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[Crispy75]

There are loads of Lego Rental services out there with varying prices and selections. Google it!

 

[F34R]

Lego should offer a build and return kit price.

I'd LOVE to build the new Falcon, but I don't have anywhere to keep it after it's done.

If I could buy it direct from Lego, build it, take it apart and sell it back to them like two months down the line for like $39.99 total I'd be down.

Build it in less than 30 days, so you don't like it, and you can return it. refund.

 

[Duckhuntdog]

Mega Bloks, your time has come! Rise!!!

 

[Osahi]

That Porsche though, those kind of enthusiast model sets, it is a bit weird how they are almost trying to hide the fact it is made out of LEGO? Like they are proud you can actually build something that barely looks like LEGO.
Or to say it the other way around: If you are really into cars, wouldn't you want a smooth, cleaner looking hull for a model like that?
It is like they are trying their best to be like a really detailed model set but they are still a brand that comes from a tradition of having big round tops on their bricks and that identity got more and more bloated with all the thousands of extra bricks trying to smooth things out.

It's a Technic set and it looks like one. Even smaller sets in that range have this kind of (little less detailed) look. I don't even think there are many bricks in there. Most will be axels, tubes, pins, gears,

These are example of Lego 'System' expert model cars. Less expensive (around 80 to 100 dollars is what these go for, depending on the model). It's still highly detailed and 'smooth', but you can see it's classic Lego.

It also happens to be one of the best lines Lego has. Every year there is a new one, and every year it's great. The two volkswagens above are the highlights.

 

[Rolodzeo]

One time I was in Barnes & Noble and saw this for $60.

I was like...who the fuck is buying this shit for $60?

Is it supposed to be for kids? Is it for adults with too much disposable income?

Lego has been enabled for far too long.

But that is good value. 800+ pieces, light bricks and 3 official designs for 60$, it seems pretty alright to me. Sure, you can argue that 60$ may be expensive for some people, that's absolutely true, but it is a well priced product, at least regarding LEGO.

 

[papluh]

Mega Bloks, your time has come! Rise!!!

Yep ...
From Mattel's reports Q1 and Q2. It is enough to look at the quality of the product to see that Mattel does not really plan to compete with LEGO. Say whatever you want about LEGO but what Mattel does to MEGA is waste of potential...

Construction and Arts & Crafts Brands
For the first quarter, worldwide gross sales for Construction and Arts & Crafts Brands, which includes the MEGA BLOKS® and RoseArt® brands, were $38.5 million, down 38% as reported and in constant currency, versus the prior year's first quarter.

For the second quarter, worldwide gross sales for Construction and Arts & Crafts Brands, which includes the MEGA BLOKS® and RoseArt® brands, were $53.0 million, down 27% as reported, and down 26% in constant currency, versus the prior year's second quarter, primarily driven by declines in MEGA BLOKS® licensed products.

 

[Bliddo]

Not only they overprice sets, but they limit stocks of the most popular sets, so people get screwed by scalpers on ebay to get them. Great way to do business.

 

[Dwight Schrute]

Bring back the GOAT sets :

 

[BlackRainbowFT]

Not only they overprice sets, but they limit stocks of the most popular sets, so people get screwed by scalpers on ebay to get them. Great way to do business.

I don't know about limiting their regular stock, but I do know I hate their SDCC and toys'r'us exclusives.

 

[Osahi]

Not only they overprice sets, but they limit stocks of the most popular sets, so people get screwed by scalpers on ebay to get them. Great way to do business.

They don't limit them. Sometimes they miscalculate how big the demand will be, which leads to temporary shortages. Usually very popular sets go in reprint. (Case in point: Saturn V was sold out imidiatly, but is popping up again). Even sets deemed rare (the direct-ro-consumers stuff) have a pretty long shelf-life (you basically get over 3 years to pick up a modular building for instance. 2 to 3 for a Star Wars UCS. Expert Cars can be around for ages).

It's actually the most popular sets who stay around the longest (VW Camper is still readily available 5 years after it's release, while the Ferarri is going out of print after 2 years). It's the sets that initially don't sell all that well that can suddenly dissapear and have crazy aftermarket prices. (UCS B-Wing, Modular Town Hall). And as every Lego set has a limited shelf-life, most sets go up for a lot of money on ebay once they are out of print, even the ones which were around for a long time.

There are exceptions offcourse (science research lab for instance never came back for a second run if I'm not mistaken)

I don't know about limiting their regular stock, but I do know I hate their SDCC and toys'r'us exclusives.

Those are actually the only real limited ones (and the TRU ones you can get from Lego themselves too). Their exclusive giveaways on conventions or in raffles are annoying for collector's though. Especially the Brickheadz exclusives they had... I personally don't really care for those, but I can see how terrible it is for someone who wants to complete a collection.

