My Bricklink Store - Ep 19 Let's Talk Shipping

Shipping supplies, what to use, how much to buy and where to get them for my Lego Bricklink store are just a couple of things I discuss in this video.
Check out my Lego Bricklink store here: store.bricklin...

[@AmazingBrix]

Another fantastic video..great !!

[@KittenvilleBrick]

I don't use any soft packaging I ship out in at least a 7x5x4 box.far as padding I just tape the bags to the inside bottom of the box. All is shipped this way wether it is a minifigure or 600+ elements.

[@montanausedbricks]

That's a good way to handle the shipping!

[@crayoncrayoncrayon]

When I made my first few purchases on Bricklink, I ordered from the 'bigger' stores that had volumes of positive feedback and quoted relatively low shipping rates (ie. regular letter mail). All of the packages arrived in bubble mailers, or in some cases an envelope with separate bubble wrap to protect the contents. All except one store, which mailed the plates all loosely in a yellow envelope, with no bubble wrap or any other protective insert inside. I've since made many purchases from other stores, and have not yet come across another store that ships like that!

[@montanausedbricks]

Luckily, most Bricklink sellers understand the importance of packing the parts carefully for shipping. The others are few and far between!

[@brickotronic]

Haven't opened my shop so far. But I prepared my shipping methods e.t.c. My plan is to use boxes. I found some pretty cheap boxes and here in Austria the most convenient way of paying for shipping online requires that you ship in a box. Also, I will avoid using any plastic for shipping. Will separate the lots in paper bags.

[@montanausedbricks]

That's a great idea!

[@viva.7543]

Packing plates is a problem. I trying to avoid using "send invoice" Option. Because I hate it myself. When you reques about shipping price, you never know how much is it. So, for my store I made 3 options: €2 with usual envelops toll 200g, €3,8 with bigger envelops till 1 kilo and €5 with tracking number. BUT I have a problem. I can't understand how system calculates between first 2 options. It's going automatically, if I understand right. And sometimes I have order with 10 plates, which are payed €2. With €2 it's only 2 cm height. How should I put all together with bubble wrap and so on, so it fits in this envelop? I making some carton from both sides of the plates, but that's all I can do. So, I really should do something with shipping, because it's far from been safe.... But at the same time I don't want to leave only invouce option. And it would be stupid to force people, who order just few small parts to pay a big money for shipping. I can't affort it, because I just started a store, and mostly have small orders....
And what's in heads of the people who ordering cheapest deliver when they order plates? And how bloody system calculating??

[@montanausedbricks]

Unfortunately, I still don't totally understand how BL calculates the shipping options. I know it's based on weight and dimensions, but I still have the add issues of instructions manuals kicking the shipping to the highest amount. It's bizarre and I'm not sure how to fix that. I generally just tell buyers to do a quote or manual invoice (for exact shipping) if that happens. But I wonder how many sales I have lost because of that issue...

[@WayneSherman-W488]

I must have listened to this video in the truck...so I'm commenting now. Since I am caught up on your videos, I find myself thinking, "when is Stacy putting out another video?"

[@montanausedbricks]

I try for once a week, but love to have the time to do a two a week. Maybe I should try for a mid-week vlog? Hmmm....

[@DOTUBricks]

Another good video. I guess I cannot say as I am particularly surprised about that order coming with no wrapping. It is almost as if the seller just wants people to give them money and just accept whatever may happen after that point. It would be nice if BL instituted some sort of minimums for customer service, but, alas, there are So many variables I am not sure that could ever actually Work.
Also, in regards to using the Lego boxes inside out, that is not a bad idea! I know I will have more than a couple of those in my future!
As for sourcing shipping supplies, I would suggest looking on eBay as opposed to Amazon. There are many sellers there selling just that sort of thing. I would say however that you have to be cautious in what you buy, as some are combined listings for X of one thing and Y of another etc. But overall, I have generally found better deals on eBay, though sometimes, you have to weigh the time taken to compare prices as well. Time is money after all. Spending an hour to save 1 cent per mailer when you are ordering 200 may not be worth it!

[@montanausedbricks]

I've had several people tell me to check eBay for shipping envelopes and boxes... I think my fear is if I get on eBay I will want to just "check" to see what bulk Lego is out there and end up spending my money on parts and not supplies! LOL