The Price You Pay

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Recently I watched the time run out on 10190 Market Street on eBay. The final sale price was $731 + $25 shipping. I am not kidding. That is insanely high. Even though it was MISB, 800% increase seems a crazy price to pay. I understand that if you can afford to, and/or you really want this set NIB. What I'd like to know is, has anyone spent a ridiculous amount for a retired/new set and what you did with it? I couldn't imagine opening it after spending that but, then again why else would you never build it. Also, what do think will happen to the prices of MISB of modulars when they are a decade old?

Please move topic if necessary.

[Lego Otaku]

UCS Millennium Falcon set, the biggest STar Wars set at pver 5,000 pieces usually sell in the $1000+ range MISB Also Lego set 10132, the only Hogwart Express tain with motor are going $600 and up.

There are some people who missed them when they were out at regular price but really wants em and would paif a high price for some. They are usually:

AFOL who came in the scene a few years later

Collector of specific set or themes

People who are nostalgic for older sets

Personally I don't buy them if they are out of production. I buy sets to play with them and I would pay a good price for some older sets that are open and complete but not for sealed box set. I know people would cry if I ripped open a MISB Airport Monorail set.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

I know people would cry if I ripped open a MISB Airport Monorail set.

That right there is what I don't fully understand. I guess it's just my personal preference but, if I am going to spend a lot on a single retired set, I definitely would build it. It would serve me no other purpose. I'd probably never make any money on resale if it was kept in a box.

I do buy retired sets but, only if they are not to high over their retail. I am big on the classic town sets produced when I was young and a bunch from the 80's. Even smaller sets can go big. Not classic but, the newer ambulance and the postal van get pricey on eBay. Buying Lego = buying stock?

[Trent]

I have to admit, I don't understand MISB collectors at all. I can understand buying a MISB set to build, and I can understand keeping a set MISB as an investment to sell on at a profit in the future - but I don't really understand buying a MISB off another collector just to hang onto it.

I suppose that they're just waiting for the profit to increase further? I couldn't look at it on the shelf, knowing that there's pieces inside that I could be building with!

[LEGO Guy Bri]

I suppose that they're just waiting for the profit to increase further? I couldn't look at it on the shelf, knowing that there's pieces inside that I could be building with!

I'm right there too, cannot leave them in the box. Though some also like having the boxes, I'm one but, They are going to be opened and sets built.

[Notorious Guf]

I've seen both the Cafe Corner & Market Street fetch near on AU$1000 & the Star Wars Millenium Falcon AU$1500. That to me is insane, although I do collect MISB sets & would love atleast the Cafe Corner.

I don't collect the MISB sets necessarily to make money at a later date, I actually find more pleasure looking at a MISB set & even just thinking about having them.

I usually buy sets thinking I will use them, but then can't bring myself to building them, or change plans on where I was going with my Lego Town & no longer want to build it. I certainly enjoyed building all the Lego Sets I have, however I sometimes feel a bit bummed afterwards when I know it is no longer MISB.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

I've seen both the Cafe Corner & Market Street fetch near on AU$1000 & the Star Wars Millenium Falcon AU$1500. That to me is insane, although I do collect MISB sets & would love atleast the Cafe Corner.

I usually buy sets thinking I will use them, but then can't bring myself to building them, or change plans on where I was going with my Lego Town & no longer want to build it. I certainly enjoyed building all the Lego Sets I have, however I sometimes feel a bit bummed afterwards when I know it is no longer MISB.

See I, personally, couldn't do that. I gotta build the model. I reseal the boxes to look new but, I won't pay $150 for a set to never open. I do keep MISB to resell later on, only if they are a duplicate. Those proceeds usually fund this expensive habit

[ManitobaMoe]

I have paid dearly for sets that i have wanted that were classic. I have paid premiums on a lot of my trains from the past. My last crazy purchase was road plates which i paid about $10 each (55 of them) to add to the town. I know i could have bought new ones cheaper but the old ones just look better

[Freddie]

A store in Oslo, that sells old sets and exclusives together with new sets, has 10190 Market Street, in MISB, for sale. The price is a whopping 6000 NOK, or roughly 1150 USD.(Yes, they keep it locked up in a display case.) Fair enough, the shop is a niche store, and sells LEGO next to RPGs, comics and mangas, but that price is still very, very high.

