Redisplay Messages: Compact | Brief | All | Full Show Messages: All | Without Replies| Author: | Rbobo  | | Posted: | Apr 24, 2014 05:57 | | Subject: | Re: Stop highly skewed prices in superlots | | Viewed: | 68 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, mabccc writes:
| | I'd like to see some sort of control on pricing in superlots, especially
of CMFs.
For example, in this search ...
http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID=108965&colorID=0
One control could be that no part in a superlot could be priced at more than
double the average price over the last six months.
|
It's not a bad idea in principle, but generally such suggestions are not
acted upon due to legal issues with price fixing.
|
 |
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Jun 17, 2013 02:19 | | Subject: | Re: Thoughts on instant checkout & postage... | | Viewed: | 48 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| Bricklink, the community, seems to prefer that actual shipping costs be passed
on to the buyer. Any attempt to mandate instant checkout WILL raise the average
cost of shipping. There is no way around this. I am not saying that this is
a bad idea; maybe it's worth the increased shipping costs but we can't
pretend they won't happen. A giant company like Amazon can negotiate shipping
rates and can eat short term shipping losses; most Bricklink stores cannot.
Furthermore, what we do is unique:
(I've posted this experiment before but I believe it bears repeating
1) Find an online store that specializes in large quantities of small, inexpensive
items. Perhaps a bolt-and-screw supply store.
2) Now find one that ships worldwide.
3) Now find one that will accept a $25 or so order for 100+ items of 20+ different
types.
4) Now find one that will checkout instantly.
5) Lastly, find one that will only charge you their actual cost of shipping.
Any luck?
-Richard Bobo
In Suggestions, Brick_Top writes:
| | I was the kind of person that never wanted instant checkout to be implemented
here in BL. I thought it would bring problems, overpaying or underpaying,
and also would stop a way of communication with my buyers. I really like to communicate
with them.
However, I was recently invited to test out another Lego selling website that
is under production. This site in particular has instant checkout implemented.
Well, after receiving an order today... I was thoroughly impressed by how well
it worked.
When setting up your store, it requires you to add your shipping methods, either
by weight bands or price bands. On countries where you have dimension limits,
that could be hard to implement. Anyways, after some thinking, this would be
my solution.
First, the simplest things would be to add weight ranges from the cart (you'd
need to weight your envelopes/boxes) and add the price. In example, if my bubble
envelopes weight less than 20 grams, I'd add a shipping band from 0-75 grams,
and put the price for under 100 grams. Or, if my boxes weight about 150 grams,
I'd put another band from 450 grams to... 750 grams, for under 1 KG!
That is the simple part, now let's get to restrictions or special needs.
I'm not sure about restrictions on other countries, but here the restrictions
are not too harsh. For them, and special bulky items, my solution would be to
have a special intern mark in the catalog, so the system knows they are bulky.
For example, let's say I'm adding a raised baseplate to the catalog,
another field could be if it's bulky or not. Bulky could be considered over
2 centimeters high on all three dimensions, or something like that. Yes, it
would
require some work to be implemented in the actual catalog items, but with this
community's help, it would be easily done. You could also make differences
between big bulky items, such as raised baseplates, or semi-bulky items, such
as some panels. A raised baseplate would make a difference in my shipping costs,
but not a panel, normally.
Now, with the mark, what it would happen is, you get a special option on your
shipping methods to see if your store "cares" for bulky items. I mean, when the
system is making the shipping price to give it to the buyer, it would detect
that his order has bulky items, and then, predefined by the seller, you could
get two different options. Either the seller could establish new rates for bulky
items, or the make the buyer request a regular invoice, so the seller can calculate
the shipping cost.
Solved the restrictions problem. Now on to fees. All fees should be noted up
front, anyways. It's easy to automatize lot limits/fees, packing fees, etc.
The seller would be required to add them, and the system would add them to the
order and show them to the buyer along with shipping prices, before checkout.
Lastly, I would make automatic checkout, at least in the beginning, an option,
not a must. I'm sure many, many sellers would implemented, and those that
feel that they can't, just would not. Probably the former would be small
stores who cannot afford to loose 2$ on shipping and that. That way, you'd
make everyone happy.
