Visit to the Lego Store

[Lego_Hero]

Hey y'all! I guess this is as good a place as any to post this, so let me tell you about my trip to the "Big D".

Dallas is about an hour and a half away, so we don't go there often. When my wife mentioned a cetain shopping center, I hastily volunteered to drive as it was not too far from the Lego Store in a near-by mall. After enduring hours of "Does this necklace go with what I have on?", I finally got to the Lego Store.

Unfortunately, they were just beginning a minifig building contest around the build-a-fig kiosk. There were two workers and two tables set up with several trays full of random minifig pieces. The object of the contest was to see who could build the most minifigs, complete with accessories, in one minute. As I am a rather obvious thirty-six year old man, I'm sure they wouldn't have let me participate anyway. I relegated myself to digging through the kiosk from the other side, but even with the contest going on, there were still children squeezing in front of me to get their own. I don't remember being that way as a kid, but I was pretty oblivious at times.

After the contest, I checked out the trays to see what parts were there. One of the workers directed me to the kiosk, but I told her there were different parts in the trays and asked her if I could make a quick dive before the contest started back up. She assured me, and the other worker joined in, that the parts were all the same in the trays and the kiosk. Had she never met an AFOL?

I showed her a ninja torso, a female pirate torso, a black fedora-style hat from the Indiana Jones theme, and an imperial torso from the Pirates line. None of these were currently in the kiosk. They checked to prove me wrong, but finally agreed to let me troll the trays. I came away with five torso I didn't have and some red legs that I needed. All in all, a great trip.

Has anyone had a similar experience with the build-a-fig kiosk? I was there six months ago and they had the exact same parts. If not for the contest, I wouldn't have seen any of the other parts. Is it bad form to ask the workers to see their stock?

[Stash2Sixx]

Heck No! You're the customer, ask away! The worst they can say is no. But most LEGO employees I know will do whatever they can to help out the customer.

[JCC1004]

My figure parts selection Cincinnati isn't very good. I was there at the Speed Building event with my kid brother and he participated and won. He did 22 in a minute. He did get one of the 3 pack of figures free and got to keep one he built. I was helping him find rare parts and they're wasn't much besides the black IJ fedoras. They only had a couple and we got them all. It was a bit of a surprise to see them there. That's really the only rare parts in there I've found. I have noticed now that all the parts are that cheap Chinese plastic that has plagued the LEGO world. At 10 bucks for three figures with common parts was already ridiculous but now with the cheap plastic it's even worse.

Best regards,

JCC

[Stash2Sixx]

He did 22 in a minute.

I'm gonna call you out on that one. One minifigure consisted of 5 parts at the store near me, and they were all supossed to be different figures. 22 huh?

I have noticed now that all the parts are that cheap Chinese plastic that has plagued the LEGO world. At 10 bucks for three figures with common parts was already ridiculous but now with the cheap plastic it's even worse.

Really, and the store near me has really good pieces. The new female torso with the Magenta ascot from the Grand Emporium, the red ninja torso, and the chef torso are just a few examples. None of those look like cheap parts. Nor do the ninja heads with the headband.

Ask the associates people.

[Ricecracker]

Really, and the store near me has really good pieces. The new female torso with the Magenta ascot from the Grand Emporium, the red ninja torso, and the chef torso are just a few examples. None of those look like cheap parts. Nor do the ninja heads with the headband.

Don't forget the Agents Robo Attack fig parts. Or were those just for the event? I didn't end up going to the store afterwards.

[Stash2Sixx]

Ah yes, the dotted sleeveless t-shirt, the spaceman on the white torso with green arms, the black fedora hats...all you gotta do is ask. Most any LEGO employee will run in back and grab a few of what you need.

[JCC1004]

I'm gonna call you out on that one. One minifigure consisted of 5 parts at the store near me, and they were all supossed to be different figures. 22 huh?

Mine was only 3, I was a bit surprised they didn't at least include a head gear. No one actually showed up for it, excluding my brother, just shoppers that happened to be there participated. There wan't much of a variety of parts so they're were duplicates.

Really, and the store near me has really good pieces. The new female torso with the Magenta ascot from the Grand Emporium, the red ninja torso, and the chef torso are just a few examples. None of those look like cheap parts. Nor do the ninja heads with the headband.

Ask the associates people.

Yes, the head, torso, and legs are cheap parts without a doubt. I couldn't tell easily with the other parts if they were cheap. My selection is mostly common city parts and some pirates. The best thing I found besides the black fedoras was a complete female citizen from Agents RoboAttack. I wish I had the selection you do.

Best regards,

JCC

[Scorpio]

Heck No! You're the customer, ask away! The worst they can say is no. But most LEGO employees I know will do whatever they can to help out the customer.

I completely agree with this statement. I can't count the number of times I have asked employees about the stock of certain parts or sets and they have always been helpful and kind.

[MrTools]

The selection of minifigs at the Columbus (OH) store is'nt very good either, the best I have found is the red ninja. Other than that it seems to be full of the old overall design. However I havent ever asked an employee about anything they may have in stock but once (I asked for a PM set on opening day and the employee gladly went in the back and looked for me) I may have to ask next time, all the employees here are very nice.