Had my first disappointing Lego experience yesterday.

I'm new to Lego and only have 4 sets. The Pet Shop, a small Coast Guard Seaplane, the Creator Treehouse, and yesterday I picked up the Mountain Cabin (because I thought the treehouse was clever.)

I also have 3 Kreo Transformer sets (Optimus Prime, Starscream, Megatron.)

I've only been playing with plastic bricks for a couple months.

But yesterday for the first time I had a disappointing experience with Lego.

Once I opened the Mountain Cabin box I noticed one of the instruction manuals was crushed, literally crushed into a ball and shoved into the box (it was not a return I made sure the factory tape was still sealed.) I hate that because the books wont lay down flat and it's just a terrible thing to do to a book.

Especially since my Kreo kits open nicely like a briefcase, the books are flat, and you can use the box as a sorting tray. I guess I've been spoiled by this and I was surprised that it wasn't until I bought the $150. Pet Shop kit that I got a flat book and a storage case with a built in flap that could keep closed.

But what really got me was I was looking forward to getting a whole bunch of grey bricks to add to the collection. The 'mountain' I thought was a large stack of grey bricks.

But it isn't,..it's mostly 2 very large hollow pieces that you add a few little bits too here and there.

Even my GF thought that was pretty lame and kind of a cheat.

On top of that once the model is completed like on the box, you realize the mountain only really looks good from one side (the side facing the house).

If you view it from the other side it's completely open and hollow,..the entire upper part of the mountain is hollow.

I realize this isn't a big deal and in the grand scheme of things ruined directions and a hollow mountain are no big deal.

But it was still very disappointing. I didn't get a pile of grey bricks to add to the collection like I'd hoped,....and I find it really bothers me that "the cheap knockoff brand Kreo" <--what I've seen them called) has such better packaging and instruction books. Even the paper stock and binding is better than what Lego offers at the same price point.

But since the entire purpose of these building bricks is to build things, it feels like such a cheat that I now have 2 large hollow 'mountain' pieces, that as far as I can see are only good for making a small mountain. It seems like a real cop out.

Some things I liked about the kit, so this isn't a totally negative post:

The micro builds were cool.

The fireplace with the skull on it, the chest of drawers with a light, the outside porch light, the small eagle, and the ATV I thought were all pretty clever little builds. ..the fireplace probably being my favorite. (I think the skull was a really nice touch.)

Anyway, I find it a bit of a shame that it wasn't until I bought a $150. Lego kit that I got instructions that aren't crushed, and a box that can be closed.

And I watched a couple reviews of the Mountain Cabin before I purchased and no one seemed to feel like mentioning the 2 large hollow pieces that make up the Mountain, and I found that rather disappointing because getting a pile of grey bricks was one of the reasons I chose this kit.

I'm choosing kits based on 2 things. Whether I think the model it makes is interesting, but also what I think I can make with the pieces the model provides.

This I'm learning is the biggest drawback to purchasing kits online, is that I can't see the box to see the list of pieces inside the box. (or I'd have seen the 2 big pieces on the side panel.)

So anyway like I said not a huge deal, but somewhat disappointing.

...and I just don't understand why the manuals are on cheap paper that's stapled together, and shoved/crushed into the boxes.

Both my Creator kits have folded and dented manuals,...but one of the Cabin ones is pretty brutalized. It's not just folded, it's crushed. That shouldn't happen.

Not when the competition is making much nicer manuals and usable packaging.

Lego could learn something from Kreo. (and shouldn't it be the opposite?)

Edited April 9, 201410 yr by Malikon

You can always check the set inventory from Briclink's catalog.

It allows also to sort by part quantity, that gives an idea of what parts you get the most in a set.

Thanks.

Like I said I'm new to all this, I didn't have Lego as a kid, so some of these 'tricks of the trade' I guess I'm figuring out the hard way.

Was just disappointing is all.

...and as an avid reader and book lover,..it really bothers me how poorly packaged the manuals are. I hate seeing books mistreated,..even if it's just an instruction manual.

Plus it's very frustrating trying to lay the book down on the table that wants to keep closing and reverting to it's crushed ball status.

I just think Lego being the originators and the #1 Brick Building Company can and should do better. If I'm going to pay more for Lego brand I expect it to be better then Kreo brand.

