Hy

Earlier this day, I was looking in the stores to the new sets.

The boxes are so big and only 2/3 full.

Like the 42039.

It is a big set but it is in a to big box.

why would they make them so big?

-For saving cartboard? Nope

-To have less broken parts? Nope because the parts are made of PolyEthylen or PE ABS.

So why?

It's to buy AIR. TLG wants to make buyers think they have a huge set in their hands.

Should change something

Edited February 3, 201510 yr by TheNextLegoDesinger

No, they should not change size of the boxes. They pay big bucks for marketing researches and they presumably know what and why they are doing.

Tell me, when you walk into the store, what impresses you more (and ultimately drive you to buy one): Shoe box size with 42039 on it, or box the size of the flat tv, with 42039 on it?

that's true BUT I think children that get everything they ask for will get these play with it 5 minutes and leave it for ever. isn't that a waist of Lego

Also i think it will depress kids who get a few gifts a year and get a big box with a small car in it

Lego are made by ABS not PE, and they has always been expensive.

The boxes seem emptier due to the lack of plastic dividers.

Edited February 3, 201510 yr by MrTekneex

ok i thought it was PE my fold

Lego boxes come in only a few predetermined dimensions. This saves money for the company - they don't have to come up with a custom box for every single set, allowing the packaging process to be streamlined and efficient.

The size of the front of the Endurance Racer box is 15" x 19". This size is used uniformly across themes for sets that fall in the $90-$120 range, everything from the Chima Mammoth to the Star Wars AT-AT. This indicates to the consumer that all boxes that look to be 15" x 19" on the shelf are roughly the same value, and indeed the Endurance racer is - it's a $100 set, similar to other 15" x 19" sets. This helps shoppers evaluate their potential purchases more quickly, which leads to more people buying Lego sets, which means more money for TLG - a good thing for those of us who want them to stay in business.

With the front dimension locked in by the price point, the only way that Lego has to accommodate a set's spacial needs is by modifying the thickness of the box. Generally speaking, sets with large parts need more leeway to make sure that the biggest parts don't get squished or wedged into corners of the box. And 45039 does indeed have some big parts, between the wheels and the technic panels. So its thickness had to be increased to 3.7", pretty thick. This results in some extra air inside, yes, but it's not an attempt to be disingenuous or trick you.

LEGO has always been expensive.

And it's worth the money compared to what other "brick" makers produce.

Also, to me the boxes are a form of art onto themselves. I love LEGO boxes - wonderful display pieces.

What has changed from 20 or even 10 years ago, is that LEGO is making more sets than ever, and many of them are high quality. So a collector like I used to be would be spending more money than before just trying to keep up.

I have a huge LEGO collection from the 1980's to about 7 or 8 years ago, but it just got too much - too much money, too much space taken up, etc. So I mostly gave up, and I am slowly clearing things out through Bricklink or by gifting. LEGO is a more expensive hobby now than it was 20 years ago, for sure.

No, they should not change size of the boxes. They pay big bucks for marketing researches and they presumably know what and why they are doing.

Tell me, when you walk into the store, what impresses you more (and ultimately drive you to buy one): Shoe box size with 42039 on it, or box the size of the flat tv, with 42039 on it?

and Mcdonald's markets their food as though they are spreading love and kindness worldwide, yet they are selling heart attacks, diabetes, and obesity to the financially vulnerable. Doesn't make it right. Just b/c they do doesn't make it right. Just b/c TLG can and get additional $$ in their pocket doesn't mean they should. It is wasteful and unneeded.

LEGO has always been expensive and high quality. The size of the box is a trivial matter.

No, they should not change size of the boxes. They pay big bucks for marketing researches and they presumably know what and why they are doing.

Tell me, when you walk into the store, what impresses you more (and ultimately drive you to buy one): Shoe box size with 42039 on it, or box the size of the flat tv, with 42039 on it?

so is there any thought behind added the "curved" feature to the Friends boxes, those clearly were re-designed, from a packaging standpoint

LEGO has always been expensive. You're paying for the brand name. There are many plastic construction toys that can be had for less money.

The size of the box, graphics and/or shape is to attract the consumer's attention in a sea of other toys on the store shelves. If they noticed you, they might want to buy you.

I personally don't care about the big box thing, I've had sets that had larger amounts of empty space in the box, and box size has overall gotten smaller. The only thing I don't like is that big boxes are harder to store, as a collector. Oddly, I feel that large sets that come in smaller, but thicker, boxes are more impressive. It feels as if you get more that way.

P.S. All the errors in this thread are a little annoying, like using waist instead of waste, and to instead of too.

LEGO has always been expensive.

And it's worth the money compared to what other "brick" makers produce.

I have a huge LEGO collection from the 1980's to about 7 or 8 years ago, but it just got too much - too much money, too much space taken up, etc. So I mostly gave up, and I am slowly clearing things out through Bricklink or by gifting. LEGO is a more expensive hobby now than it was 20 years ago, for sure.

Couldn't have said it better.

I recently sold off 70% of my collection by set and literally threw away the boxes for the stuff I am keeping. Its simply just too much to hold on to. I kept only three boxes, 3451 statue of liberty box and a MISB 5571/5563.

I also had every technic set until 2 years ago and have just basically stopped buying. I'd like to buy a volvo and 42009 crane and now the arcos for sure but honestly there is very little there that doesn't exist in build-able MOC's, which often provide a greater challenge and enjoyment then the standard sets anyway.

