BrickLink Discussion Forum

In Suggestions, Teup writes:

In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:

We won't be signing up for xp either - it isn't aimed at our type of
store - its target is a large one - the 'Soccer Moms' so to speak who
want a set for little Johnny for xmas and do not need the complications of Bricklink
to hamper them.

(...)

Apparently xp requires Instant Checkout (not a problem for some), also requires
Paypal for Marketplaces (Again not a problem for some) but little else is known
about it.

And this is where it goes totally wrong. On the one hand, they seem to aim at
the broad casual consumer market, on the other hand, they force a highly specific
online-business-insiders-only payment method. If I would go to the local supermarket
and ask random people if they have bought something online last week, lots of
them are going to say "yes". If I ask them if they used PayPal, pretty much all
of them are going to respond "what's PayPal?"
And then I haven't even touched on PayPal's plan to dramatically increase
transaction fees by next month, which ruins their competitiveness compared to
other payment methods (but they are trying to circumvent the free market principle
by forcing sellers not to disclose the fees to buyers in as many countries as
possible, and encouraging the buyers to ask for PayPal because it is "free")

If they will implement a relevant payment method, then I will participate in
XP (for the Dutch market, the 4th largest country on Bricklink, this is iDeal).
If they don't, I won't. I'm done trying to make Bricklink see reason.
iDeal is one of the main reasons that I set up my own webshop, and now that I
have it, I don't really care what Bricklink does anymore. If they are not
going to add iDeal, that's just going to be more Dutch consumers for me in
my webshop

Hi Teup

Never heard of Ideal - is that Dutch only? Irrespective of that the business
model of xp does not suit our store and we wouldn't adopt it whatever happens.
We are not into selling large one-off sets at bargain prices - ours is a part
shop from top to bottom. Our orders average several hundred items and over 50
lots - that isn't going to be bought by a google search result which is what
we believe BL are trying to bring about. Instant checkout doesn't' work
for our store either and with over 40,000 items without dimensions in the catalogue
it is fair to say, probably never will - it is not designed well around shipping
methods and was not built to be adaptable (zip code pricing in the USA - The
largest market on BL), volume and weight based in the UK and most of Europe.
We have 14 different box sizes 3 large letters, and 11 small parcels, we never
ship a medium parcel as that is too costly so we are using multiple small parcels
to deal with weights over 2Kg and yes I know this could be set up but what a
hassle a different delivery method for each box type (each box has a different
tare).

We also have no concept of Bricklink dealing with our funds by way of Marketplace.
Far too many things against it for us to even consider it,((we know they have
claimed they are not into that, but who knows what might happen if we all give
them the right to do that)). but then it might suit some - that will only be
found out as and when they launch it, as unfortunately no communications is the
norm for the site - so no one will know what it is about til they launch it and
based on previous launches it will be some time before it would be 'bug free'
so to speak.

IC, in our view, needed to be regionalised and much more flexible in its design.
It works for some and that is great, and not for others, which is a shame, but
that is how they have done it. No talking, no discussion, no customer agreement,
here it is - if you don't like it tough, - that is what you are getting.
And the funny thing is BO launched with it and it is much smoother over there
and far fewer complaints about missing bits.

I can say without reservation that we will not be adopting xp at any time.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Sep 9, 2019 07:14

Subject:

Re: More stockrooms!

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Topic:

In Suggestions, Teup writes:

In Suggestions, nologolego writes:

But most importantly, it is sad to think we have no pilot or crew for Bricklink.
Is it fated to crash and burn eventually? Do we need to get our parachutes
ready?

I think it will be ok

I am more afraid of stupid changes than of Bricklink's
inertia. I'm not going to participate in this new Bricklink XP they're
developing, and I wish they hadn't come up with that idea. Anyway, as long
as Bricklink is just asleep it's fine by me. It's not dying, just sleeping

It generates money so if anything would happen to it, even the least interested
management would take measures keep it running.

We don't know either but think it may be okay. Many businesses fail because
they do not listen to their customers. That is a serious matter here, but they
have the market pull - thanks to Dan and all the excellent volunteers they have
had over the years. Customers
have a strange habit of going where the products are and BL is probably at the
top of the tree for that.

