Can someone explain something...

[lavandiere]

How can they say they don't have some parts available when you know that sets currently on the market do have those needed parts? How is that possible? For example, I need some white and orange flowers as well as the green flower boxes. A bunch of sets currently available have those and yet I cannot order them!

[Playmofool]

If this is the answer you get in can mean two things:

a) The item is temporarily out of DS-stock. Probably needs reproducing. Then just put it on the list again with your next order.

b) Some parts are NOT sold individually EVEN IF they have a number in the instructions. When asking you often get the answer that the item is an "essential part of a set" and you don't get them via DS. This is rare, but it happened to some - usually large - items from certain sets.

Of course it could also mean that the item is really "sold out", but as there's a usually a span of 3-6 years after the set has left the shelves when you can still get parts.

As you mention flowers, I would think that the correct answer should be a) and I would put it into the next order again.

[bonniebeth]

So with option B, you mean something like a unique baseplate from a superset or something might not be sold separately?

[lavandiere]

I guess I'm going to call them back on Monday to find out what is simply out of stock and what is not available at all, ever.
It's so frustrating. I had found the victorian 5305 brand new but the seller had warned a few little pieces might be missing. Yeah right. Every single flower box, flower box fitter, flower stem and flowers were missing. A part of the roof is also missing but surprisingly I can order it. Some railing connectors are also gone. Worst, all dormer window frames and window mullions as well as the window frames( from the inside) are missing. 

Now I understand why people are willing to pay a lot for a new SEALED box.

[Hadoque]

Also, when a set is just released, it takes some weeks/months before you can order the parts from DS.

[Playmofool]

So with option B, you mean something like a unique baseplate from a superset or something might not be sold separately?

Here I'm not talking from personal experience, but I remember for sure that some people mentioned this reply in their DS orders. I think it was the dinosaurs from the 2006 sets. You couldn't get them individually at DS, later one or two of them at higher prices than if bought in a set at a shop. Strange policy, I know. Same thing for some ship's hulls as far as I remember.

Talking about flowers again. You must make sure that the ETN hasn't changed since the 5305 if it's flowers from that set. ETN change sometimes even if the item looks the same, maybe because of a different plastic or new color ingredients - even if they look exactly the same. Are you sure that this isn't the case with your flowers? Maybe look at the ETNs in the new sets again.

[Playmofool]

A part of the roof is also missing but surprisingly I can order it. Some railing connectors are also gone.

Not so surprising because the wedding pavillon has the same roof as does the 5301 which quit the shelf only last year.

[bonniebeth]

That's interesting what you say about the dinosaurs, because I know a few years ago, I inquired about the price of an elephant, and it cost more to buy it that way than the add-on with a mother and a baby together.

[Bill Blackhurst]

They were trying to stop the possibility of a herd of dinosaurs appearing!

[lavandiere]

.

Talking about flowers again. You must make sure that the ETN hasn't changed since the 5305 if it's flowers from that set. ETN change sometimes even if the item looks the same, maybe because of a different plastic or new color ingredients - even if they look exactly the same. Are you sure that this isn't the case with your flowers? Maybe look at the ETNs in the new sets again.

I gave several part numbers for the flowers because some identical colors do have different part number...
What does ENT stand for?