Edited April 9, 201410 yr by Malikon

Sorry you were disappointed. Regarding the instruction manuals, occasional crumpled manuals have been a complaint among LEGO fans for a number of years. It used to not be much of an issue, as back in decades past LEGO used to typically have much more elaborate packaging, that among other things functioned to hold manuals flat in place. It was pretty resource-intensive, though, and wasteful when considering lots of consumers typically throw packaging away. The good news as far as manuals are concerned is that in the last couple years they've started sealing a lot of set manuals in bags, often with cardboard backings, that help them stay flat and undamaged inside the boxes. They don't do this with everything, though.

As far as the "mountain" parts go, those are known by fans as BURPs, for Big Ugly Rock Pieces, and they've occasionally been a point of contention among fans. They do have their uses, though, in being able to quickly fill out a "rocky" shape without using up a lot of bricks that could be used for something else, and they also allow for the hollow side to be used as, well, some sort of hollow or recess. If you want to check out the parts inventory of a set online, you can always try looking at the replacement parts section of LEGO's customer service site. Designed to let you easily select a part or parts that are missing or damaged in a set for replacement, it lets you see all (or nearly all) the part types that are in a set (albeit not the quantity of each).

As far as getting a bunch of basic bricks in grey goes, you're in luck - they're some of the most common parts found in LEGO sets these days, and they also tend to be readily available through Pick a Brick, as well as Bricklink.

You might try LEGO's customer service to see if you can get a replacement copy of the crumpled manual, and if you're disappointed in an aspect of a set's design (like including those BURPs, when you'd rather have gotten a bunch of more ordinary bricks) you might think about answering LEGO's customer survey about the set - there should be an URL printed in or on the back of the manual (or one of the manuals), enticing you to fill out a questionnaire with the possibility of winning sets for doing so.

Hope this is helpful!

Thank you very much,...so much to learn when you take on a new interest I suppose.

But that was a really great answer, thank you.

I currently have the instruction manual in between a piece of wood and the wood floor, with about 5 guitar cases sitting on top of it.

...hopefully it'll be flat soon.

You mentioned the bagged and cardboard backed manuals, that's exactly how they came in the Pet Shop kit and I thought that was really great.

I wouldn't expect that in a $20. kit I suppose, but it was a really nice surprise to see that as well as a built in flap to keep the box closed. (I cut a flap into my 2 Creator kits to get the same effect.)

For some reason one of my cats loves Lego and I suspect she thinks they're all for her,...so I have to keep the boxes closed or she'll dig into them.

...because of this making a pile of bricks isn't an option either,...I've been using the large Optimus Prime Kreo box as a dumping ground for all my builds so I can keep all the pieces in one spot while I work. ...she still tries to get them though.

It's odd,..she's really fascinated with them.

My other cat couldn't care less. Hahaha

Also thank you for the 'BURP' breakdown, I'd not heard that term yet.

I think part of the disappointment was realizing that instead of a bunch of grey bricks, I really got a lot of tiny little 1x1 round studs. With the part number being 500+ on the box I just wasn't expecting so many of those pieces to be tiny little studs and such,..I was expecting more bricks.

There's really not a lot of plate/flat pieces or bricks in this set it seems like. But there's seemingly hundreds of tiny little pieces.

...almost feels like the part count was padded out a bit.

Just not what I was expecting I suppose.

Been very happy with the other 3 kits though,..so 3 out of 4 isn't a terrible ratio.

Edited April 9, 201410 yr by Malikon

I have dozens of those mountain pieces, they are awesome for MOCs with large mountainous landscapes, they can be built into brick built structures and combined to make one huge mountain, much easier than if using bricks.

yeah, I could see that. But that was also my complaint,..it only seems to be good for building a mountain.

What if you don't want to build a mountain and were just hoping for some extra grey bricks?

...it's probably a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' scenario. People may complain either way I suppose.

My only other complaint about my Lego kits is the thick green plates that came with the 2 Creator sets are great,..the 2 floppy thin green plates that came with the Pet Shop seem pretty cheap in comparison.

..I was actually really surprised when I pulled them out of the Pet Shop box,...I was like, "WTF is this?"

Was expecting thick ones like the Creator building plates I guess. ..the Pet Shop ones feel cheap in comparison.

But,...this is all new to me, so I imagine a lot of stuff that's common knowledge for most AFOLs are coming as a surprise to me.

Like I said I didn't have them as a kid,...I had some GI Joes and He Mans, some Star Wars and maybe a couple Thundercats,..but for the most part my 'toy' from childhood was Guitar. And at around 10 I started playing seriously and put all my 'toys' behind me for the next 20+ years.

