Any reason for Pick-A-Brick online over Bricklink?

[Iysk]

I'm guessing for VIP awards. I'm debating for one or the other in the near future to build a whale, and was wondering what items on S@H are predominantly black and white.

[Scorpio]

The deciding factor is money and availability. I usually check both sites to see what would be cheaper for the quantity that I need. An example for me was 2x2 dark bley tile. I needed it for sidewalks on my brick build roads. Bricklink was actually more expensive than buying direct from Lego. So my advice would be to invest a little time by shopping around.

[fred67]

I agree with DHCP1121, and I often repeat it here. Not only do I find the odd item here and there cheaper on PAB, but often times for "rare" pieces, BL sellers will only have one or two when I need more than that - and so single shipping from S@H is cheaper. Also, when buying many of a certain item, often enough no BL seller will have the quantity you want - you'll find really good prices from sellers that have very few, and prices go higher in quantity, occasionally surpassing PAB, making PAB more worthwhile.

I actually buy from PAB quite often... depending on what I want, I find it frustrating sometimes to have to make three or four orders when for a couple dollars more I can get it all from PAB and not have to deal with BL sellers... they're usually quite good, but I have enough problems (short orders, long delays in invoicing/shipping) that sometimes I just say "screw it" and buy from S@H when I'm buying other S@H items as well.

Ultimately you have to weigh in the time and cost, and BL is almost always cheaper. But only "almost." Which makes me laugh, because I just finished watching Apocalypto (if you've seen it and remember it at all, you'll get the joke).

[Tobbe Arnesson]

I'm planning a MOC that will need 19 different kinds of Light Bluish Gray plates in a total of close to 3600 plates.

I made the MOC in LDD, the built in price calculator quotes me €753. All the plates from PaB would be €476 and if I went with the cheapest European stores at BrickLink the price is down to €208 (shipping not included in any price).

Of course that would mean a lot of different orders from BrickLink since not all stores have all kinds of bricks, and some bricks don't even exist in the right quantities in one single shop (in Europe).

But we have to remember that Light Bluish Gray plates are very common, i.e. lower price on BL.

[SilentMode]

Besides VIP points...

• quantity available - I wanted over 100 2x2 tiles in a certain colour way back, and none of the BL sellers had that many (at an affordable price);
  
• guaranteed new parts;
  
• they're less expensive than BL for certain parts, such as 2x2 tiles, in some cases;
  
• you know roughly when they'll arrive! Although delivery is comparatively slow from Lego, some BL sellers take the cake - especially when you see how fast they invoice buyers.
  

[Jargo]

Bulk basic bricks - PAB

Unusual or older parts, odd colours, variety, fun experience, surprise bargains, voyage of discovery - BL

[dr_spock]

Customer service. Lego has yet to mess up my PAB orders.

Bricklink varies from seller to seller.

[AhabDarab]

Prices can vary. Most times prices are cheaper on bricklink, but not always. Quantity and quality also give the nod to the online pick-a-brick.

As with anything else, doing your homework will pay off in the long run.

Ahab out............

[Iysk]

Alright, I'll put up what I want on PAB and see the cost, and post it here and hopefully someone can tell me if it's worth ordering off there.

Also, is there a way to see what bricks were used in LDD and see them on PAB other than deconstructing the creation? Like uploading it? I know there's one for bricklink.

Edited January 19, 2011 by Iysk

[Brickdoctor]

Also, is there a way to see what bricks were used in LDD and see them on PAB other than deconstructing the creation? Like uploading it? I know there's one for bricklink.

Yep. See here.

[Iysk]

^ Thank you sir.

I looked on PAB, and only did about the 1/6th of the pieces I needed and it totaled to 46ish (about 68 pieces) without spares or extras in case of modification. Most were slopes, roofs, inverted bricks, or SNOT pieces. To bricklink?

[Iysk]

Prices can vary. Most times prices are cheaper on bricklink, but not always. Quantity and quality also give the nod to the online pick-a-brick.

As with anything else, doing your homework will pay off in the long run.

Ahab out............

Sorry to bump this topic, but I was looking at plates and found if you put in '8x16' under the part title, there's one that's new and one that's about half the price. http://shop.lego.com/pab/

Also, say I want to build a modular home from scratch or something like this:

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=54589

Would it be more cost effective to go on bricklink, PAB, or buy a modular set and reform it (hence giving up the scratch part).

[Dazmundo]

if you put in '8x16' under the part title, there's one that's new and one that's about half the price. http://shop.lego.com/pab/

They are two different shades of green.

D

[Aanchir]

They are two different shades of green.

D

Also, the reason for the price discrepancy is that one's a brick and one's a plate. The larger and heavier one obviously costs more.

[Fiction]

the title of this thread suits my question so i thot id post an add on question, after looking at bricklink prices, for new, sealed in box Imperial Flagship, ive seen several for around $60.00 cheaper than on S@H, can these sets be trusted? how can so many sellers offer the product for that much less than what lego sells them for? maybe im missing something ovbious, but seems even with shipping i can get a NIB 10210 for a good amount less than thru lego themselves

just wondering, maybe they got it on a deal and are reselling?

*shrugs*

any thoughts?

[Superkalle]

I agree with SilentMode - "new parts".

This is mostly important when building like a big single colored brick wall or so. Even if you buy new bricks from BrickLink, you could be getting a mix of bricks made years ago and recently produce ones. And we all know about the color variation problems that TGL have had.

Now I know it's not a guarantee you'll get the same color shade in all different brick sizes, but a least the likelihood increases.

[fred67]

And we all know about the color variation problems that TGL have had.

I was recently at a LEGO Store buying from the PAB wall; they had brown 1x tiles, so I was putting them together to maximize space (of course). The color variations were so bad I had to point it out to some of the employees. We were all a bit shocked.

But what you said is, by and large, accurate - your chances are certainly better buying that way.