Road Plates: A Scam?

[Turaga of Force]

LEGO always has been a very reputable company, keeping its fans and customers in its best interest. However, recently, there have been some lower-quality sets, such as the parts in Cafe Corner and Market Street, and the lime green Technic/BIONICLE joints. However, what is bothering me the most is the road plates. First, they are almost twice as much money as they used to be: $12.99 for a 2 pack instead of $6.99 for a 2-pack. (USD) This is understandable, as $6.99 is really cheap for 2 big baseplates, and everything (LEGO and otherwise) is going up in price.. But the main thing is that they package straights with crosses and curves with Ts. I think they are trying to get us, the customers and fans, to buy more by packing the commonly needed (straight and curve) with less useful pieces (cross and T), while they used to do 2 straights, 2 curves, 2 Ts, and 2 crosses. The Ts and curves are okay, because they are both used a bit but not that much, but when people want a lot of straight plates they are stuck with cross plates, which are hardly useful, that they paid $6.50 each for. This really frustrates me, especially since I am starting work on a LEGO city. I think I am going to buy my plates on BrickLink because of this. (as well as the fact that I perfer green to gray) What do you guys think?

Edit: I contacted LEGO, and am awaiting a reply. Here is my message:

TLC has been a very reputable company, caring about its fans and customers, however recently there have been complaints about low-quality parts on fan sites such as BZPower and EuroBricks. Although some people are frustrated with the low quality parts, my main complaint is how the road plates are packaged. They used to be sets of straights, curves, Ts, or crossroad plates. Now the crosses are packed with straights and the Ts with curves. Straights are by far more widely used than crossroads, while they are packed together, so if someone wants a bunch of straights, they are stuck with a bunch of crossroads that they paid $6.50 each for. Same thing if someone wants curves or Ts, but not both. Why can't they be packed with another of the same type like they used to be? I think TLC is trying to get customers to buy more road plates just because they want one type and not another. I am really disapointed in LEGO for doing this, always having had high standards. Ole Kirk Christiansen would not allow this, so please, remember him and his high standards, and keep your customers in highest interest. Also, not a complaint but just a comment: I would really like it if the green road plates were brought back, as I don't really like the gray ones.

Sorry to complain, but I felt I needed to contact you about this. Thanks for your understanding :)

Dylan

Edited October 28, 2007 by Gahu: Turaga of Force

[Hinckley]

I did notice this and agree that it's a bad marketing strategy. I think you are right that they thought it would sell more if people wanted a certain plate, but IMO, it's just bad business sense. Of course, you could always buy what you needed and sell the rest on Bricklink...but isn't it just easier to get what you need the first time? :-/ Boo LEGO on this one. I really have to wonder what caused that price increase, especially considering the old plates that are still in stock have the same old price...

You can discuss more quality control issues in this thread.

[Turaga of Force]

I'm glad someone agrees :) I think LEGO is just not keeping the customers as high of a priority as they used to, or as Ole would want them to.

[Hinckley]

I'm glad someone agrees :) I think LEGO is just not keeping the customers as high of a priority as they used to, or as Ole would want them to.

This is a habit of big corporations right now-using the US as an example-the biggest concern is the bottom line. I'm glad you decided to write them with your concerns, because you are right that they are responsive to their fan base and keep up good communications. So, the more people bring the concerns up the more likely LEGO is to do something about it.

And it is important to remember the great stuff we've gotten lately. They have produced a lot of great stuff, even stuff we've been asking for for a long time. I don't like their forays into stationary and stuff-especially since so much of it is already being clearanced and I assume didn't make them much of a profit. But they have produced some great sets and lines lately and I think that's important to keep in mind and not turn this into a LEGO-bashing.

But, I would like to see the baseplates sold the way they used to be-even if the price has to stay where it is.

[SirNadroj]

I was gonna suggest just buying what you need on BL, but you beat me to it! ;-)

Personally, I'm not much of a city MOCer so I don't know, but maybe LEGO is just trying to give us a variety? Sure beats the heck out of me. Again, just buy what you need on BL, or buy the packs and sell what you don't on BL, like what Hincks said. ;-)

[Lt. Col. Thok]

I agree. The plates are a scam! I bought a large grey baseplate 6 years ago for $5, and I bought another one yesterday for $18. $18!!! Its craziness, I say....

[SirNadroj]

I agree. The plates are a scam! I bought a large grey baseplate 6 years ago for $5, and I bought another one yesterday for $18. $18!!! Its craziness, I say....

$18 for an X-Lrg baseplate? Now that's a rip-off because retail in $9.99 USD, right? Where did you buy it? eBay? K-B toys?

