That is the problem.. They have small volume.. If they want to become a bigger company and make more money.. they need to think big.. If you shoot for a small company.. that is what you will have.. But if you have dreams.. They can come true..

they have a unique item. they could make a killing.. If they aren't going to do what needs to be done.. Lower their cost & Prices.. Then that can create new competition.. Maybe someone on here will think about making another company doing the same thing.. just stealing their ideas.. But making it cheaper.. With a different formula for their plastic.. This way they can avoid their copy rights..

right now they can charge what they want... but... That can change....

The problem is, as I've stated, you are vastly overestimating the community that will buy their products. You also treat it like they are some big company with hundreds of employees when it's not, and it won't be as a "hanger on" to LEGO in the same way that a company that makes parts for a particular model of Ford cars will never be as big as Ford. They sell products for what they feel is a reasonable price to give them a return on their investments... it's essentially just a couple of guys who, disappointed with what's available for LEGO, started making their own. I'm just suggesting you are making a bigger deal out of their operation than it is. There's just not a large enough market for them to lower prices and make it back in volume.

Since when are there centaurs in LOTR??

Exactly... since TLG has resurrected Harry Potter, though, it would be interesting to see some Centaurs in there, and I wonder if TLG has something up their sleeve (perhaps the big deal Svelte was insinuating last month). Regardless, I could see buying a few of these to supplement the Harry Potter sets, but for right now, I would include them in my own LOTR MOCs or alongside any castle themes as statues, which is why I want gray, personally, although I'm slowly being convinced that other colors might be OK... if I get the Hogwarts, I think I'll go ahead and order at least one (there's a few other things I want, too, but I just got an order so I think I'll wait and see what else I might want to save on shipping).

There's some inconsistency in what people have said about the Harry Potter sets... that they were supposed to resurrect the line up to first four movies/books, which is what's in the video game... yet we have Luna Lovegood and other characters in those sets, and the burning of the Burrow was Half Blood Prince; Firenze was back for OOTP, so I think he's appropriate in such a Hogwart's set.

Edited September 9, 201014 yr by fred67

If anything This guy should Sue Brick Forge for pretty much taking his idea and making money on it... If anything.. It seems like Brick Forge stole his idea.. Unless.. He works for them.. But who knows???

ROFLMAO!

This product is excellent! I've been wanting a centaur bottom more than I've wanted elves and BF has provided! THANK YOU! I'm currently working on designing a couple centaur heroes for my realm before I make my purchase.

ORC!

I like the centaur torso, but I wish it existed in more colors that actual LEGO horses exist in. Or, conversely, I wish the LEGO horse existed in more colors-- a gray or dark tan horse would be excellent.

My brother bought a dark tan one at Brickfair. The reddish brown ones sold fast! There were none left on Saturday when we visited the vendors. And you could see that many people had placed reddish brown centaurs on or beside their MOCs at the MOC display tables.

Of course the centaur doesn't solve what is IMO the biggest problem with LEGO horses, that being their utter lack of posability. Still, I admire it for its consistency with the appearance of actual LEGO horses and its superb appearance when used for a complete minifigure.

Thanks for the review Cygnet - and the discussion that ensued! It's always neat to peek in on what our customers think of our new products.

It's funny that someone posted my Centaur custom from a few years back because this is the exact reason we decided to make a custom minifig-compatible Centaur body in the first place. Just to clue you in - that custom fig required superglue; so I'm afraid it's not that simple for others to replicate . And just like a large portion of our other products we received an overwhelming amount of requests and support for such a piece - no matter how mundane others feel about it. It's no wonder that we already sold over 1,100 in three weeks.

The price (of our product) doesn't appear to be an issue for most people. Someone mentioned that for the price MegaBloks is a better value. I would agree with that; heck, that's what their business model is built around. Families who find LEGO too expensive generally turn to MegaBloks or BestLock. BrickForge, however; is for those with discerning taste. We don't try to undercut LEGO to be competitive - we strive to work with existing LEGO product - and in some cases push TLG to do a better job. It's no wonder why they use our pieces for internal product development, promotional materials and even similar accessories for sets and collectible minifigs.

