Shopping for LEGO(R) Sets (4 Easy Rules to Remember)
February 25, 2009
LEGO(R) sets can seem expensive, but in many instances they are an excellent value. Keep in mind that the same pieces used to make the model on the box can be reused and recombined with other sets over and over again. Also consider the fact that these same pieces will fit with other pieces that are 40 years old, and will likely fit with pieces made 40 years in the future. The quality and construction of this toy is simply amazing. How many products can you buy that work perfectly right out of the box, use after use, all while being beaten mercilessly by the most fearsome and destructive of God's creatures: a child?
My parents were not rich (my father was a postal clerk and my mother a secretary), but almost every year at Chanukah or my birthday, I remember almost always receiving at least one LEGO(R) set. It must have made quite an impression on me, that I can sit here, a grown of man of almost 40 and remember fondly and in great detail the yellow Castle (#375), the Galaxy Explorer (#497), the TECHNIC Car Chassis (#853) the Go-Cart (#854) and others. I may not have had fancy clothes, expensive shoes or other baubles children of the late 70s desired, but I had Legos, and I thank my parents for it.
Now, some thirty years later, while buying LEGOs as an adult, I'm a bit surprised at the disparity of prices in different stores. Shopping around, I've seen new sets sell for a great deal more than LEGO.com charges, depending upon where you look. So the First Rule is: know your prices and compare.
Second rule: shop for value "10 to 1"
My own made-up rule of thumb is "10 to 1." 1 piece = .10 cents, 10 pieces = $1.00, 100 pieces = $10, and so on. So for example, I try to pay less than $100 for a set with a 1000 pieces. A set with 2500 pieces like the Green Grocer for $140 is a good value. Now there's other factors as well. A set with less pieces may have cool bonuses, such as large or rare mini-figures (like the Troll Warship's Dragon). Some sets may have lots of pieces but they're really small (such as Lego(R) TECHNIC sets).
Third rule: pick your place.
- Support Your Local Hobby or Toy Store: I strongly encourage supporting your local non-chain hobby or toy store, if you have one near you. I believe in helping small businesses, and I'm willing to pay a few extra dollars towards that end. Sometimes part of the fun is establishing a relationship with a local shop, who may make that extra effort to order rare sets for you, or keep you apprised of discounts and perks. In my mind it's a lot more fun to share the gleeful experience of receiving a new LEGO(R) set with my neighborhood store owner/clerk than just being another no-name peon in a big superstore. Your local store may also give you better service and take better care of your item than a chain store.
- LEGO.com - If you aren't lucky enough to have a local store, then the next place to buy LEGO(R) at value I recommend is the LEGO.com website itself. They have a section called "Sales and Deals" and if you can catch a set you like when it goes on sale, you can save a great deal of money. LEGO.com also has first-class shipping and service. Every set that I've ever ordered from LEGO.com arrives in perfect condition - always flawless. The only catch is that sometimes the sets are quickly discontinued once they are placed on sale, so if you wait too long, you may find it hard to find the set you want for sale anywhere. Even when sets aren't on sale, Lego's prices are usually as good or better than most department stores; the only down side is paying for shipping. If you can combine multiple items and make several purchases at once, you can save on shipping overall. My preference is to buy directly from LEGO.com to support the company. If I'm trying to find a set that is no longer for sale on LEGO.com, I will try one of the stores listed below.
- Amazon.com - I'm a fan of Amazon. Once I know how much a set "should" be, I will wait for the set to come on sale on Amazon. I saved $100 on the Millenium Falcon that way. Also shipping is usually free on Amazon for sets more than $25.
- eBay.com - eBay is a good place to find LEGO(R) sets that are no longer available at LEGO.com, but keep in mind that there are a lot of "hard core" collectors out there, and many sets actually sell for more on eBay then when they were sold at retail. However, if you are patient, you can get some good deals, especially on bulk bricks. These sell for about $5-7 a pound for a random assortment of bricks. I recommend buying from one of the established sellers, as opposed to some kid selling, because the LEGOs are more likely to be clean and in good shape. I've found some amazing sets on eBay that I'll be reviewing in the future (such as the Wright Flyer). Be sure to read the descriptions, though - some sets may be missing pieces or pieces may be substituted.
- Target and Toys-R-Us are also good stores. Target's prices at my local store are usually comparable to or slightly cheaper than LEGO.com, although the in-store inventory is small. My local Toys-R-Us store has an excellent inventory, but their prices are a little higher depending upon what you purchase. The sets at the Toys-R-Us store are always in pristine condition, and I'll frequently buy smaller sets, or sets that are on sale there.
Fourth Rule: Shop for Fun! Sometimes you have to buy something just because it's really cool. And that's OK! Fun is a value. I paid full price for a Troll Battle Wheel (#7041) and I don't regret it, because it's a really fun set, and I was in the mood to buy it right then. Sometimes it's not what, but when you buy something or receive it as a gift that's important. If I've had a rough day, I may stop off at Toys-R-Us and buy a small set to get my mind off stress at work. I bought my wife a Beach House set (#4996) because she's always wanted a real beach house, and now we have a great memory of a Friday night building Legos on our kitchen table together. Yes, I am my own inner child, and I'm blessed that my wife is also my playmate.
Have fun!
- The BrickMaven