LEPIN brings out Monster Fighters HAUNTED HOUSE (16007)

[Florian_Wayne]

Hey Florian_Wayne,

I am from Germany too :-) A little off Topic, but on my last order I have to pay much more costum tax because the shop on Aliexpress has not been filled the invoice correctly. In detail, he forgot the shipping amount and DHL express calculated 80USD themselve. Do you have the problem too?

Grüß Gott,

The sellers always write 15 to $20 on the invoice outside the package. It doesn't matter if I order 2 LEPIN houses in one package with over 5000 pieces or the Super Star Destroyer which weight 5 kg.

The customs are not interested.

I ordered 12 big sets on Aliexpress the last weeks.

I order, seller send it out 1-2 days later and 3-5 days later I can build up my set :)

EDIT: I can't send you a PN. Please visit the german Lepin forum on lepinboard.de for tips and news

Edited September 18, 2016 by Florian_Wayne

[dr_spock]

And of course, companies like Lepin are also a factor in why LEGO has to release new sets as often as they do (and thus, retire their older sets at around the same rate). LEGO will never be able to compete with shameless knock-offs on price, because developing new ideas will always cost more than copying somebody else's ideas. If LEGO stopped coming out with new sets, then more and more copies would have time to emerge — people who think knock-off companies only copy or makes money on retired sets are kidding themselves. But when LEGO puts out new sets, it generally takes at least 12 weeks after its release for knock-off companies like Lepin to have copies available for purchase. That gives LEGO twelve weeks to sell something nobody else in the world can offer, instead of focusing on older products and therefore not having anything to offer that doesn't exist as a cheaper copy.

Unless the images have been leaked then that 12 weeks window becomes shorter.

[lanesteele240]

Well. Most of us would buy all the parts from lego pick a brick if they were to sell all the bricks ever made or direct subs. If i could piece a hounted house for roughly 20-30 bucks more than originally priced i would. Thi would solve that pesky price gouging on ebay for old kits.

Untill then some of my lego money goes to lepin. I would love to have a second haunted mansion to desplay and one to keep up for the grand kids

[Captain Pirate Man]

Well. Most of us would buy all the parts from lego pick a brick if they were to sell all the bricks ever made or direct subs. If i could piece a hounted house for roughly 20-30 bucks more than originally priced i would. Thi would solve that pesky price gouging on ebay for old kits.

Untill then some of my lego money goes to lepin. I would love to have a second haunted mansion to desplay and one to keep up for the grand kids

I agree. If Lego would just make all the pieces (they don't have to make the sets), then price gouging on certain parts wouldn't happen anymore. If you could Bricklink ANY set for reasonable prices, that would be the best compromise. As well as the best way to fight knockoffs.

But until that happens...

Edited September 18, 2016 by Captain Pirate Man

[crossmr]

I agree. If Lego would just make all the pieces (they don't have to make the sets), then price gouging on certain parts wouldn't happen anymore. If you could Bricklink ANY set for reasonable prices, that would be the best compromise. As well as the best way to fight knockoffs.

But until that happens...

That was sort of what I suggested before. Most of the bricks are made continuously, perhaps except for a few specialty parts for each set. If Lego would actually take the time, especially when a sets run has ended to keep all the parts in stock, there is no reason they couldn't continue to sell the sets indefinitely. Again, those pieces don't expire. They're plastic. If they make an extra 10,000 of some piece, they can keep it on hand for orders. If they run out, run off 10,000 more.

[Borex]

The sellers always write 15 to $20 on the invoice outside the package. It doesn't matter if I order 2 LEPIN houses in one package with over 5000 pieces or the Super Star Destroyer which weight 5 kg.

The customs are not interested.

I ordered 12 big sets on Aliexpress the last weeks.

I order, seller send it out 1-2 days later and 3-5 days later I can build up my set

I mostly buy bootleg minifigs of figs that dont exist by lego. But i am getting real tempted now to get me a lepin set. But i am afraid for customs too. Did you ask your seller to write 15-20€ on it?

I can see some of y'all buying six ewok villages to create a bigger and taller Endor moon scenery.

[Sven F]

I can't believe how naive some of your concepts of economics are.

I quit guilt tripping users who buy knockoffs, because everyone steals when given the chance and especially if there is a group of people who then encourage each other by social comparison, just like on this forum here.

Humans are so quick to find excuses.

