|
|
| | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 19:50 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 323 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | |
| | | | Author: | 1001bricks | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 20:25 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 49 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | |
| | | | Author: | 1001bricks | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 20:26 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 83 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| In Off Topic, utlf writes:
| Hoping to clarify the confusion and worry caused by this latest email [...]
|
None here.
Apart this, while you might be right in some probably rare cases, I'd recommend,
while you're trying to help us all (thank you, we're so dumb)... to please
start to sweep on your door step.
Your Terms are unacceptable in 2022, and maybe even illegal:
- no refund
- no cancellation
- payment with 48hrs
- additional PayPal charge
- strange feedback policy
- non-negotiable, not responsible...
I'd be unhappy I'd report your shop for its terms.
But I couldn't read them all so much it's contrasted, bold and aggressive,
sorry.
|
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Author: | pitz8008 | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 20:43 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 59 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| In Off Topic, 1001bricks writes:
| In Off Topic, utlf writes:
| Hoping to clarify the confusion and worry caused by this latest email [...]
|
None here.
Apart this, while you might be right in some probably rare cases, I'd recommend,
while you're trying to help us all (thank you, we're so dumb)... to please
start to sweep on your door step.
Your Terms are unacceptable in 2022, and maybe even illegal:
- no refund
- no cancellation
- payment with 48hrs
- additional PayPal charge
- strange feedback policy
- non-negotiable, not responsible...
I'd be unhappy I'd report your shop for its terms.
But I couldn't read them all so much it's contrasted, bold and aggressive,
sorry.
|
+ 1,000
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Author: | Nubs_Select | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 20:54 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 56 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| In Off Topic, pitz8008 writes:
| In Off Topic, 1001bricks writes:
| In Off Topic, utlf writes:
| Hoping to clarify the confusion and worry caused by this latest email [...]
|
None here.
Apart this, while you might be right in some probably rare cases, I'd recommend,
while you're trying to help us all (thank you, we're so dumb)... to please
start to sweep on your door step.
Your Terms are unacceptable in 2022, and maybe even illegal:
- no refund
- no cancellation
- payment with 48hrs
- additional PayPal charge
- strange feedback policy
- non-negotiable, not responsible...
I'd be unhappy I'd report your shop for its terms.
But I couldn't read them all so much it's contrasted, bold and aggressive,
sorry.
|
+ 1,000
|
+10,000
|
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:03 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 55 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Author: | Nubs_Select | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:11 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 53 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| If that’s your attitude to “illegal” terms then why are you worried about “illegally”
obtained minifigures?
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:20 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 47 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | Nubs_Select | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:22 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 41 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| In Off Topic, utlf writes:
| In Off Topic, Nubs_Select writes:
| If that’s your attitude to “illegal” terms then why are you worried about “illegally”
obtained minifigures?
|
My terms are fine, and are pretty much an amalgamation of bits & pieces I've
seen in other store terms from my time on Bricklink
|
Wow what great advise for making terms... ever heard of local laws... and also
just because others do it dosnt mean its legal...
|
There's also a huge difference between "ilegal" store terms and the possibility
of people selling stolen minifigures; I have no issue changing the terms if Bricklink
admins find they aren't properly aligned with seller TOS, but there IS a
huge difference between these 2 things
|
I mean your literally lying to buyers saying that you have no liability when
you have the liability.
| One affects the market as a whole, the other is an isolated case that can be
easily rectified if needed
|
It still negatively affects customers in the end
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:30 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 35 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | Nubs_Select | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:40 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 42 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| In Off Topic, utlf writes:
| In Off Topic, Nubs_Select writes:
| In Off Topic, utlf writes:
| In Off Topic, Nubs_Select writes:
| If that’s your attitude to “illegal” terms then why are you worried about “illegally”
obtained minifigures?
|
My terms are fine, and are pretty much an amalgamation of bits & pieces I've
seen in other store terms from my time on Bricklink
|
Wow what great advise for making terms... ever heard of local laws... and also
just because others do it dosnt mean its legal...
|
There's also a huge difference between "ilegal" store terms and the possibility
of people selling stolen minifigures; I have no issue changing the terms if Bricklink
admins find they aren't properly aligned with seller TOS, but there IS a
huge difference between these 2 things
|
I mean your literally lying to buyers saying that you have no liability when
you have the liability.
