Redisplay Messages: Compact | Brief | All | Full Show Messages: All | Without Replies| Author: | qwertyboy  | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2019 22:12 | | Subject: | Re: Weird order/inventory problem | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Inventories | |
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| In Inventories, C0lsanders_ writes:
| | I have 2 (particular) orders received, only 208 difference by order number. First
order, guy buys 60 of a part. I have "Quantity left" enabled, and it says 0 left.
The next order, another guy buys 10 of the that same part, which he of course
shouldn't be able to do. Also says 0 left. I find in filling these, I do
have only the 60. What might have gone wrong? Both sets of parts in carts at
the same time, maybe?
|
You might know this, but just in case -
The "quantity left" will show what you have left right now, not what was left
when the order was placed. So looking at the current "quantity left" on both
orders won't tell you anything.
Niek.
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 |
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Aug 12, 2019 10:31 | | Subject: | Re: Why can't I enlarge pics anymore? | | Viewed: | 45 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
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| 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.
|
I checked the HTML source for when you go through "Market" - "Parts" - "[some-category]"
and there is no "onclick" or anchor or anything, so this is not a browser issue.
By poking around I fond you can get the old behaviour back by changing the URL
of the page. For instance, when browsing the "Accessory, Human Tool" category,
it lands on the following URL:
https://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?catType=P&catString=990&itemBrand=1000
Now manually change the URL to read as follows (add "Old" in there):
https://www.bricklink.com/catalogListOld.asp?catType=P&catString=990&itemBrand=1000
Extremely clumsy, but if you are really needing large pics on those pages.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | May 27, 2019 13:35 | | Subject: | Re: Helpful but .... | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| To illustrate, see attached picture of an upload of a yellow 2x4 brick. The program
knows it is part 3001, it even shows the picture, and if you hover over that
picture, the title says "Part No: 3001 Name: Brick 2 x 4". So don't tell
me that when showing this page it is difficult to add "Part No: 3001" somewhere
in clear text on that line.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | May 27, 2019 13:24 | | Subject: | Re: Helpful but .... | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| 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.
|
You are missing the point. The issue here is that, when uploading a common "2x4
brick" (part 3001), the screen shows "2 x 4 Brick" - the official BL description
of part 3001. Obviously at that point the program knows it is dealing with part
3001 (as it had to look up that description) and it also shows a picture of that
part. As it has all the info, it is indeed easy to just add "3001" somewhere
on that line item.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | May 27, 2019 10:51 | | Subject: | Re: Helpful but .... | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| 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.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | May 1, 2019 20:06 | | Subject: | Re: Coral | | Viewed: | 67 times | | Topic: | Colors | |
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| In Colors, pikachu3 writes:
| | In Colors, qwertyboy writes:
| | FYI -
Just came across a bunch of these parts in color coral:
It looks like there are two distinct shades. One exactly matches coral color
for this part we have:
The other one is lighter - less saturated. TLG calls the new color "vibrant coral".
The lighter shade could almost be called "regular coral".  Or of course another
instance of bad quality control.
I can see if I can make a pic later.
Niek.
|
Would love a pic It must just be a color variation. I had only seen the brighter
version.
|
Seeing as you are the resident color guru and definitely better at capturing
colors on photo - I can send you one of each if you like. Just PM me your address.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | May 1, 2019 18:26 | | Subject: | Coral | | Viewed: | 148 times | | Topic: | Colors | | Status: | Open | |
|
| FYI -
Just came across a bunch of these parts in color coral:
It looks like there are two distinct shades. One exactly matches coral color
for this part we have:
The other one is lighter - less saturated. TLG calls the new color "vibrant coral".
The lighter shade could almost be called "regular coral". Or of course another
instance of bad quality control.
I can see if I can make a pic later.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Apr 3, 2019 11:36 | | Subject: | Re: Help identifying these brown colors | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Colors | |
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| In Colors, Juster_Bricks writes:
| | Help identifying these brown colors
|
I don't want to be snarky, but genuinely curious -
You have been selling on BL for quite a while. How have you been able to do this
without having a solid grasp of the colors?
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 11, 2019 00:33 | | Subject: | Re: Country sets are sold in under price guide | | Viewed: | 45 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, aaol1 writes:
| | Hey there, hope your all doing well!
I wanted to run an idea by you guys see what you think, I think it would be really
beneficial and helpful. In the price guide, for any particular set, you can see
the purchase history ( which is awesome). I was thinking, would there be a way
to add which country an item sold in? I feel like that would give us sellers
an idea where an item is hot, and compare that with the pricing. Anyways I think
it would be great, let me know what you think
|
This info is available through the API.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jan 25, 2019 11:47 | | Subject: | Re: API for Prestashop | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Inventories | |
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| In Inventories, steinewelten writes:
| | In Inventories, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Inventories, steinewelten writes:
| | Hello i look for a api from bricklink to prestashop
|
I am guessing you want to set up your own web shop, and use BrickLink as a back-end
for all the info. If you then also want to handle your own orders and not have
those flow through BL - that won't happen. It would be a blatant violation
of the ToS.
If I misunderstood, you might want to explain some more what you are trying to
accomplish.
Niek.
|
Hello no would like to use prestashop for the backend.
I like to sell on bricklick and i like to sent the orders to the Prestashop an
make in Presta the invoice.... I would like to automatically submit orders from
Bricklink to Prestashop. Furthermore, I would like to link the articles of Bricklink
with Prestashop or automatically do an automatic import in Prestashop, so that
I do not have to create every article in Prestashop
|
You'd either have to do manual downloads of the catalog items and your received
orders, or you have to look into the BrickLink API. The last option will require
quite a bit of programmer's elbow grease:
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/api/welcome.page
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jan 24, 2019 18:15 | | Subject: | Re: API for Prestashop | | Viewed: | 65 times | | Topic: | Inventories | |
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| In Inventories, steinewelten writes:
| | Hello i look for a api from bricklink to prestashop
|
I am guessing you want to set up your own web shop, and use BrickLink as a back-end
for all the info. If you then also want to handle your own orders and not have
those flow through BL - that won't happen. It would be a blatant violation
of the ToS.
If I misunderstood, you might want to explain some more what you are trying to
accomplish.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jan 3, 2019 17:26 | | Subject: | Re: part 4073: catalog statisics mistake | | Viewed: | 36 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
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| In Catalog, yoavheskia writes:
| | i counted only 51 known colors, not 52 as mentioned in catalog statisics.
|
This might be because of the "(not applicable)" color that is shown when you
look at the "item appears in:" - "39 parts" for item [p=4073c01]
That would be "color" #52.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Nov 26, 2018 16:59 | | Subject: | Re: Something I Just Threw Together | | Viewed: | 42 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| From what I understand, you want to rename the catalog section "Minifigs" to
"Figures", correct?
I obviously can't see what is happening in the back end of BL - renaming
the item type might be simple. Then again, it might be a pretty major undertaking,
depending on how it is coded. One thing that would break is the relationship
between the item type and the one-letter-identification that is used throughout
BL. For the forum, adding a nice little reference to a catalog item for a minifig
requires you to type "[M=blahblah]". Renaming the type to "Figure" _might_ cause
it to become "[F=blahblah]". Furthermore, images on BL are pointed to using the
same one-letter-identification. The relationship between item types and the one-letter-identification
might break, or it might be OK.
In short, I think this kind of change would need some dev eyes on the code. Remember
what happened a month or so ago - the breaking of store inventories - that would
pale in comparison if the code is not all that flexible set up...
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Nov 23, 2018 10:55 | | Subject: | Re: Seventh Catalog Project Underway | | Viewed: | 28 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| ... and the list showing names and their minifigs:
Bionicle Mini - Barraki Takadox
Breastplate - Blue with Red Arms, Black Legs with Red Hips, Dark Gray Grille
Helmet, Red Plume
Catwoman
Fire - Reflective Stripes, Black Legs, White Fire Helmet, Brown Eyebrows, Thin
Grin
[M=cty090]
[M=cty023]
Genie - Minifig only Entry
Geonosian
[M=sw320]
[M=sw062]
Governor's Daughter
Gungan Soldier
[M=sw013]
[M=sw302]
Hot Dog Man - Minifig only Entry
Hoth Rebel Trooper
[M=sw291]
[M=sw259]
Imperial Shuttle Pilot
[M=sw802]
[M=sw042]
Jar Jar Binks
[M=sw301]
[M=sw017]
Kingdoms - Lion King
Lifeguard - Minifig only Entry
Mermaid
Mime - Minifig Only Entry
Monster
Mr. Freeze
Naida Riverheart
Overalls Blue over V-Neck Shirt, Blue Legs, Red Short Bill Cap
[M=cty202]
Plain White Torso with White Arms, Black Legs, Black Male Hair (Soccer Player)
Porsche 919 Hybrid Driver
Red Vest and Zipper - Black Legs, White Construction Helmet
Scarecrow
Scout Trooper
[M=sw505]
[M=sw005]
The Penguin
The Riddler
Truck Driver
Werewolf
Zombie Driver
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Nov 22, 2018 20:55 | | Subject: | Re: Seventh Catalog Project Underway | | Viewed: | 52 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
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| | | There are several minifigs with duplicate titles,
even before removing the set number, these need to be addressed for example:
|
A quick list of minifig names that are duplicates:
Bionicle Mini - Barraki Takadox
Breastplate - Blue with Red Arms, Black Legs with Red Hips, Dark Gray Grille
Helmet, Red Plume
Catwoman
Fire - Reflective Stripes, Black Legs, White Fire Helmet, Brown Eyebrows, Thin
Grin
Genie - Minifig only Entry
Geonosian
Goblin King
Governor's Daughter
Gungan Soldier
Hot Dog Man - Minifig only Entry
Hoth Rebel Trooper
Imperial Shuttle Pilot
Jar Jar Binks
Kingdoms - Lion King
Lifeguard - Minifig only Entry
Mermaid
Mime - Minifig only Entry
Monster
Mr. Freeze
Naida Riverheart
Overalls Blue over V-Neck Shirt, Blue Legs, Red Short Bill Cap
Plain White Torso with White Arms, Black Legs, Black Male Hair (Soccer Player)
Porsche 919 Hybrid Driver
Red Vest and Zipper - Black Legs, White Construction Helmet
Scarecrow
Scout Trooper
The Penguin
The Riddler
Truck Driver
Werewolf
Zombie Driver
Niek.