On another note, I would automatize fees as a priority, and that cost should
be noted up front before checkout, even if you don't have instant checkout,
as you don't need postage to calculate them.
After this, and having all fees noted up front, postage should always be real
PO cost.
I hope you made it to the bottom of the page, as it was hard for me to write
this long thing.
I you have any more ideas, I'd love you to post them, or to refute my ideas,
that is what the forum is for. I posted is as a suggestion as it is how I'd
like the system to work, or how I think it would work the best. Lots of ideas
in my head!
Cheers,
Gerald
(Minor but huge typos in the other one  )
|
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Feb 4, 2013 09:56 | | Subject: | Re: Separate Minimum for International Orders | | Viewed: | 65 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, therobo writes:
| | In Suggestions, Rbobo writes:
| | Spurred by the recent USPS rate increase for international orders it no longer
makes sense (for either buyer or seller) to allow inexpensive international orders
in my store. I am tired of canceling every international order after the buyer
balks at the shipping cost but I don't feel as though I should have to limit
my domestic buyers. Having a separate minimum for international orders would
meet this need. For now, I'm probably going to have to disable international
orders entirely.
|
Hi,
I highly recommend to put shipping rates in your shipping policy.
I have a lot of very small international orders for a few cents and only one
buyer so far (years ago) complained about EUR 3.45 shipping costs.
Ronald
|
As I said previously, I had a large chart on my shipping policies page that provided
the exact shipping cost for any first class package to any country. I took it
down when the rates changed and haven't had the time to redo it yet. (Today
is my third of four concerts in two weeks). Based on the number of complaints
and cancelations I got with the $3 minimum shipping for international shipping
from people who obviously didn't read the chart I do not expect this to fix the
problem.
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Feb 4, 2013 09:21 | | Subject: | Re: Separate Minimum for International Orders | | Viewed: | 58 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| I have not had time to redo my shipping rates chart since the rate change but
even after I do a lot if people don't read it. It's one thing when they expect
$1 or $2 and end up with $3. It's another when they expect $1 or $2 an end up
with $6.55.
In Suggestions, mabccc writes:
| | Why not just state what the minimum postage charge is.
In Suggestions, Rbobo writes:
| | Spurred by the recent USPS rate increase for international orders it no longer
makes sense (for either buyer or seller) to allow inexpensive international orders
in my store. I am tired of canceling every international order after the buyer
balks at the shipping cost but I don't feel as though I should have to limit
my domestic buyers. Having a separate minimum for international orders would
meet this need. For now, I'm probably going to have to disable international
orders entirely.
|
|
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Feb 4, 2013 09:19 | | Subject: | Re: Separate Minimum for International Orders | | Viewed: | 62 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Daave writes:
| | Just out of interest what are the new prices?
|
New minimum shipping cost is $6.55.
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Feb 4, 2013 08:33 | | Subject: | Separate Minimum for International Orders | | Viewed: | 281 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | | Status: | Open | | Vote: | [Yes|No] | |
|
| Spurred by the recent USPS rate increase for international orders it no longer
makes sense (for either buyer or seller) to allow inexpensive international orders
in my store. I am tired of canceling every international order after the buyer
balks at the shipping cost but I don't feel as though I should have to limit
my domestic buyers. Having a separate minimum for international orders would
meet this need. For now, I'm probably going to have to disable international
orders entirely.
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Sep 13, 2012 16:03 | | Subject: | Re: Handling of more than one shipping adresses ? | | Viewed: | 57 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| Voted yes:
As a seller, I would love it if requests to ship to a different address were
handled more elegantly than they are now. A simple box upon checkout that says
something to the effect of:
"(click box) I would like to specify a shipping address for this item different
from my default Bricklink address. Note: If paying via Paypal or similar service
it is highly recommended that you add this address to your payment service as
well. (large text entry box to enter alternate address, is grayed out if previous
box isn't checked)"
would be awesome. If concerned about clutter, there could be two boxes; "ship
to my default address" and "ship to a different address". If the second option
is selected the entry for the different address and the small print would be
on the next page.
