Most expensive LEGO pieces?

[rebent]

Hi everybody!

(Just so you know, I did some searches to find answers to these questions but a million topics came up! This sure is a vibrant community!)

So I just got my lego collection from childhood out of my parent's basement, and am sorting it. Is there some page, maybe on BrickLink, that lists the most expensive lego parts? It'd be sweet if it turned out that I've been sitting on a few hundred dollars.

Secondly, I have seen here and there people mention that you can pay for new sets you buy by selling the minifigs. Is there a guide or discussion somewhere about this? This is an interesting topic for me because I care mostly about making micro models.

thank you for your help!

[Natman8000]

Some miifigs are very expensive on BL, such as star wars figs or Maersk line promo figs. There is one that is worth $400! As for parts... are you asking about colors or parts them selves? Because I know that unless the part is really uncommon, it only matters about the color. For one, the green or bley baby T-rex is worth no more than 75 cents, but the ultra rare red one is worth $15.

[Shadows]

Far too complicated to be specific, but generally it goes like this:

Figures are worth more if they come from popular themes and are in good condition. The easiest way to start is to look a few up on Bricklink and see what kind of price they pull in.

Specialized/printed parts are worth more than ordinary bricks. People complain about specialization, but when it comes down to it, ordinary bricks are dirt cheap. If something hasn't been offered in a long time, or doesn't show up often (baseplates, for example), you'll find that more people are going to be interested.

In some cases, a set is worth more than the sum of it's parts, if you have the whole thing. Instructions are always a big plus, boxes seem mostly optional (but I don't think a set is a set without a box, really).

Secondly, I have seen here and there people mention that you can pay for new sets you buy by selling the minifigs. Is there a guide or discussion somewhere about this? This is an interesting topic for me because I care mostly about making micro models.

You may want to refer to this topic, which links to an article on the subject and includes some additional discussion.

[Siegfried]

So I just got my lego collection from childhood out of my parent's basement, and am sorting it. Is there some page, maybe on BrickLink, that lists the most expensive lego parts? It'd be sweet if it turned out that I've been sitting on a few hundred dollars.

So you just got you LEGO back and you're considering selling? The first thing I did was make a breast pump.

[blueandwhite]

Look carefully at the pricing on Bricklink.

Many highly expensive items don't sell frequently (if at all). You can actually look at Bricklink's price guide for an idea of what you could get for any given brick. Look at the average price and how frequently the item sells for an idea of how to price your bricks. Also if your selling worn or whethered bricks, tell the buyer before hand. Nothing will upset a customer or damage your reputation faster than selling worn or damaged bricks without notice.

Good luck.

[Madcat2000]

Well you proably won't be a millionaire by selling lego peices, unless you have a box full of maersk blue hard hats, those thing alone are worth like $500 USD from what I saw on bricklink. There aren't too many peices that are worth alot other than some Star Wars figs.

[simonjedi]

The first thing I did was make a breast pump.

of all the things to make after rediscovering the joys of lego, that's not even on the list.

Most of the expensive non-minifigure parts are usually common part is rare colours. I remember reading that a construction workers helmet in light blue can go for $400.

I think i read it on here actually.

EDIT: i actually did on the post before me.

Edited June 25, 2009 by simonjedi

[ILikePi]

Here are some of the most expensive new parts (though some people just overprice some items):

http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?viewFr...ort=B&sz=25

And some of the most expensive used parts (again, some people may just overprice the items):

http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?viewFr...ort=B&sz=25

Also, welcome to EuroBricks.

Edited June 25, 2009 by ILikePi

[Commodore Hornbricker]

I think the girls white hair peice with pig tails on the side sells for like $25 bucks...most peices are pretty common but if you have a decent size collection 30-40 lbs you can just sell it unsorted on craigslist and get $200 or so if it includes some popular themes and save yourself a huge headache trying to part out a smaller size collection.

[Dadster]

Nicely done ILikePi.

