Bricklink Seller Review - Real Bricks

Have you ever dealt with buying a big box of used LEGO pieces? I had the thrill of receiving a donation to use for LEGO classes. The donor was a proud tried and true LEGO fan and swore they only played with LEGO brick. I got 35# worth of contents. Once I pulled out a Mega Blocks jet fighter, some still unknown brand of Humvee, Tente, GI*Joe, doll accessories, K'nex, gum and crayon wrappers, etc., I was left with a nice 28# of real LEGO bricks remaining.

Profile
Seller: Real Bricks
Store: http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=Drareg
Feedback (at time of writing): 340
Feedback Ratio: 99.7% (one neutral from a buyer using the feedback system as a comms device.)
Location: Netherlands, Noord-Brabant
Prices: Average

My Order
Order Size: 12 items in 3 lots
Condition: 67% Used
Shipping Charge: Actual
Other: €0,50 charge for orders under €2,50 when paying via Paypal.
Final Cost per Part: $1.40

Timeline
Order Date: Jun 20
Invoice Date: Jun 21
Payment Date: Jun 21
Shipping Date: Jun 22
Delivery Date: Jun 30

Order Details
Why this store: Wanted list ping for a rare item at a reasonable price.
Packaging: Each lot in individual baggies, one with a cardboard insert, all in a bubble mailer.
Feedback left: Positive
Odd telltale signs: none
Issues: itemized all 3 lots on the customs form and used the word "LEGO". C'mon, "Used Toys" is more than sufficient and doesn't raise any eyebrows for any reasons.

Recommendation

I only ordered the 3 lots because there was really nothing else I needed. I had a few other filler items but they barely bumped me into the next shipping bracket. It was too far to go to fill that next bracket and nothing more I wanted to fill it with so I backed off. Prices seem reasonable, shipping is at cost and the proprietor is very responsive to questions and to ship. I would have no problem shopping here again.

Bonus points! Can you identify the pieces I bought?

Bricklink Seller Review - technix4u

Sometimes I like to pit sellers against each other. Without their knowledge of course. Kind of like when you're surreptitiously racing another customer at a self-checkout to see who can bag their own groceries the fastest. I always win. Easy to do with one LEGO set. A for the Bricklink sellers, one ends up a joy and the other ends up being an eventual joy. As long as LEGO keeps getting into my house I'm pleased.

Profile
Seller: technix4u
Store: http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=gertt67
Feedback (at time of writing): 1582
Feedback Ratio: 99.87% positive (two neutrals ever)
Location: Netherlands, Gelderland
Prices: Average or less

My Order
Order Size: 178 items, 32 lot
Condition: 62% New
Shipping Charge: Typical at cost Dutch rate
Other: adds €1 for orders under €25, requires more expensive track and trace for orders over €25. Pro-tip, make your order exactly €25.
Final Cost per Part: $0.20

Timeline
Order Date: Jan 29
Invoice Date: Jan 31
Payment Date: Jan 31
Shipping Date: Feb 1
Delivery Date: Feb 14

Order Details
Why this store: Lots of pieces to complete some well cared for older sets.
Packaging: Packed very intentionally with baggies taped together to avoid shifting in transit all in a bubble mailer
Communication: helpful
Feedback left: Positive
Odd telltale signs: none
Issues: none

Recommendation

Surprisingly I bought no Technic from this self styled store. Despite the fact that nearly a quarter of the parts are in the Technic category. Bricks, plates, and slopes also make up another gargantuan chunk. The shipping is not as fast as other stores and the extra Euro charge or T&T on overseas orders is not as friendly as other stores but it all worked out.

Bricklink Seller Review - Groenehollander Brick's

Finally back to writing again. Been riding on the fame of my LEGO Dress and coming off of the exhaustion that is post convention. But as I've started ordering again I need to get a little backlog taken care of. Does anybody ever care about the logs in front? Those can jam too, can't they? I guess those have no chance of finally breaking free and kicking you in the posterior.