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|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Nov 21, 2018 12:03 | | Subject: | Re: Projectile Launcher | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, Teup writes:
| | But do you know that all the ones in Brick,Modified have a circular curve
and the ones in slope all have an arbitrary curve? Maybe that helps telling
them apart. The Brick,Modified ones you could hold a round 2x2 brick against
sideways and the curves line up. They're usually a quarter circles; the curve
starts at 0 degrees at the top, and ends at 90 degrees at the bottom. Therefore,
they're not slopes, as slopes start and/or end with a sloping angle.
|
How 'bout this one for an arbitrary slope? There will always be "discussion
items".
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Nov 19, 2018 21:51 | | Subject: | Re: Items which change category | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In General, StormChaser writes:
| | At some point I plan to go forward with precise
written definitions of all item types (I actually have them written now) and
when that occurs it may be necessary to move some items which don't fit the
definitions.
This, for example, is self-evidently not even remotely close to being a set:
[S=bb173-4]
It's a storage bag and it will be moved to Gear when clear definitions of
item types exist.
|
I use the BrickStock database to identify category changes. However, it won't
work for items that move to a different type (like your example). Reason is that
the BS database doesn't have unique identifiers for each item - my program
figures out any category changes by checking if there are such changes for partnr/type
pairs. I can't track changes across types of items, as there currently are
already items with the same nr in multiple types (and that wouldn't even
take into account the fact you will likely change the part nr in that example).
Niek.
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|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Nov 19, 2018 16:48 | | Subject: | Items which change category | | Viewed: | 78 times | | Topic: | Catalog | | Status: | Open | |
|
| For those of us that run a shop with the inventory storage based on the BL catalog,
it can be a puzzle when items get moved to a different category.
Internally we have a web page that shows items that have moved. Would that be
helpful for others as well? See this link:
http://www.qwertyboy.org/files/BL/BL-catalog-changes.php
Currently I have it limited to only pick "parts" or "minifigs" - in the last
month there have been an _insane_ amount of category changes for gear/sets/instructions
etc.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Nov 1, 2018 18:28 | | Subject: | Re: Catalog Project Request "Bar" vs. "Weapon" | | Viewed: | 33 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
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| In Catalog, randyf writes:
| | In Catalog, chetzler writes:
| | I appreciate the work you guys do but please do not make it more difficult to operate a
store here.
|
I am pretty sure that all of these discussions that are being held about long-term
goals for the catalog are to make it *easier* to operate a store here, not more
*difficult*. How about a little optimism? 
|
Optimism is usually reserved for Friday afternoons.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Nov 1, 2018 14:34 | | Subject: | Re: 32526pb001 Red not an option | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Inventories | |
|
| In Inventories, Golbsco writes:
| | In Inventories, therobo writes:
| | Price guide and images correctly exist for red and green, however red has not
been sold in the last 6 months.
|
I'm not able to view price guide for Red. shouldn't this still exist
despite there being no sales?
|
If there are no sales in the system (and no inventory in sellers' shops),
what would you suggest the price guide should show?
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Oct 31, 2018 17:32 | | Subject: | Re: Second Catalog Project Underway | | Viewed: | 92 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, mhortar writes:
| | | | Waves - create new category titled Wave
|
This one has me conflicted. There's a number of these Wave items that should
be in 'Minfig - Utensil' but others should not. Is it better to keep
them all together in a new category, or split them based on common usage?
|
Parts should be cataloged according to what they look like. Experienced BL users
will locate a part regardless of where you put it, but catalog categories ate
most useful for novice users. So, if we have a bunch of waves, put them in a
“wave” category (or something that logically includes waves). Don’t put them
in categories according to usage. For instance, this guy’s usage was to build
a palm tree - good luck to new users locating it in the catalog when they have
found one in a pile of parts.
* | | 2566 Bar 1.2L with Top Stud and 4 Bar Arms Up (Palm Tree Top)
Parts: Bar |
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Oct 29, 2018 14:10 | | Subject: | Re: New Catalog Roadmap | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, axaday writes:
| | In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
| | In Catalog, axaday writes:
| | A case of 60 in all but the cast with Mr Gold is the same breakdown of minifigs.
|
Okay, I understand you now. This item:
is currently inventoried with 60x of this:
You're saying you would like to see the set of 60 inventoried with the specific
figures and quantities of each because for cases of 60 they are always the same.
This is definitely a question for Marek, but thank you for clarifying exactly
what you were talking about.
|
I have parted out many of them and they have always been the same as Whitefang's
reviews. And it is kind of a pain in the neck to do it here. You have to part
out 60 random ones and uncheck delete on all of them and put in the various numbers
of different sets. And if you want to part them out to minifigs and accessories
you have to do each one individually.
|
Even if there is the odd difference, they can be handled like any other inventory
- with alternates.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Oct 5, 2018 10:10 | | Subject: | Re: What does "modified" mean? | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
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| In Catalog, guicho_potosino writes:
| | We have a team participating in the First Lego League competition, where there
are clear rules that we should be using original lego parts with no customizations.
I have found parts in the brick link lego catalog that appear to be entirely
original lego parts (I am able to find them in the official lego catalog), however
they are listed with a qualifier of "modified", for example:
Brick, Modified 2 x 24 with Peg at each End
My question is, what does "Modified" mean in the brick link catalog? Does it
mean that it has been modified from its original condition, or that in some way
it is not an original lego part?
|
They are most definitely original LEGO parts. The "modified" means that, on the
whole, it kinda looks like (for instance) a brick, but it has an additional "modification",
like a pin.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 30, 2018 12:48 | | Subject: | Re: Help identifying part. | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog Identification, Leftoverbricks writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, jblock writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, TheBrickGuys writes:
| | I can not for the life of me figure out what this is or where in the catalog
it exists.
Any ideas?
|
[P=bbw008]
I tell you, for as often as I see questions about what this part it in the forums,
BL should put its picture and identifier on the front page for all to see...
|
There are a few parts that come up with some regularity:
http://www.qwertyboy.org/files/parts.php
Niek.
|
Nice page!
Other candidates:
* | | 92690 Bar 1L with Top Stud and 2 Side Studs (Connector Perpendicular)
Parts: Bar |
|
Done.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 30, 2018 12:48 | | Subject: | Re: Help identifying part. | | Viewed: | 21 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
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| In Catalog Identification, taxan writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, jblock writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, TheBrickGuys writes:
| | I can not for the life of me figure out what this is or where in the catalog
it exists.
Any ideas?
|
[P=bbw008]
I tell you, for as often as I see questions about what this part it in the forums,
BL should put its picture and identifier on the front page for all to see...
|
There are a few parts that come up with some regularity:
http://www.qwertyboy.org/files/parts.php
Niek.
|
Nice list.
You might want to add those 2 to the list.
At least 424 come up now and then.
|
Done.
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 29, 2018 18:13 | | Subject: | Re: Help identifying part. | | Viewed: | 43 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
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| In Catalog Identification, jblock writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, TheBrickGuys writes:
| | I can not for the life of me figure out what this is or where in the catalog
it exists.
Any ideas?
|
[P=bbw008]
I tell you, for as often as I see questions about what this part it in the forums,
BL should put its picture and identifier on the front page for all to see...
|
There are a few parts that come up with some regularity:
http://www.qwertyboy.org/files/parts.php
Niek.
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|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 19, 2018 15:35 | | Subject: | Re: Flag 4595a/b | | Viewed: | 36 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, mikmo writes:
| | I am quite sure that before this part was split into an a and a b part, metallic
gold was a known color for the original 4595 catalog item.
Now pearl gold is known for both variants, but not metallic gold.
I have the "right handed" version in pearl gold and also in what i am rather
convinced is metallic gold. The difference is subtle, but the metallic gold part
seems to have a slightly textured surface, whereas the pearl gold version is
completly smooth. Also the metallic gold version is a tiny bit darker.
Am i wrong here ?
|
See here:
https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=1090305
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 10, 2018 22:43 | | Subject: | Re: Difference between mold types | | Viewed: | 40 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Help, mfav writes:
| | It's very subtle, this difference.
|
So 19159 might no accept a bar in those pins (easily), correct?
Niek.
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| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 7, 2018 22:28 | | Subject: | Re: Add weight for 71287-1 | | Viewed: | 17 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog Requests, kompeitou writes:
| | Please add weight for set 71287-1 = 70 grams
|
Please use the proper catalog change request form:
https://www.bricklink.com/catalogReq.asp
Niek.
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|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Aug 31, 2018 13:56 | | Subject: | Re: New parameter for lots: max per buyer | | Viewed: | 33 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, yorbrick writes:
| | In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | In Suggestions, DeLuca writes:
| | In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | In Suggestions, danielclark writes:
| | I'd be less inclined to shop in a store that restricts how much of an item
I could buy, especially if I could see they had more. When I search for parts
it's by highest quantity for my most desired elements. If a store is going
to retain some inventory then it's going to show further down on that list.
|
I agree, you should not see it. It would work exactly the same as the stockroom
currently works: You don't see what's back there that you cannot order.
|
The full quantity of a given item would not be visible on the item's Catalog
entry, but would it be visible on the item's entry in the store? It
is my understanding that it would, hence my concerns.
|
No, it should not be visible anywhere, just like a stockroom items is not visible.
If I have a lot of 5000 but limit it to 500 per buyer, it should show as a 500
size lot everywhere on Bricklink.
I intended it as a more automated version of the current way to do the same thing,
listing 500, switching on "retain" and writing "4500 left" in the remarks.
I agree it would be annoying to see things you couldn't buy.
|
There is a small downside that if a buyer places an order for 500, then happens
to browse the store again while not logged in, then they see that more stock
is available. So they log in and the stock is no longer available to them as
they have a current order.
|
It would take more than just a few changes. For instance, if you set a max of
100 per customer, and someone buys 100, when would your shop show 100 in inventory
again? If it gets shown right away (assuming you have enough set up), the customer
would see another 100, and could potentially add them to his existing order.
If you expect BL to block this particular customer from seeing the new lot, when
would this "lock" be lifted? At payment time? After shipping? Maybe never? Or
do you accept them being able to see the new 100 and do an order addition, thus
being able to buy them all in several order additions?
There would be quite a few checks etc needed, with many options for fringe cases
messing things up.