We won't be signing up for xp either - it isn't aimed at our type of
store - its target is a large one - the 'Soccer Moms' so to speak who
want a set for little Johnny for xmas and do not need the complications of Bricklink
to hamper them. In MP's presentation at Brickworld last year he suggested
an Amazon/Ebay model (we don't know if they have achieved that or not and
his throwaway comments about we will continue to support the classic site don't
fill many of us with enthusiasm, but those are the issues that are known at
present.
We were also informed some time ago that Phase I release was due to come out
in March ((and it didn't make it - rumour has it that Phase 2 will be out
at the end of the year)) so we still have plenty of time to contemplate this
radical change.

Storerooms - we don't use them either but we know people that do. It is,
however, unlikely that you will get any changes to the classic site as MP also
announced nothing more will be done on the classic site due to the fact they
feel xp is the future , they don't understand the 'spaghetti code',
and their
early changes were not met with enthusiasm.

Apparently xp requires Instant Checkout (not a problem for some), also requires
Paypal for Marketplaces (Again not a problem for some) but little else is known
about it. I think generally there is a lack of interest in this latest tangent.
It may appeal to some but large part stores may find it diametrically opposed
to the way they operate. There have been, since the announcement, not many threads
about it so everything may have changed or it may be exactly as they outlined,
we won't really know til it is released, it appears.

Not really convinced that is the best way to get new software accepted and 'taken
up' but it isn't our business to run it is theirs - we are only here
to pay the bills

.

How about this for a throwaway line - might not be our (Community) business to
run but then again, maybe it should be

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Aug 22, 2019 07:35

Subject:

Re: Cardboard sleeves in inventories

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Topic:

Inventories

In Inventories, Hygrotus writes:

In Inventories, yorbrick writes:

There is another one here if you need it that I happen to have on my desk.

I wasn't sure how to upload a part containing parts and how you are collating
the sets they came in.

From set 79012 contains one standard DARK RED cape

522 Minifigure Cape Cloth, Standard - Traditional Starched Fabric - 4.0cm Height
Parts: Minifigure, Body Wear

Added for you

6002415 (Inv) Cardboard Sleeve 6002415 with Contents
Parts: Cardboard Sleeve

added normal way category
'Cardboard Sleeve'
you see how it should be numbered and named.

As for which set found write in the note form when uplodaing part then I'm
adding it to additional note. See when you enter the part entry.

So if I understand this correctly we should use the inventory change request
for things that come in 'cardboard sleeves' 'little white boxes'
to include the printed number?

We have always keyed that straight into Google and found what was in the box
????

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Aug 9, 2019 14:49

Subject:

Re: Why can't I enlarge pics anymore?

Viewed:

44 times

Topic:

Catalog

In Catalog, firestar246 writes:

So you used to be able to click on the picture of a piece in the catalog, sort
of a quick view. You'd see the years it was made, any sets/minifigures the
piece was in, etc. You all know what I'm talking about. Well, a few days
ago I couldn't do it anymore. I've tried three different devices.

Why would they make such a horrible change for? I rely on that heavily when listing
minifigure parts to make sure I have the correct listing. This is going to make
this job twice as long now.

Tried it here on w7 ie11 - no problems whatsoever. Sounds like it could be womething
at your end. Which broiwsers have you tried?

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jun 8, 2019 12:17

Subject:

Re: 'Prefer My BrickLink Classic?'

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Topic:

In Suggestions, randyf writes:

In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:

very and fast - The site has become unstable yet again and although it isn't
with server 500 errors - I wonder if they are adding code to the site and it
is breaking it.

And they always seem to add it on a Friday as they are leaving for the weekend.

Why would anyone in their right mind or with any common sense whatsoever let
that happen. The mind simply boggles. There could be a million people (total
membership) trying to place orders or load inventory and unless they read the
forum and/or try workarounds they are going to be put off using the site. It
just doesn't make any sense to me but then again I am an old fashioned MD
- far too old to change my ways and very slow to catch on to new gimmicks.

Charlie Brown give me strength.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

Jun 8, 2019 08:08

Subject:

Re: 'Prefer My BrickLink Classic?'

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Topic:

In Suggestions, Abels_Bricks writes:

In Suggestions, crxefx writes:

X2 , No interest in AFOL whatever in the middle of what i'm trying to do!

Totally agree, also the AFOL stuff that pops up at the top of your searches.

But main gripe today would be I would love it if bricklink was working correctly
today. having to go to the front page to do anything is getting old.

David

very and fast - The site has become unstable yet again and although it isn't
with server 500 errors - I wonder if they are adding code to the site and it
is breaking it.

Might be an idea for BL to get a proper sandbox in place and use that for rolling
out updates and/or changes - like most development teams do.

