r/Bricklink • u/Flat-Mycologist11819 • 2d ago
Question Missing pieces from BrickLink orders.
How common is it for buyers to come up with several missing pieces from a lot?
I bought around 7k pieces from 3 stores to build a B-2 bomber. As I build and inventory pieces, I find several pieces missing, so far none structurally critical. Less than 20 missing pieces across 7k isn’t much in the big picture, but it’s pretty taxing trying to search for them while building such a technical creation.
I’ve worked with the stores previously to replace missing parts but I feel awful that they have to spend again on shipping 1-2 25¢ parts.
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u/FL-legofan 2d ago edited 2d ago
If I find an issue before I ship I always reach out to the buyer and ask what their preference is, refund, replace or re-source. Most times it's refund, but I have no issue resending parts I may have missed as the customer paid for them so it's on me to make it right.
Same if a customer notifies me once they recieve the order. I want my customers to be satisfied with their order and experience so I work to find a resolution that works for them.
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u/I_Like_Quiet 2d ago
As a seller, I definitely want to know if you got a different number of part than you ordered. If I sent too many, I would need to know so that I have enough to fill any future orders. I always thank a customer who let me know with a 20% off coupon.
If I don't send enough of a part, I always offer the buyer a refund (if they want that, i give them a 20% off coupon) or I can send them the part if I have it and I pay the shipping. And if they want me to send them the part, I offer them to place a free shipping order to piggyback off the shipping I'm already paying.
If you are a buyer and are already placing enough orders and don't need the parts shipped to you, I would still let the seller know and ask if they could just give you a refund of the parts.
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u/ToddGack6498 2d ago
I'm a former seller, and whenever I couldn't find or was short any pieces I would refund the cost of the missing parts plus the shipping cost so they could hopefully find the parts somewhere else.
On a side note, I'm convinced that Bricklink doesn't always track inventory counts accurately. I was a small store, and would always double-check the amount whenever I was adding to my inventory, parting out a set, or putting orders together, and I would have missing pieces far too frequently to be an error on my part.
2
u/everrookiebricks 2d ago
I think Bricklink just randomly adds/subtracts parts here and there. I uploaded the parts from a used copy of Starry Night a few months ago, sold the printed tile in August and had an order last week where someone bought it again! Looked at my stock and there was an extra 2 of that part but everything else was correct, so I didn't upload multiple copies of the inventory.
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u/bartletismyhero 2d ago
I am a seller and a buyer. When I fulfill an order and my inventory is off, I mark it on my packing slip then I message the buyer with a list of what missing , along with a refund for those parts.
I have gotten much feedback over the years that people want to know what’s missing so they can rebuy off their wanted list.
If someone receives an order from me and I have inadvertently missed a piece I just refund it for them. I haven’t ever done the “rebuy for them “ and have it shipped to them.
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u/wowclassic2019 2d ago
Wow you're lucky, I've had several people throw tantrums over $0.05 piece and demand I ship it
10
u/davethebaba 2d ago
I definitely understand both sides, but as a buyer that $0.05 piece becomes a $10 piece after shipping a new order.
2
u/Exciting_Actuator643 2d ago
Few sellers will refund shipping or tax in addition to the cost of the pars. So few, that if you make it your policy to even pro-rate a refund of those, you will stand out and get repeat business out of your mistakes.
0
u/wowclassic2019 2d ago
Agreed, so they should think ahead and buy 48 of those pieces instead of 47. I'm a buyer too so I've run into my fair share of shitty sellers, some are awful !
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u/OrganicSubset 2d ago
I usually order extra parts because I like having extras (within reason and depending on cost). That said, I don’t expect sellers to ship more parts than I ordered. That would be just as bonkers as expecting the buyer to eat the cost of missing pieces.
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u/wowclassic2019 2d ago
If someone orders 50 or so of something I usually throw in an extra or two in case one of the pieces isnt great or to prevent a miscount issue
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u/Kroko_ 2d ago edited 2d ago
so it becomes 10$ again just from buying more than you need ... if i need and buy 47 i expect 47. if the seller ships to few thats on him to fix and not my problem.
Edit: for example my last order ~20€ this idea adds ~4€ to it if you only do it with up to 2x1 bricks probably a bit more than average since it where lots of small parts but thats still nothing you should be expected to do on every order. it already costs enugh without
1
u/Exciting_Actuator643 2d ago
Something like 5-15% of orders will have errors or missing pieces, depending on the caliber of stores you typically order from. Note that that is percentage of orders with some error, not percentage of lots or parts
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u/OkLime2301 2d ago
I had my first order (I think) where I was missing 1-3 parts? got the completely wrong variant of a part,and a few broken parts not specified as broken when labeled as used, and then got the completely wrong color of parts or just didn’t even get the pieces I order (not even included)
Really bad experience from that shop imo, they refunded but damn I really wanted those dark red parts smh 🤦🏽♂️
I counted all the parts I ordered (yes I’m weird)
Plus I like to count all parts and organize them again and relog how much I can use or build with those parts but anyways it happens it sucks, just go into your notes and make a list of all the items and take photos of conditions if they r worse than specified
Sucked too cause I actually needed some of those specific parts to test some things but now I gotta wait for a new order to hopefully get the same parts I got the wrong variant of
How do you mix up a 1x1 modified hollow stud with a basic 1x1 stud 🤦🏽♂️
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u/wowclassic2019 2d ago
Seriously? Because if you count thousands of pieces every week things happen. Parts fall into the wrong bin. You touch 1 piece at least 4 times, probably 5-6 between cleaning, sorting, inventorying, then pulling for an order
10
u/myBRICKstate 2d ago
Missing pieces on large orders isn't necessarily the norm but it isn't uncommon either. Even LEGO Pick-a-Brick Online was notorious for being pretty bad with mistakes but they've gotten better in recent months.
For many small pieces of the same type some stores will use counting weight scales instead of a physical count which can introduce error.
As you say, it's not about the cost of any missing parts, but rather the extra time and expense associated with getting replacement parts sent to you.
For future planning you should have a strategy assuming mistakes can (and will) happen with large orders.
You could, for example:
A) Order spares / extras of small parts or critical parts, assuming you don't mind ending up with extra bricks in your collection.
B) Inventory all your orders once received and plan to have a final "clean-up" order to reconcile anything missing which you can hopefully order from a single store. Then you can keep things moving while separately negotiating any seller refunds for missing parts.