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| | | Author: | janzenroth  | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2021 10:24 | | Subject: | Variations | | Viewed: | 128 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| As a seller I like to be accurate with variations that I sell.
When there are variations of the same part, I wonder in the future if it would
make sense to change some descriptions to describe the part or to include some
indication that a part has similar mold types. After selling for a couple of
years I am getting pretty good at knowing which parts have variations, but it
was not so when I first started.
For example I would suggest adding the description "with square corners" to part
2346 to distinguish it from it's related items. I would also suggest that
all parts with related items or similar molds have a simple description in
its title to suggest that there similar items to check. I am not sure what this
would look like but maybe something like "***Variatons Exist (3)***" at the end
to help the seller check to make sure they are including the right variation
if this is something both the buyer and seller are looking for. I think this
may help create less errors when selling items in the future. I think it would
also help in the case where there are variations which are not distinguished
and help buyers be aware that they could replace a part with a similar variation
if it does not affect their build.
I know that this would be little frustrating as a catalog person, since the introduction
of a new part (28802) would probably mean you should change the description of
2436b to say "4 rounded corners". That is why if a simple indicator at the end
that there are variations might be the most helpful. I can honestly admit that
I didn't even know that part 28802 existed prior to wanted to write this
post!!
This would help since some items have related parts while others do not. Another
example is this part which has two related items:
Whereas this part only has the one version.
Any thoughts?
Early in my selling I may have got an order for 4865 and did not know there were
variations and would ship the wrong part only to have a disappointed buyer on
the other end.
Evan
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| | | | | Author: | bricks2you | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2021 10:51 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| I agree this would be a great aid in fulfilling an order correctly and managing
inventory.
Jim
In Catalog Identification, janzenroth writes:
| | As a seller I like to be accurate with variations that I sell.
When there are variations of the same part, I wonder in the future if it would
make sense to change some descriptions to describe the part or to include some
indication that a part has similar mold types. After selling for a couple of
years I am getting pretty good at knowing which parts have variations, but it
was not so when I first started.
For example I would suggest adding the description "with square corners" to part
2346 to distinguish it from it's related items. I would also suggest that
all parts with related items or similar molds have a simple description in
its title to suggest that there similar items to check. I am not sure what this
would look like but maybe something like "***Variatons Exist (3)***" at the end
to help the seller check to make sure they are including the right variation
if this is something both the buyer and seller are looking for. I think this
may help create less errors when selling items in the future. I think it would
also help in the case where there are variations which are not distinguished
and help buyers be aware that they could replace a part with a similar variation
if it does not affect their build.
I know that this would be little frustrating as a catalog person, since the introduction
of a new part (28802) would probably mean you should change the description of
2436b to say "4 rounded corners". That is why if a simple indicator at the end
that there are variations might be the most helpful. I can honestly admit that
I didn't even know that part 28802 existed prior to wanted to write this
post!!
This would help since some items have related parts while others do not. Another
example is this part which has two related items:
Whereas this part only has the one version.
Any thoughts?
Early in my selling I may have got an order for 4865 and did not know there were
variations and would ship the wrong part only to have a disappointed buyer on
the other end.
Evan
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| | | | | Author: | jennnifer | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2021 11:12 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 30 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| I understand what you are asking for and think the idea has merit. I would just
like to point out that this info about variations is already quite visible on
the Catalog Item page for each part under the heading: Related Items.
I tend to manage my inventory through the catalog pages and not the My Inventory
pages so I spend a lot of time on those pages. 
Jen
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| | | | | | | Author: | tons_of_bricks | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2021 12:04 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| In Catalog Identification, jennnifer writes:
| | I understand what you are asking for and think the idea has merit. I would just
like to point out that this info about variations is already quite visible on
the Catalog Item page for each part under the heading: Related Items.
I tend to manage my inventory through the catalog pages and not the My Inventory
pages so I spend a lot of time on those pages.
Jen
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but when using the part out function for sets, you never see those catalog pages.
This is the main reason I stopped using the part out function. I used it for
the first batch of pieces I ever sold here on BL and I had no clue about rounded
corners, stud/axle holders,grooves, etc. All those variations got mixed and it
wasn't until I started selling used pieces from bulk lots (which required
me to visit the catalog page) that I began to notice all the variations that
I had unintentionally mixed up.
While qwertyboy made a good explanation about name changes, I wouldn't see
the harm in adding a special character to the name of any piece with variant
listings in the BL catalog to alert sellers and buyers that there are differences.
