Where i can find MANY bricks?

[FabuFabu]

Hello guys,

i know you read this question maybe 1000 times... but, what is the best way to buy lego bricks?

i mean, i saw many of your fantastic galleries... how do you find so many pieces to build those huge buildings?

i know is possible to buy from lego site... but the price for the bricks is very high!

i saw also the box with over 1000 pieces for 44 euros here in italy... this is a better price, but is it the best way to have bricks?

please give me your advices!

thanks!

[fred67]

One of the reasons I hate buckets is the same reason I never really got into LEGO as a kid as much as I do now....

I don't want a red, yellow, blue and green building... so I'm not really partial to the big buckets where price per brick is relatively cheap because it doesn't help me unless I want to build a blue Empire State Building. Maybe I just have no imagination.

There is a seller on BL who sells 2x4 bricks in large volume at better than PAB prices. In fact, doing the math it seems like he got boxes at the LEGO store and is reselling them for a small (very reasonable) profit.

But the answer for me is the LEGO Store, if you have one nearby. The selection is limited, but you have to remember that many of us have been doing this for years, and continuously check our LEGO stores to see what new pieces they put on the PAB wall. If it's a piece I want a LOT of, I ask to buy a box (or two).

Keep an eye out on bricklink. My most numerous piece (1x2 white) I got several years ago when I saw a seller selling them for $0.019 each. I bought several thousand, complemented by fewer 1x1 white and black and 1x2 black, which were slightly more ($0.029).

Lucky timing, maybe, I don't see prices like that anymore.

[meyerc13]

My collection is still very much in its infancy, but I can share a few things that have worked for me.

First and foremost, I've found that using Lego Digital Designer is a great way to build when you don't have the pieces to bring your creation to life. However, you need to be careful, because sometimes what looks good on screen won't quite work in real life, and sometimes it is the other way around too. I like to build vehicles, and sometimes a vehicle will look great, but then I find out that a minifig won't fit because the roof is too low. To avoid problems like that it is useful to have the parts to do a proof of concept, even if they are the wrong colors.

To build my collection, first I started off with a few of the large brick boxes just to get a good selection of basic bricks in standard colors. Then, whenever I've been near a LEGO store (the closest are 5+ hours away), I use the pick-a-brick wall to get parts that could be useful. Examples are wheels, tires, windshields, cabinets.

When I find a great vehicle in the City line, I'll generally pick up 2-3 extras of the set just for parts. For example, if you want to build fire trucks pick up extras of the fire trucks to use for extra parts. If you want to build police cars, pick up extras of the police sets. Sometimes sets aren't even obvious... I saw the white/lime camper turned into an ambulance, so look beyond the assembled set to consider how the parts could be used.

Early on I tried picking up some used lots on ebay, but the quality was hit or miss. I've found it to be too much work to clean used LEGO, so I try to stick with new whenever possible.

One problem I always have is a lack of plates. Again, the pick-a-brick is one source I've used, as well as Creator sets and clearanced sets in themes I don't collect. For example, I've picked up some Toy Story sets strictly for the parts. You'll find that it takes practice to look beyond the assembled photo on the cover of the box to see the parts that are used in the assembled model. Bricklink also helps if you want to check the detailed inventory.

When my kids got into Kingdoms, I wanted to do some MOCs for Kingdoms but didn't have many gray and brown bricks. The Pick-a-brick wall was useful for this, especially using the free box I received for spending $75 prior to Christmas. A square box is perfect for picking up basic bricks. Some sets in other lines like PotC, Harry Potter, and Toy Story also have a good selection of bricks in these colors.

Hopefully this helps give you some ideas, but you can build a collection slowly over time like I'm doing by using some or all of these methods.

I'm now at the point where I probably need to order some parts off of Bricklink, mostly because I don't have the right colors and to get the colors of the parts I'd want would require purchasing expensive sets to get just a few parts.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

You can learn to use a digital cad for your projects (personally I use MLCad), and then buy your lego on ebay or bricklink.

[L@go]

...and since you're a newbie and probably don't know what 'BL' or 'Bricklink' means, I'll explain it to you:

BrickLink (www.bricklink.com) is a network of Lego sellers. You go there to buy lots of bricks or just the few you need to complete a creation. Give it a go, and you'll find out everything (and find everything) you need. There's a Help section, a forum and a chatroom, should you have any questions.

Good luck! :)

[lightningtiger]

Creator house sets are usually good value for money if you need building supplies for say, buildings.