In the past couple months I've discovered you can 'play' with things besides Guitar.

...it actually feels sort of weird having a hobby. I never had one before. Hahaha

It's fun though. I don't mean to complain so much, I'm actually really enjoying this hobby very much.

Edited April 9, 201410 yr by Malikon

Small bits are great for details and the great thing about the lego system is that all these small bricks can be used in so many different ways that its just astounding what you can MOC yourself but also what you learn each time you build a new set. The system is so perfectly thought out and logical. If I was a religious man I would almost call it a miracle. But at least a wonder of the world.

OK so enough raving and fanboy stuff for now.

I very much prefer this set over the new Creator bike shop and houses. I bought one used (!) and hope to get it tomorrow or friday.

I'm mainly interested in the hut itself for my winter landscape, so the BURPs are no problem for me. The set probably would get way too expensive if the mountain was completely brick built and good-looking from all sides.

My only other complaint about my Lego kits is the thick green plates that came with the 2 Creator sets are great,..the 2 floppy thin green plates that came with the Pet Shop seem pretty cheap in comparison.

..I was actually really surprised when I pulled them out of the Pet Shop box,...I was like, "WTF is this?"

Was expecting thick ones like the Creator building plates I guess. ..the Pet Shop ones feel cheap in comparison.

Ah. Well, the ones that came in the Pet Shop set are baseplates - that's the actual term for them, and they've been around forever. I remember having them with some of the first LEGO sets I ever had, back when I was a kid in the 1970s, and I'm sure a member here who goes by the screen handle LEGO Historian can tell you about even earlier ones. Since they're designed specifically as bases, that you build upon, they're not designed with connection points on the bottom. There are some specialty baseplates that have smooth areas (without studs) that are printed with things like roads, rivers, etc. There are also a number of specially-shaped baseplates with raised areas, that one to build buildings and whatnot with some additional height in places without using up a lot of extra bricks to do it. These have become less commonly-used in recent years, but they still show up from time to time.

The large plates in the Creator set are a relatively new thing - that is, ones that large (16 x 16 or so). Smaller plates (like ordinary 2x2, 2x4, 4x6, and so on) have been around forever, but plates as large as 16 x 16 (big enough to use just one or two or three as a baseplate) are actually a relatively new thing that came out just a few years ago.

Generally, these days the size of a plate seems to determine whether it's going to be a regular plate (with connection tubes on the bottom) or a baseplate. Plates are 16 x 16 or smaller, while baseplates are larger (there have been 16 x 16 baseplates in the past, and I think even some smaller ones, but they seem to have abandoned those for plates now).

One might think that now that they have 16 x 16 plates, there's no need for dedicated baseplates, but they're still kept around for probably several reasons. For one thing, those road plates and plates with raised areas and such would be much more expensive if they were regular plates. A large (32x32) baseplate can be included in a set (or sold on its own) for a fair bit less money than 4 16x16 plates. Another is backwards compatibility - since a baseplate is about half the thickness of a regular plate, if you put one of each next to each other on a flat surface, they won't be at the same height. This is actually an important reason why the Pet Shop (and other sets in the Modular Buildings line) has baseplates. The first couple modulars came out before they had the large plates, so they used baseplates. Since all the Modular Buildings are designed to connect to one another, using the Technic pin connections found in the sides, newer ones have to use baseplates as well, since if they're built on regular plates the pins won't line up.

ahh, I suppose that makes sense.

I see this thread was moved, no matter where I put a thread it gets moved. Hahaha

Start a general discussion Lego thread about Lego in General Discussion? It gets moved to Community.

Start a Lego thread about a Creator set in the Creator section? It gets moved to LEGOtown.

Very confusing, that.

There's so many sections too,..I make an effort to post in what seems to be the appropriate spot,..but I guess I'm not.

This is a fun board though, and I've been a bit surprised at how nice people have been. I'm more used to fandoms that are.....verbally violent?

...and newbies usually get chewed on.

Interesting that that hasn't been the experience here. ...I know the first time I mentioned Kreo I was expecting a tongue lashing and was pretty surprised when it didn't happen.

Blondie you've been very helpful, thank you.

..and I've read some of the Lego Historian threads and they're pretty interesting too. I'm not quite prepared to get that deep into the hobby, music takes up 90% of my life,...but it's still really cool to be able to come here late at night and have interesting and informative things to read.

