Quick Guide to 5 Knockoff LEGO Brands

Posted on November 13, 2014 by BrickingTips

LEGO knockoff products, informally known as LEGO clones, are toy construction sets that resemble LEGO products in both appearance and function. LEGO clones, often designed to be compatible with LEGO parts, are almost always priced cheaper than LEGO in stores. Some buyers, especially LEGO purists, accuse LEGO knockoff brands of producing products of inferior quality. Love ’em or loathe ’em, here’s a closer look at five major LEGO knockoffs.

1. Best-Lock Construction Toys
England-based Best-Lock features licensed sets for Terminator and Stargate SG-1. Other themes produced by the company include: town, farming, Wild West, pirates and military.

2. Character Building
England-based Character Building has licensing deals with Scooby Doo, Dr Who and Looney Toons. Other product lines include: H.M. Armed Forces, Monsters vs. Zombies, and Sports Stars.

3. Mega Bloks
Founded in 1967, Canada-based Mega Bloks is one of the most popular LEGO knockoffs in the United States. Mega Bloks has third-party licensing deals with popular franchises including: Hello Kitty, Halo, Call of Duty, among others. Mega Bloks products are carried by many of the same major retailers as LEGO, often occupying shelf space near LEGO products.

4. Nanoblock
Founded in 2008, Japan-based Nanoblock, manufactured by Kawada, have a similar brick design to LEGO but at much smaller scale (hence the name “nano”). Kawada holds licensing agreements with: The Adventures of Tintin, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, Mega Man and more.

5. Kre-O
Launched in 2011, Kre-O is a relative newcomer to toy construction sector. The company is marketed by toy giant Hasbro products are manufactured by South Korea-based Oxford. Kre-O licensing deals include: Transformers, Battleship, G.I. Joe, Star Trek, CityVille Invasion (based on a popular online game), and Dungeons & Dragons. The name Kre-o is derived from the Latin word “creo”, which means “I create.”

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LEGO Inventory Management 101: Examining Benefits and Costs of Keeping Inventory

Posted on November 6, 2014 by BrickingTips

If you are selling LEGO pieces or sets on eBay, Bricklink, or BrickOwl then you’re buying and storing an inventory somewhere in your home (e.g. closet, spare room, basement, sauna–okay, please don’t store your inventory in your sauna). Inventory refers to goods an individual or business keeps in stock in order to sell. Let’s consider some of the common benefits and costs of building and maintaining a LEGO inventory.

Benefits of building and maintaining your LEGO inventory:

Time
Having inventory in hand gives you flexibility and control over order lead time. Order lead time begins when the buyer places an order and ends when they receive their purchase. For example, a customer buys ten dark gray minifig shortswords on Monday. If the buyer receives the package on Thursday, then the order lead time is three days.

Seasonal Demand
LEGO parts, and especially LEGO sets, increase in demand in Fall and Winter months. Building up your inventory in advance of the holidays can help you meet the seasonal demand and prevent product shortages.

Uncertainty
Your inventory serves as a buffer for uncertainty, helping you weather fluctuations in supply and demand of LEGO sets and pieces.

Economies of scale
In some cases buying LEGO pieces in bulk can decrease the amount of money you spend on each piece.

Appreciation in Value
Sometimes LEGO pieces or sets may increase in value over time.

Costs of building and maintaining your LEGO inventory:

Dollars
LEGO inventory doesn’t appear out of thin air! You have to spend money to buy LEGO sets or pieces to resell.

Space
LEGO inventory occupies precious space in your house or apartment. Lucky for you, though, LEGO is generally smaller than many other products (e.g. golf clubs, televisions, cars, etc.). Many LEGO resellers store inventory on a bookshelf, in a spare room, or in the basement.

Time and Labor
 Even if you are a one person operation, maintaining your LEGO inventory takes your time and effort. Some examples of labor include: researching sets and pieces to buy, receiving inventory, checking the quality (making sure “new” LEGO pieces aren’t “used”), and pulling, packing and shipping orders.

Deterioration, Damage, Depreciation
LEGO pieces, like anything, can incur damage. Damage and deterioration will at best decrease the value of your LEGO pieces. At worst, you may have to dispose of pieces all together. Since the LEGO resale market is just that–a market–your pieces or sets may depreciate in value over months or years.

Theft or Loss
Not much to say here but if theft happens, you lose your money and your investment. Also, you or someone else with access to your inventory may misplace pieces over time or during a move.

