a seperate entry.
* | | 32b Door 1 x 2 x 3 Hinge on Left, without Glass
Parts: Door |
|
I have several of these in red ABS
|
I am interested, sent you a PM
|
To be clear - I have several 32b in Red ABS - I thought it was this one you said
you had not seen in ABS.
All of my doors of this type are 32s.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 7, 2018 18:37 | | Subject: | Re: Two versions of 33bc01? | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, patpendlego writes:
| | In Catalog, normann1974 writes:
| | Hi
I just sorted my old doors and found that there are actually two versions of
. One with a hole in the top and one without. The BrickLink part shows
two images, one with a hole and one without. Shouldn't this part be split
into two?
/Jan
|
All of these doors have glued glass, hole or no hole, with one exception: 32b
with 32glass in CA plastic. I have not found these in ABS, nor have I found a
33b. Yet
So there is a seperate entry.
* | | 32b Door 1 x 2 x 3 Hinge on Left, without Glass
Parts: Door |
|
I have several of these in red ABS
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 5, 2018 08:45 | | Subject: | Re: Two versions of 33bc01? | | Viewed: | 34 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, PurpleDave writes:
| | In Catalog, normann1974 writes:
| | I just sorted my old doors and found that there are actually two versions of
. One with a hole in the top and one without. The BrickLink part shows
two images, one with a hole and one without. Shouldn't this part be split
into two?
|
|
There is no hole. In the no-hole version, the glass is cut into a perfect rectangle
and attached with thin lines of glue just above and below the opening. The mold
is also slightly different. The edges are sharper and the top section is thicker
on the front.
In the version with a hole, the glass has a tab on the top edge that fits the
hole. The corners are rounded. It may or may not be glued in place also. There
are two versions of the glass - one is shown here (in red) where the lower edge
of the glass is curved to accommodate the center prong. This version is glued.
There is another version where there is a tab on the lower edge that fits into
the channel molded into the prong. I think these are removable, but I don't
have one handy to check.
|
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 5, 2018 08:27 | | Subject: | Re: Two versions of 33bc01? | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, SezaR writes:
| | I just noticed another difference: the handle or key-hole or whatever it is
in some versions it is on the right and in the other on the left
|
These variants are cataloged
| |
In Catalog, SezaR writes:
| | These are my windows. Note that:
- the windows on the right column have hole in their frames.
- the windows on the left column don't have any hole.
- all glasses are fixed.
I tried to remove the glass of one (the red one on the right column, on the bottom)
I managed to remove it by breaking it! (another sacrifice of my personal collection
) the glass doesn't have a tap. Nevertheless, it is fixed.
My white one on the right column was already broken but it is interesting that
the shape of the glass glued to the window is different (at the bottom) like
those on the left column.
In Catalog, normann1974 writes:
| | | | Couple quick questions. Is the glass loose in the red door, or is it still glued
to the frame? If you look on the inside of the yellow frame, can you tell if
the glass has tabs or if it's cut straight across? I ask this because from
where I'm sitting, looking at a single photo on a computer screen, I can't
tell if it's possible that the yellow frame has the same hole and it's
just obscured by a layer of flash. This happened with the headlight bricks,
which resulted in them being split into two catalog entries for "slotted" and
"unslotted", when it was really just parts where the flash was still attached
and parts where it either didn't form or had been removed (it was pretty
easy to poke it out with a fingernail and leave a nice crisp rectangular hole,
which tells you just how intentional it was when it occurred).
|
There might be a hole inside the door frame, but it doesn't go all the way
through to the outside on the yellow door. I'll check and answer your questings
regarding the glass during next week. I won't be home until then.
I have pictures of all combinations of hole/no hole and color. 4 in total. Two
with hole (red, white) and two without (red, yellow). Images attached.
|
|
|
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 2, 2018 18:06 | | Subject: | Re: Question on catalog image uploads | | Viewed: | 22 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, crazylegoman writes:
| | In Catalog, Pippyblocks writes:
| | Isn't 600 the longest side it can be?
In Catalog, crazylegoman writes:
| | I was just trying to upload an image to the catalog, and I got an error that
says,
Oops! There was a problem processing your request:
1. Parameter Error.
The image is within the 800X600 pixel size requirement. What else could be the
trouble?
David
|
|
It says 800X600 on the upload page. My image was 600 pixels tall, but less than
800 wide.
David
|
The error message for images that are too large specifically gives the reason.
Is it an accepted file type?
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2018 17:53 | | Subject: | Re: Damaged or Discolored filtering | | Viewed: | 28 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, WoutR writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, Canadeon writes:
| | Hi folks,
I've been getting a bunch of orders lately with severely damaged and discolored
bricks that are coming out of big orders. While I attempt to skim the orders
for things that stand out like that, it seems like its easy to miss these things,
and then I wind up with dozens of low quality bricks I wouldn't give to kids
for free.
I have two suggestions:
1. Create a new category for quality. We have new, we have used (should probably
be renamed to gently used) and there could be a third category for "partially
digested, covered in feces, discolored" or use a number rating system like
comic books do.
2. ANY comments on the item made by the seller should be highlighted in a different
color. When I am skimming a list of several hundred bricks, the seller notes
tend to get lost in with the brick description. Leave the brick description
black, and make the seller comments red. If I see red, I'll know something
needs to be read more carefully.
|
The solution to this problem is for sellers not to list badly damaged or discolored
parts at all.
Rather than complicating the problem with rating systems or long descriptions,
Bricklink should adopt a policy that damaged or discolored pieces should be sold
as custom lots only and not under the individual catalog entries.
To my mind there are two qualities of used part - those good enough to sell,
and those not. As a seller, I do not have the time to categorize parts into ten
possible grades. I have time to look at each part and decide if it's good
enough to list or not.
|
I am buying cheap "filler brick quality" 3001 and 3001old. Those absolutely need
an accurate description, but not a ban.
|
I think they should be listed as custom lots. Looking through the current listings
for 3001s, I see many, many listings at one cent each that are described as damaged,
scratched, discolored, etc. and the quantities are less than 5. Nobody looking
for filler bricks is going to buy them one or two at a time from 100 different
shops. They would be best sold as large custom lots. Given BL's current search
function, they would actually be easier to search for and find there than in
the regular listings (unless you use goatleg).
(In the meantime, that seller who is listing one heavily damaged brick for one
cent is probably going to have that brick in his inventory forever. The longest-listed
one I found in the three minutes I spent checking has been for sale since March,
2013.)
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2018 06:17 | | Subject: | Re: Damaged or Discolored filtering | | Viewed: | 28 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Canadeon writes:
| | Hi folks,
I've been getting a bunch of orders lately with severely damaged and discolored
bricks that are coming out of big orders. While I attempt to skim the orders
for things that stand out like that, it seems like its easy to miss these things,
and then I wind up with dozens of low quality bricks I wouldn't give to kids
for free.
I have two suggestions:
1. Create a new category for quality. We have new, we have used (should probably
be renamed to gently used) and there could be a third category for "partially
digested, covered in feces, discolored" or use a number rating system like
comic books do.
2. ANY comments on the item made by the seller should be highlighted in a different
color. When I am skimming a list of several hundred bricks, the seller notes
tend to get lost in with the brick description. Leave the brick description
black, and make the seller comments red. If I see red, I'll know something
needs to be read more carefully.
|
The solution to this problem is for sellers not to list badly damaged or discolored
parts at all.
Rather than complicating the problem with rating systems or long descriptions,
Bricklink should adopt a policy that damaged or discolored pieces should be sold
as custom lots only and not under the individual catalog entries.
To my mind there are two qualities of used part - those good enough to sell,
and those not. As a seller, I do not have the time to categorize parts into ten
possible grades. I have time to look at each part and decide if it's good
enough to list or not.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 3, 2018 18:13 | | Subject: | Re: Feedback on Rejected Catalog Submissions | | Viewed: | 34 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, StormChaser writes:
| | In Suggestions, todeluca writes:
| | I find it odd that therobo would repeatedly state that feedback on rejected Catalog Submissions is not helpful
|
Actually, you're misrepresenting what he said just a little. He said (emphasis
added):
"I think it's not helpful to publicly indicate why items are not approved."
That doesn't necessarily mean that he disagrees with telling the submitter
why changes/additions were not approved. In fact, he clarifies his position
later in the same thread:
https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=956274
|
I don't think he's clarifying the difference between making the information
public or not.
What he is antagonistic toward is any kind of discussion of why an entry
is rejected. He says, "But besides notes on the pending submissions...there are
no resources to discuss every potential rejection."
This is incorrect. Rejected items are also visible in the logs, and just as with
pending submissions four or five words could be added to indicate why they were
rejected. No discussion is necessary. Therobo apparently opposes doing this,
even though the time involved would be minimal. There have been 28 rejections
in the past 30 days. A five-word note in each rejected submission log would require
140 words. At an average typing rate of 40 words per minute, that's 3.5 minutes
per month. We don't have the resources?
On the other hand, we currently have open discussions on every inventory
change request - rather, there is a forum post generated and discussion is possible.
Not all of them generate discussion because the information is straightforward
or documented or accepted by consensus. When a request is not approved, the reasoning
is usually spelled out in the thread.
If it's good for inventories, it's good for parts. It would educate the
community and it would not necessarily mean every new entry is debated or every
rejection challenged.
I do not base my opinion on a single post in a single thread. Therobo has made
his position pretty clear for a long time in many different ways. He doesn't
want to have to give anyone a reason for rejecting a submission, publicly or
otherwise. I think there are many users who feel the admins should have more
accountability.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 3, 2018 15:27 | | Subject: | Re: Feedback on Rejected Catalog Submissions | | Viewed: | 52 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, todeluca writes:
| | Would it be possible to include a section on a rejected Catalog Submission (similar
to the 'Note for Catalog Administrator' section) that explains the reason
that a certain change was rejected?
I ask, because I have noticed that some submissions have been rejected, only
to be approved after I changed the format slightly. Other changes have been rejected,
but accepted when I have resubmitted them.
Having feedback on rejected Catalog Submissions will prevent confusion over the
reason for the rejection, and will help others to improve their Submissions.
|
This has been suggested before. I think the message below from a catalog admin
explains his opinion on the matter. I think it is unfortunate that someone in
this role has such a dismissive attitude toward community members trying to make
improvements in good faith. He apparently sees his role differently than I do.
Being a volunteer does not absolve a person from accountability to the community.
I have hope that the new organizational moves at Bricklink will bring improvements
in this area in particular.
https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=956239
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 2, 2018 19:42 | | Subject: | Re: Picture Needed of Minifigure | | Viewed: | 55 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
| | In Catalog, 62Bricks writes:
| | I used my select VIP photshoot setup for this
|
That you can create quality photos using such a setup is indeed a marvel. My
own photo booth occupies an entire room in my mansion and cost about $80,000
to set up.
Anyway, here is the figure:
It is inventoried and has been added to the set from which it was missing. You
got credit for the image addition, BTW.
Thanks again.
|
Excellent. Now maybe I should list it for sale. Since there is no established
sales history for this apparently quite rare figure, the sky's the limit
on the price...
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 2, 2018 19:38 | | Subject: | Re: Picture Needed of Minifigure | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, Cupcake27 writes:
| | In Catalog, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
| | Thanks, stranger! Your promptness and the quality of the photo are commendable.
I will submit the figure forthwith and update the inventory. I do appreciate
it.
I was just kidding about the stranger part, of course, since you're one of
only a handful of select VIP BrickLink members who have had the incomparable
honor of meeting me in person. 
|
Happy to oblige, sir. I used my select VIP photshoot setup for this, consisting
of a piece of copy paper propped up on a shoebox, a large window, a cloudy day,
and my cellphone. Oh and a tape measure to hold the paper in place.
|
I can't help but break in here and say that I thought the picture was a professional
picture that you had somehow found off the internet  It looks amazing!
|
Thanks - I've photographed more than a few minifigs in the past several years.
You really can get pretty good results with natural light and a cellphone.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 2, 2018 18:49 | | Subject: | Re: Picture Needed of Minifigure | | Viewed: | 81 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
| | In Catalog, 62Bricks writes:
| | Here is a very nice photo.
|
Thanks, stranger! Your promptness and the quality of the photo are commendable.
I will submit the figure forthwith and update the inventory. I do appreciate
it.
I was just kidding about the stranger part, of course, since you're one of
only a handful of select VIP BrickLink members who have had the incomparable
honor of meeting me in person.
|
Happy to oblige, sir. I used my select VIP photshoot setup for this, consisting
of a piece of copy paper propped up on a shoebox, a large window, a cloudy day,
and my cellphone. Oh and a tape measure to hold the paper in place.
|
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 2, 2018 18:05 | | Subject: | Re: Picture Needed of Minifigure | | Viewed: | 110 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
| | BrickLink needs a photo of this exact minifigure except with green legs:
I don't have the torso in my parts collection, so I cannot make a picture.
The figure is missing from this set and is needed so that a new catalog entry
can be created and the inventory updated:
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
|
|
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 1, 2018 11:03 | | Subject: | Re: Image not displayed when item has no colour? | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, _djm writes:
| | Arrgghh,
Sorry, this set
David
|
Might be a local cache issue - I see the small image of the pen in this inventory
as well as the inventory of the other set it is in.
But you are correct that the same item is inventoried in both black and "not
applicable" when it appears there really is only one version of it.
There are only two of them for sale right now, both listed under "black." Maybe
we should delete the N/A entry?
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jun 16, 2018 11:09 | | Subject: | Re: Improvements needed on My Inventory Page | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, JulieK writes:
| | In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, jenwick writes:
| | In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | Please consider the following:
1. Add colour as an option
2. When using the 'by category filter@ please show sub-totals by category
|
Can you elaborate on what you mean by these two points?
|
Of course
On the right hand side of the My Inventory page there are several options to
choose from, but one that is missing is colour. When I want to see how many dark
green 1 x 2 bricks I have I have to put in 3004 and look at hundreds to find
the dark green, rather than just choosing dark green 3004. You can do this if
you use the PCC but who know those off the top of their head.
|
You can get that info from the catalog page, make sure the color info tab is
clicked.
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3004&idColor=10#T=C&C=10
|
Thanks but we already knew that and it isn't what we want. When you search
your inventory you should be able to do the same as you can when you are within
your store. Choose a part no and a condition and a colour. The only way this
can be done currently is via a PCC and a condition filter.
Hope I have now made that clearer.
|
The issue is that although the search option is labeled "Catalog Name and Number"
it is actually Catalog Name OR Number." BL has the part numbers and part names
in separate fields and it does not search them both at once. If you include a
part number in the search terms it defaults to a part number search and ignores
the other keywords.