This problem needs to be solved by TLG, not fans. If it continues I will consider quitting the hobby altogether.

[Borex]

If it continues I will consider quitting the hobby altogether.

Why would you quit? You love building bricks right?

[Adamskii]

This problem needs to be solved by TLG, not fans. If it continues I will consider quitting the hobby altogether.

.

What problem ? Seams everyone is happy except the aftermarket scalpers. The people who drive up prices to prohibitive levels that make the hobby exclusive, not inclusive. As new people come back to LEgo after their own dark years, they find that some awesome sets are no longer available that they might like to catch up on - Trains are an excellent example, as are modulars. There are not many Trains, the catalogue is shallow, and it is easy to quickly build up a desire for more, but If you want a BNSF or Emerald Night - you better have very deep pockets. NOT because Lego charges high prices, in fact their prices are quite reasonable, But no, it is the availability that is an issue. I Have spent thousands of dollars on Genuine Lego in the aftermarket domain. I have gilded the pockets of people who planned to take advantage of me knowing full well a sucker like me would come along soon enough who just had to have that train, or whatever. I can garauntee if the items were still available, I would buy the genuine thing at the RRP. Heck, I wish Lego had a mechanism to buy discontinued kits - I don't want the box, all I want is the parts - I would happily pay for a disorganised bag of parts not even sorted in plain brown box ! - just to get that Emerald Night for RRP, not $750 from a collector ! But Wait Hang on - someone has seen a void in the consumer market and decided to come to my rescue - Lepin. They will provide me all the parts, unsorted, in a plain box for less than half the Lego RRP delivered ! WHen I get it - I build it, put on a shelf in my collection and collects dust with the other overpriced kits. ALong comes AFOL friend who wont pick it as a clone - And that's the scary part. At some point the clone has matched the quality enough to masquerade as the genuine thing.

If Lego would let me buy the real thing, I would pay. Happily.

If a clone offers an identical passable alternative (availability) at an affordable price - Yes I will consider my options

If that alternative is to pay an inflated priced by as much as 1000% the I can promise you the choice is pretty easy.

I can see why clones rub a nerve in so many people, but what really rubs me is how closed minded people are to free markets and globalism. The "problem" is not Lego's, they have made their business decision, and are the number 1 toy maker in the world and are the most profitable - that pretty much proves their decision is right and doesn't need to change, who are we to tell them how to run their business, they are the best at what they do. Lepin et al, are happily making a product that will be consumed because there is a need. ANd if people want to bail on the hobby because of the attitudes of others, then I say good, one less collector to drive prices up of the genuine thing, one less collector to compete with for limited availability.

The genie is out of the bottle, Clones are getting better and cheaper. Is it possible one day they will exceed Lego ? Why not ?

I do not condone copying current catalogue items. They should stick to OOP kits.

[Captain Pirate Man]

I agree, it sounds kinda extreme. I just don't understand how knockoff bricks effect anyone here personally. Well except for monetary value, yes knockoffs "could" have a negative effect on that. But even that is to hard to predict, they could actually have a positive effect on them for all we know. If the market is flooded with fake Monster Houses, then the real ones could actually increase in value.

But beyond that, it doesn't really effect you in any way shape or form. If you hate them, fine ignore them. If you like them, great.

[Sven F]

You don't have to be a re-seller to like the fact that LEGO doesn't depreciate in value. I want LEGO to be fairly expensive if that's what it costs to pay for all the development and design costs, licences, support and quality.

If I can't afford a set, I don't buy it.

I know what it feels like when your work is trivialized and stolen just because it's not palpable and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

I would do anything in my power to stop this from happening, and if i can't then I don't want to be part of it at all.

I would be happy to volunteer for free for TLG in making it harder for this and other companies ripping off designs and complete products.

[Captain Pirate Man]

You have no way to predict knockoffs will indeed make Lego depreciate. You are just assuming that. For one, in most scenarios knockoff or fake products have little to no effect on the value of the real deal. Take Rolex watches for example, fake verions of those have existed for years, and the genuine article has not been effected what so ever by them. I can think of countless examples of this being true. For two, the market would have to be FLOODED with these knockoffs to make any real threat. Which is nowhere NEAR the case. When the day comes where you can go into store and buy Lepin or Enlighten bricks around the world, then maybe start worrying. But as it stands now, you can only buy these online, so the public awarness is very minimal. 98% of the entire WORLD knows what Lego is, while probably 1 or 2% actually know what Lepin is, that's a major difference. That's like an elephant being worried about a single fly. Its hardly something to get all worked up about.

