Can no longer buy parts from Bricks and Pieces on [email protected]!?

mustang69

Has anyone else noticed, at least in the US, that you cant buy parts from the Bricks and Pieces page on the [email protected] site? I'm not talking about the Pick A Brick page but the page where you could get replacement parts. There used to be the option to get missing parts, replace broken parts or to just buy parts but now there is just the option for the missing or broken parts. It's a little disappointing if this is permanent as I had gotten some good parts from there recently, like http://brickset.com/parts/4518410  and http://brickset.com/parts/6093908. Plus some other odds and ends.

Hopefully this is just a site issue and it comes back.

Lego_Star

@mustang69
Last year bricks n pieces took a "holiday" for the month of January (and about 2/3 of December). It was there for broken and missing replacements but not purchases. 

Granted, last year there was a notice in the customer services area saying when the last order date was and when they would be back, that was conspicuously absent this year but I'm hopeful it's just the same as last year.

If it's not back in February I expect I'll make some noise. I'm quite sure I won't be alone. 

chrisalddin

never know of this.
how recently is recently?

madforLEGO

Its been going on for at least 2 years I believe.
Someone else in another thread voiced the same concern. When i spoke to CS in December they said it will be back available by February.

chrisalddin

i take it there is a limit to the number of parts you can order from this?
there have been parts that i would loved to have more off. to Build a Moc but Pick a Brick dont have that part.

Coolguy5000

chrisalddin said:

i take it there is a limit to the number of parts you can order from this?
there have been parts that i would loved to have more off. to Build a Moc but Pick a Brick dont have that part.

The limit is 200 per unique  part and up to 100 different  parts. With a flat shipping  rate no matter  how much  you  buy

mustang69

I ordered a bunch of parts back in November (including the ones I mentioned above). The really interesting thing was that some of the parts on the Bricks and Pieces page were slightly cheaper than the Pick A Brick page.

The shipping was free with the other sets that I ordered (about $140 worth). The only down side was the Bricks and Pieces items didnt count towards the $99 for the free Gingerbread House so I had to get a another set to bump it up to the threshold.

chrisalddin

scoiltreasa said:

chrisalddin said:

i take it there is a limit to the number of parts you can order from this?
there have been parts that i would loved to have more off. to Build a Moc but Pick a Brick dont have that part.

The limit is 200 per unique  part and up to 100 different  parts. With a flat shipping  rate no matter  how much  you  buy

so, that is let see, a Max of 20.000 parts in one order? i take it that this would get a lot of bell's ringing? lol

well this look's to be a better system then pick a Brick? so
WHY the hell do we have pick a Brick?

chrisalddin

mustang69 said:

I ordered a bunch of parts back in November (including the ones I mentioned above). The really interesting thing was that some of the parts on the Bricks and Pieces page were slightly cheaper than the Pick A Brick page.

The shipping was free with the other sets that I ordered (about $140 worth). The only down side was the Bricks and Pieces items didnt count towards the $99 for the free Gingerbread House so I had to get a another set to bump it up to the threshold.

Dam,, ok, so i take it. it also dont count to VIP points.
still. i will keep an eye open for this it may work out better for me to use this then Pick a Brick. sorry now i can only think of Pick a Brick as "gimped Pick a Brick" as the pick a Brick system looks a little useless next to what i just read about the Brick and Pieces system.

mustang69

chrisalddin said:

mustang69 said:

I ordered a bunch of parts back in November (including the ones I mentioned above). The really interesting thing was that some of the parts on the Bricks and Pieces page were slightly cheaper than the Pick A Brick page.

The shipping was free with the other sets that I ordered (about $140 worth). The only down side was the Bricks and Pieces items didnt count towards the $99 for the free Gingerbread House so I had to get a another set to bump it up to the threshold.

Dam,, ok, so i take it. it also dont count to VIP points.
still. i will keep an eye open for this it may work out better for me to use this then Pick a Brick. sorry now i can only think of Pick a Brick as "gimped Pick a Brick" as the pick a Brick system looks a little useless next to what i just read about the Brick and Pieces system.

Correct, the Bricks and Pieces did not count towards VIP points.

CCC

Bricks and Pieces do count towards VIP points if you buy during a double points promo. Last year they credited single points to bricks and pieces orders during double points time. I guess they use an algorithm that gives you points for all orders, then takes off single points for bricks and pieces orders.

chrisalddin

CCC said:

Bricks and Pieces do count towards VIP points if you buy during a double points promo. Last year they credited single points to bricks and pieces orders during double points time. I guess they use an algorithm that gives you points for all orders, then takes off single points for bricks and pieces orders.

good to know.
BUT the big question is Why was it pulled down to start with?

CCC

Because they close down over and after Christmas as they have loads of complaints / queries to deal with.