So if you search for [3004 dark green] it only searcesh on 3004 and ignores the
"dark green," so it shows you all your 3004s.
To search by color and part, do not search on the part number but use
the part name. Try searching your inventory with "any part of field" selected
for [dark green 1x2 brick] and you should get the results you expect.
|
That does work your Goatleg knowledge of how it works is useful. Having said
that not many people would be aware of that and it still would be easier to do
it the way we suggested.
At the end of the day it is not a significant programming change to alter the
query by form using colour as a 'where' statement, especially if there
are separate fields in the database.
|
Well the color information is actually in two places - in the color field as
well as in the name - and like the part number search, it will default to searching
the color field if you search only for a color name. Try an inventory keyword
search for [dark green] and you'll get nothing, because it tries to do a
color search but the color field is not included in the query.
I assume the somewhat crippled nature of the search function was meant to reduce
the load and improve response time on Bricklink's original servers. Searching
three fields at once was maybe more than it could handle in a reasonable amount
of time. Capabilities have advanced considerably.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jun 16, 2018 10:45 | | Subject: | Re: Improvements needed on My Inventory Page | | Viewed: | 40 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, JulieK writes:
| | In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, jenwick writes:
| | In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | Please consider the following:
1. Add colour as an option
2. When using the 'by category filter@ please show sub-totals by category
|
Can you elaborate on what you mean by these two points?
|
Of course
On the right hand side of the My Inventory page there are several options to
choose from, but one that is missing is colour. When I want to see how many dark
green 1 x 2 bricks I have I have to put in 3004 and look at hundreds to find
the dark green, rather than just choosing dark green 3004. You can do this if
you use the PCC but who know those off the top of their head.
|
You can get that info from the catalog page, make sure the color info tab is
clicked.
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3004&idColor=10#T=C&C=10
|
Thanks but we already knew that and it isn't what we want. When you search
your inventory you should be able to do the same as you can when you are within
your store. Choose a part no and a condition and a colour. The only way this
can be done currently is via a PCC and a condition filter.
Hope I have now made that clearer.
|
The issue is that although the search option is labeled "Catalog Name and Number"
it is actually Catalog Name OR Number." BL has the part numbers and part names
in separate fields and it does not search them both at once. If you include a
part number in the search terms it defaults to a part number search and ignores
the other keywords.
So if you search for [3004 dark green] it only searcesh on 3004 and ignores the
"dark green," so it shows you all your 3004s.
To search by color and part, do not search on the part number but use
the part name. Try searching your inventory with "any part of field" selected
for [dark green 1x2 brick] and you should get the results you expect.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Mar 8, 2018 18:48 | | Subject: | Re: Separate professional and private sellers | | Viewed: | 58 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, MarieA writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | In Suggestions, WoutR writes:
| | 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?
|
Who will judge? The seller? I think that there are many professional sellers
who are pretending to be private. To be a business, you don't need to be
large, full-time or making a living wage.
|
Well, either you are a business or you're not, legally that's quite
clear-cut. As for the point of hiding a business as you and yorbrick pointed
out, that is a potential reason why it isn't perfect, but that still means
it is an improvement over the current situation. Also, there's no huge incentive
to hide, as many buyers may prefer real shops and also it would look pretty shady
if the seller has a big store or alot of feedback. Also, Vat and sales tax settings
should instantly cause the seller to be labelled professional. Not all professional
sellers use these features, though, so if I were a buyer I would like something
that includes professional sellers without tax settings and that would be immediately
visible and even could be filtered by. Right now Bricklink is a mall of actual
shops and people having little garage sales and from the front end there's
no difference. That strikes me as odd.
|
In the US it is not so clear cut whether an individual selling Lego online is
a business or not. From the point of view of the Internal Revenue Service if
you are engaged in any activity for the purpose of making a profit, you are in
business
|
Sounds pretty clear cut to me.
Surely it's the law that counts, not personal opinion?
|
The law says what a business is - not what "professional" means. The OP appears
to be suggesting that if you are filing taxes on your revenue (for example) that
makes you a "professional."
I take issue with that use of the word in this case, because, as I say, anyone
can get a tax permit. It doesn't make you professional in your dealings.
It would not be any benefit to the buyers here to see a shop labeled "professional"
because of its tax status. What benefits them is seeing if the shop actually
conducts itself like a professional business, and that is what the feedback system
is for.
| |
| | , the difference between professional and amateur is the manner of
doing business, not the size or tax settings. Anyone can get a tax permit, but
it doesn't mean they're going to run a professional business. Likewise,
a person who is only plowing his revenue back into buying more Lego and meets
the definition of a hobbyist can offer very professional service.
So I think any distinction would be meaningless. Let the feedback rating serve
this purpose.
|
|
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Mar 7, 2018 07:42 | | Subject: | Re: Separate professional and private sellers | | Viewed: | 60 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | In Suggestions, WoutR writes:
| | 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?
|
Who will judge? The seller? I think that there are many professional sellers
who are pretending to be private. To be a business, you don't need to be
large, full-time or making a living wage.
|
Well, either you are a business or you're not, legally that's quite
clear-cut. As for the point of hiding a business as you and yorbrick pointed
out, that is a potential reason why it isn't perfect, but that still means
it is an improvement over the current situation. Also, there's no huge incentive
to hide, as many buyers may prefer real shops and also it would look pretty shady
if the seller has a big store or alot of feedback. Also, Vat and sales tax settings
should instantly cause the seller to be labelled professional. Not all professional
sellers use these features, though, so if I were a buyer I would like something
that includes professional sellers without tax settings and that would be immediately
visible and even could be filtered by. Right now Bricklink is a mall of actual
shops and people having little garage sales and from the front end there's
no difference. That strikes me as odd.
|
In the US it is not so clear cut whether an individual selling Lego online is
a business or not. From the point of view of the Internal Revenue Service if
you are engaged in any activity for the purpose of making a profit, you are in
business and should be reporting that revenue and paying taxes on it. There are
exceptions for "hobbyists," but even there the line is not so clear.
https://www.irs.gov/faqs/small-business-self-employed-other-business/income-expenses/income-expenses
To my mind, the difference between professional and amateur is the manner of
doing business, not the size or tax settings. Anyone can get a tax permit, but
it doesn't mean they're going to run a professional business. Likewise,
a person who is only plowing his revenue back into buying more Lego and meets
the definition of a hobbyist can offer very professional service.
So I think any distinction would be meaningless. Let the feedback rating serve
this purpose.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Nov 23, 2017 09:26 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Set 6081-1 | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| These are photos of the set as built by a fan and don't really prove anything
one way or the other - if the instructions are incorrect and the fan followed
them, then you would expect the parts to be missing in the final build.
Peeron's inventory also shows 10 with the instructions given as the source.
There may be corrected variants of the instructions out there?
In Inventories Requests, elias3 writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, 62Bricks writes:
| | None of the scans I find show them, but it would seem logical that two more would
be used on the other two corner panels to support the roof assembly.
In Inventories Requests, StormChaser writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, curtiscs writes:
| | Here is breakdown:
Step 16 - x5
|
I'm only seeing 3 additions of that brick in that step, not 5 additions.
Do you have a different version of the instructions or have I missed something?
See photo.
|
|
Checked Brickshelf and found a picture, no other were used in the corners
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=3892860
folder: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=384348
I also count 8 corner bricks
Stefaan
|
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Nov 23, 2017 06:29 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Set 6081-1 | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| None of the scans I find show them, but it would seem logical that two more would
be used on the other two corner panels to support the roof assembly.
In Inventories Requests, StormChaser writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, curtiscs writes:
| | Here is breakdown:
Step 16 - x5
|
I'm only seeing 3 additions of that brick in that step, not 5 additions.
Do you have a different version of the instructions or have I missed something?
See photo.
|
|
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Oct 28, 2016 21:48 | | Subject: | Inventory Change Request for Set 049-1 | | Viewed: | 38 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests (Entry) | | Status: | Open | |
|
| Please make changes to the following inventory:
* Add 6 Part FTBushPF Green Plant, Tree Flat Bush plain with feet (Alternate) (match ID 1)
* Add 6 Part FTPinePF Green Plant, Tree Flat Pine plain with feet (Alternate) (match ID 2)
* Change 6 Part Green FTBushP Plant, Tree Flat Bush plain {match ID 0 to 1}
* Change 6 Part Green FTPineP Plant, Tree Flat Pine plain {match ID 0 to 2}
Comments from Submitter:
Source - Boxed set, original owner
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Apr 26, 2016 17:57 | | Subject: | Re: Add select all checkbox to wanted list | | Viewed: | 27 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, tEoS writes:
| | On each Wanted List: Move, Delete & Query Shops each have a select all checkbox
at the top. Please add one to Notify.
|
Could have used this today.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Apr 21, 2016 10:57 | | Subject: | Re: RSS Feed for Stores | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TheFamilyBrick writes:
| | Hi,
Where can I find the RSS feed for a store?
Thanks!
|
There aren't any, but it would be great if there were. I voted yes.
You can subscribe to announcements from a store, and you can manually send out
announcements to everyone who opts in by subscribing to your store.
An RSS feed for new listings, or an option in the listing process to add a listing
to the shop's RSS feed would be very useful. It would also be fairly simple
using XML.
If Bricklink doesn't do it, it would be a nice extra feature in apps like
Brickstock, which could generate RSS XML from upload files.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Apr 11, 2016 16:49 | | Subject: | Re: The simple solution is "give us the median Price" | | Viewed: | 51 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, yorbrick writes:
| | How are you going to range the data when all data is varying by 1c, then someone
lists a $1m price?
|
No matter what method is used, you can dream up some data set where it would
not work as expected. But the pool of BL sellers is large enough that for the
vast majority of parts you can obtain an accurate mode. Then you can define a
range on either side of it to allow for variations from currency conversions,
rounding, etc.
Yes, it could still be gamed, by the method Marc mentions, for example, but it
would take more effort than it currently takes to shift the mean.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Apr 11, 2016 15:33 | | Subject: | Re: The simple solution is "give us the median Price" | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, yorbrick writes:
| | That is not so good for a multi currency site though, where prices can be slightly
different due to rounding and people pricing slightly differently are not pricing
the same. If someone is selling at 19.43c and someone else at 18c and 20c and
someone else at 20.2c, then two people sell at $8, do buyers want to be told
$8 is the mode?
|
I don't know if there's a setting to change this, but the default setting
in the price guide rounds to two decimal places, so that would smooth things
out, especially for parts under 1 unit of currency. For more expensive items,
like sets, a range could be defined. This is just simple math, something computers
are very good at doing quickly.
Your example is very small, and it's the case with any method that a small
number of data points are going to give less certain results. There are some
parts and sets with only a few listed, but for most items the mode will not be
skewed.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Apr 11, 2016 14:09 | | Subject: | Re: The simple solution is "give us the median Price" | | Viewed: | 53 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, BrickItYourself writes:
| | In Suggestions, graphite37 writes:
| | In Suggestions, BrickItYourself writes:
| | In Suggestions, DallasBricks writes:
| | All of this goes away if Bricklink will either replace the average with the median
price or Add the median price as a part out value option.
David
|
Again, this is only half the issue, no one is addressing the fact that sellers
can manipulate this data to drive traffic (mostly unwanted) to their stores,
this is with Super Lot binding and also making absurd prices to drive traffic
to stores.
|
They could change it so that you set the total price for the superlot and the
prices of the individual items are automatically set to a prorated value based
on the average prices of the items in the lot.
|
again this formula could be manipulated by adding extra crud lots to the super
lot. but it is an idea in the right direction.
|
I think the most useful information for both buyers and sellers would be neither
the mean nor the median but the mode - the most common price. That's really
what people want to know; what is the price most shops are selling the item for?
Both the median and the mean can be skewed by outliers, but the mode is unaffected
by the odd very low or very high listing.
As an example, look at the black 3001 brick. The average list price new (the
mean) is $0.19. The median is $0.18. The mode is $0.17. And the actual average
selling price is $0.17.
It's a similar story for the used ones - Mean list price is $0.13, mode is
$0.10, average sale price is $0.10.
Outliers are easy to spot if you go to the full price guide, but if you want
to sum things up in one number, the mode gets closest to the information people
really want. If you want to charge the "going rate" you can charge the mode.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Apr 11, 2016 11:58 | | Subject: | Re: Price Manipulating - What Prevention? | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| Not sure which terms you're looking at, perhaps the ones for larger businesses.
The language in the terms for individual sellers really couldn't be simpler:
"Individual sellers may not list items at a price in excess of $10,000 (US Dollars).
Individual sellers approved to list in the Collectible Books category are not
subject to this limitation."
(I would link to it, but amazon sells Lego, of course, so not allowed. Google
will get you there.)
In other words - in lay terms, if you will - amazon caps prices at US$10,000
for all categories but one, for which a seller needs approval.
So, again, if this is price fixing, or is a restraint of trade, or is otherwise
illegal, there's some money to be made, here.
If, on the other hand, this is none of those things, then it is something BL
could consider.
You have given your informed opinion. It conflicts with actual practice at other
similar sites. That's a fact that is pretty clear without any special legal
training required.
If you are just concerned about who is "right" about this, take your beef to
amazon. I didn't come up with Amazon's policy, so it's not I who
am claiming to know more than you. I'm just pointing out that your theoretical
bluster on the legal issues here do not align with the real world, as is often
the case.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Apr 11, 2016 07:31 | | Subject: | Re: Price Manipulating - What Prevention? | | Viewed: | 87 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, ToriHada writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | his usual hostility and baiting sarcasm
|
Like I said, you don't know what you are talking about. Mainly because you
don't understand the law and, like almost every other layperson, over-simplify
things and use anecdotal examples with subtle distinctions that really don't
say much.
Since nuances in the English language came up in this thread, I will use that
as an analogy to illustrate my point about how laypeople don't understand
the law.
To a non-native English speaker who has only a rudimentary knowledge of the English
language and its complex grammatical rules, these statements all appear to be
similar and have essentially the same meaning:
"She told him that she loved him.”
“She only told him that she loved him.”
“She told only him that she loved him.”
“She told him only that she loved him.”
“She told him that only she loved him.”
"She told him that she only loved him.”
“She told him that she loved only him.”
However, native English speakers and those more extensively trained in English
will understand that while these sentences appear similar, the movement of one
single word significantly changes the meanings of each sentence.
Another example:
"My brother’s friend’s dogs..."
"My brother’s friends’ dogs..."
"My brothers’ friend’s dogs..."
"My brothers’ friends’ dogs..."
