Collectable Minfigures: Worth the Hype?

[ACWWgal2011]

I like the figures but not that much. not sure why i ever got excited about them.

[TheLegoDr]

If you regret buying the figures you did buy, then sell them and quit buying the new figures. Simple as that. Others, myself included, are excited for future releases of these figures. Series 6 was released here in mid-February and I immediately found all of the figures I wanted. Series 8 was released here within the last week, so approximately mid-May, meaning 3 months of series 6 was available for everyone. If you can't find your figure over 3 months, then that is too bad, but you even claim that you don't go to that many stores very often, so of course you won't have the chance to buy the figures you want if you never actually look for them. We have 3 Targets and 3 Wal-Marts, plus TRU, but no Lego brand stores. We have plenty of options to find the figures. As stated, series 8 just came out and I've only been to 2 of those 7 stores listed and already have all of the figures I want and the stores were picked clean when I went. So for other locals looking for their figures, they will have another 3 months or longer to look for their series 8 before series 9 comes out. Methinks that will be plenty of time. Or you can resort to Bricklink or eBay for the figures. I have yet to do that, but it might be easier for you if you can't make it to the stores to find the packets.

I have no problem with army builders/hoarders. I want the figures I want too, but if I can't find some of them, then I keep looking until I do. I was an army builder when I first got into CMFs, but lately I haven't been as much. Been trying to spread my money to new themes. Although it is really impressive to see huge armies of similar figures.

I think the CMF are definitely worth the hype. I think releasing them any more frequent would be troublesome, but at the current pace it seems to be okay. With all of the other themes coming available, it is getting costly. But that isn't to say I would want the CMF to stop completely.

[streifen]

Long may the CMF series continue!

I am always looking forward to their release especially if the series has what I want. e.g. Series 5 (Royal Guard), Series 7 (Bagpiper), the Baseball Player (an earlier series) and also the Footballer.

I am not shy to say that i feel my way through a few outlets for multiples of the above minifgs. Afterall 1 bagpiper cannot do much. We probably only see 1 man playing bagpipes during a funeral, basking on the street (well, I saw 1 in Edinburgh).

[WhiteFang]

I will chip in abit of thoughts into this discussion even though I have been supporting it all this while. Till this present moment, I am and will continue to support 100% on the LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series! May the series ever continue to grow and prosper. It opens up many new windows of endless imagination and possibilities. It can only be done through the LEGO CMFs without re-creating new or evergreen LEGO themes to incorporate those minifigs in them. I see this as a chance for LEGO to create a brand new market for this hype and it hit right across all LEGO fans and collectors regardless of the themes that you always have been enjoying.

I don't see why it is not worth the hype and I see this theme is a complete new class of its own. And, LEGO had done an excellent job to create a new group of collectors based on the existing market. In short, it make us go crazy all over it, even right up to Series 7 and we still continue hunting for it, while buying our core collections.

Why is that so? It is not just a simple novelty that can't stand the test of time. Instead, it stood up to the challenge in the uncertain environment. 2 years ago, the entire LEGO Collectable Minifigures Theme is unheard of and people don't know what to expect!

Look right here and right now, are you happy with the progress? Be rational and think about it. I will say as long LEGO wish or intend to let this theme lives on, I will say go for it and I am intending to give my fullest support for its continuation.

[ACWWgal2011]

I will chip in abit of thoughts into this discussion even though I have been supporting it all this while. Till this present moment, I am and will continue to support 100% on the LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series! May the series ever continue to grow and prosper. It opens up many new windows of endless imagination and possibilities. It can only be done through the LEGO CMFs without re-creating new or evergreen LEGO themes to incorporate those minifigs in them. I see this as a chance for LEGO to create a brand new market for this hype and it hit right across all LEGO fans and collectors regardless of the themes that you always have been enjoying.

I don't see why it is not worth the hype and I see this theme is a complete new class of its own. And, LEGO had done an excellent job to create a new group of collectors based on the existing market. In short, it make us go crazy all over it, even right up to Series 7 and we still continue hunting for it, while buying our core collections.

Why is that so? It is not just a simple novelty that can't stand the test of time. Instead, it stood up to the challenge in the uncertain environment. 2 years ago, the entire LEGO Collectable Minifigures Theme is unheard of and people don't know what to expect!

Look right here and right now, are you happy with the progress? Be rational and think about it. I will say as long LEGO wish or intend to let this theme lives on, I will say go for it and I am intending to give my fullest support for its continuation.

