I had someone win several of my auctions and they sent me an ebay message asking to open the packages and put the sealed bags into Ziploc bags with the instructions, etc.  Then they wanted a combined shipping total into as small a box as possible and said they didn't want the lego boxes.  Seemed a little sketchy when I read it, but they have 1200 feedbacks and 100% positive.  Would this be safe to do?  I hate to open them all and then not get payment.

 

 

 

 

Sounds like an "item not as described" case to me.  Especially if you stated in your listing that they are new in sealed box.

If they messaged you through eBay then go for it. Save the messages. Also remember not everyone is an investor, I've heard some people like to build with these plastic blocks :)

It sounds like a reasonable request to save on shipping. As long as you have the messages through eBay you should be safe. Shipping is quite a bit of a cost for larger sets.

Thanks for all the advice.  I was worried about the "item not as described" problem, but like I said he has 1200 positive feedback and the message was through ebay (including a picture of how he wanted it.)

I'd estimate the shipping total without actually opening your sets. If they don't pay, you're stuck with the open sets.

I've done this on bricklink plenty of times without a problem, both as a buyer and seller.  Ebay is a bit different, as the auctions were for sealed boxes.  If you keep the emails sent through ebay you should be fine though, as the buyer requested this to save on shipping.

I may be just a bitter seller, but the request to open the sealed bags and put the contents to ziploc bags got my spidey sense tingling.  Is that a fairly common request from ebay / bricklink buyers ? I have shipped sets without boxes before and in my experience the sealed LEGO bags do not add too much to the total weight.

I may be just a bitter seller, but the request to open the sealed bags and put the contents to ziploc bags got my spidey sense tingling.  Is that a fairly common request from ebay / bricklink buyers ? I have shipped sets without boxes before and in my experience the sealed LEGO bags do not add too much to the total weight.

 

Oooh... I didn't read the OP carefully enough, I didn't realize they wanted the sealed bags opened as well.  Yeah, that's a no go for me.  I will debox a set and sell just the contents to cut down on shipping, but I never open the bags on anything I sell as new.

 

*edit* lol... looks like Darth misread the OP...  they requested that the sealed bags be put into ziplocs....  carry on.

They didn't want the interior bags open, I meant boxes when I said packages.  They want all the bags from each set put into a large freezer size bag to keep them separate.

I would feel comfortable if the seller had that many feedbacks and seemed to be legit. Wouldn't think about doing it for a seller under 500 FB or if they seemed shady at all.

I have done this before as a buyer when the seller is charging outrageous shipping and I know it will fit in a small priority mail box for a third of the price. If I am going to build the set I will ask for a quote ahead of time for no box,instructions or stickers.

They didn't want the interior bags open, I meant boxes when I said packages.  They want all the bags from each set put into a large freezer size bag to keep them separate.

Oh ok.  This is not an uncommon request

Yep, make it fit in a priority flat rate box. I offer a no box shipping option on eBay (when suitable) and a lot of people take advantage of it.

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rule of thumb ... make them pay first .... after that youre ok ... i ask to do that sometimes too and as a seller i always offer that option for big sets as i do free shipping and every little bit helps!!!

rule of thumb ... make them pay first .... after that youre ok ... i ask to do that sometimes too and as a seller i always offer that option for big sets as i do free shipping and every little bit helps!!!

 

Beat me to it

 

I would get the buyer to buy the goods first. You send them an invoice with the discounted postage (which you'll have to estimate - but if you are an experienced seller you should have an idea), wait until they pay, then de-box the items.

Strange.  Shipping in large part goes by weight.  Doesn't it?  For a lot of bags you're still going to need a box big enought to fit them all.  Can't be saving THAT much.

Strange.  Shipping in large part goes by weight.  Doesn't it?  For a lot of bags you're still going to need a box big enought to fit them all.  Can't be saving THAT much.

If you can get it into a flat rate box it can save quite a bit. And even non flat rate, if it's several of the larger sets the weight of the original boxes can add up to a couple pounds.

Strange.  Shipping in large part goes by weight.  Doesn't it?  For a lot of bags you're still going to need a box big enought to fit them all.  Can't be saving THAT much.

It goes by real weight, but also by size. And, as said, if you can get it into a flat-rate box, then the weight isn't important at all (thus, flat-rate).

Give him quotes w/ the boxes and without.  And once he chooses and pays for his decision, you know where you stand.

Anyhow, don't throw away boxes.

Bend them carefully, and put them somewhere (they will not take a lot of place) so if 1 month later he changes his mind, you will still have them.

or if you use a flat rate box and if you have no need for the lego box, just fold it up and include it in the package ... of course thats if it all fits!!

Anyhow, don't throw away boxes.

Bend them carefully, and put them somewhere (they will not take a lot of place) so if 1 month later he changes his mind, you will still have them.

 

Or list them on bricklink when you're sure your buyer doesn't want them. Some people do even buy empty boxes

 

I suspect they use them to re-box sets bought as returns in damaged boxes, then sell them as boxed but opened

Take Helms Deep as an example. Boxed its a Medium Parcel. Unbowed it's most likely a Small Parcel. With the reduction in weight and size it may halve the domestic uk postage.

Plus, as others say, you probably can sell the box separately.

I'm not a fan of it because he didn't ask ahead of time before he bid.  

When I have had similar requests, I have contacted EBay and explained the situation.  Made sure the EBay rep said I was good to go and covered under the  EBay policies.  I make sure that I record the time, date and name/number of the EBay rep.  I then send a message to the buyer, through EBay, having them confirm their request and spelling out the actions that I will be taking, (ie. opening the sealed boxes, re-packaging the sealed bags, etc).  I also mention my contact with EBay stating the date, time and rep's information.  This is for EBay's use in the future if necessary.  A return message from the buyer acknowledging that email should cover you.  As an extra CYA, I also video the opening of the set boxes, the packaging and sealing of the shipping box for proof that all items were packed, nothing missing.  Your buyers rating also helps.