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AFOLguy1970

Lego Store monthly minibuild ending?

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I was just browsing the forum at Brickset, and it is reported that Lego is going to discontinue the monthly mini-build after December. It is disappointing, but I can understand some of the reasons why.

I took my kids to their first one over the summer. It was packed, and that is where I learned you have to get there early to get your place in line. The Lego Store in Dallas has it arranged where you wait in line outside the store (it is in a mall). They would pass out cards for the kids who were there and then at 5pm direct kids to the tables to build their model. After a couple of times, they finally gave people the option of either building it at a table outside the store or taking it home. They also made sure the kids were actually present before issuing a card. Apparently, some people were abusing this and making up imaginary kids for the models. My kids enjoyed building the models, but it was not fun waiting that long with them, especially when the 7 year old has hyperactive attention deficit disorder. He would bother every living thing around him for that hour to hour and a half wait.

Actually, I think forcing everyone to wait in line kind of hurt store sales a little bit. As the only parent with two kids in line, I myself wanted to go into the store while we were waiting, because (a) it was not busy inside, and (b) I am an AFOL who would likely purchase something. Going into the store would mean losing our place in line, because if I went in, then we would all have to go in. Therefore, I had to wait until we did the minibuild to go inside and maybe buy an item or two. By then, I was rushed, because it was dinner time for the kids. Certainly that and a more crowded store was not great for making a PAB cup. Even on a school night, the store easily gave out all of its supplies. The line extended back several stores and sometimes beyond.

It will be disappointing to end this short lived monthly tradition with the kids, but again, I get it. It was not really profitable for Lego to give away free bricks and inadvertantly discourage people from going into the store. What are your thoughts?

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Is this just LEGO store builds only or does it affect TRU in store giveaways as well. The free build events here are definitely getting to the breaking point in terms of long line-ups and people getting really pushy.

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I'm sure they will be replacing it with something different. Probably some form of monthly marketing that does not have quite as large of a surge impact on the stores, or something with improved flow.

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Honestly, it should be first come first serve. Whoever walks into the store first and asks for one gets one upon request. If it was like that, there wouldn't be huge lines blocking the entrance I think. So I don't mind it ending, but I do hope for a replacement like Faefrost said.

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Honestly, it should be first come first serve. Whoever walks into the store first and asks for one gets one upon request. If it was like that, there wouldn't be huge lines blocking the entrance I think. So I don't mind it ending, but I do hope for a replacement like Faefrost said.

This is how it actually is in my lego store... :look:

At least when I go there, I don't wait in a line or so and it used to be like that until the February monthly mini build of this year with the Micro-Manager, then lines have begun to form.

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Just saw the Dec monthly build, the gingerbread house, and it really is cute! Can't wait to build it with instructions at lego.com. Glad they kept the program for now.

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Honestly, it should be first come first serve. Whoever walks into the store first and asks for one gets one upon request. If it was like that, there wouldn't be huge lines blocking the entrance I think. So I don't mind it ending, but I do hope for a replacement like Faefrost said.

It is first come, first serve, and that is exactly why there are long lines outside the store. You have to get in line and wait in order to get a toy. It does not start until 5:00pm. There has to be eligible age children with you. Shortly before 5:00pm, they go down the line and pass out cards to each eligible person. I suppose it is the card that guarantees you a minibuild set. You only get the card if the child (children) are right there with you, therefore you (or they) had better not go to the restroom when that happens. Then they direct everyone to the tables to build. Once the tables fill up, and they do quickly, then everyone behind them has to wait for spots to open up. They have started allowing you to take your build home if you wish, but you still have to wait for the people ahead of you if they are waiting on a table.

I could get flamed for this, but my suggestion: For a nominal fee, have some type of club you can join associated with the local Lego Store. Membership guarantees that they will have a minibuild for the member when they show up at the store. They go to the counter, present the member card, and are on their way. You have a time window in which you can pick it up. After the time window expires, any unclaimed models can be distributed to the general population. I would be willing to pay some money to avoid that line. At Dallas, if you do not get there by 4:00-4:30pm (earlier in the summer), you are going to be waiting for a while.

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