Bricklink is simply a network of e-stores where every lego brick in existence has been catalogued into one gigantic database so its easy to find the parts you want. All the sellers are forced to put a unit price on each brick so it's easy to find the best price.
Shipping (and lego prices) will vary from store to store and most stores have a 'minimum value' for purchases which is usually $10. The trick is finding a single store with everything (or enough of) you want for a decent price so you don't don't have to shop at multiple stores and pay multiple shipping.
Some stores will give you a good idea of what to expect to pay for shipping on their 'shipping/postage information' page or even their home page. However the best way to get a shipping estimate is to place an order and wait for the invoice or simply shoot the seller an email.
Bricklink is great when you're after a particular brick or stumble across a pretty good store however in general you can get far more value for money buying in bulk from ebay.
I find with bricklink, if you have the patience, you can obtain all the pieces for a full set at a cost less than the actual set. However, you have do alot of searching between stores for parts but for me thats okay, since I enjoy the whole experience. From experience, I find the Euro-based sellers more reliable as the 2 US sellers I've gotten pieces from, their pieces weren't as high quality - one even had chew marks not listed in the description! (it should be noted the seller has since resent replacement pieces out). You will find it much easier to use bricklink if you learn what particular pieces are. Like if its a brick, plate, wedge, tile etc.... makes searching significantly easier. Use the reference option to look at particular sets and then see what category they are cataloged under. I have found bricklink to be the best place to do all my lego shopping.
Was that a European seller?
And yes , I've already been looking at that site. Started about 3 nights ago and I'm very addicted to searching those stores.
Here's a question, how do you guys store Lego parts? Like when you disassemble them and then put the parts away for other projects/ideas? Do you just use one giant tub? Or do u put them in separate compartelmentalised tubs? I'm looking at a range of storage options atm for parts as the majority of my sets will get taken apart so any advice is welcomed
Last edited by STL; 16th August 2008 at 12:36 PM.
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Ziplock bags with the set number written on them with a sharpie, then store those in a big tub. If it's a large set, I tend to seperate based on brick types, such as "special" (transparent, printed, smooth tiled, other small bits), and then "the rest" in another bag.
If I use multiple bags, aside from the set number, I also put say, 1/3, 2/3, 3/3 on them too so I know how many bags there should be.
Same as instructions, put them in a large ziplock together too so they stay nice and flat and don't get that "weathered chewed up" look that some papers tend to get.
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