The Lego stores are having a promotion this month, where if you spend $100 USD or more, they give you a build-a-mini 3-pack. (I'm going to buy a Fire Brigade.) I just want to confirm what constitutes a minifigure for this. I've read different things. Some people are saying they let you do legs, torso, head, hat, and one accessory. Can you do a hair piece and a hat? Does a cape count as an accessory? Can I do a backpack, cape, and two swords? How fancy can I get here?

Also if anybody has up-to-date tips on rare elements they spotted in the bin, that would be nice to know. Thanks!

assuming all the stores are similar to mine (Tigard, OR), you get to pick the legs, torso, head, hat OR hair, and 1 accessory. you can't mix legs/arms/hands/etc. (i suppose you could, but you aren't supposed to)

Hey Zeya,

The Build a minifig section varies from store to store. Normally it is:

1 hairpiece or headgear

1 head

1 torso

1 legs

and 1 accessory.

However some stores will let you take any 15 elements which is great if there are some 'special' pieces.

If you ask the employees, some of them let you just get any fifteen parts.

Why not post this here?

Just to be clear, I assume an accessory would be a hand-held thing or neck item, right? In other words, anything that isn't legs, torso, head, hair, helmet.

Why not post this here?

Ah sorry. I did a google search but didn't see that thread. Feel free to merge.

Just to be clear, I assume an accessory would be a hand-held thing or neck item, right? In other words, anything that isn't legs, torso, head, hair, helmet.

Exactly, normally the different parts are in different sections on a large board though, so you will be able to tell easily which of each item belongs to each category.

Exactly, normally the different parts are in different sections on a large board though, so you will be able to tell easily which of each item belongs to each category.

I wish! At my store (Santa Clara, CA, USA), they seem to just have a couple of bins filled with all different minifig parts. If they sort it at all, it must just get jumbled up after the store opens. And it's pretty low to the ground too, so us adults have to stoop over. That's kind of why I posted this thread, so I can go in with a plan. It's usually a zoo there and little kids tend to swarm all around the build-a-mini bins.

This reminds me of the one time I went through the build a mini bins, and this little girl took a minifigure head, paused for a second... and then stuck it in her mouth and swallowed! Haha it was pretty funny. I guess she thought she would smuggle it out. I wonder if her brother has minifigure heads disappearing all the time or what.

I wish! At my store (Santa Clara, CA, USA), they seem to just have a couple of bins filled with all different minifig parts. If they sort it at all, it must just get jumbled up after the store opens. And it's pretty low to the ground too, so us adults have to stoop over. That's kind of why I posted this thread, so I can go in with a plan. It's usually a zoo there and little kids tend to swarm all around the build-a-mini bins.

This reminds me of the one time I went through the build a mini bins, and this little girl took a minifigure head, paused for a second... and then stuck it in her mouth and swallowed! Haha it was pretty funny. I guess she thought she would smuggle it out. I wonder if her brother has minifigure heads disappearing all the time or what.

I believe that the standard BAM fixture has an L shape with 2 holes on each 'arm' of the L. Usually at the store close to me it's legs and torso's in the holes in one arms, and heads and accessories in the holes on the other arm. In-between is a square case with a big mini and signage explaining the BAM and price as well as the empty BAM cartons next to the display case. They do a good job sorting the parts here, selection, that doesn't always seem to be quite so hot. I can ALWAYS find workers coveralls torso's, sometimes I cannot find beyond a single style hair piece or any decent accessories... The few times I've gotten BAM's were because I wanted various torso's, I've gotten comments on 'interesting minifig design there' upon checkout, but I cannot say that accessory wise I've ever been really happy with the selection. Just how many shovels, broom's and chalice's do I need? In my view certainly not as many as the BAM selection seems to suggest.......

I have not bought BAM's for the whole figure result, I'd never buy any if that were my goal, the interesting parts don't line up in their availability for that, as it is I've done... 3 BAM's trying to get the best mix of parts I can, even if it means getting 3 of a hairstyle that 1 would complete the quantity I wished in my collection. Shrugs, sometimes you make compromises, that's life.

The BAM isn't usually worth it. Most of the time it consists of generic parts, and common accessories like brooms, walkie talkies, and the occasional wand. For $10, the assortment of generic parts isn't worth it.

The BAM isn't usually worth it. Most of the time it consists of generic parts, and common accessories like brooms, walkie talkies, and the occasional wand. For $10, the assortment of generic parts isn't worth it.

