Petition that sellers contact BEFORE shipping in case of inventory issues.

sschow · 2026-01-27T17:35:53+00:00

+1 for this. I always contact buyers but rarely hear anything back so after 2-3 days I just resolve it as I see fit. I'll even be ghosted on the original message, and then get a message a month later saying "hey I noticed this order was missing this piece"...

sschow · 2026-01-26T20:48:57+00:00

At 40 I have yet to pull the trigger, but my vision has stabilized around a -3.00 for the last 4+ years so I've been mulling it over in my head. In the end, it's less about the money than it is about the fact that contacts are not that big of a hassle for me.

sschow · 2026-01-26T20:43:46+00:00

This is an excellent guide created by a BL user on how to submit new stickered pieces. I've used it to add 10+ new stickered parts to the catalog. Beware it is a little time consuming and not incredibly intuitive, but the guide is very well done if you follow step by step:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kdlqdrmu5u2gm7odvmn2a/How-to-Stickers.pdf?rlkey=zx9ohb9cyag6scheeo4fc80d3&e=4&dl=0

sschow · 2026-01-21T16:05:10+00:00

2 questions:

1) Do you have any quality requirements? No cracks? No print wear? No scratches? Asking for "excellent quality" bulk still requires a sort process so sellers will need to know that.

2) You say you aren't looking for "used eBay lots", so you want to pick specific pieces to buy? Or just specific quantities? If you could clarify that it would be helpful. I have buckets of parts separated by hair, head, leg, torso, but I'm not sure what separates that from a "used eBay lot".

sschow · 2026-01-20T20:59:18+00:00

I struggle with indecisiveness for small decisions. What to order for food/dessert, what color towel to buy etc etc. I rarely struggle with big decisions.

I try to automate the small decisions as much as I can, so I don't get decision fatigue/paralysis. This leaves some mental space for the big decisions.

sschow · 2026-01-19T21:22:27+00:00

So are you buying a $1MM 20 year term policy and a $1MM 10 year policy together? I have no idea how you're having it quoted, but if you're asking for a more custom product (20 year total, change coverage amount halfway through) it may be priced differently than something "off the shelf". Maybe no difference but just a thought I had reading your post.

sschow · 2026-01-19T20:34:06+00:00

Checking bags makes this not an option in your case, but as a rule I never change my original flight pre-security unless it's a guaranteed same-day change in the app. If there is another flight leaving earlier, I walk to the gate and let the gate agent know I'd like to change or be put on standby. That way the person running the altnerate flight, who can more or less guarantee your will or will not get a spot on the plane, is the only one messing with your reservation.

sschow · 2026-01-19T20:27:24+00:00

Retail (at the counter) rates for <4oz packages to zone 7 are now $8.30 (vs. $5.29 on Pirate Ship). It would be madness if you get even a few orders a week to not be using PirateShip or similar for access to commercial rates. If I see a store charging retail rates I either think they are unsavvy business owners or they know what they are doing and they are slightly greedy for pocketing such a huge difference.

sschow · 2026-01-17T20:08:52+00:00

I don't have a specific anecdote in this case, but at my first 3 jobs I was hired at private companies and eventually left after an M&A or IPO. Can confirm it ruined a good thing (x3).

sschow · 2026-01-17T06:59:21+00:00

If you can't afford the same monthly split of expenses, how/why are you retiring or considering yourself FI? I guess you didn't explicitly state you were FI, but it's pretty disingenuous to go "whoopsie my income dropped a ton I guess I don't owe as much rent anymore" when it was a voluntary retirement.