Likewise, buying city sets on clearance or just on special helps as well. Plus Bricklink is what many on EB use.....I don't need to I just go to Toy Corner and stock up when needed !

Good luck 'Fabufabu' and Brick On !

[mrblue]

I used to buy from lego s@h, but after finding bricklink, my life changed! there are many stores in italy that have really cheap prices and they are all managed by really nice people! try some of them, you'll not be disappointed.

also stores outside italy may be good (I buy mainly from italy and germany, but sometimes from US), but sometimes the shipment cost may lower the good price a bit, and also, don't forget that italian customs (almost always) charge an import tax that can even make some shipment more expensive than lego s@h, but if you need some particular brick, well, you have no choice!

have a nice lego day

mrBlue

[FabuFabu]

Thanks for your answers :)

Unfortunally there are not Lego Stores in Italy,

but i will try some of the others way ;)

im happy also that there are others italians here ;)

[Zeon]

Thanks for your answers :)

Unfortunally there are not Lego Stores in Italy,

but i will try some of the others way ;)

im happy also that there are others italians here ;)

I guess mrblue was referring to the italian BL stores: http://www.bricklink.com/browseStores.asp?countryID=IT&groupState=Y

If you want to browse, it's a good to start with stores with big stock (the number of bricks listed in each shop is next to it's name), like this one is quite big: Mattoncini-Mania - 613,258

If you have special needs, it's a good idea to build your own "wish list" in BL: http://www.bricklink.com/wantedAdd.asp then you can search stores that has most of the parts you need. (BL will even filter the wanted bricks for you.) Important to know that there are softwares that you can manage this wish list, even ones that can import bricks from your digitally designed models.

[Sered]

I guess mrblue was referring to the italian BL stores: http://www.bricklink.com/browseStores.asp?countryID=IT&groupState=Y

If you want to browse, it's a good to start with stores with big stock (the number of bricks listed in each shop is next to it's name), like this one is quite big: Mattoncini-Mania - 613,258

If you have special needs, it's a good idea to build your own "wish list" in BL: http://www.bricklink.com/wantedAdd.asp then you can search stores that has most of the parts you need. (BL will even filter the wanted bricks for you.) Important to know that there are softwares that you can manage this wish list, even ones that can import bricks from your digitally designed models.

Mattoncini-Mania is one of the best store in Italy. I always buy from him.

Unfortunately there's no Lego Store in Italy so we can't buy brick at Pab, that's really sad. The only way is bricklink or ebay...

FabuFabu and mrblue, do you know ITLug? Come to visit us :) ITLug

[Peppermint_M]

This is better suited to General Discussion. I shall move it over there!

[dragunov]

One word, cracklinkBricklink my friend

[Hinckley]

Hello guys,

i know you read this question maybe 1000 times... but, what is the best way to buy lego bricks?

i mean, i saw many of your fantastic galleries... how do you find so many pieces to build those huge buildings?

i know is possible to buy from lego site... but the price for the bricks is very high!

i saw also the box with over 1000 pieces for 44 euros here in italy... this is a better price, but is it the best way to have bricks?

please give me your advices!

thanks!

Please refer to the site guidelines and tutorials in my signature. We would like you to use proper spelling and grammar on our site. Please capitalize the beginnings of sentences, countries, names and the word "I." This site is not a cell phone. Thank you.

[Lego Otaku]

If you were in USA< it's so much easier to get bulk bricks. Craig's List sometimes have cheap Lego. local yard sale do have them but they are usually gone within the first hour. And if you're willing to spend a few hundred dollars, eBay bulk lot (used mainly) can be had. I recently picked up a 60+ lbs (around 28Kg) lot of mixed used Lego for only $360 shipped, and last year I snagged a nearly 100 lbs (about 45Kg) for only $400, and it had a near complete red Monorail train in the box =) The missing pieces are probably still in the box, I haven't gone through em all yet.

Shipping to Italy isn't going to be cheap unfortunately but check eBay for Italy and nearby European countries, maybe you'd get lucky.

[AwesomeTaylor]

One word, cracklinkBricklink my friend

I think you had it right the first time - almost $4k spent on there since January

[FabuFabu]

Please refer to the site guidelines and tutorials in my signature. We would like you to use proper spelling and grammar on our site. Please capitalize the beginnings of sentences, countries, names and the word "I." This site is not a cell phone. Thank you.

I'm sorry, i didn't know about this rule.

