I like the boxes they way they are. I have just a little complain though: Sometimes the boxes are way too big for the set they contain.

I've noticed this in some sets like the Monster Fighters Ghost Train. My god, that box was huge. And when I finished building it, I was a little disspointed to see the actual size of the train compared to the box

Other than, I think the boxes are just fine

The larger box size is a bit of a mystery to me as well. Smaller sets specifically, I got 60060 Auto Transporter, a relatively small set. The box was so fat.

As for durability, I think they're fine. As long as you're not handling it with force or tossing it around, it stays pristine. Opening them without tearing isn't an issue I've encountered yet. The biggest gripe with the OP that gets me is the instructions. Clearly, TLG had there reasons for doing them the way they do now, but it seems odd to me. The steps are just ridiculously small, even for kids I imagine.

^^^ the last set I built was the Mystery Machine, and it did seem quite tedious given how small it was. Before that, the Kwik-E-Mart had very long instructions, but it was a large build; It didn't seem to me to be that drawn out or too simplified, but there were definitely steps that could have been combined.

As far as boxes having a lot of empty space, it quite obviously was the case at one point that companies would fight for shelf space in stores. The size of the boxes definitely tried to give the feel you were getting a lot more for your money. The last box I opened - the City Square, is an enormous box (I actually un-boxed it to use to ship another LEGO set to someone else). Now, if you debagged all the parts, they'd take up a fraction of the space - but in the bags, they filled almost the entire box. There was maybe a fifth of space left. I was actually pretty impressed.

EDIT: I'm now deboxing a Medieval Market Village, and I open the end - and the box is somewhat less than half full. So I do think they are improving in that area.

With smaller sets, they need something to fill shelf space and large enough to catch the eye of the shopper.

Edited October 5, 20159 yr by fred67

Ah, I guess they're in such a shape now it is too hard to change anything for that major production, and why, since they're expanding all the time? I mean, even my backwater city has now lego sets in a supermarket.

Well, I do believe production and packaging takes places on several locations world wide. So an investment in new packaging equipment would cover all locations, because each set should be identical no matter where it was produced.

Also I have to admit I had not even considered resealable bags before reading your posts. I agree it would be nice, especially in the bigger sets. Maybe someone here has connections within the Lego group and can ask if resealable bags were ever considered and if so what aspects they took in consideration.

As long It serves It's purpose and is as environment friendly as possible, I really don't mind the boxes when I buy a set.

I'm fine with the boxes. I understand the size is larger than what would makes sense for other products due to shelf space and security. I also get that the Advent Calendars need slimmer cardboard so that people can punch out the individual date instructions and they can remain a surprise.

My only complaint is the instructions and not having those lay against the box flat - instead they're almost always curved around one of the bags. Make no sense whatsoever.

My only complaint is the instructions and not having those lay against the box flat - instead they're almost always curved around one of the bags. Make no sense whatsoever.

That could be an effect of shipping. When the contents of the boxes are subjected to miles and miles of vibrations on the truck, the contents "settle".

I'm fine with the boxes, and always have been, and, at the end of the day, its a box, its not going to change the look of the overall set and its not going to change my opinion of the set.

But some sets which have big parts like ship hull-bases,..etc need a good packing like the one we had in 80s and 90 where these parts are sealed well along with minifigures and other small soft parts...

Now days parts, u will get a scuff marks and heavy bad scratches especially in the ship hull...

Most sets have adequate packaging, but I don't really like how my instruction booklet gets all bent.

That could be an effect of shipping. When the contents of the boxes are subjected to miles and miles of vibrations on the truck, the contents "settle".

If they shrink wrap them on a piece of card, instructions wouldn't be damaged in the box. It's worse when it happens to sticker sheets, as the stickers can peel off if bent.

I've never had an issue with the boxes aside from occasional contorted instruction manuals inside them, which the shrink wrap+cardboard would certainly help (as suggested by MAB above). The box sizes are often way larger than necessary but that's LEGO's decision based on research and marketing, and doesn't really impact me anyways.

I'd rather LEGO keep box quality as it is and avoid compartmentalization/ higher quality to keep costs lower.For the majority of consumers I'm betting boxes are destined for the trash/recycling bin rather than keeping as part of the collection.

And I'd rather they improve the quality and keep/reduce the frigging price, yo! Can ya hear me, LEGO board of directors? Huh? Is it too high up in the sky? Ahooooooy!

I'm more upset that the boxes no longer have the alternate builds on them. Those were always so fun to look at.

Also I really miss the catalogs you used to get in the box. Those were bricking magical. The best feeling in the world was getting a new catalog and seeing all the cool sets inside.

