Buying LEGO as an investment

[Robert8]

According to this article, Lego a better investment than gold

Do you buy sets as an investment?

Personally, I have CMF sealed bags from early series and I'm planning to sell them after the theme is discontinued

But after reading this, I'm considering buying some sets

The Force Awakens line and The LEGO Movie theme sound like a good options

Same with the Ghostbusters set

[LegoFjotten]

I don't buy sets as an investment. Usually when you can read articles in mainstream media about good investment opportunities it means they are already over and you missed it.

Why do you think TFA and The LEGO Movie would be good options? Those sets must have been produced in really high numbers. I think exclusives and Ideas sets would be better as an investment (I'm not a collector though).

[Kaz]

Remember its only worth as much as someone will pay for it. Go onto ebay and see how much the sets are going for. Then go onto completed items and see how much they actually cost. You wont see many green listings

[samlr]

I invest in Lego to pay my own sets. It's a quite profitable investment, yet a bit complicated. Forget about buying TFA and Lego the Movie sets. Aside from 2-3 sets, they won't go up...

[_Samibotss_]

LEGO Ideas, and other limited run editions would probably be worth a profit afterwards, but TFA and The LEGO Movie don't seem to go anywhere anytime soon

[Aanchir]

I generally don't buy sets as an investment. There are some rare exceptions: I picked up a few extra LEGO House and Billund Airport sets to keep unopened the two times I visited Billund this year, although some of those I donated to the charity auction at BrickFair Virginia, and others I might one day give as gifts. I don't have any specific long-term plans for those sets, but I knew they were rare and that if I didn't get a few of each when I had the chance I might not get another opportunity.

It does make me feel good to know that the LEGO I buy for my own enjoyment is likely to accrue in value (aside from, you know, being opened), but as it is I just don't have the space to be holding onto unopened sets strictly for their future resale value.

[BlockLogo]

I just don't think I'd be able to sit on unopened boxes of LEGO for years. Other than a couple of cmf bags, I don't re-sell my LEGO.

The one thing I've considered to make the hobby a little more affordable is getting superhero, Star Wars and other licensed sets for the bricks and selling the minifigs, since it seems that you can almost make your money back on just the figs if you pick the right sets at the right time.

And if I ever get tired of it (not bloody likely) I can still get most of my money back by selling the modulars and other desirable sets even in used condition.

Edited December 27, 2015 by BlockLogo

[notaromantic]

I bought, and buy it as a spiritual investment. And let me tell you, I have never had a net more positive than it is right now.

[Pimbo]

It's a better investment than gold, for sure. For if gold someday becomes worthless, what are you going to do with the bullion you have laying around? Throw it at barking dogs? If sealed Lego sets lose their monetary value, you can always open the boxes and build.

So yes, I see it as an investment opportunity without any risk whatsoever. As long as you invest money you could miss you're fine. You'll end up with Lego or with spare money to buy Lego.

[Dopplercb]

I have discovered the value of Lego theme sets. However, I can't keep from building anything and I don't have a ton of funds to invest, so I wouldn't be able to gather enough of an official collection to make it worthwhile to collect vs buy and build.

[fred67]

I have inadvertently invested in LEGO, only because I have bought sets that I never opened, they increased in value, and I decided that two or three newer sets were more worth it to me. As I've said in other threads, I just don't have the display space - but I also don't want to miss out on sets because they do go up in value (especially the modulars).

The first time was when I went to buy a Green Grocer, and they had a damaged box for like 40% off (they don't go that low any more - it's a pittance what they take off in the damaged box section at LEGO Stores now). So I bought a good one and damaged box one because it was a steal... I built the damaged box one, and less than a month later they were off the shelves and my MISB one was suddenly worth twice as much.

I don't buy sets I don't want, but sometimes I buy multiples of great sets - like Emerald Night. I bought three. Built one, did the Ruby Night conversion on another, and ultimately traded the third one for a lot more - but that wasn't my intention when I bought it. I figured I'd use it to build an extra carriage and then have some extra parts, but it became much more worth it to sell it as a set.

So I think it can be a good investment - if you buy two of every modular - one to build and one to save, I think at some point you can sell an old modular every year for double the value and buy two of the new ones, and it becomes a self supporting hobby. But they seem to be staying on shelves longer, so it could take a few years to build up.

Unfortunately it takes money to make money, as they say, and I don't have as much disposable income as I did a few years ago, but it's one of those things that if I was in a better financial situation, I could start essentially getting modulars (for one) for "free."

[modelado1990]

It's an opinion that you can invest on lego sets, such as ideas modular buildings etc but a collector never do that, he just collect never sell! But ( always there is a "but" ) on the other side lego are quite expensive so it is a way to keep your hobby running..

[HawkLord]

You really have to know the Lego game very well to make it a profitable venture. Sure, most people may think Star Wars sets will always appreciate, but we are getting close to a time where revised sets will hurt the current environment and make them less valuable. You really have to make good guesses at what themes will be viable and why. With Lego being such a customizable product, you really can almost reproduce anything out there.