I don't write as a cellphone, you don't need to be so angry or aggressive. I'm an adult person and in those days i always been kind and educated. If there is something to correct in me, you just have to ask kindly, and wait until i understand the rules.

And for my english, i'm sorry but i'm not english, or american or australian, so my english is not perfect.

[Legoless]

Wonder if Lego will ever produce an AFOL selection pack in neutral colours- like their standard brick buckets (or cardboard carton equivalents) but in colours that AFOLs prefer for architectural MOCs- eg brick red, tan, sand, etc? Would probably be a good seller on S@H if it was sufficiently good value. Obviously such a selection would not provide for all needs but would make for a good stockpile source for commontly used bricks.

Perhaps even selection packs that contained only one colour?

[Haltiamieli]

Perhaps even selection packs that contained only one colour?

A bucket full of bley or dark bley bricks and plates, now that would be something indeed! Wouldn't object to tan etc. buckets either.

[fred67]

Wonder if Lego will ever produce an AFOL selection pack in neutral colours- like their standard brick buckets (or cardboard carton equivalents) but in colours that AFOLs prefer for architectural MOCs- eg brick red, tan, sand, etc? Would probably be a good seller on S@H if it was sufficiently good value. Obviously such a selection would not provide for all needs but would make for a good stockpile source for commontly used bricks.

Perhaps even selection packs that contained only one colour?

Well... TLG is a capitalistic, profit driven company. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it does mean that they are going to do what they believe is most profitable.

So would your way be more profitable to TLG? As it is right now, you have no choice if you want LEGO... sure, there are compatible clone bricks, but they really aren't comparable, so TLG has an effective monopoly. Even if you disagree, there are no clone brands offering what you want (AFAIK), so TLG has no incentive.

I would point out two interesting things about this suggestion:

1. They used to sell items this way... see this category on BL as an example; you could buy boxes of specific colors. 1996 was the last year I see they released packs of single color bricks... This is when the company was on the downhill slide, so they may be gun-shy about sets like these. If you sort by year/descending, you will see it's been a long time.

More recently you've been able to get other building elements... roof tiles (I've NEVER, to date, actually seen these available, though), and building plates in single colors (another BL link). I managed to get a couple of light and dark gray ones around six years ago. I didn't even know they released a set of black ones in 2009... I'll have to check it out.

However, the are not selling the interesting building colors, and they are not selling bricks this way.

2. No other companies do this, AFAIK. Even if it's MB... they had an interesting castle/stone brick.... I'd be all over that if I could buy it in bulk, but even they didn't offer that in bulk (again, AFAIK). In other words, even if there's competition, there's no competition to make TLG want to sell bricks that way again, least of all in the interesting colors. But to add to your "wish," granting that this is just more of a "wish list" (although I don't want this to get off topic), I would love for LEGO to produce such bricks, from 1x1 to 2x4... but then they'd be the ones copying MB!!! So this will, sadly, never happen even if they knew it to be a good idea.

[Legoless]

Well... TLG is a capitalistic, profit driven company. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it does mean that they are going to do what they believe is most profitable.

So would your way be more profitable to TLG? As it is right now, you have no choice if you want LEGO... sure, there are compatible clone bricks, but they really aren't comparable, so TLG has an effective monopoly. Even if you disagree, there are no clone brands offering what you want (AFAIK), so TLG has no incentive.

I would point out two interesting things about this suggestion:

1. They used to sell items this way... see this category on BL as an example; you could buy boxes of specific colors. 1996 was the last year I see they released packs of single color bricks... This is when the company was on the downhill slide, so they may be gun-shy about sets like these. If you sort by year/descending, you will see it's been a long time.

More recently you've been able to get other building elements... roof tiles (I've NEVER, to date, actually seen these available, though), and building plates in single colors (another BL link). I managed to get a couple of light and dark gray ones around six years ago. I didn't even know they released a set of black ones in 2009... I'll have to check it out.

However, the are not selling the interesting building colors, and they are not selling bricks this way.

2. No other companies do this, AFAIK. Even if it's MB... they had an interesting castle/stone brick.... I'd be all over that if I could buy it in bulk, but even they didn't offer that in bulk (again, AFAIK). In other words, even if there's competition, there's no competition to make TLG want to sell bricks that way again, least of all in the interesting colors. But to add to your "wish," granting that this is just more of a "wish list" (although I don't want this to get off topic), I would love for LEGO to produce such bricks, from 1x1 to 2x4... but then they'd be the ones copying MB!!! So this will, sadly, never happen even if they knew it to be a good idea.