By progress, do you mean factors such as the new figures in each series compared with older series, how unique the blind bags are, and how they are distributed among stores? If so, then no. If that's not what progress means, what do you mean that way i could correct what i say.

To me, the figures are getting more bland as the figures continue to come out. I find that series 1 to be my favorite compared to the other series, #4 being right behind and series 3 would be right behind #4.

As far as distribution, I am NOT happy. In 2 days i've been to SIX stores trying to find the series 6 figures that were widespread a couple months ago tops. 2 targets, 2 walmarts, a toy's r us, and even a barnes and nobles had NONE. The 2 targets had no series 6 but series 7, 1 walmart had no minifigures of any kind, the other only had ONE packet of series 5 hiding in the trading card section that wasn't there a week ago, the toys r us only had 4 dollars a pack series 5 and 7, and B&N had old sets but no series figures. By old sets, i mean AC, kingdoms, PQ, and atlantis that i was shocked to see at more or less MSRP. I've been trying to catch the figures in stores around here since series 1. And it took until Series 5 showing up in the from of 16 boxes at walmart to find them, then NO series 6, and now series 7. And I can not find the logical sense of the UK getting the figure a month or more ahead of the US and then it takes weeks or months to get to some stores.

As far as the unique-ness factor of blind bags? There's a bunch of other companies doing it so lego is blending into the crowd in stores when i go looking to see if the series figures showed up or not(more often then not it's no). There's wacky packages, toonz/blinku's, garbage pail kids, about 4 different mega bloc ones, gomu erasers, gogo crazy bones, trash packs, lala loopsy, kookoo birds, moshi monsters, 2 or 3 different dog tag ones, those circle shaped WWE things, mario kart impulse, and even spongebob blind packs(no joke) and i know i'm missing quite a few items.

[TrumpetKing]

I like the figures but not that much. not sure why i ever got excited about them.

Well why do you keep telling yourself to buy them?! If you don't want them, or find them unexciting, you don't have to buy them. It is a perfectly easy choice. I for one, love the idea of collecting these figures, and I will probably stop when the line does.

[TrumpetKing]

As far as the unique-ness factor of blind bags? There's a bunch of other companies doing it so lego is blending into the crowd in stores when i go looking to see if the series figures showed up or not(more often then not it's no). There's wacky packages, toonz/blinku's, garbage pail kids, about 4 different mega bloc ones, gomu erasers, gogo crazy bones, trash packs, lala loopsy, kookoo birds, moshi monsters, 2 or 3 different dog tag ones, those circle shaped WWE things, mario kart impulse, and even spongebob blind packs(no joke) and i know i'm missing quite a few items.

Sorry for double posting, but also, keep in mind that most of these came After Lego, even the toys completely.

Edited May 21, 2012 by TrumpetKing67

[posades]

Sorry for double posting, but also, keep in mind that most of these came After Lego, even the toys completely.

It doesn't matter, the unique aspect just isn't there anymore in terms of blind packaging.

And I think ACWWgal is entitled to her opinion; if she wants the line to end then so be it, no need to attack someone over an opinion that isn't hurting anyone. As far as my opinion, I do enjoy seeing what TLG comes up with next in the new series, but I'm also not a rabid collector that has to have every minifig. I usually just buy one or two from each series, my favorites.

With army building, I think the line is a little more blurry. I'm not a fan of the 'do whatever makes you feel good' mentality, but most of the time army builders aren't preventing other people (specifically kids) from getting a figure so that's fine. When they cross the line in my opinion is when they refuse to give up a single fig to someone that doesn't have any and wants a specific one; I saw this the other day at Target when an older man refused to hand over a minifigure to a girl because he was army building; all I could do was shake my head. Sometimes there's more to life than collecting toys, and doing the right thing in that case I think would be putting your needs aside for a moment.

[ACWWgal2011]

Sorry for double posting, but also, keep in mind that most of these came After Lego, even the toys completely.

I didn't say lego came before OR after the packs. I just said that lego was blending in into the crowds with all the other blind packs and i'm not kidding. I went to walmart trading card aisle and found a royal guard HIDING in the gogo box when i was looking for gogo series 1. except for the fact i know what the series 5 looks like, i would of just passed it up most likely. And the series 5 fitness was ontop of trading card boxes and i don't know how she got there since the series 5 boxes have been gone for at least 1-2 months

[badbob001]

Since not everyone got into collecting right from the introduction of the series, it would be unfair for the 'veterans' to wish it to stop because they are tired of it. To many people, it's fresh and exciting and even new. If I were just introduced to the series and were told it will end soon, I would probably be hesitant to start collecting. Besides, I don't think the series has plateau on creativity yet.