Holding Cost
Keeping inventory in your possession costs money if it’s just lying around collecting dust. Holding cost includes some previously mentioned costs. One holding cost is storage cost (i.e. rent). Holding cost also includes opportunity cost. If too much of your money is tied up in inventory, then you may miss out on future purchasing opportunities. Also, the longer you keep an item in inventory, the more likely the item will incur damage, theft or loss.

Work Cited:
Muller, Max. Essentials of Inventory Management. 2nd ed. New York: AMACOM, 2011. Print.

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Got loose dust on your LEGO models or pieces? Try a dust blower!

Posted on October 30, 2014 by BrickingTips

The longer you leave your LEGO models or pieces out in your living room or basement, the more unsightly dust they will accumulate. Used LEGO lots purchased from eBay, Craiglist, or garage sales also commonly contain dusty LEGO pieces. Using a dust blower is an easy, inexpensive and effective way to remove dust from your LEGO pieces. It’s also a one-time purchase that you can use for years to come.

So what is a dust blower, anyway?
A dust blower is a simple hand-held device designed to remove loose specs of dust from surfaces. Dust blowers are typically marketed to remove specs from camera lens’, but they can remove loose dust from a variety of surfaces. A dust blower works when a user squeezes the bulb of the duster blower, creating a puff of that air shoots out of the nozzle and blows the dust off the target surface.

Where can I buy a dust blower?
Amazon, eBay and other online retailers offer a variety of dust blowers, typically ranging in price from a few dollars up to $15 or so. Camera stores should also carry them. I recommend Giottos Rocket Air Blasters. Not only are they well made, reliable air blasters, but Giottos’ also look like a small rocket (as their name would suggest!). Cool. Dust blowers come in a variety of sizes, so select the size to fit your needs.

How often should I dust my LEGO projects?
Dusting LEGO projects once a month or so should suffice. A small effort in the short term will save you a larger effort in the long term.

Beyond dust blowers
Large-scale MOCs and caked-on dust may demand a more thorough cleaning. Compressed-air, typically used for cleaning computer keyboards and electronics, creates a more powerful air stream than a dust blower and can save you time cleaning large LEGO projects. Also, brushes (paint brushes, makeup brushes, camera cleaning brushes, etc.) can help you reach tricky nooks and crannies. Dust or dirt that is caked onto your LEGO pieces may ultimately require a good wash with mild soap and water.
***
Don’t let your LEGO end up looking like abandoned pieces of your childhood. Keep your LEGO models and pieces looking shiny and new with a dust blower.

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How Packages Can Be Delayed Beyond Your Control

Posted on October 23, 2014 by BrickingTips

Most of your eBay shipments, even the ones headed to all corners of the earth, will be delivered quickly and without incident, but every now and then some of your packages will get stalled somewhere in the pipeline, delaying delivery to your buyer. Let’s take a closer look at different ways your eBay packages can be delayed beyond your control.

Stuck in Customs (International Shipments Only)
International packages shipped via USPS First Class International or USPS Priority International often arrive at their destination in a week or two. Sometimes upon arrival, though, packages can become stalled by customs. Sometimes the tracking number or customs number will provide an update that the package has entered customs. Unfortunately, sometimes tracking will not mention customs at all. If an international buyer messages you, asking when their package, tell them to allow up to a month or so for delivery. Most experienced international buyers are aware of possible delays. Before sending a buyer a refund for a lost international package, wait between 30 and 40 days after shipment.

Weather, Civil Unrest and Strikes
If several buyers from the same country message you, wondering about delivery status, a quick Google search or glance at the eBay message boards should arm you with basic information about systemic delays.

The Midwest and East Coast of the United States got pounded with heavy snowstorms throughout the winter of 2013, resulting in massive postal delays. Hurricanes and heavy rain can also easily stall packages since poor skies can ground planes and poor road conditions can delay trucks. Keep informed on national storm systems.

Most buyers are laware of local weather, strikes and civil unrest and thus are aware of delays, but nevertheless some buyers may still ask you why delivery is taking so long. I had a package going to Australia delayed by an airline strike. The buyer was getting ants pants (as the Aussies say) and pressuring me to mail a replacement item. I politely held firm, citing the strike as the likely source of delay. Sure enough, the package arrived a few days later.

Alert the buyer to the source of the delay and thank them for their patience. I usually write something like:
Unfortunately, Winter Storm Nemo has delayed mail delivery to your area. I’m sorry delivery is taking longer than usual. Your package should be arriving soon after weather conditions improve. Thank you for your patience!

