LEGO Collectable Minifigures General Discussion

[Oliverphoenix]

A few pages back I noticed people were saying that these minifigs were made in high quality plastic just like the minifigs you would get in normal sets,however in the past few days I have bought several of these figures from WHSmiths and Toysrus and this is definately not the case.

If you compare minifigs like the Nurse and Astronaut to other white lego minifigs you can clearly see a difference in the tone of the material,also there yellow minifig hands for example are more bright coloured like the ones you would get in a magnet or Tic Tac Toe set.Other signs that indicate a different quality are the lack of a black stamp on the torso assembly neck and a lack of a gloss type finish on certain items,the astronaut helmet really stuck out for me on this aspect.Theres a lot more signs as well but the point is that these minifigs are definately not the same quality as boxed set minifigs.

Now I am not sure if this has been covered before but I really wanted to know other peoples experiences,is the quality of the minifigs released in the UK different to minifigs released in other European countries?

[Mirandir]

A few pages back I noticed people were saying that these minifigs were made in high quality plastic just like the minifigs you would get in normal sets,however in the past few days I have bought several of these figures from WHSmiths and Toysrus and this is definately not the case.

If you compare minifigs like the Nurse and Astronaut to other white lego minifigs you can clearly see a difference in the tone of the material,also there yellow minifig hands for example are more bright coloured like the ones you would get in a magnet or Tic Tac Toe set.Other signs that indicate a different quality are the lack of a black stamp on the torso assembly neck and a lack of a gloss type finish on certain items,the astronaut helmet really stuck out for me on this aspect.Theres a lot more signs as well but the point is that these minifigs are definately not the same quality as boxed set minifigs.

Now I am not sure if this has been covered before but I really wanted to know other peoples experiences,is the quality of the minifigs released in the UK different to minifigs released in other European countries?

No, theese figs are not the same as the ones you get in normal sets. If you look on the "neck" of the torso you'll notice that it lacks the normal marking and also inside their arms they've got square indents with numbers inside. Those two things proove that the figs are cheaper figs manufactured in China (Or so it's said).

And yeah my nurse's torso has a milky white color rather than the normal white. :/

[Holodoc]

Mr. Holodoc, can you confirm that the minifigs are available in German toy stores like TRU already? I plan to take a short trip to Germany this week or next week and would like to know if it makes sense going there for these items. I have not seen them in Holland so far so my guess is that "we" will have to wait until June or so before they will hit the stores over here.

I wanted to know the same, so I will phone them tomorrow and let you know.

The stores in Germany are selling them right now - if there are still some left.

[jamtf]

I wanted to know the same, so I will phone them tomorrow and let you know.

The stores in Germany are selling them right now - if there are still some left.

Thanks in advance.

I happen to know a remote store in an area no one will look. If the toy stores in Germany have the sets, this particular shop will definitely still have a good number left. On the other hand, I do not need them all. Everyone likes the zombie and wrestler (he reminds me of Bat Dad in a classic South Park episode, if you have not seen it, it's hilarious), I do not. For me, the nurse, cheerleader, clown, cowboy, native indian, forestman, robot, crash test dummy and caveman are the ones I would like to get.

[Aanchir]

No, theese figs are not the same as the ones you get in normal sets. If you look on the "neck" of the torso you'll notice that it lacks the normal marking and also inside their arms they've got square indents with numbers inside. Those two things proove that the figs are cheaper figs manufactured in China (Or so it's said).

And yeah my nurse's torso has a milky white color rather than the normal white. :/

Those factors actually have nothing to do with the quality. Neither, for that matter, does the place they're made . Several sources have already confirmed that the new arm mold is going to become the standard, and it's just coincidence that Chinese-made minifigs transitioned to these new molds sooner. Likewise, the marking on the necks used to be a way of identifying which side was the front of a minifig torso so the arms could be attached correctly. LEGO's most up-to-date machinery no longer requires this marking to identify which side is the front, so newer figs will often lack the neck printing.

Meanwhile, any discoloration is probably standard variability-- yellow and white parts are frequently inconsistent, a problem that existed even before LEGO moved any of their production to China. I have several non-matching yellow and white parts at home that could testify to this phenomenon. In fact, my 2005 LEGO Brickmaster set (the medium-sized box with Creator-style parts) had several yellow parts that did not match entirely-- and LEGO hadn't even started production in Mexico at that time, let alone China!

Of course, to be fair, newer factories often take a while to match the level of quality control in the already-existing factories. But other than that, being made in China has nothing to do with the quality, and LEGO remains in complete control of what comes out of their factories, no matter what country those factories are in. Low-quality Chinese products are not the fault of Chinese manufacturers, but rather of companies that don't give a **** if their products are low-quality. And LEGO certainly has higher standards than that.

[Holodoc]

Those factors actually have nothing to do with the quality. Neither, for that matter, does the place they're made . Several sources have already confirmed that the new arm mold is going to become the standard, and it's just coincidence that Chinese-made minifigs transitioned to these new molds sooner. Likewise, the marking on the necks used to be a way of identifying which side was the front of a minifig torso so the arms could be attached correctly. LEGO's most up-to-date machinery no longer requires this marking to identify which side is the front, so newer figs will often lack the neck printing.

We have been to the minifig-assembling-factory in Billund

and I can confirm everything you wrote!

And even if they are not-the-same-white like other bricks, they are far better than the crappy torsos coming with the magnets.

And I have phoned TRU Mönchengladbach and TRU Neuss - both of them didn't have any minifigs so far. They are expected in one or two weeks in the mid of may. So once again it's patience we need.

[RocketClone]

Does anyone know when these will be available in the US, and how much a whole box is?

[jamtf]

And I have phoned TRU Mönchengladbach and TRU Neuss - both of them didn't have any minifigs so far. They are expected in one or two weeks in the mid of may. So once again it's patience we need.