That may well be the case, but perhaps (he suggests naively) nobody has ever put forward such a proposal to the right person. I'm sure such selection sets would outsell other limited edition S@H products such as the Architectural line- and the economies of scale would pretty much guarantee a profit even if such items were cheaper than PaB- a line which would be complimentary to such selection packs as, of course, AFOLs are always going to want certain elements not included, or in insufficient quantities. It would give TLG a better crack at the AFOL market rather than seeing them go to Bricklink to source those items (although I'm sure TLG recognises that its relationship with Bricklink is essentially a symbiotic one).

No other companies do this- true, but then even MegaBloks don't have anything like the following that Lego does.

Lego does understand the business sense in catering to the AFOL community- after all, many sets contain elements in certain colours because they know that AFOLs will buy those sets for that very reason- which means that even if those sets get a lukewarm response sales-wise from their intended demographic (ie kids or their purchasing parents) then they will still get a return from those AFOLs who want, say, a quantity of purple 2x2 tiles- even if the AFOLs wait for the item to be remaindered they've still sold the sets to the stores and got their money. Possibly one of many reasons why Lego employs AFOLs to design sets rather than your average industrial designer.

Edited May 5, 2011 by Legoless

[fred67]

Well, to make a long post short, the "dirty little secret" about TLG (it's not really a secret, and it's not really dirty, actually), is that they have a target profit margin.

In fact, while we're belittling "big oil" for their profits, their profit margins are, based on my simple analysis and things I've read about TLG profits, less than half of what TLG's profit margins are.

That doesn't mean I don't like TLG... I love TLG! But I don't see them doing me any favors by making it cheaper and easier for me to obtain large volumes of bricks that I'd be spending a lot more on otherwise.

I would also throw out there that their strategy of limited production with high profit margins (as opposed to saturating the market with bulk bricks and making up profits from lower margins by higher volume) has helped them sail through a global recession pretty much unscathed. In their approach, if sales slow, they are still making good profits. With lower margins and high volume, if sales slow, they could lose a lot of money.

I don't belittle them their strategy, but I acknowledge it sucks for us.

It's one of those things where, if they sold it, I'd buy it - I'd sign a petition for it, I'd prepay for it... I just don't see it happening in any significant kind of way.

They also rely on the fact that AFOLs and bricklink stores are buying complete sets just for a few pieces. If they haven't enumerated this as one of their income streams yet, they are just turning a blind eye and pretending it's not happening so they can take the high road when claiming their market is not AFOLs. I don't think they'd want to damage that revenue stream by making it easier for us to buy just what we want (same reason they won't stop selling CMFs blind).

[marsu211]

Hi,

Very interesting.

Basically I had the same question at the begining.

I'm buying all my Lego parts from BL since many years and spent an average of $500 - $1500/month since. It's becoming an expensive hobby being an AFOL.

I've read in this Topic, that many of you talk about Lego Shops. Does any one of you know, why there are so many in the US and other "selected" countries, and

none in other countries? I have read that there are no Shops in Italy, amd I know there is none in Switzerland neither (that's where I come from).

There are also the Legoland Parks which have stores inside, Germany, Denmark, US, GB... Does anyone know if an AFOL could directly order his needed parts (in quantities of course)?

The problem in buying through BL, depending on the needed parts and their prices, often I buy more than effectively needed and add some other parts, as the shipping is so expensive, taht it makes more sense doing, and off course the parts are not lost anyway.

Just a thought.

Thank you for any additional input in this case.

Brgds

Patrick

Edited May 5, 2011 by marsu211

[Legoless]

Hi,

I've read in this Topic, that many of you talk about Lego Shops. Does any one of you know, why there are so many in the US and other "selected" countries, and

none in other countries? I have read that there are no Shops in Italy, amd I know there is none in Switzerland neither (that's where I come from).

There are also the Legoland Parks which have stores inside, Germany, Denmark, US, GB... Does anyone know if an AFOL could directly order his needed parts (in quantities of course)?

In the UK all the Lego shops, apart from the one in Cardiff, are centred around London (ok so one is in that beleaguered little outpost Milton Keynes but that is pretty much a London offshoot anyway).

So even in the UK the majority of the country is not served by a nearby Lego shop. Nearest one to me is Cardiff.

Of course, that means we in the UK are still very lucky compared to many other places including parts of the US. But Lego tend to centre their shops in the most wealthy area (so why not Switzerland me wonders)?