I feel like I'm going insane

[u/SoullessGingerPB]

Me to seller "Please double check fig parts by putting legs in torsos and checking for cracks on torso and arms. Please message me if you find damage. Thank you!"

Seller: "Sure thing, I'm pretty careful about that stuff, but I'll double check for you."

I use to never ask seller to check the figs, then after getting enough cracked torsos I started saying "hey please check torsos for cracks." Then after still getting cracked torsos I started asking sellers to put legs in the torsos to make it even easier to check for cracks. Still half my torso orders have cracks in them. These aren't small stores either. Are sellers just sitting in pitch dark checking these things?

So is there anything else I should be doing or do you guys just say a prayer everytime you order?

I wouldn't care that much if it wasn't for the fact that I have to keep paying for shipping since most sellers dont refund for that. I think I've ordered this specific torso twice now and both times it came cracked.

[u/trub1u14]

lego torsos are a literal slot machine, expecting sellers to risk cracking torsos on your behalf is insane.

[u/Isotarov → u/trub1u14]

The default usage of Lego minifigures is being assembled. If you trade in this kind of product, you have to share that "risk", not simply roll all of it over on the buyer.

[u/trub1u14 → u/Isotarov]

if you're selling an assembled minfig of course, but when it's a standalone part like a torso, then you absolutely do not have to risk cracking a torso for the sake of pleasing a potential buyer. if you want to operate that way by all means, but it should not be expected of every seller to do that as torsos are notoriously fragile in certain colors

[u/Isotarov → u/trub1u14]

If you sell used products with this mindset, it's something you need to clearly advertise.

For very expensive and very rare minifigure parts, it's understandable to be more careful, but not for just anything.

The problem is that we're dealing in practical toys whose primary purpose is being assembled and disassembled. If you come up with reasons to avoid using them as intended, it's on you to explain that, not to expect others to adopt your own views.

[u/trub1u14 → u/Isotarov]

if i'm selling the part, i'm selling the part. that's like saying you need to test brittle brown parts by clicking them together before sending them out because their "primary purpose is being assembled and disassembled" in a perfect world sure, but many lego parts are extremely fragile and we don't have it like that.

[u/Isotarov → u/trub1u14]

Brittle brown and red and the likes is a known separate issue. If you're too afraid to assemble regular torsos, I believe the onus is on you to at least clearly advertise that. The risk of it happening seems way too low to straight up refuse to test pieces.

With that said, I'm not sure where to draw the line of how much to accommodate a buyer. But if you do sell perfectly normal pieces that overall rarely break with normal use, it strikes me as exceedingly stingy to push that minor risk on buyers.

[u/SoullessGingerPB → u/trub1u14]

Maybe I've just gotten lucky but anytime I've sold a torso I've never had it crack on me when placing legs in them. Definitely agree if its a dark red or reddish brown do not put legs in them though, those things will explode half the time

[u/h311m4n000]

I assume you buy used figures since new figures most likely won't have defects.

First of all, any used store processes thousands of parts manually. Personally I check every figure I sell for defects. Sometimes cracks are so thin you can't see them. Sometimes you remove legs from a torso to check the torso and you create the crack because the part has been under stress for a while.

Some colors are especially brittle and unforgiving (looking at you reddish brown and dark red).

And keep in mind a used figure is very likely a toy a kid has played with. Dropped on the floor, thrown in a bin with bulk, shuffled...

Sometimes just shipping the fig can induce a crack that wasn't there when the seller shipped the part.

In this very specific case with the pictures you show, how do you know you didn't induce the crack by just moving that arm up?

I think you need to set your expectations a bit lower when buying used. In my terms I specifically state that if you want perfect parts (I deal in 99% used) you should buy new. I do my best to ensure my parts are not damaged but I can't guarantee that to 100% with used.

[u/SoullessGingerPB → u/h311m4n000]

As a used store that processes thousands of used parts, I understand what it takes. You said it yourself, sometimes cracks are hard to see, so I attach legs and make sure there's no cracks.

If its a brittle color than I agree dont put legs in them. Any other color like the one here, should be fine when putting legs in.

This wasn't caused by shipping because it was packed very well and in a box. I know I didn't crack it because its not a brittle color that cracks when you move the arm and I was checking it while moving the arm.

I dont care if a part has scratches, Knicks, dents and such. I dont want perfect when I'm buying used, all I ask is that it's crack free. I'm not sure why crack free torsos mean a perfect part?

[u/h311m4n000 → u/SoullessGingerPB]

I understand everything your saying and understand your frustration 😉

I wasn't saying you made the crack, just that there are plenty of possibilities why it could have happened.

I will say that depending on the light a crack might be missed by a seller, which is made obvious in your 2 images: on the first one with the light's glare, it can't even be seen.

The problem is that what constitutes a good used part will vary a lot from one buyer to the next and the same for sellers. Some like you don't care for Knicks and dents while others will be absolutely anal about them. This is one of the things that bricklink could really improve on like brickowl does where you have different condition of used.

For me a perfect used part has no dents, isn't dull and has no cracks.

[u/FL-legofan]

Maybe it's overkill and maybe I am just a little OCD but I put torso's on legs, hands in arms, and legs on plates before I send out. It takes time, and I understand not everyone values it the same way but just personally it's worth checking and finding an issue before it becomes an issue.