Has anyone ever sold any of their MOCs?

[Meatman]

I have built several smaller scale cars and a few other odds things and I don't think that I could ever part with any of my own custom built models. My kids built some things and want me to try and sell them on ebay, but I know that they are nothing that would really be worth selling. The main reason why they want me to sell their stuff is so they can get the new sets that have just been released. I told the kids that I would match whatever they earned. I make my kids do chores and then save up to get what they want, but they are really content on selling their MOCs. Whoever buys the kid's MOCs would more than likely just be buying them for parts, but it is hard to tell a kid that who just spent 2 weeks building something that they feel is special. So my question is has anyone sold anything that they have built or been offered money to sell their technic creations?

[efferman]

Selling Mocs to buy new sets is burning money. There is only one reason to sell mocs: no money for food. Four years ago, i was in this situation, and it had break my heart to sell my 80 kilos of Lego.

[CP5670]

I wouldn't sell anything I made either. Any profit I make on them would be tiny given the time I spent on them. I also regularly use pieces that are no longer in production, so it would be hard to reacquire all them too.

[mahjqa]

I've sold my Igniz. Someone told me they wanted it. I explained that the Igniz represented a significant investment;

Electronics: €120

Tracks and drive system: €100

Additional parts: €100

Custom stickers and printed parts: €20

And that due to my emotional attachment and the three months I spent developing it, I would not part with it for less than €500.

I was quite amazed that he accepted my offer.

It's in Switzerland now.

But yeah, selling MOCs usually isn't worth it. Most people don't realise how expensive parts are, and how hard it is to make a good model.

Edited July 19, 2010 by mahjqa

[Silcantar]

I wouldn't sell any MOCs (not that I have any worth selling), but I have recently started selling some old (non-Technic) sets that sell for good prices on eBay. I recently got $115 for the 2002 3739 Blacksmith Shop, which was originally $39.99. If they have any old sets that they value less than the new set, that are in good condition, including their instructions (one of the main problems with many of my sets, a lot of the older instructions are in terrible condition), they might be worth selling.

[Zerobricks]

I never sold any MOCS, just some parts to firends who needed them and i didnt need them ATM. Selling mocs is like selling a child for me

[Jurgen Krooshoop]

I've never sold anything and propably never will and won't be neccecary. If people want (to build) my models, they can use the instructions i've made for some of them. They'd have to buy the parts themselves.

[Superkalle]

Some years ago I designed a MOC in LDD of a luxury vessel. My wife persuaded me to send some screenshots to the company that made the product. I got a reply back in just a few days - "buy the bricks, build it and send it to us". So I did. The price was 800 USD, and I made a modest profit of 50 USD. It was a fun thing, and now I can call myself a professional Lego designer

[jonwil]

I had one guy who wanted a copy of my Mercedes Benz OC500LE bus so I made him one and he was really happy with it. No parts came from my collection, they were all parts bought from Bricklink.

[Smithy]

I've been keeping an eye on eBay and recently there's been quite a few MOC's have appeared. Recent ones have included a PF controlled excavator, Lorry, 8 wheel trailer and a pneumatic backhoe.

If you go on to ebay, Lego Technic section, then sort by price. You'll sometimes see MOC's as the most expensive

Currently on ebay:-

New Custom Lego Technic Lamborghini Gallardo Chrome Kit

10* 4 tipper truck

tow Truck

[JunkstyleGio]

10* 4 tipper truck

If i had found that model in time, i would have bought it on the spot....

On selling MOCs/MODs or other parts:

NEVER Again.

Had to sell my complete technic collection (20plus sets) in 1995 due to some moneyproblems for 300 Guilders... (aprox. 150 euro)

It took me 1,000 euro to get them back....

[TechnicJuan]

I've been keeping an eye on eBay and recently there's been quite a few MOC's have appeared. Recent ones have included a PF controlled excavator, Lorry, 8 wheel trailer and a pneumatic backhoe.

If you go on to ebay, Lego Technic section, then sort by price. You'll sometimes see MOC's as the most expensive

Currently on ebay:-

New Custom Lego Technic Lamborghini Gallardo Chrome Kit

10* 4 tipper truck

tow Truck

I know Crowkillers has been selling his MOCs for years and I have seen a few of them fetch well over a $1,000 USD before. I actually read an inetresting post from his site last night when someone questioned about the price that his Gallardo Kits have been selling for. While it is pretty cool what he is doing, I also feel that he is wasting his time, especially if there is no significant profit to be made.