Here are a few guidelines–not hard and fast rules–for how long to wait before treating a package as lost.

UNITED STATES SHIPMENTS
USPS First Class and Priority Mail: wait at least two weeks
USPS First Class typically arrives within three business days and Priority Mail should arrive in two business days, but a storm or strike may delay delivery.

USPS Media Mail and Parcel Select: wait at least 30 days
Delivery times for both Media Mail and Parcel Select vastly varies. Media Mail moves through the USPS system on a space available basis. Think of your Media Mail as flying standby. For LEGO related items, though, you’d only be using Media Mail to ship LEGO instruction booklets.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS
Allow at least 30-40 days for delivery no matter how you ship the package. Why? Whether you ship with Priority Mail Express International or First Class International (slightly slower, in theory) ANY package can become delayed in customs.

 

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Goldy Gopher Dresses as LEGO Minifigure During Minnesota Homecoming Football Game

Posted on October 18, 2014 by BrickingTips

Goldy Gopher, college mascot for the University of Minnesota, dons a LEGO minifigure inspired costume during the university’s homecoming football game on October 18, 2014 against Purdue University.

minnesota-goldy-gopher-minifig-costume

Mascot Goldy Gopher (lower right) rocks a LEGO minifigure inspired costume on the sidelines at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

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Customs Fees Explained: A Quick Guide for Ebay International Shipments

Posted on October 16, 2014 by BrickingTips

At some point during your eBay selling adventures you will face buyers upset about paying customs fees. Some buyers may message you (“The post office won’t give me my order until I pay a customs fee. Do I really have to pay this?”). Others may leave you a neutral or negative feedback comment (“Great items, but not happy that I needed to pay an £11.72 in customs fees”). Both examples were culled from my actual selling experience.

What are customs fees?
Customs fees are import taxes that international buyers may be required to pay in order to pick up their order from the post office. Buyers, whether they like it or not, are responsible for paying duties, taxes, and customs clearance fees. Ebay sellers are legally obligated to write the actual price of the item on the customs form. It’s illegal for eBay sellers to write a lower value on the customs form or to mark the item as a “gift” in order to evade customs fees. If a buyer asks you falsify a customs form, report the buyer to eBay.

Who determines the customs fee and collects the money?
Customs fees are imposed and collected by the buyer’s country. Some countries charge high fees and some charge low fees. Every country is different. Check out DutyCalculator.com to learn about the rules and customs fee rates in a variety of countries. The site provides free country guides and also a duty calculator. Unfortunately the calculator only gives you a few free calculations before you’re required to pay for additional look ups. The country guides, however, can give you a sense of what your buyers may have to pay.

Usually customs fees will cost a percentage of the the total value of the shipment (item’s selling price PLUS shipping and insurance charges). Sounds a little like sales tax, right? In addition to a percentage fee, some countries also charge a handling fee for the inspection or appraisal of the item. Sometimes the handling fee exceeds the percentage fee in price. Not cool, I know, but I didn’t write the rules.

How to warn buyers about potential customs fees
As of 2012, “eBay now automatically adds a customs notification message under shipping details on the Item page for international transactions” (see eBay’s 2012 Spring Seller Update).

Even though eBay says you don’t need a customs fee disclaimer in your listing anymore, adding one is easy and doesn’t hurt anything. You can copy and paste this disclaimer written by eBay:
International Buyers – Please Note: 
Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.

If you’re selling LEGO on any non-eBay selling platforms, you’ll want to include a similar disclaimer somewhere in your listings/storefront.
* * *
Although nobody likes paying extra money, customs fees are a part of life for many international buyers. If a buyer ever has questions about the fees, ask them to contact their local customs office.

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Oops, My Bad: 3 eBay Seller Screw Ups and How to Fix Them

Posted on October 9, 2014 by BrickingTips

Ebay seller errors happen. How you deal with the mistake will show your buyer your true nature. Here are three common eBay seller errors with advice on how to fix them and, even better, how to prevent them.

Seller Error 1: Miscounting LEGO Pieces
Sometimes buyers may purchase 100 or 1000 of the same LEGO piece. Maybe you miscounted and accidentally shorted a buyer two of this piece or seven of that piece.

How to Fix It: Give the buyer multiple options. Sometimes running two pieces short could mean the buyer’s LEGO project is short two pieces. Offer a refund equal to or greater than the cost of the missing pieces. Getting an order missing a few pieces sucks and it’s sadly a common problem. If you refund a little extra, maybe a dollar or two, the buyer might not feel as bad. Also, offer to mail the missing parts (if you have them). Buyers will appreciate the gesture, but in my experience many will take the refund.
How to Prevent It: The easiest way to prevent shorting a buyer is to include a few extras. Also, breaking down the counting task into smaller more manageable chunks will help your accuracy. For example if you need to count 1000, count in groups of 100.

