Badsneaker Posted November 12, 2008 Posted November 12, 2008 I saw this auction on eBay today, I cannot believe someone would pay over $100 for something they didn't build themselves. Looks like a good business to be in! http://cgi.ebay.com/LEGO-TOWN-TRAIN-CUSTOM...A1%7C240%3A1318 There is probably ab $40 worth of LEGO in this.
Buttons Posted November 12, 2008 Posted November 12, 2008 Hate to be the barrer of bad news but shouldn't this be in the buy, sell and trade forum.
Badsneaker Posted November 13, 2008 Author Posted November 13, 2008 Hate to be the barrer of bad news but shouldn't this be in the buy, sell and trade forum. Huh? Its in the General Discussion forum.
Lt. Veers Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 Starbucks Coffee is expensive. It makes sense that Lego Starbucks Coffee is expensive.
Derek Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 Very good point you bring up Lt. Veers. Nice find.
darkrebellion Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 (edited) I think a good MOCer could build a better one but this is cool anyway . The Starbucks signs add some detail but I think the seller at least would need to include an all tiled floor to this looks overall great . Also the TV with the real baseball match looks very-off of place, in place of it I should have included one with lego minifigs. Edited November 13, 2008 by darkrebellion
Corvus Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 Huh? Its in the General Discussion forum. He means the topic is in the wrong forum. It ought to be in the Buy, Sell, Trades and Finds Forum. It's not that great, at least not for what they're asking.... The decals are good, but the building could use some more work.
Badsneaker Posted November 13, 2008 Author Posted November 13, 2008 He means the topic is in the wrong forum. It ought to be in the Buy, Sell, Trades and Finds Forum.It's not that great, at least not for what they're asking.... The decals are good, but the building could use some more work. I know thats what I'm saying- its cool and a great idea, but this is some big money for what it is! Its got no more pieces than the Beach House! $118 now! I think I will buy $20 worth of tan bricks and some nice printer paper and make one myself. I could use some extra cash for my other LEGO projects!
Brickthing Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 Wow, that seems like a great way to make money. I just hope the people paying so much for it don't think that it's a real set though.
Hewman Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 The stickers are really nicely done but as someone else pointed out, it does look odd seeing real people on the tv playing baseball instead of lego figs. Besides that the design of the set is just average and would look pretty ordinary when stuck next to the green grocer or cafe corner sets.
WesternOutlaw Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 Awesome find! Thanks for sharing. This would make a great Starbucks exclusive. The colors and stickers are perfect. Overall, a great design.
Cardinal Brick Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 It's a great MOC in my opinion, though I'm sure I've seen the decals for sale somewhere.
hollisbrick Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 Wow, I wouldnt buy it but its a well done Moc Is anyone here gonna buy it?
Captain Green Hair Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 I'd say get the 40$ of bricks and make a copy!
Matija Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 I saw this auction on eBay today, I cannot believe someone would pay over $100 for something they didn't build themselves. Looks like a good business to be in! http://cgi.ebay.com/LEGO-TOWN-TRAIN-CUSTOM...A1%7C240%3A1318 There is probably ab $40 worth of LEGO in this. So, what is exactly the problem here? People do pay a lot for official LEGO sets even though they might make them cheaper. And original stuff is often worth more than just the price of the material, so if this is indeed her design, I think it's quite nice that she gets something out of it (especially since the auction started basically from 0). Or are you just jealous?
lelee Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 Maybe I should whack a couple of decals on mine and flog it for 100 quid! http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/39729 mmm got me thinking
Johnny 5 Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 (edited) So, what is exactly the problem here? People do pay a lot for official LEGO sets even though they might make them cheaper. And original stuff is often worth more than just the price of the material, so if this is indeed her design, I think it's quite nice that she gets something out of it (especially since the auction started basically from 0).Or are you just jealous? Exactly right if some one willing to pay that much then all the more power to them. Question is though, is the seller the builder? Side note, did you see the McDonalds with the LEGO Batman poster? Ingenious!! Edited November 13, 2008 by Johnny 5
tedbeard Posted November 14, 2008 Posted November 14, 2008 I saw this auction on eBay today, I cannot believe someone would pay over $100 for something they didn't build themselves. Looks like a good business to be in! And I cannot believe the auction is still up as the listing violates trademark law and eBay listing policies. Having it highlighted on the Classic-Town blog also makes it look like EB condones criminal activity which I find curious. Other than that, it is as cute build. I especially like the inverted tan cones in a plate for coffee cups.