They also have a MISB 10182 Café Corner, for a lower price, for some reason.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

I have paid dearly for sets that i have wanted that were classic. I have paid premiums on a lot of my trains from the past. My last crazy purchase was road plates which i paid about $10 each (55 of them) to add to the town. I know i could have bought new ones cheaper but the old ones just look better

Yeah definitely the old ones. Solid dark bley is only good for 'downtown' streets. I was lucky, I grew up in the 90's and was big on the sets from 1995-98. Possibly the best years of 9v, so my parents bought me re-release of the Metro and the "Hornet" as well as other RR sets (stations, rail crane, etc) Still looking for a good deal on 4565 Freight Railway. Won a second metro w/ club car for $200 and another "Hornet" for $112 back in Dec-Jan. I just keep missing this set when it goes for cheap...

A store in Oslo, that sells old sets and exclusives together with new sets, has 10190 Market Street, in MISB, for sale. The price is a whopping 6000 NOK, or roughly 1150 USD.

They also have a MISB 10182 Café Corner, for a lower price, for some reason.

That is definitely top dollar. I to am perplexed as to why Market St. has been selling higher than Cafe Corner. Size not matter? Or was Market St discontinued first? I wasn't buying Lego at that time.

Edited May 1, 2011 by Leg Godt Gud

[Jargo]

speculators annoy the hell out of me. It's like holding Lego to ransom. Luckily there are decent people out there who are sane and fair minded who don't behave so dubiously but they are few and far between.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

speculators annoy the hell out of me. It's like holding Lego to ransom. Luckily there are decent people out there who are sane and fair minded who don't behave so dubiously but they are few and far between.

They have it.. We want it. Been like that since the beginning. I see a guys collection of near mint late 60's early 70's collection at least once a month. Bid price starts low but, you better check the shipping before bidding When I sell sets, I start low and let those who want it bid what they're willing to pay. No reserve, no $300 starting bid.

[Brickdoctor]

I couldn't look at it on the shelf, knowing that there's pieces inside that I could be building with!

Same here.

I personally could never keep big MISB sets. For that reason and because I'd never be able to force myself to part with it anyways when the price does hit outrageous.

[Vindicare]

I paid a bit over retail for most of my forest men and ninja sets. I actually got a few ninja set still sealed, but I did open them.

Edited May 2, 2011 by Legocrazy81

[LEGO Guy Bri]

I paid a bit over retail for most of my forest men and ninja sets. I actually got a few ninja set still sealed, but I did open them.

That is something I don't mind to much. If it's for a specific minifig or a small set I will pay a little extra. Nothing stays sealed unless its intended for resale.

Edited May 2, 2011 by Leg Godt Gud

[Ghandidcm]

In January 2011 I came out of my Dark Age and started buying Modular sets (buildings). Now I already have the GE, FB and the GG. The price I had to pay for the GG was 230,- EURO.

It would be nice to buy the CC and MS, but I don't want to buy them for more than 250 EURO. So in the end, I don't think I will get them!

[fred67]

I wouldn't pay that much for MISB... I will go for used/complete because if I'm buying an older set it's something I really want that I missed and I want it for me.

That said, I have spend somewhat more than MSRP for older MISB sets because they weren't that outrageous (never more than 25% more, and only for lesser sets). I've spent a great deal of time (and much less money) buying parts to build some of the sets I've missed rather than pay outrageous prices.

But I'm a big collector, and I have a lot of unopened sets because I bought ones I didn't want to miss out on, but don't really have the space to properly display them all. Neatly tucked away in closets and other storage areas so that I don't look like someone on Hoarders, some of the sets I bought with every intention to build have increased dramatically in price. So now I'm not sure what to do.

My prime example is the 4504 Millennium Falcon. I paid $75 (maybe $80, I forget) during a Black Friday sale. I have no place to put it, since it takes up such a wide area (I also got a 2004 AT-AT walker on BF sale, but that actually fits on a shelf, so I built that one).

Now the 4504, MISB, is $400 minimum on North America on Bricklink. Don't get me wrong... I like the set, but when I finally have space to build it, how much more LEGO could I buy with $400? Two new modular buildings and then some!