Profile
Seller: Groenehollander Brick's
Store: http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=groenehollander
Feedback (at time of writing): 6296
Feedback Ratio: 99.98% positive (one neutral ever)
Location: Netherlands, Zeeland
Prices: Average or less

My Order
Order Size: 65 items, 32 lot
Condition: 92% Used
Shipping Charge: Typical at cost Dutch rate
Other: adds Paypal fees
Final Cost per Part: $0.24

Timeline
Order Date: Jan 30
Invoice Date: Jan 31
Payment Date: Jan 31
Shipping Date: Jan 31
Delivery Date: Feb 11

Order Details
Why this store: Lots of pieces to complete some well cared for older sets.
Packaging: Some items stacked in a bizarre fashion, no real rhyme or reason or continuity in packing materials put in a perfectly good bubble mailer then edges taped with brown packing tape.
Communication: none
Feedback left: Positive
Odd telltale signs: none
Issues: none

Recommendation

As I am learning Spanish I try to see the humor in others' foreign language spelling and grammar goofs. But don't let that fool you. This is a well stocked, well run store. Great for completing older sets and bulking up your builder's booty. Pity that I rarely revisit stores on account of my mission to review so many different ones.

Bricklink Seller Review - BrickFever PartWorks-Sale!

How many illnesses can you use in marketing? Not many I'll wager. "It's a mattress cancer!" Sounds like a B-grade horror film. "We've got so many cars, we're having a diarrhea sale!" Ew, no. "This is it, the migraine of shopping days." True, but that copy won't get me out of the house. "Dance Fever". Now there's something everyone knows. Somehow 'fever' came to be synonymous with 'passion'. Too bad for the rest of the ailments. Maybe someday we'll be talking excitedly about our Fashion Leprosy.

Profile
Seller: BrickFever PartWorks-Sale!
Store: http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=BrickFeverParts
Feedback (at time of writing): 6369
Feedback Ratio: 99.9% positive (touchy responses to the 8 non-positives)
Location: Netherlands, Zuid-Holland
Prices: Average

My Order
Order Size: 495 items, 12 lots
Condition: 100% New
Shipping Charge: Minimum PostNL rates
Other: €1 for orders under €10
Final Cost per Part: $0.05

Timeline
Order Date: Nov 8
Invoice Date: Nov 9
Payment Date: Nov 9
Shipping Date: Nov 10
Delivery Date: Nov 28

Order Details
Why this store: Needed 50 dark blue 2x2 tiles.
Packaging: Very well packed in little baggies, in a Tyvek bubble mailer.
Part condition: Good
Communication: Quick
Feedback left: Positive
Odd telltale signs: none
Issues: None

Recommendation

This store boasts over 1 million items. The selection is very good but all very new. Not many little treasures hiding out in corners. I always get a little rush going into a European store due to the hope of finding a neat old element at a decent price. Nothing like that here. They did however have some brand new stuff that I bought for a future Techniques post.

Bricklink Seller Review - Eye for Bricks

Have you ever considered your own world view? I don't mean regarding politics or religion or economics. I mean things like a cup of coffee. How many different countries have you had a cup of coffee in? It can be quite different around the world. I think too many people in the LEGO world have a very limited world view. Shipping is how much? Where's my order, is the seller a scammer? Why's this piece so expensive. Like many things, LEGO can be a great gateway to expanding your world view... if you let it.

Profile
Seller: Eye for Bricks
Store: http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=EyeForBricks
Feedback (at time of writing): 6157
Feedback Ratio: 98% positive (several old negs and neutrals)
Location: Netherlands, Noord Holland
Prices: Around average

My Order
Order Size: 93 items, 15 lots
Condition: 75% Used
Shipping Charge: Exact postage
Extra Fees: €1.25 for packaging under €25, paypal fees
Other: Mandatory Track&Trace for orders over €25
Final Cost per Part: $0.20

Timeline
Order Date: Feb 23
Invoice Date: Feb 24
Payment Date: Feb 24
Shipping Date: Feb 25
Delivery Date: Apr 11 (whoa, what?)