I do appreciate the idea, but I don't think it would be easy to implement.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Aug 18, 2018 09:30 | | Subject: | Re: How many sets released ? | | Viewed: | 27 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, MiStErLu writes:
| | Hi,
On the first page of BrickLink i see 14 729 sets
When i download the set catalog to compare, i see 14 761 sets
Someone can explain me the difference ?
|
The number of sets you see in the catalog is “real time”, the one on the front
page is likely from when the page was rebuilt during a maintenance cycle.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Aug 10, 2018 12:21 | | Subject: | Re: Part variations | | Viewed: | 38 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog Requests, mattkaupke writes:
| | I’ve noticed as of late that there have been some changes to the catalog resulting
in a number of my items being changed to “undetermined type”. For example 1x1x5
bricks listed as 2453 used to be hollow stud and 2453b was solid. Now 2453 is
undetermined, hollow is 2453a and solid 2453b
Is there an easy fix for this beyond manually changing each item part number?
Also, is there a list of the parts that have been changed in this way?
For the admins- is it possible for you guys to automatically do this for the
sellers when you make the changes?
|
As to this last question - the entry for 2453 had a description of "Brick 1 x
1 x 5", so it did not have "hollow" specified. Most sellers used it to sell the
hollow variant, but technically it could contain both. Moving all 2453's
automatically to 2453a would cause issues, as likely there are many listed under
2453 with a solid stud.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Aug 8, 2018 23:40 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Set 8247-1 | | Viewed: | 23 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| In Inventories Requests, randyf writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, axaday writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, axaday writes:
| | Please make changes to the following inventory:
* Change 2 Part Black {2536 Plant, Tree Palm Trunk - Undetermined Type to 2536d Plant, Tree Palm Trunk - Short Connector, Axle Hole with 2 Inside Prongs}
|
No undetermined parts seem to be in the bag. There are a couple of 2536d's
where they were supposed to be.
|
Kudos for updating these. But I am curious - it sounds like you were verifying
there are no “undetermined” variants in this set. Are you simply saying they
are now a specific variant, or were you half expecting to actually find an undetermined
version? Would your check not make the versions determined?
Niek.
|
Niek, meet sarcasm.
|
I have to admit, like Sheldon, I sometimes need someone to wave the “sarcasm”
sign...
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Aug 8, 2018 19:19 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Set 8247-1 | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| In Inventories Requests, axaday writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, axaday writes:
| | Please make changes to the following inventory:
* Change 2 Part Black {2536 Plant, Tree Palm Trunk - Undetermined Type to 2536d Plant, Tree Palm Trunk - Short Connector, Axle Hole with 2 Inside Prongs}
|
No undetermined parts seem to be in the bag. There are a couple of 2536d's
where they were supposed to be.
|
Kudos for updating these. But I am curious - it sounds like you were verifying
there are no “undetermined” variants in this set. Are you simply saying they
are now a specific variant, or were you half expecting to actually find an undetermined
version? Would your check not make the versions determined?
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Aug 2, 2018 19:11 | | Subject: | Re: Question on catalog image uploads | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, crazylegoman writes:
| | In Catalog, 62Bricks writes:
| | In Catalog, crazylegoman writes:
| | In Catalog, Pippyblocks writes:
| | Isn't 600 the longest side it can be?
In Catalog, crazylegoman writes:
| | I was just trying to upload an image to the catalog, and I got an error that
says,
Oops! There was a problem processing your request:
1. Parameter Error.
The image is within the 800X600 pixel size requirement. What else could be the
trouble?
David
|
|
It says 800X600 on the upload page. My image was 600 pixels tall, but less than
800 wide.
David
|
The error message for images that are too large specifically gives the reason.
Is it an accepted file type?
|
It's a .jpg file. Is there maybe a file size limit too? The file is 425KB.
|
I don’t know about a size limit, but a JPG under 800x600 weighing in at 425KB
is hard to believe. Even a 800x600 bmp will ‘only’ be 420KB. A JPG file is using
pretty agressive compression. Either the file is not a JPG, or it is not 800x600.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jul 30, 2018 22:51 | | Subject: | Re: 4495, now 4495a and 4495b | | Viewed: | 51 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, runner.caller writes:
| | In Catalog, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Catalog, runner.caller writes:
| | In Catalog, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Catalog, Dino1 writes:
| | In Catalog, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Catalog, Dino1 writes:
| | In Catalog, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Catalog, Dino1 writes:
| | And which clown decide to delet the origin entry?
|
I for one would appreciate it if you kept things civilized. Is it really necessary
to start calling names?
Niek.
|
Sometimes, yes.
|
I see this name calling getting to be the norm in Internet conversations. To
me, people resorting to name calling admit defeat.
I thought (rather innocently I fear) that we in the BL forum could show some
restraint and be more civilized and have normal discussions, but it looks like
I am mistaken.
Sad.
Niek.
|
That has nothing to do with the internet. I would call you a clown too when you
are sitting in front of me and you did the same.
|
Like I said, sad.
And FYI - if you were to check, item 4495 is in the catalog. I am not sure if
they put it back or if it never left, but right now it is there. If they put
it back, it would be nice of you to acknowledge that.
Niek.
|
It's marked for deletion tho..
|
... and that is normal procedure, nothing new. See here for a list of all items
currently marked for deletion (several of them now have more distinctive mould
variants):
https://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?itemObsolete=Y&v=3
Niek.
|
What's your argument then in saying that "it would be nice of him to acknowledge
that it's in the catalog" stating that it's in the catalog currently
all matter of factly is pointless if it's marked for deletion.
|
If you read back, the literal post was: “And which clown decide to delet the
origin entry?”. The entry is not deleted, it is marked for deletion. Big difference.
| | The other
user was saying they should leave undetermined as a permanent option.
|
I have no objection to that at all. What I object to (and I thought I was pretty
clear) is the unnecessary name calling.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jul 30, 2018 15:10 | | Subject: | Re: 4495, now 4495a and 4495b | | Viewed: | 49 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, runner.caller writes:
| | In Catalog, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Catalog, Dino1 writes:
| | In Catalog, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Catalog, Dino1 writes:
| | In Catalog, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Catalog, Dino1 writes:
| | And which clown decide to delet the origin entry?
|
I for one would appreciate it if you kept things civilized. Is it really necessary
to start calling names?
Niek.
|
Sometimes, yes.
|
I see this name calling getting to be the norm in Internet conversations. To
me, people resorting to name calling admit defeat.
I thought (rather innocently I fear) that we in the BL forum could show some
restraint and be more civilized and have normal discussions, but it looks like
I am mistaken.
Sad.
Niek.
|
That has nothing to do with the internet. I would call you a clown too when you
are sitting in front of me and you did the same.
|
Like I said, sad.
And FYI - if you were to check, item 4495 is in the catalog. I am not sure if
they put it back or if it never left, but right now it is there. If they put
it back, it would be nice of you to acknowledge that.
Niek.
|
It's marked for deletion tho..
|
... and that is normal procedure, nothing new. See here for a list of all items
currently marked for deletion (several of them now have more distinctive mould
variants):
https://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?itemObsolete=Y&v=3
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jul 30, 2018 10:42 | | Subject: | Re: 4495, now 4495a and 4495b | | Viewed: | 56 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, Dino1 writes:
| | In Catalog, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Catalog, Dino1 writes:
| | In Catalog, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Catalog, Dino1 writes:
| | And which clown decide to delet the origin entry?
|
I for one would appreciate it if you kept things civilized. Is it really necessary
to start calling names?
Niek.
|
Sometimes, yes.
|
I see this name calling getting to be the norm in Internet conversations. To
me, people resorting to name calling admit defeat.
I thought (rather innocently I fear) that we in the BL forum could show some
restraint and be more civilized and have normal discussions, but it looks like
I am mistaken.
Sad.
Niek.
|
That has nothing to do with the internet. I would call you a clown too when you
are sitting in front of me and you did the same.
|
Like I said, sad.
And FYI - if you were to check, item 4495 is in the catalog. I am not sure if
they put it back or if it never left, but right now it is there. If they put
it back, it would be nice of you to acknowledge that.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jul 30, 2018 10:35 | | Subject: | Re: 4495, now 4495a and 4495b | | Viewed: | 56 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, Dino1 writes:
| | In Catalog, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Catalog, Dino1 writes:
| | And which clown decide to delet the origin entry?
|
I for one would appreciate it if you kept things civilized. Is it really necessary
to start calling names?
Niek.
|
Sometimes, yes.
|
I see this name calling getting to be the norm in Internet conversations. To
me, people resorting to name calling admit defeat.
I thought (rather innocently I fear) that we in the BL forum could show some
restraint and be more civilized and have normal discussions, but it looks like
I am mistaken.
Sad.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jul 30, 2018 10:14 | | Subject: | Re: 4495, now 4495a and 4495b | | Viewed: | 60 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, Dino1 writes:
| | And which clown decide to delet the origin entry?
|
I for one would appreciate it if you kept things civilized. Is it really necessary
to start calling names?
Niek.
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jul 23, 2018 23:41 | | Subject: | Re: Trans Neon Green Zamor Sphere | | Viewed: | 43 times | | Topic: | Colors | |
|
| In Colors, RecycledBrick writes:
| | Is there a sphere expert on Bricklink? I have wondered if the pictures are correct
even with the color variations with these.
|
https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=1077007
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jul 23, 2018 13:31 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Part 44658c01 | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| In Inventories Requests, SylvainLS writes:
| | In Inventories Requests, sleeper447 writes:
| | Please make changes to the following inventory: [P=44658c01]
* Change {2 to 4} Part (Variable Color) 44658a Minifig, Weapon Knife
Comments from Submitter:
There is only one item (2 knives) registered, however you can clearly see on the box that there are 2 knives in the construction and 1 hold by the merman. Since they come by two as far as I know, it would seems that there are then 2 items, resulting in 4 knives.
|
It seems what you want is to change the inventory of a set (the one with the
merman) but this request is asking for a change in the inventory of the part
(the two knives as they come attached in new sets), not the inventory of a set.
|
Furthermore, set box pictures are not always correct. Set inventory changes should
result from either instructions (where parts are applied), or from the contents
of a freshly opened sealed set.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jun 28, 2018 12:36 | | Subject: | Re: 1x1 Plate | | Viewed: | 41 times | | Topic: | Colors | |
|
| In Colors, PurpleDave writes:
| | In Colors, superchicken77 writes:
Ooh... If those are legitimate, and not mislisted under the wrong color, I may
have to pick up a few hundred of those before they dry up again.
|
Some German shops seem to have access to large quantities of parts. Obviously
not from parting out, but from some other channel. 1x1 plates in particular seem
in good supply for them. I have no doubt these are listed correctly.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jun 18, 2018 19:53 | | Subject: | Re: Inventory Change Request for Set 2362-1 | | Viewed: | 30 times | | Topic: | Inventories Requests | |
|
| In Inventories Requests, StormChaser writes:
| | Please make changes to the following inventory:
* Delete 1 Part 4883c02 Yellow Duplo Car Base 2 x 6 with Red Wheels and Old Style Closed Hitch End
* Add 1 Part 2312c02 Yellow Duplo Car Base 2 x 6 with Red Wheels and Open Hitch End
* Change {4 to 7} Part Blue 3437 Duplo, Brick 2 x 2
* Change {1 to 4} Part Blue 3011 Duplo, Brick 2 x 4
* Change {4 to 7} Part Green 3437 Duplo, Brick 2 x 2
* Change {2 to 4} Part Yellow 3011 Duplo, Brick 2 x 4
Comments from Submitter:
This is a significantly incomplete list of similar things. What common characteristic do they share?
