Glued magnet sets

[papa jedi]

Is it true that TLC plans to glue magnet sets from 2011?

I have heard that All Extended Line minifigure magnet sets will as of Jan 1st 2011 be glued.

Someone in the U.S.A. bought a Pharaoh’s Quest Magnet set and the figs where glued to the magnets.

Anybody know anything about this?

[Big Cam]

I haven't heard anything about this. Who bought this glued magnet. Do you have any credible sources? Also I think this is more than just SW related, this should probably be in general discussion.

[LuxorV]

I think this discussion involves all themes and not just Star Wars, right?

So I'll move the thread to the LEGO General Discussion and News Forum

[papa jedi]

I haven't heard anything about this. Who bought this glued magnet. Do you have any credible sources? Also I think this is more than just SW related, this should probably be in general discussion.

here

<a>http://www.brickset.com/news/article/?ID=995</a>

and here

<a>http://www.fbtb.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4939</a>

Im hoping its not true.

[Big Cam]

Ugh, I was almost hoping youy didn't have a source.

Sounds like bad news for the minifig collectors. One thing that bothers me is the LEGO rep supposedly said the Licensed themes were thinking of doing this. Pharoah's Quest is LEGO's own, is it not?

Lets hope it was a fluke.

[Etzel]

It's unfortunately true, here is a quote from The Ugly Duckling blog:

Patrick Bégin, a LEGO Ambassador representing QuéLUG, got official word from LEGO on this subject :

"All Extended Line minifigure magnet sets will as of Jan 1st 2011 be glued.

Based on new requirements, the magnet base and the minifigures will have to be permanently fixed together on LEGO Star Wars magnet sets.

To ensure a consistent consumer experience across all LEGO minifigure magnet sets we have chosen to permanently fix the minifigure to the magnet base on all magnet sets moving forward from Jan 1st 2011 (incl. Pharaoh’s Quest launching Dec 1st). This decision has been carefully considered and was not taken easily as we know that many consumers will obviously not like this change."

This has also been discussed in the Pharaoh's Quest topic over in the Actions theme forum.

Since LEGO aren't allowed to sell SW minifigs separately because of some deal with Hasbro they now have to stop with the magnet sets too (I guess they used them as a loop hole until now). The sad thing is that the rest of the themes have to be affected too, since TLG wants to have a consistent consumer experience over the magnet sets. I can understand their decision but I can't help but feeling a bit disappointed that a theme that I don't care about affects others in such negative way. Boo for SW!

[Destroydacre]

For me it's not a big deal because the magnet minifigs were molded using the China plastic, but I know this is a big blow to quite a few collectors. I think this is gonna be the death of the magnet collections. What reason is there for anyone to buy these now?

[AndyC]

I suppose this was inevitable, between Hasbro's likely sabre rattling and AFOL's often stating they'll wait for magnet versions of figs rather than buying expensive sets for the exclusives, the magnets must look like a bad idea. Gluing them to the stands will probably put a stop to both of those issues, while still keeping them around as cheap impulse gifts for kids.

[XimenaPaulina]

Oh man, this is absolutely disappointing news. For someone who look forward to magnet sets as a way to get minifigs inexpensively, it's quite a big deal for me. It's like forcing people to buy official sets just to get the minifigs. It's quite discriminatory too for people who are not as well-off and big-budgeted as other collectors, and it's like telling us: "Sorry, you can't have get these minifigs unless you buy the big expensive sets." Sad, really sad...

Just curious though, if the minifigs are going to be glued to the magnet, isn't it the legs are the only connection point and hence it is the only part that will be glued physically to the magnet? Will the torso/head still be detachable, or will they be glued also to the legs?

[Brickdoctor]

Yeah, I heard about this. Well, there's always keychains. Anyone have plans to try to dissolve the glue?

[XimenaPaulina]

Yeah, I heard about this. Well, there's always keychains. Anyone have plans to try to dissolve the glue?

Well, there are chemicals designed to remove glue/adhesives, so depending on the type of adhesive that TLG will use, there's a way to remove them. When I get ahold of these 'glued' magnet sets I'll try some experimenting in our lab. and share the results with you guys.

[Brickdoctor]

Well, there are chemicals designed to remove glue/adhesives, so depending on the type of adhesive that TLG will use, there's a way to remove them. When I get ahold of these 'glued' magnet sets I'll try some experimenting in our lab. and share the results with you guys.