Here, the slight change in placement of an apostrophe changes the meaning of
each sentence. A small change those having only a basic knowledge of English
can easily miss.
And another example:
"We invited the dogs, William, and Harry.”
“We invited the dogs, William and Harry.”
Even to native English speakers, these two sentences may appear the same. But
they are not. Those having a more thorough education in English grammar and punctuation,
especially the Oxford Comma, will understand that a single comma greatly changes
the meanings of these two sentences. In the first sentence, we’re talking about
two people called William and Harry as well as more than one dog. In the second
sentence, however, the missing Oxford comma makes it sound as though the dogs’
names are William and Harry.
Law is very much like these examples. Two factual scenarios may seem virtually
identical to the untrained layperson. But the presence or absence of a single
seemingly minor variable (easily missed by laypersons) can result in completely
opposite legal outcomes. Lawyers are trained to notice these minute differences
and the legal significance they can have.
When I use the term "layperson", it is not meant to insult anyone or suggest
they are stupid. Not at all. It just means they aren't trained in legal analysis.
Doctors certainly aren't stupid. But they are as much a layperson as a plumber
when it comes to the law. The same way a lawyer is a layperson when it comes
to medicine or aeronautical engineering.
Thor
|
Classic troll-jitsu - ignore the substance of the matter by deflecting it into
a discussion on grammar, punctuation or semantics.
When I use the term "layperson" I mean someone not professionally qualified in
a field. You are not professionally qualified in the field of law. You are not
an attorney. You are a layperson - in the same way a doctor who retires and no
longer maintains his medical license becomes a layperson. He would not, ethically,
treat patients.
Likewise, a retired attorney who does not have a license, would not, ethically,
pretend to give a qualified legal opinion. He is a layperson, no matter how many
nifty grammatical exercises he copies and pastes from the internet.
But, again, you are avoiding the substance of my remarks. Why - in your informed,
but non-expert opinion - is Amazon allowed to place a cap on prices but Bricklink
would not be?
My lay opinion is that this would not lead to any legal issues. My lay opinion
is based on my first-hand knowledge of current, accepted business practices among
online marketplace venues like eBay and Amazon, where I have been doing business
for many years.
Your lay opinion is based on sorbates and (I think?) on a language game you found
on reddit or somewhere.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Apr 10, 2016 23:33 | | Subject: | Re: Price Manipulating - What Prevention? | | Viewed: | 74 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, ToriHada writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, ToriHada writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, maggiec writes:
| | In Suggestions, ToriHada writes:
| | Voted no. As others have repeatedly mentioned, BrickLink should not be in the
business of policing, limiting, dictating, challenging or questioning prices,
or punishing sellers for their prices. Apart from the obvious legal constraints,
there is the arbitrary subjective element of defining what is an "absurd" price.
There are better ways to handle this so-called "problem" that don't involve
legal risks or arbitrariness:
http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=483330
http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=483378
Thor
|
I agree. I also would vote no but this shouldn't even be a suggestion. IANAL
but I can't imagine it would be legal to dictate the prices at which sellers
can list their items, no matter how outrageous.
|
Bricklink is a corporation that sets its own terms of use for this site. It could
tell us we have to sell all bricks for 5 cents each if it wanted, and our options
would be sell bricks for a nickel here or go sell bricks somewhere else.
It can't tell you what to do in transactions outside of Bricklink, but it
certainly can set whatever terms it wants as conditions of using its service.
|
Hogwash! Nothing would be more blatant illegal price-fixing than BrickLink telling
multiple competing sellers to price things at the same price. It is these sort
of erroneous lay opinions about the law that keep lawyers so busy and well off.
Thor
|
Well now this is interesting that you criticize my response for being a "lay
opinion," because that implies that your opinion is not a "lay opinion."
That in turn implies that you are an attorney eligible to practice law.
But I don't think you are.
But regardless; Those of us with practical experience selling online at other
venues can attest that setting maximums for prices and other fees is in fact
a common practice. Amazon, for example, has a cap on prices of $10,000 except
for certain categories like rare, collectible books. Ebay restricts how much
sellers are allowed to charge for shipping. It also sets a minimum price for
items sold through its site, depending on category and format.
None of this is an argument in favor of or against Bricklink doing something
similar. It's just a reality check from outside of Cloud Cuckoo Land. Bricklink
is not our government. It does not have a monopoly on the second-hand brick market.
If it were to adopt policies similar to other venues, it would not be a violation
of your inalienable rights or price fixing or the end of civilization. We're
paying to use a service, here, not participating in some utopian experiment for
brick lovers.
|
Sigh... It is pointless to argue law with laypersons who have no legal training
or experience. They think all they have to do is cite snippets of some law, brief
Wikipedia summaries of a case or two (not even the actual case itself), or examples
of others doing something they want and that makes everything OK and legal. They
think it is really that easy. LOL. But they have no understanding of how seemingly
similar cases can be distinguished from each other based on small but important
factual differences. They have no understanding of the many nuances, complex
inter-connected relationships with numerous different laws, or the legal precedent
and caselaw that result in vastly different outcomes. They are incapable of THINKING
like a jurist because they don't have the training or experience to do so.
Law schools provide this essential training. It opens one's eyes and teaches
you to think differently about the incredible variety and complexity of laws
in our modern societies and how to interpret and apply them in a manner that
is attentive to minor details that can greatly influence one's conclusions.
Much the same way medical school trains one to think like a doctor and diagnose
complex medical problems. Most people would agree that they should not rely
upon medical advice or diagnoses provided by laypersons. Yet many seem perfectly
content to believe legal opinions provided by laypersons. And again, this partly
explains why so many people find themselves in legal trouble and keep the legal
profession so busy.
So yes BrickLink... PLEASE rely on 62Bricks' opinion that BL can require
every seller to price every item at the exact same price. PLEASE follow the OP's
opinion that it is OK for BL to dictate the minimum or maximum prices that nearly
10,000 competing sellers must follow. PLEASE! Because it would be a great retirement
bonus for me.
And to 62bricks... Since you seem to have done some research on my off-BrickLink
life (which is kind of creepy), let me complete it for you and respond to your
not so veiled comments questioning my background and qualifications to comment
about the law. I graduated with honors from Tulane Law School in 1985 and received
my license to practice law in the State of Hawaii. In 1986, I was admitted to
practice before the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court.
I practiced business law for nearly a quarter century. Among other things, I
actually represented clients in the USA, Europe, Canada and Japan in antitrust
matters, including one of the biggest and longest price-fixing cartels in history.
A price-fixing scheme involving sorbates that cost a half dozen or so companies
(one of whom was my client) collectively more than one BILLION dollars in fines
and civil class action settlements. I am currently RETIRED from legal practice
because I moved outside of Hawaii and started an international consulting business
in North Carolina focused on biotechnology transfer between the USA and Japan.
My legal license in Hawaii is no longer active because I am RETIRED, no longer
practice law in Hawaii or elsewhere, and because I saw no need to continue paying
nearly $1000 each year in bar association dues. This, however, does not detract
from the fact that, unlike you and your fellow laypersons in this thread, I have
the necessary legal training and experience to know what I am talking about.
And because implementation of this suggestion could affect me and my continued
enjoyment of BrickLink, I have every right to express my legal and other concerns
about it.
But of course, you know much more about this complex legal issue.
Thor
|
Maybe pay those bar dues and get a class action suit together against Amazon
for setting maximum prices for sellers using their venue service, since you have
the expertise. Why waste your time among all us laypeople? You obviously know
more than the legal departments of eBay and Amazon. Seems kind of pathetic to
waste that superior knowledge bullying bricksellers.
I think you probably understand that "sell every brick for a nickel" was meant
to be a rhetorical exaggeration to make the larger point that Bricklink could
indeed address the inflated list price practice if it wanted, and it could do
it without getting into legal trouble for price fixing. But your regular practice
is to sieze on these obviously rhetorical statements, treat them literally, and
drive them into oblivion with what you imagine is an overwhelming legal argument,
but is actually just sarcastic bluster and insult based on your apparent belief
that a law career has qualified you to run a retail business.
But my own 20 years in retail and 30 years in business altogether informs me
that your legal experience has not educated you very well on how to run a retail
operation. Your views are impractical and do not reflect modern business practices
or standards of customer service. You are unfamiliar with how other venues have
addressed the same issues Bricklink faces. Neither are you willing to learn more,
apparently, because your typical response to anyone pointing out that you are
misinformed is to do exactly what you have done here, which is to say, in essence,
"I used to be a lawyer, so everyone should shut up."
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Apr 10, 2016 21:29 | | Subject: | Re: Price Manipulating - What Prevention? | | Viewed: | 80 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, ToriHada writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, maggiec writes:
| | In Suggestions, ToriHada writes:
| | Voted no. As others have repeatedly mentioned, BrickLink should not be in the
business of policing, limiting, dictating, challenging or questioning prices,
or punishing sellers for their prices. Apart from the obvious legal constraints,
there is the arbitrary subjective element of defining what is an "absurd" price.
There are better ways to handle this so-called "problem" that don't involve
legal risks or arbitrariness:
http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=483330
http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=483378
Thor
|
I agree. I also would vote no but this shouldn't even be a suggestion. IANAL
but I can't imagine it would be legal to dictate the prices at which sellers
can list their items, no matter how outrageous.
|
Bricklink is a corporation that sets its own terms of use for this site. It could
tell us we have to sell all bricks for 5 cents each if it wanted, and our options
would be sell bricks for a nickel here or go sell bricks somewhere else.
It can't tell you what to do in transactions outside of Bricklink, but it
certainly can set whatever terms it wants as conditions of using its service.
|
Hogwash! Nothing would be more blatant illegal price-fixing than BrickLink telling
multiple competing sellers to price things at the same price. It is these sort
of erroneous lay opinions about the law that keep lawyers so busy and well off.
Thor
|
Well now this is interesting that you criticize my response for being a "lay
opinion," because that implies that your opinion is not a "lay opinion."
That in turn implies that you are an attorney eligible to practice law.
But I don't think you are.
But regardless; Those of us with practical experience selling online at other
venues can attest that setting maximums for prices and other fees is in fact
a common practice. Amazon, for example, has a cap on prices of $10,000 except
for certain categories like rare, collectible books. Ebay restricts how much
sellers are allowed to charge for shipping. It also sets a minimum price for
items sold through its site, depending on category and format.
None of this is an argument in favor of or against Bricklink doing something
similar. It's just a reality check from outside of Cloud Cuckoo Land. Bricklink
is not our government. It does not have a monopoly on the second-hand brick market.
If it were to adopt policies similar to other venues, it would not be a violation
of your inalienable rights or price fixing or the end of civilization. We're
paying to use a service, here, not participating in some utopian experiment for
brick lovers.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Apr 10, 2016 20:18 | | Subject: | Re: Price Manipulating - What Prevention? | | Viewed: | 66 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, maggiec writes:
| | In Suggestions, ToriHada writes:
| | Voted no. As others have repeatedly mentioned, BrickLink should not be in the
business of policing, limiting, dictating, challenging or questioning prices,
or punishing sellers for their prices. Apart from the obvious legal constraints,
there is the arbitrary subjective element of defining what is an "absurd" price.
There are better ways to handle this so-called "problem" that don't involve
legal risks or arbitrariness:
http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=483330
http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=483378
Thor
|
I agree. I also would vote no but this shouldn't even be a suggestion. IANAL
but I can't imagine it would be legal to dictate the prices at which sellers
can list their items, no matter how outrageous.
|
Bricklink is a corporation that sets its own terms of use for this site. It could
tell us we have to sell all bricks for 5 cents each if it wanted, and our options
would be sell bricks for a nickel here or go sell bricks somewhere else.
It can't tell you what to do in transactions outside of Bricklink, but it
certainly can set whatever terms it wants as conditions of using its service.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 20, 2016 10:08 | | Subject: | Re: Stop Linking to LUGNET | | Viewed: | 78 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, StormChaser writes:
Which saddens me, although I cannot say I contributed much to keep it alive lately.
I registered for Lugnet by mail. That would have been almost 20 years
ago. '97 or '98 maybe?
Now... What's my Brickshelf password...
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 18, 2016 22:01 | | Subject: | Re: A potential huge improvement to the catalog | | Viewed: | 50 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, therobo writes:
| | In Suggestions, Jordioteque writes:
| | Hi,
After well over a year on Bricklink, I've noticed one huge gap in the catalog,
particularly when trying to identify pieces:
Is there any way that all stickered/printed variations of a certain part could
be listed on that part's page? Peeron does something similar, and though
the catalog isn't nearly as extensive as BL, it's usually faster for
me to look on Peeron for a certain stickered piece instead of trying to search/scroll
through the BL category of all of the hundreds of "such-and-such part with patterns."
Of course, the part numbers are different on Peeron, which forces me to take
the additional step of finding the precise set on BL, looking in the inventory,
and then going to the stickered part's page.
It would vastly improve Bricklink for the stickered/printed variations to be
listed on the parts page -- preferably with pictures, but that's not
necessary. It seems like it'd be a crucial ease-of-use improvement for many
people like me who buy loose lots and have to hunt down thousands of pieces a
year.
Thanks!
-Jordan
|
Hi,
as linked by Robert you could do a search for decorated parts of a certain mold
by entering the base part number with an asterisk added, example 3069* which
would give you all decorated 1x2 tiles.
The only thing catalog admins could do - your request is directed to us - is
adding a relationship for parts with pattern/no pattern similar to stickered/non-stickered
counterparts that we already have for minifigs.
However, such a relationship for parts is unpractical on the current page design
(which we can't change) as for the example of the 1x2 tiles it would show
a huge list of 527 entries on a single catalog page.
Your idea is not new and was suggested several times in the past but it needs
a re-design of the current catalog pages, for example by expanding an area of
the page or by adding a new tab.
I have moved your post to suggestions, then maybe the developers will look into
it.
Regards
Ronald
|
It would be a simple thing to link to the search results for decorated versions
of the part from the catalog entry, similar to how links to similar and related
parts are linked. Plain HTML, no redesign required, automatically updates because
it links to search results.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 18, 2016 12:53 | | Subject: | Re: A potential huge improvement to the catalog | | Viewed: | 54 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Catalog Requests, Rob_and_Shelagh writes:
| | In Catalog Requests, Jordioteque writes:
| | Hi,
After well over a year on Bricklink, I've noticed one huge gap in the catalog,
particularly when trying to identify pieces:
Is there any way that all stickered/printed variations of a certain part could
be listed on that part's page? Peeron does something similar, and though
the catalog isn't nearly as extensive as BL, it's usually faster for
me to look on Peeron for a certain stickered piece instead of trying to search/scroll
through the BL category of all of the hundreds of "such-and-such part with patterns."