Acupuncture
|
[snip]
They are all in your post.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | May 28, 2018 10:17 | | Subject: | Re: Improve add item screen | | Viewed: | 44 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Pippyblocks writes:
| | Out of interest, I noticed some of your used plates are slightly more expensive
than your new ones. I've noticed this with my inventory before when I've
gone through to adjust pricing and wondered why / how this happened because obviously,
customers would pick out the new over used as it is cheaper.
|
This is because new (and common) items are more susceptible to the "race to the
bottom" prices. New shops pop up with same sets as anyone else (because they
are all on sale). They part out as new, and price below average to get sales.
This happens less with used parts as there is way more work involved in listing
them (so fewer "get rich while doing almost nothing shops").
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 19, 2018 20:39 | | Subject: | Re: Save Offsite Paypal! | | Viewed: | 38 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, RecycledBrick writes:
| | | | What you missed is that you already agreed for BrickLink to:
— look into your PP transactions
— block payments and decide refunds.
|
I didn't miss those. How is Bricklink going access my PayPal account? It
doesn't matter what agreement is made, how do they get into it? I am just
wondering.
|
They don’t, and they can’t. BL has control over the BL-initiated transactions,
but only so they can request PP to delay the payment, subtract a fee, and/or
initiate a refund. They can’t reroute the transaction into their own account,
they can’t access (or even see) your non-BL transactions, it is solely more control
over the payment flow for BL-initiated PP transactions.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 5, 2018 23:41 | | Subject: | Re: Search Locally | | Viewed: | 23 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Pretty_Pieces writes:
| | I would very much like to see a "withing x distance of ..." option. We offer
local pickup or delivery to LUG/AFOL meetings, which saves buyers both time AND
shipping, but unless they know of us already, that option isn't searchable.
Dawn
Pretty_Pieces
In Abbotsford, Alberta, for locals who may want to make note of our store!
|
Hey! Did we annex Abbotsford?
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Feb 28, 2018 19:40 | | Subject: | Re: Getting Frustrated Now With Bricklink | | Viewed: | 79 times | | Topic: | Problem | |
|
| In Problem, StormChaser writes:
| | In Problem, CheshireBricKs writes:
| | Your ability to inventory used Lego is appalling.
|
What specific problems are you having with inventories and what suggestions do
you have for improvement?
|
Not wanting to put words in OP’s mouth - to me it sounds like he is not having
issues with set inventories, but more with uploading used parts from a bulk lot
(so to put used parts in your inventory). That process, if only using BL-provided
tools, is painful. If it weren’t for BrickStock, I am sure our shop would not
flourish like it does right now.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Feb 23, 2018 13:14 | | Subject: | Re: Interface improvement | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, nectara writes:
| | In Suggestions, TheBrickGuys writes:
| | Don't forget the typical forum response to ANYTHING that admin tries to do....
|
Wrong
Is more like this
|
Sometimes it actually reads like this:
|
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jan 10, 2018 11:15 | | Subject: | Re: Not happy with instant checkout GUI at all | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| BL could definitely use some more features when it comes to picking orders. I
have written some in-house stuff that helps us with this.
- When picking an item for an order, you can click on the item to indicate this
lot was picked. The system keeps track of how far in you are by showing a "percentage
complete" on our orders overview, as shown in the first pic. Note that this info
is stored in a local database (per order item, and per order), so you can take
a break and pick up where you have left, even on a different computer.
- The second pic shows part of the screen while picking an order. At the top
right the page always shows the nr of lots in the order, the nr of lots not picked
yet (white), the lots picked (green), lots with an issue (red), and lots verified
during packing for shipping (blue). The "back" is to force a reload of the orders
page (a click on the browser's back button would show a not-updated order
list again), and "up" / "down" goes to the next / previous order in the list.
- When you click on the item picture, a popup comes up that shows some details
about the lot. Here you can add a comment to a lot which will show at the bottom
of the order page.
- When you click on the "Inventory" button in that popup, another popup shows
the sales and inventory for that part for all colors we have or sold. This way,
when picking an item, we can easily check (and correct) the inventory for all
colors.
- It also shows a "diff" for each part/color that will show all the inventory
changes for that item in a separate browser window. the "PG" link opens a price
guide for that item.
There are several other features in these order pages that I won't go into,
but above features have made our shop run so much better.
This is not something we can easily give to other shops to use, as it uses a
local database and a host of tools and programming languages, all tied to our
local infran and hosted on two Linux servers. For BL to implement this, it would
require some more info to be stored for each order item ("status", and "comment")
and each order. But it shows this can be done.
If BL wants to have a chat with me to see if/how they can improve these tools,
by all means, I am available.
Niek.
|
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Dec 23, 2017 20:49 | | Subject: | Re: Login problems on ipad | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, drclarkjr writes:
| | In Suggestions, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Suggestions, drclarkjr writes:
| | | | If you were able to type in your user name, next time, don’t scroll-and-click,
just use your “TAB” key to have it select the password box. Type your password,
and hit the “ENTER” key. Done.
I have an iPad Pro, but have been a keyboard jockey ever since I started programming
(about 45 years ago), so this is how I always log in, never had issues.
Niek.
|
I thought of that, but there’s no TAB key on an iPad. Also, I hate typing when
I can’t see what I typed.
|
Well, there definitely is a TAB on mine...
Niek.
|
Is that a 12” iPad Pro? Totally different keyboard than mine.
|
Yes, it is, also hooked up a Logitech keyboard that doubles as a hard shell.
Highly recommended. Daddy needs his real estate (and speed), especially when
coding on the couch.
I also use Chrome instead of Safari, maybe that cuts down on the “sliding login
screen syndrome”?
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Dec 23, 2017 20:35 | | Subject: | Re: Login problems on ipad | | Viewed: | 22 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, drclarkjr writes:
| | | | If you were able to type in your user name, next time, don’t scroll-and-click,
just use your “TAB” key to have it select the password box. Type your password,
and hit the “ENTER” key. Done.
I have an iPad Pro, but have been a keyboard jockey ever since I started programming
(about 45 years ago), so this is how I always log in, never had issues.
Niek.
|
I thought of that, but there’s no TAB key on an iPad. Also, I hate typing when
I can’t see what I typed.
|
Well, there definitely is a TAB on mine...
Niek.
|
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Dec 23, 2017 19:22 | | Subject: | Re: Login problems on ipad | | Viewed: | 23 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, drclarkjr writes:
| | I have a new iPad Pro 10.5” running iOS 11.2.1. I just tried to log in for the
first time (on this device) and could not because the login window kept disappearing
when I tried to enter my password. I was in landscape orientation and the keyboard
was in the way, and when I tried to scroll the page up so I could type in the
password box, the login window would close. I finally made it work by rotating
the iPad to portrait orientation.
That scroll attempt also caused other screwups, like the cursor and entered text
not showing up in the data entry box, but below it.
|
If you were able to type in your user name, next time, don’t scroll-and-click,
just use your “TAB” key to have it select the password box. Type your password,
and hit the “ENTER” key. Done.
I have an iPad Pro, but have been a keyboard jockey ever since I started programming
(about 45 years ago), so this is how I always log in, never had issues.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Nov 12, 2017 21:53 | | Subject: | Re: Instant Checkout Package Restrictions | | Viewed: | 39 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, atkk writes:
| | In the Instant Checkout, Package restriction, please add "Maximum # parts" This
is required in order to ensure that a package is not larger than permitted.
For example, an order of 100 1x1 plates would be fine as lettermail, however
1000 of them would not fit, and thus would need to be shipped as a package.
|
A 1x1 plate is almost perfect for what BL set up to be weight-bound. These items
are considered a fluid when filling your packaging. Admin_russell has provided
an explanation on this several times.
I did a very un-scientific test. I used 3”x4” baggies, and a large bubble mailer
can comfortably hold 9 of them. So, I measured how many 1x1 plates I can drop
in one baggie. Turns out each baggie can easily fit 240 plates (and be no thicker
than 1.6 cm), which means I can ship well over 2,000 1x1 plates in a large bubble
mailer.
So not sure where you get your 1,000 number from that would require parcel shipping.
Furthermore, according to the catalog, BL says each plate is 0.2 grams, so I
can easily fit 400 grams of plates (again, according to BL calculations). I am
sure you know from experience that, with a “random” collection of parts in a
customer’s order, it is pretty difficult to go over 300 grams in a large bubble
mailer because you will run into volume issues. So in setting up instant checkout
shipment methods, you would be wise to limit your letterpost methods to say 300
grams (or maybe 325 if you are adventurous). With BL’s fluid packing of 1x1 plates,
it will cap the amount of 1x1 plates a customer can order with letterpost to
1,500.
As you see, both weight-wise and volume-wise, 1,500 1x1 plates easily fits letterpost.
Did I miss anything?
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Oct 24, 2017 11:53 | | Subject: | Re: Convert all units to Metric | | Viewed: | 44 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, SylvainLS writes:
| | In Suggestions, qwertyboy writes:
| | I chuckled at the “going to the moon on pounds and inches” comment, but the US
paid their price in their space program, missing Mars with a flight due to a
metric / imperial mess-up.
|
You don’t need to go abroad (and beyond) for your examples: look for Air Canada
Flight 143 / Gimli Glider 
|
True - I watched every Mayday TV episode, and that was one of them. Interesting
investigating, but sometimes a bit overly dramatic (that same episode, with the
kid on his tricycle trying to out-paddle a landing jetliner was a bit much).
I specifically mentioned the Mars mission mess-up because it goes with the pounds-and-inches
that got the same NASA organization to the moon.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Oct 24, 2017 08:51 | | Subject: | Re: Convert all units to Metric | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, yorbrick writes:
| | In Suggestions, Brickler writes:
| | Hi,
I do prefer the metric system, hands down, but in the US we have standard measurement
system.