I agree that to some people, hunting down bags and feeling them is tiring and a big drain on time. I've experience it and I think I can leave that aspect to the younger folk now and simply use my money to order exactly what I want from others who have already done the tedious portion for me. I'm actually finding it being cheaper and I actually get it sooner compared to the traditional way.

[1980-Something-Space-Guy]

Such a sweet pic. And I agree with your statements, WhiteFang.

ACWWgal2011 I get the impression that you haven't made up your mind as for CMFs, since you keep buying them yet keep complaining constantly about them, wishing them to end. Yes, you are entitled to think in whichever way you want to, but I get the impression that your opinions are inconsistent.

I'll just say that I love this theme because we have got figs that we would probably not have got otherwise. Personally, I like to collect them all, but even for those who just pick their favorite two of each series, I think that we have all benefitted greatly from this theme. Hope the series continue to infinity and beyond.

Edited May 22, 2012 by johnnyvgoode

[kibosh]

I didn't say lego came before OR after the packs. I just said that lego was blending in into the crowds with all the other blind packs and i'm not kidding.

How is this the fault of Lego? They had an incredible idea, and they're still running with it. How do I know it's incredible? BECAUSE every other company jumped into the same space and copying the original. I'm glad companies don't think like you or there would be a LOT less diversity in consumer choices.

[Vindicare]

How is this the fault of Lego? They had an incredible idea, and they're still running with it. How do I know it's incredible? BECAUSE every other company jumped into the same space and copying the original. I'm glad companies don't think like you or there would be a LOT less diversity in consumer choices.

Ok...first off, she never said it was LEGOs fault. It's not exactly an incredible idea...it's been around forever.

I'm getting a bit tired of teem myself. I just buy some every now and then, or buy the ones I really want from eBay.

[TrumpetKing]

ACWWgal2011 I get the impression that you haven't made your mind as for CMFs, since you keep buying them yet keep complaining constantly about them, wishing them to end. Yes, you are entitled to think in whichever way you want to, but I get the impression that your opinions are inconsistent.

I'll just say that I love this theme because we have got figs that we would probably not have got otherwise. Personally, I like to collect them all, but even for those who just pick their favorite two of each series, I think that we have all benefitted greatly from this theme. Hope the series continue to infinity and beyond.

How is this the fault of Lego? They had an incredible idea, and they're still running with it. How do I know it's incredible? BECAUSE every other company jumped into the same space and copying the original. I'm glad companies don't think like you or there would be a LOT less diversity in consumer choices.

Thank you, you two. This is exactly what I meant to say, but probably was not specific enough. ACWWgal, I am very sorry if you felt that I was "dissing" your opinion, because I had no intention to do so. I was only attempting to make a point

Edited May 22, 2012 by TrumpetKing67

[WhiteFang]

To all members in this discussion, let's keep this civil and constructive. We are entitled to our opinion but I will not be very pleased if any members wish to stuff each other with their opinions repeatedly by insisting who is right and who is wrong. I hope and I wish the members in this discussion are able to see this fine thin line.

By progress, do you mean factors such as the new figures in each series compared with older series, how unique the blind bags are, and how they are distributed among stores? If so, then no. If that's not what progress means, what do you mean that way i could correct what i say.

There are lots of factors in terms of progression which I had included, namely minifigures' design, relevance of existing and exploration of new LEGO themes, integration of existing LEGO themes, introduction of new minifigures' parts and accessories, etc. All of these factors have been emphasis and highlighted before in my reviews for the LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series.

If you have the time, please take a look at this index which Rufus had done for this forum. Lots of efforts were being made to reach to our community and lots of polling data had been done. I just don't have the time to sit down and crunch those data into useful information.

For example, like the polling data obtained for this question in the Series 7 review,

252 Eurobricks members had responded so far, 133 members had indicated Series 7 to be the best released Series ever and that is more than 50% of the voters. In this question, each member is forced to choose their best series ever based on the current releases! Each member is given a choice to do so. If you had compared and integrate all of my polling results together, you will see a natural progression of the Eurobricks community showing a huge support and liking for the new Series as TLG continually releasing them. I had measured and I am intending to measure it as it goes on! The polls are not closed and any members who had not voted, will have a chance to increase the quantum.

I don't speak for myself but lots of things can be seen from the raw data. It takes time to come up a feasible study and one of the metholdgy is through data gathering through large random sampling population. As I had said again, this is the most appropriate way to see the overview without being exposed to self-selection bias. If I am still studying, I will be doing my papers for this research.

