cobrakai Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anakinisvader Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 Sounds like an "item not as described" case to me. Especially if you stated in your listing that they are new in sealed box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen_rockefeller Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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 :) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knarrff Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobrakai Posted May 19, 2014 Author Share Posted May 19, 2014 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.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mos_Eisley Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 I'd estimate the shipping total without actually opening your sets. If they don't pay, you're stuck with the open sets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naf Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth_Raichu Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naf Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobrakai Posted May 19, 2014 Author Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njseale Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pseudoty Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth_Raichu Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redghostx Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. Sent from my Nexus 4 using Brickpicker mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaylay Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNH1974 Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enduro Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gorbasho Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knarrff Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooker1 Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 Give him quotes w/ the boxes and without. And once he chooses and pays for his decision, you know where you stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biniou Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaylay Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest davewager78 Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNH1974 Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuttfarkas Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 I'm not a fan of it because he didn't ask ahead of time before he bid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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