This seems like a pretty cool board for brick enthusiasts.

Sorry to hear you are disappointed. Not all of the lower-cost Creator sets are equally thought through, and you aren't the first to comment on the design of the Kre-O box and how LEGO needs to step it up.

The BURP panels... well, they really aren't good for much besides making mountains or castle walls. But they do come in handy. My suggestion would be to buy a second set, so you have pieces to complete the mountain and add expand the cabin or add a shed.

I'm not sure I liked it enough to buy a 2nd set though.

I still want...about 25 other sets. Hahaha

I'm hoping to get the Haunted House soon.

Worried I'll miss it and it'll become one of those sets on Amazon that's like $2,000. (or some equally ridiculous price)

I see this thread was moved, no matter where I put a thread it gets moved. Hahaha

Don't worry about that, you'll find your way around the board eventually and get a feeling of what goes where. We decided to put CREATOR Houses (just like the Modular Buildings) in the Town forum, because they're minifigure scale and supplement the City range, which is mainly focused on vehicles these days, really well.

(Before you ask, microscale town creations go in Special Themes again. )

I'm hoping to get the Haunted House soon.

Worried I'll miss it and it'll become one of those sets on Amazon that's like $2,000. (or some equally ridiculous price)

Do it! HH will mostly certainly jump in price once retired. It's the only set for which I've purchase multiples, it's that cool.

yeah I put up a Fender Stratocaster for sale this week to get some extra money for bricks.

and the HHouse is top of the list.

I really want the Town Hall too,..with the Coosoo Delorean from back to the future.

...they sure seem like they're meant to be together.

Edited April 9, 201410 yr by Malikon

I remember my first disappointments with Lego sets i bought. I don't buy Lego anymore due to the fact that half the sets look a decent size but after they are built i look at them and think wow i paid that much $$$ for that .

In Australia Lego is so expensive its turned me off of buying sets. I still like to look at Lego in store's & had looked at buying the Creator Cabin but priced at $62 where i live i thought just too expensive for what it is.

I'm not sure I liked it enough to buy a 2nd set though.
I still want...about 25 other sets. Hahaha
I'm hoping to get the Haunted House soon.
Worried I'll miss it and it'll become one of those sets on Amazon that's like $2,000. (or some equally ridiculous price)

Buy the HH from Lego.com now and you will get double VIP points.

I'm not sure I liked it enough to buy a 2nd set though.

I still want...about 25 other sets. Hahaha

I'm hoping to get the Haunted House soon.

Worried I'll miss it and it'll become one of those sets on Amazon that's like $2,000. (or some equally ridiculous price)

You should get this set. I have it and its a beauty to look at. Don't worry the instructions won't come crushed, they will have the cardboard and they will be in a baggy.

Or will they?

It's interesting to hear the perspective of someone who is brand new to Lego. There are so many things I have just accepted because they've always been that way, or that I compare to the Lego sets I had as a child.

For example, all larger sets used to come with a full size baseplate (32x32). Sets nowadays come with 16x32 or smaller. So I'm nostalgic for the days of baseplates, especially those with special printing. I was extremely surprised that the Parisian restaurant came with one 32x32 baseplate instead of two 16x32 baseplates.

Well, I'm a working musician which basically means I live hand to mouth much of the time (feast or famine), so when I spend money on something and it ends up being kind of messed up,..it really bugs me.

And (don't kill me for saying this) while the very first Lego I bought (actually my GF bought) was the very small Coast Guard Seaplane, the first Big sets I bought were the 3 big Kreo Transformer sets, and they're really nice sets. The robot modes leave a bit to be desired, but the vehicle modes are exceptional imo.

And since the boxes could be used as sorting trays and the books are all flat, with a glued spine on good, thick glossy paper,...that's what I was used to.

But because lego is,..well LEGO,..I assumed it would be a lot better quality,..because reading online I keep reading about how superior Lego brand is. And it made sense to me,..they're the originators.

So I bought the tree house kit, and I liked it. The books were slightly mangled but I liked the kit itself and the heavy green baseplate, and I figured it was a fluke that the books were crushed. I cut a notch into the box flap so it would stay closed and that was that, I wasn't unhappy or anything.

Then I got the Pet Shop/Townhouse and was .... well, it's awesome. The box has a flap to stay closed, the instructions were packaged neatly, ... and I just really like the kit,...can't wait to get more big modulars (I'm actually planning on using them in my next music video.)