WesternOutlaw Posted November 15, 2008 Posted November 15, 2008 And I cannot believe the auction is still up as the listing violates trademark law and eBay listing policies. Having it highlighted on the Classic-Town blog also makes it look like EB condones criminal activity which I find curious. Tedbeard, with no disrespect intended: There's two ways you can look at this: 1) you can perceive the appreciation for the Starbucks trademark and name and say that the builder and Ebay is violating copyright law, as well as labeling my blog as "criminal activity" that EB condones; or 2) you can appreciate this MOC as a creative build from an artistic design stand-point realizing that it was not designed to "steal the Starbucks name", but rather depict a popular coffee shop with Lego. I choose to see the later, and appreciate this building as an outstanding Town MOC, thus the reason for "blogging it". You could take away the name and trademark of the shop, and it would still be a great creation. I'm not trying to sell it, but rather share a nice creation.
pr0visorak Posted November 15, 2008 Posted November 15, 2008 Wait brickster, from what I hear you say. You are the seller? Or am I wrong... Anyway, the Moc really is very nice!
WesternOutlaw Posted November 15, 2008 Posted November 15, 2008 Wait brickster, from what I hear you say. You are the seller? Or am I wrong... Anyway, the Moc really is very nice! No! Of course not. After reading this post, and seeing the great little MOC, I just blogged it. (plus, I don't generally make coffee shops - just not my style. Rootbeer/sarsaparilla stands are more my speed). But I think the creation is really a neat one.
pr0visorak Posted November 15, 2008 Posted November 15, 2008 No! Of course not. After reading this post, and seeing the great little MOC, I just blogged it. (plus, I don't generally make coffee shops - just not my style. Rootbeer/sarsaparilla stands are more my speed).But I think the creation is really a neat one. Wow! You blog! Thanks for clarifying it by the way :pir-skull:
WhiteFang Posted November 15, 2008 Posted November 15, 2008 Wow! You blog! Thanks for clarifying it by the way :pir-skull: Brickster is one of the bloggers in Classic Town.net. From what I see, this is a great piece of work, and is a nice addition which could be added into any tabletop town.
tedbeard Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 ... you can perceive the appreciation for the Starbucks trademark and name and say that the builder and Ebay is violating copyright law, as well as labeling my blog as "criminal activity" that EB condones; Lets be careful and accurate in our language and accusations, that is respectful. Point the first: the selling of products bearing a company logo or other marks without permission is a violation of trademark law, not copyright. Point the second: I did not mean to say you or any person involved with EB was engaged in criminal activity. I said the blog and EB appeared to be condoning criminal activity. The only person I meant to accuse of criminal activity is the person who made the eBay listing. You could take away the name and trademark of the shop, and it would still be a great creation. Indeed and in doing so the creator would not be a criminal. Lots of sellers of items avoid legal problems by making parodies which are allowed under trademark law. He could have used "Brickbucks" in the same font and colours and used a LEGO mermaid on the logo and it would be nice and legal and people would still think it was cute and know what it was supposed to represent. As it is, the builder is risking legal fees and penalties if Starbucks, Macdonalds etc. ever catch him or her. These companies are known for their lack of tolerance where their business interests are concerned. It seems stupid to me to risk your home, your savings, your future wages when a little creativity (or simply not using trademarks) avoids the risk. I would not want EB and your blog to appear to condone stupidity which could have real-world repercussions. If you appear to be saying this is OK, and some young builder from this forum gets sued when he starts selling LEGO Pokemon figures I would hold you partially responsible. Only morally responsible of course, but who wants bad karma? If it was me I simply would have started the blog post/forum thread with something like: "Despite the questionable use of trademarks and the risk of corporate wrath the following MOC very nicely captures the feeling of your local coffee shop." See, nice and legal without being all lawyer-ish.
Governor Mister Phes Posted November 20, 2008 Governor Posted November 20, 2008 The very first thing anyone should do is contact eBay and the trademark holder to clarify the legality of such an auction. And I cannot believe the auction is still up as the listing violates trademark law and eBay listing policies. Having it highlighted on the Classic-Town blog also makes it look like EB condones criminal activity which I find curious. Was that really the best to bring this to everyone's attention? The wording and the smiley makes it seem as though you're persecuting Eurobricks, making out to be more than it really is. Clearly, it's a simple mistake which anyone whose not well versed in Intellectual Property Law could make. You could have just as easily wrote something along the lines of "you might want to look into the legality of auctioning a custom item baring a trademark to avoid possible enfringements" - comes across much friendlier. But thank you for your concern, we shall be clarifying the matter with relevant authorities in the near future.
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