So all our weights and sizes for the mail are in Standard. Changing it make no
sense.
|
In the rest of the world we also have a standard and universal measurement system,
the metric system.
|
In Canada confusion rules. Officially we should be metric, but going to a DIY
store everything is feet and inches. Traveling distances are metric and we buy
litres at the pump, yet car fuel performance is miles per gallon (try explaining
your car does “one in fourteen” to a Canadian).
I chuckled at the “going to the moon on pounds and inches” comment, but the US
paid their price in their space program, missing Mars with a flight due to a
metric / imperial mess-up.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Oct 23, 2017 19:52 | | Subject: | Re: Use actual email for "contact me" | | Viewed: | 28 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Suggestions, Brick.Door writes:
| | Is it possible to have emails sent from the actual address when someone contacts
me through the Bricklink site? Rather than having them generated from blservice@bricklink.com.
When I hit reply, the response goes back to Bricklink instead of to the email
author.
Either that or have it sent to a dead email address so at least I will get an
error that it wasn't delivered.
This has probably been suggested before.
|
Actually, there is some intelligence in the BL email system. If you reply to
one of those emails, it does indeed get sent to blservice@, but when it arrives
there, BL figures out where it should have gone, and forwards it to the correct
email address.
If you like, you can contact me through BL, and I will reply without changing
email addresses.
|
Correcting myself here - there is no magic happening at BL. They do send the
message out as coming from blservice@, but they set a "reply-to" mail header
containing the sender's actual email address.
So when you hit "reply" in your mail client, you should see the email address
of the person that emailed you filled in in the "To:" field.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Oct 23, 2017 19:11 | | Subject: | Re: Use actual email for "contact me" | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Brick.Door writes:
| | Is it possible to have emails sent from the actual address when someone contacts
me through the Bricklink site? Rather than having them generated from blservice@bricklink.com.
When I hit reply, the response goes back to Bricklink instead of to the email
author.
Either that or have it sent to a dead email address so at least I will get an
error that it wasn't delivered.
This has probably been suggested before.
|
Actually, there is some intelligence in the BL email system. If you reply to
one of those emails, it does indeed get sent to blservice@, but when it arrives
there, BL figures out where it should have gone, and forwards it to the correct
email address.
If you like, you can contact me through BL, and I will reply without changing
email addresses.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Oct 7, 2017 08:35 | | Subject: | Re: Reduce Store Verification Time | | Viewed: | 28 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Brickwilbo writes:
| | In Suggestions, MarieA writes:
| | In Suggestions, redimension writes:
| | Team,
I have been waiting to open my store for over a month. I am more than ready to
start selling. Do you need help in this department? Volunteers to assist in matters
like this?
Cheers!
|
The process takes approx. two weeks after you complete the necessary steps. You
only completed at least two of those steps two days ago. You've been waiting
a month only because you didn't thoroughly read the information. I agree
the process could be simpler, but the information is there and simply needs to
be given the appropriate attention.
A better suggestion might be for BL to create an unambiguous list of things a
new store needs to do, with green ticks generated automatically against each
item as they're completed, with a "submit for review" button only available
after all other steps have been ticked off.
|
Agreed. All the information is there.
We've three people not understanding which settings to use.
They'd entered an unnecessary Store bypassword which keeps their stores locked.
|
Specifying a password there does not keep a store locked. We have a password
there, but our store is open. They specifically said that the "open" button did
not work.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Oct 4, 2017 09:14 | | Subject: | Re: Update item numbers of marked deletion items | | Viewed: | 21 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, novabrick writes:
| | In Suggestions, Cob writes:
| | Suggestion:
Please update the item numbers of items marked for deletion to end with "-md"
or something similar. I am putting together older figures and keep running into
guys that are marked for deletion. There is no way to know they are marked for
deletion on Brickstock until I pull up the catalog or try to upload the parts.
The best solution would be to delete the items marked for deletion.
Thanks,
Cob
|
Maybe put the item number in italics and then delete the item after like 3 month
or so. Like [p=4070a] has been marked for deletion for years it seems. I am not
sure what keeps items from being deleted after being marked for deletion. Bit
of clarification would be nice.
|
I believe an item cannot be deleted as long as it is actively referenced elsewhere
(most commonly in people's shop inventory, stock rooms, possibly set inventories).
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 16, 2017 13:31 | | Subject: | Re: Change to information held in Catalogue | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, qwertyboy writes:
| | In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, brickbrowser writes:
| | In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | The Bricklink catalogue has the perfect base for this change but it is a question
of whether the developers feel they can do it with minimum effort. Each item
in the catalogue has a PCC as well as its mould or design id number associated
with it. The PCC code is Lego's element id and it is what they print in their
instructions.
There have been lots of comments both in and out of the forum concerning part
weights and how there is a variance between colours of the same part number.
We have also experienced this. The simple way to deal with this is to add a weight
field against the PCC in the catalogue. This would allow the system to hold the
individual weights for each colour part and could be used to more accurately
provide cart weights for instant checkout when it comes out of preview.
|
There are far greater weight discrepancies / inconsistencies in batches of packaging
materials (even from same supplier), than those attributed to mold or part colour
differences. Furthermore, one weight submitter's scales and measuring technique
probably differs from another's to the extent that the exercise is moot.
I doubt that would ever be an effective use of people's time.
|
You may be right - the only thing is surely we have to start somewhere - as I
said in an earlier reply the current generic system only works because sellers/stores
have been doing this manually
|
For the record - when doing up shipping cost for an order, we have _never_ weighed
the order, we always used BL's supplied weight (unless of course the weight
was not specified). As far as I can recall, we have never had issues with an
order needing more postage than what was indicated by using supplied weights.
As others have indicated as well, adding weights to PPCs is a massive undertaking,
time that would be better and more profitably spent elsewhere.
Niek.
|
We weight every order and totally disregard BL's weight as
it does not make allowances for bags, other packaging materials and of course
the box we use. Strange you don't weigh your orders?
|
Poor choice of words, my bad. I meant - we don't weigh orders before determining
shipping cost. We have a good handle on what fits into where, and that includes
how much weight to add for packing material. We have enough NBPs to make packing-up-and-then-unpacking
a pain in the behind. If we over-estimated shipping, we refund. If we under-estimated,
we eat the diff. Same will happen when auto-checkout will come by.
For us, PPC weights are a non-issue, and (again for us) efforts would be better
spent developing other features.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 16, 2017 09:34 | | Subject: | Re: Change to information held in Catalogue | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | In Suggestions, brickbrowser writes:
| | In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | The Bricklink catalogue has the perfect base for this change but it is a question
of whether the developers feel they can do it with minimum effort. Each item
in the catalogue has a PCC as well as its mould or design id number associated
with it. The PCC code is Lego's element id and it is what they print in their
instructions.
There have been lots of comments both in and out of the forum concerning part
weights and how there is a variance between colours of the same part number.
We have also experienced this. The simple way to deal with this is to add a weight
field against the PCC in the catalogue. This would allow the system to hold the
individual weights for each colour part and could be used to more accurately
provide cart weights for instant checkout when it comes out of preview.
|
There are far greater weight discrepancies / inconsistencies in batches of packaging
materials (even from same supplier), than those attributed to mold or part colour
differences. Furthermore, one weight submitter's scales and measuring technique
probably differs from another's to the extent that the exercise is moot.
I doubt that would ever be an effective use of people's time.
|
You may be right - the only thing is surely we have to start somewhere - as I
said in an earlier reply the current generic system only works because sellers/stores
have been doing this manually
|
For the record - when doing up shipping cost for an order, we have _never_ weighed
the order, we always used BL's supplied weight (unless of course the weight
was not specified). As far as I can recall, we have never had issues with an
order needing more postage than what was indicated by using supplied weights.
As others have indicated as well, adding weights to PPCs is a massive undertaking,
time that would be better and more profitably spent elsewhere.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 15, 2017 13:14 | | Subject: | Re: Change to information held in Catalogue | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| So how do you suggest BL tackles the weight issues resulting from TLG mold changes?
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 15, 2017 11:39 | | Subject: | Re: Change to information held in Catalogue | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, calsbricks writes:
| | The Bricklink catalogue has the perfect base for this change but it is a question
of whether the developers feel they can do it with minimum effort. Each item
in the catalogue has a PCC as well as its mould or design id number associated
with it. The PCC code is Lego's element id and it is what they print in their
instructions.
There have been lots of comments both in and out of the forum concerning part
weights and how there is a variance between colours of the same part number.
We have also experienced this. The simple way to deal with this is to add a weight
field against the PCC in the catalogue. This would allow the system to hold the
individual weights for each colour part and could be used to more accurately
provide cart weights for instant checkout when it comes out of preview.
|
I would vote no, for two reasons:
- In 627 orders processed on the other site, with them having one weight for
each part no, we haven't experienced one single issue. Weight differences
are small, the likelihood of this "screwing up" auto-checkout is minimal, and
if it does make an err, the seller can chalk it up to the cost of doing business.
- TLG is known to have made changes to their molds just to save a few cents
by requiring less ABS. These changes are done to parts that keep the exact same
PPC, and most times BL doesn't differentiate (think hollow versus solid pins
under a 1x4 brick for example). Those weight changes could actually be more significant
than the weight change for different colors. In effect, the weight-per-PPC will
almost always be an approximation, not the 100%-always-correct-weight for a PPC.
In short, I am convinced these weight differences are a non-issue for auto-checkout.
Experience proves this. I am sure others can verify this. Don't make things
more complex than they need to be.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 12, 2017 12:31 | | Subject: | Re: Moderate Forum Posts | | Viewed: | 54 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Ryanme writes:
| | It would also be nice if the posts were deleted instead of marked as cancelled.
This morning going through the board, I had to scroll past probably 25 or more
"Cancelled" posts
|
There is a setting for that one at least...
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Aug 27, 2017 23:40 | | Subject: | Re: sort by remarks for parting out | | Viewed: | 30 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Teup writes:
| | In Suggestions, BRWA writes:
| | Hi,
I have already made similar request, as I need to work out where my 40k+ parts
are in the store, especially the odd stranger item it would be good not to have
to tab the item to find out where it is stored.
However the older BL member hate change and BL absolutely refuses to consider
that we as sellers actually supply the funds that make the website happen, so
you can forget about any changes....
I have added my vote, despite the worthlessness of it!
Good luck with your store - I would suggest you right click the item inventory
and open the item in a new tab - am forced to do this on most new sets on at
least one or two items.
I have also asked BL(and so have others) to provide an option to sort by condition
and item number, but again the old farts on the site, advise that we are "doing
it" wrong if you store your parts by item number rather than category. And of
course BL Admin are happy to take profit from you each month and are not interested
how long it takes to get the parts in or out....in their eyes we are NOT the
customers the buyers are!