I also want to correct the notion that our products are made from a different plastic material than LEGO. They are both made from ABS plastic. In some cases you will notice a slight difference in tint or surface finish but I'll guarantee you can find the same disparity in LEGO bricks (those who have put a 1x2 in a LEGO Cow know what I mean). The only real solution is to inject our products using ground up and melted LEGO bricks - and we simply have to much respect for LEGO to do that

As one with a business degree I could spend all day chatting about the myths and realities of Supply & Demand economics but I dread hijacking the topic Cygnet posted - and taking away from his hard work. Instead I invite those who already haven't to join up at the BF Forum where we are more than happy to address additional concerns regarding the Centaur or our other accessories. Thanks again, Cygnet!

-A

This a wonderful review, I think you are spot on with your praise and warnings. The centaur is a figure we have all wanted for a long time and it has been a big hit so far!

That is the problem.. They have small volume.. If they want to become a bigger company and make more money.. they need to think big.. If you shoot for a small company.. that is what you will have.. But if you have dreams.. They can come true..

they have a unique item. they could make a killing.. If they aren't going to do what needs to be done.. Lower their cost & Prices.. Then that can create new competition.. Maybe someone on here will think about making another company doing the same thing.. just stealing their ideas.. But making it cheaper.. With a different formula for their plastic.. This way they can avoid their copy rights..

right now they can charge what they want... but... That can change....

No offense dude, but you are talking about things you do not understand. What makes you think that Brickforge is suffering because of their prices? Did Armothe send you his last tax statement or something? Just because you will not spend the money does not mean no one is. As someone who worked the booth at Brickfair and Brickworld, I can tell you that there is an overwhelming amount of people who are dying to have the accessories that Brickforge make, at the prices they are listed at now.

You keep wanting to equate this business with a widget company, and that is a mistake. There is no manufacturing plant, no business park, and no corporate headquarters. Brickforge is far and away the most successful accessory company around, and it is growing at a good, organic pace. They offer high quality products that are of LEGO quality, but there is no multinational corporation producing 10 million units, and the prices reflect that difference.

As for the plastic quality issue, buy a few pieces, then tell us what you think. Sorry to go off on a rant, but you need to know more information before you start spouting your knowledge!

Thanks for the review Cygnet - and the discussion that ensued! It's always neat to peek in on what our customers think of our new products.

It's funny that someone posted my Centaur custom from a few years back because this is the exact reason we decided to make a custom minifig-compatible Centaur body in the first place. Just to clue you in - that custom fig required superglue; so I'm afraid it's not that simple for others to replicate . And just like a large portion of our other products we received an overwhelming amount of requests and support for such a piece - no matter how mundane others feel about it. It's no wonder that we already sold over 1,100 in three weeks.

The price (of our product) doesn't appear to be an issue for most people. Someone mentioned that for the price MegaBloks is a better value. I would agree with that; heck, that's what their business model is built around. Families who find LEGO too expensive generally turn to MegaBloks or BestLock. BrickForge, however; is for those with discerning taste. We don't try to undercut LEGO to be competitive - we strive to work with existing LEGO product - and in some cases push TLG to do a better job. It's no wonder why they use our pieces for internal product development, promotional materials and even similar accessories for sets and collectible minifigs.

I also want to correct the notion that our products are made from a different plastic material than LEGO. They are both made from ABS plastic. In some cases you will notice a slight difference in tint or surface finish but I'll guarantee you can find the same disparity in LEGO bricks (those who have put a 1x2 in a LEGO Cow know what I mean). The only real solution is to inject our products using ground up and melted LEGO bricks - and we simply have to much respect for LEGO to do that

As one with a business degree I could spend all day chatting about the myths and realities of Supply & Demand economics but I dread hijacking the topic Cygnet posted - and taking away from his hard work. Instead I invite those who already haven't to join up at the BF Forum where we are more than happy to address additional concerns regarding the Centaur or our other accessories. Thanks again, Cygnet!

