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| | | Author: | toyboy18  | | Posted: | Jan 3, 2024 18:43 | | Subject: | Sets advertised as "Complete" are missing pcs | | Viewed: | 134 times | | Topic: | Problem Order | |
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| Hello Bricklink Community,
This situation has happened to me several times over the years and have been
hesitant to speak up because this site is too important.
There are sets that sellers advertise as 'Complete', not missing any
parts, but when the package arrives, there are indeed missing parts. Sometimes,
it's just one part, some times it is several. Sometimes, it's a mild
irritation, and other times it prevents the set from being completed.
I just ordered 3 sets from 3 different stores and 2 of them shipped with missing
parts despite the 'complete' status on the initial listing. (The 3rd
order was flawless).
In the past, I followed up with some of the sellers and they endeavored to fix
the matter, but it's happened enough, I don't have time to follow up
with everyone.
My question for the community: has this happened to others? Am I just unlucky?
What gives?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Toyboy18
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| | | | | Author: | rab1234 | | Posted: | Jan 3, 2024 19:39 | | Subject: | Re: Sets advertised as "Complete" are missing pcs | | Viewed: | 60 times | | Topic: | Problem Order | |
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| I assume that you’re referring to used sets that are missing parts. Unfortunately,
completing a used set as a seller is an extremely manual process. There are a
number of different ways that sellers confirm inventory, but nothing foolproof.
The best that could be done is to count and recount multiple times. Unfortunately,
this adds a lot of time. Especially on say a 1,000 part set.
Let’s just run with a 1,000 part set that sells for $100 as an example. If it
came in a used bin of 25 pounds, it probably took 2.5 hours or maybe more to
pull the parts and inventory the set. Let’s assume a cost of $25. Seller ends
up paying another $5 in PayPal and BL fees. So now you’re down to $70 profit
on 2 and a half hours work. Reverifying 1,000 parts takes roughly 30 minutes.
So if you take the time to double check (which doesn’t guarantee no mistakes),
you’ve just given yourself an 18% pay cut.
It’s better to try to be accurate the first time and have that 1/20 mistake that
can hopefully be corrected by sending the one or 2 missing parts after the fact.
And hopefully not run into a feedback extorter like I did the one time I was
missing a couple 1x2 bricks. 
In Problem Order, toyboy18 writes:
| | Hello Bricklink Community,
This situation has happened to me several times over the years and have been
hesitant to speak up because this site is too important.
There are sets that sellers advertise as 'Complete', not missing any
parts, but when the package arrives, there are indeed missing parts. Sometimes,
it's just one part, some times it is several. Sometimes, it's a mild
irritation, and other times it prevents the set from being completed.
I just ordered 3 sets from 3 different stores and 2 of them shipped with missing
parts despite the 'complete' status on the initial listing. (The 3rd
order was flawless).
In the past, I followed up with some of the sellers and they endeavored to fix
the matter, but it's happened enough, I don't have time to follow up
with everyone.
My question for the community: has this happened to others? Am I just unlucky?
What gives?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Toyboy18
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| | | | | Author: | 1001bricks | | Posted: | Jan 3, 2024 20:02 | | Subject: | Re: Sets advertised as "Complete" are missing pcs | | Viewed: | 53 times | | Topic: | Problem Order | |
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| | | My question for the community: has this happened to others? Am I just unlucky?
What gives?
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Error is human, and picking, counting, checking parts is often unhuman.
Note that you also COULD have lost some parts in your carpet, or in the packaging.
I've got few buyers which wrote me later "Ooops, I've found them".
If it seems a real error, talk with the seller, try to get a reshipping or a
refund of those?
If it's 20 cents lost, then, sincerely I wouldn't care.
But if it's a scam (missing Minifigures in a Star Wars) or such:
* NSS Alert
* PayPal claim
* Negative feedback
* and REPORT the shop (see: Problem Center)
In short: do not expect perfection - it's "easy" to make a computer
Wanted-List or click "Buy", while preparing an order or an Used Complete
Set is an human activity.
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| | | | | Author: | yorbrick | | Posted: | Jan 4, 2024 04:04 | | Subject: | Re: Sets advertised as "Complete" are missing pcs | | Viewed: | 62 times | | Topic: | Problem Order | |
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| 2 out of 3 is probably too small a sample to say anything. But if it happens
20 out of 30, then I'd say you are buying from the wrong sellers. Do the
sellers have any comments about this in Feedback, do they say anything about
what they do about it in their terms, do they have much history here? Do they
list as complete but have comments about condition or missing parts?