Bumblepants

Christmas kiddies need to get the bricks they lost in the carpet replaced. Once the demand dies down they go back to selling

chrisalddin

so it's an every year thing?
seem odd. if prick a brick is still running.
i just don't understand it, i have to be missing some thinking about how it works. V pick a Brick.

chrisalddin

Bumblepants said:

Christmas kiddies need to get the bricks they lost in the carpet replaced. Once the demand dies down they go back to selling

and that is what i was missing Thanks.

datsunrobbie

CCC said:

Bricks and Pieces do count towards VIP points if you buy during a double points promo. Last year they credited single points to bricks and pieces orders during double points time. I guess they use an algorithm that gives you points for all orders, then takes off single points for bricks and pieces orders.

I write inventory control software for a living. Unless LEGO noted the exception on the website, it sounds to me like a bug in the routine that counts VIP points for the double points award is looking at the total piece count, rather than piece count excluding Bricks and Pieces.

CCC

I don't think Lego employ a professional inventory controller or website programmer.

If they do, they probably need a new one. :-)

TigerMoth

CCC said:

I don't think Lego employ a professional inventory controller or website programmer.

If they do, they probably need a new one. :-)

That's correct. They are currently seeking a "Customer Planning & Inventory Manager".

http://www.lego.com/en-gb/careers/jobdescriptionpage?title=Customer+Planning+%26+Inventory+Manager&id=53322095

BrickCreator

I was always curious how Bricks & pieces worked. Do they send you a quote after which you can purchase from a [email protected] cart, or is it separate.

I wonder how many "missing piece" requests are legit. I have had over 500 sets over 10 years and never once had a missing piece.

TigerMoth

BrickCreator said:

I wonder how many "missing piece" requests are legit. I have had over 500 sets over 10 years and never once had a missing piece.

I suspect that they have a feel how people are likely to cheat and score requests on that basis - and then ban you for life when the alarm bells ring too loudly.

mustang69

BrickCreator said:

I was always curious how Bricks & pieces worked. Do they send you a quote after which you can purchase from a [email protected] cart, or is it separate.

It's pretty much just like the Pick A Brick site but you have to know the element ID of what you are looking for. There isnt a list to choose from like with PaB. But it all gets added to the same cart. So you could potentially have BaP, PaB and Sets in your cart at one time.

BrickCreator

mustang69 said:

BrickCreator said:

I was always curious how Bricks & pieces worked. Do they send you a quote after which you can purchase from a [email protected] cart, or is it separate.

It's pretty much just like the Pick A Brick site but you have to know the element ID of what you are looking for. There isnt a list to choose from like with PaB. But it all gets added to the same cart. So you could potentially have BaP, PaB and Sets in your cart at one time.

@mustang69Someone above mentioned a flat shipping rate no matter the order size.

"The limit is 200 per unique  part and up to 100 different  parts. With a flat shipping  rate no matter  how much  you  buy"

Or does it get added to the [email protected] cart and you have to get $75 like normal to get free shipping?

Coolguy5000

BrickCreator said:

mustang69 said:

BrickCreator said:

I was always curious how Bricks & pieces worked. Do they send you a quote after which you can purchase from a [email protected] cart, or is it separate.

It's pretty much just like the Pick A Brick site but you have to know the element ID of what you are looking for. There isnt a list to choose from like with PaB. But it all gets added to the same cart. So you could potentially have BaP, PaB and Sets in your cart at one time.

@mustang69Someone above mentioned a flat shipping rate no matter the order size.

"The limit is 200 per unique  part and up to 100 different  parts. With a flat shipping  rate no matter  how much  you  buy"

Or does it get added to the [email protected] cart and you have to get $75 like normal to get free shipping?

Hi should  have clarified  more. If only ordering from bricks and pieces and nothing else then there is a flat shipping  rate per country. If you  however  are ordering  other items and the total is over the free shipping threshold (in your  case $75 excluding  bricks and pieces) then there is no bricks and pieces shipping  charge.  Hope that clarifies  things for you. 

BrickCreator

I see, so I have to get to $75 first in regular [email protected] merch. first and then bricks and pieces will ship free. Otherwise, there is an additional charge. Thanks for the clarification!

CCC

That's not correct. If you meet the free shipping threshold INCLUDING bricks and pieces then you get free shipping. All my £50 orders include a single pair of legs or a brick from PAB. You save almost £2 and get a free part.

BrickCreator

Interesting. That makes more sense, I guess. 

chrisalddin

CCC said:

That's not correct. If you meet the free shipping threshold INCLUDING bricks and pieces then you get free shipping. All my £50 orders include a single pair of legs or a brick from PAB. You save almost £2 and get a free part.

