Importance of quality when buying used pieces?

[Nathan734]

I was thinking about selling used parts on Bricklink and was wondering if the pieces should be split into grades based on how undamaged/damaged a used part is. The end result would be maybe four separate listings for the same piece with different quantities based on how damaged/undamaged the piece is. Is getting damaged LEGO when buying from Bricklink a big deal; and if it is, is splitting each piece into four grades too much?

Edited November 13, 2016 by Nathan734

[DangAndBlast]

I think the three more common grades are probably enough - new, used, and describe it however you want but somewhat imperfect (yellowed, [edit: major] scratches, etc.) -- a structurally damaged part I'd only expect to see listed if it's very rare (a one-set part may still be in demand even with chips or a crack).  But in those cases you'd likely need to describe it piece by piece, not a generic "pieces may have cracks, holes, permanent marker, nail polish, or other imperfections" statement -- if you've got a quantity of that kind of pieces, I'd put it on eBay in a bulk-damaged lot instead.

Edited November 13, 2016 by DangAndBlast

[62Bricks]

Getting damaged parts is a big deal, so you should not sell them. Forget about complicated grading schemes - you don't have the time to classify thousands of parts - and just focus on two grades of used parts: those good enough to sell in your shop and those not good enough to sell. Set your own standard, and anything that doesn't meet it gets chucked in the "custom filler brick" box, or the "give to the kids/charity shop" box. You will save yourself a lot of time and will never have to worry about unhappy customers if you only sell used parts that are in very-good to like-new condition.

My own criterion is that if I am looking at a part and see a scratch or a ding and say to myself "Oh, nobody would probably care about that..." then I reject it.

I do not shop at Bricklink stores who grade their parts, or those who give blanket statements that their used parts may have scratches or dings. I'll give a shop a chance or two, and if the used parts don't meet my own standard, I don't shop there any more.

[Sven F]

Definitely don't sell any yellowed or scratched parts unless they are very rare with a disclaimer.   Generally the standard of used bricks on Bricklink is from really good to perfect condition.   I rarely get matte surfaced bricks in my orders and if I get one too many, I no longer buy anything there.  You can give yellowed or faded bricks to charities or sell them in bulk.  There are people who don't care about it, but it's just not worth the reputation of your shop.

[Littleworlds]

I agree with you guys above. As a customer you expect used parts being in very, very good condition. In most cases I find them actually indistinguishable from new parts.

[Tupiaz]

6 hours ago, Sven F said:

Definitely don't sell any yellowed or scratched parts unless they are very rare with a disclaimer.   Generally the standard of used bricks on Bricklink is from really good to perfect condition.   I rarely get matte surfaced bricks in my orders and if I get one too many, I no longer buy anything there.  You can give yellowed or faded bricks to charities or sell them in bulk.  There are people who don't care about it, but it's just not worth the reputation of your shop.

Or you could simply clean them with a hydrogen peroxide bath. It should be noted that instead of the sun you can use UV lights as hang has proven to be doing in another video.

 

[Sven F]

I used H2O2 a couple of times to whiten parts,  but had them yellow again within less than a year just by being stored in a closed container.  You might get mixed results depending on which era the bricks are from.  They seem to have used varying degrees of fire retardand in the material throughout the years.   I personally avoid buying used white and transparent pieces altogether unless i know the seller well. 

[MAB]

I'd like to see three grades:

New

Used - very good to excellent (looks like only used by an AFOL, not scratched, heavily used, been in a bucket for years ...)

Used - scratched or cracked (for old kids' lego)

 

I tend not to buy second hand / used at BL as I have found quality can be hugely variable. Some sellers so only very good quality used parts, but others will sell for example cracked torsos as used without noting the damage.

 

But BL is so very conservative, it'll take years to happen.

[Nathan734]

ok. Thanks for the replies. Selling like new used pieces seems to be the best option.

Edited November 14, 2016 by Nathan734