Rebent - at least go through them and think about all the old memories of sorting and creating. If the Lego lot you have doesn't create a spark of interest, then I'd hit Ebay and just sell off the lot. Careful though - feelings of regret may ensue.

[Shadows]

Here are some of the most expensive new parts (though some people just overprice some items):

I'd never seen it displayed as clearly as on that page, those are some seriously crazy prices (that won't ever be paid).

Look at this one:

They range from $29 all the way up to $300.

Now the top 2 sellers marked it as a 'new' brick, but honestly, the way they give out those promos makes the difference in new and used very difficult to determine through any actual fact. They don't come in a package and they're handed out after being in contact with many others of the same kind, then carried around by park visitors all day. Even considering just the 2 new ones, the cheaper one is $63.60, which is $236.40 off the top priced one.

Basically, people like to overvalue things they think are incredibly rare, but they forget that in most cases, there isn't much demand. A single piece of solid red train track for $240? How many people would really want that and what would they do with it? A handful of crazy people like me would add it to their collection and display it somehow, but how many would pay that price? I sure wouldn't, and I don't think many would.

Bottom line... look up items, hit the catalog link and then check the price guide. See how much they've actually been selling for in the last 6 months on average, not how much people have them currently listed for. From there, you have to factor in how much of a hurry you're in to get rid of it. If you can wait a long time, price it a little high and sit, otherwise, drop it under average and hope it sells faster.

Problem is, there's no way to determine how much real market there is for the part, so it's all a guessing game in the end.

[Tom Bricks]

The most expensive regular bricks seem to be the 2 x 4 ones without cross supports. The go for about $20 each, but I doubt anyone would pay that. You would probably be more likely to have some of these though.

[Natman8000]

The most expensive regular bricks seem to be the 2 x 4 ones without cross supports. The go for about $20 each, but I doubt anyone would pay that. You would probably be more likely to have some of these though.

Woah! I have so many old bricks from my dads old collection! He got the parts when they almost first came out. I'm going to have to go round them up!

[Spyder]

The most expensive regular bricks seem to be the 2 x 4 ones without cross supports. The go for about $20 each, but I doubt anyone would pay that. You would probably be more likely to have some of these though.

I have a ton of those! I just got a big shoe box of old Lego from my uncle. Yes! Here comes another get rich quick scheme!

[Karto]

Lego released the articulated minifigure back in 1978. This was an important turn in Lego's history and parts from that period can be quite expensive:

- A lot of prints were stickers, applied on one or several parts. Most of them are considered rare and expensive. Especially from the 375 Yellow Castle and the early town promotionals 1592, 1589 and 1620.

- Printed parts from that period can also be expensive, like the Classic Space bricks 928, 924, etc.

- Knight visors from the early castle sets are also quite rare (were fragile and no longer used in later sets).

- Color can also be a reason for rareness: Classic Castle (once again) had a lot of light gray tools which were produced during a short period of time. Maersk blue parts (light blue) are extremely rare but belongs to promotional sets.

- Original boxes are also valued.

- Most of specific parts from the 12V train theme (red train motor, gray windows from 7740, blue windows from 7760, big red wheels from 7750,...)

etc.

Note: Complete sets are usually worth more.

Note2: If you have a sealed box of the 107 Unicef Van, you'll be able to buy a nice MacBook Pro 17".

[rebent]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I am not going to sell my whole collection. However, if I have a few bricks that could let me take my girlfriend out to a nice dinner, i would like that :)

I got really excited that the grey 6x6 flat was $99.... but then i noticed that there are people selling it for a few cents :( what a let down! lol http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?pg=22&...mp;searchSort=P

oh well! I will keep looking

[cole]

Why would they sell it for ninety-nine dollars, and call themselves the brothers brick...

[Topsy Cret]

Whoa! It would seem that I've been sitting on a few $100s worth of unusual Technic pieces. Anyone interested in air pumpers and air tanks?