Of course, the part numbers are different on Peeron, which forces me to take
the additional step of finding the precise set on BL, looking in the inventory,
and then going to the stickered part's page.
It would vastly improve Bricklink for the stickered/printed variations to be
listed on the parts page -- preferably with pictures, but that's not
necessary. It seems like it'd be a crucial ease-of-use improvement for many
people like me who buy loose lots and have to hunt down thousands of pieces a
year.
Thanks!
-Jordan
|
Like this?
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?pg=1&q=3069%2A&catLike=W&v=2
Robert
|
I would say not like that. That requires knowing the part number and doing a
wildcard search. The OP I think is suggesting something like making the decorated
parts a true subcategory of the part, or linking to them from the entry for the
blank part. It's a good idea. You should be able to get to the decorated
versions of a part by browsing rather than having to know part and pattern numbers.
I suggested this once and was sneered at by a catalog admin who said it could
never work.
But of course it could work. And it would be useful. In the meantime, OP, check
out http://goatleg.com/decorated.html It is designed to let you browse decorated
parts based on the part type and color. It narrows down the options quickly.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 17, 2016 08:44 | | Subject: | Re: Display of bulk items in Stores | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Balokki writes:
| | Please change the way bulk items are displayed in the Store list, it's very
confusing for some customer.
For example, they think that the "(x2)" means that the item is sold in pairs
(qty 2 = 4 items).
My suggestion:
1) Remove the "(x...)" on the left of "Qty: ..."
2) Add the following line below the item description: "Bulk item: to buy in multiples
of ..."
Roberto
|
I also find this confusing. It needs to be more clear.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Dec 12, 2015 11:48 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Set 970013-1 | | Viewed: | 23 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| In Inventories Requests, viejos writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, StormChaser writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, viejos writes:
| | Well that certainly changes things. Some of those entries are also missing year
of release and large images.
|
I agree with you and felt the same way until I was able to find them in other
catalogs. I'll add catalog pictures of the sets we're discussing.
I would like to have a more complete set of Educational catalogs, but I can't
see spending what people are asking for the things:
|
I don't know if I still have that one, but I'll check my collection.
There are some sites out there with Dacta material, and I also know some folks
who have almost everything. The problem always is time. Once I start digging
into catalogs, by the time I've found what I'm looking for, I rediscover
another 4 or 5 projects I had been working on before.
|
The LEGO Education site has a somewhat active forum, as well. It's primarily
aimed at educators using the sets in the classroom, but educators in general
are a helpful bunch. Love to answer questions.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Dec 9, 2015 20:21 | | Subject: | Re: How do your customers come to your store? | | Viewed: | 68 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Cyndis_Bricks writes:
| | I am wondering, how do my shoppers/buyers come into our store?
Could/will BrickLink somehow track how our customers come to the store?
Wanted list notifications
Wanted list
Wanted list by shop
Forum Post
Catalog search
If I am looking at my Wanted list, and then click on a store, from that, BL could
track/send to that store, where I was and clicked on their store. Not to let
the store know who is in the store, but where are their shoppers/buyers searching
and then getting to our store.
Would or could this be a good thing for sellers to know? What say you?
|
Absolutely. If you host your own splash page, you can install your own tracking
to tell how people get to your splash page. But once they start browsing your
item listings, you lose track of them. Bricklink is tracking them, however, and
there are ways they can share that information with sellers. Other similar sites
do this for sellers.
It really is considered a standard feature at other marketplace sites. Bricklink
is way behind (as it is on many things) and I expect this will eventually be
added here.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Oct 26, 2015 19:12 | | Subject: | Re: Revsion to NPB process (addendum to Foster's) | | Viewed: | 28 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Rob_and_Shelagh writes:
| | OK, here's my stab at making the process fairer.
1. A store must state how long they take from receipt of an order to invoice.
This would need to be a defined field in the system and form part of the buyer/seller
agreement. If a store does not invoice within that time a buyer would be given
the OPTION to raise an NIS (non-invoicing seller alert) and the seller would
have 3 days to respond otherwise the buyer could cancel the order at that point
in time with no penalty and the seller could not leave non-positive FB. The seller
needs the option of responding to the NIS as sometimes invoices ARE sent but
the buyer has not received them.
2. The countdown for a seller to file an NPB should be changed from 7 days from
the order input date to (suggest) 5 days from the invoice or the number of days
it took the seller to raise the invoice after placement of the order, whichever
is the greater number.
3. 3 days after an NPB is raised the seller has the option to cancel the order
and re-sell his inventory if the buyer has still not paid. In this case the buyer
cannot leave negative feedback for the seller (as now).
Obviously it is intended that normal communication would ideally avoid use of
the NPB system.
Robert
|
I got the impression from the roundtable that Bricklink wants to make instant
checkout the standard. If payment is made at the time of ordering there will
be no need for invoices, quotes, etc. Manual invoicing may have to remain an
option, but I think the intention is to make it the exception, not the rule.
Another part of this is that along with feedback, sellers will have information
displayed about how long they take, on average, to fulfill orders.
The goal is the same - reduce the number of unpaid/unshipped orders. But it tackles
it from the transaction side, not by making more rules.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Aug 22, 2015 19:18 | | Subject: | Re: Changes to catalog part view are terrible. | | Viewed: | 43 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, viejos writes:
| | In Suggestions, Nigel_Hill writes:
| | Hi. I'm sorry to be so negative but the changes to the catalog's part
view page are TERRIBLE.
I buy on BrickLink, I sell on BrickLink, but BrickLink is also an invaluable
resource when building. I need to be able to look up a part and see at a glance
the whole list of known colours and what ones are currently being sold. It is
really not acceptable to load the page and then have to click a drop down list
to see colors, then click known colors, then scroll just to see what those are,
and then have to do more work to see what is being sold of each. It's really,
really, really not useful compared to the old page layout. The old page layout
had this visible immediately when the part page loaded.
Please change this back as soon as possible. There should be a list of all known
colors and a list of all colors for sale at a minimum. This is important because
there may be known colors of some parts but they aren't for sale.
Also, it's generally bad idea in UI design to use a drop down list with more
than 8 or so options. If this cannot be changed back then the drop down list
should at least be made bigger so you don't have to scroll.
|
I switched this to a suggestion so people could vote. I say, bring back the colors.
|
Has it been established that this is a format change and not just a bug or a
temporary experiment? The tabs are still coded into the pages, they just aren't
being displayed. If you are handy with Firefox and CSS you can get them back.
Makes me think it's not a permanent format change.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 25, 2015 23:31 | | Subject: | Re: Buy and View buttons on new catalog page | | Viewed: | 32 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, JulieK writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, JulieK writes:
|
| | | |
Here is my suggestion: I think that the Buy button should instead say "View list
of Sellers" or shops. Then after clicking on that button the screen jumps to
the list of stores with a "Go Buy It" type of button.
Julie
|
This is one of those things I think is only confusing to those used to the old
way. I'm sure the idea is to have the "call to action" button highly visible
in a prominent spot. That is the "Buy" button. That takes you to a list of items
for sale, each of which you can "view" in individual shops. It makes sense to
me and I think a new user will easily see the logic.
|
That button should be highly visible, however I think it's mislabeled. The
"Buy" button does not let you buy (put in your cart and check out). It is simply
a short cut to view items lower on the same page.
The button that takes users to the place where they can actually put items in
their cart and checkout should say "Buy" (not view).
Julie
|
The new design incorporates the catalog and the items for sale. It is possible
just to keep the inventory tab or the color tab or the price guide tab open as
you browse the site and never see the items for sale. That button at the top
needs to be a "call to action" and the action we want is for someone to buy something
from one of the sellers who has that part. It needs to say "Buy" so it reinforces
what we want the buyer to do.
This is commercial web design 101. No, the "buy" button does not go directly
to the page where you put things in your cart, but that's not its purpose.
Its purpose is to clearly mark the way to buy something in the clearest possible
way. Buy - View - Add to cart.
It serves the same purpose as the most-clicked link on the homepage, the one
that reads "Buy LEGO." This also does not take you directly to a page where you
can add something to your cart. In fact, it takes you nowhere near it: "Buy LEGO"
- [pick a category] - [pick another category] - [click through pages until you
see the item] - [click the item] - Go Buy It - Add to cart.
As the shopping pages are simplified and improved, the "Buy LEGO" path from the
homepage will also become easier and more clear.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 25, 2015 22:36 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Minifig col056 | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| In Inventories Requests, jamesuniverse writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, RedFiveKBS writes:
| | Please make changes to the following inventory:
* 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
|
It's true that the hockey stick is probably considered an accessory for this
particular figure, but it is also true that the definition of what is an "accessory"
is not consistent in the collectible minifig entries so new users can be forgiven
for getting confused.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 25, 2015 22:34 | | Subject: | Re: Buy and View buttons on new catalog page | | Viewed: | 33 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, JulieK writes:
| | About the look...I liked how the old version had everything nicely condensed
on the item for sale page. In one little area we could see and link to so much:
quantity, price, catalog link, wanted list link, store sells to me indicator,
sellers about me icon and a Go Buy it button. (I especially don't like how
the quantity is off to the side,and separate from the price.)
The button on the new catalog page says "Buy" (upper right corner). Clicking
on that button just jumps the page down to the listings where there are a bunch
of buttons that say "View". I think it should say "Go Buy It" rather than "View",
making it obvious for new buyers they are getting one step closer to making a
purchase.
If I were new, I'd be confused as I already hit the buy button, but it just
took me to a list with a bunch of view buttons. If I were new I might think,
"I'm all ready viewing!" Maybe change it to "View in Store"? Or better yet...
Here is my suggestion: I think that the Buy button should instead say "View list
of Sellers" or shops. Then after clicking on that button the screen jumps to
the list of stores with a "Go Buy It" type of button.
Julie
|
This is one of those things I think is only confusing to those used to the old
way. I'm sure the idea is to have the "call to action" button highly visible
in a prominent spot. That is the "Buy" button. That takes you to a list of items
for sale, each of which you can "view" in individual shops. It makes sense to
me and I think a new user will easily see the logic.
Keep in mind that the bottom half of the page is now divided into tabs, and the
tabs are persistent - if you have the color information tab open on one catalog
page, then that is the tab that will open on the next catalog page you visit.
The Buy button then serves a dual purpose - it opens the Items for Sale tab and
scrolls to the top of the list.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 19, 2015 11:14 | | Subject: | Re: Add Optional Default to Older Listings | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, StormChaser writes:
| | In Suggestions, randyf writes:
| | I have the exact opposite opinion.
I like the new layout
|
If you had no previous experience with BrickLink and were asked to choose which
of the two attached photos shows a catalog entry easiest to use, then would you
still prefer the second photo over the first?
I prefer the first. If I'm opening numerous catalog entries in quick succession
(to view only years of release, for example), then the first photo makes that
easiest for me. The blank space around each bit of information makes seeing
and comprehending that information quickly easier for me.
I did give the new catalog listings pages a workout, by the way, before posting
my suggestion. I'm not reflexively anti-change and I don't tend towards
nostalgia regarding Old BrickLink. I don't hate the new layout and I hope
it drives sales as intended. But I do think that the older page was better suited
for working with the catalog than the new page.
BrickLink isn't a democracy, but if they're going to let the old layout
stay around then we definitely should be able to opt in to use it as a default.
Thank you for your vote of yes, by the way.
|
It's difficult to judge objectively because I am already used to looking
where I know the information is on the old page. I do have to hunt a little on
the new pages, but after a week or so I expect I'll be able to find the info
just as quickly.
In addition to the whitespace around the data another difference is that the
data headings are in gray and the data is in black on the old pages. That makes
it easier to focus directly on the data. Doing something similar for the new
page would help with readability, especially now that the headings and the data
are on the same line.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 18, 2015 14:49 | | Subject: | Re: Images for parts categories | | Viewed: | 34 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, chetzler writes:
| | I was reading in another thread about how a large percentage of site visitors
click on the "buy" tab and then don't go anywhere else. I got to thinking
that maybe a list of parts categories is just overwhelming for some people especially
non-AFOLs.
I could envision the first page after clicking "buy" about the same (although
the "sets", "parts", etc. links could be enhanced with images) but once a visitor
clicks on "parts" I think it would really be helpful to have an image for each
parts category showing some of the more common parts in that category. This
way visitors can get a basic idea of what it means to be a "brick, modified"
or a "container" even if the part they're looking for is not on the category
image link. It would certainly take up more space but at the same time I think
it would make it easier (especially for a new visitor) to browse to the correct
category.
I'm a very visual person (I suspect maybe a lot of my fellow AFOLs are also),
and I think this could help retain site visitors. You could even have a link
at the bottom with something like, "Still can't find what you're looking
for? Ask in the forum," that takes the user right to a guest account for posting
in the forum. This would also introduce them to the community which is one of
BrickLink's major assets that sets us apart.
I'd even be happy to provide some images for the various categories.
-Chris
|
BL is thinking along the same lines. They have been arranging the categories
into larger groups and will have representative images for each one. The current
categories are not changing, they will just be putting related ones together
to give people a simpler overview of how things are organized.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2015 08:38 | | Subject: | Re: Change order status to Completed | | Viewed: | 49 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TakeAbricK writes:
| | In my opinion the only one that knows if an order is 100% completed is the Buyer,
not the Seller. Only the buyer can change status to received, but both buyer
and seller can change status to completed.
Status Received:
Package has been received but the buyer has not yet verified the contents on
the package.
As a buyer I Always use this, until I verified the contents, which can take a
while, depending on how many orders I receive at once, how big the orders are
and if I can find time to check.
I like it to have this great reminder to do so:
... Orders received, change status when completed
Now I experienced several times, that the seller changed status to completed.
Which is not correct, because I still didn't check the order yet. Besides
I now lost my reminder which tells me I still have to verify this order and leave
feedback.
As a seller I understand that it's nice to know when an order is completed
and that buyer's do change order status, but it's not up to the seller
to decide if an order is received and 100% correct.
My Suggestion:
Only allow the Buyer to change status to Completed.
Diana
|
How about getting rid of the order update system instead?
Already a buyer placing a typical order on Bricklink is expected to:
1. Checkout the cart and wait for an invoice
2. Return to BL or his e-mail to read the invoice
3. Go to another site to enter and make payment
(3a. One seller I bought from wants the buyer to mark the order as paid
so she knows which orders on her screen to ship!)