| One affects the market as a whole, the other is an isolated case that can be
easily rectified if needed
|
It still negatively affects customers in the end
|
Not really, if an order is placed that means the customer agrees to the terms;
there's no lying going on, FOB shipping point is a valid thing in North America,
and it is explained clearly in my store terms
|
They are placed under false pretence and wrongly believe they have to protection
if it gets lost when in reality its always the seller's responsibility. What
you do is just a way of hoping customers wont ask for a refund if it gets lost
even tho you know if the payment provider got involved they would side with the
buyer %100 of the time.
|
If an issue arises, I rectify it and have no problem with doing so
|
So you have to wait until you have a problem and then solve it instead of just
preventing it in the first place?
|
If a buyer doesn't like the store terms then they can shop elsewhere, and
if Bricklink Admins don't like certain things, then I will change it if required,
no issues here, simple as
|
Many have I'm sure and many will in the future. so your saying you don't
care if your terms are "illegal" as long as an admin hasn't directly messaged
you you don't really care either way?
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:57 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 24 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | Nubs_Select | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:59 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 29 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| at this point, I'm not even going to continue... |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:03 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 32 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | Nubs_Select | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:09 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 41 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| ummmmmmmm. i feel like that was just a bit too weird....... just me? |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | TheCuteGiraffe | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:10 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 42 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| Smoochie Smoochie, yeah a tad bit odd. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:14 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 27 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | Nubs_Select | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:22 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 40 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| yah.... but the way you put it... |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | TheCuteGiraffe | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:24 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 23 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:25 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 27 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | TheCuteGiraffe | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:26 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 32 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| Ah ok all good then.
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | Nubs_Select | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:28 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 34 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| good intent bad execution reminds me of... oh wait I'm going to stop there
(hopefully that's a good cutoff )
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | pitz8008 | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:27 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 52 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| In Off Topic, utlf writes:
| In Off Topic, Nubs_Select writes:
| If that’s your attitude to “illegal” terms then why are you worried about “illegally”
obtained minifigures?
|
My terms are fine, and are pretty much an amalgamation of bits & pieces I've
seen in other store terms from my time on Bricklink
There's also a huge difference between "ilegal" store terms and the possibility
of people selling stolen minifigures; I have no issue changing the terms if Bricklink
admins find they aren't properly aligned with seller TOS, but there IS a
huge difference between these 2 things
One affects the market as a whole, the other is an isolated case that can be
easily rectified if needed
|
No, your terms aren't fine.
"I do not accept returns, refund requests or exchanges as there is no way I am
able to ensure that I receive my exact item(s) back."
Quite frankly, you sound like the biggest scammer of all. And up until a week
or two ago you were charging a fee for paypal. Now you've changed that fee
to 5 percent of the order. So don't get all high and mighty. Nobody wants
to listen to your sanctimonious nonsense.
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:32 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 38 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | TheCuteGiraffe | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:39 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 33 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| This has been taken out of hand. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | bricksonmove | Posted: | Aug 4, 2022 03:23 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 54 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| In Off Topic, utlf writes:
| In Off Topic, pitz8008 writes:
| In Off Topic, utlf writes:
| In Off Topic, Nubs_Select writes:
| If that’s your attitude to “illegal” terms then why are you worried about “illegally”
obtained minifigures?
|
My terms are fine, and are pretty much an amalgamation of bits & pieces I've
seen in other store terms from my time on Bricklink
There's also a huge difference between "ilegal" store terms and the possibility
of people selling stolen minifigures; I have no issue changing the terms if Bricklink
admins find they aren't properly aligned with seller TOS, but there IS a
huge difference between these 2 things
One affects the market as a whole, the other is an isolated case that can be
easily rectified if needed
|
No, your terms aren't fine.
"I do not accept returns, refund requests or exchanges as there is no way I am
able to ensure that I receive my exact item(s) back."