It's still kind of like that with the catalogs. With the Lego train track sets, you'll get a fold out sheet of what possible layouts you can do with which sets and whatnot, and my Lego store will offer to give you the monthly Lego Club magazine/product catalogue. One thing I do miss was the Brickmaster subscription you used to be able to get where you would get a polybag set with each monthly magazine.

I'm more upset that the boxes no longer have the alternate builds on them. Those were always so fun to look at.

Also I really miss the catalogs you used to get in the box. Those were bricking magical. The best feeling in the world was getting a new catalog and seeing all the cool sets inside.

There still are alternate builds on the Creator sets though.

And yes, those little books were awesome

I'm more upset that the boxes no longer have the alternate builds on them. Those were always so fun to look at.

Rumour has it that there were too many complaints about not being able to build them without instructions.

Rumour has it that there were too many complaints about not being able to build them without instructions.

I don't believe that.

I don't believe that.

There are two probable reasons. One is the annoyance for customers being shown a build with no instructions. The other is that it takes time to do alternate designs (like the 3 in 1 creator sets) and designers are at capacity already and it costs Lego to hire more so they don't. It is probably a combination of the two.

I'm more upset that the boxes no longer have the alternate builds on them. Those were always so fun to look at.

Also I really miss the catalogs you used to get in the box. Those were bricking magical. The best feeling in the world was getting a new catalog and seeing all the cool sets inside.

2 great points.

The alternate builds was something I missed when I came back from my Dark Ages. I was looking all over the box and instruction manual for those pictures! If they really did get complaints, they could do what they did for the Friends animal sets, put them online. Heck, they even had instructions for combining multiple sets.

If you look at this thread

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=115898#entry2358702

you'll see comments such as instructions for alternate builds should be printed, not just available online.

People don't want to have to download and print, not with a premium product. They also don't want to have to figure out how to build something from a single picture. (Which is a shame). One if the problems now compared to way back then is the numbers of parts, especially small ones. With not too many parts, alternative build are relatively easy. With many, they are harder. And (some) parents don't want kids continually asking how to do or complaining about builds where there are no instructions. And with social media how it is these days, Lego doesn't want angry parents being pestered by kids as they cannot build something that Lego has shown them, but not provided instructions for. If they've paid for the set, they expect the instructions for the models that can be built.

Let's just say I have a very hard time believing people were mad enough to complain in any significant numbers because Lego didn't include the instructions for every throwaway alternate build idea on the box. It's not even technically a complaint; it's just asking for more. "You were nice enough to provide alt build ideas, could you be even more nice and provide instructions too?" I also highly doubt that any company cares about "complaints" like this; it's only the bottom line that matters.

What I do believe is that it costs real money to pay designers to come up with those builds and perhaps it's not worth paying for that when just putting more pictures of the set itself on the box is better for sales. After all Lego is selling sets, not imaginative building blocks that you are supposed to reuse to build other things.

If they were throwaway, then they had no place being there. They should not be throwaway, they should be as good as the original build, or not there at all.

Show a child a model that can be built, but give them no instructions and they will do one of three things. Ignore it and just build the original one, try it and probably come up with something similar but not quite, or bug their parents for help. If the parent does do Lego, they get a bad impression. So they don't buy again, or complain. And it is so easy to complain these days, in public.

Here's another thread mentioning rumours about why they stopped ...

https://m.reddit.com/r/lego/comments/33mmdq/id_love_to_see_more_alternative_builds_on_the/

So I will reiterate my first post in this thread - the boxes, IMO, are fine... the "packaging" (when they ship) is terrible. I just got a Scooby Doo Mystery Mansion and a Christmas ornament... the ornament was not separately boxed, not even wrapped in plastic, just thrown in with the set and not enough packing materials so that everything was fairly loose in the box. The ornament opened and box just had loose pieces all over. Really stupid.

I personally think the packaging is fine, the boxes are meant to be thrown away and if you don't want to throw them away you have the larger boxes with lid. The polybags inside are good as well, they keep the price down.

On the alternate models that used to be on the box I also have a few comments. Even though I only have one set which has these models on the box(4559), I would like it if they returned. I remember getting this set for my seventh birthday and after I built the set I took a look at the back of the box, seeing the alternative build with the steam engine. Of course, I wanted to make it but there were no instructions. So what did I do? You may ask. Well, I disassembled the main build and started on the alternative build. After a while it turned out just like the one on the box. And the other two alternate builds included in the instruction booklets were also like this. You could build them with just the few pictures you had.

Personally I prefer bags that are sealed and are not easily resealable. If ziplock bags were used, what's to keep a factory worker or customer or reseller from pocketing a few pieces from as set? Having the bags sealed gives me the assurance that if a piece is missing from a LEGO set then it was a production error and the LEGO Group will replace the piece, a resealable bag leaves a mountain of possibilities as to why pieces could be missing from a set.