Bricklink/BrickOwl - Discussion, questions, & answers

[Alpinemaps]

Here's my countertop tonight. Inching ever closer to having all my parts.

[2x4]

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.

OK- so my post office had instructed me previously that I couldn't use envelopes (bubble mailers) if I had the greater than 1/4" thickness in effect... So anything that exceeds that I've been shipping as package. You folks are telling me you regularly use the free bubble mailers from usps, stick 400 1x2's in there and have no problem? Seriously?!? I obviously need to get on this, thanks!!

[justafrog]

The minimum thickness you're referring to is a requirement for sending first class package rather than first class letter domestically. Letter rate has some other restrictions like not being rigid, the package must be uniformly thick, etc.). You do not want to send LEGO parts by first class letter - they will end up in mail sorting equipment and may destroy the packaging, and/or the LEGO inside the packaging.

Using bubble mailers with first class package (not letter) rates is fine - we use plastic poly mailers as they're far more durable than paper, and reinforce with a "package within the package" of another layer of bubble wrap around the bagged parts, so that the parts shift as little as possible in transit.

Once you're past 13oz in weight (or 16oz after Jan 17), you need to switch from first class package postage to priority mail of some type. That's where the priority mail padded flat rate envelope that Dads' mentioned comes in. I have also found that about 20 ounces of almost all types of parts can be shipped in these safely. There is no flatness, uniformity, or thickness restriction to these -- "if it fits, it ships".

[2x4]

Ok, well thanks all for the tip! Can't believe I allowed the misunderstanding from that one transaction affect some other sales. I do understand about 1st class letter, just had a miscommunication with my post office regarding the definition of envelope. I'll order some shortly to have on hand.

[2x4]

2x4, asker of questions, has returned! This time I'm curious about a general scenario... Ok fine, it's another personal experience!

Customer placed a small order- basically cleaned me out of 1 part and ordered a few other pieces. Payment is fine and the parts are shipped posthaste.

A few days later I receive a message that the shipment shows delivered, but they did not receive it.

I check paypal and notice that their paypal address is different from their billing address. I did not catch this before, as it's the apartment number that is different, not the street address...

Customer says they have tried to contact the neighbor, but that no one has moved in yet.

They also have plenty of positive feedback as a buyer, how am I the only person to have had this issue with their address?

So now the customer wants me to re-ship the order, which, even if I were totally ok with the loss, I can't do because they cleaned me out of the part...

So what would you do?

Friday night LEGO parting...

I have even tried contacting the post offices in their zip code to see if I can ask politely if the letter carrier could possibly place it in the correct box next time they are there, but of course I can't get an answer at any post office I call...

[BrickLegacy]

I sold a set for above market value on Bricklink so I'm pretty thrilled about that.  I'm shipping from Ohio to Washington so shipping charges are going to be steep (it's a larger set).

Priority and Parcel Select are both pretty expensive.  FedEx Ground is also expensive.  I've used SmartPost on eBay with a lot of success but I can't find a way to print a SmartPost label outside of eBay. 

Buyer is paying for shipping but I'd like to reduce the cost for them as much as possible.  Is there a way to print SmartPost labels from the desktop or at least get a quote?  I couldn't find that option online anywhere.  Or am I overlooking another (better) option?  Thanks in advance.

[fuzzy_bricks]

13 minutes ago, BrickLegacy said:

I sold a set for above market value on Bricklink so I'm pretty thrilled about that.  I'm shipping from Ohio to Washington so shipping charges are going to be steep (it's a larger set).

Priority and Parcel Select are both pretty expensive.  FedEx Ground is also expensive.  I've used SmartPost on eBay with a lot of success but I can't find a way to print a SmartPost label outside of eBay. 

Buyer is paying for shipping but I'd like to reduce the cost for them as much as possible.  Is there a way to print SmartPost labels from the desktop or at least get a quote?  I couldn't find that option online anywhere.  Or am I overlooking another (better) option?  Thanks in advance.

This PDF link says that it is a contract only service, I assume that is still accurate.  Maybe you could have them buy something from you on eBay for $1 and then you could use it. 

I haven't used UPS through Paypal, so I don't know if they offer it, but I think SurePost is the UPS equivalent.

