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Comments
" dont watch my stuff unless you intend to bid"
For pete's sake, if it has been built, it isn't new!
It seems like inside the LEGO community we have agreed that "New" isn't synonymous with "New-In-Sealed-Box", but that is the definition that eBay is forcing on LEGO sellers.
Take the case of splitting minifigs from other elements. Within the community most would agree that minifigs taken from a new larger set could still be described as new. On eBay technically these could only be sold as used. Similarly, most in the community would agree that a sealed bag of elements taken from a larger set (perhaps one car out of complete train) could be called new, but on eBay this could technically only be sold as used.
It would be nice if somehow the community could approach eBay to request the "New other (see details)" category be enabled for LEGO.
For clarification here are eBay's definitions:
A car can be driven for a year as a dealer demo, have 10,000 miles on it, and legally be sold as new.
Another car could have 5 miles on it, be titled, then offered for sale legally as used only.
New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item (including handmade items). See the seller's listing for full details.
Then the seller goes on to say their kid opened it and only opened one bag... Whahuh?
I just think a little perspective is in order here.
As far as people thinking that breaking the seal on a box makes it "used", I don't agree with that. A set is "used" when it's well, used....as in, when it's been played with or displayed, put together, etc.
You're looking for the "Sealed"/"Unsealed" option, which Ebay does not have.
By technical standards they should list it as Used and explain that it is barely used, ALMOST new.. not New ALMOST used...
There is a market for new parted out sets. No one is going to look under "used" auctions for "new" parted out sets. However, if one was to look for a "used" parted out set they would look under "used" auctions.
Original(unopened), Without Packaging, Original (opened), Not Specified.
Would be easy if they applied this to lego, as its already up and running elsewhere. Anyone had any luck in actually contacting ebay about stuff like this?
If BL sellers comply with categories (which are outlined pretty clearly by Bricklink), I don't see why buyers should get upset if sets are unsealed or incomplete as long as it is listed as such and anything missing is outlined.
On Ebay, if a LEGO set is listed as "New" it is defined as a brand new, unused, unopened product. They do have a "New (Other)" category which opened but unused products will fall under. Any unsealed sets or parted out sets should fall under this category. If a set is missing figures or other parts, I do think that the listing title (as well as the description) should reflect that it is an incomplete set.
Sellers should post to where it "technically" applies or where they will sell the most product?
I accept that Ebay's policy or definitions need refining, at least something to where Bricklink's are, but for sellers to list goods where they 'believe' they should list it or where they think they will bring in the highest prices would just be downright dishonest in many cases.
Minifigures are completely different. If a minifigure is not sold as a sealed set and doesn't have its own packaging, then the sealed/unsealed issue is thrown out the door. As long as it has never been used, then it is still new.
I know that Ebay definitions are not the best for LEGO, but sellers still have to abide by the definitions that are outlined.
Maybe it would be useful for them to hear from the community that their current classifications do not meet the reality of how things are sold.
Example might be the Toy Story minifigures removed from a larger Toy Story train, or any other set that is being split into subcomponents.
There are so many options, which is why decent photos will always give buyers confidence in what they are buying.
At the end of the day this is all a gray area. I think you have to just look at the seller's feedback, read their description, and ask yourself if you think the seller is trustworthy and the description accurate for your purposes as a buyer.
I don't know how other people buy, but often I ignore the setting of NEW and USED anyway. Simply because many people do not use it correctly anyway. So many people sell CMF as new when they are opened and built. Very few correctly describe these as used.
^--I think you will see a lot of sellers doing this to ensure the set they are selling is what they have (Any set bought in a retail store can be susceptible to tampering-opening that box, taking the contents out, replacing with garbage or random brick from another box, and then resealing the box, so you could not tell it was done)
Honestly through if you say something is new on eBay, per their existing 'new' description, it cannot be opened at all. It stinks but it is true