Are ToysRUs free build sets considered real Lego sets?

[badbob001]

Toysrus frequently has these free events where they will provide the pieces and instructions to build something, like a mini star wars stealth fighter or a police car. The instruction sheet doesn't seem show to have a set number and they don't come in a bag or box so are these even considered sets? Without a set number, I'm not even sure if I would be able to find them on bricklink / basebrick. I kind of doubt toysrus designs these sets so they must come from Lego.

[CM4Sci]

If they have their own instructions, I'd say so.

-Sci

[davee123]

Depends on your definition of a "set", probably-- the LEGO Monthly Model build sets are probably similar.

A few questions might be:

(1) Is the LEGO logo on the instructions?

(2) Did the LEGO set design team "approve" the instructions?

(3) Does LEGO have a copy in The Vault?

I would assume that anything done by Toys R Us is likely done on a broader scale (IE, at Toys R Us's nationally or something), so the set designs are PROBABLY discussed with LEGO, as well as sourcing for pieces. If this were hosted by a local mom-and-pop toy store, there would be a higher chance that the store owners simply designed the set themselves, and possibly sourced the elements themselves as well. But since it's TRU, it's less likely.

My offhand guess is that yeah, you could call it a promotional "set", but you could probably go either way.

DaveE

[badbob001]

I guess my main issue is that if there is no set number, then how would one catalog it, like on bricklink? I'm not looking to sell anything, but it seems so unofficial if I can't find it in an online catalog.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Here's the Friends Wishing Well and Lemonade Stand in Bricklink's catalog which were free TRU builds. I don't know if those are their actual product numbers or if Bricklink just categorized them that way. I don't think I've seen the City Police Car on Bricklink, even though the build format was the same as the Friends stuff (here's some bricks and instructions).

[jluck]

Remember when McDonalds had Legos in happy meals? You can find those on bricklink as well. They also came in a bag with instructions and a Lego logo. I think these could all be grouped together as promotional sets.

[OriginalJK555]

I don't think I would call it an official set as it does not have a set #. So I agree there. However it is officially, as far as I can tell, approved and released by Lego as a promo "set". If Toys R Us had any hand in designing it I think they would want their name on it as well as Lego.

[badbob001]

Actu

I don't think I would call it an official set as it does not have a set #. So I agree there. However it is officially, as far as I can tell, approved and released by Lego as a promo "set". If Toys R Us had any hand in designing it I think they would want their name on it as well as Lego.

I doubt toyrus had any part in designing the sets, but I could be underestimating the closeness of the relationship. The instruction sheets don't even mention toysrus anywhere. Each sheet does have a Lego club code that leads to a survey and the code has the letters TRU to tie it to toysrus.

Police car: code TRUCITY

Chima: code: TRUSPE

Jek-14 Stealth Fighter: code: JEKTRU

[Faefrost]

They probably do have actual internal Lego set or product numbers someplace, just not anyplace tht we would ever see them as they are not packaged individually. (The set number is probably on the big box o parts that TRU gets to stage the promotional event. ) these most likely are 100% real Lego designs and Lego does provide the materials. It's a promotional marketing thing I am sure. These are probably designed by the same group that comes up with the monthly store builds and similar items.

[Tariq j]

Most Lego pieces have different codes engraved at the bottom of the plastic, I'm not saying look at every single brick to see if it has a code but if one of the pieces have a code it's likely there Lego sets, also lego bricks have the Lego logo engraved on the studs of bricks, so that's another thing that could determine whether it is

Lego or not