[Phil B]

Need urgent help ... I am completing my very first store sale in BrickLink, but have hit a bit of a snag. My paypal account is different than my login account for BL, and I'm trying to get the text in the Invoice to show the usual "pay x$ to email@address on PayPal" and an automated link, but cannot find out how to do this. From the looks of other transactions I've done, I see everyone has about the same text. Don't want to look like a fool to my first customer - how do I get those links generated (I cannot use <SELLEREMAIL> as that does not use my paypal account) .... do I have to go and change my email address in BL to make it match my paypal account?

Help please!

[MathBuilder]

30 minutes ago, Phil B said:

Need urgent help ... I am completing my very first store sale in BrickLink, but have hit a bit of a snag. My paypal account is different than my login account for BL, and I'm trying to get the text in the Invoice to show the usual "pay x$ to email@address on PayPal" and an automated link, but cannot find out how to do this. From the looks of other transactions I've done, I see everyone has about the same text. Don't want to look like a fool to my first customer - how do I get those links generated (I cannot use <SELLEREMAIL> as that does not use my paypal account) .... do I have to go and change my email address in BL to make it match my paypal account?

Help please!

I once wrote a very detailed tutorial on how to do this and posted it here and the BL forum but unfortunately the BL one got purged and the one here got cut for some reason. Here is what I could find but that only helps you to the first step the important part is the link so let me see if I can find somewhere else that has the instructions.

 

On 12/10/2014 at 3:31 PM, MathBuilder said:

Here are the instructions for setting up paypal payment link on BL.

 

1) Find a new order. Click on the invoice icon. When new page loads click on 

Invoice Preview: (Customize Layout and Set My Default Comments)

 

Alternative: If you don't have an order right now, click on this link it should take you to the same place.

 

http://www.bricklink.com/mailTempDetail.asp?ID=1&viewFrom=O

 

2) Once you are in that page, you need to copy this link exactly as provided except change "you@email.com" for your actual paypal email without any spaces. Be careful that the

EDIT: I finally found the link and instructions that are posted on Maple Bricks / qwertyboy's personal page. Rather than trying to write the link here and repeating the instructions just go to his page. 

Final note: BL now has an option for a pay on site button which might be easier to set up than this. Some buyers prefer the onsite button but some buyers don't. 

http://www.qwertyboy.org/files/bl-paypal.html

 

Edited February 6, 2016 by MathBuilder

[Alpinemaps]

24 minutes ago, Phil B said:

Need urgent help ... I am completing my very first store sale in BrickLink, but have hit a bit of a snag. My paypal account is different than my login account for BL, and I'm trying to get the text in the Invoice to show the usual "pay x$ to email@address on PayPal" and an automated link, but cannot find out how to do this. From the looks of other transactions I've done, I see everyone has about the same text. Don't want to look like a fool to my first customer - how do I get those links generated (I cannot use <SELLEREMAIL> as that does not use my paypal account) .... do I have to go and change my email address in BL to make it match my paypal account?

Help please!

I'll see what I can do to help.  It's been awhile since I set it up, so bare with me.

First thing, check your "My Store Settings" and connect your Onsite Paypal account.  You should be able to connect to the correct email address for your Paypal account.  This should be how you get the automated button on your invoice.

Second, go to the Offsite Payment section and make sure you have Paypal Domestic checked.  (International as well, if you are selling Internationally).

Next to go Orders > My Settings

Go to "Customize E-Mail & Web Text" and click on Order Invoice.

This is the letter I use (order number & email changed to protect the innocent):

Quote

Invoice for BrickLink Order #619 generated on Feb 5, 2016 18:59
Order Date: Jan 30, 2016 14:00
Payment By: PayPal (Onsite)
--------------------------------------
Comments from Seller:
Thank you for your order. Please send a grand total via Paypal of US $4.52 to [email protected]

Or copy and paste the following link into a new browser window:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_xclick&business=Me@gmail.com&item_name=BrickLink+Order+Number+619&amount=4.52

--------------------------------------
Order Summary: 
--------------------------------------
Total Items: 4
Unique Items (lots): 1
......