Edited September 18, 2016 by Captain Pirate Man

[Bat Man]

Maybe in some fantasyland where production capacities and store shelves are not limited, and customers didn't have limited budgets, there'd be no reason for LEGO to ever stop producing old sets, and no reason not to produce new sets. In the real world, what I just said should make the problem obvious. It is simply not possible for LEGO to grow their production at a brisk enough pace to keep every set they make in production indefinitely while still introducing new sets. [No one is suggesting that LEGO produce, and stock every set, they've ever released. LEGO seems to operate on the JITL principle, which is why they cycle thru production of certain sets from time to time]

Even if LEGO could keep all sets around indefinitely, then each year customers' spending would be divided between a number of sets and themes that grows explosively with each passing year. [this is already happening, and TLG doesn't care how families manage their budget, they care about their sales] Needless to say, this is bad — in fact, one of the components of why LEGO nearly went bankrupt in 2003 is that retailers couldn't reliably sell new 2003 products when their shelves were still flooded with unsold 2002 product [this inventory crisis had more to do with content quality than anything else, the lagging inventory was a symptom of a greater problem]. LEGO makes a lot more money off of each modular building by keeping just three or four recent sets available at any given time than by having a dozen of them all competing for the same customer. [Again, no one is suggesting TLG stock every modular ever at all times. What is suggested is that TLG is suffering opportunity costs because knock offs are supplying a healthy demand for retired modulars, retired modulars that technically are available in 2nd hand market, but are ridiculously overpriced. TLG re-releasing retired modulars selectively throughout the year is an effective strategy, that has been consistently executed in many other markets]

And generally, the market for new sets is far bigger than the market for older ones.[the point is that there is still a market for retired modulars, which is clearly healthy enough to support a growing knockoff market] That's pretty much common sense, since a new set is a set that nobody owns, while a lot of the most eager customers for older sets already bought them while they were still available in the primary market. [individuals enter the LEGO market at different times, everyone wasn't around during the original modular release] Let's suppose LEGO sold half a million copies of 3315, the best-selling LEGO product of 2012. Do you think after two years, more people will be lining up to get a set that half a million people already own? [no, but that's not the point again. This is not a decision between two mutually exclusive options] Or would there be more demand for a set that has all the same appeal yet is entirely new?

Retailers, in turn, would much rather stock sets that haven't been seen before than continue stocking older sets with shrinking demand. [TLG could simply keep modulars in their actual stores or online. But I doubt retailers would not be interested in selling these] If that weren't the case, then they wouldn't have any need to put older sets on clearance — they don't do that because of any sort of pressure from the LEGO Group, but because they know they'll make more money on new sets than on retired ones. The fact that a company like Lepin can make a quick buck off of retired sets doesn't mean that companies like LEGO, Target, or Toys 'R' Us stand to make as much money off of old sets as off of newer ones. It just means that Lepin is too cheap and dishonest a company to bother creating products that generate NEW demand, so they have to leech off of demand that LEGO has already generated by copying existing LEGO products.

And of course, companies like Lepin are also a factor in why LEGO has to release new sets as often as they do (and thus, retire their older sets at around the same rate). LEGO will never be able to compete with shameless knock-offs on price, because developing new ideas will always cost more than copying somebody else's ideas. [You're assuming that TLG wouldn't plan and execute a long term strategy that may reduce revenues in the short term, that's not true] If LEGO stopped coming out with new sets, then more and more copies would have time to emerge — people who think knock-off companies only copy or makes money on retired sets are kidding themselves. But when LEGO puts out new sets, it generally takes at least 12 weeks after its release for knock-off companies like Lepin to have copies available for purchase. That gives LEGO twelve weeks to sell something nobody else in the world can offer, instead of focusing on older products and therefore not having anything to offer that doesn't exist as a cheaper copy.

Is anyone suggesting that LEGO keep every set on the shelves all the time? That's the first I've heard anyone say that. But I think most would agree and support what they are currently doing with the Star Ship, re-releasing updated versions every so often.

And LEGO CAN compete with knockoffs, they are the price makers, the knock offs are the price takers. TLG can undercut current prices, even if it results in short term losses, as a method of putting a barrier into he market for competitor/knock offs.