-A

Well said, You seem like a reasonable guy with a good cause. I am glad you answered this call and put an end to this line of questioning. I was starting to wonder how long it was going to take for you to answer. I bet it's not everyday you decide to comment on a review.

I like it when we get a little glimpse into what the creators were thinking. I wouldn't mind talking to you. but not on a forum of your design.. Sorry.. I like public places better.

I am glad I am not the only one who thinks your prices are steep. Maybe you could make a less expensive line using a different material or do something different to bring down the prices. Maybe you could offer two different price points for the same product.. One higher and one lower to see how the sales go for the new cheaper version.

I know I would love to own your products, at your prices. maybe 1 or 2.. But if you made them cheaper some how.. I would be willing to buy a lot more than $10 worth. probably like $100.. It's easier to Justify a lower costing product to the spouse or parent than it is a higher costing one where you only get a couple. But if you had a deal using a lower cost method, it will help us who are economically challenged. There is a Recession going on right now if you haven't noticed.. People don't have money.. Maybe the people I am thinking about and the people you are thinking about, aren't the same people.. brick world and Brick fest are just a hand full of people.. I just heard about them last year and I have been collecting Legos almost 25 years. If I sold all my legos, I could buy a really nice house.. I am middle class with a family. If the family wasn't a part of my life, then I could afford your product. But until the economy picks up and the spouse finds a job.. I will just keep on looking at your new products.. thinking to myself, that only if we were out of this Recession, only if there were more jobs out there.. only if we had two incomes.. Only If...

I would be willing to buy a lot more than $10 worth.

10 bucks is the minimum amount required to checkout anyways. Besides its just 10 bucks. If you have the money to buy Lego sets, or pay for internet, then you have the money to get some bf store at least once. Recession has nothing to do with it. Cutting down on unneccessary things allows you to get what you want.

Maybe the people I am thinking about and the people you are thinking about, aren't the same people.. brick world and Brick fest are just a hand full of people..

Not every Brickforge customer goes to BrickWorld or BrickFair. Most don't even go at all. Majority of BrickForge's customers are kids, and last I checked, kids don't even have jobs and they still manage to get their hands on this stuff.

-Omi

Edited September 9, 201014 yr by Omicron

I also want to correct the notion that our products are made from a different plastic material than LEGO. They are both made from ABS plastic. In some cases you will notice a slight difference in tint or surface finish but I'll guarantee you can find the same disparity in LEGO bricks (those who have put a 1x2 in a LEGO Cow know what I mean). The only real solution is to inject our products using ground up and melted LEGO bricks - and we simply have to much respect for LEGO to do that

This is a mistake people make concerning the Chinese parts and their supposedly inferior quality-- assuming that if it's the least bit different than LEGO's usual, then it's somehow "not ABS". In fact, LEGO has changed their piece formulations many times over the years, but for the most part sticks to ABS.

Variability tends to come from the dyeing and cooling processes, not from the type of plastic being used. Parts that cool differently can be lower quality (something that has happened with a few BIONICLE joints over the years, making them too brittle to assemble and dissemble). And since LEGO uses colorless ABS pellets nowadays instead of buying them pre-colored, they add the dye as a separate process where yes, color inconsistencies may arise.

So it's a mistake to assume that only "regular" LEGO is ABS. Brickforge uses it, and I have no doubt there's been a clone brand or two that has used it. It's LEGO's quality control during the production stage that leads to the distinct quality we associate with LEGO bricks. As far as matching it goes, I doubt any company without TLG's resources could do that perfectly. But Brickforge does one heckuva job.