Crowkillers said...

You do realize that I start the auctions at $1 and it is the Lego fans and collectors that are driving the price up right?

Anyways, I will break it down for you. First off in order to do a kit I have to order parts from all over the world from many different dealers. On average a Kit normally costs me between $250-$300 for parts and shipping, not to mention how many hours I spend browsing from one online store to another. The chroming of the wheels cost $40, then the set box is $3 and I also have to print up the covers and stickers and CD Rom inlay and then burn a CD, not to mention the 3 months that I spend developing the model. Then after it sells, I owe Ebay Over $40 for Fees and Paypal takes 4%

So if I sell a kit for $425, that doesn't leave very much room for profit does it? For some reason people see the Dollar signs and assume that I am just doing this for the money, but obviously that is not the case. I am trying to make it easier for everyone who really wants to build the model the opportunity to do just that.

The average person who would like to build this model from scratch would probably have to wait around a month after downloading the instructions, and ordering the parts because they will be waiting for their international part orders to come in. Then there is always the risk involved with ordering from other countries.

When a kit is purchased from me, all of these issues are taken care of and you can start building the car as soon as it gets to your house. I am just trying to get my design and model out to people, not retire from it.

Like I said before, I offered this design to Lego. It is up to them if they want to release it and make it available at a more affordable price.

-Paul

10* 4 tipper truck

Now did this person sell their own MOC or is this someone else's MOC that they followed instructions and built? If this is someone selling someone else's model, that doesn't seem right.

[Milan]

Now did this person sell their own MOC or is this someone else's MOC that they followed instructions and built? If this is someone selling someone else's model, that doesn't seem right.

This is model from very good builder Han:

http://www.designer-han.nl/lego/dumptruck10x4.htm

[roamingstop]

I once sold a load of MOC's and old space sets before embarking on a PhD of enforced dark age (and before I had a digital camera to record them). What I remember is that the complete older space sets sold much better than the MOC's - which were viewed as spare parts as instructions did not exist (in those days ML cad was buggy). I lost out... it was not worth selling the MOC's and I was disappointed... but cest la vie.

For the OP thread... If your children really like their MOC's then I would encourage them to take photos and submit to something like MOC Pages, Brickshelf etc, and get feedback from the Lego community (as a parent you might have to moderate the various comments). Importantly; try to get your children interested in creating the digital versions / instructions (e.g. in Lego Digital Designer)... and have the files available for download. This will allow them to gain skills, and minimise the (probable) disappointment of seeing their MOC sell for a lot less than they wanted. If their models are downloaded regularly then they could think about bulding the MOC's to sell directly.

They should also review their older models and see which ones they could live without. Ebay prices can be relatively low, Bricklink is probably better but less likely to sell quickly. This would allow them to gain some pocket money to spend on Bricklink or more recent models...

Edited July 20, 2010 by roamingstudio

[eMHa]

Selling MOCs would never come to my mind! It's like others said, it's like selling your own child.

I'm always happy if I have enough parts to build something. If I miss some parts to build something I look mostly into new sets if I can get the parts there. It would be awful if I had sold a MOC and realise later that I need parts of it to build something other!

We're in the digital age, create your model with MLCAD or LDD to share it. If someone really wants you to sell your model, I'd buy the parts separately to build and sell the model (like others have suggested).

Additionally, like others said, re-buying the parts you miss because you sold a MOC is more expensive in the end mostly.

[allanp]

It would be very hard to tell them that they are propabaly not worth selling. What I would do is show them some of the things that do sell for example the LPE pneumatic engines. They should then get an idea of the standard something needs to be in order for it to be sellable without you telling them. I wouldn't say "look how good these have to be in order to be sold" but "hey kids, look at these cool engines!". Hopefully they will get the idea.

[vexorian]

I've sold my Igniz. Someone told me they wanted it. I explained that the Igniz represented a significant investment;

Electronics: €120

Tracks and drive system: €100

Additional parts: €100

Custom stickers and printed parts: €20

And that due to my emotional attachment and the three months I spent developing it, I would not part with it for less than €500.

I was quite amazed that he accepted my offer.

It's in Switzerland now.