I have this issue with a number of sets... if I have space to build it, I build it. Otherwise it goes in the closet - not because I'm "speculating," I mean, I was barely out of my dark ages at the time, and I was more into trains - but being a big Star Wars fan (I was 10 when Star Wars came out - the perfect age, IMO), when I saw them on sale I couldn't resist. It's been like that ever since... sometimes I make room to build something, but when it comes to the MF, it just takes up so much desk space (and wouldn't fit on a shelf less than 14 inches deep, I'd imagine, even with a huge portion of it hanging off), I just kept it, waiting for an opportunity.

So - I don't understand why people want MISB when they can get a complete set they missed for so much less, but I don't care - if someone's willing to pay me that much for it, and then I can buy several times the amount of newer LEGO for me, then fine.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

I wouldn't pay that much for MISB... I will go for used/complete because if I'm buying an older set it's something I really want that I missed and I want it for me.

That said, I have spend somewhat more than MSRP for older MISB sets because they weren't that outrageous. I've spent a great deal of time (and much less money) buying parts to build some of the sets I've missed rather than pay outrageous prices. But I'm a big collector, and I have a lot of unopened sets because I bought ones I didn't want to miss out on, but don't really have the space to properly display them all. Neatly tucked away in closets and other storage areas, some of the sets I bought with every intention to build have increased dramatically in price. So now I'm not sure what to do.

So - I don't understand why people want MISB when they can get a complete set they missed for so much less, but I don't care - if someone's willing to pay me that much for it, and then I can buy several times the amount of newer LEGO for me, then fine.

I paid a bit over RRP for many sets when I emerged out of my dark age in 09'. It took a bit to familiarize myself with the original cost vs. what it went for on eBay. I got the hang of it now and do the exact same, buying and saving sets with full intention of building. Keeping them NIB or in plastic container in the attic. I also have invested in small separate stock pile of sets that will eventually be retired. I know that annoys some but, those who spend way over RRP for a set aren't going away anytime soon. And if you're like me, needing sell my stuff to afford Lego, doing this works. This is a necessity for me, as I do not want a second job. I am a 9V train fan. So for that I average $25-$40 per 8 straight. Same goes for old road plates, $6-$10 per plate. These are the only things I will buy at their high prices.

As 'Lego Otaku' said, some people like the nostalgia of collecting older sets. Where MISB comes in, seems to confuse most of us... Spending hundreds over RRP for a set and then... open or keep sealed but, then why? Are there collectors that like there sets MISB or just HAVE to open the set themselves. No judging, thats your business. If I could afford it, I admit , I would buy only MISB. Washing/scrubbing pieces with a toothbrush or restoring yellowed pieces is VERY time consuming. Aside from that I am very particular about the sets I buy to keep. I like everything looking near mint. Just my preference

'Ghandidcm': It's a pity you returned to late to get the CC or MS and unfortunate you had to pay so high for the GG. I barley got in on time to get the GG, still in it package but, no box. I bought it after seeing the high prices of the recently retired CC & MS. I had intentions of holding it to resell without having the first two. I was lucky and caught a helluva deal though. I bought them from a gent online. I thought I'd never be able to get those and was not willing to spend much over RRP.

I do want the 6399 Monorail and that rarely goes for under $300. I am not so sure I will be getting that after factoring in all the new city sets coming out

Edited May 2, 2011 by Leg Godt Gud

[Ghandidcm]

'Ghandidcm': It's a pity you returned to late to get the CC or MS and unfortunate you had to pay so high for the GG. I barley got in on time to get the GG, still in it package but, no box. I bought it after seeing the high prices of the recently retired CC & MS. I had intentions of holding it to resell without having the first two. I was lucky and caught a helluva deal though. I bought them from a gent online. I thought I'd never be able to get those and was not willing to spend much over RRP.

Then there is still hope for me! and maybe I will just wait until I win the lottery

[Zeya]

What I'd like to know is, has anyone spent a ridiculous amount for a retired/new set and what you did with it?

