Bricks and Minifigs store

[tedthomas199]

Is anyone lucky enough to have one of these stores near you? I did and unfortunately it closed. so sad.

https://bricksandminifigs.com/ 

[JintaiZ]

I have a store like that near me, but haven't been to the store yet...

[koalayummies]

Never heard of them. Looks like some 30 retail stores in the US but essentially absent from the second and third largest GDP cities in the world (NYC, LA), apparently only advertise on on Zuckerberg's boomer networking platforms and have shunned e-commerce. Interesting.

[Grover]

I have been to one.  They're both really excellent and really bad, depending on what you're looking for.  Typically, the minifigures are really expensive and not worth it (sometimes $30+ for a mini).  However, if you have a really good knowledge of set prices, you can get lucky and get sealed vintage sets for below market price (e.g., I picked up a Skeletons Battle Pack, unopened for less than $30 USD).  Of course, there are also total ripoffs, such as incomplete used sets for hundreds of dollars, or various original HP MISB sets for $500+.  The real steal is the bulk Lego table, where they have loose pieces you buy by volume.  You can get a 3 gallon (12L) ziploc bag for $60 USD, all pieces of your choosing.  If you're after small pieces, this works well.  They typically sift out all the minis and rare/valuable pieces (dragons, etc.), but not always, and if you know what you're looking for you can get some pretty good deals.  For my castle work, it was great to get to fill a bag with greys, greens, and browns, all of my choosing for that price.  Sure, they're used, but it's a heck of a lot better than BL on price!  Unfortunately, they are far away and I can't easily drive there, but for anyone who lives near one, they're good if you know what the deals are.  And there is one in LA or at least the greater LA area.

Edited September 19, 2020 by Grover

[koalayummies]

4 minutes ago, Grover said:

And there is one in LA or at least the greater LA area.

That's why I used the qualifier 'essentially' absent. The area you speak of is 4,850 square miles.

[Grover]

Just now, koalayummies said:

That's why I used the qualifier 'essentially' absent. The area you speak of is 4,850 square miles.

Depends on what you want to call LA.  LA proper?  No.  Greater LA, area, sure.  It's all pretty close and driveable.  I have personally hit 5 Lego stores from Irvine to Thousand Oaks to San Bernadino in one evening before.

[koalayummies]

Just now, Grover said:

Depends on what you want to call LA.  LA proper?  No.  Greater LA, area, sure.  It's all pretty close and driveable.  I have personally hit 5 Lego stores from Irvine to Thousand Oaks to San Bernadino in one evening before.

So you're the one snatching up everything on release day!?

The super exciting topic of driving in LA like an SNL skit aside; the point was their advertising is lacking, brick and mortar is dying, often businesses try and break into the biggest and spendiest of cities early and they have no internet sales, given that this thread is about one of their stores closing.

[Vindicare]

Not this particular store, but something very similar. New/used sets, minifig wall, tables of loose parts & drawers with sorted parts. I loved that place & was always there at least once a week. Got to know the owner & a few other people throughout the years. I miss it everyday. 

[Grover]

21 hours ago, koalayummies said:

So you're the one snatching up everything on release day!?

The super exciting topic of driving in LA like an SNL skit aside; the point was their advertising is lacking, brick and mortar is dying, often businesses try and break into the biggest and spendiest of cities early and they have no internet sales, given that this thread is about one of their stores closing.

Nope, I only go for the PAB walls.