PAB Cups: What Did You Get?

[LegoCityMann]

Are you sure those are Maersk blue and not medium blue?

Not 100% but it's the same Blue used on the second floor of the inn in the Mideval Market Village set.

[Aanchir]

Not 100% but it's the same Blue used on the second floor of the inn in the Mideval Market Village set.

That'd be Medium Blue. Maersk Blue doesn't show up in any sets that aren't licensed by Maersk, since the color itself is a trademark of said company.

[Ricecracker]

Here's how 30% really adds value to PaB cups. Less than two cents a piece.

PaB Value by Ricecracker., on Flickr

[Zeya]

Here's how 30% really adds value to PaB cups. Less than two cents a piece.

PaB Value by Ricecracker., on Flickr

I don't understand the "PaB Wall Price" column. The total there is $11.58 - is that the price of the PaB cup, and then you divided the cost over each of the elements equally (equal price per part)? I just busted out a calculator and I think that's what you did, right?

Nice work. I'm getting more and more tempted to visit my local PaB. I keep finding myself wanting grass, flowers, and "bamboo" pieces (I didn't know that's what they were called). I also need way more 1x1 and 1x2 tiles in earth tones and gray.

[Ricecracker]

I don't understand the "PaB Wall Price" column. The total there is $11.58 - is that the price of the PaB cup, and then you divided the cost over each of the elements equally (equal price per part)? I just busted out a calculator and I think that's what you did, right?

Yes, that's what I've done.

[Lego Otaku]

8 large PAB worth. I wasn't planning to go in the first place but I had to come visit my brother to fix his computer. He needed to run to Brimmingham, MI and I realized that was 5 minutes drive from LEGO store so I went with him.

Largest piece by far are the 6x12 plates. Also I had 126 2x4's in a single cup, probably close to the max possible number of 2x4 in a single cup. I didn't ask about the K boxes as they were very busy that time.

**the fence was an oddity, they cost twice as expensive on BL as on S@H

That reminds me, I got a picture of various blue bricks:

Maersk and medium blue is very close. Under good light, one could tell that Maersk blue has a very slight yellow tint that medium blue doesn't. Because they are very close, be careful when buying Maersk blue pieces from eBay or BL.

Edited June 22, 2011 by Lego Otaku

[AussieJimbo]

As an interested overseas observer with no access to the wonders of the pick a brick wall, could someone please let me know how much these small and large PAB cups cost you.

Oh for a LEGO store in Australia.

:classic:

[Toadtorrent]

As an interested overseas observer with no access to the wonders of the pick a brick wall, could someone please let me know how much these small and large PAB cups cost you.

About $20 CDN for a large, and $10 for a small.

[AussieJimbo]

Wow, that would be so good.

Thanks mate.

:classic:

[Toadtorrent]

Wow, that would be so good.

I've read about packing as much as 169 2x4s in a large cup, but that doesn't make it that much cheaper than BL prices and whatnot...BUT, if they have rare colours like dark red or medium blue, it can be cost effective.

[Lego Otaku]

I've read about packing as much as 169 2x4s in a large cup, but that doesn't make it that much cheaper than BL prices and whatnot...BUT, if they have rare colours like dark red or medium blue, it can be cost effective.

Don't forget shipping cost from Bricklink. For some colors, it can still be cheaper to get em locally than to buy online with shipping.

[Jareth]

I don't understand the "PaB Wall Price" column. The total there is $11.58 - is that the price of the PaB cup, and then you divided the cost over each of the elements equally (equal price per part)? I just busted out a calculator and I think that's what you did, right?

Nice work. I'm getting more and more tempted to visit my local PaB. I keep finding myself wanting grass, flowers, and "bamboo" pieces (I didn't know that's what they were called). I also need way more 1x1 and 1x2 tiles in earth tones and gray.

On most of my trips I've gotten into discussions with managers who are willing to order pieces for the PAB wall if you have a request or let you fill from the K boxes they keep in the back. I doesn't hurt to ask!

I've read about packing as much as 169 2x4s in a large cup, but that doesn't make it that much cheaper than BL prices and whatnot...BUT, if they have rare colours like dark red or medium blue, it can be cost effective.

Yeah, Ive done something similar before, but it can be very time consuming to do this. Plus 2x4s and 2x2s are pretty cheap in buckets and junior sets, so I agree with you. Only if they have rare colors.

[SilentMode]

I've updated the Westfield entry on BrickBuildr. Marvel at our comparatively limited choice of parts.

