Buying used bricks on bricklink

[legotrainfan]

I just want to ask you about the experiences you've made with used bricks bought on bricklink. A short time ago I got a used hinge bucket bought on bricklink. Its condition is terrible. There are slight coloured dots on it and a little hole in it through which you could probably push a needle. But I didn't complain. With this hinge bucket some other bricks that had been marked as new arrived as well. As their condition indicated, they were in excellent condition. And the seller was so kind to inform me that he had charged too much for shipping and transferred that money back to my bank account! Really honest! So I didn't complain though that used hinge bucket among the new bricks is in terrible condition.

On the other hand, I've made some good experiences with used bricks. I can remember buying old hinges from a German bricklink store: They looked like new! If they had been sold as new, I'd have believed it!

I hope this matter has not been discussed yet. Otherwise, please lock this topic or merge it with a similar topic.

[KimT]

The term 'used' is a troublesome one.

I've never had any problems buying 'used' on BL, but the only 'used' parts I buy there are when buying complete sets.

I usually go for new when buying single pieces, just to be sure.

[Maegnus]

I've made hundreds of BL orders (too many) over the last few years, and have bought many a "used" brick. In my experience, 75% of the time the bricks/figs are in near mint condition and could have even been reasonably passed off as new. Most BL sellers are pretty good about selling you quality bricks, and "used" is almost never indicative of crazy scratches or teeth marks. Sometimes you will of course get some that have minor scratches or discolouring, but I mean this is a risk that you are running when you choose to buy "used" bricks.

99% of the time, you will receive bricks that maintain their integrity and are respectable enough to use in your MOCs. Only once have I thrown out a few "used" pieces from an order, but it was from a new seller with less feedback and a small inventory.

After all, the AFOL community seems like a pretty friendly place to be, and I don't think many people are looking to rip you off. If you were unsatisfied with anything you receive, I'm sure a seller would do what he could to right the ship if you contacted them.

Edited April 17, 2009 by Maegnus

[CP5670]

I have gotten some used parts in the past. Some have been outstanding and others were mediocre. It's really hard to tell in general, especially since you rarely get any pictures on Bricklink unlike ebay. However, the average condition of used parts is better on BL than ebay, probably because the sellers are often Lego fans themselves and know what buyers want.

Still, I hardly ever buy any used parts these days unless it's specifically described as "like new" or something similar. If it's an expensive piece, I send a message to the seller asking about more details on the condition. Some stores are much better about this than others. One guy I bought from last summer said that all his used parts are in like new condition, and he was true to his word.

I occasionally buy some cheap test pieces from the seller to see what his idea of "good condition" is, especially if I want to buy used sets from him. In recent years, this has also become a useful tactic with brand new pieces, to figure out whether the seller is carrying pre-2007 bricks made of colored ABS pellets or the newer, low quality kind. I actually did this with PAB last year and when I found out that their white 1x2 and 1x4 plates were the older kind, I went and bought a couple hundred of them right away.

Edited April 17, 2009 by CP5670

[The Who]

Of the orders I have made on Bricklink, all of the used parts I have bought have generally been in excellent condition.

I often prefer to buy 'New' things either only when it is necessary or the parts are rare.