Bricklink/BrickOwl - Discussion, questions, & answers

[2x4]

Ok- here's my next question- how do you unload your technic pins? I've had a fair # of sales at this point, and I don't think I've sold a single one. Wondering what common practices are?

[supergman]

I don't sell a ton of stuff on BL, but just got an order for 108 polybags, yet only have 20 of them.  I have noticed a few other orders and what almost seems like bugs whereby folks can order products that I don't even have listed for sale.  Had one a few weeks ago for a balloon cart poly - I have never even owned one, and even checked archival stock database, in the instance of it being inputted as a mistake, wasn't there.  Anyone else ever see this?

[DadsAFOL]

I don't sell a ton of stuff on BL, but just got an order for 108 polybags, yet only have 20 of them.  I have noticed a few other orders and what almost seems like bugs whereby folks can order products that I don't even have listed for sale.  Had one a few weeks ago for a balloon cart poly - I have never even owned one, and even checked archival stock database, in the instance of it being inputted as a mistake, wasn't there.  Anyone else ever see this?

People have brought this up for as long as I've been around.  No one has ever actually proven a bug.  It's usually traced back to human error on adding or editing inventory.  There may be a bug, but no one has figured it out.

[supergman]

People have brought this up for as long as I've been around.  No one has ever actually proven a bug.  It's usually traced back to human error on adding or editing inventory.  There may be a bug, but no one has figured it out.

Haha, yeah, no surprise by any means.  Makes me wonder but I'm certainly not losing my mind....yet.

[thoroakenfelder]

Ok- here's my next question- how do you unload your technic pins? I've had a fair # of sales at this point, and I don't think I've sold a single one. Wondering what common practices are?

One of my most recent orders included around 200 assorted technic pins. I was shocked. I guess I just had enough other technic pieces that someone wanted

[Thumper]

Ok- here's my next question- how do you unload your technic pins? I've had a fair # of sales at this point, and I don't think I've sold a single one. Wondering what common practices are?

Technic, much like duplo and bio/hf, are a niche market... you need to have an abundance of different parts to capture the interest of the builders - then things will move in bubbles as they fill up maximized shipping usages.  come for the gears/beams & take the pins while you're at it since you're paying for shipping anyway.

Pins are just one of those things you don't ever need to put on-sale (they have no draw in themselves) everyone has them in great quantity & they're a non-cost item in the big picture.

I once filled an order of 100 beams, a few dozen miscellaneous gear lots & 8,000 pins.

(they don't take up much space so just keep holding them. 'course items like these, if nothing else, are the biggest justification for buying a really good counting scale!)

Edited August 10, 2015 by Thumper

[river41]

is there any way to have the items i placed a order for automatically removed from my wanted list?

[redghostx]

is there any way to have the items i placed a order for automatically removed from my wanted list?

Personally, I create a new list for all ordered items, or a sublist - example 10190 Market Street and 10190 Ordered Items so that when the items are actually delivered, you can delete them.  This is valuable when you are working on multiple projects and when you receive the wrong order (happens to me about 10% of the time, particularly with gray pieces).  If you want to delete them right away, there is a link to go to the ordered items compared to wanted list from the order page (the screen immediately after you agree to the order and select a payment method), you can use the select all to delete the items from your wanted lists on the spot.

[DadsAFOL]

If you are maintaining a wanted list over days or weeks, I find it easier to use BrickStock. You can save you files offline from bricklink and upload a new wanted list as needed. In BrickStock, you can import an order and subtract the quantity from your master list with the click of a button. The one problem with the manual edit screen on BL is it doesn't show you how many you ordered. So if it's less than you needed, you have to flip between windows to confirm the correct amount to reduce.

[Alpinemaps]

If you are maintaining a wanted list over days or weeks, I find it easier to use BrickStock. You can save you files offline from bricklink and upload a new wanted list as needed. In BrickStock, you can import an order and subtract the quantity from your master list with the click of a button. The one problem with the manual edit screen on BL is it doesn't show you how many you ordered. So if it's less than you needed, you have to flip between windows to confirm the correct amount to reduce.

I'm going to check out BrickStock.  I've got a great workflow worked out for BL, but what annoys me is that i have a ton of want lists going, and when I'm trying to focus on just a couple at a time, I've got to weed through them all.

For example, I've got four things I'm actively searching for parts on right now, mostly from my own bulk, but, when I'm done with that, I'll switch to buying from BL stores.  Meanwhile, I've got a bunch of other sets that I have in mind - things I want to piece together (like Comic Con Exclusives), but I'm not dealing with those right now.  Or putting together a Grand Carousel.  I don't want to lose the inventory, but wish I didn't have to comb through the stuff I need and don't need all at the same time.

I'll definitely check this out.

[DadsAFOL]

I'm going to check out BrickStock.  I've got a great workflow worked out for BL, but what annoys me is that i have a ton of want lists going, and when I'm trying to focus on just a couple at a time, I've got to weed through them all.

For example, I've got four things I'm actively searching for parts on right now, mostly from my own bulk, but, when I'm done with that, I'll switch to buying from BL stores.  Meanwhile, I've got a bunch of other sets that I have in mind - things I want to piece together (like Comic Con Exclusives), but I'm not dealing with those right now.  Or putting together a Grand Carousel.  I don't want to lose the inventory, but wish I didn't have to comb through the stuff I need and don't need all at the same time.