[Lego Otaku]

I went back July 8 mostly to use the coupon as I may be too busy the rest of the month and LEGO 10% off coupon expires at end of July. Oh BTW I checked the extra catalogs at the store, none of them has coupon so the catalog with coupon is likely mailed only and not supplied to store. SO you can't mooch free coupons

Anyway my list:

Final price comes to just $0.038 per brick from 8 large cups (and $4.00 discount from 8 returned cups)

I didn't fill the little stud on the cap with 4 more bricks but 169 of 2x4 can be done That brings the price to a bit under 9 cents each. I checked BL for new 2x4's and from sellers in USA, only yellow and lime 2x4 can be had for 9 cents or less but if you figure in shipping, LEGO PAB is a lot cheaper in the long run for virtually any color. Someone mentioned getting LEGO bucket but last time I checked the bucket, it had very few 2x4's so it's not that good of a deal to get buckets just for 2x4's.

Yes, they allowed my 2 dangerously overfilled cups It's because the top part are only 2x4's since small pieces would fall out. YMMV, check with your LEGO store to see how much overstuffing you can get away with. My LEGO store normally allows maximum overstuffing as long as the cap still touches the cup. That's an extra 1/2" (1.25cm) for few more pieces than normal.

Both white and green 2x4 unpacked along with free Target Practice set, and cup in the back holding 1x1 trans-blue filler pieces. I'm not counting those 1x1 round pieces anymore as I have over 30,000 of them by now. I asked, they don't have any other color for round 1x1 Cheese slope and square 1x1 don't fit in small spaces as easily as round .

Bunch of lime 1x2 tiles. About the only interesting tile that day.

2x2 45' trans slopes. When I laid it out for picture, I had a vision of making a minifig scale greenhouse out of those, with green plants and bricks inside.

2 large cup full of those!!!

Not pictured, the brown 1x2 bricks. The reddish-brown bricks would be great for making tree since I already have lots of various slopes and lots of leaf elements.

PS that 10% off coupon? I used it on motorized excavator. 10% off plus my $30 VIP reward reduced the final price of the set to only $150+tax. I originally wanted to get either Imperial shuttle or DS set but those 2 are huge sets and no place to display them. OTOH the excavator will become spare part fodder when I get bored with it

Edited July 8, 2011 by Lego Otaku

[Toadtorrent]

Just got another cup:

They had a few interesting pieces the other day...namely the tan 1x2 tiles, and the nice coloured brick 1x2.

Yeah, Ive done something similar before, but it can be very time consuming to do this...Only if they have rare colors.

Time consuming? Yes...I find it takes 45mins to carefully stack a cup to get maybe 15% more...which with PAB S@H prices might on average work out to $20-30 worth of bricks (depending on the particular piece)...so it can be worth it...but definitely so, for specific colours. I was happy to get my dark red, trans-clear and medium blue 2x2's in quantity.

I've updated the Westfield entry on BrickBuildr. Marvel at our comparatively limited choice of parts.

I did the same for the Toronto store.

2 large cup full of those!!!

WOW...so jealous!! The clear slopes are a great find...but the bamboo.

[Bearded Castle Guy]

Just got another cup:

They had a few interesting pieces the other day...namely the tan 1x2 tiles, and the nice coloured brick 1x2.

Time consuming? Yes...I find it takes 45mins to carefully stack a cup to get maybe 15% more...which with PAB S@H prices might on average work out to $20-30 worth of bricks (depending on the particular piece)...so it can be worth it...but definitely so, for specific colours. I was happy to get my dark red, trans-clear and medium blue 2x2's in quantity.

I did the same for the Toronto store.

WOW...so jealous!! The clear slopes are a great find...but the bamboo.

I don't know if I've ever seen the Clear 1 x 2 slope/roof bricks on the wall before personally, I have picked up some Bamboo pieces a couple of different times, it's a infrequent but regular PaB appearer I believe.

I need to make another stop by the LIC soon but my plans to buy a really big set may be derailed by good clearance deals soaking up budget...

[Toadtorrent]

I don't know if I've ever seen the Clear 1 x 2 slope/roof bricks on the wall before

I'm pretty new at the PAB thing....so I have no experience on what is typical.

We have the clear 2x2 slope 45 pieces in Toronto but not the 1x2 clears. Bamboos are something I would like though.

[Bearded Castle Guy]

I'm pretty new at the PAB thing....so I have no experience on what is typical.

We have the clear 2x2 slope 45 pieces in Toronto but not the 1x2 clears. Bamboos are something I would like though.