4. Return to BL and mark the order as Received when it arrives
5. Return once more to BL and mark the order Completed after checking the contents
and to leave feedback.
That's five (possibly six) trips to the computer to complete a Bricklink
order, stretched out over a week or so, in most cases. Is it any wonder buyers
stop participating in the process once they have their bricks in hand?
Why do we need a "received" and "completed" status at all? Get rid of them. The
order is complete when the buyer leaves feedback.
Buyers want to order and pay in one visit. They are also accustomed from using
other sites to return - at their convenience - to leave feedback after the order
is received and everything is good. Rather than put sellers even more at the
mercy of this arcane system by making "completed" a buyer-only function, let's
just join the modern world on this one and make it simple. We need to stop asking
buyers to jump through five hoops every time they want to buy something.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 6, 2015 18:34 | | Subject: | Re: search including parts in a part or in a set | | Viewed: | 27 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TomHop writes:
| | After a brief search I could not find anything on the following, so there goes
my first post.
Sometimes I have parts like a hinge plate 1 x 2 with 1 finger (the old hinges)
on my wanted list.
This can be found
- as such , just this part
- in a parts assembly (together with the 2 finger hinge plate)
- in a set
If I search for any directly I can find them, no problem.
Nevertheless an option like "include part assembly in search" and/or "include
sets in search" would save me doing 3 different searches, besides possibly adding
all possible combinations to my wanted lists (risking missing out on a good purchase
or duplicating parts).
I would expect an option like this in the wanted list, (search and shop options),
shop search and catalog search for example.
To avoid massive search results ( if you have big wanted lists and/or very common
parts on the wanted list) a tickbox could be added at wanted list item level:
to indicate whether you want this to be eligable for the above options or not.
I am looking for feedback on the idea. Did I simply mis an option that I can
use? How can I propose it to the administrators?
Thanks for reading and feedback is really apreciated
Best regards,
Tom
|
I don't believe there is a way to simultaneously search part and set inventories
- one at a time, yes, but not all at once.
But have you checked out the preview of the new search function at http://preview.bricklink.com
? The developers of the site are thinking along the same lines as you and the
new default search type will be "All Items." Results will be displayed from all
categories (Parts, Sets, Custom, etc) on one page with tabs to filter the types.
As it is, this still does not search inventories simultaneously - if you use
it to search for "hinge" you will get hinge parts and some complete assemblies
(as long as the item names include the word "hinge") but the only set you get
is one that has the word "hinge" in the title, not sets with hinges in their
inventories.
I think it would be possible to create a search function like you describe, and
I think it would fit well within the proposed new search function.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 4, 2015 09:21 | | Subject: | Re: Ability to see what's new in a certain year | | Viewed: | 30 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | Though I'm no longer a MOCer, I feel a strong urge to suggest this simply
for the fact that its absense seems to be a hole in the catalog's functionality:
The ability to see everything that is released in a certain year.
(So not just new molds and decorations, but new part/colour combinations included)
I remember that on LUG forums AFOLs eagerly compile and share lists of new part
releases they discover. It's pretty vital and exciting info if you're
a builder, because if something is new, good chance you wanna know about it instead
of discovering a few years on "wow does that part come in that colour....?"
It seems like BL has making some kind of rudimentary attempt at this with the
"NEW" tags, but they are bugged, incomplete as well as vague and inflexible.
I think it's a bit awkward that AFOLs do their best to scrape this info together
while BL is just sitting on all that info, it's already there in the catalog,
all it needs is a door into it!
I think BL posted a little list about 2015 parts on Facebook not too long ago,
even I thought it was interesting even though I'm only selling. Would love
to see the full list!
(It would be a nice bonus if peripheral items could optionally be filtered out,
such as weird useless parts with 1 appearance or stickered/decorated items as
they tend to make up the bulk of what's new. But not strictly necessary.)
|
You mean something more detailed than the current Year search in the advanced
search function? That will currently allow you to browse parts by the year Bricklink
says they first appeared in a set (with the usual caveat on the reliability of
that information).
|
Yeah but that's only new molds and new decorations, I was referring to everything
that's new this year, including for example:
in blue
in green
Currently there's just no way to know this, even though it's fairly essential.
Imagine you made a MOC with some second choice kind of part because the part
you needed did not exist, and then it was released the next year. How do you
find out on Bricklink? You stuble into it by accident. Or you don't.
You will want to replace the parts you used by the parts you really wanted. Buyer
happy, seller happy
Of course, you can add it to your wishlist, but that'd be tedious to do if
you want to know about many new parts.
|
(cancelled for bad link)
You can take advantage of the fact that when a part is added in a new color a
new small image is usually created. You can browse new small images from the
main catalog page and filter them to limit only to parts and remove sticker sheets
and new patterns.
The bad thing about this method is that it appears to be limited to just the
past 30 days. If you checked it once a month, though, you'd be current. Also,
it counts updated small images as "new" - so if someone updates an old part color
with a better small image, it will show up.
One potential problem which might be an advantage, too, is that small images
are allowed for colors not yet in inventories. That means you could get a heads
up of a new color even before the part has been inventoried. Or you might get
your hopes up when really someone has just guessed the wrong shade of purple...
So for example, using this method I found that
has a new small image in yellowish green but has not been inventoried in that
color.
|
Cool. Good idea. Incidentally, according to Brickset that one is in several of
this year's Ninjago sets.
--
Marc.
|
Great - So this is an example of where watching the small images gives you information
in advance of the inventories. It would be nice if there was a way to add these
to the "known colors" list without waiting for them to be inventoried so buyers
(and other sellers) can have some confidence that they actually exist. When the
small image is just a render in the new color it's kind of hard to be sure
without looking for outside verification. Maybe if the small image were a photo,
or submitted by a well-trusted contributor it could be made "known?"
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 4, 2015 07:50 | | Subject: | Re: Ability to see what's new in a certain year | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, viejos writes:
| | In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
Nice! Even though it's obviously unreliable, it comes closest so far
|
Yes, but even if you see some old parts in there, that's not such a bad thing.
Look at all those nice Scala 3 x 6 tiles that were until recently not in the
Tile category. I can see that part (especially in those colors) as being "New"
to almost everybody and being very attractive items.
|
Absolutely. I myself was happy to see several older parts with new small images
because it tells me we have people working to shore up the historical item data
as well as keep up to date with the newest stuff.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 4, 2015 07:16 | | Subject: | Re: Ability to see what's new in a certain year | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | Though I'm no longer a MOCer, I feel a strong urge to suggest this simply
for the fact that its absense seems to be a hole in the catalog's functionality:
The ability to see everything that is released in a certain year.
(So not just new molds and decorations, but new part/colour combinations included)
I remember that on LUG forums AFOLs eagerly compile and share lists of new part
releases they discover. It's pretty vital and exciting info if you're
a builder, because if something is new, good chance you wanna know about it instead
of discovering a few years on "wow does that part come in that colour....?"
It seems like BL has making some kind of rudimentary attempt at this with the
"NEW" tags, but they are bugged, incomplete as well as vague and inflexible.
I think it's a bit awkward that AFOLs do their best to scrape this info together
while BL is just sitting on all that info, it's already there in the catalog,
all it needs is a door into it!
I think BL posted a little list about 2015 parts on Facebook not too long ago,
even I thought it was interesting even though I'm only selling. Would love
to see the full list!
(It would be a nice bonus if peripheral items could optionally be filtered out,
such as weird useless parts with 1 appearance or stickered/decorated items as
they tend to make up the bulk of what's new. But not strictly necessary.)
|
You mean something more detailed than the current Year search in the advanced
search function? That will currently allow you to browse parts by the year Bricklink
says they first appeared in a set (with the usual caveat on the reliability of
that information).
|
Yeah but that's only new molds and new decorations, I was referring to everything
that's new this year, including for example:
in blue
in green
Currently there's just no way to know this, even though it's fairly essential.
Imagine you made a MOC with some second choice kind of part because the part
you needed did not exist, and then it was released the next year. How do you
find out on Bricklink? You stuble into it by accident. Or you don't.
You will want to replace the parts you used by the parts you really wanted. Buyer
happy, seller happy
Of course, you can add it to your wishlist, but that'd be tedious to do if
you want to know about many new parts.
|
(cancelled for bad link)
You can take advantage of the fact that when a part is added in a new color a
new small image is usually created. You can browse new small images from the
main catalog page and filter them to limit only to parts and remove sticker sheets
and new patterns.
The bad thing about this method is that it appears to be limited to just the
past 30 days. If you checked it once a month, though, you'd be current. Also,
it counts updated small images as "new" - so if someone updates an old part color
with a better small image, it will show up.
One potential problem which might be an advantage, too, is that small images
are allowed for colors not yet in inventories. That means you could get a heads
up of a new color even before the part has been inventoried. Or you might get
your hopes up when really someone has just guessed the wrong shade of purple...
So for example, using this method I found that
has a new small image in yellowish green but has not been inventoried in that
color.
But there is a lot of good info there, too. For example in the last few days
these new colors for existing parts have been added:
in lavender,
in medium lavender and medium azure,
and in olive green
Here's the link to the last 30 days of new small images for non-patterned
parts: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?pg=1&q=-pattern+-sticker&catLike=W&viewImg=Y&imgType=S&sortBy=D&sortAsc=D&catType=P&v=1
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 3, 2015 21:33 | | Subject: | Re: Ability to see what's new in a certain year | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | Though I'm no longer a MOCer, I feel a strong urge to suggest this simply
for the fact that its absense seems to be a hole in the catalog's functionality:
The ability to see everything that is released in a certain year.
(So not just new molds and decorations, but new part/colour combinations included)
I remember that on LUG forums AFOLs eagerly compile and share lists of new part
releases they discover. It's pretty vital and exciting info if you're
a builder, because if something is new, good chance you wanna know about it instead
of discovering a few years on "wow does that part come in that colour....?"
It seems like BL has making some kind of rudimentary attempt at this with the
"NEW" tags, but they are bugged, incomplete as well as vague and inflexible.
I think it's a bit awkward that AFOLs do their best to scrape this info together
while BL is just sitting on all that info, it's already there in the catalog,
all it needs is a door into it!
I think BL posted a little list about 2015 parts on Facebook not too long ago,
even I thought it was interesting even though I'm only selling. Would love
to see the full list!
(It would be a nice bonus if peripheral items could optionally be filtered out,
such as weird useless parts with 1 appearance or stickered/decorated items as
they tend to make up the bulk of what's new. But not strictly necessary.)
|
You mean something more detailed than the current Year search in the advanced
search function? That will currently allow you to browse parts by the year Bricklink
says they first appeared in a set (with the usual caveat on the reliability of
that information).
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jun 24, 2015 06:54 | | Subject: | Re: Display number of orders store is yet to proc | | Viewed: | 33 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Grego writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| |
Again, this is only one small part of a well-thought-out plan to increase trust
and transparency for everyone. Yes, there will be dishonest sellers. When the
new verification and feedback systems are in place, it's going to be much
more difficult for dishonest sellers to get established and do business here.
This is just one part of that plan. Please look at the whole picture.
|
How is this well thought out?
The time from initial order placement until order shipping is under a number
of factors that are BUYER influenced.
1. Buyer adds multiple batches ....Does the clock get re-set after each new batch
is added?
2. Buyer is invoiced within seconds of ordering ... delays payment for days or
weeks ... and then after 1.9 weeks just before the NPB strike applies ... pays
with a PP e-cheque which adds another few days.
and the average processing time for the Seller plummets because of these types
of delays that have nothing to do with order processing time but with buyer caused
delays.
Hopefully a well thought out plan has figured out how to factor these delays
into the mix .... or is it another case of it's no the Seller's fault,
but it is the Seller's problem?
|
The measurement is from payment to shipping, not order placement, so these examples
do not apply.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jun 23, 2015 23:38 | | Subject: | Re: Display number of orders store is yet to proc | | Viewed: | 34 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Id writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, Id writes:
| | | |
One of the improvements being considered for the feedback system is to display
the average order fulfillment time so you have an idea of how long you are likely
to wait.
|
Order fulfillment is in the most general sense the complete process from point
of sales inquiry to delivery of a product to the customer
|
|
| | The proposal is that the clock stops when the seller marks the order as shipped.
Tracking numbers add extra trust, but it was brought up that tracking is unavailable
or very expensive in some countries.
|
Then it is shipping time and not order fulfillment, so first one to mark shipped,
least time between paid and seller marking shipped wins.
| | | | How can BrickLink rate a seller for the amount of time it takes when BrickLink
does not have a recommended time? Isn't that like the police stopping you
for speeding when no speed limit is posted?
|
Bricklink is not proposing a rating system. The plan is simply to show the seller's
average fulfillment time. That way a buyer can easily decide for himself who
meets his own criteria. If he's in a hurry, he may choose someone who averages
two days. If he's in no hurry, he might pick someone who averages five or
seven.
|
And the proof you are using is what the seller claims, isn't that the splash
page
Talk about let the fox watch the chicken coop.
So if a seller marks shipped as soon as it is paid averaging a 2 hour shipment
time and then shipping it tomorrow, he will be rated by BrickLink as a faster
shipper than one who actually gets it shipped in 8 hours then marks the order
shipped, yes that would be BrickLink rating a store and falsely. I think this
helps a buyer become dumber as all the info is in feedback and splash pages.
Spend the time to help a buyer read and understand feedback and you will be helping
the buyer. Every seller SHOULD contact the buyer within 3 days of purchase. That
is in ink. But as BrickLink does not have an acceptable time to place an order
shipped every seller now is meeting the requirement of shipping time 100%. Ever
since the round tables started this is a monthly discussion by it seems to me
the same people. I've been here 10 years and never heard this before the
last 6 months. So many things can be done to help the buyer and time is wasted
on info as this that can be half real and half false information.
|
I hope you'll read the recap from Bricklink before drawing too many conclusions.
There will be no rating of fulfillment time, only data. The system as currently
proposed does not break it down by hours and minutes but by days. It will be
up to the buyer to use the information as he wishes. If he doesn't care about
when his order arrives, then he's not likely to choose one seller over another
based on this number.
Again, this is only one small part of a well-thought-out plan to increase trust
and transparency for everyone. Yes, there will be dishonest sellers. When the
new verification and feedback systems are in place, it's going to be much
more difficult for dishonest sellers to get established and do business here.
This is just one part of that plan. Please look at the whole picture.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jun 23, 2015 22:07 | | Subject: | Re: Display number of orders store is yet to proc | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Rogue11 writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, Id writes:
|
| | The proposal is that the clock stops when the seller marks the order as shipped.