Order Details
Why this store: Had some parts for a commission that I had forgotten to order the first time around.
Packaging: All combined into 2 baggies, then in a thin cardboard box.
Part condition: Fine, had to remove a mark from one expensive piece. +1 for pink eraser!
Communication: Light
Feedback left: Positive
Odd telltale signs: None
Issues: None

Recommendation

Through no fault of the seller's, shipping time took over 6 weeks. I was pretty non-chalant about it, despite the fact that I had to borrow pieces from other projects and friends. The seller never bothered to check in though and was sure to let me know at one point that since I had chosen the non-trace method that he was not responsible. I would like to know what his reaction is when his orders take 6 weeks to arrive. Seller has left no less than 34 negs and 157 neutrals for other members. I guess I'm glad I didn't complain lest I would have received a neutral. Maybe the seller needs to be less reactive and more proactive?

Bricklink Seller Review - The Brickshop

It's been a while but I'm buying again.  And of course I should!  Bricks Cascade 2015 is right around the corner.  What better time to build then at the last minute!  This year I have upped my participation factor by volunteering as the Micro scale theme coordinator.  Last year there was one measly trophy.  This year it's going to ROCK!  I'm especially thrilled with having a Modulex category for the first time.  It would have been more exciting had LEGO Juris not bought out and shut down the up and coming re-release of the Modulex Bricks.  Regardless, the category stands and the trophy will obviously be made out of Modulex pieces.  Naturally, I had to find a seller with a large selection of the tiny brick.

Profile
Seller: The Brickshop
Store: http://www.bricklink.com/memberInfo.asp?u=legoworld.nl
Feedback (at time of writing): 1639
Feedback Ratio: 99.7% positive (decent to be sure)
Location: Netherlands
Prices: Around average

My Order
Order Size: 430 items, 75 lots
Condition: 82% Used
Shipping Charge: Well stated in store terms
Extra Fees: Charges for Paypal
Other: Min buy 10EUR
Final Cost per Part: $0.14

Timeline
Order Date: Jan 8
Invoice Date: Jan 9
Payment Date: Jan 9
Shipping Date: Jan 10
Delivery Date: Jan 16

Order Details
Why this store: Wide enough selection of Modulex
Packaging: Lots smartly combined into smaller baggies, packed into a larger baggie, taped to a cardboard backer, and shipped in a Tyvek mailer
Part condition: Very nice
Communication: Very friendly and prompt
Feedback left: Positive
Odd telltale signs: None
Issues: One tiny missing part, one extra part, a wash.

Recommendation
The Brickshop is an amazing resource for all sorts of little bits and bobs.  I scored Scala flower plates, odd colors, Clikits, Modulex, old 1x technic plates and all sorts of clever little pieces.  The proprietor is very communicative and the shipping and prices are reasonable.

Bricklink Seller Review - Gruttoshop

Grutto makes me think more of an Italian word for greedy or engorged.  Or maybe it sounds like a cross between Greedo and Watto.  It's nice to know that the word is actually Dutch for a type of shore bird similar to a sand piper.  That made me feel more warm and fuzzy that I was supporting wildlife instead of fat selfish narcissism.  I like wildlife much better.  Can this store offer both low, low prices AND great service?  Read on to find out!

Profile
Seller: Gruttoshop
Store: http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=grutto
Feedback (at time of writing): 852
Feedback Ratio: 99.4% (negs and neutrals are all over 3 years old)
Location: Netherlands, Utrecht
Prices: Well below 6 month average

My Order
Order Size: 30 lots, 107 pieces
Condition: 100% Used
Shipping Charge: Actual cost
Extra Fees: Paypal fees between 3,4% + €0,35 and 5.2% + €0,35.  Orders with a total under €12,50 (~$16.25) get an additional fee of €0,50 ($0.65).
Other:
Final Cost per Part: $0.10

Timeline
Order Date: Mar 04
Invoice Date: Mar 07
Payment Date: Mar 07
Shipping Date: Mar 08
Delivery Date: Mar 16

