Article: Trouble with LEGO Minifigs

[MetroiD]

I'd feel better if I had some control over having to buy at least one of each of the figs; but nevertheless, I do love them so - thanks.

I can totally understand that and it's at that point where TLC's marketing strategy is most irritating for us adults, yet best suited towards the psychology of their prime target clientelle: kids. Kids love to "collect" stuff, simple as that - and while I could probably envision how I'm going to use 3 fishermen from the upcoming Series 3 (although ATM I really can't ), a child doesn't have to make a motivated purchase. It just... has to has it!

Speaking of which - I wasn't aware that barcodes were going to be removed in future Series. Not really sure if this is a smart move, since it won't help drive sales up that much (most kids don't buy specific minifigs in specific quantities), and would be the worst way to treat us AFOLs for the above reasons... If that does happen, TLC will once again have nailed it initially and then gone on to ruin it from an economic point of view.

Spartants weren't even on her list.

Neither are they on mine! Can't think of why I'd need a spartan in my town or pirates diorama. So definitely no spartans for me, yay.

But I agree that some people go out of control with these buying whole boxes and having whole spare sets that will go straight into storage and maybe not see the light of day for months or even years. It really does seem to defeat the purpose of buying toys.

100%.

[XimenaPaulina]

Very interesting topic The Brickster! I, for one, never bought closed polybags but rather just purchased a complete set of 16 ('opened' ones) online, as I only needed one of each fig, nothing more, nothing less. I never actually understood other people hoarding these collectibles MFs, except maybe if they are resellers, but aside from that I think it's kinda selfish and greedy on the part of hoarders.

When TLG made its first release of the Collectible Minifigure Series 1, I was as excited as everyone to grab these new never-before-seen minifigs. I thought this was actually a brilliant idea by TLG to release minifigs that we don't normally get in sets. I viewed this move by TLG positively as a service to FOLs to provide us with these interesting minifigs, and never questioned the way it was sold to the consumers. I was quite satisfied with Series 1, but after sometime, my interest in these has died down as I realized I didn't have much use for these figs and they were just 'dust collectors' on the shelves. That's why I never bothered to get Series 2, I'd rather use my limited budget to buy more useful sets/parts for my projects.

[Peppermint_M]

Well, I am going to have to say that series 3 might be my last boxworth (Due to contents). I went to a new and very close by supermarket superstore and found series 2 boxes on the shelves, I know that they will thus have the series 3 and possible series 4. I bought a box so I would have the figures for certain. Now that I know there will be boxes at a store I will go to regularly (family preferred supermarket, large and local. A dead cert for the weekly food shop)so I will stop at 16 with a few multiples of ones I want more than one of. It is costly to buy an entire box, no matter how fun it is and how often I build figures using the parts (I even have a use for the bases).

I have to disagree with the loss of creativity. The kids do want to build for the figures, even if they don't come in a set. In fact it encourages it, because they do not have a picture of where the figure "belongs" they have to come up with something themselves.

[dr_spock]

I have to disagree with the loss of creativity. The kids do want to build for the figures, even if they don't come in a set. In fact it encourages it, because they do not have a picture of where the figure "belongs" they have to come up with something themselves.

My daughter has a collectible ninja and she built a meditation hideaway for it.

[Rick]

(I even have a use for the bases).

Curious...

[Peppermint_M]

Curious...

Well I used them in the Pop Princess scene. I am experimenting with them too.

[Rick]

I guess the bases also work well as lids for the 3 x 4 crates.

[Aanchir]

I guess the bases also work well as lids for the 3 x 4 crates.

That is a fantastic point! I'd never thought of that!

Wonder who will make the first or most appealing use of that idea now...

Anyway, the bases are good to begin with because they're three-wide. It's hard to get three-wide parts other than wedge pieces or the standard 1x3 and 2x3 plates. I wonder if they'll ever show up in actual sets-- my bets are that they will, because they're too versatile a piece for LEGO to pass up when they come to a part of a set design where they'd fit perfectly.

