TLG heavily limiting minifig parts purchase

[Itaria No Shintaku]

Hi,

I am thinking that TLG has recently introduced strong limits into buying minifig parts.

At Fabrik, in Germany, I was used to buy 6 minifigures for 10 euro. Now you can do this only once. You can't, for example, buy 60 minifigures for 100 euro...

On the LEGO site, all the minifigures parts in "parts selection" are gray, out of stock and show this message "We’re sorry, but this part isn’t available to buy through Bricks & Pieces because it’s part of our LEGO Shop assortment."

Am I the only one who is thinking that both things are done in purpose?

[Mott the Brick]

I don't know much , but the whole affair does sound indeed a bit suspicious. So now in Germany you can only buy that amount of minifigures once? I think that you can't buy 60 minifigures because you'll leave the store without much of a supply. On the website, it does sound like they are indeed limiting minifigures heavily.

On a side note I think it's amazing that you can buy 6 for 10 euros! Its not a bad value. I remember that back in the lego store in the U.S. you could only buy 3 minifigures for 10 dollars.

[Exetrius]

Right now TLG has so many themes and so many sets with minifigs and pieces to collect, that it is impossible to buy them all (unless your rich, a trader or a good reviewer). Removing the option of buying some minifigs via B&P will lead to three developments:

1. People will buy more sets, to a certain extent...

2. Because thereafter, it will be to expensive and people will leave some sets on the shelves.

3. The sales and prices(?) on the aftermarket will increase

I think people should be able to get the minifigs and pieces they want without having to spend ridiculous amounts of money on sets or on aftermarket figs. I hope TLG is just experimenting, seeking for a right balance.

[Phoxtane]

Well, there is Bricklink. If you want certain pieces, that's another option.

[Itaria No Shintaku]

Well, there is Bricklink. If you want certain pieces, that's another option.

But they're usually overpriced compared to B&P...

[Deathleech]

On a side note I think it's amazing that you can buy 6 for 10 euros! Its not a bad value. I remember that back in the lego store in the U.S. you could only buy 3 minifigures for 10 dollars.

Ya, it's 10 dollars for 3 minifigurues here in the U.S. That's pretty crazy you could get 6 minifigures for 10 euros in Germany. That's less than $2 per minifigure... maybe they limited it because it was such a good deal and people were emptying stock too fast? Would you rather have them limit the amount you can purchase or have a price increase more in line with other countries (doubling to over $3 per fig)?

Edited June 2, 2015 by Deathleech

[Mott the Brick]

Ya, it's 10 dollars for 3 minifigurues here in the U.S. That's pretty crazy you could get 6 minifigures for 10 euros in Germany. That's less than $2 per minifigure... maybe they limited it because it was such a good deal and people were emptying stock too fast? Would you rather have them limit the amount you can purchase or have a price increase more in line with other countries (doubling to over $3 per fig)?

Hmmm, a good question. I think I'd rather go with limit amount. To be quite frank I wouldn't even pay 10 dollars for a 3 pack of minifigures. Heck The Toy Story Army Men set or a Star wars battle pack has more minifigures and some little vehicle or structure for roughly the same or a lesser amount of money. With the 6 for 10, then I'll consider to buy it as that is a MUCH better deal. In fact my trick to get around the no purchasing more after that is to visit the store at some other time and pay with cash rather than a credit card. Or have a family member or friend pay it for you while you have made those minifigures. Hehehe. You're more than welcome to use those tactics when purchasing minifigs in Germany.

By the way does anyone else know how much do the minifigures cost here in the UK?

[wendyw]

By the way does anyone else know how much do the minifigures cost here in the UK?

Um, it's £4.99 for three or £1.99 for one I think?

My local Lego store has a pretty good selection of parts available (including a few from licensed sets) too, so it's not a bad deal.

[Blondie-Wan]

Um... are we allowed to use Bricks & Pieces to just plain buy parts? I thought it was meant only for replacing lost or damaged parts in sets we actually have, not just buying... whatever.