The history of used sets

[grum64]

As many of you know I'm a bit of a bargain hunter as regards LEGO and over the years have had some real bargains. One of my recent purchases, an 8475, started thinking about it's history. Things like:

When bought new was it as a present and if so what was the occasion?

Was it bought for a child or an adult?

How many owners has it had, who were they, what did they do?

Why did they buy it? Was to be part of a collection or just to build then sell?

Did all its previous owners build the set and if not, why not?

How long did each owner keep the set before parting with it and how much did he/she get for it?

Over the years, how many parts were lost and replaced?

What's the total accumulative amount paid over the years for the set?

These questions and many more keep running round in my head which makes me wonder. Do any of you find yourselves thinking the same?

Edited February 29, 2016 by grum64

[syclone]

Happens to me with everything I buy

When it comes to pieces I always think from which set are they

[dr_spock]

Those types of question have crossed my mind when I buy used goods. After my cat used an opened tub of LEGO as a litter box, I am not too keen on used sets and pieces any more.

[Zerobricks]

I very rarely buy used sets, but just today I received 2 built 9398's. Both had some errors in the way they were built and one has scratches in front and on the top bar, but other than that they are okay. I can see which one was handled better and there are also two different versions. One has newer PF plugs with rounder ends and a different perpedicular connector next to the L motors. Also the one with no scratches was much more dusty than the other, so I uppose it was less played with.

[HawkLord]

I used to ask a lot of these questions when I would buy collectible stuff, like Star Wars, Marvel, etc. How many owners, how long each, how was it stored, smoke-free or not, it got out of hand and definitely made it less fun.

I don't buy used Lego, as I'm sure my OCD would be making me ask the same stuff.

[goody82]

I recently bought some used sets from the 1990s from eBAY. Obviously, there's no affordable way to get sets that old without them being used.

My thoughts...

Unless there is a strong nostalgic connection to that set, probably best not to buy Legos this old, they don't even look or feel like the newer lego, which are a little glossier and seem to have better gripping power.

[DrJB]

Well, let me draw a bit of an analogy: When you meet someone special and fall in love, you usually do not think of who else was there before you. It's kind of like the same for used (pre-owned) lego sets. After a good wash in soapy hot water, it's as good as new, no matter the small (non visible) scratches. I display my sets with equal 'love', not making a difference between first-born and adopted :)

[catwrangler]

When I buy lots of it from a charity shop I often wonder which stuff the kids liked best, and at what point they or their parents felt they'd grown out of it and could wave it off to the Oxfam... ah well, their loss is my gain! I'm also tickled by the state of the minifigures - did the kids keep them in one piece or dismantle them right down to separating the hands and arms? And what bits did they mix and match to make new characters? Of course, then I start fiddling with it and it ends up saying more about me - the last batch yielded Harry Potter's head and Leia's gold bikini, so as far as I'm concerned, Harry's cosplaying Princess Leia for all time.

[miguev]

Those types of question have crossed my mind when I buy used goods. After my cat used an opened tub of LEGO as a litter box, I am not too keen on used sets and pieces any more.

There's the best argument ever against buying used LEGO

I only got used LEGO, from eBay, right after coming out my dark ages, before I knew about Bricklink or Eurobricks. Didn't think much about those questions, but will probably remember for some time that the 8855 was sold by a Dutch fellow whose first hobby was football (a.k.a. soccer, on the other side ;) until he injured his knee.

[Junior Shark]

After my cat used an opened tub of LEGO as a litter box, I am not too keen on used sets and pieces any more.

And I just bought a big ol' bag of used Lego...

[rodiziorobs]

To me, it's like eating at a restaurant and wondering how many countless filthy mouths has the fork I'm using been in before I got to it?

Right, I never do that. That would be gross, and that's why we wash things.

Now if there were bite marks, or the spoon has a bit of someone else's food still stuck to it, then is an appropriate reaction.

And that's when it's a good idea to throw it out and get a new one. Unless you recognize the marks as your own...