Though this is only anecdotal, I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in. I've also noticed many of the problems that people have mentioned. Just from purchases this year, the slopes on my creator house (4956) have different textures, I had two pieces missing (actually they were exchanged for two similar pieces) in a fire station (7945), and the pieces just seem less able to maintain a firm grasp on other bricks.

Slope texture is a big complaint, if you look back in the thread there are a couple of pages dedicated to it.

I think this quality issue is real, big and totally unacceptable (We should have seen it coming the moment they mentioned outsourcing). Now, what can we do as consumers? I am eager to collaborate on any efforts to call the company's attention. Any ideas?

I think this quality issue is real, big and totally unacceptable (We should have seen it coming the moment they mentioned outsourcing). Now, what can we do as consumers? I am eager to collaborate on any efforts to call the company's attention. Any ideas?

well actually, the worst thing that can happen for the company, is what has already started: their reputation has been tarnished, their image in being a company that produces high quality products has been questioned, that alone is a very big issue and i'm quite certain it's already been a big element of several meetings of the management and board of the company.

I'm honestly not too worried about the outsourcing. Flextronics is one of the biggest manufacturers globally of plastic products, and they really can do a good job. The company I work for does a lot of business with Flextronics and while we have had a few administrative issues with them, their quality has always been great. (We haven't worked with the specific factory in Mexico that deals with Lego, but we do regular business with one of their other facilities in Mexico, as well as one of their facilities in Asia.)

I notice that a BUNCH of 1x1 flat bricks (glow in the dark, with the fang/tooth modification) that I stuck together and NEVER used... are cracked.

Literally, never used on mocs, straight from the package then stuck together in a row, non-abused bricks... with cracks.

It's like they shrunk.

What. The. Hell.

I'm honestly not too worried about the outsourcing. Flextronics is one of the biggest manufacturers globally of plastic products, and they really can do a good job. The company I work for does a lot of business with Flextronics and while we have had a few administrative issues with them, their quality has always been great. (We haven't worked with the specific factory in Mexico that deals with Lego, but we do regular business with one of their other facilities in Mexico, as well as one of their facilities in Asia.)

well i guess there's also a risk that we "look" for low quality when we open a bag, thinking it doesn't look as good as the old parts when they where first opened years ago. maybe we think there's something wrong with current parts too fast, too easily... I very often think my brand new white plates don't look that good, they look like "cheap plastic" but maybe it's just a feeling, not a fact. maybe the white plates looked like that 20 years ago as well.

well i guess there's also a risk that we "look" for low quality when we open a bag, thinking it doesn't look as good as the old parts when they where first opened years ago. maybe we think there's something wrong with current parts too fast, too easily... I very often think my brand new white plates don't look that good, they look like "cheap plastic" but maybe it's just a feeling, not a fact. maybe the white plates looked like that 20 years ago as well.

Its not just your feeling, but a fact!

Quality of the plastic used back then was a lot better.

Oh well, hope LEGO gets this soon!

After completing my UCS MF Im NOT happy with the quality issues.

I had muliple dk bley parts that was discolored (one was really,REALLY bad) the dk bley was milky almost light bley.

I was also missing a lightsaber blade,a technic pin connector and 3 1x8 plates.

I also noticed that some of the plates had a "bad grip" and did not connect to other bricks as firmly as one is used to.

The printed box was damaged from factory (shipping boxes were intact and ok).

The manual had discolered and stained pages.

Extra parts? 6 3x2 plates, 1 4x2 plate, 2 gear sticks, a flesh head and 2 sliver round 1 studs.

and 2 smooth 2x2 bley plates, and thats all!.

I ordered the missing parts, but I have a bad feeling about my 2 MMT's not yet opened.

Lego quality is surely slipping

I ordered the missing parts, but I have a bad feeling about my 2 MMT's not yet opened.

Lego quality is surely slipping

Well, it might make you feel better to know that I was very happy with my MTT.

Since this discussion has been revived, I have a feeling that quality has begun to improve again lately. It has been a while since I received a broken part. The largest problems at the moment are the ones with building instructions where they often get folded or even ripped during packing and handling and there are often missing details inside the booklets.

Funny you should say that, Lasse D. I've almost never had any missing parts, but lately I've had a lot! Two in the JSF, two in the Dwarf Mine...

This makes me worry about the UCS MF. It's so huge, I'll be looking for weeks for a part that my not be there *sing*

I have never noticed quility slip ups until I bought the 2007 castle catapult defence set, and the only minor problem was the gold parts looked a bit odd and almost as if it was made of a different plastic.