Brick dam it WHY did i not think of that....
i spant days planing how to spend and save money for biger set's yet still feed my need to buy new stuff. so i was added a minifig (2.49 to any order that was under 50 normal by 3p or so.
Now you give me the key, i can get a 6p brick, and ... AND!
any order that is .99p will be push over the 99p so that i get 1 more VIP point, and the point 99p is not lost from VIP.
it been bugging me for a week that the lowest item is a minifig. but it not there are stuff for 6p

question do not lego get a bit irritated at 1 or 2 brick being ordered from pick a Brick, as that takes longer to do?
and how it come any how what the pick a brick packing like.

chrisalddin

mustang69 said:

BrickCreator said:

I was always curious how Bricks & pieces worked. Do they send you a quote after which you can purchase from a [email protected] cart, or is it separate.

It's pretty much just like the Pick A Brick site but you have to know the element ID of what you are looking for. There isnt a list to choose from like with PaB. But it all gets added to the same cart. So you could potentially have BaP, PaB and Sets in your cart at one time.

element ID's are the ID's in the back of all Instruction book's? right?

CCC

chrisalddin said:

CCC said:

That's not correct. If you meet the free shipping threshold INCLUDING bricks and pieces then you get free shipping. All my £50 orders include a single pair of legs or a brick from PAB. You save almost £2 and get a free part.

Brick dam it WHY did i not think of that....
i spant days planing how to spend and save money for biger set's yet still feed my need to buy new stuff. so i was added a minifig (2.49 to any order that was under 50 normal by 3p or so.
Now you give me the key, i can get a 6p brick, and ... AND!
any order that is .99p will be push over the 99p so that i get 1 more VIP point, and the point 99p is not lost from VIP.
it been bugging me for a week that the lowest item is a minifig. but it not there are stuff for 6p

question do not lego get a bit irritated at 1 or 2 brick being ordered from pick a Brick, as that takes longer to do?
and how it come any how what the pick a brick packing like.

You do actually get credited with part points, they just get rounded down.

PAB come in bubble envelopes normally, although it depends on the order size. All single parts I have ordered have come in a bubbe envelope. Who knows if they get annoyed? They keep allowing customers to buy like that with no minimum, so I assume they don't care. The danger of adding a CMF or keychain is that these small items are sent with your main order and can damage boxes (if that matters to you).

madforLEGO

chrisalddin said:

mustang69 said:

BrickCreator said:

I was always curious how Bricks & pieces worked. Do they send you a quote after which you can purchase from a [email protected] cart, or is it separate.

It's pretty much just like the Pick A Brick site but you have to know the element ID of what you are looking for. There isnt a list to choose from like with PaB. But it all gets added to the same cart. So you could potentially have BaP, PaB and Sets in your cart at one time.

element ID's are the ID's in the back of all Instruction book's? right?

Yes, and not all parts appear in parts direct, but you can also search by set number and it should list the parts available (but usually licensed parts are left off or not sold)

chrisalddin

CCC said:

You do actually get credited with part points, they just get rounded down.

PAB come in bubble envelopes normally, although it depends on the order size. All single parts I have ordered have come in a bubbe envelope. Who knows if they get annoyed? They keep allowing customers to buy like that with no minimum, so I assume they don't care. The danger of adding a CMF or keychain is that these small items are sent with your main order and can damage boxes (if that matters to you).

ok, i see what you are saying here.
the poly-bag freebies come with the main order, so there is almost always a danger of damage boxes. and to me yes it dose mater on the box. but there is not a lot you can do about that, i not going to send back a item if the box has a little damage to it,
it will tick me off to the end's of the earth but. i will live with it by ignoring it.

still what i will probably do is pick a brick add about 2.03 or there about of said brick, and build up a the brick's i have to Moc with, 1st one on the list is 1x2 with TECHNIC hole for Modular Building Moc. i plan to do.


@anyone
BTW on BAP can you get 16x32 base plates?

kiki180703

chrisalddin said:

CCC said:

You do actually get credited with part points, they just get rounded down.

PAB come in bubble envelopes normally, although it depends on the order size. All single parts I have ordered have come in a bubbe envelope. Who knows if they get annoyed? They keep allowing customers to buy like that with no minimum, so I assume they don't care. The danger of adding a CMF or keychain is that these small items are sent with your main order and can damage boxes (if that matters to you).

ok, i see what you are saying here.
the poly-bag freebies come with the main order, so there is almost always a danger of damage boxes. and to me yes it dose mater on the box. but there is not a lot you can do about that, i not going to send back a item if the box has a little damage to it,
it will tick me off to the end's of the earth but. i will live with it by ignoring it.

still what i will probably do is pick a brick add about 2.03 or there about of said brick, and build up a the brick's i have to Moc with, 1st one on the list is 1x2 with TECHNIC hole for Modular Building Moc. i plan to do.


@anyone
BTW on BAP can you get 16x32 base plates?

