| Discussion Forum: Thread 333008 |
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| | | Author: | cinemacritic  | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 12:21 | | Subject: | Does Auto-select minimize the shipping cost? | | Viewed: | 63 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| Hi,
I'm new to BrickLink and, embarrassingly, it's been 15 years since I
played with Legos. I'm looking to purchase a single new black 1x6 plate.
So I've added one to my Default Wanted List, then I go to said Default Wanted
List and click "Buy All." I'm taken to the Buy Wanted List page,
I click that I wish the store to accept US Dollar and to be located in North
America, and then I click "Auto-select." BrickLink suggests a store
to purchase from and I click "Create carts."
When I look at the cart from the suggested store, the plate costs $0.03 USD plus
$5.90 USD shipping and handling. Is this really the store with the cheapest
shipping for this one plate, or does the "Auto-select" algorithm not
search for the lowest shipping cost?
Thank you for your kind patience with me, since I'm a newbie.
Andrew
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| | | | | Author: | SylvainLS | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 12:37 | | Subject: | Re: Does Auto-select minimize the shipping cost? | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| In Help, cinemacritic writes:
Hi and welcome 
| | I'm new to BrickLink and, embarrassingly, it's been 15 years since I
played with Legos.
|
Nothing to be embarrassed about. Most of us have had a “dark age” 
| | I'm looking to purchase a single new black 1x6 plate.
So I've added one to my Default Wanted List, then I go to said Default Wanted
List and click "Buy All." I'm taken to the Buy Wanted List page,
I click that I wish the store to accept US Dollar and to be located in North
America, and then I click "Auto-select." BrickLink suggests a store
to purchase from and I click "Create carts."
When I look at the cart from the suggested store, the plate costs $0.03 USD plus
$5.90 USD shipping and handling. Is this really the store with the cheapest
shipping for this one plate, or does the "Auto-select" algorithm not
search for the lowest shipping cost?
Thank you for your kind patience with me, since I'm a newbie.
Andrew
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The algorithm can’t know the shipping price of every store. It could for those
sellers that have Auto-Invoice (when the shipping is automatically calculated)
but many still have manual invoicing (the sellers calculate shipping on their
own).
What we have been told is that the algorithm uses an estimation (something about
the average cost for similar orders between the seller’s location and the buyer’s).
The algorithm also takes feedback into account (no idea how).
Honestly, Auto-select is a good start for a Wanted List but for only one part,
I’d just pick a reliable store with an acceptable shipping. You’d best read
each store’s Terms anyway.
Or I’d wait to have a need for more parts
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| | | | | Author: | 1001bricks | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 12:39 | | Subject: | Re: Does Auto-select minimize the shipping cost? | | Viewed: | 33 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| | | Is this really the store with the cheapest
shipping for this one plate, or does the "Auto-select" algorithm not
search for the lowest shipping cost?
|
It does NOT, it can't (computational resources and time to deliver the information).
AFAIK, it calculates a kind of "average shipping price" for shops, if
it can, and then will probably give you the least average.
But that doesn't mean anything, example:
Our avg is maybe say 7$, but I can ship you an handful of parts for $3.
Another shop having a cheaper average of 6$ will charge you 5.9$.
Their chosen solution will be more expensive to you than mine.
HTH?
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| | | | | | | Author: | cinemacritic | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 13:14 | | Subject: | Re: Does Auto-select minimize the shipping cost? | | Viewed: | 32 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| 1001bricks, thank you for your kind explanation. I placed an order from you a
few minutes ago, but I have had an issue and just sent you a direct message with
a question about it. Thank you for your patience with me.
In Help, 1001bricks writes:
| | | | Is this really the store with the cheapest
shipping for this one plate, or does the "Auto-select" algorithm not
search for the lowest shipping cost?
|
It does NOT, it can't (computational resources and time to deliver the information).
AFAIK, it calculates a kind of "average shipping price" for shops, if
it can, and then will probably give you the least average.
But that doesn't mean anything, example:
Our avg is maybe say 7$, but I can ship you an handful of parts for $3.
Another shop having a cheaper average of 6$ will charge you 5.9$.
Their chosen solution will be more expensive to you than mine.
HTH?
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | 1001bricks | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 13:37 | | Subject: | (Cancelled) | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| | (Cancelled) |
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | 1001bricks | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 13:38 | | Subject: | Re: Does Auto-select minimize the shipping cost? | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| In Help, cinemacritic writes:
| | 1001bricks, thank you for your kind explanation. I placed an order from you a
few minutes ago, but I have had an issue and just sent you a direct message with
a question about it. Thank you for your patience with me.
|
It's been really a pain to deal with you 
You're too kind and even immediately signaled us you've got a payment
problem on your side; which we don't see here 
In short, there's no problem, welcome back any time and please have a nice
Year/Day/Night/One!
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| | | | | Author: | jennnifer | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 13:58 | | Subject: | Re: Does Auto-select minimize the shipping cost? | | Viewed: | 23 times | | Topic: | Help | |
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| In Help, cinemacritic writes:
| | Hi,
I'm new to BrickLink and, embarrassingly, it's been 15 years since I
played with Legos. I'm looking to purchase a single new black 1x6 plate.
So I've added one to my Default Wanted List, then I go to said Default Wanted
List and click "Buy All." I'm taken to the Buy Wanted List page,
I click that I wish the store to accept US Dollar and to be located in North
America, and then I click "Auto-select." BrickLink suggests a store
to purchase from and I click "Create carts."
When I look at the cart from the suggested store, the plate costs $0.03 USD plus
$5.90 USD shipping and handling. Is this really the store with the cheapest
shipping for this one plate, or does the "Auto-select" algorithm not
search for the lowest shipping cost?
Thank you for your kind patience with me, since I'm a newbie.
Andrew
|
It should cost about $4 (plus handling) to ship just one plate within the US.
(Nationwide, the cheapest shipping options run from about $3.75 - $4.25) The
issue you are likely to run into is that most shops have a minimum purchase requirement
or, in the case of your search, an inflated shipping charge to offset the cost
of low-value orders.
To hit this minimum and pay fair shipping charges, you may be better off (value
for your order) buying your one plate and also a nice minifig to go with. It
can sit on your desk and remind you of your love for all things LEGO.
Good luck,
Jen
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USA, Pennsylvania
France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