To me, the figures are getting more bland as the figures continue to come out. I find that series 1 to be my favorite compared to the other series, #4 being right behind and series 3 would be right behind #4.

Bland? Hmm, I beg to differ. I agree with you that Series 1 is my favourite. I had always been a huge fan of Series 1 until the recent Series 7 overtook it, but that's me and I had said enough of it before.

Each of us have different preferred preference over the wide array of Series that are made available to fans and consumers. Each of us had a different take and there are bound to be people who like and dislike. There is no single product or design which can aims to satisfy all fans and consumers. There are bound to be disappointments and what TLG could do is to minimise the amount of disappointment that it could caused to these target segments in the global market.

As far as distribution, I am NOT happy. In 2 days i've been to SIX stores trying to find the series 6 figures that were widespread a couple months ago tops. 2 targets, 2 walmarts, a toy's r us, and even a barnes and nobles had NONE. The 2 targets had no series 6 but series 7, 1 walmart had no minifigures of any kind, the other only had ONE packet of series 5 hiding in the trading card section that wasn't there a week ago, the toys r us only had 4 dollars a pack series 5 and 7, and B&N had old sets but no series figures. By old sets, i mean AC, kingdoms, PQ, and atlantis that i was shocked to see at more or less MSRP. I've been trying to catch the figures in stores around here since series 1. And it took until Series 5 showing up in the from of 16 boxes at walmart to find them, then NO series 6, and now series 7. And I can not find the logical sense of the UK getting the figure a month or more ahead of the US and then it takes weeks or months to get to some stores.

Distribution is not up to us to decide. It is the company logistic operations who decides it. We can always feedback to the appropriate channel to TLG by providing feedback to the LEGO Customer Service which will be directed to the right personnel in the department. In life, we don't have a control over the external environmental dynamic factors and we do not know their policy.

As far as the unique-ness factor of blind bags? There's a bunch of other companies doing it so lego is blending into the crowd in stores when i go looking to see if the series figures showed up or not(more often then not it's no). There's wacky packages, toonz/blinku's, garbage pail kids, about 4 different mega bloc ones, gomu erasers, gogo crazy bones, trash packs, lala loopsy, kookoo birds, moshi monsters, 2 or 3 different dog tag ones, those circle shaped WWE things, mario kart impulse, and even spongebob blind packs(no joke) and i know i'm missing quite a few items.

Nope. There is nothing unique about blind bag packaging. Instead, I am not a huge fan of that but I had came to accept the fact of blind packaging remains as long the LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series exist which is determined by their Marketing personnel. My definition of unique span way beyond the mere surface and my appreciation for this theme is more than just the tip of the iceberg.

[Itaria No Shintaku]

252 Eurobricks members had responded so far, 133 members had indicated Series 7 to be the best released Series ever and that is more than 50% of the voters. In this question, each member is forced to choose their best series ever based on the current releases! Each member is given a choice to do so. If you had compared and integrate all of my polling results together, you will see a natural progression of the Eurobricks community showing a huge support and liking for the new Series as TLG continually releasing them.

You know how much I respect your opinion, WhiteFang, but in this reasonment there is a hole. I mean, every people is usually more fascinated by new things than by old ones. In fact, I think that S7 is a very good one and I will buy 60-70 mini, but it is indeed worse (IMHO!) than S6, speaking of which I bought really a throng of minis.

While I agree that the average is getting better, not every collectible serie is better than the one before it. My favourite minifig is still the spartan, who was in S2, or the Elf, who was in S3... or the Zombie who was in S1!!!

[Gryphon Ink]

How is this the fault of Lego? They had an incredible idea, and they're still running with it. How do I know it's incredible? BECAUSE every other company jumped into the same space and copying the original. I'm glad companies don't think like you or there would be a LOT less diversity in consumer choices.

If the "incredible idea" you're talking about is the concept of blind packs that you are meant to collect, then yes, it WAS an incredible idea - when the tobacco companies invented it, with the first collectable trading cards back in the 19th Century. Since then we've had sports cards, movie cards, hundreds of collectable card games, collectable model games like MechWarrior and HeroClix, and "Constructable Card Games" like Pirates of the Spanish Main. TLG are very far from being the company that came up with this idea.

[ACWWgal2011]

i wasn't implying it was lego's fault, i was implying that unless lego steps up the game with minifigures, they may not attract that many new people in the future. With nearly all the other blind bags PLUS trading cards, they can go into the existing collection of a certain item easily. With minifigures, a lot of the figures don't really work with existing sets out there not counting if you're a MOCer.

