Bricklink/BrickOwl - Discussion, questions, & answers

[Makowiak]

Thanks for all the messages and feedback everyone, truly appreciated! I'll be working on my feedback score first, seems like that's what is most important at this point. At the same time focusing on customer service and expanding my inventory and selection.

[2x4]

That's interesting to hear the specifics of the Canadian market.

It seems as though US buyers do care a lot more about prices... I've added almost another 10,000 in parts since mid-December (parting out my lego shop purchases) and still BL is silent. I'm starting to get concerned.

[tacsniper]

Does anyone know if I can add minifigures from brand new sets that has not been inventory yet? Or can I only list parts that has been inventory?

[2x4]

You can list parts by the individual piece, but if that exact fig isn't in another set or otherwise already inventoried I don't think you can.

[Victorymike18]

7 hours ago, 2x4 said:

That's interesting to hear the specifics of the Canadian market.

It seems as though US buyers do care a lot more about prices... I've added almost another 10,000 in parts since mid-December (parting out my lego shop purchases) and still BL is silent. I'm starting to get concerned.

I'd guess people are going to be short on extra funds for a couple of months as they're paying off the holiday bills.

[Zelgazra]

If it's any consolation to the BL sellers commenting on the downturn in sales...

From my buyer's perspective, I've just been too busy in December to work on my Wanted List projects. Often it means sorting and developing a few more wanted lists to make a worthwhile sized order, and I just haven't had time to go through my bulk bins the past few weeks. And so my 15-20 current wanted lists sit in limbo. Maybe it's just me, but I would hazard a guess that lots of other BL buyers have been in the same boat. Or like Mike said there, just tapped out on funds in general can be an issue! 

[Val-E]

I think that until they make the shipping price visible by default on every ad (at least for sets) they are flogging a dead horse. On Amazon and Ebay you can see at a glance the total hit you are going to take.

[thoroakenfelder]

4 hours ago, valenciaeric said:

I think that until they make the shipping price visible by default on every ad (at least for sets) they are flogging a dead horse. On Amazon and Ebay you can see at a glance the total hit you are going to take.

yeah, waiting to find out that they're going to charge you $6 in shipping on $5 worth of parts is irritating.

[minicoopers11]

5 hours ago, valenciaeric said:

I think that until they make the shipping price visible by default on every ad (at least for sets) they are flogging a dead horse. On Amazon and Ebay you can see at a glance the total hit you are going to take.

No doubt. One positive is you can request quotes after placing items in your cart (if the store enabled the quote option). I simply don't buy from stores that don't enable the quote option. Some use it when they buy from me, some don't. It's a decent system. Brickowl has done it better though.

[Alpinemaps]

Just curious - why don't you guys look at the weight in your cart, and compare it to the shipping rates on the store's "Store Terms" page?

I just double checked in my store, and it works in there, even for sets.  I always check the Store Terms before I even think about buying anything.  It may not necessarily be perfect, but it certainly gives me a very close, rough idea of what to expect as far as weight of parts (or sets), and then postage costs and any additional fees.

I always do that before I even start with a store, just to get an idea of what to expect.  I've put in about 25 orders over the last 6 weeks, and so far, nothing has been terribly off.  Usually it's right on or a l little less than I expect.

Edit to add:  Doing it that way doesn't require requesting a quote for the parts/sets either.

Edited December 30, 2015 by Alpinemaps

[Phil B]

16 minutes ago, Alpinemaps said:

Just curious - why don't you guys look at the weight in your cart, and compare it to the shipping rates on the store's "Store Terms" page?

I just double checked in my store, and it works in there, even for sets.  I always check the Store Terms before I even think about buying anything.  It may not necessarily be perfect, but it certainly gives me a very close, rough idea of what to expect as far as weight of parts (or sets), and then postage costs and any additional fees.

I always do that before I even start with a store, just to get an idea of what to expect.  I've put in about 25 orders over the last 6 weeks, and so far, nothing has been terribly off.  Usually it's right on or a l little less than I expect.

Edit to add:  Doing it that way doesn't require requesting a quote for the parts/sets either.

Amen. I do exactly the same. Go to the store, open terms page, check shipping fees and handling fees (and minimum purchase amount!), factor those into my calculations when comparing with different shop, buy where total seems lowest.

[Val-E]

Sets have volumetric shipping as the box is always bigger than the weight - see town hall. Loose bricks are usually weight based unless you buy helicopter rotors or something big and light. That´s the issue with BL - you should be able to put a price on an individual set and basta....

[Alpinemaps]

12 minutes ago, valenciaeric said:

Sets have volumetric shipping as the box is always bigger than the weight - see town hall. Loose bricks are usually weight based unless you buy helicopter rotors or something big and light. That´s the issue with BL - you should be able to put a price on an individual set and basta....

