StarCityBrickCompany

Sorry about the quick gut response (which I tried to edit afterward, but couldn't) - then I do apologize.

I have always liked Ed.

So now you are posting letters from disgruntled employees of your competitors - that's nice.

There was once a very reliable way to forecast eBay sales. If you had 100 listings for 10,000, and increased your listings to 200 for 20,000 - your net numbers would double. As you grew, your sales grew. That stopped working a couple years back, as many more LEGO sellers entered the market. Nowadays, unless you can keep growing, your sales will decline. As bad as that is, hopefully it will stop the influx of new sellers (since it is less worthwhile) and the market will stabilize.

By the time it ever got to be that bad, I think that LEGO would change their sealing methods.

More nonsense eBay fees have not gone up much more than anything else in life. I hate the misleading way that they do it, but for the most part - the net effect is in line with most other things. They do not charge 50%, and most everyone else that sells on eBay finds a way to profit after those fees - so yes, the seller (and their business model) is likely in control of the situation (so stop blaming the fees).

Instances of having issues are very very rare, and opening up each set before selling will immediately create doubt for the buyer that it is complete. Regarding scams - a seller looking to scam can always claim anything, regardless of what you do (photos you provide, statements you make, etc). Scammers will seek out the easy targets - so don't be one. (No tracking & no signature over 250 would be great examples of easy targets).

NYC is not too easy, but certainly will be better than where you live. I have a few customers who contact me whenever they are planning on being in the states. If you are staying in one place for any length of time, you can buy off of eBay and have it shipped to wherever you are staying. You will just need to make sure that the seller will be shipping the items quickly, and that your shipping location is updated properly.

He did live!

Ebay address

I wouldn't be surprised if they stop doing it. They really got burned last year (with accusations about "the fix"). Although it seems clear that something was up, and that local workers decided to choose the winners on their own - LEGO got slammed for it.

Agree with all that as much as it seems to be a nice way to avoid fees, it just doesn't pay off. The rent that you pay ebay in order to be part of the most popular mall in the world is well worth it. Same thing with a brick & mortar store - while I love the idea of having one, it would be very hard to ever make the numbers work, to justify doing it.

I don't believe so - I believe that ShipCover is only available when you pay postage and print shipping labels on eBay (not paypal). I do believe that stamps.com has a separate insurance option (and shipping discounts).

You need to buy the USPS insurance for Express mail at the post office (or use Shipcover Insurance through ebay). Regarding the extra expense (discounted postage, or not), I have had different responses from the USPS workers - some will charge only the net insurance cost (deducting the full postage), others will only deduct the amount you paid online (leaving you paying the non discount portion & the insurance). You need to learn which workers process the transaction that way (charging only the Insurance), and stick with them. As far as which procedure is correct - I am not sure. I have discussed it with the ones who charge the extra discount difference, they stated that since it is being processed through the post office, the discount is not allowed (they seemed certain).

If you choose to only use the GSP on some items, be aware that they will convert any non GSP listings into the program when you re-list (removing any of the shipping options that you had previously set up). They went out of their way to alter the re-listing process, just to trap you into their program. So who do you think the program benefits?

While I wouldn't ever say that the prequels were better movies, they did have more action, and a number of cool villains. I do believe that the original saber fights are a bit embarrassing at times - I recall my son asking what was wrong with them, why weren't they moving.

Certainly, if someone wouldn't otherwise be selling Internationally, then the GSP is great. But there are many advantages to doing it yourself (assuming that you are familiar enough to do it).

Yes, it is easier - but you will also have less international sales.

Max von Sydow!

Nonsense

I agree, this thread is mostly nonsense. As much sense as arguing that a set going EOL might be a bad thing, since less people will know about it.

It would have LEGO somewhere on the piece - But I am thinking it is not LEGO (it might be a foot from a large Mega Blok Techbot type character).

Yes, that would be correct. You can try to have them wait to pay until they are finished with their purchases (the clock starts once they pay).