I used to think I wanted to buy sets to keep sealed and flip, but now I just sell pieces and parts here and there from open sets. I just don't have the time or space to want to hoard sealed sets.

I see this ending up being a lot like Star Wars action figures in the 90s. People started buying them up like crazy expecting the price to rise like the vintage Star Wars stuff did and it ended up creating a flood to the point where 90s era figures are worth less than a fraction of what people paid for them.

[Brickface]

These articles have been circulating for months now and so many people are now aware of the headline that many have jumped in with little knowledge or research but many experienced resellers are saying things were already getting squeezed before this additional exposure.

[Jackad7]

I also play magic the gathering and have learned that it's there but there's no way to see it coming. In Magic there are cards there were bulk junk when they came out and are hundreds of dollars now. Comparing the two I've found star wars sets I have that aren't unique and are remade really only hold their value. Sets that are collectors editions or unique have a good possibility to increase. Ex. Clone turbo tank from 07 really didn't go up but the mace windu is 20 and the scout trooper( who someone stole from me as a kid >:( ) is 30 but the set didn't hold. The mini figures were really unique but the set was a toy and remade. Then look at sets like those city corner store sets that can be used with anything and weren't widely purchased spiked good. Collectors edition star wars sets are also good because people will always want the collectors edition millenin falcon that can't really be compared with the toy.

[Vorkosigan]

UCS and modulars are likely to stay a safe bet over the long term but its almost like a CD - you can't take the money out too soon or you'll lose. Unlike a CD its higher risk but typically higher return.

[Andy D]

There is a lot of discussion on the toysnbricks forum. They discuss lots of things to do with LEGO investing. There are lots of pitfalls in LEGO investing. All it takes is one dishonest purchaser with a chargeback to eBay or PayPal and away go any profits, along with your initial investment.

Be very careful about getting into LEGO investing.

Happy New Year,

Andy D

[fred67]

Any investing is a gamble, on the whole, but there are definitely safe bets in LEGO. Like Vorkosigan stated, UCS sets are one pretty safe bet (although not entirely safe). So far, neither modulars not the special creator trains (Emerald Night, Maersk, Horizon Express) have let anyone down. I'm sure there are others, but those are the only ones I'm interested in and have taken note of.

But taking note hasn't made me speculate, it's only made me not want to miss something I really like for fear that aftermarket prices will be terrible. IOW, I only bought what I really wanted at the time. If I ended up selling or trading, it's only because the value they were offering in new sets was greater than what that set was worth to me. If the prices never went up, if they weren't a good investment for money, I still had them because I really wanted them, at least at one point, and will hopefully have enough room to build everything I have some day.

The only ones I feel like I've really "collected" and am saving new are the CMFs, and I'm done with that, too. I mean, I still buy them, but I was always keeping a new, sealed set for each series. Not sure what I will do with them, maybe even give them to grandkids to open and enjoy. But I those are the only things I ever bought to save for posterity. But I stopped after S10 because I felt it was getting a bit ridiculous.

[Artanis I]

made me not want to miss something I really like for fear that aftermarket prices will be terrible

The only reason I buy sets at standard retail price

[Jackad7]

What does cmf mean? Sorry for asking.

[Alamai]

cmf = collectible minifig..

this includes the official series from lego with the "surprise" factor as well as the promo figures that are given out from time to time

[Arigomi]

It's a better investment than gold, for sure. For if gold someday becomes worthless, what are you going to do with the bullion you have laying around?

Gold is a special case. Unlike other precious metals, it has unique physical properties that are of value in various practical applications. It is malleable, ductile, dense, conducts electricity well, and doesn't corrode. As a result, gold is used in computer chips to produce circuits.

The price of gold is just inflated beyond its practical value. It will always have a base value due to its usefulness.

[Johnathan1986]

I was tempted to buy two of every set i buy one to build and one to keep sealed but it always comes down to money and room to store everything

[JonnyYeti]

I don't buy Lego as an investment but I would happily sell one of my used sets if it ever reached double the original value to help fund a couple of newer sets. I have sold sets that I wasn't that keen on second hand and not made a loss. I tend to try and only keeps sets that I really love as I don't have the space and money for loads of sets. I do keep the boxes and instructions safe for if I do decide to sell.

However I wouldn't go out and buy more than one set and keep the spare sets in hiding for years to make cash as I dont have the room, money or desire to buy more than 1 of a set.

[anothergol]

Gold is a special case. Unlike other precious metals, it has unique physical properties that are of value in various practical applications. It is malleable, ductile, dense, conducts electricity well, and doesn't corrode. As a result, gold is used in computer chips to produce circuits.

The price of gold is just inflated beyond its practical value. It will always have a base value due to its usefulness.

I'd say its main value is mainly linked to its rarity. In a post-apocalyptic world where past money is worthless, I'd rather have gold than Lego, & those who will want it from me won't plan to "use" it :), it's like the universal money.

I think Lego is a safe bet when bought during sales, because I can't imagine selling an(y) old set for less than its original street price, so it needs to start with a little headroom.

But selling an old set for 10x its price.. I think those days are over - too many collectors now.

Edited January 27, 2016 by anothergol