-Richard Bobo
In Suggestions, CrazyChris writes:
| | Hello,
when buying, Bricklink unfortunately does not offer the possibility to manage
more than one shipping adresses.
This would really be helpful, because I am using different shipping adresses
for national and international orders. For national orders, I prefer shipping
to a Parcel Station (DHL Packstation in Germany). For international orders, I
prefer shipping to my home adress, because international shipping to a german
Packstation is a risk (depending on the service the seller has chosen, it may
work or not).
I already tried two workarounds:
1. Change the registered shipping adress for each order.
E.g.:
- change shipping adress to my local adress and make an international order
- change shipping adress to DHL Packstation and make a national order
Problem: As long as the international seller has'nt shipped, he will receive
a notification that my shipping adress has been changed. So, there's a high risk
that the international seller is going to use the wrong shipping adress
2. Use the additonal message box when checking out the shopping cart.
Problem: most sellers seem to be unable to read this. More than once, national
orders were shipped to my home adress, although I clearly stated the other shipping
adress both into the chckout message box and into the Paypal payment form.
The possibility to manage more than one shipping adress would be a great, great,
great improvement.
kind regards, Christian
|
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Sep 9, 2012 17:56 | | Subject: | Re: Please add a step to form the contract | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Rolf writes:
| | In Suggestions, Rbobo writes:
| | | | Why not simply change the rules: (1) no hidden or extra fees allowed (should
be included in the prices, this even makes comparison easier for buyers and would
improve the price guide), no lot limits (this can always be handled with bulk
amounts and/or minimum buy) and (2) clear shipping tables in store terms and
only actual shipping fee allowed
|
1) Hidden fees, fine. But there are real costs to shipping an individual order
that cannot easily be distributed among parts. Were such a proposal passed I
would have to either have a minimum order amount (to guarantee that enough parts
were ordered to cover these set costs) or raise my prices to ridiculous levels
to insure that I don't get bled to death on $0.13 orders.
|
That is what minimum orders is for. Mine is set to $3.
|
And for those that want to limit buyers to orders over an arbitrary amount that's
fine. I do not.
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Sep 9, 2012 14:35 | | Subject: | Re: Please add a step to form the contract | | Viewed: | 69 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| | | This is the solution - you should be provided a grand total BEFORE you are required
to submit an order -
Bricklink is the ONLY WWW venue I am aware of where FULL price is not revealed
until after receiving an invoice.
|
Okay, try this experiment:
1) Find a bolt and screw supply company in another country.
2) Go to their website and place and try to find a clean, easy to use interface
for buying individual parts.
3) Place an order for 50 different types of parts in quantities ranging from
1 to 100.
4) Checkout immediately without having to wait for an invoice.
4) Demand to pay only actual shipping with no markup.
Let me know how this goes. Bricklink has a different checkout process because
there is simply nothing out there similar.
Most venues are not multinational. Most venues do not deal with large quantities
of small, inexpensive parts that can be ordered individually or in bulk. And
no others (that I know of) have our culture of using actual shipping costs rather
and inflated flat shipping costs.
Which of these attributes do you want to give up?
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Sep 9, 2012 14:25 | | Subject: | Re: Please add a step to form the contract | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| | | Why not simply change the rules: (1) no hidden or extra fees allowed (should
be included in the prices, this even makes comparison easier for buyers and would
improve the price guide), no lot limits (this can always be handled with bulk
amounts and/or minimum buy) and (2) clear shipping tables in store terms and
only actual shipping fee allowed
|
1) Hidden fees, fine. But there are real costs to shipping an individual order
that cannot easily be distributed among parts. Were such a proposal passed I
would have to either have a minimum order amount (to guarantee that enough parts
were ordered to cover these set costs) or raise my prices to ridiculous levels
to insure that I don't get bled to death on $0.13 orders.