 

[WhiteRabbitEXE]

That Porsche though, those kind of enthusiast model sets, it is a bit weird how they are almost trying to hide the fact it is made out of LEGO? Like they are proud you can actually build something that barely looks like LEGO.
Or to say it the other way around: If you are really into cars, wouldn't you want a smooth, cleaner looking hull for a model like that?
It is like they are trying their best to be like a really detailed model set but they are still a brand that comes from a tradition of having big round tops on their bricks and that identity got more and more bloated with all the thousands of extra bricks trying to smooth things out.

What? It's a Technic set. It looks exactly like a Technic set. Technic is basically an entirely different brand with its own unique pieces (though they do have plenty of parts that bridge the classic bricks and Technic).

 

[SiegfriedFM]

There are a lot of ways to cut costs. Less licensed products would help. There were hardly any licensed products when I was growing up. Also, they seem to be less piece efficient than Legos from childhood. I had the Space Monorail system in the early 90's, which was definitely one of the bigger sets, and it was only 700 pieces. Now, there regularly sets that are over 1000 pieces, some up to 4000, and of course, the Millennium Falcon is 8000 pieces. But these sets don't seem that much bigger than older sets, just more detailed. You could cut back on details and piece counts, cutting prices in the process. I think they are getting out of hand with piece counts, to the point where having 8000 pieces is the biggest selling point of the Millennium Falcon, forgetting that this results in a huge pricetag, not to mention there have been three other Millennium Falcons before if I'm correct, and it doesn't even seem that big for the piece count. They should also have more smaller and cheaper sets like the starter sets that give you a good amount of minifigures for the cost.

You just efficiently proved the point of that statistical article linked before. I'm guessing you didn't buy it yourself.

The Monorail Transport System was released in 1987 and had 731 parts, MANY of which were huge, custom parts. All the tracks were new, unique parts. It had unique stands for the raised track. It had very uncommon huge blue windshields for the base. The engine was a new, complex electrical part. It was by every definition a flagship set.

And it cost $155. In 1987, which is $347 adjusted for inflation.

So, are we still making the argument that "Lego was much cheaper before" and "it used to be all basic bricks, not specialized parts"?

 

[llien]

I realize it's quality plastic, that doesn't change color over time and what not, but it still feels very overpriced, especially bigger models.

 

[leng jai]

Basically all the overpriced ones are usually licensed sets. The original lines are all reasonably priced for what you get. Star Wars stuff is clearly the biggest ripped off, but that's expected.

 

[magawolaz]

I'll admit I miss seeing baseplates in normal playsets.
There were also some cheap Star Wars sets ($5-9) coming with main characters (Luke, Qui-Gon) that they are not doing anymore.. those were pretty cool.

But the price-per-piece and overall quality are much better now.

 

[mrkgoo]

When I got back into lego of modern times, I marveled at how Lego as a company has managed to stay relevant to today's audience, while remaining genuine to its own philosophy.

Increased licensing in and out and branching into other areas is a move they kind of had to make to stay viable, and I think they pulled it off remarkably.

The lego bricks available today afford amazing creativity, but even if you think it makes it too "easy", the brilliance of Lego is that it's whatever you make of it. if you want to stick to limited colours and brick shapes, that's entirely up to you.

 

[DBT85]

Mega Bloks, your time has come! Rise!!!

 

[Flo_Evans]

I mean the market has just changed. It's like wondering why puzzle and gameboard sales fell when Tiger Electronics handhelds could be had for cheaper.

How many kids beyond the niche collectors or prior Lego fans are dying for the sets now? My 6 year old shithead cousin is asking for a Nintendo Switch and Splatoon 2 and not a lego set.

I'm fucked my kid likes Nintendo and Lego. And nerf guns.

Kid was literally in tears last time we went to Walmart because he really wanted the $50 speeder bike set. It was dope I almost caved and bought it. :lol

 

[Crispy75]

My 3yo has just got into it and now it's all she wants to play with.

 

[CadetMahoney]

Kid was literally in tears last time we went to Walmart because he really wanted the $50 speeder bike set. It was dope I almost caved and bought it. :lol

I loled.

 

[Polioliolio]

They are. Sales just dropped is all. From the article, linked in the OP:



After 13 straight years of growth. It's not a big deal.

So, as long as a profit is still being made, why cut jobs? Or, maybe you could cut jobs and raise wages? I know it's never going to happen. Corporations only have to think about maximizing profit, at the expense of everyone who works for lego.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

I'm fucked my kid likes Nintendo and Lego. And nerf guns.

Kid was literally in tears last time we went to Walmart because he really wanted the $50 speeder bike set. It was dope I almost caved and bought it. :lol

You should get it. Because it is an awesome set. Like, one of the best things they have put out all year.