Yep, I was very happy to get some bamboo when I saw them (especially since it was a while before they popped up again). First time I got a inch or a bit more and later wished I got more, next time it was half a large cup and the third time it was around a whole cup IIRC. I've learned that if there's a rare piece that's interesting, I need to get a bunch and not just dribble a few into the cup, if I just grab a couple, I'll want more later... It also depends upon the part, things like tiles or bamboo are easy to use en-mass, other things are not as necessary in quantity.

Well, if you wish to get an idea of what shows up on the PaB wall, a few posts back there's a like to brickbldr site, it's fan driven site where people track what various LEGO stores have on their PaB wall. It's not always current and some stores will get stuff other stores never will see but you can get a 'flavor' of what's common by looking at the selection from a few different store. I have never seen a PaB wall without 2 x 4 bricks in multiple colors or wheels, they ALWAYS have wheels of some variety.....

Also you likely got a sticker on the side your PaB cup, if you take in in and refill it next time you get a discount on the refill, it's $.50 in the US not sure what it'd be over the border, it's a nice way to encourage reuse of the cup and give repeat customers a little price break at the same time.

[Lego Otaku]

Also you likely got a sticker on the side your PaB cup, if you take in in and refill it next time you get a discount on the refill, it's $.50 in the US not sure what it'd be over the border, it's a nice way to encourage reuse of the cup and give repeat customers a little price break at the same time.

$0.25 for small. Volume wise, 2x small cup is nearly the same as one large (2 studs on top to fill is nice) but small is $8 while large is $15 so you get slightly more discount on large. In the end the total pieces you can cram and the total cost probably averages out the same so don't be scared of small cups. I prefer large cups because it's fewer trips to get more in cup, and less cups to bring back. Those lids don't stack well at all

[Bearded Castle Guy]

$0.25 for small. Volume wise, 2x small cup is nearly the same as one large (2 studs on top to fill is nice) but small is $8 while large is $15 so you get slightly more discount on large. In the end the total pieces you can cram and the total cost probably averages out the same so don't be scared of small cups. I prefer large cups because it's fewer trips to get more in cup, and less cups to bring back. Those lids don't stack well at all

It sounds like your prices are the same on PaB then, I've never gotten a small cup, if I'm getting PaB I'm getting a Large PaB cup and that's that, the small cup seem less cost efficient to me. So I suspect your large cup's sticker is also fifty cents off a refill. I should try and get out to see what the LIC has but it's a mere week until we sort our LUGbulk order (starting to get antsy about it). I should hold off considering paying for my portion blows my weekly budget out of the water but we'll see...

Agreed about the lids, the bottoms stack nicely but the lids, ug mess city.

[xinbei]

Just got my 1st $15 PAB cup from the Santa Clara California store:

Well the time it took to pack a cup way is beyond my expectation...Still it is a great experience. I can not wait until I get my 2nd PAB cup in another California store!

Edited July 11, 2011 by xinbei

[NiceMarmot]

2 large cup full of those!!!

So did you get about 400 bamboo plants in each cup? I've been picking up bits of them in various mixed PAB cups I've done, and been thinking about just getting a full cups worth and being done with it. Was wondering how many would fit in a cup. I imagine you can just toss them in and then compress it down a bit.

[Lego Otaku]

So did you get about 400 bamboo plants in each cup? I've been picking up bits of them in various mixed PAB cups I've done, and been thinking about just getting a full cups worth and being done with it. Was wondering how many would fit in a cup. I imagine you can just toss them in and then compress it down a bit.

Yeah, about 400 each. I filled 2 large cups to get a bit over 800 total. I didn't stack them because of irregular shape. Fortunately bamboo is soft and you can really fill it then compress them You may be able to get at most 450 if you really crammed them.

[Jareth]

Just got my 1st $15 PAB cup from the Santa Clara California store:

Well the time it took to pack a cup way is beyond my expectation...Still it is a great experience. I can not wait until I get my 2nd PAB cup in another California store!

Whoa, hinge bricks & plates! I've never seen those at a PAB wall before. I hope my store has them next time I go!

[KJordan714]

Been careful reading this thread that dates back to 2008 :) well done everyone.

Taking my boys and husband to the lego store for the first time and in fact I am taking my husband back the next day minus the kids so he can help the kids first and enjoy the experience with them without worrying about working on his choices ;) he can do that the next day.

Can anyone update me on current cup prices? If someone knows specifically about the Bellevue Washington store that would be great too :)

Thanks so much,

Kristen