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

May 27, 2019 13:39

Subject:

Re: Helpful but ....

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Topic:

In Suggestions, bje writes:

In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:

Optionally included where?

https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=22

That is not how it works when we upload our xml file from Briokstock. The file
has the category number in it but leads with the itemid.

Knowing how the tables work and what is in them would be helpful to get this
sorted, but suffice to say that when the xml data comes along Bricklink has to
make up its mind what to do with it and it cannot do that without the itemid
e.g. part no. It requires part no, colour and condition to see if the data submitted
is a new lot or matches an existing lot. So the item id is used somewhere - it
cannot just work from the category id.

It is a mandatory field out of Brickstock for an xml
update inventory. The only time lot numbers come into it are if you wish to update
existing inventory. Niek is right - the system is doing a lookup to pick up the
description so it can look up the product id quite easily.

It performs a lookup on the category only, nothing else.

Sorry that cannot work - the category could have hundreds of items in it so how
is it going to know which item to either add or update? It simply isn't logical.

Yes according to Bricklink
we sell lots but according to reality we sell items which make up lots.

In reality there has never been a single catalog item sold on BL

Mind blowing
I know, but download your orders with full detail - there is no such thing in
the catalog as a "Red Technic, Brick 1 x 14 with Holes" as a separate catalog
item, yet that is the only description on your invoice.

The catalogue is made up of many related tables - the order detail download is
useless as far as we are concerned and has been set up by Bricklink to offer
info they wish to offer not the info we need.

The fact
that this platform has no real inventory system available to stores does not
mean we cannot look at elements of the catalogue when we are bringing in data.
A schema would clearly establish this - Product ID cannot be duplicated and
therefore can be read easily when a lookup to that table is done.

What do you mean by Product ID - the lot ID or the catalog item ID? These are
two different things altogether and bear no relation to each other.

The lot id is a bricklink generated number assigned to each store for each item
no, colour and condition. That then represents , lets call it a stock item and
that is what we sell. Lot nos, however are cumbersome and clumsy, so we use Lego
design id nos or (Bricklink part nos) to refer to our items. No one uses lot
nos other than the system.

If I modify the xml file we created when we export xml to Clipboard - the mass
upload will not work - we get an error message that the file format is invalid.
If I put the itemid back in it works.

Export with a comment and delete the item field again, it will work. You could
conceivably list your entire inventory without a single catalog item id.

No, I am afraid it doesn't - the system tells us it is an invalid file format.

We have moved off the original point - the only real resolution to this is if
someone at Bricklink who understands the code

is willing to share that info
out in the forum.

Whilst I am confident nothing will happen over this suggestion it would be welcome
for BL to comment.

Admin ?

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

May 27, 2019 12:40

Subject:

Re: Helpful but ....

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Topic:

In Suggestions, bje writes:

In Suggestions, qwertyboy writes:

In Suggestions, bje writes:

I voted yes, but I am not entirely sure this would be as simple as is believed
on first glance.

The reason that part number gets dropped is because in BL world, that part number
is not something used to differentiate inventory items.

That would be a valid argument, if BL weren't already showing the item description
on that exact same screen. If the program is able to show the description (which
is a lookup into the items table), it already knows the part number (or at least
grab it from the same table the description came from).

So yes, it is a request easily implemented.

Niek.

But the item number is optionally included, it is not even a required field.
And from what I can see, only the category field ties to the item number in the
catalog. As a matter of fact, you can list everything in your store without a
single catalog item number, so long as you have the category and comments fields,
mass uploads will work. We sell lots, not catalog items.

Optionally included where? It is a mandatory field out of Brickstock for an xml
update inventory. The only time lot numbers come into it are if you wish to update
existing inventory. Niek is right - the system is doing a lookup to pick up the
description so it can look up the product id quite easily. Yes according to Bricklink
we sell lots but according to reality we sell items which make up lots. The fact
that this platform has no real inventory system available to stores does not
mean we cannot look at elements of the catalogue when we are bringing in data.
A schema would clearly e4stablish this - Product ID cannot be duplicated and
therefore can be read easily when a lookup to that table is done.

If I modify the xml file we created when we export xml to Clipboard - the mass
upload will not work - we get an error message that the file format is invalid.
If I put the itemid back in it works.

Whilst I am confident nothing will happen over this suggestion it would be welcome
for BL to comment.

Admin ?

Author:

calsbricks

Posted:

May 27, 2019 11:51

Subject:

Re: Helpful but ....

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Topic: