AmperZand Posted September 7, 2015 Posted September 7, 2015 But then I felt like a complete idiot standing there feeling the packs. I'd never done it before. After ten minutes I overhear two employees say, "The security cameras are watching." Lovely. Then a manager comes over and says, "Can I help you?" So I tell him my kids want specific figures, and explain what I'm doing. He then gave me one of those "Oh okay that makes sense" responses and walked away. It's the staff, not you, who should feel like idiots. If your intention was to steal, you wouldn't be standing there for ten minutes. If you're wondering how I know that, I worked in retail a long time ago where shoplifting was an occasional problem. Where I get my CMFs, some of the staff are AFOLs. They know what I'm doing when I'm feeling packets and sometimes ask me to find them a particular minifig. One time, the manager even gave me a minifig in return for finding the ones they wanted. I ended up getting everything I wanted (banshee, specter, witch, fly, Audrey, scientist, cheerleader, and businessman). Audrey? It seems like the quality of the CMF figures has gone up from what I remember. The Chinese ABS still isn't as good, but the molds and the printing are quite good. I like the dual-molding a lot too. Really cool figures. Very happy overall. I have all 16. I haven't opened the packets yet, but if previous serieses are anything to go by, the quality should be fine. I never really had problems with the Chinese ABS that I have seen reported on EB and elsewhere. The worst I experienced was slight translucency of some parts that were supposed to be opaque, but even that was only when the parts were held up to a strong light. I haven't had any loose joints or insufficient clutch power with any CMFs and I've been collecting them from the beginning. Quote
CM4Sci Posted September 7, 2015 Posted September 7, 2015 But then I felt like a complete idiot standing there feeling the packs. I'd never done it before. After ten minutes I overhear two employees say, "The security cameras are watching." Lovely. Then a manager comes over and says, "Can I help you?" So I tell him my kids want specific figures, and explain what I'm doing. He then gave me one of those "Oh okay that makes sense" responses and walked away. Wow, that's weird. That's never happened to me. When I went to TRU and found the packs, I was standing by the table for at least 20 minutes feeling packets. The thought of looking dumb hadn't even crossed my mind. Nobody came to me. When I went to the cashier, there were a few workers there. One said "Haha, you're taking the box?" and they seemed cool. The cashier guy also accidentally said "Your total is $24.??" when I got 13 packs (and Rey's Speeder) but I had to be honest and told him how it should cost way more than that and had him charge me for each one. Darn. Quote
8BrickMario Posted September 7, 2015 Posted September 7, 2015 It's the staff, not you, who should feel like idiots. If your intention was to steal, you wouldn't be standing there for ten minutes. If you're wondering how I know that, I worked in retail a long time ago where shoplifting was an occasional problem. Audrey? My TRU is naturally distrustful, as their CMFS are packaged in video-game boxes in groups of three to prevent people from ripping them open and stealing the parts. That's why I don't buy there. Audrey is the name of the monstrous plant in Little Shop of Horrors. Quote
x105Black Posted September 7, 2015 Posted September 7, 2015 I haven't had any issues with the quality of the CMFs overall, and this series is no different. As for finding the minifigures, I'd say the earlier post by 8BrickMario is a useful guide. A few extra tips: The Zombie Pirate's captain hat is pretty easy to feel. The Wacky Witch's hat has the curved bit on top, which can help to identify. Occasionally the Gargoyle's horns and the Zombie Cheerleader's hair can be difficult to distinguish, but the hair hangs lower in the back, and feeling for a couple of pom-poms versus the wings is an easy help. The same goes for the Banshee and Spectre, but the headpieces are easy enough to tell apart with a bit of an extra feel. The Fly Monster's wings are easy to distinguish from the Gargoyle's wings in that the Gargoyle's are curved with raised lines, whereas the Fly Monster's are flatter with a slight bump where they overlay. The Wolf Guy's head can feel like the Squarefoot's head, but Squarefoot's has the same overhang on front and back and the Wolf Guy's has the ears and muzzle. As for feeling weird, I went with a friend who felt a bit weird but I just kept on feeling the packs. I don't really care, I'm not stealing anything, I'm just feeling for the ones I want. I explained that to a couple of employees at different stores, and they were understanding. Happy hunting! Quote
Robert8 Posted September 8, 2015 Author Posted September 8, 2015 (edited) Where I get my CMFs, some of the staff are AFOLs. They know what I'm doing when I'm feeling packets and sometimes ask me to find them a particular minifig. One time, the manager even gave me a minifig in return for finding the ones they wanted. Me too! I've helped employees and even the security guards of the store. I thought it was just me! Thank God I'm not a weirdo Edited September 8, 2015 by Robert8 Quote
mediumsnowman Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 I finally made my way down to my local Target in search of the Spectre and Fly Monster. Unfortunately I couldn't find them and I walked away with the Plant Monster and Zombie Captain. Very pleased with them, the printing and detail is phenomenal. I'll be back soon in search of the first two Target CMF Haul by mediumsnowman, on Flickr Quote
kelceycoe Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 Bought the entire series on EBay for just under $80. Free shipping. I could have spent just 4x16 = 64 plus 6% sales tax in WV but I figured to be guaranteed since the seller opened them all, has then onhand and is in the US it was worth the extra $12. After the $8 seller fees and PayPal fees this seller loses. Quote
Stinch57 Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 Had an interesting and fun time getting all of the MFs in the set. On the first of the month I made the first trip out where I found some at Target and managed to get 8 of the 16 with one duplicate. Next day it was off to my nearby Walmart where I found a single pack on a shelf in the LEGO isle but no sign of the rest. I knew they had to be somewhere then found another single pack on a shelf in the next isle over. Talk about a teaser! Walking down further and there was a loaded wall mounted box with pegs at the end of the isle. Got 8 more with a feel guide with me but when I got home found out I had a duplicate. At that point I had 15 of 16. Back the next day to Walmart to find the witch. Took 20 minutes but did find her after slightly rolling each pack until the broom was located. Quote