Good luck with your store,
Kind regards,
Dave
Brick Recycling WA
|
Could someone please explain the actual suggestion, because I still don't
understand? You mean to have the parto-out inventory list of a set sorted by
your own remarks, but how is that possible when remarks are still to be added
at the moment the list is generated? I really don't understand what's
being suggested here and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
|
The only thing I can come up with, is that they want BL to show remarks during
part-out for lots that are already in current inventory. So it might show a remark
when the part-out shows black technic pins (copied from the existing pins lot
in their inventory), but it won't show a remark for a new technic panel (as
they don't yet have that part in inventory).
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jun 8, 2017 18:39 | | Subject: | Re: Paypal payment | | Viewed: | 39 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, swoosh_factor writes:
| | I think it will also lead to an increase in paypal/credit card chargebacks for
things like buyer's remorse and unauthorized account use that may otherwise
have ended up as cancelations or NPB's. I'd much prefer to deal with
the NPB process (for the ~1% of orders in my store) and keep my product in hand
than dealing with the double whammy of shipping items and getting hit with a
chargeback after the fact.
|
Most of these fears stem from guessing and assuming the worst. On the other site
with automatic checkout we processed close to 500 orders, with zero chargebacks
or buyers remorse. I firmly believe it will bring way more good than bad. And
if you don't want to do it, you can simply not offer it.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Apr 27, 2017 17:18 | | Subject: | Re: ORDER STATUS: change multiple at once | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
|
| In Shipping, QCHUCKA writes:
| | You misunderstood me, I want to change the status of all "paid" orders
with 2 clicks total into "shipped", whether it is 5 orders or 20+ not change
the status per order, one by one . Clicking submit after just one is a little
silly.
|
You don't have to click submit after just one. You can pick a new status
for several orders, and then do the one submit click. So not "change status"
- "submit" - "change status" - "submit" etc, but rather "change status" - "change
status" ... - "submit".
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 21, 2017 20:31 | | Subject: | Re: Counterfiet Set Reporting | | Viewed: | 72 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, rofreder writes:
| | Hello All, and to my recent seller please accept my appologies.
Got in some other sets today straight from lego.com and compared elements. Couldn't
distinguish any serious differences. I suppose there is a little variation among
genuine lego factory molds and plastic composition.
Thank you all for your help and concern. Got my first set in the 70's and
thought I was an expert. Guess not.
|
Thank you for reporting back.
Nowadays, especially in online discussions, I see far too few people willing
to admit a mistake. I really appreciate this.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 20, 2017 16:07 | | Subject: | Re: Cross reference multiple parts with their set | | Viewed: | 54 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Kenopolis writes:
| | I was going through a used lot of LEGO I purchased, and I thought,
"How cool would it be if Bricklink had a feature that show the sets that parts
might have come from."
Example...
I have 3 red 2x2 cones, and 4 Green Hinge plates, and 2 Yellow 1x6 Wedge plates.
If you could enter these parts into a query, and have the system give you a list
of sets that contain those parts, it could possibly increase sales for many stores
by people wanting to complete sets. Increased sales for Bricklink sellers, means
more income for Bricklink.
You already have a feature that lists all the sets with specific parts, so I
imagine it wouldn't be too difficult to cross reference multiple parts.
But I know nothing about coding, so...
|
Like this?
https://www.bricklink.com/catalogIn.asp?viewMulti=Y
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 20, 2017 15:43 | | Subject: | Re: BrickLink you are losing business | | Viewed: | 100 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Reki_Lobsheek writes:
| | It seems some sellers don't care someone is ALWAYS gonna lose money with
such a system: either the buyer being over charged for idiotic flat rate shipping
prices or the seller losing out when people order light but large items that
won't fit in bubble envelopes (for example the minifig wheelchair that came
out last year).
|
That is simply not true. BO is living proof of this. Especially for Belgium and
other small countries, you can set up shipping rates on BO that will allow automatic
checkout for the exact price the post office or the courier charges.
The only requirement is that all items in BL need to have proper dimensions,
not just "stud dimensions". This requirement has been recognized by the forum
for years now, and requests have been made to BL to open up some sort of way
for people to contribute these dimensions, but unfortunately BL has never done
so.
For large countries (like Canada and the US), there is an added complexity as
the exact same shipment can have different costs depending on where it ships
to domestically. Even knowing the province is not enough, as they are vast, and
rates differ significantly for where within a province you are shipping. But
as long as you are currently able to ship the exact same package for the exact
same price to a country, you can set up shipping tables for automated checkout
that capture this.
All that is needed are proper dimensions for the BL items.
On BO, if an item doesn't have its dimensions set up yet, the seller can
choose to have it default to a higher shipping cost to be safe, or have the
system default to generating a quote, in which case it works like BL does now.
(But this has been explained over and over again in response to all nay-sayers
unfortunately.)
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 16, 2017 12:12 | | Subject: | Re: price overview when buying a wanted list | | Viewed: | 71 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TokerSays writes:
| | Niek - I am not here to annoy you. I'm annoyed. I am a grown man posting
on a forum for a child's toy trying to figure out why a tool I used to save
money has been removed.
Now I apologize for being in your sandbox but it seems to that this conversation
has done gone been had ready. So would you mind pointing me in the direction
of the thread where it was decided that the Buyer would foot the bill for maintaining
the solubility of the Lego marketplace?
And may I ask Niek - have you at any time been in direct contact with the administrators
of Bricklink concerning the average pricing tool? If so, what was your formal
complaint?
|
Thank you for this reply. It looks like this reply is from a 35-ish year old
man. Thanks.
As I stated each time, I have no issues with discussing the topic itself. And
I have no preference whether that tool is put back in, or is left out (although
I am leaning towards leaving it out).
The ONLY thing I had an issue with is the repeated campaigning, which
by the looks of this post you stopped - thank you.
In reply to your questions, I can't point you to a thread where it was decided
that the Buyer would foot the bill, because I don't think there is one. I
also have not been in direct contact with any admins. Aside from my belief they
will not entertain a direct discussion, I have no reason to contact them in this
regards, as again I have no preference.
Again, I understand you are frustrated by their decision to remove it. I get
that, and I respect that (and I have never said otherwise). You have made your
point (over and over if I might add), and I have chimed in somewhere way upstream
as well. I welcome the discussion, and I like to see other opinions and back-and-forths,
but it has to be a proper discussion, not a constant repeat of the same words,
and (for me) definitely no more campaigning like you did before.
Thanks.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2017 21:10 | | Subject: | Re: price overview when buying a wanted list | | Viewed: | 59 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| It is crystal clear you are only here to annoy. I am done with this childish
behavior.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2017 20:41 | | Subject: | Re: price overview when buying a wanted list | | Viewed: | 60 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TokerSays writes:
| | In Suggestions, dfurman writes:
I’m not done yet. I have yet to hear a convincing reason why I should not, en
masse, be able to tell which one of your Lego bricks is priced at or below average?
I already have access to this information, why can I not have easier access?
Why can’t it be made easier for me to tell which one of these stores carries
the largest selection of average priced pieces?
|
I don't think anyone has issues with this being discussed. But I for one
would really REALLY like if you stopped campaigning so much by adding the URL
each time.
Again, I don't ask this because I am necessarily against the suggestion,
I just find this is getting incredibly annoying. Everyone on the forum knows
by now where to vote. Please stop. Please.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 15, 2017 17:42 | | Subject: | Re: Better Forum | | Viewed: | 60 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, SylvainLS writes:
| | In Suggestions, viejos writes:
| | […]
and I recognize
at least half of all the people who post in the forum. […]
|
Hmm, that would be what? 3 people?
(Like the forum as it is now: a web-ized mailing list.)
|
Ah, yes please. I vote to turn it into a mailing list, great suggestion. Glad
to see there are more fans here.
Niek.
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 14, 2017 15:22 | | Subject: | Re: price overview when buying a wanted list | | Viewed: | 53 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TokerSays writes:
| | If you had access to an average pricing tool when grocery shopping, would you
use it?
|
No.
I welcome proper discussion, but please stop with the incessant campaigning.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 14, 2017 14:30 | | Subject: | Re: price overview when buying a wanted list | | Viewed: | 56 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TokerSays writes:
| | Perfect, then we agree! Bricklink is a legal free market and in a legal free
market a Buyer should have easy access to the average price per piece. Any measures
to limit that access would delegitimize the legal free market of Bricklink.
|
I fail to see why a buyer should have easy access to the average price per piece.
Can you show me where it says buyers should have access to this info? Are all
other market places now no longer "legal free markets"? The only real requirement
for a market to be a free market is that prices are set freely by supply and
demand without any meddling from overseeing forces. Nowhere does it say that
average prices need to get published.
Please stop fabricating rules. I understand you want this option to return, and
frankly I am still not quite sure if I want or not, but please keep this discussion
sensible.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 13, 2017 21:48 | | Subject: | Re: price overview when buying a wanted list | | Viewed: | 48 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TokerSays writes:
| | Honest question, do Sellers pay a surcharge on every piece they sell?
|
Selling LEGO on BL roughly goes like this (assuming you are talking about parts):
- Seller buys LEGO somewhere.
- If it comes in sealed sets (for instance, if seller buys LEGO at Walmart),
the sets get "parted out" using either BL or 3rd party tools;
- If it comes as a pile of unsorted parts (like from Craigslist), parts need
to be cleaned, checked for "usability", cataloged and uploaded;
- After part-out and/or upload, the parts need to be stored in the seller's
physical inventory.
- When an order comes in, seller needs to pick the parts, pack and ship.
The reason I detail this here is that _every_ step above carries an additional
cost. Every step takes time. Some steps take a _lot_ of time (if done correctly).
And at sale time, BL (and most times Paypal) take a cut of the pie.
For a shop trying to make a profit, the cost in time is often overlooked, but
can be very significant. Again, ask larger shops. The actual purchase price s
just a tiny part of the cost to run a shop.
If you add up the costs of all the steps, you can easily see why having sellers
who buy product for $X and then sell for $X+5% can really hurt other shops.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 13, 2017 21:26 | | Subject: | Re: price overview when buying a wanted list | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TokerSays writes:
| | Hi Niek - I am a prime example of a Buyer lowering piece price because given
enough information I will purchase the piece at the best value. Why is that
a bad thing? I would argue that my buying habits are adjusting pieces to be
more in line with actual price.
|
A normal (ideal?) market mechanism would have prices settle at what the buyer
is willing to pay. In an earlier post from yourself, you literally said that
you were happy to pay $50 for the order you were about to place, until you saw
that you could get parts for less. A "settled" market would therefore be at $50
(assuming you are the average buyer). There is no such thing as "actual price",
unless you are comparing with TLG, and then you will see that the vast majority
of parts are way cheaper on BL. If you define "actual price" to be the price
people are happy to pay, then you have made my point for me.
