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| | | Author: | Sterra  | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 11:45 | | Subject: | Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 315 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| Got an order from a first time buyer this week.
321 pcs - 71 lots
I have never had so many pieces in an order before and it was very stressful
collecting it all. But I figured that's what I'm here for, right?
The concern I had was that this order cleared out inventory in many pieces of
certain colours. I am trying to maintain a wide variety in my inventory and
this does not help. I try to keep my inventory accurate but I was short on
a couple pieces and needed to look through loose bins waiting to be entered in
order to complete the order. Is this normal for other stores and I just haven't
experienced this before?
Anyone else have this problem or is this an etiquette issue that the buyer should
be made aware of before his second order?
Sandra
TerraBrick
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| | | | | Author: | Stevemac1976 | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 11:58 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 89 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| I have had a few "missing items" when picking orders before and had had to do
the same as you. But at the end of the day, it is down to you to list your items
for sale and 1 buyer could come along and buy everything. You can i think put
limits (high and low) on individual orders but that could restrict who buys from
you.
Steve
In Sales, Sterra writes:
| | Got an order from a first time buyer this week.
321 pcs - 71 lots
I have never had so many pieces in an order before and it was very stressful
collecting it all. But I figured that's what I'm here for, right?
The concern I had was that this order cleared out inventory in many pieces of
certain colours. I am trying to maintain a wide variety in my inventory and
this does not help. I try to keep my inventory accurate but I was short on
a couple pieces and needed to look through loose bins waiting to be entered in
order to complete the order. Is this normal for other stores and I just haven't
experienced this before?
Anyone else have this problem or is this an etiquette issue that the buyer should
be made aware of before his second order?
Sandra
TerraBrick
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| | | | | Author: | SylvainLS | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 12:04 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 80 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| In Sales, Sterra writes:
| | Got an order from a first time buyer this week.
321 pcs - 71 lots
I have never had so many pieces in an order before and it was very stressful
collecting it all. But I figured that's what I'm here for, right?
The concern I had was that this order cleared out inventory in many pieces of
certain colours. I am trying to maintain a wide variety in my inventory and
this does not help. I try to keep my inventory accurate but I was short on
a couple pieces and needed to look through loose bins waiting to be entered in
order to complete the order. Is this normal for other stores and I just haven't
experienced this before?
Anyone else have this problem or is this an etiquette issue that the buyer should
be made aware of before his second order?
Sandra
TerraBrick
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A buyer’s answer:
0. About shorts:
Please, if you don’t find some parts, tell the buyer _before_ sending the package.
They may not care for one or two missing parts or they may really care about
the one missing part because they really really need it and it what made them
buy from you.
1. About limiting:
Why would you want to prevent me from buying what you’re offering?
If you don’t want me to buy them, don’t list them (or use a stockroom).
Lot limits are a pain.
2. About taking entire lots:
One can take all the parts because they are needed.
One can take all the parts because they think it’s rude to leave the seller
with only a couple parts. I certainly think it’s rude to take 9 parts out of
10, leaving the tenth all alone and separated from its old friends!
It also seems logical that taking the entire lot is easier for the seller.
A lot with only 1 or 2 parts is harder to sell. There’s sellers who think
the opposite of you: ‘Why did this buyer took 9/10 parts, leaving me with an
unsellable part?’
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| | | | | Author: | Procook131 | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 12:04 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 65 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| I do not know why, but I get a lot of first time buyers and more often than not
they are large orders in that size range. I have in my terms that it may take
up to three days to pick and ship but I usually pull an order than size in under
an hour, it is more of a disclaimer in case there are a bunch of orders in front
of it. To answer the etiquette part, I would just say that keep the communication
open. Also if you don't have the part, sometimes a refund is the only course
of action, I add a note to the order letting them know and it has worked out
fine everytime.
As you point out, it does reduce your lots but it is (I think) widely accepted
that as you add more parts, you have more orders, and the cycle continues. Selling
gives you more money to buy more Lego and sell more Lego. When I am not adding
as much, my orders go down and when I add they go up. So I'd say get going
on those bins (says the guy with over 100# needed to be inventoried!)lol!
My issue with first time buyers is always feedback, as in I get none. I just
went through my past six months of un-filed orders that are not checked as complete,
and of the eighty or so of them over fifty are new buyers who did not leave me
any feedback. I have a line in my drive thru encouraging feedback and still nothing,
but at least the money is still worth the same!