Also are these missing parts missing from the list of pieces in the BL inventory
for the set, or missing from the parts needed to build the set? As for used sets,
there is a difference. A used, complete set does not need to have all the parts
listed in the inventory, just the parts necessary to build the set and any alternative
models in the instructions.
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| | | | | | | Author: | zorbanj | | Posted: | Jan 4, 2024 12:42 | | Subject: | Re: Sets advertised as "Complete" are missing pcs | | Viewed: | 40 times | | Topic: | Problem Order | |
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| In Problem Order, yorbrick writes:
| |
Also are these missing parts missing from the list of pieces in the BL inventory
for the set, or missing from the parts needed to build the set? As for used sets,
there is a difference. A used, complete set does not need to have all the parts
listed in the inventory, just the parts necessary to build the set and any alternative
models in the instructions.
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Used set sellers should also be mindful of:
(1) Sets redesigned during production. Examples are sets 6386 and 6394. The redesigns
resulted in slightly different inventories. I either include the parts for both
the original and the redesign or note which version I am selling.
(2) Parts used for stickers. For example, set 6379 lists 13 1x3 white bricks,
but 3 of these are used for the horse logo sticker. I received an irate message
from a buyer that 3 1x3 white bricks were missing and I had to point out that
there are 3 more for the sticker.
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | SylvainLS | | Posted: | Jan 4, 2024 12:50 | | Subject: | Re: Sets advertised as "Complete" are missing pcs | | Viewed: | 34 times | | Topic: | Problem Order | |
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| In Problem Order, zorbanj writes:
| | […]
Used set sellers should also be mindful of:
(1) Sets redesigned during production. Examples are sets 6386 and 6394. The redesigns
resulted in slightly different inventories. I either include the parts for both
the original and the redesign or note which version I am selling.
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And if you provide instructions, check they match 
| | (2) Parts used for stickers. For example, set 6379 lists 13 1x3 white bricks,
but 3 of these are used for the horse logo sticker. I received an irate message
from a buyer that 3 1x3 white bricks were missing and I had to point out that
there are 3 more for the sticker.
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Yeah, that’s a problem with counterparts in BL inventories: there’s no link between
the counterparts and the regular parts.
(It’s also a problem in Studio: it imports both (when they are available) and
you end up with too many parts. Even worse when there’s alternates in counterparts.)
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| | | | | Author: | toyboy18 | | Posted: | Jan 8, 2024 16:04 | | Subject: | Re: Sets advertised as "Complete" are missing pcs | | Viewed: | 45 times | | Topic: | Problem Order | |
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| Hello All,
I do appreciate the time you took to reply and discuss this comment.
As a follow up, and to clarify some of the points raised:
1) These are used sets that are ADVERTISED AS COMPLETE
2) FWIW, my definition of complete means that the set can be put together; ie
if an instruction says to say, put a 1x2 tile of a specific color on a certain
part of the build, than said piece would be in the package. (I don't focus
on extra parts, those are nice to have, but not needed for 'complete' .
3) I have been a member of this site for at least a decade and have made a lot
of purchases. And this happens more frequently than it should. It's more
than 2 out of 3, it's about 50% of my purchases over 10 years; it's 66%
in the last 30 days.
4) I focus on certain sets and not necessarily on the seller.
5) I'm very careful about parting out all the pieces to facilitate the build
- none of them get lost in the carpet; we don't even have a carpet in our
house.
6) Some sellers do disclose when specific pieces are missing. But the ones
that have screwed me over did not disclose it, and if something is advertised
as complete, then why should I have to check on that? Shouldn't there be
enough integrity in the marketplace?
The bottom line is this: If you're a seller, and you're selling a set
that may not be complete as defined above, then don't advertise it as complete.
As a small business owner myself, I can certainly appreciate when there are tasks
that drain one's time, such as parting out a set prior to posting and/or
sending it. My problem isn't that there are incomplete sets on Bricklink,
my problem is that sets advertised as complete without any other disclosure are
not in fact complete.
If you're going to be in business, you need to have some honesty and integrity
in your advertisements. Such behavior damages the entire marketplace. I wouldn't
treat my customers the way some of these sellers have treated me.
I'm also noting that only sellers have responded to this post, no buyers.