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Oct 10, 2011 05:46 | | Subject: | Re: Box condition should only be "Used" | | Viewed: | 50 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Master_Jedi_Rob writes:
I voted no. Either we should have a clearly defined distinction between "new"
and "used" that applies to boxes under normal circumstances (because the definition
used for parts clearly can not apply to boxes) or there should simply be no condition
field for boxes.
-Richard Bobo
Bobo's Brick Bazaar
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Feb 1, 2011 11:11 | | Subject: | Re: Please remove notification from main BL page | | Viewed: | 54 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TheHawkins writes:
| | Please remove the "LOTS IN MY INVENTORY NOT YET NOTIFIED" notice from a stores
MyBrickLink page. Or at least allow a seller to turn off this item. There is
a checkbox to enable or disable the notice, but it does not work. The notice
is there and the checkbox doesn't change that. And yes, I have used the "submit"
button.
I have tried on multiple occassions to "notify" others of what is in my inventory.
Every time, the system times out with some sort of error.
Can I please just have the option to make this notice go away.
Thanks,
David
|
When this happens to me, I download my inventory into Brickstore, delete everything
from my store, and reupload it all 400 lots at a time. (Despite being broken
in several key ways, there are still things that Brickstore does well.)
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Jan 3, 2011 08:28 | | Subject: | Re: Update of TOS | | Viewed: | 44 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| Voted no.
In Suggestions, BigBrickDaddy writes:
| | I would like to see an update to the famed TOS.
This would include NO POSTING of persons handles in Subject headings on the forum.
I consider this to be personal information.
And I have taken offense at the use of it to single out a certain user (not me
by the way) on this forum for public attack.
This buyer is in good standing, and places large orders with stores on this site.
I agree that posting about 'flame topics' gets you more business (as presented
by our new #1 poster of the month).
But in that ruining a person's reputation by doing this practice is wrong.
Using something like "Buyer wants customs form fraud" works just as well, and
does not point a spotlight at a buyer.
In this case, customer is NOT ALWAYS RIGHT, but does he deserve to be drawn and
quartered in public for making a mistake?
Now discussion of a "wrong" matter in the forum is well documented, and I can
list many positive outcomes to posting a person's handle AFTER a NPB or NSS is
complete.
But to attack a person before any BL Admin process can take place, again in my
opinion, is just plain baiting.
I am sure I will have person's in this forum now attack my position by doing
personal attacks on me.
So I am going to ignore this post so I do not head down that path again today.
Have a great day, and I look forward to your business.
|
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Jan 1, 2011 19:31 | | Subject: | Re: Suggest: Reporting for US Tax Purposes | | Viewed: | 45 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| At the very least, we need order data to be available for at least 13 months.
(Voted yes)
In Suggestions, DadsAFOL writes:
| | Based on 2011 US Tax law changes regarding the 1099-K for high volume sellers,
and the existing 1099-MISC rules (which most have not been following), we need
some tools to help us manage this.
1. Orders need a check box for "Order used for resale" (vs. order for personal
consumption). Large volume sellers, could specify this as a default preference
for their buying orders.
2. Annual reporting with running totals through the year: A) total sales by calendar
year split by the resale check box, B) and total sales by calendar year by buyer
split by the resale check box. This requires that BrickLink save data for
more than 6 months! I don't think detail items in an order are required,
but definitely order summary level information. C) Buying summary totals by year
by resale check box, for each seller. This would allow buyers to manage their
purchases and stay below $600 if desired.
3. Some new help topics for new sellers that point them to the US requirements
that BrickLink resellers buying more than $600 from a seller are required to
send a 1099-MISC to the seller.
Probably need more tweaks for this, so feel free to add any other tools that
you think will be helpful for tracking US transactions and complying with the
regulations.
-Jason
|
|
|
| Author: | Rbobo | | Posted: | Dec 11, 2010 13:24 | | Subject: | Re: Stop purging data | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Timothy_Smith writes:
| | My suggestion: stop purging data.
It's the 21st century, mass storage is cheap.
There's no at all reason to purge data ever.
|
At very least, if we could have data available for 13 months, that would help
greatly come tax time.
|
|
USA, Arkansas