Touch wood I've not had too many problems with missing parts although the poor packaging does damage instruction manuals and sticker sheets and I had keyrings fall out of damaged packaging last year. My biggest gripe at the moment is the part substitution such as the mix-up re heads in the Rebel Cruiser and the bley antennas for the Eiffel Tower. If you didn't frequent the online community you wouldn't even know the parts were wrong (until you went to sell it later and an irate purchaser got on your case). I dread opening up my Technic truck as there have been part substitution issues with the wheels in that set - the substituted parts never seem to be better than the original. The only positive point is that Lego customer service is so good that replacements are usually not a problem if the parts are still available.

David

and the bley antennas for the Eiffel Tower

I've got the same problem! Firsty, I didn't notice that the antenna has to be silver... I discovered the true when I was to Legoland : the Eiffel tower was built with the right antenna. I asked Yoda if his Eiffel Tower came with this silevr or bley antenna, and he told me that it was silver. So I call LEGO and I received a silver antenna with a free Scarecrow keychaine!

I've got the same problem! Firsty, I didn't notice that the antenna has to be silver... I discovered the true when I was to Legoland : the Eiffel tower was built with the right antenna. I asked Yoda if his Eiffel Tower came with this silevr or bley antenna, and he told me that it was silver. So I call LEGO and I received a silver antenna with a free Scarecrow keychaine!

Well I got the silver antenna on the second attempt but no sign of any scarecrow keychain!!!

got a question: what do you do if you're missing a bag? replacement parts or do you have to email them seperately explaining that a whole bag was missing?

got a question: what do you do if you're missing a bag? replacement parts or do you have to email them seperately explaining that a whole bag was missing?

I believe I took care of that through replacement parts when it happened to me. Although I may have called them. er... 8-| was that helpful?

The quality LEGO is really getting bad. Instead of printed bricks they give you stickers. Not only that, the bricks itself is getting low on quality when I compare with my old bricks. The old bricks looks stronger than the new 1 which is so soft. Besides nowadays the LEGO are not the same as what is seen from the box, especially the colour mixing part & the clone helmet even the Bohrok are the same.

I think that Lego need to do tests on samples of bricks from each different country that produces Lego to find out exactly what gets put in to make the pieces and do surprise checks on the factories to see if they're making the pieces properly.

Can you find out which countries the bad quality pieces were manufactured in?

I bought a new castle set just recently(first new set in years) and I didn't like the quality at all..although the new softer plastic has a good sides too..

The worst thing is that new parts have slightly different color tone and the quality is inconstant. Bricksize differs from old ones and some parts doesn't mix at all..so I can't use new parts with old ones at all. Good things are, that softer bricks probably last longer and I think new bricks doesn't tend to change color as much as the old ones (I'm not sure, but the time will tell). But you have to be very careful if you want to keep them in good condition.. I tested to build just something randomly and if I handle them like the old ones...oh'boy the amount of scratches and little holes. You need to be lot more careful with these.

And one more thing.. the darker the colour the better it looks, in my opinion at least.

To be honest I havent noticed much difference other than the new bleys, which I still dislike but have to accept :-$

Maybe im just getting all the good sets >:-)

Only quality issue ive had lately is that one of my exo-force light bricks didnt work when I got it.

Edited November 11, 200717 yr by Brickmaster

To be honest I havent noticed much difference other than the new bleys, which I still dislike but have to accept :-$

Maybe im just getting all the good sets >:-)

Only quality issue ive had lately is that one of my exo-force light bricks didnt work when I got it.

Then i think you should have try to ask for replacement part back then. I like LEGO because they are really helpful when you find a broken pieces or missing piece in your new set.

Edited November 12, 200717 yr by baby

To be honest I havent noticed much difference other than the new bleys, which I still dislike but have to accept :-$

Maybe im just getting all the good sets >:-)

Only quality issue ive had lately is that one of my exo-force light bricks didnt work when I got it.

I haven't noticed any bad quality in my sets either, although I still think changing the colours was a really bad idea. These new colours are good for some things, like bley's good for steel, but the old grey made great rock. And we can't get these new pieces in our lovely old colours. :'-( What a shame.

Old colours ON!

~Peace

I haven't noticed any bad quality in my sets either, although I still think changing the colours was a really bad idea. These new colours are good for some things, like bley's good for steel, but the old grey made great rock. And we can't get these new pieces in our lovely old colours. :'-( What a shame.

Old colours ON!

~Peace

_________

Same for me, my sets never have poor quality bricks with the exception of only a few minor problems. Changing colours was stupid, and the only way to mix them well with the older ones is when you try to make it gritty or mixed.

But still, I don't dislike bley as much as I used to, and I'm finding better ways for the two colours to co-exist! :'-)

Batbrick Away! >:-)

Today i open up my LEGO Bionicle Lesovikk & to my surprise all parts are there. Just joking.

Actually when i open up my 2nd pack, there was a dead insect (i think is a fly that burned to death) in it & it smells bad, real bad :-X . But luckily it was not molded with the bricks.

Hopefully LEGO won't make the same mistake again.

Edited November 13, 200717 yr by baby