Sounds good. I'm just curious what kind of effect that'll have on the 'figs themselves.

[jonwil]

I expect it will be like my police officer keychain where the legs, head and headgear are all fixed and wont move.

I suspect the glue will be the same glue used for the keychains and other glued items (which AFAIK "welds" the plastic together and cant be removed without destroying the parts)

[Bricks2000]

Well, there's always last year's magnet sets...

[Etzel]

Just curious though, if the minifigs are going to be glued to the magnet, isn't it the legs are the only connection point and hence it is the only part that will be glued physically to the magnet? Will the torso/head still be detachable, or will they be glued also to the legs?

According to an earlier post at The Ugly Duckling blog the torso is glued to the legs and the legs to the magnet, but the rest is loose:

I just opened magnet set #853168 and the minfigures are glued to the bases. Not only that, the torsos are glued to the legs! The only parts that will come off are the heads, hair, hats, and accessories.

So there are some parts you can still get with magnet sets, but I don't think it will be worth it

[robuko]

This sucks. The only answer is to boycott magnets. I wonder how TLG will know if this pushes sales down (less demand for lame products) or up (some AFOLs will buy sets instead of magnets). Starting off with PQ is an interesting test because the Mummy and Anubis figures are good and would have sold very well if they were not glued.

[Enpaz]

I seriously love this news. Great, great, great.

In fact, I am bothered by asking about 10 BrickLink sellers whether the minifig they are selling comes from a magnet set or a real one!

Those cherished magnet sets are flooding the market with cheaper quality China minifigs that sellers mostly aren't able to distinguish from the "real" thing.

Also, I really like getting a large set and then being rewarded with owning a rare minifig that I would not have got otherwise, or only at a high cost. With that feature, large lego sets are not just small lego sets with more than usual parts. Exclusive minifigures add to the flair of the set a great deal, in my opinion.

What's more, some magnet minifigs are not only cheaper quality, but have also got a different print!

For example with the Mace Windu CW fig (I own both the magnet and non-magnet version) the facial expression on the non-magnet one looks much better! The head prints are in fact not the same, just as the torso prints are not.

Enpaz

Edited December 2, 2010 by Enpaz

[vexorian]

I don't get why is it desirable of a company to have "consistency" in regards to a feature that is negative and hated by consumers... If StarWars minifigs cannot be sold individually due to a deal with Hasbro, why should it affect all themes? That does not really add up to me.

[Marckeyh]

I always thought magnet figs were one piece anyway, so I never bought any. No loss for me if they do glue them! :)

[Lord Embo]

Curse you Hasbro! *shakes outraged fist at Hasbro worker*

IMO, magnet sets weren't really very good in the first place; it's just annoying that this affects all themes, not just Star Wars. This is TLG's worst decision yet(minus making Lego PoP)! Goodbye money, I'm now going to have to spend loads of money for minifigs I could normally get in magnet sets for £10 GBP.

Boo this decision!

Lord Embo

[Superkalle]

I seriously love this news. Great, great, great.

It was enriching to read your alterantive point of view. Great post.

[JimBee]

Well there goes my hopes of getting Aayla at a low price. Disappointing news, maybe someone will figure out how to dissolve the glue, but if I heard right the SW magnets will be discontinued completely. Bummer.

[Etzel]

...] but if I heard right the SW magnets will be discontinued completely. Bummer.

Well, that doesn't make sense. Why would TLG then have to glue the other magnet sets if there isn't even any SW ones? Where did you hear that there would be no SW magnet sets?

[Peppermint_M]

It was always a risk. The action figure makers have always eyed potential competition, waiting for a moment to strike. Magnet packs were just doing too well for them to stay back.

Not meaning to cause issue, but the "cheap chinese plastic" thing is getting old. Can we all just drop it now that the figures are being glued? After all, you wanted cheap when you wanted figures in packs to avoid buying the pricey large sets. Also I nevert saw much of difference myself, might just be me not being as fussy though.

[Cusm]

It would be nice to see Lego not put so many exclusives in the big expensive sets now or not so many redundancy in sets. I got my son the Turbo Tank for Xmas as he wanted it mostly for the figures in it. The bad thing is that Aanakin is in it and he has 3 of him already and he will get a couple of more with the 2011 sets.