I have to respectfuly disagree. Last week I picked up three Forestmen torsos, three heads from the Series 1 line, 1 Mirmaid tail for my little girl along withtwo more printed legs from series 1 I wanted. Add in the three hair parts and the three swords and I believe it was well worth the $10 to be able to pick elements rather then buy fill figures just for the parts I wanted.

I have to respectfuly disagree. Last week I picked up three Forestmen torsos, three heads from the Series 1 line, 1 Mirmaid tail for my little girl along withtwo more printed legs from series 1 I wanted. Add in the three hair parts and the three swords and I believe it was well worth the $10 to be able to pick elements rather then buy fill figures just for the parts I wanted.

Which LEGO store did you go to? Mine at Downtown Disney in FL, never gets any interesting parts. However, I did see some series 1 parts, but they were the skateboard, clown hair, and robot headpiece. Not very interesting.

I discovered naboo pilot torso's and leg's,that along with generic smile heads (the old ones,by the way.)Made 4 colonial marines,a mechanic,and a nurse.

Which LEGO store did you go to? Mine at Downtown Disney in FL, never gets any interesting parts. However, I did see some series 1 parts, but they were the skateboard, clown hair, and robot headpiece. Not very interesting.

Glendale CA. But I do understand that each store only has what is sent to them.

Glendale CA. But I do understand that each store only has what is sent to them.

The other potential limiting factor of supply is, each store only has what has NOT already sold. I'd say the higher traffic, higher volume stores are more likely to 'blow thru' the supply of 'interesting' parts faster. The store Local to me, the Mall of America location is the oldest LIC in the USA, and thus has a large pool of regulars.

Edit, after a further visit, they've changed out the BaM fixture since the last time I went. It's now *2* copies of a four sided square fixture, each side having 4 bins like the PaB ones and a tray underneath with 2 hooks for the packages under that. Each side has a bin for heads, torso's, legs and accessories. I suspect having the free BaM for purchases over $100 this month may have been part of the reason they upgraded the fixture.

Edited June 13, 201113 yr by Bearded Castle Guy

Well I can only sey good to it,cause when I got it,I got 2 wooden legs,a translucent pink jellyfish,8 knives a chrome sword and a chrome crown!

Which LEGO store did you go to? Mine at Downtown Disney in FL, never gets any interesting parts. However, I did see some series 1 parts, but they were the skateboard, clown hair, and robot headpiece. Not very interesting.

I'd have to disagree on the characterization of the clown hair and robot headpiece (!) as "not very interesting" (just what do you consider interesting minifigure parts, if not those?) I'd have dearly loved to have gotten some robot headpieces the last time I was at that very same store. I did get some other Minifigures series 1 parts (mostly Forestmen elements, plus a few Clown, Cheerleader and Magician parts) and some mermaid tails. I also saw a black kepi hat (Imperial Shuttle pilot hat) that I meant to get but forgot about when I was putting together my final assembly.

The Lego stores are having a promotion this month, where if you spend $100 USD or more, they give you a build-a-mini 3-pack. (I'm going to buy a Fire Brigade.) I just want to confirm what constitutes a minifigure for this. I've read different things. Some people are saying they let you do legs, torso, head, hat, and one accessory. Can you do a hair piece and a hat? Does a cape count as an accessory? Can I do a backpack, cape, and two swords? How fancy can I get here?

Also if anybody has up-to-date tips on rare elements they spotted in the bin, that would be nice to know. Thanks!

To answer the original post- A couple months ago they had the same deal at the Lego store in King Of Prussia, Pennsylvania. I asked the sales clerk if I could just pick out 15 different parts instead of building the three figures. He was very confused at first but let me do it in the end. I was able to get different hats, hair pieces, tools and so on. The parts bins at the KOP store are large and they carry (from time to time) some very rare parts. I guess it just depends on the sales clerk really and it's not like each piece is inventoried. All of the BAM parts come in weighed bags just like the PAB wall so it really shouldn't matter.

Almost forgot to list my findings- cowboy hats, top hats, rare colored hair types, a couple shirt types I've never seen, diver helmet, skull cap, skull & crossbones pirate hat, mermaid fins and beanies (wool hats).

Last time I was at a Lego store; a few weeks ago, I saw an interesting torso. It was white collared shirt type with a blue tie and a silver anchor on the left(I believe) breast pocket. I didn't see anything else very interesting, but I kind of regret not getting it now.