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| | | | | Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2021 11:22 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 38 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| When TLG produces new versions of existing parts, they often do not affect the
functionality in builds, meaning a build can be done with either the old or the
new version of the part. TLG also "over-produces" parts so they have stock of
parts when new sets are created. These sets might use up old stock, and then
start including the new version. This means sets can come with old version parts,
new version parts, and even with mixed versions.
TLG doesn't announce these version changes, so it often happens that people
run into these variants by accident, prompting a new "with rounded corners" version
of a part in the BL catalog. However, because of the often "fluent" transition
of versions, and even the unknown of when TLG actually switched over, it is impossible
for outsiders to know when the old version stopped, and the new version started.
A blanket change of the name of an "old version part" to now say "squared corners"
will affect all inventories (and sellers' shop inventories). Set inventories
would need to be re-verified from sealed contents (or at least known-not-to-have-been-mixed),
which even for lesser-used parts is a massive undertaking, as is obvious by the
attempts to eliminate say
In short, renaming the old version would not be a good idea.
Niek.
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| | | | | | | Author: | randyf | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2021 11:30 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 45 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| In Catalog Identification, qwertyboy writes:
| | When TLG produces new versions of existing parts, they often do not affect the
functionality in builds, meaning a build can be done with either the old or the
new version of the part. TLG also "over-produces" parts so they have stock of
parts when new sets are created. These sets might use up old stock, and then
start including the new version. This means sets can come with old version parts,
new version parts, and even with mixed versions.
TLG doesn't announce these version changes, so it often happens that people
run into these variants by accident, prompting a new "with rounded corners" version
of a part in the BL catalog. However, because of the often "fluent" transition
of versions, and even the unknown of when TLG actually switched over, it is impossible
for outsiders to know when the old version stopped, and the new version started.
A blanket change of the name of an "old version part" to now say "squared corners"
will affect all inventories (and sellers' shop inventories). Set inventories
would need to be re-verified from sealed contents (or at least known-not-to-have-been-mixed),
which even for lesser-used parts is a massive undertaking, as is obvious by the
attempts to eliminate say
In short, renaming the old version would not be a good idea.
Niek.
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Perfect explanation.
Yes, many variants of parts were never properly split in the catalog and are
part of the lists here:
https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=940
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| | | | | | | Author: | axaday | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2021 13:50 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| In Catalog Identification, qwertyboy writes:
| | is a massive undertaking, as is obvious by the
attempts to eliminate say
In short, renaming the old version would not be a good idea.
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That looks like a big job.
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | qwertyboy | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2021 14:08 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 27 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| In Catalog Identification, axaday writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, qwertyboy writes:
| | is a massive undertaking, as is obvious by the
attempts to eliminate say
In short, renaming the old version would not be a good idea.
|
That looks like a big job.
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You little rascal you!
I appreciate the commitment you guys put in to get these undetermines out of
the inventories!
Niek.
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| | | | | Author: | cosmicray | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2021 11:22 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| In Catalog Identification, janzenroth writes:
A long time ago, when variations first began to be popular (which may be the
wrong word), I suggested that there should be an parent (or umbrella) catalog
entry for each group of variants. It would own all the variants, but it
would not represent any single variation itself, but by searching within the
parent, you would see color/price/etc results for all the variations beneath
it. Or you could search within a specific variation, if you had specific needs.
Nita Rae
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| | | | | | | Author: | Brick.Door | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2021 12:12 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 38 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| In Catalog Identification, cosmicray writes:
| | In Catalog Identification, janzenroth writes:
A long time ago, when variations first began to be popular (which may be the
wrong word), I suggested that there should be an parent (or umbrella) catalog
entry for each group of variants. It would own all the variants, but it
would not represent any single variation itself, but by searching within the
parent, you would see color/price/etc results for all the variations beneath
it. Or you could search within a specific variation, if you had specific needs.
Nita Rae
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The way to implement this would be as a new field in the catalog entry for "variant".
It would be similar to the color field. You could add the part to your want list
with variant=blank (which would search for all versions) or could specify the
individual variant(s). Store inventory would also either have the field blank
(could be any variant) or specified if the seller has confirmed.
This would also be a better way to handle stickered pieces. Add to the catalog
with the item number, and specify the sticker in the variant field. It would
then be easier for sellers listing cheap/unpopular stickered parts to sell them
to someone looking for the undecorated version.
Sadly I don't think we will ever see such an improvement due to the programming
and catalog work involved.
Adding an indicator to the item description is a good idea. When listing used
pieces I try to always check the catalog page to see whether there is an entry
for "similar items" and make sure I have the variant correct. If there were an
indicator in the description it would save time because I would know which items
don't need to be looked up.