Here's the code I used to generate that:

Quote

Invoice for BrickLink Order #<ORDERID> generated on <CURRENTDATETIME>
Order Date: <ORDERDATE>
Payment By: <PAYMENTTYPE>
<LINE>
Comments from Seller:
<COMMENTS>Thank you for your order. Please send a grand total via Paypal of <DISPCURRENCYSIGN><DISPGRANDTOTAL> to <SELLEREMAIL>

Or copy and paste the following link into a new browser window:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_xclick&business=&item_name=BrickLink+Order+Number+&amount=
</COMMENTS>
<LINE>
Order Summary: 
<LINE>
Total Items: <ORDERITEMS>
Unique Items &#40;lots&#41;: <ORDERLOTS> 

Total: <BASECURRENCYSIGN><ORDERTOTAL>
Shipping: <BASECURRENCYSIGN><ORDERSHIPPING> 
Insurance: <BASECURRENCYSIGN><ORDERINSURANCE>
Additional Charges 1: <BASECURRENCYSIGN><ORDERADDCHRG1>
Additional Charges 2: <BASECURRENCYSIGN><ORDERADDCHRG2>
Credit: <BASECURRENCYSIGN><ORDERCREDIT>
Grand Total: <BASECURRENCYSIGN><BASEGRANDTOTAL><CURRENCYCONV-EQ:Y>
Grand Total in <DISPCURRENCYNAME>: <DISPCURRENCYSIGN><DISPGRANDTOTAL></CURRENCYCONV-EQ:Y><COUPON-EQ:Y>
<LINE>
Coupon Applied: <COUPONVALUE>

Coupon Note: <COUPONNOTE></COUPON-EQ:Y>
<LINE>
Items in Order: 
<LINE>
<ORDERDETAIL>
<LINE>
Buyer Information: 
<LINE>
BrickLink Username: <BUYERUSERNAME>
E-Mail: <BUYEREMAIL>

Address:
<BUYERNAME>
<BUYERADDRESS>

<LINE>
Seller Information: 
<LINE>
BrickLink Username: <SELLERUSERNAME>
E-Mail: <SELLEREMAIL>
BrickLink Store Name: <SELLERSTORENAME>
http://www.BrickLink.com/store.asp?p=

Address:
<SELLERNAME>
<SELLERADDRESS>
<LINE>
Thank you for shopping with <SELLERSTORENAME>.  We appreciate your business, and hope to see you again soon.
<LINE>
Note: All orders &#40;regardless of status&#41; and all items in those orders are purged from the BrickLink website 180 days after the order date.

Hopefully that will give you a hand getting started.

[Phil B]

1 hour ago, Alpinemaps said:

I'll see what I can do to help.  It's been awhile since I set it up, so bare with me.

First thing, check your "My Store Settings" and connect your Onsite Paypal account.  You should be able to connect to the correct email address for your Paypal account.  This should be how you get the automated button on your invoice.

Second, go to the Offsite Payment section and make sure you have Paypal Domestic checked.  (International as well, if you are selling Internationally).

Next to go Orders > My Settings

Go to "Customize E-Mail & Web Text" and click on Order Invoice.

This is the letter I use (order number & email changed to protect the innocent):

Here's the code I used to generate that:

Hopefully that will give you a hand getting started.

Thanks so much. The issue I have is that <SELLEREMAIL> gives my BL account email, which is not the same as my PayPal email. This is not an issue with the onsite option, so I guess I need to change the email address associated with my account to get this fixed, because manually adding an email address to the invoice form is a no-no and can lead to a BL ban....

I can leave it as us for this first sale as the buyer indicated they will use the onsite payment option.... I just hope I can change the address without losing my feedback score...

[Phil B]

Thanks again @Alpinemaps and @MathBuilder - with help from both your posts I got it all sorted. Had to change the email address on file with BrickLink to match my paypal account, but once that was all set it was a breeze.

[dinner41]

2 hours ago, Phil B said:

Thanks so much. The issue I have is that <SELLEREMAIL> gives my BL account email, which is not the same as my PayPal email. This is not an issue with the onsite option, so I guess I need to change the email address associated with my account to get this fixed, because manually adding an email address to the invoice form is a no-no and can lead to a BL ban....

I can leave it as us for this first sale as the buyer indicated they will use the onsite payment option.... I just hope I can change the address without losing my feedback score...

You can have several email addresses point to the same paypal account. In your case I would add your BL email to paypal and be done with it.

[EiSeOoNiinJust]

Thinking of setting up shop to BL and moving on to selling.

 

Of course the first thought was that buyers are going to dispute via Paypal and get product + money in the end. How realistic would this scenario be at all and is there basically any way to lower the chance of it happening? Had the idea about starting with a small inventory and holding back the more costly items to see how it goes.