Sorry, but I think you got robbed :)

Edited July 20, 2010 by vexorian

[Blakbird]

This is model from very good builder Han:

http://www.designer-...mptruck10x4.htm

This is really pretty upsetting. Han is an excellent designer and put massive time and effort into designing this model and doing full instructions for it which he gives away for free. I suppose there is nothing technically wrong with someone building a copy and then selling it, but they didn't even mention Han, the designer, once in the entire post. They wrote 2 pages of text about the model and never credited the person who enabled them to build it. Pretty poor form.

[grohl]

I never sold anything although I was offered 800 USD for this beauty

[Meatman]

This is really pretty upsetting. Han is an excellent designer and put massive time and effort into designing this model and doing full instructions for it which he gives away for free. I suppose there is nothing technically wrong with someone building a copy and then selling it, but they didn't even mention Han, the designer, once in the entire post. They wrote 2 pages of text about the model and never credited the person who enabled them to build it. Pretty poor form.

I fully agree. I think only the creator should be selling their own models or like you said at least give the proper credit to the designer. I made a topic about this a few days ago. Blakbird, can someone get into legal trouble for doing this if the original designer pursued it?

Edited July 20, 2010 by Meatman

[TechnicJuan]

Looks like the Crow got shot down.

Crowkillers said...

Well, I got a response back from Lego and it was pretty much what I expected. Basically the automated - Your design would make a brilliant set, but unfortunately we cannot legally use your design and we already have a team of experts in Denmark who spend all day dreaming up new designs and models and they are probably already working on something similar to your design.

Oh well... I tried.

[shimon]

Ive never sold any MOCs but 80% of the parts i have are from bricklink so it cost very little

and the profit here will be big

Ive seen a lot of people doing creations with parts worth 100-200$ and sell it for 500$+ and even 800

take a 100$(if there are taxes and stuff): good profit & head ache & time

about the dump truck : it is very rude just to sell it and even not mention the designer's name

technically everyone can do it the parts will cost 100-150 bucks (from best stores in bricklink )

though its much of a head ache so the minimum is at least sharing instructions or selling them on Ebay

like CrowKillers did - 25 bucks, many people bought this

Still all this is for those who cant afford themselves new lego.. i guess

[nico71]

I am regularly asked to sell my mocs, maybe 200 offers at the moment. The best offer was 700€ for my forklift truck, I don't know why because the forklift can be rebuilt with part from some sets and I provide the building instructions. Also, many people don't understand that I don't have all my moc built in the same time, only one or two, because my collection is really really small (6 sets). In any case, I plan since several year to start a E-company which sell expert technic sets, but the problem isn't the price, but the copyright with lego. Sell ideas with lego bricks is quite difficult, as soon as we talk about industrial process and many orders.

Edited July 21, 2010 by nico71

[Superkalle]

Well, I got a response back from Lego and it was pretty much what I expected. Basically the automated - Your design would make a brilliant set, but unfortunately we cannot legally use your design and we already have a team of experts in Denmark who spend all day dreaming up new designs and models and they are probably already working on something similar to your design.

Well, this all changed now that TLG made the Imperial Shuttle UCS, which was originally designed by a polish fan, and later adopted/modified slightly by TLG. This means that TLG can (and now have) purchased the rights to designs made by fans.

No, the real story is that it's just too much work to gather and screen entries sent in my fans. It just takes to much time. This is the same situation in all large corporations, where they will not even talk to inventors/designers approaching them if they do not have a patent. Besides most fans does not design with Lego Legal building principes, so the models had to be re-done by TLG anyway.

[Meatman]

That's too bad to hear that about Paul's Gallardo. It was very well done and did follow the Lego Laws. If you slap some new Lamborghini styled wheel covers on it, you have yourself a set that IMO could have come straight from TLC. If I could find one flaw, it would be that he used the older style gear rack for the steering instead of the new one. But I guess when he built it the new one wasn't out yet, was it?

Nico, that is great to hear that you have that many offers, that is very impressive! 700 Euro is about $900! WOW!

Crowkillers said...

Well, I got a response back from Lego and it was pretty much what I expected. Basically the automated - Your design would make a brilliant set, but unfortunately we cannot legally use your design and we already have a team of experts in Denmark who spend all day dreaming up new designs and models and they are probably already working on something similar to your design.

Oh well... I tried.

I find this part of the statement somewhat strange.

Edited July 21, 2010 by Meatman