That's a good point.  But that should at least get you in the ballpark anyway.

Also, as Phil B mentioned, I also check out the minimum purchase, too.

[Val-E]

8 minutes ago, Alpinemaps said:

That's a good point.  But that should at least get you in the ballpark anyway.

Also, as Phil B mentioned, I also check out the minimum purchase, too.

3 x weight price is ballpark for volumetric to be on the safe side e.g. a 2kg set will cost 6kg to ship.

[minicoopers11]

58 minutes ago, Alpinemaps said:

Just curious - why don't you guys look at the weight in your cart, and compare it to the shipping rates on the store's "Store Terms" page?

I just double checked in my store, and it works in there, even for sets.  I always check the Store Terms before I even think about buying anything.  It may not necessarily be perfect, but it certainly gives me a very close, rough idea of what to expect as far as weight of parts (or sets), and then postage costs and any additional fees.

I always do that before I even start with a store, just to get an idea of what to expect.  I've put in about 25 orders over the last 6 weeks, and so far, nothing has been terribly off.  Usually it's right on or a l little less than I expect.

Edit to add:  Doing it that way doesn't require requesting a quote for the parts/sets either.

Quote leaves no room for guesstimates regarding shipping weight, volume, and available services. Shipping weight, obviously, is not the item weight. Shipping volume, obviously, is not the item volume. Not every service is available for every weight, volume, or location. I often buy internationally on Bricklink, so quotes make it much easier than trying to decipher store terms pages that are always in different formats. Also helps prevent you from overlooking store-added Paypal fees (which are prohibited for domestic USA transactions), which is easy to do as a USA buyer.

 

Edited December 30, 2015 by minicoopers11

[newbie77]

8 minutes ago, minicoopers11 said:

Quote leaves no room for guesstimates regarding shipping weight, volume, and available services. Shipping weight, obviously, is not the item weight. Shipping volume, obviously, is not the item volume. Not every service is available for every weight, volume, or location. I often buy internationally on Bricklink, so quotes make it much easier than trying to decipher store terms pages that are always in different formats. Also helps prevent you from overlooking Paypal fees (which are prohibited for domestic USA transactions), which is easy to do as a USA buyer.

 

truly agree. i have had situation when shipping from Europe was cheaper than in US and Canada. for example 60 sets shipping from EUROPE with insurance was only EURO 55 while shipping within US and canada was quoted to be over $300. not going to comment on business practices but that's what some of the brick-linker use as method to supplement their income.

Edited December 30, 2015 by newbie77

[minicoopers11]

8 minutes ago, newbie77 said:

truly agree. i have had situation when shipping from Europe was cheaper than in US and Canada. for example 60 sets shipping from EUROPE with insurance was only EURO 55 while shipping within US and canada was quoted to be over $300. not going to comment on business practices but that's what some of the brick-linker use as method to supplement their income.

That's hilariously terrible. Seriously sounds like someone that is unfamiliar with shipping. Probably decided a 110" box (length + girth) was the best choice and had no clue about oversize prices or dimensional weight.

[Stragus]

3 hours ago, newbie77 said:

truly agree. i have had situation when shipping from Europe was cheaper than in US and Canada. for example 60 sets shipping from EUROPE with insurance was only EURO 55 while shipping within US and canada was quoted to be over $300. not going to comment on business practices but that's what some of the brick-linker use as method to supplement their income.

Seriously, shipping rates vary *enormously* between countries. For example, international shipping from Canada is expensive, but the worst is international (non-U.S.) with tracking: it starts at 40 CAD.

On the other hand, I once ordered a 30kg box shipped by surface from Poland that cost about 60 EUR to ship. Life isn't fair!

[Guest betsy805]

4 hours ago, newbie77 said:

truly agree. i have had situation when shipping from Europe was cheaper than in US and Canada. for example 60 sets shipping from EUROPE with insurance was only EURO 55 while shipping within US and canada was quoted to be over $300. not going to comment on business practices but that's what some of the brick-linker use as method to supplement their income.

I just had two people message for quotes on shipping my cargo train today.  One is USA and one is UK.  Would you believe it's only $9 difference?!  Which reminds me, need to change shipping terms before the new rates begin in January.

[newbie77]

50 minutes ago, betsy805 said:

I just had two people message for quotes on shipping my cargo train today.  One is USA and one is UK.  Would you believe it's only $9 difference?!  Which reminds me, need to change shipping terms before the new rates begin in January.