Quite frankly, you sound like the biggest scammer of all. And up until a week
or two ago you were charging a fee for paypal. Now you've changed that fee
to 5 percent of the order. So don't get all high and mighty. Nobody wants
to listen to your sanctimonious nonsense.
|
I sound like a scammer because I don't offer refunds or returns? Aight bro,
reach any further and you'll pull a muscle
|
You are aware it illegal NOT to offer refunds exchanges returns when selling
something in most countries.
|
|
|
| | | | | |
| | | | Author: | TheCuteGiraffe | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 20:27 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 47 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| After seeing the thread you posted a few weeks back I did wonder if something
like this would happen.
Thanks for clearing it up. It's good to know whats going on from a buyers
point of view.
Cheers,
The Cute Giraffe
|
|
| | | | | |
| | | | Author: | FigBits | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 20:59 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 57 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| In Off Topic, utlf writes:
| Hoping to clarify the confusion and worry caused by this latest email, as a lot
of people seem to have jumped to conclusions/don't have the entire context
as to how this all started; I am not an admin or related to BL staff in any way,
but I was involved in threads regarding the "sus" sellers and items for sale
|
Why are posting this as an attempt to "clarify," when what you write is filled
with your personal opinions, several of which contradict what BL admin have stated?
| Despite the Admins/email stating that
they are custom printed, I do not believe this to be the case. I believe there
is a wide-scale operation within Lego factories to steal and sell high-ticket
minifigures on the "black market"
|
I would suggest allowing BL Admin to offer clarifications. You should delete
this message. If you want, I suppose it might make sense if you posted it as
"BRICKLINK EMAIL & MY PERSONAL OPINIONS WHICH CONTRADICT THAT EMAIL"
|
|
|
| | | | | |
| | | | Author: | FamilyBlocks | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:18 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 60 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:45 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 43 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Author: | 1001bricks | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 21:58 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 36 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| | - I just want to make sure things are in good order
|
Sure, like in your shop terms:
- "shipping times vary ... to upwards of 6 months"
(but the buyer knows you'll keep his money safe, in case of!)
- "MINT Brand New, straight from the Lego set. Assembled, bagged & stored"
(MINT? New? Assembled? Ermmm.... confused?)
Sylvain
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Author: | TheCuteGiraffe | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:00 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 30 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| I did notice the 6 months shipping term. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:02 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 27 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | 1001bricks | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:06 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 37 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| | | - "shipping times vary ... to upwards of 6 months"
(but the buyer knows you'll keep his money safe, in case of!)
|
Yes? I put a blanket estimate so buyers know how long it might take, it rarely
ever takes 6 months though
But yeah, keep nitpicking man
|
Sure, the famous "I can fraud because Amazon frauds more than me" concept
| | - "MINT Brand New, straight from the Lego set. Assembled, bagged & stored"
(MINT? New? Assembled? Ermmm.... confused?)
|
Yes, I put the minifigure together and then bag it as soon as it's assembled,
that's still brand new/mint
|
No, it's about " Item Condition Guide", not about Minifigs.
And personnaly I hate people assembling Minifigs, but it's another story.
And this, BrickLink authorizes it.
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:12 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 31 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | |
| | | | Author: | PlanetEarthToys | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:38 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 53 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Author: | UTLF | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 23:00 | Subject: | (Cancelled) | Viewed: | 66 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| (Cancelled) |
|
| | | | | |
| | | | Author: | BigBBricks | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:42 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 73 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| Just here for the comments... |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Author: | PlanetEarthToys | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:43 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 53 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| In Off Topic, BigBBricks writes:
| Just here for the comments...
|
awww Pre-Clone Mikey..
he was awesome
|
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Author: | Nubs_Select | Posted: | Aug 3, 2022 22:43 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 60 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| its whats fun |
|
| | | | | |
| | | | Author: | yorbrick | Posted: | Aug 4, 2022 03:29 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 40 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| |
First off, I brought up concerns that there are sellers selling GENUINE Lego
parts & minifigures that were STOLEN or ACQUIRED ILLEGITIMATELY through connects
one way or another, be it a connect within the Lego factories or through a middle
man that has connects to said Lego factory employees. Somehow, GENUINE licensed
Lego minifigures are leaking out in massive quantities, and this is evident when
looking at the catalog after some time. Despite the Admins/email stating that
they are custom printed, I do not believe this to be the case. I believe there
is a wide-scale operation within Lego factories to steal and sell high-ticket
minifigures on the "black market" - this is evident with the transparent "prototype"
(more like official Lego bootleg) minifigures being made using Lego factory machines
& resources within said factories. If these sellers can make these "bootleg"
lego minifigures, they can just as easily acquire OFFICIAL & AUTHORIZED Lego
minifigures from the factories as well. This is evident with minifigures from
the Daily Bugle, the newest UCS Tumbler, the C-3PO minifig from UCS Landspeeder,
and so on, so forth.