JDP
In Sales, Sterra writes:
| | Got an order from a first time buyer this week.
321 pcs - 71 lots
I have never had so many pieces in an order before and it was very stressful
collecting it all. But I figured that's what I'm here for, right?
The concern I had was that this order cleared out inventory in many pieces of
certain colours. I am trying to maintain a wide variety in my inventory and
this does not help. I try to keep my inventory accurate but I was short on
a couple pieces and needed to look through loose bins waiting to be entered in
order to complete the order. Is this normal for other stores and I just haven't
experienced this before?
Anyone else have this problem or is this an etiquette issue that the buyer should
be made aware of before his second order?
Sandra
TerraBrick
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| | | | | Author: | peregrinator | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 12:31 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 54 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| In Sales, Sterra writes:
| | The concern I had was that this order cleared out inventory in many pieces of
certain colours. I am trying to maintain a wide variety in my inventory and
this does not help.
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Well, then, you add more parts 
| | I try to keep my inventory accurate but I was short on
a couple pieces and needed to look through loose bins waiting to be entered in
order to complete the order. Is this normal for other stores and I just haven't
experienced this before?
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Totally normal.
| | Anyone else have this problem or is this an etiquette issue that the buyer should
be made aware of before his second order?
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Not sure what you mean - do you mean like asking the buyer to order less?
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| | | | | Author: | macebobo | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 12:40 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 53 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| In Sales, Sterra writes:
| | Got an order from a first time buyer this week.
321 pcs - 71 lots
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My largest ever was 1,635 in 178 lots, but organization is the key to large orders.
| | I have never had so many pieces in an order before and it was very stressful
collecting it all. But I figured that's what I'm here for, right?
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Yes. I completely understand, this is why I got more organized.
What was the source of the stress? Identify that and then come up with a solution
to make you life less stressful.
| | The concern I had was that this order cleared out inventory in many pieces of
certain colours. I am trying to maintain a wide variety in my inventory and
this does not help.
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Is your goal to have the largest inventory on Bricklink or is your goal to
sell Lego? To me, it looks like inventory is your goal and not sales. Sales
give you money to buy more inventory. Having inventory for inventory's sake
just cost you money instead of making you money.
| | I try to keep my inventory accurate but I was short on a couple
pieces and needed to look through loose bins waiting to be entered in
order to complete the order.
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We all make mistakes. Again, evaluate your process and seek out areas that can
be improved.
| | Is this normal for other stores and I just haven't experienced this before?
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Yes, completely normal. Again, we all make mistakes. You will experience it again,
but how you communicate this to the buyer is key. Be open and honest and ask
them to choose what they would like to do from at least 3 options you provide.
| | Anyone else have this problem
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Yes.
| | or is this an etiquette issue that the buyer should be made aware of before his second order?
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I would not purchase a second time if you did this to me, but that is just me.
IMO, there is not anything the buyer did wrong.
Play well,
John
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| | | | | | | Author: | miskox | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 12:58 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 51 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| | | ...but organization is the key to large orders.
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Totaly agree. But to have things organized you need [enough] space to store your
items as best as possible. Maybe Sylvain (1001bricks) can share with us how much
space has his big store.
My apartment (studio) has 36 sq. mt. (~387 sq. ft.) so I can't have many
things.
Saso
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | 1001bricks | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 13:25 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 49 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| In Sales, miskox writes:
| | | | ...but organization is the key to large orders.
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Totaly agree. But to have things organized you need [enough] space to store your
items as best as possible. Maybe Sylvain (1001bricks) can share with us how much
space has his big store.
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Here, all in all (picking, stock reserve, office, servers, production...) maybe
100 sq meter (1076 sq ft)?
Probably 10/20% more because we've bits here and there...
Sylvain
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| | | | | | | | | | | Author: | miskox | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 13:27 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 42 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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This means that you *make* LEGO bricks? Now we all know where you get your inventory
Saso
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | 1001bricks | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 13:53 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 45 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| In Sales, miskox writes:
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This means that you *make* LEGO bricks? Now we all know where you get your inventory
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Yes, we're 3D printing Technic Pins.
It's worth the 35 minutes per Technic pin (and the power bill) 
Prod is the small "office" located within the picking zone, with a PC, tablets,
packaging (cartons, envelopes), postal and counting scales...