BrickLink has stopped being a normal market a while ago. Prices are no longer
determined by what people think is a fair price. Again, you said so yourself.
Prices are more and more determined by sellers trying to get orders in, almost
at any cost (no pun intended). This is not what a healthy market should look
like.
I can't fault buyers going for the lowest price. Heck, I will "shop around"
for certain products as well. But you can ask any long-time seller, the current
market is making it increasingly difficult to sustain a healthy profit margin,
and that is what it is all about for shops who are on here for the long haul.
If this trend doesn't turn around one way or another, there won't be
any incentive for larger shops to invest any resources into a BL shop.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 13, 2017 19:15 | | Subject: | Re: price overview when buying a wanted list | | Viewed: | 68 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, tEoS writes:
| | As you are most likely aware, this has been going on long before the feature
was offered. Back when we had sellers like ShackyShuffle and House of Logos
listing at what appeared to be near or below cost, which satisfied many people's
desire for cheap Lego and the constant price wars between HoL and a select few
stores. We have 10 or so years of damage and so many hands in the pot now that
I don't think removing this feature will help recover the market.
It might slow the bleeding, but the wound is quite large and will likely continue
to grow and fester. (maybe a slightly gross analogy, but that's what I came
up with)
|
Yup. Totally agree. The downward spiral has been there for a while. With the
ever-rising (so it seems) popularity of LEGO, more and more people jump on the
bandwagon to profit from the LEGO success, as is also evident from the growing
number of posts of people wanting to know how to make money (and even how to
make a living selling parts).
The sheer popularity of LEGO has become both a blessing and a curse for this
site. I can see BL trying to figure out how to keep making money by tweaking
their software. Get more buyers on board, sure. But try and keep the profit-per-item
up as well is going to be hard (if not impossible). If the amount of product
traded is rising, but the prices-per-item are falling quicker, this ship is going
to sink. Simple economics.
BL is the only one who can see what is happening in the larger picture. I for
one hope they can stay afloat, and better yet, grow. That is in the interest
of all here, buyers and sellers. Whether removing pricing info is going to work
(assuming this is actually done in light of the situation described here, for
lack of any word from our overlords) is anyone's guess. We will see.
Now what _would_ be a total game changer, is the removal of _all_ price guide
info. Try and wrap your head around that one. There are precious few market places
where you get any access to this type of info. It would be interesting to see
what would happen to item prices in that case. No more "part-out" - "set prices
at L6MA-30%" - "go" - "hope-to-get-rich-now".
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 13, 2017 17:11 | | Subject: | Re: price overview when buying a wanted list | | Viewed: | 60 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TokerSays writes:
| | Hi Marc - I've heard a few mentions now of how the Price Guide has impacted
prices. Can you give me an example of where a Buyer with easy access to an average
price of a piece negatively impacted the actual price of a piece?
|
Well, _you_ are a prime example of this effect. You said yourself that you used
this feature to buy pieces at the lowest price. When you make that buy, it will
get added to the price guide. As it is (presumably) below the last 6 month average,
the newly calculated L6MA will go down. For some items, it will go down a tiny
bit (because that part might see a lot of sales, and your one buy will not make
a big difference), for other items it will have a bigger effect.
A lot of sellers use this last 6 month average to price their items, partly (or
maybe mostly?) because if they don't, they will lose sales from buyers like
you. So they start pricing below L6MA, you buy, L6MA drops, people adjust, you
buy, etc.
This is not rocket science, it is easy to see how that works. How much the shown
average influences people's buying pattern is hard to say, but again you
yourself stated very clearly it is an important factor in where you place your
orders. If there are a lot of people that bought using that metric, L6MA will
definitely drop.
Whether removing this info will stop prices being driven down I cannot say. I
doubt even BL will be able to say. But your story clearly shows removing it _could_
slow down the drop of prices.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 13, 2017 12:22 | | Subject: | Re: price overview when buying a wanted list | | Viewed: | 75 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| If you allow me to take one sentence out of your reply:
| | I had a $50 cart and what I thought was a great deal.
|
This is _exactly_ why others would argue to have that feature removed. And if
you allow me to quote another tidbit from a different thread you posted:
| | Because I can't imagine the site administrators would knowingly remove the feature and allow the happy wonderful Lego fans through out the world who have gathered together here in the safe and welcoming site that is Bricklink to be knowingly ripped off. Some dude last week tried to charge me $2.00 for a 35 cent piece. It was an odd piece, I needed it. But I didn't '500% make up' need it. I can't keep track of the average price of 1000s of pieces
|
You have to understand that nobody is trying to rip you off by pricing items
in a certain way. That price is there to see and agree with or not.
I fully understand that automatically comparing prices to the last 6 month average
makes it easier to pick the best deal, but by doing this. BrickLink is actively
helping to push prices down. Shops that have priced items reasonably will see
that over time they will lose out on orders because others will undercut the
prices, and buyers will more and more favor the lower-priced options, thus further
put pressure on the L6MA. Stores that don't constantly adjust their prices
will eventually maybe show 500% above average. That does NOT mean they are ripping
buyers off.
The price comparison feature was introduced some time in the last year. Before
that, people were able to buy their LEGO just fine, but there can't be much
doubt that this feature was helping the downward spiral of item prices. This
is not in the interest of BrickLink, and not in the interest of the sellers.
And if you think about it, in the long run it is also not in the interest of
buyers. Many larger shops are feeling the pressure, and have to think about whether
this is still a market that is worthwhile to pursue. Sure, if they close shop,
others will fill the void, but it will be more and more of the lowest-prices-quick-sale-goodbye
shops. And that is not good for anyone.
Just my $0.02.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 13, 2017 10:55 | | Subject: | Re: price overview when buying a wanted list | | Viewed: | 92 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, TokerSays writes:
| | In Suggestions, Brickwilbo writes:
| | In Suggestions, tillmanbalazs writes:
| | few weeks ago when I went to a wanted list, and selected the items which I wanted
to buy, then the shop, it showed what is the price of items in this shop compared
to the average price of the items.
Now this function is not available, can I ask why?
Is it possible to have it back?
Thanks,
Balázs
|
Voted no. The part prices should be what you think it's worth, not the Price
Guide' system.
The current average prices of parts are lower and the result of the downward
spiralling price war of the many shops and are not the actual values.
When getting lower, parts would be given away for free.
|
Brickwilbo - how can you be so cruel? If I am starving a slice of bread would
be worth $1000 to me. And I'm starving, I need that bread. I would gladly
pay you $1000 for it because I don't have the luxury of surveying 100s of
stores for 100s of pieces. Would you sell me a $1000 dollar slice of bread,
Brickwilbo? Would you feed me for only a day? Would you allow me to starve
until I get my birthday check from Grandma? Change your vote, Brickwilbo. Change
your vote and feed the children!
|
Comparing wanting to buy cheaper LEGO to starving children is not the way to
go.
Just for this, I am tempted to vote 'no' as well.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 11, 2017 09:27 | | Subject: | Re: Add to inventory when removing from order | | Viewed: | 18 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Brickwilbo writes:
| | In Suggestions, KingAlanI writes:
| | When removing items from an order, there's no built in feature for putting
those items back into your inventory.
|
There is, only if the buyer requested the item removal.
|
This is correct.
| | Usually if the seller requests an item to be removed it's because it's
not in stock and doesn't need to be added into the inventory.
|
I suspect the reason is more down to Earth than this -
When a buyer initiates an order item removal request, the seller does the second
step. As s/he is "in charge" at this point, it is easy to slap on a few more
steps to allow the items to be moved back in inventory.
When a seller initiates an order item removal request, the buyer does the second
step. Obviously s/he cannot decide whether to move items back in inventory. It
would require an additional procedural step to finish the process - instead of
a 1-2 (seller-buyer) to finish the request, it would become a 1-2-3 (seller-buyer-seller).
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Mar 3, 2017 13:42 | | Subject: | Re: "Help" and "To Top" icons, what gives? | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, chetzler writes:
| | I've seen the "To Top" floating button when in stores and found it to be
only mildly annoying, but now it seems to be in the lower right of EVERY screen
along with a "Help" button. There is already a link to "Help" at the bottom
of every page, why do we need another one (that moves around no less)? Additionally,
I think I can manage manually scrolling to the top of my home screen without
the aid of a bow and arrow.
Is this a recent change or have I just not noticed it before? Do we have to
have these controls that hover and move around on the screen erratically? It's
especially frustrating on a small mobile screen--it's just clutter.
Can we drop them or at least have an option in our settings to turn them off?
|
A workaround for people using Chrome:
- Install the Chrome extension "Stylish Addon";
- Click the new little "S" button, select "Manage Styles" - "Write New Style";
- Give the new style a name, doesn't matter what;
- Change the "Applies to" to "URLs on the domain" and enter "bricklink.com"
in the space following the drop-down;
- In the "Code" section, add ".footer-sticky-links {display: none !important;}";
- Click "Save";
- Reload your BL page.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Dec 1, 2016 12:08 | | Subject: | Re: Limit cash payments to approved postal codes | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, chetzler writes:
| | I just had a buyer from three states away claim that he sent cash in the mail.
While this seems very risky to me, he did indeed select "Cash (no COD)" as a
payment type even though that option states that it is for local pickup only.
Since there is no way to actually enforce local pickup, I didn't realize
this until after he mailed the money, frankly because I've never had anyone
do this before! I accept lots of cash payments from members of my LUG, but it
doesn't usually occur outside of that.
Can we get BrickLink to only accept "Cash" payments on an order if that buyer's
postal code is on a seller-selected list? I don't know how postal codes
work in other countries, but in the US (and Canada to, I think) the zip code
gets more specific as you go from left to right. So for example, using wildcard
characters, I could allow cash payments from anyone in Lincoln, NE with a single
entry: 685**.
|
I accept cash when customers pick it up, but in my shop settings I only allow
Paypal payments. If people want to pay in cash at pickup, we communicate beforehand.
This way customers can't "force" a cash payment when it is not appropriate.