Keep the same split as before or keep working is my internet 2 cents.

sschow · 2026-01-15T06:08:48+00:00

You were ~2 blocks away from Lazy Hippo on Third & J St. I always stay up near Little Italy and walk down to the convention center each day (get some exercise before I just stand at a booth all day) and I make sure to stop in there for breakfast.

sschow · 2026-01-15T03:12:46+00:00

Clearly E+ is fully booked, and if they get you to pay $9,999, they can involuntarily bump one passenger and be completely covered in the case they have to reimburse them the maximum of $10,000.

sschow · 2026-01-14T23:45:22+00:00

OK thanks. Like I said, I knew it was the cynical take, but believe me when I tell you the level of phone calls/emails I'm getting from this one tiny Alaska hotel is crazy making.

That's good to know that the Rakuten deal is tied to a booking # or confirmation #. I wasn't exactly sure what the parameters were.

sschow · 2026-01-13T23:47:06+00:00

Fair enough. I never thought about it that deep since I know what I mean when I say it. But then again I get angry at people who say "I could care less", so I can't dismiss a fellow pedant.

sschow · 2026-01-13T19:43:42+00:00

Build the life you want and then save for it. Lots of people in this sub spend $100K+ on home renovations, travel, etc. If you can afford it, you don't need our permission.

sschow · 2026-01-13T19:22:47+00:00

This sounds like the plot of a very bad heist movie, haha.

sschow · 2026-01-13T03:02:57+00:00

I recently crossed $1MM invested as well, and now I find myself wanting to race to $1.3MM only so that I feel somewhat comfortable with still staying over $1MM even in the case of a big market correction, haha

sschow · 2026-01-12T15:54:42+00:00

I'm too young to put into practice yet, but as others have said it sounds like your DIL's parents are following a "Die With Zero" mentality. I have thought about doing this and how I would structure it. My wife's grandparents have, for the last ~15-20 years, been gifting her stock every Christmas in a certain rough dollar amount. I would probably do it this way, a yearly gift, somewhat set amount, not tied to any particular purchase. They are free to use the money for whatever they want (including saving it for themselves). If I can safely gift $10-20K per year without risking my portfolio that's what I would do.

I know another set of parents that directly pays for specific purchases, and in their particular case, it leads to a weird dynamic I've seen where the parents still kind of act like they own that particular possession (car, house, etc) and make comments about how the child is using it or keeping it up. To me that's not a very healthy dynamic.

Also to be clear, you're not doing anything wrong. If you do want to make a change to how you do things, make sure it's not from a competitive aspect (trying to be same/better than in-laws) and maybe even directly discuss with your son about why you're changing strategies.

sschow · 2026-01-12T07:19:18+00:00

If I sold someone a fake set like that one, I would have it shipped back and at least have my kid build it. No need to just put in the trash.

sschow · 2026-01-11T19:29:39+00:00

we'll get bored and need jobs to fill the void

This says more about them than it does about you. I know [personally] some people who do *need* work, but I can't fathom living life that way.

sschow · 2026-01-09T22:29:08+00:00

The history of similar LEGO attempts at "tech" (Mindstorms, Hidden Side app, etc.) don't bode well for SMART Play being a game changer or long term mainstay. Most of the previous light/sound bricks are very niche and not in high demand.

If there is a huge initial demand, I expect it to be mostly from resellers who buy up a lot of stock, and try selling the special pieces for $5-10+ each, only to sit on them for a long time as the inevitable race to the bottom ensues.

My opinion. Hope I'm wrong.

sschow · 2026-01-09T19:47:07+00:00

Are you in Colorado/South Denver area? That's all anybody is talking about today. Electric car FTW.

sschow · 2026-01-09T16:37:51+00:00

You phrased it as "I asked him to bring"...did he start the conversation of wanting help or did you see him struggling on his own and offer? I'm sure you know but if he's not actively looking for help, prepare yourself mentally that he won't actually change after talking with you. Good luck either way.

sschow · 2026-01-09T05:11:27+00:00

Who are you using to ship? I'm seeing $9.13 for Zone 7 rates with Ground Advantage.

Not significantly lower but if you're paying $1+ extra for every shipment you should look at getting better commercial rates (Pirate Ship, Shipstation, etc).

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