I bought a copy of the 2009 Pirates theme set Soldiers' Fort after it was discontinued. I came out of my dark age a little late, and really wanted to get all of the 2009 pirates sets. I couldn't find anyone selling used copies of that particular set. I paid probably 1.5 times its MSRP. I dug around the internet to various vendors, and they all pretty much had the same price. I was actually trying to find a used (but complete) copy of the set, to save money, because I intended to open and build it, which is exactly what I did. But I couldn't find any used sets, or rather there would be about one per week on eBay, but it would always get bid up to the level of a fresh MISB copy, making it not worth it to bother bidding on it.

All in all, I would say it was barely worth it in this case. The extra $30 or so that I paid left a sour taste in my mouth; it made me wonder why I bothered. But for some reason I seem to feel the need to be a completionist and collect all the theme's sets, and I figured I had better buy it sooner than later or risk buying the set at 3x the cost or more, or facing a real hassle trying to find a seller at all. I have to say this is probably the last time I do anything like this (buying a retired set).

One set that I've had my eye on is that Holiday Train (10173). I was in my dark age there too, and I love the winter (Christmas but they don't call it that) line of sets. This was sort of the first one, and I guess it sold like gangbusters. You can't even find one to buy on BL anymore. Every once in a while someone comes out of the woodwork with a boxed copy or two and sells them at exorbitant prices, no problem. (EDIT: Okay looks like there are about 12 sellers with that set right now, so maybe I"m exaggerating.) It's always very interesting to me. If I had extra money or storage space, I might try my hand at stockpiling and re-selling like that, just for kicks.

Edited May 2, 2011 by Zeya

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Then there is still hope for me! and maybe I will just wait until I win the lottery

Thats the spirit! Best of luck

I bought a copy of the 2009 Pirates 1.5 times its MSRP. All in all, I would say it was barely worth it in this case. The extra $30 or so that I paid left a sour taste in my mouth; it made me wonder why I bothered. But for some reason I seem to feel the need to be a completionist and collect all the theme's sets, and I figured I had better buy it sooner than later or risk buying the set at 3x the cost or more, or facing a real hassle trying to find a seller at all. I have to say this is probably the last time I do anything like this (buying a retired set).

One set that I've had my eye on is that Holiday Train (10173). Every once in a while someone comes out of the woodwork with a boxed copy or two and sells them at exorbitant prices, no problem. (EDIT: Okay looks like there are about 12 sellers with that set right now, so maybe I"m exaggerating.) It's always very interesting to me. If I had extra money or storage space, I might try my hand at stockpiling and re-selling like that, just for kicks.

An extra $30 is pretty bad but, then again if you're trying to complete a Pirate collection, I can see problems in seeing sets. Its seems everyone and their cousin are selling city sets, which keeps bids relatively lower... on most sets. Most of the high dollar are obviously the bigger retired sets but, that goes with most of the popular themes.

I too have been looking for the Holiday Train for the tree. I suppose I just want a train under my tree but, Lego made on so... I'd like that one I saw one on the Bay that sold for a little over $110. That is about the max I'd pay. Totally missed it Lately they are pushing $150. Not sure why so many would want to sell them now instead of shortly before the holidays. Figure they would fetch more then.

BTW has anyone looked for Lego on one of those penny bid sites like Quibids.com?

Edited May 2, 2011 by Leg Godt Gud

[fred67]

I ended up building the Holiday Train from my own collection of train bits and buying the pieces on BL. It really wasn't that bad.... a lot less than what people wanted for the set. It helps that I've amassed a substantial amount of train parts over the years (built my own Sante Fe cars instead of paying the exorbitant prices, too). They are not quite exact, but close enough for me.

So... when the prices get really outrageous, there's always that route. I only missed the first modular, Market Street. I don't think it's all that great to begin with, so I haven't really missed it, but I occasionally consider building it from parts... I think it'd be substantially less than a new (or even used) set.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

I ended up building the Holiday Train from my own collection of train bits and buying the pieces on BL. It really wasn't that bad.... a lot less than what people wanted for the set. It helps that I've amassed a substantial amount of train parts over the years (built my own Sante Fe cars instead of paying the exorbitant prices, too). They are not quite exact, but close enough for me.