Hmm, strange. Other stores have them while TRU - not exactly a small retailer - doesn't. Coincidentally, TRU M'gladbach is the one I always go to since it is the one closest to the Dutch-German border near Venlo. It's situated on top of a huge REAL hypermarket where they sell Lego too. I always go to REAL first to see if there are any discounts and after that, I go upstairs to see what TRU has to offer.

Edited May 4, 2010 by jamtf

[FinalFeature]

Does anyone know when these will be available in the US, and how much a whole box is?

A whole box will cost $120. And the figures will be released in June.

LegoGalactus

[Oky]

Could a mod perhaps rename this topic? I think by now we know that these are indeed "new minifigures" so how about something more like "Collectible Minifigs Discussion" or something?

[Erdbeereis]

I'm on it.

[Princess Storm]

I don't get this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LEGO-8683-Collectabl...8#ht_500wt_1182

How can sellers be 100% sure which fig it is if it's sealed? Is it that obvious when you feel the bag? Good if it is

[LuxorV]

I don't get this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LEGO-8683-Collectabl...8#ht_500wt_1182

How can sellers be 100% sure which fig it is if it's sealed? Is it that obvious when you feel the bag? Good if it is

Probably this will help: rumors, and facts, say that each figure has a unique barcode on the back of the polybag, along with the "set's" code. I suppose the sellers rely on them.

Of course, guessing from the feel through the bag could be risky, but probably doable, too.

Perhaps some expert (i.e., already owning these figs) members will be able to provide better evidence.

LuxorV

Edited May 5, 2010 by LuxorV
Added link for barcodes info

[WhiteFang]

Perhaps some expert (i.e., already owning these figs) members will be able to provide better evidence.

At the back of the packet, all barcode numbers are the same and it's very hard to feel exactly what it is. However, I have not attempted to use a barcode reader to scan but it may or may not helped. I am not very sure.

[fred67]

So I don't care about bar codes or anything; it seems it's been guaranteed that you'll get a complete set in a box, so I'd just like to buy a box...

I can wait until June, but the question is "where?" I've seen a few sites offering them for preorder, but they want more than list. I'm certain if I walk into Toys R Us or my LEGO Store and ask for a box, they'll kick me out. It would be cool to be able to order a box from LEGO.com, I'd be comfortable doing that, but I'm afraid they will only sell them separately, and limit it to like 5 or 10, like they do for so many items (especially new ones).

I could even wait longer... I won't even be in the U.S. for most of June anyway, I still don't see it happening for third or fourth shipments.

[minifig]

I can wait until June, but the question is "where?" I've seen a few sites offering them for preorder, but they want more than list. I'm certain if I walk into Toys R Us or my LEGO Store and ask for a box, they'll kick me out. It would be cool to be able to order a box from LEGO.com, I'd be comfortable doing that, but I'm afraid they will only sell them separately, and limit it to like 5 or 10, like they do for so many items (especially new ones).

I just received a reply from Customer Services from Belgium. They say that these minifigs will NOT be for sale on ShopAtHome.

[Big Cam]

When looking at legislation website, I am under the impression that you can buy these from shop are home in June.

[fred67]

I just received a reply from Customer Services from Belgium. They say that these minifigs will NOT be for sale on ShopAtHome.

and....

When looking at legislation website, I am under the impression that you can buy these from shop are home in June.

[Dunjohn]

Really jealous of all of you and your figs.

I have to wait because Argos doesn't have them in yet

Thanks for the Barcodes.

Not sure how useful they'll be in Argos....

Nowhere here has them yet. Maybe somewhere in Dublin but I'm a million miles from there. I may have to Argos it myself.

[Edmond Dantes]

and....

Different countries have different S@H offerings.

I'm hopeful these will be available at S@H in June in the US.

[fred67]

Different countries have different S@H offerings.

I'm hopeful these will be available at S@H in June in the US.

It's May, and we're still "hoping" instead of "knowing." That's what's disappointing.

[Holodoc]

How can sellers be 100% sure which fig it is if it's sealed? Is it that obvious when you feel the bag? Good if it is

Probably this will help: rumors, and facts, say that each figure has a unique barcode on the back of the polybag, along with the "set's" code. I suppose the sellers rely on them.

Perhaps some expert (i.e., already owning these figs) members will be able to provide better evidence.

You can tell the minifig inside the bag from the barcode that is on the back side to the upper left corner:

When we went to our event in Billund two weeks ago we were given one complete box of those minifigs.

We have taken a photo of every barcode and made this beautiful list:

Now you can tell, that the example-bag shown above contains the... now?

Look here:

Right - Spaceman!

It's that easy and it's 100% sure.

At the back of the packet, all barcode numbers are the same and it's very hard to feel exactly what it is. However, I have not attempted to use a barcode reader to scan but it may or may not helped. I am not very sure.

No, sorry, but you're wrong. The barcode to the right is the same, but the barcode to the left shows the minifig.

I tried my cell phone with a scanning software, but it didn't read the barcode. For whatever reason.

[The Who]

But are those also for the USA? Or do we know yet about the states?

[Dfenz]

Just picked up a clown and cheerleader today at Argos in Dublin thanks to Holodocs scanned barcodes. Unusually for Argos the box was located on front of a cash register so the barcodes were accessible before purchase. The assistant was very helpful in assisting me find the right 'random' packs.

[Wayno]

One left in my local WHS and it was a diver , Will just have to settle for the 30 i picked up..... but i still not got the crash dummy!!!

Ive just rang TRU there out, so going to try argos in a bit, just hoping there on display so i can check barcodes. I used this here

http://bricks.inof.de/docs/minifig-barcodes/

NEED MORE ZOMBIES!!!!