$9,00 difference yes i can believe but not $200,00 difference. its going to be very hard to believe that its going to be $200,00 difference

 

1 hour ago, Stragus said:

Seriously, shipping rates vary *enormously* between countries. For example, international shipping from Canada is expensive, but the worst is international (non-U.S.) with tracking: it starts at 40 CAD.

On the other hand, I once ordered a 30kg box shipped by surface from Poland that cost about 60 EUR to ship. Life isn't fair!

its not about life ain't fair its about the deceptive practice. in today's day and age everybody has access to postal services in various countries they can get an estimate.

when people order 60 or 100 sets and are spending over $3k on an order they are not that stoopid that they can't figure out what's the reasonable shipping costs are.

https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e2s1

^ i do use that to estimate the cost

Edited December 31, 2015 by newbie77

[2x4]

Even within the US, the variance on shipping is crazy! I had a customer order just over a pound of bricks from me a while ago. The weight forced me to priority mail, and their zip code put them in the farthest zone for me. I gave the quote at cost and they made it clear they didn't really believe me but paid anyway. I want happy customers and good customer service, so I looked at many options and discovered that I could split the shipment and send both packages usps 1st class for about $3 less. They said ok, so that's what I did and refunded the additional difference. (Remember they paid right away) I haven't heard from them that they so much as received the shipments... Still a good sale, and I'm not complaining (I know I do too much of that) just trying to illustrate how shipping prices can very often not make sense...

I should add that I don't add any fees, and I always give cost prices to customers, I don't inflate anything.

[newbie77]

1 hour ago, 2x4 said:

Even within the US, the variance on shipping is crazy! I had a customer order just over a pound of bricks from me a while ago. The weight forced me to priority mail, and their zip code put them in the farthest zone for me. I gave the quote at cost and they made it clear they didn't really believe me but paid anyway. I want happy customers and good customer service, so I looked at many options and discovered that I could split the shipment and send both packages usps 1st class for about $3 less. They said ok, so that's what I did and refunded the additional difference. (Remember they paid right away) I haven't heard from them that they so much as received the shipments... Still a good sale, and I'm not complaining (I know I do too much of that) just trying to illustrate how shipping prices can very often not make sense...

I should add that I don't add any fees, and I always give cost prices to customers, I don't inflate anything.

you must be kidding right?

there is an option called flat rate envelop within continental US and i believe it costs only 5.12 not sure how you saved money by splitting in 2 orders.

13oz->16oz. + 3oz = 3.83->4.00+2.04=5.87->6.04 vs 5.12

{ anyway, my above post was in reference to shipping costs which are outright ridiculous and there are big names who do that. why because they don't want to sell to other (re)sellers. they are fine with purchase of 1-2 but not their entire lot. its their competition abhorrence. so, i have found it much easier to deal with European sellers vs. US/Canadian sellers when i buy sets in large quantities. [having said that, there are few sellers in US who are willing to sell sets in large quantities to me and i have bought from them] }

Edited December 31, 2015 by newbie77

[DadsAFOL]

Even within the US, the variance on shipping is crazy! I had a customer order just over a pound of bricks from me a while ago. The weight forced me to priority mail, and their zip code put them in the farthest zone for me. I gave the quote at cost and they made it clear they didn't really believe me but paid anyway. I want happy customers and good customer service, so I looked at many options and discovered that I could split the shipment and send both packages usps 1st class for about $3 less. They said ok, so that's what I did and refunded the additional difference. (Remember they paid right away) I haven't heard from them that they so much as received the shipments... Still a good sale, and I'm not complaining (I know I do too much of that) just trying to illustrate how shipping prices can very often not make sense...

I should add that I don't add any fees, and I always give cost prices to customers, I don't inflate anything.

Flat rate padded envelopes hold up to about 20 oz. Regional Rate A boxes can hold 3-4 lbs of Lego and ships at the 2 lb rate. USPS will deliver these to you for free (they are usually not stocked at the PO's)

[newbie77]

24 minutes ago, DadsAFOL said:

Flat rate padded envelopes hold up to about 20 oz. Regional Rate A boxes can hold 3-4 lbs of Lego and ships at the 2 lb rate. USPS will deliver these to you for free (they are usually not stocked at the PO's)

@DadsAFOL  afaik, while regional rate A box is a choice but based on the condition mentioned

* zip code put them in the farthest zone for me

shipping at 2lb costs about $9,97 won't going to work/be best in the above condition.

RR boxes are best only within the same zone and/or near/corresponding zones. not in the variation mentioned.

correct me if i am wrong in my statement above.

[DadsAFOL]

Yes, in @2x4 's case the flat rate padded would have solved the problem.  I was just pointing out that you have the same predicament when the weight is over 2 lbs (bumps to the 3 lb rate), and the RR box can help there.