Yes, it is entirely possible that sellers can buy sets in bulk & part them
out. But when sellers don't have any parts to show, and only have the minifigures,
that's when it becomes suspicious.
|
If you have evidence of theft then you should supply it to the correct authorities.
Otherwise if it is just based on a hunch and your lack of understanding of other
people's businesses then you should stay quiet in public but report what
you feel necessary and let someone else with greater insight and the possibility
of requesting evidence from relevant sellers deal with it.
You obviously deviate from Bricklink's view of what is going on. So provide
them with the evidence of theft that you have.
|
|
|
| | | | | |
| | | | Author: | bricksonmove | Posted: | Aug 4, 2022 03:34 | Subject: | Re: BRICKLINK EMAIL & CONFUSION CLARIFIED | Viewed: | 73 times | Topic: | Off Topic | |
|
| In Off Topic, utlf writes:
| Hoping to clarify the confusion and worry caused by this latest email, as a lot
of people seem to have jumped to conclusions/don't have the entire context
as to how this all started; I am not an admin or related to BL staff in any way,
but I was involved in threads regarding the "sus" sellers and items for sale
First off, I brought up concerns that there are sellers selling GENUINE Lego
parts & minifigures that were STOLEN or ACQUIRED ILLEGITIMATELY through connects
one way or another, be it a connect within the Lego factories or through a middle
man that has connects to said Lego factory employees. Somehow, GENUINE licensed
Lego minifigures are leaking out in massive quantities, and this is evident when
looking at the catalog after some time. Despite the Admins/email stating that
they are custom printed, I do not believe this to be the case. I believe there
is a wide-scale operation within Lego factories to steal and sell high-ticket
minifigures on the "black market" - this is evident with the transparent "prototype"
(more like official Lego bootleg) minifigures being made using Lego factory machines
& resources within said factories. If these sellers can make these "bootleg"
lego minifigures, they can just as easily acquire OFFICIAL & AUTHORIZED Lego
minifigures from the factories as well. This is evident with minifigures from
the Daily Bugle, the newest UCS Tumbler, the C-3PO minifig from UCS Landspeeder,
and so on, so forth.
Yes, it is entirely possible that sellers can buy sets in bulk & part them
out. But when sellers don't have any parts to show, and only have the minifigures,
that's when it becomes suspicious.
I've seen countless people mention the idea that sellers can sell the bulk
parts from sets they get the minifigures from, and that is also possible, and
it's possible that they are just sitting on parts for their backlog. But
not every seller does this. This means that not every seller has acquired
100+ UCS Landspeeders, or 1,000 UCS Tumblers, or 500 - 800 Daily Bugle sets just
for the minifigures. If so, they would, at the very least, have SOME parts from
at least a few sets in their inventory if they DID part it out like they claim
- this can be verified by cross-referencing the minifig quantities to their respective
set(s), then taking "key" (stand-out, important) elements from said sets and
seeing if it matches with the quantity of minifigs, if they even have parts in
their inventory (quite a few do not, from big stores with 10k+ feedback to small
stores with a little over 100 feedback.)
This is where the suspicion comes in. A huge, standout example of this is with
75341 UCS Luke's Landspeeder - at the time of this post, it's only available
through Lego S@H/Physical Lego stores. No other retailers like Amazon, Walmart,
Target, etc. The set was released May 4th, 2022. The S@H limit is 5 per household,
meaning the probability of 3 - 4 sellers acquiring 100+ UCS Landspeeders each
is pretty low, even if you factor in sellers going to physical Lego Stores. The
idea that these sellers are all able to source 100 UCS Landspeeders, not part
them out (no key parts from the set in their store, if any parts at all) and
only sell the C-3PO minifigures is a little out of the realm of possibility,
especially with these sellers being in different continents (so I highly doubt
these few sellers all pooled together to part the sets out)
It is also highly unlikely that all of the bulk is being sold off to other stores,
as these parts NEED to go somewhere, and I am sure all parties involved will
be looking to profit off of their investment, especially if they've invested
~$1.5 mil like I've seen mentioned here. So for the sake of the argument,
it would be more realistic if these sellers put all the bulk into their stores
ASAP. But, it's evident that there aren't ~300 windshields from Luke's
Landspeeder available on the market, but there are ~300 C-3PO minifigs available
from 3 - 4 sellers.