Order Details
Why this store: Received a wanted list notification from this seller.  They had added a large enough quantity of specific parts at very low prices.
Packaging: Bubble mailer, lots packed in baggies.  Most lots combined except for the higher priced ones.
Part condition: Good
Communication: None that was necessary.
Feedback left: Positive.
Odd telltale signs: Envelope was full of stamps
Issues: Shorted one minor filler part.
Issue Communication?:Didn't bother for 2.5c
Issue Resolution?:

Recommendation
Prices are very low as is the Dutch shipping rates.  I tried unsuccessfully to reach the minimum of €12,50 in order to avoid the service fee.  Due to the low prices I ended up throwing a bunch of junk into my cart.  After reviewing it I threw a lot out, reduced the weight down to the next lower shipping point (leaving 25% for the mailer) and called it good.  I ended up with some nice sand green and dark turquoise pieces for pennies each as well as getting my pet parts for roughly 2/3 off!  Some of the printed tiles were very scratched and not noted as such.  They were all around 2-3 pennies each and they are for hidden filler anyway but you might want to be aware of that.  Even if you can't meet the minimum to avoid the service charge, this store is still a great deal.

Bricklink Seller Review - Brick Brother

Any idea why we Americans call folks from the Netherlands Dutch?  The linguist in me can see that the words Dutch and Deutsch are related (though either one of them might deny it).  The languages certainly are similar.  But wait, the Dutch call their language Nederlands.  So we're back full circle, I suppose.  What really gets me is how these ingenious folks have drained the sea in order to expand their territory.  Or rather, not lose more of it.  Take that German engineering!

I have been very amenable to ordering from Dutch sellers in the past mostly due to their good used parts selection (meaning nice hoards of older stuff) and the exceptionally low prices of the Dutch postal service.  This was a very important order as it contained a load of trans dark pink needed to finish a MOC for an upcoming convention.  I gave the order plenty of time to arrive, over 5 weeks.

Profile
Seller: Brick Brother
Store: http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=BrickBrother
Feedback (at time of writing):656
Feedback Ratio: 99.85%
Location: Netherlands, Noord-Holland
Prices: On par with or lower than 6 month average

My Order
Order Size: 17 lots, 131 pieces
Condition: 98% Used
Shipping Charge: Actual cost
Extra Fees: 5% Paypal
Final Cost per Part: $0.15

Timeline
Order Date: Jan 29
Invoice Date: Jan 30
Payment Date: Jan 30
Shipping Date: Jan 31
Delivery Date: Feb 13

Order Details
Why this store: Had enough quantity of several specific parts.  Low-priced Modulex for bonus points!
Packaging: Bubble mailer, all parts stacked and put loose into one ziploc.
Part condition: Fair to good
Communication: Either brief or none but followed up with action.
Feedback left: None.  It's not that I was afraid of retaliatory feedback.  When I mentioned the issues with the order the seller says that he had many other buyers that were perfectly happy with stacked parts in one baggie.  I decided that I just wanted to leave the whole thing in the past.
Odd telltale signs: none
Issues: One part a little chewed, others with slight nicks or discoloration.  They were used, after all.  Parts were stacked.  Modulex listed as new were definitely used.  Some of this was able to be overlooked.  Not all.
Issue Communication: I mentioned the stacked parts, used looking new parts, and everything thrown into one baggie.
Issue Resolution: Sort of.  Sent a partial refund for the Modulex but it wasn't really a refund.  It was a payment meaning I got dinged $0.31 for a $0.37 refund.  Whoopee, $0.06. :-/  When I let them know the difference between a payment and a refund, they made good on the rest with an actual refund.

Recommendation
Prices and shipping are very reasonable.  Compared to other sellers though, the quality of the used parts was lacking a little.  I wasn't particularly thrilled with all the parts being stacked (did I mention that yet?).  Especially the 1x4 plates in a straight stack.  EsPECially the Modulex for which I have no proper parts separator tool.  My fingers are only made out of flesh after all.