I know TRU sells em' for $12.99 USD. |-/

[Derek]

They should put roadplates and baseplates on pick a brick Online. Even if they were like 5 or 6 dollars they would still be MUCH cheaper.

DP8

[Turaga of Force]

Hinckley -- I am definately not going to be a LEGO-basher, this is pretty much the only thing I have against them! They are coming out with some great sets, although not as good as those of the 90s. Still, Dwarves Mining looks so awesome... I will have to get one :)

[Hinckley]

Hinckley -- I am definately not going to be a LEGO-basher, this is pretty much the only thing I have against them! They are coming out with some great sets, although not as good as those of the 90s. Still, Dwarves Mining looks so awesome... I will have to get one :)

I was just putting the energy out there in general, not towards you. You were certainly not bashing. Sorry to cause any confusion! I think what you said-in the post and in your letter-is very metered and respectful.

*sweet* *y*

Dawvres' Mine on!

Spelling things right on!

Dwarves' Mine on!

[Shadows]

Personally, I'd be happy with a T, a curve, and 2 straights for $20 or so, but I don't see it happening. LEGO doesn't seem to like giving us much in the way of baseplate options. No blue plates, no tan plates, no white plates. They couldn't be that hard to offer through S@H, and with sets like Hoth and the AT-AT, people would grab stacks of white, just as an example.

As a result, I bought a pile off eBay. Still leaves me wanting more tan and white, but at least I have enough roads and blue for now.

Baseplate Mass-production On! *y*

[Brickmaster]

Wow, that really does seem a scam to me, nowadays - Luckily I got all my plates back when they were cheap

I have enough old gray roadplates to build a city or two (got packs of 2 of each kind back when 7 dollars a pop) , 8 large grey baseplates (8 dollars from a store here), and aswell as enough BlackTron-2 Space baseplates to build a large landing area around my monorails around (best deals of all, 2 for 5 bucks)

13 dollars for 2 plates (One of which you may not even need) just seems completely absurd to me - I wouldnt pay that!

[Siegfried]

I do think that the combinations are not realistic. I do think the RC train track sets are worse though with an equal number of curves and straight pieces. :-|

[natelite]

i would just buy the x-large bley plate for $9.99 and moc my own roads using tile pieces. :-P more versatile and you can use it for space (create your own mounts using slope bricks), castle or city (create your own street lines using tiles). :-P

[Hinckley]

i would just buy the x-large bley plate for $9.99 and moc my own roads using tile pieces. :-P more versatile and you can use it for space (create your own mounts using slope bricks), castle or city (create your own street lines using tiles). :-P

Not quite as cost-effective though after you've purchased all of those tiles... 8-|

[Lt. Col. Thok]

$18 for an X-Lrg baseplate? Now that's a rip-off because retail in $9.99 USD, right? Where did you buy it? eBay? K-B toys?

I know TRU sells em' for $12.99 USD. |-/

Thats $18 Canadian - everything is more expensive north of the border. And this was at TRU!!!

[natelite]

Not quite as cost-effective though after you've purchased all of those tiles... 8-|

i know i'm a cheapo but sometimes i value versatility too, bro. :-P but it's more likely i'm into castle these days. :-P

[Joebot]

This issue is particularly annoying when the shop at home catalog displays the new expensive road plates RIGHT NEXT TO their remaining stock of old green road plates, which are still $6.99. Way to call attention to the fact that the new road plates are a rip off.

[Hinckley]

This issue is particularly annoying when the shop at home catalog displays the new expensive road plates RIGHT NEXT TO their remaining stock of old green road plates, which are still $6.99. Way to call attention to the fact that the new road plates are a rip off.

I went into the LEGO store last week and an employee actually slapped me in the face with the new plates!

:-P

[iamded]

This is really annoying. It just leaves you with a bunch of spare base-plates that nobody wants. Darn T and X plates. They could just keep the straight roads and corners seperate from the T and X plates, and reduce the price of the 2 latter ones to get rid of them. :-P I suppose this is the most conveniant, profitable method though. :-( It's a shame.

~Peace

[MatthewUSA]

I definitly agree with you Gahu about this change. I would like to see the road plates brought back the way they used to be. I also agree about the dark gray. I would like to see TLC use green or light gray plates and "print" the darker color on. I am not into the new color either :-X .

I really hope you receive a response from TLC. I also hope the news will be what we have all been waiting for. Keep us all posted on the news.

Model On!!

[Turaga of Force]

I got a reply, here it is.

Dear Mr MulenburgThank you for contacting us on 28/10/07 and for your interest in our LEGO

Edited October 31, 2007 by Gahu: Turaga of Force