THIS IS WHERE BRICKLINK ADMINS COME IN
Now that there is backstory and context, the email is asking Bricklink sellers
to stay vigilant and report stores that have OBSCENE AMOUNTS OF HIGH-TICKET/EXCLUSIVE
MINIFIGURES like the 1,000 Jokers or 100+ C-3POs from the UCS Landspeeder
(but not limited to those, if you look long enough you'll start to notice
this pattern happens with a lot of licensed minifigures, especially Super Heroes
& Star Wars.)
If you see a seller with 400 Daredevils, 300 Black Cats, and 350 Firestar minifigs
and then check the seller's store inventory and don't find anything that
would be a standout part from the Daily Bugle set, then you report the listing
through the problem center. A little bit of detective work and critical thinking
would be needed, but you can usually discern whether it's realistic or not.
I see a lot of (albeit) experienced sellers acting like there's nothing fishy
going on, but if you've been in the Lego community long enough, you'll
know how difficult it can be to source certain sets in high quantities, and how
Lego sets limits to sets purchased, and how parting out sets will NOT result
in you selling everything at once, if ever.
We are all also aware of how MINIFIGURES will almost always be the "bread
and butter" of parting sets out.
This is common knowledge for every seller, which is why many of them specialize
in selling minifigures only. This is where it can get tricky, but when sellers
state in listings that the minifigures have been "parted from sets," and not
have any parts from said sets available in their store, then it's reasonable
to assume they've been acquired from another source.
The point of a business is to make as much profits as possible, as quickly as
possible, to buy more stock and out-perform the competition. It would (hypothetically)
be much cheaper to purchase these stolen minifigures in bulk for a fraction of
what it would cost for the same amount of complete sets they come in, and I doubt
most sellers would pass up this opportunity. Less money put out, more money brought
in, no useless bulk sitting around, you're only operating with the "bread
and butter" and leaving the fodder out.
I DO NOT THINK THE EMAIL WAS EXECUTED IN A GOOD WAY.
The way it was formatted made me think something was wrong with my listings,
as many other sellers have mentioned. The explanation was shoddy at best, and
there was little to no context or information provided. As I mentioned before,
I also do not think these minifigures are being custom printed. I think there
are connects within Lego factories stealing minifigures and reselling them to
3rd parties, which, in turn, sell on sites like eBay and Bricklink.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT MOST SELLERS ARE SAFE
Bricklink is a very trustworthy marketplace, and even if sellers ARE selling
items acquired illegitimately, I'd venture to say you WOULD receive what
you purchased. The question is HOW these are sourced, which is what I think Bricklink
(and more importantly, Lego) need to look into further. If you're selling
a reasonable amount of minifigures, and you've gotten them legitimately,
then there's no issue - BUT now that Bricklink sent out this alert, the
sellers WITH these stolen minifigures have been alerted and will take the advice
others have mentioned in that they will only list a few at a time instead of
their entire stock. This causes a huge issue for obvious reasons.
Hopefully this clarifies a lot of concerns, I did my best to recap the entire
situation from start to finish & give as much explanation as I could. I think
the email caused unnecessary panic & would have been better handled within Bricklink,
as now innocent sellers are worried and not-so-innocent sellers are taking note
on what not to do in order to mask their shady business dealings. (allegedly)
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Does anyone Know if Bricklink or lego themselves have done a purchase of these
so called "custom printed minifigs" or "items acquired illegitimately". If
they have NOT the question should be raised WHY NOT? As that would put to
bed which is the case if they arecustom printed minifigs or items acquired
illegitimately. If the later the lego group have a massive issue.
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