lanesteele240 Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 Bought the entire series on EBay for just under $80. Free shipping. I could have spent just 4x16 = 64 plus 6% sales tax in WV but I figured to be guaranteed since the seller opened them all, has then onhand and is in the US it was worth the extra $12. After the $8 seller fees and PayPal fees this seller loses. True. but you missed out on being that weird guy that stands in the store mashing the packages in the kids toy section. Quote
BrickOn Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 (edited) Sometimes I prefer the minifigures being on the counter, that way I can straight-out ask the shop assistants if they mind if I feel up the packets and avoid the strange looks you get in the store... I don't mind admitting I am doing it for me, but its much easier if I can tell them what I doing without them looking at me strangely and asking... you never know by being up-front and and owning AFOL maybe we'll realease someone from their own Dark Age! I always feel for the smallest items in the bag... for me its much easier to find the Spector's chain for example, than try and feel the difference between a hood and a hairpiece... they are also much easier for me to isolate in the bag with my shaking technique.. allowing faster feeling through the box (in my mind... anyway). However there is one shop I buy from that has a discount card where they give you stickers for each purchase and when I signed up they asked for the birthday I wanted to use, saying that most people used their kids birthdays... I felt weird admitting I didn't have a child at that point... Also still no sign of Series 14 in Norway :-( Edited September 8, 2015 by BrickOn Quote
kjm161 Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 Some things are okay to miss out on. I guess there is more of a feeling of accomplishment to find the minifigs you want by buying the packages in a store but I see no problem with buying a known entity. Quote
BrickOn Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 Some things are okay to miss out on. I guess there is more of a feeling of accomplishment to find the minifigs you want by buying the packages in a store but I see no problem with buying a known entity. As you like it... I will buy whatever I miss, only after they are no longer available... There is a very unique smell you get when you open the packets yourself, which I love, especially after a bit of a break in buying. Maybe I am just addicted to opening the bags, rather than the minifigures themselves! Quote
legoguy1984 Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 South Africa still doesn't have either. Quote
8BrickMario Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 (edited) That Zombie Pirate looks fantastic. I might have to seek him out now. Although my next picks will probably be the Zombie Businessman, Skeleton Guy, Square Foot, and Plant Monster. This has been such a great series that I'm not sure which my favorite is, or if I even own my favorite yet! Edited September 8, 2015 by 8BrickMario Quote
Geno Posted September 9, 2015 Posted September 9, 2015 I was pretty on the fence about these when I saw preliminary pictures, but now that allare revealed and accessories shown I see some value in them. The spectre is a MOC goldmine, as are some others. I won't be completing this series, but I'll certainly end up with 16 or more figures. I hope I find a store that puts the box or display out so I can keep the streak of scoring those going! Also, thanks for the feel tips guys! Had 80% success today on 10 packs, way better. Quote
parksroad Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 Anybody else have trouble putting the Spectre's chain on his hands? For whatever reason it took much longer than usual. Other than that, I love this series so far. Anybody still using the game codes? Quote
8BrickMario Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 CMF hands are resistant at first to stud connections. I had the same problem. Quote
parksroad Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 Oops, now I see you mentioned that before. Is it just this series or just the Spectre perhaps? I'm not a completist, so maybe I just hadn't noticed this with other CMF before. Quote
8BrickMario Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 Mr. Burns had it too. Spider Lady didn't, though. It seems varied, but giving them a bar accessory might loosen their hands up to normal. I'm not sure. Quote
Jern92 Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 Anybody else have trouble putting the Spectre's chain on his hands? For whatever reason it took much longer than usual. I got 3 Spectres, and I had to struggle with all of them to get the chains onto the hands. I've never had such a problem before. Usually minifigures hold stuff just fine. Quote
Robert8 Posted September 10, 2015 Author Posted September 10, 2015 The S12 Fairytale Princess had that issue in her hands too Quote
Amazing Bricks Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 Man, there's always a problem with these recent series. Series 12 and I think 13 had loose heads, the first Simpson's series minifigures with short legs had a gap between the torso and legs. Now hand problems with series 14. Quote
Robert8 Posted September 10, 2015 Author Posted September 10, 2015 (edited) Man, there's always a problem with these recent series. Series 12 and I think 13 had loose heads, the first Simpson's series minifigures with short legs had a gap between the torso and legs. Now hand problems with series 14. But I don't think the issue with the hands in S14 in nowhere near to the loose hairpieces in S12. That was a real mess. S13, at least my minifigures, didn't have any problem Edited September 10, 2015 by Robert8 Quote
Dannylonglegs Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 None of my local Walmarts have the figures. Just the last batch of Simpsons. I called Branchburg Mall's Lego store on Tuesday and they said they'd get them in this coming Tuesday... but they said that last Tuesday too. I wonder if I will ever wrap my claws around one of the fly figures... let alone live out my army-building ambitions. ~Insectoid Aristocrat Quote
Pate-keetongu Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 Three of my four gargoyles turned out to be flies... Luckily I managed to sell the extra flys to a member of our LUG. And I though I was good at this! Well, got to return and search for the 'goyles again. That aside, this feels like an excellent series. The gargoyle is definitely the star here, but banshee (loving the hair) and fly man (though having too many of him) come close. I felt like half of the figures on the box would have been pirate zombies, though. Quote
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