Selling Error 2: Shipping the buyer the wrong item
Maybe you mailed the buyer an incorrect item because it looks very similar. Maybe you mixed up two buyers’ orders, sending each buyer the order of the other buyer (ouch!).

How to Fix It: Have the buyer return the item to you if you mailed them another buyer’s order. If you simply mailed the buyer the wrong item out of your inventory, you may consider letting them keep lower value items so they don’t have to bother shipping it back. Since you (the seller) screwed up, make sure you pay for the return shipping.
How to Prevent It: Print out a packing slip for each order and double check that the item title matches the item that you’re shipping. Also, match the photo to the item that you’re shipping.

Selling Error 3: Shipping the buyer scuffed up LEGO pieces as “new”

Some LEGO items can very easily become scuffed up during sorting. LEGO tiles, panels and glass are easily scuffed up.
How to Fix It: Offer the buyer a partial refund or allow the buyer to return the item for a full refund. Make sure you pay the return shipping.
How to Prevent It: Examine your LEGO pieces before listing them and describe any defects in your listing. You may also consider listing new items as used to avoid confusion.

* * *
The only protection against all of these selling errors is vigilance and a sharp eye. Always strive for excellence, but if you make a mistake, own up and fix it FAST and fix it BETTER than the buyer’s expecting. After all, you made the mistake (mea culpa), not the buyer.

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A Mixed Bag: 5 Factors to Consider Before Buying Unsorted Bulk LEGO Lots

Posted on October 2, 2014 by BrickingTips

Although purchasing bulk LEGO lots from garage sales, thrift stores, Craigslist or eBay can boost your inventory and your profits, they can just as easily waste your time and money, if you’re not careful. Here are five factors to consider before buying unsorted bulk lots of LEGO.

1. Bulk lots of LEGO can be mixed with non-LEGO items
Sometimes knowingly or unknowingly that “LEGO” lot you buy can be filled with LEGO knockoff items like Mega Bloks. Watch out! Mega Bloks looks very similar to LEGO, unless inspected up close. Some people just assume all bricks are LEGO because they don’t know any better. Other irrelevant items can turn up in unsorted LEGO lots as well. I’ve found action figures, Hotwheels, coins, used batteries and twigs.

2. Bulk lots of LEGO need cleaning and sorting
Get the wash pan ready! Most bulk lots are at least a little dusty – and sometimes sticky (eww!) – and need a good cleaning before you resell the pieces. You can clean most LEGO pieces in a tub of warm water with dish soap. Rinse the pieces thoroughly and then spread them out to dry on a towel overnight. After they’re clean you’ll need to decide how to sort the pieces. Will you group by color? Will you group together all of bricks, plates and tiles? Will you try to reconstruct a set? Pull out the minifigs? Whatever you choose, sorting, like cleaning, takes time.

3. Proceed with caution when buying eBay bulk LEGO lots by the pound
Do a quick eBay search for bulk LEGO and you will find many listings for LEGO by the pound featuring sample pictures. Generic stock photos are nearly useless because you have no idea which pieces you will actually receive. Some sellers pick out all of the “good” pieces (i.e. minifigs, accessories, rare pieces, etc.) before listing the leftovers on eBay. Also, without a picture of the actual pieces you can’t be sure that you will receive genuine LEGO pieces. Before buying bulk lots on eBay, read the seller’s recent feedback to see if other buyers were satisfied with the quality of the bulk lots. Even then, though, buying LEGO lots with sample pictures remains risky. Don’t get yours hopes up that the lot will contain any hidden gems like a 2002 Jango Fett minifig.

4. Don’t assume all bulk LEGO lots are automatically good deal
LEGO has exploded in popularity in the past decade and people are becoming wise to the potential value of the little plastic bricks. Sometimes sellers at garage sales or flea markets may even overestimate the value of a bulk LEGO lot. Just because you’re buying a bulk lot from a bargain hunting environment like a flea market or garage sale, that doesn’t magically make the vendor’s asking price a good deal. Besides, prices at garage sales and flea market are usually negotiable anyway, so talk down the price whenever possible.