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | janzenroth | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2021 13:50 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| I agree that the catalog page is very easy to see the related items.
The places that I find that I would like to see a note about variants with the
name is when you are updating your inventory, parting out a set, or when you
are printing an invoice to gather an order. These are the places where I can
possible make a mistake since I was unaware of a variant.
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| | | | | Author: | Teup | | Posted: | Aug 19, 2021 16:14 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| In Catalog Identification, janzenroth writes:
| | As a seller I like to be accurate with variations that I sell.
When there are variations of the same part, I wonder in the future if it would
make sense to change some descriptions to describe the part or to include some
indication that a part has similar mold types. After selling for a couple of
years I am getting pretty good at knowing which parts have variations, but it
was not so when I first started.
For example I would suggest adding the description "with square corners" to part
2346 to distinguish it from it's related items. I would also suggest that
all parts with related items or similar molds have a simple description in
its title to suggest that there similar items to check. I am not sure what this
would look like but maybe something like "***Variatons Exist (3)***" at the end
to help the seller check to make sure they are including the right variation
if this is something both the buyer and seller are looking for. I think this
may help create less errors when selling items in the future. I think it would
also help in the case where there are variations which are not distinguished
and help buyers be aware that they could replace a part with a similar variation
if it does not affect their build.
I know that this would be little frustrating as a catalog person, since the introduction
of a new part (28802) would probably mean you should change the description of
2436b to say "4 rounded corners". That is why if a simple indicator at the end
that there are variations might be the most helpful. I can honestly admit that
I didn't even know that part 28802 existed prior to wanted to write this
post!!
This would help since some items have related parts while others do not. Another
example is this part which has two related items:
Whereas this part only has the one version.
Any thoughts?
Early in my selling I may have got an order for 4865 and did not know there were
variations and would ship the wrong part only to have a disappointed buyer on
the other end.
Evan
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Good point, and I think it would be a great etiquette if variant descriptions
were always mutually exclusive. So, if it would say "square corners" vs "rounded
corners" then those are mutually exclusive names, while the one being called
"rounded corners" and the other having no mention of the corners, is not mutually
exclusive.
I think at least half of my inventory inaccuracies over the years can be traced
back to this issue. If LEGO invents a new version of a part and I had not noticed
it, and someone orders the old variant, I could pick the new one and never know
about it, because the description of the original variant does not exclude the
properties of the new one. Several times I've found myself learning about
the existence variants after I had already been selling them for some time.
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| | | | | | | Author: | janzenroth | | Posted: | Aug 22, 2021 00:09 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 32 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| I really agree about the importance of the names being mutual exclusive.
I think there is some cases where the original variant's name changed with
the introduction of a new variant. For example, I think that part 92593 changed
its name to include "without groove" after the introduction of part 41740.
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | randyf | | Posted: | Aug 22, 2021 01:37 | | Subject: | Re: Variations | | Viewed: | 34 times | | Topic: | Catalog Identification | |
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| In Catalog Identification, janzenroth writes:
| | I really agree about the importance of the names being mutual exclusive.
I think there is some cases where the original variant's name changed with
the introduction of a new variant. For example, I think that part 92593 changed
its name to include "without groove" after the introduction of part 41740.
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If the new part variant is caught immediately when it is first released, then
the old catalog entry can be updated to be mutually exclusive from the new part
variant when it gets added. The above parts fit this situation, and many recent
variants have been caught immediately by our awesome inventory contributors.
The problem with many of the part variants in the past is that they were caught
years after being released. In those case, the new part variants were given new
entries, but many of the old catalog entries were left as is and not split properly.
The reason those parts need to be split properly into old variant entries and
new variant entries is due to the fact that sellers' inventories are now
all mixed up with multiple variants under the old catalog entries. If we would
just change the old catalog entries to suddenly be very specific variants, then
sellers' inventories would be wrong in many cases. We do not want that.
Here is how a proper part variant split was done:
* | | 44301 Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 1 Finger on End (Undetermined Type)
Parts: Hinge |
* | | 44301a Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 1 Finger on End with Bottom Groove
Parts: Hinge |
* | | 44301b Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 1 Finger on End without Bottom Groove
Parts: Hinge |
Here is how an improper part variant split was done:
There are a large number of improper part variant splits in the catalog, and
this is something that the catalog admin team would like addressed. Most of these
are listed on this page: https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=940
Like everything else, the catalog admin team just needs to find the time to work
on these among the large number of other things we are always doing.
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