Tracking numbers add extra trust, but it was brought up that tracking is unavailable
or very expensive in some countries.
|
That wouldn't not be very reliable. I had orders marked as 'shipped'
as soon as the seller printed the postage, but then it took several days until
the package was actually picked up by the carrier or taken to the post office.
It is just too easy for either side to manipulate the system to make this proposal
work.
|
This is only one part of a larger plan to increase trust in Bricklink transactions.
It's not reasonable to expect Bricklink to eliminate all dishonesty or bad
service. The goal is to provide more solid data on seller performance rather
than the purely subjective feedback system we have now. If a seller marks an
item as shipped but it arrives postmarked several days after that, this is something
that should be put in the feedback.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jun 23, 2015 21:54 | | Subject: | Re: Display number of orders store is yet to proc | | Viewed: | 30 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Id writes:
| | | |
One of the improvements being considered for the feedback system is to display
the average order fulfillment time so you have an idea of how long you are likely
to wait.
|
Order fulfillment is in the most general sense the complete process from point
of sales inquiry to delivery of a product to the customer
Does this start from when a quote is started?
|
No, when it is paid for.
| |
Buyer places order and asks seller to wait one or two weeks as they might want
to add to the order- seller gets punished.
|
This is fairly common, and was brought up at the roundtable. This is why the
order fulfillment time starts at payment, not when the order is first placed.
| |
Buyer does not mark order received or complete-seller gets punished or does seller
ship orders only with a tracking number so Admin can keep track of all orders?
Think of all US orders going overseas now being posted as Prior it by mail at a
cost increase to the buyer of 5x. Think of more US to US orders going priority
mail at added cost because it can save a day or two, that is an e-bay favorite.
|
The proposal is that the clock stops when the seller marks the order as shipped.
Tracking numbers add extra trust, but it was brought up that tracking is unavailable
or very expensive in some countries.
| |
Buyer receives order but waits until the weekend to check the order and change
markings-seller gets punished.
|
Wouldn't apply. The seller is the one who marks the order as shipped.
| |
Buyer marks order paid but after seller contacts buyer, buyer figures they marked
wrong order paid - seller gets punished.
Buyer marks order paid but paid to some other account- more time wasted seller
get punished.
Buyer marks order paid but does not pay- seller gets punished.
Buyer marks order paid, a few days later gets money order then later sends it-
seller gets punished.
Is Admin going to check everyone's PP account to make sure they were paid
and when?
|
In short, yes. The site is gradually moving toward supporting instant checkout.
There will be no question of when an order is paid, because the transaction will
be recorded at Bricklink. The actual payment may or may not pass through Bricklink's
hands, depending on the service used and the final details of the system.
| |
All overseas orders that can take up to 6 weeks for the post to get delivered-seller
get punished.
Customs decides to sit on the order for more than 4 weeks-seller gets punished.
This will have to be from order placed to order complete with changing order
to complete taken away from the seller as the seller cannot fake anything that
way. How many sellers have orders marked shipped 5 months after shipping?
|
It will show the average fulfillment time, which is the time from payment to
shipment. It is recognized that postal delays are not to be blamed on the seller.
| |
All of these have happened to me. The OP posted feedback that he had to wait
some time for an order, if you look at the sellers feedback there are several
fbs that state long shipping time. Everything needed is already available, read
the feedback of the seller. Again read the feedback. I did not see the buyer
say if he asked for rush service of if the seller agreed. As a buyer I think
if you get you order in a few weeks it is good. If you ask for rush and the seller
agrees or pay for rush service then it is a different story.
It seems we now have a weekly complaint, shipping should be in two days, no one
should be allowed lot limits, feedback given or not given, no one should be allowed
a minimum purchase, if the order is missing one part, and a few more. Many started
by the same poster month after month. With very little advice that helps BrickLing
but more of "this is what I do" advertisement and just keeping the flame lit.
As to me it seems that BrickLink now copies everything that BrickOwl does (bring
up the new BL page and the BO page, both are stab you in the eye white and blue,
small thin print, hard to tell who is who) I would say soon sellers will not
be able to leave anything for buyers but a positive for feed back. I have bought
from some of the biggest sellers on this site and on a few only half of the order
was filled. I needed 100, paid for 100 and the sellers got me 50. That's
50 sets I don't have to part out. I believe 100 when I have them in my hand
but thanks to the seller for doing all the work to get me 50.
At Amazon you can get 2 day shipping, you have to pay $100 extra every year for
that. What is shipping time from LEGO-maybe this week or a few weeks from now
if they have it?
How can BrickLink rate a seller for the amount of time it takes when BrickLink
does not have a recommended time? Isn't that like the police stopping you
for speeding when no speed limit is posted?
|
Bricklink is not proposing a rating system. The plan is simply to show the seller's
average fulfillment time. That way a buyer can easily decide for himself who
meets his own criteria. If he's in a hurry, he may choose someone who averages
two days. If he's in no hurry, he might pick someone who averages five or
seven.
| |
Sorry for my rant, I think I'll go vacuum and get something productive done.
Have fun, new old argument next week.
|
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jun 23, 2015 19:46 | | Subject: | Re: Display number of orders store is yet to proc | | Viewed: | 42 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, activoice writes:
| | I find that some stores process orders a lot faster than other stores. Most
of the time this is proportionate to the number of outstanding orders that the
store has yet to fill (IE how backlogged they are)
In some cases I've waited 3 weeks from the day I paid for an order until
it was actually shipped.
From a buyers perspective if I knew how many orders there were ahead of mine
it would help me make a decision as to whether or not I was going to order from
this store or not... (in many cases you have no choice because you are selecting
the store because they have most of the items on your wanted list)
But at least if I knew that the store had 100 orders ahead of mine I could make
an informed decision whether I wanted to buy from them or if I would be better
off splitting my order across a few stores that have much fewer orders ahead
of mine.
In the brick and mortar world it's like being in a food court... I could
really want Chipotle, but I can see they've got a huge line... but hey there's
no line at Subway... that's good enough... I'll go there...
So what would count against the seller would be things like
- Order Placed but not yet invoiced
- Orders Paid for by the buyer but not yet shipped
Things that would not count against the seller
- Orders invoiced but not yet paid for by the buyer
You could even display an average for number of days from the day the Buyer marks
the invoice as PAID to the day the SELLER sets the status to SHIPPED. This would
be simpler and tell you how fast a SELLER processes orders on average.
(Hopefully most people are honest... once again I've had a seller outright
lie and tell me that they shipped something out, but when I actually received
the item I can see what date it was post marked, and it's more than 2 weeks
later.. I understand people get busy and they have lives... but at least be
honest about it)
|
One of the improvements being considered for the feedback system is to display
the average order fulfillment time so you have an idea of how long you are likely
to wait.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jun 9, 2015 11:06 | | Subject: | Re: Inventories changed, sellers not informed | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, renhoffman writes:
| | I recently had a buyer purchase these two minifigures from me, which I have had
in my inventory since September 2012, and January 2014, when I parted out the
sets these came in...
The buyer sent me a message claiming that I sent these...
These where added to the catalog in February of 2015. Now, I am a fan of accurate
listings, and satisfied customers, but how am I supposed to know to check my
inventory for these new listings? I was never notified that I might have these
figures listed incorrectly, and I don't have time to read every change log
that is posted. Is there any plan for notification of catalog changes in the
future? Bricklink already knows that I parted these sets out, as they are shown
in my part-out log. A simple canned message stating that a change was made to
X set, that shows in my part-out log, please check your inventory. Or, even just
a tag on MY Bricklink page, like the one that alerts you to items slated for
deletion. Is that plausible? anyone know?
Darren
|
When I requested a change to a minifig inventory once I was told quite directly
that it couldn't be done for this exact reason. I got no substantive response
when I asked why it was already being done regularly:
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogInvChangeItem.asp?nID=&nDate=&viewDate=Y&viewType=E&viewStatus=A&itemType=M
There is also no notification of the numerous non-minifig inventory changes that
are made. We probably shouldn't just limit notification to minifigs.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jun 7, 2015 14:46 | | Subject: | Re: integrate goatleg into bricklink search | | Viewed: | 54 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, blackballoon writes:
| | seen a lot of good features from goatleg by 62bricks but i am less likely to
use them when they are on a separate site.
so if admin could please integrate these features into bricklink advanced search
somehow, or give 62bricks the authority to start implementing the features himself
here since he seems very knowledgeable about coding
|
Ack! - You've revealed my master plan! (Not to get hired - to show BL some
of the ways the site functionality could be improved...)
For the record, this doesn't require any actual coding. It's mostly basic
HTML, and is really only possible because Bricklink is still mostly basic HTML.
I fully expect that as the site moves forward it will update its infrastructure
and the little forms I've cobbled up will stop working. But hopefully by
that time, it will be apparent what features users really find useful and they
will be integrated into the site.
That's really the goal of goatleg - to become obsolete when Bricklink adds
the same functionality to the site itself.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jun 6, 2015 22:43 | | Subject: | Re: Orders Download Feature | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, jeffmcclain writes:
| | In Suggestions, chetzler writes:
| | In Suggestions, jeffmcclain writes:
| | Hello,
It would sure help out a LOT if in the "download orders" list, you could separate
out the "Item Description" to be 3 separate columns: Type (brick, plate, tile,
slope, etc), Description (1x3, round, etc.), and Color, rather than it all combined.
This would make it MUCH easier to pivot by item number, type, color, etc.
Thanks!
Jeff
|
I've had the same difficulty. I even asked about it here a while back but
surprisingly, I didn't get a single response:
http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=899185
|
I'm going to just have to put it through a perl REGEX match on that field
(duplicated) and match everything up to the color: s/^(.*?)(black|white|tan|blue|gray|red|yellow|orange|green).*/$1/i
As an example (that should get even "Light Bluish Gray" and "Dark Red", "Trans-Black",
etc...Then I'll match the first word left for the "item type" and leave the
rest.
|
Not sure what your exact needs are, but Brickstock fills in the color and type
when you import orders, and all fields are sortable. Might be easier to import/export
the Brickstock XML into excel than to run regex on the Bricklink file.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | May 31, 2015 15:28 | | Subject: | Re: Add price guide setting - links at top | | Viewed: | 28 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | In Suggestions, blackballoon writes:
| | Please add a setting to the price guide settings that would allow the user to
have the links "Add to My Inventory" and "Add to my wanted list" not just at
the bottom as they are currently, but also at the Top as well. Would be really
helpful since it is a hassle sometimes having to scroll down really far just
to get to those links
|
Voted yes because a scroll mouse costs $10.
--
Marc.
|
Voted yes because the scroll ball on my mouse stopped working.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | May 23, 2015 13:15 | | Subject: | Re: Color search in catalog | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, hpoort writes:
That is very interesting that in the Items for Sale search, it converts the word
"red" into the color ID number and shows you red bricks - but it doesn't
always.
For example, a search for red brick or brick red in the Items
for Sale search will show you red bricks. Likewise, a search for red brick
stripes shows you red bricks with stripes.
However if you move the word "red" next to "stripes" you get different results
- a search for brick red stripes now shows you bricks of all colors
that have red stripes in the pattern.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | May 22, 2015 15:54 | | Subject: | Re: Add 'Customs Fraud' to option to cancel order | | Viewed: | 62 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, LordSkylark writes:
| | Please add
"Buyer wanted seller to lie on custom's form"
as an option for the seller to cancel the order.
Andy
|
You already can cancel for this reason if you make it part of your shop terms.
Violating shop terms is a valid reason for a seller to cancel.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | May 20, 2015 19:55 | | Subject: | Re: Wanted list notification - set minimum price | | Viewed: | 36 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, garbanzo writes:
| | As a collector of rare parts, I would love to see an option in the wanted list
notification settings that would allow me to get notified of parts priced higher
than a defined value.
Notify me only if the Price of the part for sale is greater than or equal
to:
|
I would use a feature like this to reduce the notifications I get for damaged
pieces.
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | May 7, 2015 20:30 | | Subject: | Inventory Change Request for Set 1562-3 | | Viewed: | 20 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests (Entry) | | Status: | Open | |
|
| Please make changes to the following inventory:
* Change 1 Part Blue {3003 Brick 2 x 2 to 3003old Brick 2 x 2 without Inside Supports}
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Apr 15, 2015 13:06 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Minifig sp007 | | Viewed: | 36 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| In Inventories Requests, RobErNat writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, viejos writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, Sean_Stevens writes:
| | Please make changes to the following inventory:
* Add 1 Minifig sp007 Classic Space - Yellow with Airtanks
Comments from Submitter:
I have a yellow classic space minifig with a stickered torso. I cannot see one listed
|
You'll need to add it to the catalog instead of submitting an inventory change
request. The catalog will only add minifigs that came officially in sets, so
perhaps that is why there is none with sticker. Or maybe no one has added it
yet.
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogAdd.asp
Russell
|
Example:
|
And don't forget that Bricklink's policy is that this figured be catalogued
with the wrong part for the head.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Mar 23, 2015 21:14 | | Subject: | Re: Search inventory remarks in top search bar | | Viewed: | 44 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, jamesuniverse writes:
| | 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
|
Try this:
http://www.goatleg.com/invsearch.html
It loads your inventory page into an iframe with a search box in a separate frame
at the top. The search box lets you search by either comments or remarks, and
will stay at the default you select until you change it - no need to re-enter
the search type every time.
No password or inventory information gets sent to or through goatleg.com, so
it's just as secure as Bricklink itself. If you want, you can copy the code
for it at http://www.goatleg.com/tools.html and save it to your own desktop so
you can use it without having to go to goatleg.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Mar 14, 2015 21:12 | | Subject: | Inventory Change Request for Set 8156-1 | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests (Entry) | | Status: | Open | |
|
| Please make changes to the following inventory:
* Add 1 Part 2431pb376R Black Tile 1 x 4 with Red Seat Harness Strap Pattern Model Right Side (Sticker) - Set 8156 (Counterpart)
* Add 1 Part 2431pb376L Black Tile 1 x 4 with Red Seat Harness Strap Pattern Model Left Side (Sticker) - Set 8156 (Counterpart)
Comments from Submitter:
As seen in instructions, book 1, step 26
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Mar 14, 2015 06:21 | | Subject: | Re: Ideas regarding functionality. | | Viewed: | 42 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, beelzibus writes:
| | Ever since I have been using Bricklink a couple of things have driven me nuts,
perhaps it's time to address them, or maybe it's just me and I should
go back to my corner and be quiet.
First off, external links in the forum, why is Bricklink seemingly the only place
that does not open links in a new tab without being specifically asked to? (ie
right click and open in new tab) It's a chore and potentially leads to people
surfing away from BL and none of us want that.
