Hi folks - I know the topic of clone Lego is a touchy one for some - but this is a game changer. I already own a UCS Mil Falc, but I know how many people covet one. Now Clone brick company Lepin looks like they are releasing one. If the Mil falc is any good, it could devalue all those who have already collected one, as demand would drop away if there was a viable, quality alternative. The thing about Lepin is it is cheap - VERY cheap.

Anyways, I know Clone Lego is a real insult to even suggest to the purist, but to the economist who will never afford the real thing, clone stuff is seriously going to mess with genuine aftermarket values. Regardless of the morality of it, this is an incredible temptation.

here is a link to the Lepin kit. IT Sells for various prices about $250 !

*snip*

If you are unfamiliar with Lepin, have a look at their UCS kit clones, plus all the Creator modulars have been cloned. The Ghostbusters firehouse for example, is about a quarter of the cost of the real thing.

I have mixed feelings about clone stuff, (I'm ok with clone bricks doing original designs, copying Licensed sets however, is another matter) but the price/quality of these kits will be a temptation for for the non purist.

Adam

Link to advertisement/ announcement

*snip*

Edited August 26, 20168 yr by Lobot

I'd say no matter what the price is, you are still promoting a CLONE brand, an unfair business, company which STEAL the design, therefore save all the cost LEGO has to put into their product development (which is indeed much higher than the cost for molding the plastic), and only flush out the pieces, print STOLEN artwork on the box and sell it.

In think such post, shouldn't be here, regardless your intentions!

I'd be fine with Lepin if they were creating their own sets based off their own ideas. But copying a model and then selling it without giving credit or paying royalties or licensing fees is cheap, lazy, and theft. Apparently they can make parts that rival Lego quality, but they are way out of line when they steal the hard work of countless people and then profit off of it.

Ultimately it is up to you wether or not to support thieves. Personally I'd rather not own something(no matter how badly I'd like to own it) than give money to thieves.

It's funny how they dare to steal designs from TLC but not enough to do their creation about World War or some other "banned" themes.

I see the mention of clone bricks will immediately be derailed to a conversation about legal / copyright / intellectual property etc. The point of my edited post, is to bring to attention those who have this kit, that the value may be undermined by knock off/ clones. Not to promote them.

As the quality goes up and the price comes down, money poor persons may very well be tempted. That's one less person not seeking the real deal, these things snowball and can change a sellers market.

Putting your head in the sand and ignoring clones is never going to make them go away.

As for the intellectual property etc, I do wonder how once Lego retires a set from production, and from sale, so virtually has no monetary benefit from the sets anymore, how they feel about their old retired designs being copied? They almost never re release a set, When was the last UCS set ever re released? So how are they derived of money/sales if they have washed their hands of a production run ? I think they would only be annoyed at current catalog stuff being copied, denying them of sales. (see the Lepin Ghostbusters set, or the Minecraft village). Only the aftermarket collectors are actually losing money, as their "collector" sets are potentially devalued.

Anyways I put this here for awareness.

Adam

The point of my edited post, is to bring to attention those who have this kit, that the value may be undermined by knock off/ clones. Not to promote them.

...well you promote them nevertheless.

Putting your head in the sand and ignoring clones is never going to make them go away.

Ignoring is perhaps worse than active fighting against, yet it's better than promoting and bringing them to awareness. Which is exactly what you did, no matter how you interpret the topic.

When was the last UCS set ever re released? So how are they derived of money/sales if they have washed their hands of a production run ?

Wait a bit and see the new Death Star... But that's not the point. LEGO financed the design, very very difficult and expensive process. Nobody has right, even moral right, to profit from it. Especially not in such glaring fashion.

Speculating about how aftermarket UCS MF prices will be affected by this is pure nonsense. People who can't afford it - I'm great example myself. I couldn't afford it even for the RRP - siply can't afford it. Period. They are not customers for the re-sellers. Hardocre collectors who can justify spending such money, however, will hardly ever buy your Lepin clone. So the snowball theories really aren't reasonable here.

I know I'm being blunt now, don't take it as a personal offense. CLONES ARE BAD. It's as simple as that. And what Lepin does is the worst case of copying. Some people even hate Megablocks for copying brick desing, which they do. But at least they design their own sets, some quite good ones. Anyway, you are right that clone brands will hardly ever disappear. Toy infurtry is full of them, not just Lego. But ignoring them is the least that any Lego fan can do, and in fact should do in my opinion.

Well, I honestly really doubt that clones significantly affect the aftermarket price of a set as iconic as the MF. The people who would buy the MF are those that have the economic means to do so. Most of them will not be willing to buy a knock-off. I would say the knock-offs appeal to a different "sub-market".

Whilst I appreciate this may be of interest to some, I really don't want this forum to play any part in 'spreading the word' about the availability of these cloned sets. Therefore I've removed the links from the first post and locked the thread. Personally I hope that TLG either find a way of stopping their production, or in the case of 10179 re-issue it!

Thanks for your understanding