And finally, the 12 week wait for knock off production of current releases is no longer true, as witnessed by the Spider Man Bridge Set, and a few other super hero sets.

My only recommendation for users buying LEPIN modulars is to buy the LEGO 32x32 or 32x16 base thin baseplates. That way if you have any legit modulars they will fit together.

LEPIN's modulars come with the 3-4mm LEGO base.

Edited September 18, 2016 by Bat Man

[Bat Man]

I agree. If Lego would just make all the pieces (they don't have to make the sets), then price gouging on certain parts wouldn't happen anymore. If you could Bricklink ANY set for reasonable prices, that would be the best compromise. As well as the best way to fight knockoffs.

But until that happens...

Price gouging would still continue because a certain quantity of resellers would buy all the key parts to make these. The answer has to be complete sets and not pieces.

I can't believe how naive some of your concepts of economics are.

I quit guilt tripping users who buy knockoffs, because everyone steals when given the chance and especially if there is a group of people who then encourage each other by social comparison, just like on this forum here.

Humans are so quick to find excuses.

This problem needs to be solved by TLG, not fans. If it continues I will consider quitting the hobby altogether.

Exactly, how dare individuals want to buy LEGO sets, which they weren't able to buy originally at decent prices. How dare they not pay 3-4x the MSRP that the 2nd hand market is asking.

You have no way to predict knockoffs will indeed make Lego depreciate. You are just assuming that. For one, in most scenarios knockoff or fake products have little to no effect on the value of the real deal. Take Rolex watches for example, fake verions of those have existed for years, and the genuine article has not been effected what so ever by them. I can think of countless examples of this being true. For two, the market would have to be FLOODED with these knockoffs to make any real threat. Which is nowhere NEAR the case. When the day comes where you can go into store and buy Lepin or Enlighten bricks around the world, then maybe start worrying. But as it stands now, you can only buy these online, so the public awarness is very minimal. 98% of the entire WORLD knows what Lego is, while probably 1 or 2% actually know what Lepin is, that's a major difference. That's like an elephant being worried about a single fly. Its hardly something to get all worked up about.

You can't compare authentic ROLEX to authentic LEGO. The discriminator between these two knock off markets is quality of materials, and craftsmanship. The gap between these discriminators are considerably different between knock off Rolexes and knock off LEGOs. LEPIN is at about 95-98% of LEGO quality (i think the biggest issue they face is clear windows/parts). Where as knockoff Rolexes are nowhere close to matching the quality of material and craftsmanship of legitimate Rolexes. If LEGO used gold pieces, and LEPIN used faux gold -- then maybe you'd have a point.

Knockoff LEGOs will only make the artificially inflated second hand market prices depreciate. The actual true value of sets is hidden, and would stay consistent. Why pay $1000 for Green Grocer (originally $129), when I can buy a 99% knockoff for $65. The second hand market is going to feel that squeeze not LEGO.

LEGO needs to re-release modulars in a strategic manner to mitigate their opportunity costs from the knockoff market. I think most individuals would buy authentic Green Grocer for $129 over the knockoff. Consider Apple, who was taking on large opportunity costs in China from IP infringing knockoff companies. How did Apple respond? They opened up iPhone sales in China. They have been so successful in squashing the knockoff market, that these knockoff companies had to go thru China's court system to petition for an injunction to stop Apple from selling iPhones in China. And they successfully received that injection last year.

[quark12000]

I wish Lego would re-release the retired modulars, but I've decided to get them from Lepin if I must. I'm going to build all the available Lego sets first, and then I'll get the retired ones from Lepin, hoping that Lego changes their minds in the interim.

My question concerns baseplates. I've read that Lepin uses thicker baseplates than Lego. The ones in my Pet Shop set were definitely thinner than regular building plates If this Is the case, I'd like to use the thinner plates on the Lepin sets, for compatability between sets. What size plates do the retired sets use? 32x32 plates are readily available at retail stores, but I don't think I've ever seen 16x32, which is what the Pet Shop uses. Now, that's actually two buildings, so it might be different from the other sets.

[Ltfalcon]

Noticed Lepin also has the Pirates of the Caribbean Black Pearl as well.

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32709177050.html?src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=708-803-3821&isdl=y&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&albcp=653153647&albag=34728528644&slnk=&trgt=61865531738&plac=&crea=en32709177050&netw=g&device=m&mtctp=&gclid=CK_qoYq-mc8CFdgRgQod-SkGQQ

I'll post a review up when my Lepin 22001 Imperial Flagship comes in, can't wait.