So I would suggest you simply remove the cash payment option in your shop, and
maybe add a little blurb that you allow cash at pickup.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Oct 29, 2016 09:39 | | Subject: | Re: "used" and "new" in the orders | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, joel07 writes:
| | Bonjour, je voudrais suggérer une idée pour différencier les pièces "used" et
"new" lorsque l'on reçoit une commande, car il n'est pas toujours évident
de les distinguer facilement ( new et used sont écrit de la même couleur et sont
mélangés ) !
Par exemple, soit on met toutes les pièces "new" en tête de liste, puis les pièces
"used" à la suite ! Ou alors on peut les différencier par des couleurs différentes
( pièces "new" sur fond vert, ou écrit en vert, et pièces "used" en rouge ) !
Merci beaucoup !
La Boutique de Reld
|
There is already a setting for orders to show condition in different colors.
Is that not what you need?
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Oct 27, 2016 15:44 | | Subject: | Re: Add State to the USA part (local part) | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, AZbrickGUY writes:
| | ... Lots of bold text ...
|
I don't know the answer, but I have to say I also don't know what is
worse - writing a post in all-caps, or all text in bold font. Both make my eyes
bleed.
Guess there is a lot I don't know.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 15, 2016 19:00 | | Subject: | Re: PLEASE enable Payment at checkout | | Viewed: | 54 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | In Suggestions, nectara writes:
| | In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | In Suggestions, nectara writes:
| | In Suggestions, Cob writes:
| | Please make the site upgrade and enable payment at checkout. I have so many
buyers confused on what to do and how to pay. If they had the option to pay
at checkout it would be so much more streamlined and convenient for everyone.
I am fully prepared and ready to handle payment at checkout, I already give my
buyer the maximum they will be charged for shipping in my terms (and yes, I never
charge more than my terms state, even if I would lose money). Therefore, the
buyer already knows the cost of their order at checkout, why can't they pay
at checkout?
Cob
|
They are tens of thousands of active store each store with different fee each
store from different country with different postage fee
Who will take this huge task to solve?
Regards
|
It is already solved. ON BRICKLINK! It just isn't implemented yet.
Right now, hundreds of stores already use the Shipping Cost Suggestion tool.
All that needs to be done is make that visible to buyers (it is currently set
up so that only the seller sees it).
--
Marc.
|
Shipping Cost Suggestion tool didn't work properly everybody know this
Still long way ...
Regards
|
It works fine for me. (And for many others.)
Yes, there is plenty of room for improvement. But that doesn't change the
fact that auto-checkout tomorrow, using exactly the set-up that already exists
for Shipping Cost Suggestion.
|
The shipping cost suggestion tool does not use any "real dimensions" to figure
out what the actual volume would be for a given order. It sometimes does a wrong
calculation based on dimensions that are not in cms/inches etc. On the other
site, either proper dimensions are defined for items, or if there are no proper
items, it falls back to a "safe mode". So it either calculates a correct volume,
or it doesn't calculate a volume at all and the seller has to do the calculations
(and hopefully add the missing dimensions data to the catalog).
If BL had opened up this "dimensions database" for people on BL to start populating
like many had asked for many months ago, BL would now be in better shape to get
a similar, proper calculating tool.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 6, 2016 16:26 | | Subject: | Re: Pay Your Fees Now! (please?) | | Viewed: | 71 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Thea writes:
| | In Suggestions, Royroy writes:
| | I know, nitpicking and it won't get implemented anyway...
Still here comes my suggestion: Please change this link: "Pay Your Fees Now!"
into something more friendly like: "please pay your fees now"
I feel like a non paying user every start of the month
|
As a Buyer only I've never seen this pompous command, but if it's a button,
shouldn't it say "Pay My Fees Now"?
|
Good point. It does say "My Store" if a seller wants to enter the store pages.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Sep 1, 2016 17:48 | | Subject: | Re: Please add an Echeck Pending order status | | Viewed: | 30 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, popsicle writes:
:
;
| | It seems the more I read how others conduct business here in the forum, the more
estranged I feel to the community. Maybe I should consider swimming with the
school, not against 
|
No need. We do exactly the same - ship before payment clears. Never had any issues.
Niek.
|
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jun 15, 2016 11:42 | | Subject: | Re: Shipping cost suggestion: PayPal Fees | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, Cob writes:
| | 2 pounds of Lego can be shipped anywhere in the USA for $6.80 in a flat rate
envelope or around $12 for self packaging. Pretty big difference in cost.
|
1 ounce of Lego can be shipped all across Canada for CAD 1.89 in a padded envelope,
or for CAD 10-15 for parcel service if the dimensions require it. Pretty big
difference in cost.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jun 13, 2016 19:04 | | Subject: | Re: Estimated shipping costs = "TBD"... | | Viewed: | 43 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, JayBeeOnline writes:
| | In Suggestions, Brickwilbo writes:
| | Each order is custom picked and packed.
Without proper dimensions most sellers overestimate postage and buyers pay more.
|
Why use proper dimensions?
If it fits in a padded envelope shipping costs are X...
It it fits in a small package shipping costs are Y...
If it fits in a big package shipping costs are Z...
|
This might work for Germany, but not for several other countries and postal systems.
"If it fits" - how does the system determine that? Parts don't have proper
dimensions...
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jun 13, 2016 18:46 | | Subject: | Re: Estimated shipping costs = "TBD"... | | Viewed: | 50 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, JayBeeOnline writes:
| | Dear admins,
I would highly recommend a message to ALL shops here on BrickLink that they should
fill in the values for shipping costs in their shop settings.
Most (All?) shops have a list of shipping costs on their terms / splash page,
but when an order is placed the checkout page shows "TBD" (To Be Determined).
In the "old" BrickLink it was said that BL 2.0 would be able to estimate shipping
costs automatically so that users don't get surprised / annoyed by "additional
costs" and extreme overpriced shipping rates and would have the ability to halt
the shopping procedure BEFORE the final checkout.
But if the shops shop "TBD" at checkout this functionality is useless...
|
This is not possible for a lot of shops until proper dimensions are added to
the catalog.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Jun 6, 2016 11:57 | | Subject: | Re: Improvements to Search Stores feataure | | Viewed: | 28 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| I can see the desire to look at FB numbers. Sure, it only gives an _indication_
of the volume of orders a shop processes and doesn't say anything about their
$$$ sales. But it is an indication nonetheless.
I got interested in the FB number as well, but purely as a dangling carrot in
my quest to see how "far up in the ranks" I could get our shop. I like numbers
and milestones. They don't necessarily need to have any meaning for others,
but I get a kick out of reaching 100k parts, 10k lots, $50k sales, 1000 lbs product
shipped, $15k postage paid, and yes, reaching the first page of Canadian BLers
by FB rating (but since reaching that milestone life took over, inventory dropped
a bit, sales dropped, and we got overtaken again).
Below is a graph of our FB in relation to a few other Canadian members. We are
the yellow line. When time permits we will crank things up again and see if we
can climb the rankings again.
Oh, I like graphs as well.
Niek.
|
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | May 24, 2016 17:54 | | Subject: | Re: Banned from forum | | Viewed: | 55 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, SylvainLS writes:
| | Three Corsican¹ (stereotypically “laid-back lazy” but also “touchy” and “vindicative”)
in a bar.
|
Reminds me of the comic book "Asterix in Corsica". That book is loaded with references
to the above.
http://asterixonline.info/comics/index.php?manga=Asterix_Comics&chapter=20&page=34
The Asterix comic book series has many stereotypical references to a lot of European
countries and customs.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Apr 15, 2016 16:41 | | Subject: | Re: disable automated invoice after quote | | Viewed: | 28 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, niemand writes:
| | Hello everybody,
It seems that when a quote is accepted, the buyer is automatically invoiced...
I would appreciate the option to disable this function.
Indeed, the problem is, there is no information about payment detail (how to
proceed) in this mail. But on the order received page the order is mark as invoiced....
hence each party could wait a long time before the payment is really done.
Furthermore, a default layout wouldn't do the job. I invoice my French buyer
in French, and other in English (and some English/English speaker people living
in France). So I have to choose on each case and depending of the payment method,
and the most efficient is this case is to do it manually. And actual quote function
wouldn't be able to do it. Hence the need to disable the automated invoicing.
|
The automatic invoicing is the sole reason we disabled the quote feature. In
our eyes the quote feature is there to provide a customer with a reliable total
cost of the order without actually committing to the order. We can do this by
just visually going over the items in the quote. It does not mean we pick the
items, as this would delay the quote. Since we don't pick, we haven't
done our last QA step in the order process. Being a seller of used parts, QA
is important, and we want to catch any issues with parts before we send
the invoice. That is no longer possible with a quote.
This has been discussed several times in the past. The reaction was mostly "well,
this is how things are going to work with instant checkout anyways". That might
be, but that is not the purpose of the quote. From the help page:
The purpose of the Price Quote feature is to provide an option for buyers
to request a quote before entering into an order contract. The buyer will know
the final cost of an order before placing the order, while the seller can suggest
a final price without holding inventory.
So it is meant to be a preliminary to placing the order, not meant to change
the normal process of the order after the quote is done. I don't expect this
to be changed though, so no quotes for us.
Niek.
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Apr 14, 2016 11:34 | | Subject: | Re: Error | | Viewed: | 32 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, brickgeeek writes:
Just fixing your post, as BL forum doesn't like these less-than/greater-than
chars (I don't know the answer for this):
[SHIPMETHODID-EQ:{value}]
{text to show}
[/SHIPMETHODID-EQ:{value}]
If I try to customize my invoice info I got error.
So I think it should be shHipmethodid (twice HH)
|
|
| Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Apr 11, 2016 12:42 | | Subject: | Re: Price Manipulating - What Prevention? | | Viewed: | 36 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
|
| In Suggestions, BrickItYourself writes:
| | | |
And I will also remind you again that my objection to your suggestion is not
merely based on legal concerns. Like others who posted here, I simply don't
like the idea of BrickLink telling sellers what they should price things at or
punishing them for not having the "right" prices.
|
Technically, bricklink already dictates a "price window" I cannot price a part
less than $0.001 and I typed in a boatload of numbers and at some point the system
won't allow me to sell for that high of a price, whatever the max input is
for a price, there is a limit.
So is this illegal? Why can't I sell a part for $0.0001 or fifty bazillion
dollars?
|
Those limits sound more like limits caused by the way information is stored in
the BL database. As a programmer you can either set limits, or rely on the defaults
provided by the database engine to refuse certain values. (And just so everyone
knows, I am a trained IT professional with 40+ years working at the keyboard
and 30+ years developing software.)
I will leave the question whether this makes the BL implementation illegal up
to the legal experts in the forum.
Niek.
|
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Canada, Alberta
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