[1980-Something-Space-Guy]

I don't think that blind bags are that much of a good idea. I'd rather choose the fig I'm buying. However, there is one single reason why I am not uncomofortable with the fact that Lego uses them: they have stated that, if not for the blind packaging, some of the figs wouldn't have got into production because they are less safe potential sellers. If blind packaging allows Lego to make a wider variety of figs, I'll take that.

[ACWWgal2011]

I don't think that blind bags are that much of a good idea. I'd rather choose the fig I'm buying. However, there is one single reason why I am not uncomofortable with the fact that Lego uses them: they have stated that, if not for the blind packaging, some of the figs wouldn't have got into production because they are less safe potential sellers. If blind packaging allows Lego to make a wider variety of figs, I'll take that.

I heard it's more of a lego making it where people have to buy lots of packs to get the ones they want if they don't know the feel, barcode, or bump method case that they really want. Even less popular ones still have people who want them. But i think it's also a combined factor to stop people from buying them all up but that hasn't stopped people last time i checked.

[1980-Something-Space-Guy]

I heard it's more of a lego making it where people have to buy lots of packs to get the ones they want if they don't know the feel, barcode, or bump method case that they really want. Even less popular ones still have people who want them. But i think it's also a combined factor to stop people from buying them all up but that hasn't stopped people last time i checked.

Well, that could be a factor, especially regarding their profits from kids. However, the info I mentioned is from the Brickjournal interview (the same one that confirmed series 6-8).

[WhiteFang]

You know how much I respect your opinion, WhiteFang, but in this reasonment there is a hole. I mean, every people is usually more fascinated by new things than by old ones. In fact, I think that S7 is a very good one and I will buy 60-70 mini, but it is indeed worse (IMHO!) than S6, speaking of which I bought really a throng of minis.

You could be right. People including myself are always excited for the new stuff but if the new stuff do not 'wow' you from a generalised approach, then it will probably lose its appeal instead of a progressive liking towards the newer series.

While I agree that the average is getting better, not every collectible serie is better than the one before it. My favourite minifig is still the spartan, who was in S2, or the Elf, who was in S3... or the Zombie who was in S1!!!

I am sure you are aware that there are individual polling topics for the mentioned series to reflect the most liked CMF minifigure! Go take alook and you will be pleased to see what the community in general, prefer.

[Lyichir]

i wasn't implying it was lego's fault, i was implying that unless lego steps up the game with minifigures, they may not attract that many new people in the future. With nearly all the other blind bags PLUS trading cards, they can go into the existing collection of a certain item easily. With minifigures, a lot of the figures don't really work with existing sets out there not counting if you're a MOCer.

Isn't the fact that the figures don't work with existing sets the best part? I think the whole idea of the collectible figs has been to produce figures who couldn't justify a whole theme. There's probably never going to be a theme requiring a guy in a Kaiju suit, for instance, or a theme that needs a crash-test dummy. Not to mention figs with specific contexts, like Lady Liberty! True, some figs have found homes in newer themes, especially the Monster Fighters theme. But at the time those figs were released in the Collectible Minifigs line, that was the only way to obtain them short of Bricklinking decade-old figures.

I think the problem you have with the Collectible Minifigures is made evident by your last statement: you're not a MOCist. But many (if not most) LEGO fans are MOCists to some extent, and the Collectible Minifigs are avenues for these MOCists to get figs for their MOCs which otherwise may never have been officially produced. For this audience, the hype around the Collectible Minifigures line is completely justified, since many of these figs may only ever be available in that release.

[mrklaw]

Im sure some aspects of blind bagging are frustrating if you want 'x' amount of a particular character. But that's blind bagging for you. Not unique to Lego at all, so there must be some popularity.

I expect the majority of purchases are as gifts or impulse buys at the checkout, and are bought randomly. So army builders and those spending 20 minutes feeling all the bags I would expect to be a (vocal) minority

[LEGOman273]

Worth the hype?

Yes.

1. The 'Figs are unique and well-designed.

2. The wealth of new parts, re-colours, and new prints is great for MOCing.

3. I don't mind "Blind Packaging". Fondling the packets () and finding the 'Fig I'm looking for certainly adds to the fun.

The only problem I have with the line is that the distribution should be more uniform.

Case-in-point:

I check my local Wal*Mart frequently, but have not seen any CMFs there since Series 5. I checked a different Wal*Mart, not far from the other, and they had Series 7 'Figs.