Secondly I use the catalogue a great deal, often searching for parts to check
price guides or whatever, I access from different points, the 'Buy'
tab, or the 'Catolog' tab for example, but why when moving through the
catalogue and onto a fresh page where you are most likely to scroll immediately
down with cursor keys, does the cursor automatically appear in the 'Find'
box? If I wanted to search by key words, or similar, I'd have started me
search like that in the first place, I wish to browse and scroll up or down at
will. Am I the only one frustrated by this?
Lastly, why is the title box so small when starting a new topic? I had to make
three attempts before ending up with the lame title I have now for this thread
because all of my earlier attempts were too long.
That is all, feel free to flame at will.
|
The cursor in the find box bothers me, too. I like to use the space bar to scroll
down.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Mar 7, 2015 08:51 | | Subject: | Inventory Change Request for Set 580-1 | | Viewed: | 33 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests (Entry) | | Status: | Open | |
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| Please make changes to the following inventory:
* Change 4 Part Black {3003 Brick 2 x 2 to 3003old Brick 2 x 2 without Inside Supports}
* Change 1 Part Red {3003 Brick 2 x 2 to 3003old Brick 2 x 2 without Inside Supports}
Comments from Submitter:
Source is two complete, unsealed sets. All ten 2x2 bricks are 3003old
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 20, 2015 20:07 | | Subject: | Re: Ask for feedback before implementing… | | Viewed: | 74 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, jodawill writes:
| | Suggestion: Ask the community for feedback before implementing any new features
or creating new partnerships. It seems obvious that the BL admins are out of
touch with what direction the community would like to see BL go, so this would
be a great way to prevent asinine decisions.
2¢
|
Don't mistake a few outraged forum posts for "the direction the community
would like to see BL go."
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| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 8, 2015 22:18 | | Subject: | Inventory Change Request for Set 554-1 | | Viewed: | 36 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests (Entry) | | Status: | Open | |
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| Please make changes to the following inventory:
* Add 2 Part 3038pb10 White Slope 45 2 x 3 with Exxon Logo Pattern (Sticker) - Set 554 (Counterpart)
Comments from Submitter:
As seen in set images and instructions.
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| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 8, 2015 07:33 | | Subject: | Re: Time to address seller quality issues | | Viewed: | 55 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, mabccc writes:
| | In my experience, my two worst purchases have been from bigger businesses, not
hobbyists. In fact, the reason I very rarely purchase used parts is down to these
two businesses.
I wouldn't want hobbyists to get shunted in favour of bugger sellers. I see
no evidence at all that these problems are due to hobby sellers. They are due
to sloppy sellers, they can be big or small.
|
(Bugger sellers indeed!)
That is true in my experience, too. A small minimum would be very effective for
filtering out sloppy sellers on the small side, but wouldn't have much effect
on large ones.
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| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 8, 2015 07:19 | | Subject: | Re: Time to address seller quality issues | | Viewed: | 51 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, enig writes:
|
|
snip
| |
I think having a graded scale from 1-4 would quadruple the problem of getting
parts in worse shape than expected. It would also quadruple the storage requirements
for sellers.
|
We do not sell used parts and I would never buy used parts for myself unless
absolutely necessary, but the buyers at the roundtable seemed to be highly receptive
to the idea. Their main complaint was that beyond the odd note here and there,
it was often a crapshoot when ordering used from an unknown BL store.
Scott
|
I've found it's still a crap shoot ordering from a stores where you've
placed orders before and which have great feedback. I can imagine disputes arising
over whether a part is a "2" or a "3." I'd prefer a simpler plan where a
used part is either acceptable or damaged.
| | | |
A monthly fee or minimum charge is a fine idea.
One way other sites reward good shops is by better placement in search results.
One simple way would be to set the search results to sort by shop feedback as
the default. Start encouraging buyers and sellers to value service and part quality
over just price.
My idea: Every listing over $5.00 requires a photo from the seller. It would
raise the quality of listings, reduce misunderstandings, and discourage scammers.
|
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| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 7, 2015 22:23 | | Subject: | Re: Time to address seller quality issues | | Viewed: | 54 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, PurpleDave writes:
| | In Suggestions, 62Bricks writes:
| | I don't see that as a problem with the feedback system itself. That's
a cultural thing.
|
You don't see retaliatory negative feedback, retaliatory negative bannings,
and retaliatory (but false) naming-and-shaming resulting in more bogus bannings
as a sign that the feedback system doesn't work? Feedback _is_ a cultural
thing. And this site's culture punishes honest feedback. In some cases,
it even punishes the failure to automatically rubberstamp every transaction with
glowing feedback. There are sellers here who are probably more concerned with
notching their belt with another positive feedback than they are with earning
it.
|
Yeah, we're saying the same thing. I'm just making a distinction between
the nuts and bolts of the feedback system and the way in which it is used here.
BL's feedback system could actually be helpful if more people used it as
I think it was intended. But as you say, the culture has taken it in a different
direction.
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| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 7, 2015 22:18 | | Subject: | Re: Time to address seller quality issues | | Viewed: | 73 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, QCBricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, enig writes:
| | Earlier tonight I found a seller raking up feedback like you see in the second
picture below. The top feedback is retaliatory FB that he left for his buyer.
Had a thought to go here and ask what others think and ask BL if anything is
going to be done about it (in general). The seller is not listing items according
to "Used parts" rules
http://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=102&q=used
and he could care less
I guess I can also mention that the reason I checked that seller is because he
had a part that I need in a color that it does not exist, and he is the only
one who has it. I am now sure that he doesn't.
Anyways. Decided against it because it has been discussed a hundred times, and
for a hundred times in a row BL decided that nothing will be done about it.
But then YouTube read my mind and suggested me a video. It's a fresh video
I have not seen it before!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfstjgilDmE
SUGGESTION.
1) Dear BrickLink - please listen to what buyers have to say about bad sellers
2) Realize that BrickLink's reputation is going down
3) Create a system (OTHER than feedback*) + strategy where bad sellers
are given a chance to improve AND understand that they will be kicked
out of BL for good if they dont
4) Before doing it, ask BL community on how it could be done, and use the collective
knowledge and experience of the ones who are willing to share it with you
*Feedback is obviously not working. Please see the video why. Feedback will not
eliminate the problem itself.
You know what's absolutely hilarious? The reason I opened YouTube in the
first place is to watch this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlN9jdQFSc
|
Not necessarily replying to each of Lukas' individual points, but just a
few notes and ideas on these issues...
1.) This issue was discussed at length at the BL Roundtable in Seattle and it
is on BL's radar. The prevailing idea is that 4 levels of grading will be
used for used parts. 1 would equal something "like new" or thereabouts, while
4 would be "my dog ate it before I listed it"
2.) These types of statements like "Bricklink is going down" or "their reputation
is bad" are nothing without any real proof and lots of it. The fact that a few
people come to the forum here (or any other forum) and complain is natural for
a site with the volume that BL has. (It has already been established here that
a minute percentage of users actually post here) If this is someone's personal
opinion, it should be noted as such. Otherwise, come forward with the hundreds
of unique complaint posts posted over a very short, recent period of time. Even
in the case of this seller, his or her x number of transactions are likely a
proverbial drop in the bucket.
The overwhelming majority of BL buyers and sellers are honest people and it
is unfair to lump "Bricklink" in with a few of these yahoos.
Bricklink is growing fast in spite of some of these issues, so it must not be
hurting them that much.
3.) Many of these issues can be taken care of by some of the basic concepts
that Scooter talked about in his post. I would like to add another to the pile.
If BL charged a minimum monthly charge, much of these people would go
away.
It could be something simple and small like $10, which is like prepaying the
first $10 of fees each month.
Putting up little roadblocks like this have been beneficial for many other sites.
Many of the people that somehow cannot manage to get parts in the mail for 2-3
weeks probably cannot pull things together and make a $10 monthly payment! I
know that won't work for those of your that sell $2 in parts a month, but
I think that it will make the site much stronger and safer. BL could always
spin off a part of the site for no fee hobby stores that can sell something like
$50 a month with no fees.
4.) Some ideas have been tossed around about resolved NSS claims and such. Longtime
forum readers remember "Brri*******", who ripped people off for a long time,
across at least two accounts and they got around the consequences by simply refunding
all of the NSS claims that were filed. I am all for giving people a chance,
but at some point, 10 or 20 resolved NSS claims show that something is
not working. As I have said here before, we have shipped nearly 4.5 million
parts in the last 3+ years here on BL and we have had exactly two NSS claims
filed against us. In both cases, the shipments showed as delivered and in both
cases the buyers "found" the shipment once we passed that information on to them.
This belief that big stores just get NSS claims left and right is just plain
silly.
4b.) This also goes for any other site manipulation. Using the "pay too much
on my bill so I am in the Top 60" trick should be treated just like any other
sort of dishonesty. I am sure that there are hundreds of other similar issues
that speak to the honesty level of a store.
5.) Buyers...while you may care about your feedback and want it to be 100%, it
really doesn't matter. As long as it is not below zero, you will be fine.
(...and if someone really says they won't sell to you because you have 50
positives and 1 negative, do you really want to buy from them?)
Suck it up and leave neutrals or negatives when they are deserved.
Now, this is not to say that stores should not be given a chance to make things
right, but if they tell you take a jump when you ask for some sort of resolution,
then that deserves non-positive feedback. This will provide something actionable
for BL to use to get these people off of Bricklink. I have said it many, many
times here...
there is no reason for any store to have 150+ neutrals and 75+ negatives.
I don't care how big they are, I don't care how busy they are, I don't
care how cheap they sell parts/sets, I don't care how big or small they are,
I don't care what other sorts of useless excuses they come up with. These
stores are a cancer on BL and need to go away. That goes for the "I never leave
positives and only use feedback to retaliate" crowd as well.
6.) Featured/Highlighted/etc... stores should be reserved for the cream of the
BL crop. If you get a couple negatives in a month, that should disqualify the
store from being on any of the lists. New buyers may feel like those stores
have been vetted, but if they are selling used as new, not shipping in a timely
fashion, etc... they should not appear on those lists.
Whew...that was a lot!
Scott
|
I think having a graded scale from 1-4 would quadruple the problem of getting
parts in worse shape than expected. It would also quadruple the storage requirements
for sellers.
A monthly fee or minimum charge is a fine idea.
One way other sites reward good shops is by better placement in search results.
One simple way would be to set the search results to sort by shop feedback as
the default. Start encouraging buyers and sellers to value service and part quality
over just price.
My idea: Every listing over $5.00 requires a photo from the seller. It would
raise the quality of listings, reduce misunderstandings, and discourage scammers.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 7, 2015 21:26 | | Subject: | Re: Time to address seller quality issues | | Viewed: | 83 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, enig writes:
| | Earlier tonight I found a seller raking up feedback like you see in the second
picture below. The top feedback is retaliatory FB that he left for his buyer.
Had a thought to go here and ask what others think and ask BL if anything is
going to be done about it (in general). The seller is not listing items according
to "Used parts" rules
http://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=102&q=used
and he could care less
I guess I can also mention that the reason I checked that seller is because he
had a part that I need in a color that it does not exist, and he is the only
one who has it. I am now sure that he doesn't.
Anyways. Decided against it because it has been discussed a hundred times, and
for a hundred times in a row BL decided that nothing will be done about it.
But then YouTube read my mind and suggested me a video. It's a fresh video
I have not seen it before!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfstjgilDmE
SUGGESTION.
1) Dear BrickLink - please listen to what buyers have to say about bad sellers
2) Realize that BrickLink's reputation is going down
3) Create a system (OTHER than feedback*) + strategy where bad sellers
are given a chance to improve AND understand that they will be kicked
out of BL for good if they dont
4) Before doing it, ask BL community on how it could be done, and use the collective
knowledge and experience of the ones who are willing to share it with you
*Feedback is obviously not working. Please see the video why. Feedback will not
eliminate the problem itself.
You know what's absolutely hilarious? The reason I opened YouTube in the
first place is to watch this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlN9jdQFSc
|
Many sellers want you to contact them before leaving any feedback. They don't
want the negative or neutral mark. They want to make things right for you. That's
fine, but the time to make things right is before the items ship. The time to
make things right is when you are verifying the contents of a set. The time to
make things right is when you are inspecting your parts for quality and listing
them under the correct entry.
Instead, I think the relatively informal nature of the community leads some sellers
to be informal in their dealings. They perhaps rely on the fact that customers
often will not speak up over small issues.
It's like Jang describes it - his fire truck set had a few common parts switched.
He had the right parts in his collection. It cost him nothing to fix it, and
he felt bad telling the seller about it or asking for a replacement or refund
for less than $1 in common pieces. It's probable the seller would make good
if he asked, but as he says, he shouldn't have to ask.
Nobody is perfect. I've shipped three orders that were missing parts. I had
one recently where I chucked a chewed piece into my inventory and a good piece
into my reject bin - watching a movie while sorting. When someone bought the
piece, I grabbed a few out of inventory and sent off a badly damaged piece. I'm
glad my buyer was patient and notified me so I could replace it. I'm glad
he did that before leaving negative feedback. But if he had left a negative,
I would have deserved it.
I see so many posts here where sellers are berating buyers who leave legitimate
negative feedback. The standard complaint from sellers is that the buyer should
have contacted them first. But it's like Jang says - they shouldn't have
to.
So there is a culture here where sellers think they have two or three chances
to get the order right, and where buyers have been made to believe it. I got
a second chance on this recent order with the damaged piece, but I'm not
going to assume that the next customer is going to give me two or three tries
to get it right. I don't think other sellers should, either.
|
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| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 7, 2015 21:10 | | Subject: | Re: Time to address seller quality issues | | Viewed: | 61 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, PurpleDave writes:
| | In Suggestions, therobo writes:
| | One of the reason why *any* system will not change it, is that buyers don't
read feedback...
|
And that's because the feedback system is broken. If a buyer leaves a negative
against a seller for a clear error in shipping, they expect to get a retaliatory
negative, and probably get banned from that store, in return, which could get
their subsequent orders cancelled. And they might find (or fail to notice) that
the seller comes here and complains about an "unreasonable" buyer, and a dozen
other stores will ban them. And knowing that buyers aren't going to be truthful
about bad sellers, what could possibly be the point of trusting feedback scores
to be honest? And then what's the point in paying attention to them?
|
I don't see that as a problem with the feedback system itself. That's
a cultural thing.
|
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| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Feb 7, 2015 20:20 | | Subject: | Re: Time to address seller quality issues | | Viewed: | 68 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, therobo writes:
| | In Suggestions, enig writes:
| | In Suggestions, therobo writes:
| | In Suggestions, enig writes:
| | SUGGESTION.