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | maxx3001 | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 15:34 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 53 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| In Sales, 1001bricks writes:
| | In Sales, miskox writes:
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This means that you *make* LEGO bricks? Now we all know where you get your inventory
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Yes, we're 3D printing Technic Pins.
It's worth the 35 minutes per Technic pin (and the power bill)
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Better start printing rare 2x4 bricks then, that may make more money 
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Prod is the small "office" located within the picking zone, with a PC, tablets,
packaging (cartons, envelopes), postal and counting scales...
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | miskox | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 15:47 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 55 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| | | Prod is the small "office" located within the picking zone, with a PC, tablets,
packaging (cartons, envelopes), postal and counting scales...
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So you might even have your own ZIP code?
Saso
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | 1001bricks | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 17:39 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 66 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| In Sales, miskox writes:
| | | | Prod is the small "office" located within the picking zone, with a PC, tablets,
packaging (cartons, envelopes), postal and counting scales...
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So you might even have your own ZIP code?
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Arf, I knew this story but about something else
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| | | | | Author: | yorbrick | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 13:08 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 39 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| The buyer has not done anything wrong buying out whole lots. I like it when that
happens!
If you want to maintain a wide inventory, either raise prices or close your store
so that buyers are put off buying your lots, or only list half of what you have
but keep notes about what you have left (extra work). I've never seen the
point of keeping a wide inventory at the expense of fulfilling orders. It is
better to have sold it than keep wanting to try to sell it.
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| | | | | Author: | Sterra | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 13:45 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 63 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| Thank you for your insight. I think I was just surprised more than anything.
I do want sell but I also like to have enough to complete sets as they come
in, so maybe a few in the stockroom is the better plan. That would also save
the panic when inventory is a little off.
I am fairly organized but my storage space is only about 10 sq ft and about 4
ft high. My stress was of making a mistake (forgetting a page, reading the wrong
column, miscounting, being human).
Another question, when you get big orders do you pick them first and then give
a shipping quote? if it doesn't get paid that seems like a lot of extra
work but guessing for weight is a gamble too.
Still Learning,
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| | | | | | | Author: | macebobo | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 14:11 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 72 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| In Sales, Sterra writes:
| | Thank you for your insight. I think I was just surprised more than anything.
I do want sell but I also like to have enough to complete sets as they come
in, so maybe a few in the stockroom is the better plan. That would also save
the panic when inventory is a little off.
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I try not to list all of my inventory for the inevitable mistakes. I leave ~1%
in reserve.
| | I am fairly organized but my storage space is only about 10 sq ft and about 4
ft high. My stress was of making a mistake (forgetting a page, reading the wrong
column, miscounting, being human).
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Ouch on the 40 cubic feet (1.13 cubic meters), you will not be able to grow much
with that little space. For just over 330,000 parts I use about 320 cubic feet
(just a bit over 9 cubic meters) of space for my store, then I have a separate
office and stock rooms for future inventory. This is one nice things about American
homes, not a McMansion by any means, but an older 1909 home with just under 2,000
square feet or 182 square meters.
| | Another question, when you get big orders do you pick them first and then give
a shipping quote? if it doesn't get paid that seems like a lot of extra
work but guessing for weight is a gamble too.
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A majority of my orders are instant pay, if they are not, I wait to pull until
paid. I go by the weight on the order page and know what all my packing material
weighs.
Never stop doing that!
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| | | | | | | Author: | peregrinator | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 16:21 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 36 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| In Sales, Sterra writes:
| | Thank you for your insight. I think I was just surprised more than anything.
I do want sell but I also like to have enough to complete sets as they come
in
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You're probably better off keeping your store inventory and the collection
of bricks you're holding in reserve to complete sets 100% separate. Moving
stuff out of your inventory apart from actual orders is practically begging for
inventory issues.
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| | | | | Author: | calebfishn | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 14:51 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 57 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| In Sales, Sterra writes:
| | Got an order from a first time buyer this week.
321 pcs - 71 lots
I have never had so many pieces in an order before and it was very stressful
collecting it all. But I figured that's what I'm here for, right?
The concern I had was that this order cleared out inventory in many pieces of
certain colours. I am trying to maintain a wide variety in my inventory and
this does not help. I try to keep my inventory accurate but I was short on
a couple pieces and needed to look through loose bins waiting to be entered in
order to complete the order. Is this normal for other stores and I just haven't
experienced this before?
Anyone else have this problem or is this an etiquette issue that the buyer should
be made aware of before his second order?