 

Followup-questions will be implemented (and hopefully helped on) once I start getting the big picture straight

[eracine]

14 minutes ago, EiSeOoNiinJust said:

Thinking of setting up shop to BL and moving on to selling.

 

Of course the first thought was that buyers are going to dispute via Paypal and get product + money in the end. How realistic would this scenario be at all and is there basically any way to lower the chance of it happening? Had the idea about starting with a small inventory and holding back the more costly items to see how it goes.

 

Followup-questions will be implemented (and hopefully helped on) once I start getting the big picture straight

There is always risk.  We have been selling for about 3 years and had one issue which insurance covered us.  PayPal is good in my opinion. 

 

[Stragus]

6 minutes ago, EiSeOoNiinJust said:

Of course the first thought was that buyers are going to dispute via Paypal and get product + money in the end. How realistic would this scenario be at all and is there basically any way to lower the chance of it happening?

You worry too much. After 899 sales on BrickLink and 944 sales on BrickOwl, my only PayPal disputes have been:

- A customer once initiated a charge back for $11 because he didn't know what "PayPal" was on his credit card statement. We cleared that up and he apologized.

- Some customer once initiated a Paypal dispute because he was worried about the transaction (international without tracking). He closed the dispute once he received the order.

And... that's it.

[Guest betsy805]

21 minutes ago, EiSeOoNiinJust said:

Thinking of setting up shop to BL and moving on to selling.

 

Of course the first thought was that buyers are going to dispute via Paypal and get product + money in the end. How realistic would this scenario be at all and is there basically any way to lower the chance of it happening? Had the idea about starting with a small inventory and holding back the more costly items to see how it goes.

 

Followup-questions will be implemented (and hopefully helped on) once I start getting the big picture straight

Never had disputes on brickowl or bricklink other than a couple of "item not received".  If you go through paypal and tracking shows delivered, they will cover you with their seller protection, no problem.  Ebay is my problem child.  Dealing with 2 chargebacks from November right now.

[EiSeOoNiinJust]

18 minutes ago, betsy805 said:

41 minutes ago, EiSeOoNiinJust said:

 

Never had disputes on brickowl or bricklink other than a couple of "item not received".  If you go through paypal and tracking shows delivered, they will cover you with their seller protection, no problem.  Ebay is my problem child.  Dealing with 2 chargebacks from November right now.

I'm assuming the tracking is done by the company that delivers the package, as I have no idea wherther Paypal has something like this?

[Guest betsy805]

10 minutes ago, EiSeOoNiinJust said:

I'm assuming the tracking is done by the company that delivers the package, as I have no idea wherther Paypal has something like this?

When you print your shipping label off paypal it automatically tracks it for you.  If you prefer to go to the post office instead of printing label then you just need to remember to input the tracking number to paypal.

[Guest betsy805]

Is there another method of international shipping that is less expensive than usps' new $13.50 rate that I'm missing?  I'm getting a lot of cancelled international orders right now.

[eracine]

I use Stamps.com to ship and most international orders we ship are the mini fig variety and costs seem still low to me.  3 to 4 ounces is about 4 to 5 us. 

[Vodium]

That moment when a guy pays for a quoted order, but you can't find the order in your orders page, then you realize that they cancelled the quote instead of accepting. And during this confusion another order was placed by someone else that had some parts from the quoted order. Man I had a brain fart trying to get it all straightened out. haha

[DadsAFOL]

I use Stamps.com to ship and most international orders we ship are the mini fig variety and costs seem still low to me.  3 to 4 ounces is about 4 to 5 us. 

You are using the wrong postage type and assuming risk that your package doesn't get mangled because you posted it as a "letter". Canada correct postage is $9.03 commercial base up to 8oz.

[Guest betsy805]

25 minutes ago, DadsAFOL said:

You are using the wrong postage type and assuming risk that your package doesn't get mangled because you posted it as a "letter". Canada correct postage is $9.03 commercial base up to 8oz.

Is stamps.com for international other than Canada still $13.50 do you know?  I'd rather not sign up for it and have to remember to cancel after the trial period if it's a waste of time.  Thanks!

 

Edited February 14, 2016 by betsy805

[DadsAFOL]

2 hours ago, betsy805 said:

Is stamps.com for international other than Canada still $13.50 do you know?  I'd rather not sign up for it and have to remember to cancel after the trial period if it's a waste of time.  Thanks!

 

Yes, other countries range from $12.35 to $13.06.