And the sellers that did reply have been pretty defensive and seemed to be putting
the blame on the buyer. To me, this is indicative of a larger systemic problem
on the marketplace.
If you guys actually care about the long term viability of Bricklink, and your
own stores, this problem should be raising serious alarm bells. There are some
sellers on this site that are making you guys look bad.
As a life long fan of Lego, I'm not going anywhere; I chalk this up to another
one of life's annoyances. But surely there will one day be a buyer that
gets pissed enough to raise enough of a stink that makes real problems such that
Lego itself will get involved and shut this thing down. I hope that never happens.
I wish you the best for 2024.
Sincerely,
Toyboy18
In Problem Order, toyboy18 writes:
| | Hello Bricklink Community,
This situation has happened to me several times over the years and have been
hesitant to speak up because this site is too important.
There are sets that sellers advertise as 'Complete', not missing any
parts, but when the package arrives, there are indeed missing parts. Sometimes,
it's just one part, some times it is several. Sometimes, it's a mild
irritation, and other times it prevents the set from being completed.
I just ordered 3 sets from 3 different stores and 2 of them shipped with missing
parts despite the 'complete' status on the initial listing. (The 3rd
order was flawless).
In the past, I followed up with some of the sellers and they endeavored to fix
the matter, but it's happened enough, I don't have time to follow up
with everyone.
My question for the community: has this happened to others? Am I just unlucky?
What gives?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Toyboy18
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| | | | | | | Author: | SylvainLS | | Posted: | Jan 8, 2024 16:57 | | Subject: | Re: Sets advertised as "Complete" are missing pcs | | Viewed: | 56 times | | Topic: | Problem Order | |
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| In Problem Order, toyboy18 writes:
| | […]
3) I have been a member of this site for at least a decade
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I would even say very close to 14 years
| | […]
The bottom line is this: If you're a seller, and you're selling a set
that may not be complete as defined above, then don't advertise it as complete.
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Well, that’s what BrickLink’s listing policies say too.
| | […]
I'm also noting that only sellers have responded to this post, no buyers.
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Mostly sellers read and answer here, especially on transaction issues. Then,
buyers only (like me) may not buy Used sets (I haven’t), so that makes fewer
of them keen to answer.
| | And the sellers that did reply have been pretty defensive and seemed to be putting
the blame on the buyer. To me, this is indicative of a larger systemic problem
on the marketplace.
|
They often do. Everyone sees with their own eyes. Sellers will obviously have
a propency to place themselves in the seller’s shoes.
Sellers all have “war stories” about buyers complaining loudly about things that
they misundertood or parts they themselves lost (carpet…) and so on.
There’s also a “natural” tendency to balance strong / one-sided views and wanting
to show the other side.
What can be done is giving appropriate feedback and reporting problems (NSS…).
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| | | | | Author: | SezaR | | Posted: | Jan 8, 2024 17:15 | | Subject: | Re: Sets advertised as "Complete" are missing pcs | | Viewed: | 64 times | | Topic: | Problem Order | |
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| I have sold many used complete sets. I checked them twice. Once when I check
and list set for sale, and one more time when it is sold and I have to ship it.
Still, I make mistakes and they happen more often than I like to. Of course,
I fix issues if buyer contact me.
If you test yourself by checking the inventory of 100 sets yourself, meaning
you sit down, look at the parts, check the quantity, the condition, the color,
functionality of electric parts, stickers, (sometimes) correct variation of parts,....how
many of those 100 sets would you check 100% accurately? I think if you do this
imaginary test, you would be surprised by your final result!
In Problem Order, toyboy18 writes:
| | Hello Bricklink Community,
This situation has happened to me several times over the years and have been
hesitant to speak up because this site is too important.
There are sets that sellers advertise as 'Complete', not missing any
parts, but when the package arrives, there are indeed missing parts. Sometimes,
it's just one part, some times it is several. Sometimes, it's a mild
irritation, and other times it prevents the set from being completed.
I just ordered 3 sets from 3 different stores and 2 of them shipped with missing
parts despite the 'complete' status on the initial listing. (The 3rd
order was flawless).
In the past, I followed up with some of the sellers and they endeavored to fix
the matter, but it's happened enough, I don't have time to follow up
with everyone.
My question for the community: has this happened to others? Am I just unlucky?
What gives?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Toyboy18
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USA, Maryland
France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
United Kingdom, England
Canada, British Columbia