...still will differentiate the merged variants using the comment field?
Choose:
a) yes
b) no
c) not sure yet
Keep in mind that it won't be visible anymore in the old set inventories
which variant has been used.
No. I think such comments might confuse and possibly put off some buyers. The
a, b, c type variants only really exist because they were catalogued here. If
they are no longer catalogued here then adding a comment that you will get a
'b' variant will be lost on many buyers and may leave them wondering
what they will get. It really depends on which images are retained to show the
part once merged. Where vintage parts come from known sets, I think I will comment
as i do now on the date range or the set they came from, if those parts attract
a premium price.
...still will differentiate the merged variants using the comment field?
Choose:
a) yes
b) no
c) not sure yet
Keep in mind that it won't be visible anymore in the old set inventories
which variant has been used.
No. I think such comments might confuse and possibly put off some buyers. The
a, b, c type variants only really exist because they were catalogued here. If
they are no longer catalogued here then adding a comment that you will get a
'b' variant will be lost on many buyers and may leave them wondering
what they will get. It really depends on which images are retained to show the
part once merged. Where vintage parts come from known sets, I think I will comment
as i do now on the date range or the set they came from, if those parts attract
a premium price.
There are good arguments on both sides. For example, the fact that in LEGO doesn't
distinguish some mould variants is a good argument why BL doesn't need to.
But then there are cases where LEGO does distinguish and BL aggregates them under
a single number plus letter for the variant.
It could be complicated where BL has used single entries for parts when LEGO
has used multiple. For example, I wonder what will happen in the longer term
to parts like this.
where they use the same number but variant letters, even though LEGO has used
a range of different item numbers for the d variant. Should the latter be merged
or should they be split into different part numbers? Should the different d variants
have multiple entries even though they appear to be the same thing. It seems
strange that these two types of clip are treated in a very different way, one
keeping two distinct codes, the other aggregating them into one but using made
up code letters to distinguish them.
If the image comparing 4085 variants is removed, and there is just one 4085 entry
not showing any differences, will most people even care? If they can use any
3001 from the late 70s onwards to complete a 1982 set or a 2024 set because the
inventory says so, why not use any 1x1 clip with vertical grip because the inventory
also says so. Does it really matter that one person (often later) said that they
found a particular variant in their set, so everyone else's set should be
the same if it is to be the real thing and allowed to be sold here. Of course,
it may well be true that they found that exact part in a sealed set that cost
them $100s, but should that impact on everyone else if they want to sell a used
set.
...still will differentiate the merged variants using the comment field?
Choose:
a) yes
b) no
c) not sure yet
Keep in mind that it won't be visible anymore in the old set inventories
which variant has been used.
Thanks Mauro
No but for the first few months I will keep them separated so that where possible
I can pick a buyers order with all the same type. Once I feel more confident
that the buying community has become accustomed to the fact that they could receive
either variant within the same order batch I may then start to merge my stocks
into the same storage bin.
...still will differentiate the merged variants using the comment field?
Choose:
a) yes
b) no
c) not sure yet
Keep in mind that it won't be visible anymore in the old set inventories
which variant has been used.
Thanks Mauro
Yes, I do plan on listing the different molds whenever possible. However, I am
already in the habit of distinguishing between many variants in my Comments.
It's not a great system though and requires a significant amount of extra
work on my part. I wouldn't think it is a viable option for any other than
specialty or hobby shops like mine. It's a nightmare to check inventory
when you have multiple lots per part. I have to label everything and note how
many total lots I have so I don't mess up and grab the wrong lot when pulling
orders.
I also distinguish between 'good' used and play wear. So, I end up with
many lots for vintage parts. I would bet it is actually quite off-putting to
those trying to fill out wanted lists. I constantly worry that the Easy Buy system
is bringing buyers to my shop without reading the Comments before placing an
order.
Most sales of variants are driven by the inventories, which in turn populate
buyer want lists. If the variants aren't going to be in the inventories,
there is no point in differentiating them.
I'll keep what I currently have separated and try to send the same variant
for an order, but once I run out that's it. My shop is small and I cannot
charge the premium prices needed to justify the additional labor of continuing
to sort these to service for the vintage collector/restorer market.
In Inventories, 1977_mauro writes:
...still will differentiate the merged variants using the comment field?
Choose:
a) yes
b) no
c) not sure yet
Keep in mind that it won't be visible anymore in the old set inventories
which variant has been used.
Germany, Baden-Württemberg
USA, Illinois
Netherlands, Drenthe
Canada, Ontario
United Kingdom, England
Austria, Wien
Italy, Marche