Edited September 18, 2016 by Ltfalcon

[Robianco]

I own the original Haunted House which I bought at a reduced amount thanks to a Christmas promotion shortly before it retired. I love the set and even though it's been broken down again and placed in bags back into it's box I've never looked at the resale value as I'm simply not selling it.

I do think that genuine Lego sets will probably keep their value... I really don't see 10179 dropping in price because Lepin has cloned it. There will obviously be a cheaper version available to buy on the market but I think if someone is looking at a £150 replica then a £1200 original probably isn't in their thinking. Same with Custom minifigures... or genuine ones for that matter. There are plenty of clones of SDCC figures but genuine figures don't drop in value. The original will always hold it's value... and I think the same for Lego sets such as the modulars.

While you can probably pick up the entire modular range from Lepin for less than a genuine Green Grocer that will appeal to some... and to be honest, from what I've seen though images they look great. But it won't be genuine Lego and that's where the value is.

I'd never give up on a hobby I enjoyed just because someone was bootlegging it. This community is just one of many that show how much love there is for Lego as a product and toy... Having some cheaper cones of those products won't change that.

[Bat Man]

I wish Lego would re-release the retired modulars, but I've decided to get them from Lepin if I must. I'm going to build all the available Lego sets first, and then I'll get the retired ones from Lepin, hoping that Lego changes their minds in the interim.

My question concerns baseplates. I've read that Lepin uses thicker baseplates than Lego. The ones in my Pet Shop set were definitely thinner than regular building plates If this Is the case, I'd like to use the thinner plates on the Lepin sets, for compatability between sets. What size plates do the retired sets use? 32x32 plates are readily available at retail stores, but I don't think I've ever seen 16x32, which is what the Pet Shop uses. Now, that's actually two buildings, so it might be different from the other sets.

The base plates from Lepin are the thicker older lego type. You can find 32x32 green and sand at TRU. 32x32 gray are hard to find by 32x16 are available on eBay.

Bottom line, get the lego base plates otherwise they won't link up with the official lego modulars

[quark12000]

Thanks, Bat Man! Do you know what plates the retired sets (CC, MS, GG, FB, GE, and TH) use? And could I substitute 32x32 for two 16x32 plates? Thanks again for the reply.

By the way, If you are in the US, grey 32x32 can be found at Target.

I'm wrong, they'e 48x48.

Edited September 19, 2016 by quark12000

[nowinaminute]

I don't condone it of course but I hear they are ok quality and I guess it might be of interest to anyone who never managed to get an original. I must admit it's tempting.

They have gotten pretty outrageous with the bootlegging recently, Technic Porsche, Ghostbusters fire station, star destroyer, Millenium Falcon (force awakens AND Ultimate collectors) Disney castle, Big Ben etc etc

http://www.aliexpres...ad-ac1169e2095b

Edited September 18, 2016 by nowinaminute

[bmacro]

It's fake! nowinaminute, this is a LEGO forum....

[Florian_Wayne]

I really don't see 10179 dropping in price because Lepin has cloned it

LEPIN 10179 Falcon is not released yet

[Vorkosigan]

That was sort of what I suggested before. Most of the bricks are made continuously, perhaps except for a few specialty parts for each set. If Lego would actually take the time, especially when a sets run has ended to keep all the parts in stock, there is no reason they couldn't continue to sell the sets indefinitely. Again, those pieces don't expire. They're plastic. If they make an extra 10,000 of some piece, they can keep it on hand for orders. If they run out, run off 10,000 more.

Its not anywhere near that easy. The LEGO inventory system is insanely complex. There is cost for storing bricks for old sets and the logistical complexity of being ready to produce more of all the old sets on demand, it just doesn't make any sense for the potential profits. Right now they are sometimes unable to produce enough of current sets so they'd have no motivation to dedicate bandwidth to old sets less likely to sell.

[Aaron]

This has been posted already.

Anyway, I wish at least one of these knockoff companies would focus their efforts on making something useful (such as bulk parts) instead of ripping off sets. Cheap tiles and plates would be nice. Baseplates would be lovely as well. I guess they just don't want my money.

[dr_spock]

Yes, we have and there is already a topic on it -> http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=140382

Clones can be discussed over in the Community forum...