Yes you can.

chrisalddin

kiki180703 said:

Yes you can.

YES.!!!!
i will need some :)

snowhitie

Just to clarify about the shipping etc, pick a brick or PAB , so the one on the main site will count towards the amount of money you need for free shipping. You also get VIP points for it and, depending on the promotion, it did help passing for that.

Ifyou  buy from bricks and pieces (so BAP to make things confusing), where you get to through customer service link on website, there is a flat sending rate which gets added to your order as well, this is only a euro and a half or something though. Also you get no VIP points.

This is how it is in Europe anyway. I order quite regularly and And price-wise, I've usually found pieces on the PAB cheaper especially if you take into account the extra shipping/VIP. But there are exceptions. Prices of the BAP change more frequently as well.

Coolguy5000

snowhitie said:

Just to clarify about the shipping etc, pick a brick or PAB , so the one on the main site will count towards the amount of money you need for free shipping. You also get VIP points for it and, depending on the promotion, it did help passing for that.

Ifyou  buy from bricks and pieces (so BAP to make things confusing), where you get to through customer service link on website, there is a flat sending rate which gets added to your order as well, this is only a euro and a half or something though. Also you get no VIP points.

This is how it is in Europe anyway. I order quite regularly and And price-wise, I've usually found pieces on the PAB cheaper especially if you take into account the extra shipping/VIP. But there are exceptions. Prices of the BAP change more frequently as well.

Got it in one! Watch out  for price mistakes. That Ginger Cat Mould From The Movie CMFs was showing  up  as 5 cent each but when I order a good few LEGO charged me €2.35 each. They said they couldn't  refund just give it back in vip  points 

CCC

Lots of parts showing as 5p / 5c turn out to be much more expensive. Make sure you check the order as soon as it is live in your account (when they list part numbers and prices) as you can cancel it before it is sent.

mustang69

I think the main thing to remember with each site is to compare prices, especially if you are buying alot. For example on the Pick A Brick side a 1x1 white round plate is .10 cents (US) but on the Bricks and Pieces site it is only .04 cents so if you were to order 100 of them you would save $6 US. There have been times though that the price of a part on the PaB site was cheaper usually by one or two cents.

As far as the shipping, I can only confirm that back in November I ordered $99.98 worth of sets and @$70 worth of Bricks and Pieces so shipping was free. Also, just as an experiment I put a set in my cart that was $69 and I just happened to have $6 worth of BaP in my cart from before the page went on hiatus and my cart says I qualify for free shipping. As I mentioned before though, the BaP I ordered back in November did not count towards getting the free gift. Something to keep in mind.

gmonkey76

@chrisalddin  yes you can. Order with base plate was buy itself and I was charged shipping and handling. Second order was part of a $75 Xmas order and there was no shipping.

gmonkey76

gmonkey76

Here they are brown are for a junk yard and gray is for a modular music store I have planed. (Plus others)

legojoshuakerr

I have noticed it in Canada as well. :(

chrisalddin

@gmonkey76
cool.

BrickCreator

gmonkey76 said:

@chrisalddin  yes you can. Order with base plate was buy itself and I was charged shipping and handling. Second order was part of a $75 Xmas order and there was no shipping.

You're in Chicago but you got charged VAT? How does that work? I thought only countries in the EU got charged VAT.

gmonkey76

We pay tax so that's probably what it is. We all know how good LEGO website is.

chrisalddin

You speak in English, so there for your Tax has to be called VAT. 

cheshirecat

^^^ Its clearly not the 20% or so VAT that we would pay in the EU. So seemingly its sales tax applied at the correct rate for chicago.

CCC

Remember that they use a one format letter for everyone. They are a European based company writing in English, so everyone has "VAT" on the invoice even if locally to you it is called state tax. Even non-English speaking non-European countries get it as VAT on their invoices.

TCSBGDADY

chrisalddin said:

so it's an every year thing?
seem odd. if prick a brick is still running.
i just don't understand it, i have to be missing some thinking about how it works. V pick a Brick.

Yes, every year.  They do it as stated by @CCC to have enough bricks for the holiday demand of folks with new sets.  Lego told me in December they will be backup in mid to end of January or at the latest by for February.

As I understand it, Pick A Brick comes from a different supply (Poland maybe) from Bricks and Pieces.

Tkatt

I found the following message on the customer service page today. 

Bricks and Pieces Update: As our parts service is currently very busy following the holidays, we won’t be able to take purchases through Bricks and Pieces until February. At that time we’ll also make a small change to our large order (bulk) guidelines. If you want to place an order for a large quantity of bricks, we won’t ask what you’re planning to build; we’ll simply ask you make it clear the work isn’t supported or endorsed by us if it’s for public display. For more information, please contact the Customer Service team.

chrisalddin

Bricks and Pieces Uk is Back online.