I'll definitely check this out.

The other thing I do is add multiple wanted lists in BL.  So lets say I'm searching my primary wanted list to complete a set.  if I find a store that has what I need, I'll check my secondary wanted lists before I check out to see if they have anything I want, so I can minimize getting separate shipping charges on separate orders.

And if you've never tried it, try using the Brick Wizard (thebrickwizard.com).  It can take your BrickStock wanted list, and find you the best combination of stores to get the lowest price for everything on your list.  Works best if you have <20 items you need.  Otherwise the computations get astronomical.

[tacsniper]

When using BrickStock, is it possible to have it auto number in the remarks section. Also, is it possible for BrickStock to tell me if I already have an existing lot with the same elements so I can group them together as we put the bricks away?

[Guest betsy805]

Can someone tell me what bricksync's 'critical' message is?  I keep trying to load bricksync but keep getting kicked out.  Thanks!  

[thoroakenfelder]

I've been having a lot of trouble with Bricklink lately. Today the new search feature where it shows the for sale stuff when I look at the catalogue entry was totally gone, the search function was randomly switching to Help topics from catalogue or for sale, and many times lately, when I click on a picture to enlarge it, I get an error in the new window.

[2x4]

Been having trouble with bricklink mass updates. When I reprice everything and edit all of my tier prices, bricklink insists that my price of .08 cents is lower than my tier 1 price of .07 cents.

[redghostx]

I hope that someone can direct me to the right place. I need to order approximately 20 pieces for a set and want to use 2 sellers, if possible. What site can I enter the pieces into and have it calculate how many sellers I need. This has been asked and answered but I can't find a thread with the required information.

 

Thanks!

[Guest brickcrazyhouse]

My Brick link, wanted list, by shop

Edited August 31, 2015 by brickcrazyhouse

[redghostx]

My Brick link, wanted list, by shop

I am looking for a site that isn't brick link. The problem is that most stores only carry half of my items at once and there is a way to determine how many bricklink sellers is optimum for your wanted list, I just forget what site or program tells me how many BL sellers I need to use.

[2x4]

The two that I know of are brickficiency and thebrickwizard. Google either and their respective site should come up.

[redghostx]

The two that I know of are brickficiency and thebrickwizard. Google either and their respective site should come up.

That is what I was looking for; thanks.

[Cashmoney-0]

I don't want to ask any of the full-time bricklinkers how much they make a year, but out of curiosity, how many hours a week and what are the yearly earnings of the average full-time bricklinker? I know answers can vary, but just wanted to have an idea. 

[DadsAFOL]

I don't want to ask any of the full-time bricklinkers how much they make a year, but out of curiosity, how many hours a week and what are the yearly earnings of the average full-time bricklinker? I know answers can vary, but just wanted to have an idea. 

So you don't want to ask but then you asked?  I'm up to about 3.5 full time employees to support about 800-900 orders a month.  It's a LOT of labor to keep a high volume store running.  

[Brickbuilder.g]

So you don't want to ask but then you asked?  I'm up to about 3.5 full time employees to support about 800-900 orders a month.  It's a LOT of labor to keep a high volume store running.  

do you have a warehouse?

[2x4]

This question begets so many more questions. DADS is probably one of, if not the highest volume shop out there. (Congratulations BTW) But it's interesting to hear how much goes into running a shop that size.

So what I'd love to know is A: where do you find all those bricks? And B: how much time is spent parting sets? I find I'm still spending most of my time parting sets. At just over 20,000 pieces, I find I'm still mostly getting "weekend only" orders which are easily and quickly filled.

I also know I need to spend more time than I am on the accounting part of things, as that will likely bite me at some point...

[justafrog]

I don't want to ask any of the full-time bricklinkers how much they make a year, but out of curiosity, how many hours a week and what are the yearly earnings of the average full-time bricklinker? I know answers can vary, but just wanted to have an idea. 

I have no idea what the "average full time bricklinker" makes. I know what we make and I'm not telling.

My husband and I put in about 70 or so hours per week between the two of us, we have two part time employees who put in about 10 or 15 hours per week (one of those we'll be increasing hours for soon). We make enough to stay beforehand with our bills and enjoy some of the elegancies of life. We anticipate our income going up over the next three years. We do not anticipate the ability to purchase a cozy summer place in the Seychelles.

Our "warehouse" is a 15 x 30 (I think) storage unit where we spend between 2 and 4 hours per day. Our sorting room is our dining room, where we never dine. Our office is in our bedroom where we have two computer work stations and a king-sized bed that our 3 Chihuahuas graciously allow us to share with them.

I've never liked working for other people so when I've had the choice I don't, but most people with a marketable education or some kind of skilled labor would easily be able to make as much as we do and many could make more. Being able to coddle my middle-aged white woman minor health issues, take an afternoon nap anytime I want, and basically organize my schedule however I like so long as I put in enough hours each week, makes the enterprise very worth it to me and has since I was a young stay at home mom with a used book business on eBay.