5. Take bigger LEGO risks, reap bigger LEGO rewards
This article has mostly served as a cautionary tale. Bulk lots can reap nice profits, though, after factoring in all of the drawbacks. I once sold a General Grievous minifig pulled from a five pound bulk lot. The bulk lot cost $20 and my Grievous minifig sold for $13. So with the sale of one piece I was able to recoup over half of my initial investment and I still had roughly another five pounds of LEGO to sell. Not too shabby. Themed minifigs (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc) and minifig accessories can be worth their weight in gold when you pull them from bulk lots.
* * *
Good luck in your bulk lot quest! You could find a General Grievous minifig or you could get stuck with a bag of Mega Bloks. Life is like an unsorted bulk LEGO lot–you never know what you’re going to get.

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Four Simple Ways to Decrease Packing Weight of Your eBay Shipments (and save money!)

Posted on September 25, 2014 by BrickingTips
Cardboard Box and Bubble Mailer

The box (left) weighs 1.2 ounces while the bubble mailer (right) weighs only 0.2 ounces.

Always make sure that you’re packing your eBay shipments safely and securely. That said, there are a few easy steps you can take to shave off ounces or fractions of ounces from your shipment’s weight.

Sometimes a mere fraction of an ounce kicks you up to a more expensive shipping rate. The dreaded price difference between USPS First Class (for packages 13 ounces and under) and USPS Priority Mail (packages over 13 ounces) comes to mind.

Here are four simple ways you can decrease your shipping weight and save you money.

1. Use a padded envelope instead of a box
Padded envelopes are lighter than boxes, but if you’re afraid that the item will break in an envelope, just stick with your box and pay a bit more for shipping. Better safe than sorry.

2. Choose a smaller or lighter envelope
Some bubble mailers, even mailers with the same dimensions, weigh a few tenths of of an ounce more than others. Every bubble mailer brand is different, so it’s worth checking if you have any other slightly lighter envelopes lying around.

3. Cut down the padded envelope
If you’re using a padded envelope that’s twice the size of your eBay order, you might consider cutting the envelope in half to save a few tenths of an ounce in packing weight. The down side of cutting down envelopes is you’re cutting away part or all of the adhesive strip. When sealing cut down envelopes, make sure you carefully and thoroughly tape the envelope closed.

Air pillows, bubble wrap and Kraft paper

Right: air pillows weight 0.2 ounces
Middle: bubble wrap weights 0.5 ounces
Right: brown Kraft paper weighs 1.2 ounces

4. Find lighter packing material
Not all packing material is created equal. Brown Kraft paper or crumpled newspaper can make excellent packing material when weight is not an issue. But when every fraction of an ounce matters, you’ll probably want to select lighter packing material like: bubble wrap, shipping air pillows, or packing peanuts.

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Comparing USPS Small Flat Rate Boxes vs. USPS Flat Rate Padded Envelope for LEGO Parts Shipments

Posted on September 18, 2014 by BrickingTips

Using Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes and envelopes can help save you and your buyers money in shipping costs on heavier LEGO parts orders (packages that weigh above 13 ounces). Flat Rate boxes and envelopes are great because the boxes and envelopes are FREE and you pay a reasonably priced flat rate for the shipment regardless of the weight (up to 70 lbs within the United States). As an added bonus, you don’t even need bust out your postal scale (sweet!).

So how do you get your hands on free USPS Flat Rate Boxes and Padded Envelopes? You can pick Small Flat Rate Box easily by visiting your local post office or by ordering them on USPS.com (free shipping). Padded Flat Rate Envelopes, on the other hand, are NOT kept in stock at the post office. You must order them on USPS.com (free shipping).

In terms of volume, the Flat Rate Padded Envelope serves as a fantastic shipping option with a much higher volume capacity than Small Flat Rate Boxes for roughly the same postage price. Yes, you can stuff flat rate envelopes full.  Just make sure your LEGO items are still packed safely and securely and you can still seal the envelope.

USPS Priority Mail 2-Day Small Flat Rate Box
Dimensions: 8-5/8″ x 5-3/8″ x 1-5/8″
Rate at the Post Office: $5.95 (Online Price: $5.25)
Available at Post Office: Yes
Available Online: Yes (order Small Flat Rate Boxes free on USPS.com)

USPS Priority Mail 2-Day Flat Rate Padded Envelope
Dimensions: 12-1/2″ x 9-1/2″
Rate at the Post Office: $6.10 (Online Price: $5.70)
Available at Post Office: No (must order free on USPS.com)
Available Online: Yes (order Flat Rate Padded Envelopes free on USPS.com)

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