Lego IS expensive, always will be. But its hard to actually lose money on lego....very hard.

Edit

Edited February 3, 201510 yr by Off the wall

-about box size: when touring LEGO packaging factory in Billund, we got explained that (then) new, smaller boxes cause problems on packaging line, because in many cases parts of polybags are left sticking out after machine closes the box. Box may seem half empty when you open it, but please have in mind that contents "settle in" after all handling and transportation. So, current box size is not just commercialy more attractive, but also technicaly more suitable. And TLG made whole proces more "green" by moving packaging factories closer to its markets (maybe thats on of the reasons why packaging plant in billund is closed by now)

If somebody remember, lego reduce dimensions of a boxes a lot.Lego is expensive, but in case of technic they also increase piece count.Arocs has very great piece vs. price ratio with interesting pieces.This set is going to be very popular amongst afols.

... but in case of technic they also increase piece count ...

Except that roughly 50% of those pieces and pins and small connectors (nails & glue)

As for other themes (friends and else), it's ludicrous the amount of small pieces (easy to lose, let alone to assemble, if you have fat fingers)

Considering what you can do with Lego I'll say it's no more expensive than anything else. Buy a video game for £50 complete it in three weeks and it's over. You can't make something else out of it. However, there are the smaller sets for kids and like many of us, they can dream about buying the bigger sets when they are older and earning.

I'm sure the box size is all part of that dream. Taking that big box home and seeing all the other kids stare knowing what it is. It's all part of Lego marketing. I say buy what you can afford and if you want more then work hard, earn the money and treat yourself. I've set myself a goal and if I hit it i'll be having that Mercedes Truck.

H

As for the actual price of the bricks, ignoring box size, Lego has actually only been getting cheaper with time. Nominally, it's been a consistent $.10 to $.15 per piece for decades now, but the real value of fifteen cents has gone down a LOT in that time. People always forget to account for inflation.

My favorite example is the famous 497 Galaxy Explorer. At the time in 1979, it was $32 for 338 pieces... perfectly reasonable, right? But based on the CPI, that's the equivalent of almost exactly $100 today! Can you imagine the uproar if Lego tried putting out a 338 piece spaceship at that price point today?

Or how about 8880 Super Car? $130 for 1300 pieces in 1994... the equivalent of $200 today! If the price of lego actually kept up with inflation, you'd be paying nearly twice as much for 42039. Would the big box feel worth it then?

-about box size: when touring LEGO packaging factory in Billund, we got explained that (then) new, smaller boxes cause problems on packaging line, because in many cases parts of polybags are left sticking out after machine closes the box. Box may seem half empty when you open it, but please have in mind that contents "settle in" after all handling and transportation.

That sounds just not right. Smaller boxes, which should be harder to managed due to "sticking out polybags, have changed and have much less air now. Large boxes have too much air and I still believe this is made to impress visually, rather than some technological obstacles.

While I believe some manual labor has been involved, box of 41999 showed it is possible to manage inside space effectively.

... People always forget to account for inflation ...

I'm not sure about inflation, especially in the currently stagnant economies in the western world. One thing I have not seen yet, and this is true not only for Lego but many other goods'manufacturers. The price of gasoline has dropped by 50%, yet except for filling up my car, I do not see those costs reflected anywhere else ...

UPS and many air carriers upped their prices because of gas few years ago, and they're surely not going back to the old prices today.

At one point it was all something to do with representing a real sized model on the box, the model gets bigger, so did the box. but from an Adult collectors point of view, I wish the boxes were compact and easier for me to store.

I actually think for children there must be a certain amount of disappointment when they open the box and it's full of air,

Here is a great example of over packaging, ironically it's a great set……but when you open the box, there was a certan level of ohhh.

Then you open the box and ……….

Now when it comes to big sets, I tend to wait until there is an offer, and pick them up on 3 for 2 or 20% discount so it's a better deal. I do think LEGO right now is at the top of their game, probably better than ever when you look at the offerings and the number of new sets released each year. I know they must spend loads on market research and price points.

The problem is, I remember what I used to pay for these large sets when I was young, and I compare to that. £10 pocket money each week seems to me a lot for a child, but think what £10 buys now? It's an interesting topic

Edited February 3, 201510 yr by paul_delahaye

Except that roughly 50% of those pieces and pins and small connectors (nails & glue)

As for other themes (friends and else), it's ludicrous the amount of small pieces (easy to lose, let alone to assemble, if you have fat fingers)

Increasing of pins=Increasing of useful and interesting pieces.

This is what is see...

and Mcdonald's markets their food as though they are spreading love and kindness worldwide, yet they are selling heart attacks, diabetes, and obesity to the financially vulnerable. Doesn't make it right. Just b/c they do doesn't make it right. Just b/c TLG can and get additional $$ in their pocket doesn't mean they should. It is wasteful and unneeded.

Come on. This is Capitalism. It has its good and bad sides. I don't like the system always, bit then I lean towards having a too idealistic view on things. I am often told I am too nice. The thing is, I have yet to find a system that works better.

So let TLG make tons of profit, it's the clearest sign that we love what the are doing!

When I see someone complaining about the large number of pins in a Technic set, I'd like tochallenge them to build a studless Technic model with no pins.

There are pins in Technic for the same reasons there are plates in Creator.

But as for set price. Personally I'd like to see sets with less air too, but the main reason I feel that Lego is becoming more expensive is that they produce more sets. The 10 cents per piece (in Euro) has been an estimate for quite some time now, and it seems to still hold.