Sandra
TerraBrick
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1. If picking that order is very stressful, you should work on your organization,
so that you can locate parts more efficiently and quickly.
2. I am happy when buyers clear out lots.
3. It happens some times that you can't locate a part. When that happens,
I do what you did, which is to find the part so that I can complete the order.
However, problems locating parts may be another indicator that you need to work
on your organization.
4. This is not really a big problem. Get organized. Work on your storage and
retrieval system, (analyze what exactly is slowing you down, and stopping you
from finding parts). Hopefully, the buyer will return for another order. I don't
see a reason to tell the buyer about your internal challenges; just fill the
order and send it.
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| | | | | Author: | Sadler_Bricks | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 16:23 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| Its normal one suggestion is keep adding inventory and better location of parts.
Sadler_bricks
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| | | | | Author: | hedgehog_bricks | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 16:49 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| The biggest order that I've had was 315 lots. It took a long time to pick
that (well over an hour)!
When I get a significant order like that, I will contact the buyer and explain
that it might take a little longer than usual to pack the order.
I have a maximum lot limit of 500 lots and at least GBP 0.30 per lot average.
I introduced the lot average after I had an order for 1 or 2 each of over 100
lots - it took half an hour to pick and netted me less than GBP 1 "profit".
In my view, if you offer things for sale then it's reasonable that someone
could come along and buy up everything. To counter this, I work out which parts
sell frequently and prioritise my buying for sets that fill the gaps. Even so,
there are certain parts that I just can't get enough of like 1x2 dark gray
tiles, which sell like hot cakes!
Missing parts do happen. I always notify the buyer before shipping the order
and give them some options: refund for the parts that are missing, cancel the
whole order (they might have ordered from me specifically for those parts!),
wait for me to source the parts and ship when I have them, or substitute from
my private collection.
Jonathan
Hedgehog Bricks
In Sales, Sterra writes:
| | Got an order from a first time buyer this week.
321 pcs - 71 lots
I have never had so many pieces in an order before and it was very stressful
collecting it all. But I figured that's what I'm here for, right?
The concern I had was that this order cleared out inventory in many pieces of
certain colours. I am trying to maintain a wide variety in my inventory and
this does not help. I try to keep my inventory accurate but I was short on
a couple pieces and needed to look through loose bins waiting to be entered in
order to complete the order. Is this normal for other stores and I just haven't
experienced this before?
Anyone else have this problem or is this an etiquette issue that the buyer should
be made aware of before his second order?
Sandra
TerraBrick
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| | | | | Author: | Tracyd | | Posted: | Jul 12, 2022 17:02 | | Subject: | Re: Is this Normal or should I say something | | Viewed: | 68 times | | Topic: | Sales | |
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| In Sales, Sterra writes:
| | Got an order from a first time buyer this week.
321 pcs - 71 lots
I have never had so many pieces in an order before and it was very stressful
collecting it all. But I figured that's what I'm here for, right?
The concern I had was that this order cleared out inventory in many pieces of
certain colours. I am trying to maintain a wide variety in my inventory and
this does not help. I try to keep my inventory accurate but I was short on
a couple pieces and needed to look through loose bins waiting to be entered in
order to complete the order. Is this normal for other stores and I just haven't
experienced this before?
Anyone else have this problem or is this an etiquette issue that the buyer should
be made aware of before his second order?
Sandra
TerraBrick
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I will buy out whole lots of parts for the following:
1: I always need more of them.
2: I am attempting to maximize my order to justify shipping costs.
3: Because I hate leaving 1-3 parts for you to keep track of.
Ideally your counts are right and you can just pull and go and it shouldn't
be an issue. If you part counts are this far off you need to take a physical
inventory and be more careful pulling and stocking. Before anyone thinks I don't
know what I'm saying because I am not a seller I have almost 15 years experience
in physical inventory and inventory control. In a closed environment like your(no
customers to steal or lose your product) the errors are yours. You need to
try to figure out what you did and how to stop it in the future. Most likely
you rushed and made a simple error. But it will compound and make things worse
in the future. Good luck and don't worry about your lot counts just keep
growing. Lot limits infuriate me as again see reason #2 up there. Sometimes
a seller doesn't have a lot but the price is good or I see them in the forums
and they are trying to be a good seller. But if they limit me and I can't
justify what I am getting for the shipping price I won't buy there.
Good luck,
TracyD
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