So then when I got the Cabin yesterday and got home and realized the mountain was really 2 BURPS,..and the books are just mangled and balled up,...and I'd just spent close to $40., basically twice what I paid for a Kreo kit,...I was just like, "WTH? Are you kidding me? How is the 'knock-off' so much better for half the price?"

But I spent a good chunk of the evening putting it together with my GF and we had fun,...and that was kind of cool. It's the first one in the short time I've been buying these that she's shown any interest,...so that was cool.

But then today I woke up all grumpy and saw the boxes sitting in the corner and ended up getting online and kvetching like....well, like lots of people end up doing online I guess. Hahaha

I still really like Lego and plan on getting many more Lego sets and a couple more Kreo (not much more interests me in the Kreo line), but I guess I'm viewing them a little more grounded today.

Just seems like the best Brick Building company in the world would have a refined process for packaging the instructions so they're not all messed up. ...and the quality of the paper is really not very good, it's very thin, torn in a couple places, and one of the 3 books in the Mountain set has that feel to it like it got wet at some point. Hard to describe but if you've ever seen a magazine get wet and dry out, you know it gets a certain look and rough feel to it.

It was just disappointing. I should just learn not to build my hopes up and stuff.

..but I don't know or understand the Lego business. Maybe it's all really expensive to produce and a $40. kit is a great price,..but maybe it isn't. I just don't know.

I do know the mountain cabin kit seems like hundreds of tiny little pieces like 1x1 studs, instead of a bunch of plates and bricks like I'd hoped.

But out of 7 total kits between the two brands,..being disappointed in only 1 out of the 7,...*shrug*,...that's really not a terrible ratio.

Again I'm not trying to badmouth Lego, I didn't grow up with them so I just have no nostalgia or anything for them. Most of my childhood was spent with a guitar in my hands. I knew about Lego (who doesn't?) but they were either too expensive at the time or maybe I just never asked for any,...I really don't remember.

Just as an adult consumer I'm not used to buying a product that seems like some angry guy at the factory grabbed the bags and manuals and slammed them all into the box at the same time as hard as he could. I'm used to things being packaged really well so it's not damaged.

I guess I was just surprised is all. And I admit it kind of bugs me now knowing that all the other kits I want to buy have a really good chance at having the manuals all smashed up as well.

...it really doesn't encourage me to part with my money....but I'm sure I probably will anyway, even if slightly begrudgingly.

It's really not a big deal,....but it kinda is?..maybe it's the principle of the thing to me.

If someone pays for something with their hard earned money they deserve to get a product that isn't damaged right out of the box.

I just picked up this set yesterday- Target is having a very nice sale right now on CITY, Creator, and Chima so I went with the Mountain Cabin. It's been a while since I've indulged in a Creator set, but at 20% off I thought it would be a good idea. I haven't built it yet, but the parts included seem pretty good. The green plates and BURPs will be useful for landscaping, and brown slopes are nice to have. My only complaint, as Malikon pointed out, the instruction manuals were in bad shape. They really looked like they were forced in, then more bags pushed in on top. I will probably request a replacement, but other than that, this looks like a decent set, especially on sale!

dangit,..now you make me want to go to Target and look around. Hahahaha

"the instruction manuals were in bad shape. They really looked like they were forced in, then more bags pushed in on top."

that's exactly how mine were as well.

I wouldn't personally go to the trouble of trying to order a replacement,..we kind of shouldn't have to.

Btw,..the fireplace is really cool. The skull mounted on it somehow just makes it really cool and rustic. ...the small pile of 'logs' next to it is a very nice touch as well. I think you'll enjoy the build.

Are you looking for light grey or dark grey ,check brickset for The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings sets.

Personally I find PDF instructions showing on a ipad work better for me. So maybe one day we don't have the printed booklets at all in the future?

For sure there are lots of instruction lovers out there - don't get me wrong, I love them too. But what I enjoy the most is with the bricks, not the instruction booklets.

I remember my first disappointments with Lego sets i bought. I don't buy Lego anymore due to the fact that half the sets look a decent size but after they are built i look at them and think wow i paid that much $$$ for that .

In Australia Lego is so expensive its turned me off of buying sets. I still like to look at Lego in store's & had looked at buying the Creator Cabin but priced at $62 where i live i thought just too expensive for what it is.

I have to agree with you on that. That's why I only buy the sets when they are on sale. It is painful to wait for it but with limited budget, we have to compromise.