[timtosino]

Forget creativity.. The one thing this mad rush of collecting is turning hopefull wanna sellers into complete *****. I've posted on here before, but the things I've seen on Craiglist are just plain silly and mindnumbing. I know there will always be a secondary market for LEGO, when they they started to sell these it's a riot. There was one add selling figures in Chicago trying to sell the barcode sheet for $1 a pop for the pdf via paypal. Locally here there is another seller trying to set the set without accessories & baseplate for a price of $100, and the same person I'm guessing is trying to sell as set of 8 from series 1 with Caveman, Diver ,Dummy,Cowboy,

Forestman, Magician, Ninja, Spaceman for a whopping $100. Because of all this I've started a LEGO specific Craigslist blog

People are looking for deals on Craigslist and these sellers are expecting eBay and Bricklink prices.

Edited September 26, 2010 by leavebeaver2me

[Follows Closely]

...Spaceman for a whopping $100. Because of all this I've started a LEGO specific Craigslist blog

People are looking for deals on Craigslist and these sellers are expecting eBay and Bricklink prices.

Nice blog :)

[timtosino]

Nice blog :)

Thanks, I'm hoping other people will submit hilarious LEGO ads from craigslist one day too :P

[vexorian]

Thanks, I'm hoping other people will submit hilarious LEGO ads from craigslist one day too :P

Holy heck 15000 pieces at 485 USD! That sounds like a deal from hell. Considering all the amounts of Modular /Architecture / UCS sets you can buy at 485 USD. And that used pieces come with a curse ( The sort, wash, wash by hand, sort again, find storage curse) I cannot imagine me recycling 15000 pieces, it broke my brain just by reading, plus consider the transport cost. Oh my.

[timtosino]

Holy heck 15000 pieces at 485 USD! That sounds like a deal from hell. Considering all the amounts of Modular /Architecture / UCS sets you can buy at 485 USD. And that used pieces come with a curse ( The sort, wash, wash by hand, sort again, find storage curse) I cannot imagine me recycling 15000 pieces, it broke my brain just by reading, plus consider the transport cost. Oh my.

? The point of my blog is to show people who look at a generic pile of LEGO and think people will pay through the roof of it like the aformentioned person who is trying to sell a Caveman Locally for $20 :P

[Ogre]

Personally, I find it a little disappointing, as if TLC should somehow be "better" than that, like they should be above these sorts of marketing tricks. That's foolish, I know. They're a huge, multi-national corporation out to make money, not a kindly old toymaker handcarving each block in his cozy little shop ... but I still feel that way.

Ditto.

[benhead]

This argument on collectors versus poor out of luck child spending mom and dads allowance money on favorite toy is nothing new.It was a problem when I was 10 and its still an issue now in my 30`s.Its always based on first come first serve,said child will learn early that you don`t get what you want just cause you have money in your pocket.

Collecting is about opportunity,being in the right place at the right time.I live by 'you buy it when you see it or you will never get it again'.

I used to feel guilty about buying 5 of the same rare toy from the same store and nabbing all they had,untill going to toys r us one day on a saturday morning and seeing a line of a dozen adults all waiting for the doors to open so they could run to the aisle and fight over some $1 hot wheels car.I dont even bother with the cheap skates,I get stuff buy the case.I have seen grown men fist fight over a childs toy during the christmas season!My sister saw 2 guys fighting in the store,one got pushed into a metal peg and it just missed sticking him in the eye!After that they both got banned from that store for life,over a toy.

If I could find an unopened case of minifigures I would definently buy the whole thing but I`m not that lucky I found an opened case of series 3`s this morning with at least 10 packs missing!But thats the way it goes.Based on feel I got 2 space villians,the alien and the fisherman.

I see a few sealed cases online but I really dont want to waste $400 on an ebay sale that 50 percent of the time ends up being an empty box with a note inside that says 'SUCKER!!HAHAHA!'.Yes I`ve been ripped off before.I heard on the news about some poor idiot that bought an xbox(when they were new)on ebay for $1,000!When he got it,it was just a box with a red X painted on it!