1) Dear BrickLink - please listen to what buyers have to say about bad sellers
2) Realize that BrickLink's reputation is going down
3) Create a system (OTHER than feedback*) + strategy where bad sellers
are given a chance to improve AND understand that they will be kicked
out of BL for good if they dont
4) Before doing it, ask BL community on how it could be done, and use the collective
knowledge and experience of the ones who are willing to share it with you
|
One of the reason why *any* system will not change it, is that buyers don't
read feedback and they most likely will not read any other recommendations.
Check sellers with a history of bad feedback and you will note that they get
orders after orders. Why do you think that any other system (like the recent
FB percentage on top of every store) will prevent non-reading buyers from buying
in these stores?
|
BL dealing with such sellers on personal terms would change it. I dont think
there is a system where other than direct approach would give results.
|
Then you would have to change the business model of BrickLink Ltd. first.
BrickLink.com acts as the venue for sellers to sell LEGO® related items and
for buyers to buy sellers' items. We are not involved in the actual transactions
between buyers and sellers. As a result, we have no control over the quality,
safety or legality of the items advertised, the truth or accuracy of the listings,
the ability of sellers to sell items or the ability of buyers to buy items. We
cannot and do not control whether or not sellers will complete the sale of items
they offer or buyers will complete the purchase of items they have purchased.
Because we do not and cannot be involved in member-to-member dealings you agree
to release BrickLink.com from claims, demands and damages of every kind in connection
with your use of the site.
|
Bricklink has absolute control over who has buying and selling privileges, however,
and it can - and has - revoked these privileges for various reasons. It would
not need to become directly involved with any individual transactions in order
to set standards for maintaining selling and buying privileges. Indeed, it already
does this. Some members think those standards should be changed.
|
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| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jan 30, 2015 18:24 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Minifig cas121 | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| In Inventories Requests, RobErNat writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, 62Bricks writes:
| | For those of us who sell classic minifigs, this is a marketplace
issue. It is good for buyers and sellers to have the inventory accurate. It is
especially important with these classic minifigs, some of which have been re-issued
with modern parts. It's no different than any other collectible item.
|
There hasn't been an issue in 15 years to buy or sell classic minifigs
Fine tuners always find their way, regardless of how an inventory is presented,
I know I always have
Doesn't mean the whole catalog needs to be turned up side down, with the
side effect buyers will loose their way around, hundreds of items will need to
be re-created, others will need to be marked for deletion, inventories will need
to be changed etc etc etc. Just for the purpose of a few dozen sellers who pay
attention to listing mold differences Like I said previously: Use the descriptions
and buyers who care will find you, it has always been like that, for many items
|
Why do we have the capability to request and make inventory changes at all, then?
If there is no need for accurate listings in order for sellers to operate, let's
freeze the catalog now, get rid of the admins, and stop all these supposed troubles
that come with having an accurate catalog.
When LEGO makes new sets in the future, you can just list them under an old set
number and add a note "This is not actually set 1234-1 like the listing says,
it's set 4321-1." If they introduce a new color, just list parts under any
old color and add a note that the buyer will be receiving something completely
different than what it says on the invoice or in the inventory.
Easy!
|
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| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jan 30, 2015 14:43 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Minifig cas121 | | Viewed: | 53 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| In Inventories Requests, viejos writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, LordSkylark writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, viejos writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, crepundi writes:
| | | | Heads - For figures with movable arms and legs always use a head with an
open stud. When there are 2 entries in the catalog for the same head, one with
an open stud and one with a solid stud, always use the one with an open stud.
Only figures using old type torsos and/or legs (part no 17 and 15 respectively)
can have solid stud heads.
-Pete
|
... but then there is hardly any use for the standard grin heads. The figures
with torso 17 and legs 15 have no face.
The solid stud standard grin is only listed in the sets 9353, 9354 and 9452.
Those figures do have movable arms and legs. And some pirates' heads like
* | | 3626apb06 Minifigure, Head Standard Grin with Red Messy Hair, Moustache, and Vertical Lines Beard, Black Eye Patch Pattern - Solid Stud
Parts: Minifigure, Head |
have no use at all.
|
You are correct. Time to fix it. No reason not to. None. About a dozen good reasons
to fix it.
|
What do you suggest as a plan of attack? Do you propose we change the inventories,
or do we add new entries to the catalog? If we change the inventories, should
we notify people who have the figs and/or sets with those figs for sale?
If we add new entries to the catalog, we are still adding a new restriction on
sellers. People will no longer be able to sell a new head on an old minifig.
For those of us that would never mix the new with the old, this is not an issue
of course. But what about people who don't see the difference as being major,
and want to continue substituting newer heads?
My last point - there are other parts of the minifigure that have variants. A
few to mention:
• torso - inside supports
• hands - material and design
• helmet - chin strap thickness, visor dimples
• air tanks - material
• printing of the smile
• printing of the eyes
The stud variation on the head is likely the easiest to spot, but when the minifig
is assembled, some of these other differences are arguably more important. Where
do we draw the line, then, when it comes to variations? After we handle the stud
issue, are we going to have to start the process all over again when people want
the inventories to account for some other variation?
I'm not trying to stall on this issue - I think these questions are worth
asking, and I'm interested to see people's responses.
Russell
|
What's so difficult about having two versions of the figure? A & B.
One has hollow and one has solid?
Andy
|
That's really what would have to be done for some of them, but for most of
the ones in question, all we need is the A version. But the task of adding all
those figures (plus inventorying them) is a colossal amount of work.
I just ran a search and came up with 455 matches of these heads from 1978 through
1989. In 2014, BL added 593 minifig inventories. In 2013 it was 540. So we are
talking about adding roughly 80% of a year's worth of entries, on top of
what we have coming down the pike for 2015.
On top of that, I am not confident the old entry would be retained in cases where
B versions exist. Sellers' listings under the old entry are at least (in
my estimation) 50% solid stud, regardless of what the current inventories show.
So figure 50 to 100 new entries for that, and we could very well be up to an
entire year's worth of new approvals.
Then all those old entries would be marked for deletion and sitting around for
years, and buyers would have to look in two places to find any minifig from that
classic 12 year period.
I honestly don't see the creation of new entries as a practical solution
to this. These are the oldest figs, good images would be all the harder to get,
and there would certainly be hang-ups in the process as we would be confronted
with errors from the past involving other variable parts, like the helmets.
What I envision is to deal with this exceptional situation with an exceptional
solution. Normally minifig entries are not changed, but I think a case can be
made here that the reasons that fig entries aren't typically changed do not
hold true in this situation. Like I mentioned above, 50% or more of the listings
are (arguably) wrong to begin with, so by changing over to the solid stud, we
would actually be improving the accuracy of sellers.
And sellers are not typically notified of inventory changes, but considering
the broad scope of what is involved, and the fact that the site's own policies
have contributed to the problem, I don't see why an exception cannot be made
here, as well. Without doing any calculations, I would estimate a change such
as this to only involve between 15% and 25% of sellers anyway, so were not talking
about 8000 emails.
Maybe I'm fear mongering - I'd be interested to hear another perspective.
But the closer I look at this, the more I am inclined toward a simpler transition.
Russell
|
Let's look at precedent, Russell.
On Dec. 11, 2014, this minifig inventory was changed to remove a hollow stud
head and replace it with a recessed stud head with the same pattern: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogInvChangeItem.asp?itemType=M&itemNo=twn204&viewDate=Y&viewStatus=1
Was any action taken to notify sellers? Did admins receive any outcry? I'm
not asking rhetorically, I'm wondering what the response was.
On Feb. 27, 2014, the helmet in this Classic Space minifig inventory was
changed from undetermined visor dimples to visor dimples: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogInvChangeItem.asp?itemType=M&itemNo=sp005&viewDate=Y&viewStatus=1
This seems very much like what we're asking for here. An inventory item from
a classic figure was changed from an "undetermined" type to a specific part.
That means anyone listing it with a no-dimple helmet had a "wrong" figure listed.
Were there any complaints? Did it result in catalog or inventory problems? It
was almost a year ago, so I would think any issues would have arisen by now.
I think if we can correct the helmet type on a classic figure without the world
caving in we could change the head type as well. Precedent would seem to support
the change, unless these examples caused problems I'm not aware of. These
are only two fairly recent examples - there are certainly more that could be
looked at to judge the ramifications.
Regarding the other variations, those are a separate issue for the most part
because they are variations. Those issues could be addressed if and when alternates
are allowed for minifig inventories. In the case of classic minifigs prior to
the change in head mold, this is not a question of variations - there was no
variation in the heads (at least none that are currently recognized in the catalog.
If the cat admins want to add the square heads, the smiles, etc. as variations
on the solid-stud basic grin we can cross that bridge then. For now, it's
pretty clear.)
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jan 30, 2015 14:21 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Minifig cas121 | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| In Inventories Requests, RobErNat writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, viejos writes:
| | What do you suggest as a plan of attack? Do you propose we change the inventories,
or do we add new entries to the catalog? If we change the inventories, should
we notify people who have the figs and/or sets with those figs for sale?
If we add new entries to the catalog, we are still adding a new restriction on
sellers. People will no longer be able to sell a new head on an old minifig.
For those of us that would never mix the new with the old, this is not an issue
of course. But what about people who don't see the difference as being major,
and want to continue substituting newer heads?
My last point - there are other parts of the minifigure that have variants. A
few to mention:
• torso - inside supports
• hands - material and design
• helmet - chin strap thickness, visor dimples
• air tanks - material
• printing of the smile
• printing of the eyes
The stud variation on the head is likely the easiest to spot, but when the minifig
is assembled, some of these other differences are arguably more important. Where
do we draw the line, then, when it comes to variations? After we handle the stud
issue, are we going to have to start the process all over again when people want
the inventories to account for some other variation?
I'm not trying to stall on this issue - I think these questions are worth
asking, and I'm interested to see people's responses.
Russell
|
The plan of attack is simple: leave everything as is (*), sellers can put all
details in descriptions, the buyers will search for the right mold in the listings
*if* they care.
(*)when it comes down to solid stud heads, the answer is also simple: ask the
programmers to program the option of alternate heads and they will be added to
the inventory of the figs, sellers can then specify (as usual) if they like to
deferentiate. It doesn't mess up any existing listing, doesn't need new
entries (will only clutter up the catalog) and we will still have a clue where
some heads belong to.
BL is a marketplace, not a history catalog database, there are other sites
for that. Doesn't mean we can't strive for better and more accurate data,
but common sense (with the word marketplace in the back of our heads) needs to
remain in place IMHO
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For those of us who sell classic minifigs, this is a marketplace
issue. It is good for buyers and sellers to have the inventory accurate. It is
especially important with these classic minifigs, some of which have been re-issued
with modern parts. It's no different than any other collectible item.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jan 30, 2015 04:14 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Minifig cas121 | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| In Inventories Requests, crepundi writes:
| | | | Heads - For figures with movable arms and legs always use a head with an
open stud. When there are 2 entries in the catalog for the same head, one with
an open stud and one with a solid stud, always use the one with an open stud.
Only figures using old type torsos and/or legs (part no 17 and 15 respectively)
can have solid stud heads.
-Pete
|
... but then there is hardly any use for the standard grin heads. The figures
with torso 17 and legs 15 have no face.
The solid stud standard grin is only listed in the sets 9353, 9354 and 9452.
Those figures do have movable arms and legs. And some pirates' heads like
* | | 3626apb06 Minifigure, Head Standard Grin with Red Messy Hair, Moustache, and Vertical Lines Beard, Black Eye Patch Pattern - Solid Stud
Parts: Minifigure, Head |
have no use at all.
|
You are correct. Time to fix it. No reason not to. None. About a dozen good reasons
to fix it.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jan 24, 2015 13:39 | | Subject: | Re: Please include control for lot limits! | | Viewed: | 52 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Lonely_Brick_OH writes:
| | | |
makes me thinking...what if a 10 lot order is 10.05?
will that order also be cancelled?
terms say, 10 lot order needs to be 10.00
|
No, rules can be bent, but a 200 lot 10.00 order will be cancelled.
|
If lot limits become a setting, you wouldn't be able to bend the rules.
But more importantly, if you are willing to bend the rules, how can you take
issue with buyers who don't meet your terms exactly? If you're bending
them or not as you feel like it, then I would not be surprised if you have
angry customers leaving negative feedback.
Why not just make it impossible to load up on low-value lots? Stop selling parts
at a loss for 2 cents each, or use the bulk feature to sell them in lots of 25
or 50 - whatever makes it worth your time to pick the order.
There are much more buyer-friendly ways to achieve the same results. Complicated
policies that may or may not be enforced are probably not the best solution.
I realize many other Bricklink sellers do it, but Bricklink in general is very
unfriendly to buyers. I would really oppose anything that encourages sellers
who treat their customers like an annoyance even before they've ordered anything,
but if they're here to stay, then a way to easily filter them out of search
results, etc. would be great.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jan 24, 2015 12:37 | | Subject: | Re: Please include control for lot limits! | | Viewed: | 72 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Off Topic, jodawill writes:
| | In Off Topic, Lonely_Brick_OH writes:
| | I am sick to death of having to kill orders due to the lot limitations.
And today I got another negative for something that should have been done years
ago.
When you, the owners of Brick Link, fix this site, please, please, please include
a way for the seller to keep control of the limits on his/her store.
Thank you.
|
You require every lot to be at least a dollar, but you have lots that don't
add up to a dollar.
Personally, I avoid stores with lot limits. Even if my order meets their requirements,
I don't want to waste my time figuring out how to make the numbers work out.
|
Exactly. It's like an algebra story problem trying to figure out some store
terms.
|
|
| Author: | 62Bricks | | Posted: | Jan 24, 2015 12:25 | | Subject: | Re: Please include control for lot limits! | | Viewed: | 86 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Off Topic, Lonely_Brick_OH writes:
| | I am sick to death of having to kill orders due to the lot limitations.
And today I got another negative for something that should have been done years
ago.
When you, the owners of Brick Link, fix this site, please, please, please include
a way for the seller to keep control of the limits on his/her store.
Thank you.
|
I hate finding shops with parts I want but with lot limits (or other unfriendly
policies that scream "Please don't waste my time buying bricks from me!")
So if the lot limits were somehow coded into the shop policies in a way that
buyers could eliminate them from search results, want list notifications, etc.
that would be great.
Sellers who want to impose lot limits would have what they want, and buyers would
have a way to avoid them. Win-win.
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