So... when the prices get really outrageous, there's always that route. I only missed the first modular, Market Street. I don't think it's all that great to begin with, so I haven't really missed it, but I occasionally consider building it from parts... I think it'd be substantially less than a new (or even used) set.

Definitely a valid route,. Can't believe you built those cars and Holiday Train from stock piles! Where you able to use the light gray trucks for them? I know those are expensive alone. Unfortunately I am slowly rebuilding assorted bricks and modified elements (I don't break sets up). Building large scale Lego models maybe a ways off. I do however take another road, buying incomplete sets for low and BLing the missing/wrong pieces.

My latest is 10016 MOT Tanker Car I purchased on eBay for $15. It was a complete set but, has many wrong colored pieces and no instructions. I'm pretty sure it was a just a MOC. I've spent maybe and additional $5-6 bucks + a few on shipping for the rest. The most expensive parts where the 8 green 4x4 rond corner plate pieces which have to come overseas. They weren't too bad. So $21 for a car that averages $35+ on eBay. I still won't have the instructions because they are about $16 on BL. All in all, its a good alternative for getting expensive small sets for low.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Leg Godt Gud

[Legoist]

Recently I watched the time run out on 10190 Market Street on eBay. The final sale price was $731 + $25 shipping. I am not kidding. That is insanely high. Even though it was MISB, 800% increase seems a crazy price to pay.

Yes that's crazy. That's what happens when people get too much into collecting something. If they have a lot of money then fine, but if they don't, they seriously need a shrink.

On the other hand... when you see something strange on eBay, check the buyer's and seller's records. It might be a case of fake transaction i.e. 2-3 friends pretending to sell stuff to each other to boost their feedback - I've seen people selling a single, totally common Lego brick for 1$ (still something you wouldn't pay for a single 1x1 tile for instance), then repeat with one hundred more bricks, then buying them back from the buyer... If the price is outrageously high instead, it might even be a case of moneylaundering.

I understand that if you can afford to, and/or you really want this set NIB. What I'd like to know is, has anyone spent a ridiculous amount for a retired/new set and what you did with it? I couldn't imagine opening it after spending that but, then again why else would you never build it.

Either way, someone spending such a ridiculous sum will probably feel quite stupid afterwards. He will then proceed with the usual denial techniques to bury his guilt. It's quite similar to shopping-compulsive disorders.

Also, what do think will happen to the prices of MISB of modulars when they are a decade old?

On a global scale, they will reach some limit, probably asymptotically, or anyway the price increase gets smaller and smaller. One thing to keep in mind is that the "real price" is what is paid in an actual deal, not a price tag chosen by the seller. If someone remains with the last copy on earth of set XXX, it doesn't matter if he asks a million $ or a billion $ until someone pays that sum for it.

So if you take a look at BrickLink prices for example, you'll agree that MISB sets are outrageously expensive, but only a tiny % of those on sale on BL actually gets sold, the rest remains there for years with their ridiculous price tags (or alternatively they are exchanged between 2 sellers so that they look sold for lots of $ but no money actually exchanged hands).

The risk is that the more time passes, the more valuable your old stashed set seems to become, but at the same time the more LEGO sets are produced, and they are actually newer and better. At some point, customers who spend a lot on an 80s MISB set will be past their nostalgia age, and the youngers may not have any interest in something too old to light memories. At that point, the sellers probably won't accept decreasing their prices out of pride, and overpriced older sets will simply remain unsold.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Legoist

[fred67]

Definitely a valid route,. Can't believe you built those cars and Holiday Train from stock piles! Where you able to use the light gray trucks for them?

It's packed away right now (obivously... built them last October for Christmas, and now packed away), but I'll take them out and see if I can't upload some pictures. The only really notable differences are the presents (mine are better, I think).

We're talking about 10173, right? Released on 2006? All black trucks/wheels, according to BL; I used the inventory on BL to create a wanted list and then removed everything I already had, piece by piece... there's very little gray.

[for set 10016 MOT Tanker]... I still won't have the instructions because they are about $16 on BL. All in all, its a good alternative for getting expensive small sets for low.

I don't worry about printed instructions when you can get PDFs right from LEGO.com (10016 is there... so is 10173). It doesn't matter to me there's not set of instructions in my big box full of instructions that I've saved... they're saved on my computer.