LEGO from a gumball machine?

[Big Cam]

http://www.snopes.com/risque/kinky/panties.asp

Never seen it, but it's another example of Westerners taking the weirdest thing they can find in a country and holding it up as normal. I've heard about this from at least a dozen Westerners, even though most Japanese have never heard of it. It's about the equivalent of a Japanese reporter going to the New York gay pride parade and reporting back that Americans wear leather cock harnesses. Americans wear leather cock harnesses, don't they?

I say this with the greatest respect, becasue honestly I love Japan and their culture and all the weird things they do, but I have to say Japan is screwed up if they are selling used panties from schoolgirls probably well under 18.

[TanTile]

I say this with the greatest respect, becasue honestly I love Japan and their culture and all the weird things they do, but I have to say Japan is screwed up if they are selling used panties from schoolgirls probably well under 18.

or not even school girls

[def]

I say this with the greatest respect, becasue honestly I love Japan and their culture and all the weird things they do, but I have to say Japan is screwed up if they are selling used panties from schoolgirls probably well under 18.

Seriously, weird stuff happens all over. You're getting into a form of cultural relativism

The critical function of cultural relativism is widely understood; philosopher John Cook observed that "It is aimed at getting people to admit that although it may seem to them that their moral principles are self-evidently true, and hence seem to be grounds for passing judgement on other peoples, in fact, the self-evidence of these principles is a kind of illusion".[13] Although Cook is misconstruing cultural relativism to be identical to moral relativism, his point still applies to the broader understanding of the term. Relativism does not mean that one's views are false, but it does mean that it is false to claim that one's views are self-evident.

Beyond the fact that this is a LEGO forum, and probably not suitable for discussion here, there is a bigger question of why Westerners latched onto this story and repeated it endlessly for a decade (hence it got a snopes page) when the machines had already been illegal for eight years. For Japanese, it was some weird thing that happened in Tokyo once, not a major component of the culture.

[Vindicare]

I like that idea, especially with the CMFs. I used to collect ALL kinds of things from gum ball machines.

[Peppermint_M]

Oh god, minifigures in one of them? I would just be broke!

I suppose they are a better method for you if you don't mind too much and like the completely random nature of it all. I mean, I stopped really collecting when all the cool imported ones stopped being sold in the comic book shop, but whenever I need a new phone charm or stylus for my DS, I'll use one (Currently on phone: A Mario Coin, current stylus, a [?] box topped one). Like I siad, there just aren't enough in the UK.

[Dazmundo]

Putting the CMF's in gumball machines does do exactly what TLC wanted in that it is totally random what you get, no reading bar codes or feeling the packets.

D

[def]

Putting the CMF's in gumball machines does do exactly what TLC wanted in that it is totally random what you get, no reading bar codes or feeling the packets.

D

I agree, that's the real point of the bagged figures, the randomness. But, at that price point, it's too much to not know what you're getting. For Japan, it's pretty standard with the popularity of these machines and the collect-ability of their contents. I'm not used to it though.

[dingmh]

I had no issues with buying Lego minifigs from the gumball machines when I was in Tokyo =) I actually liked the randomness of it all. I couldn't help myself and bought a whole bunch, even though I already had a boxed full set at home.

[City Triplets]

I think it's a great idea. Since the machines are everywhere, every time you go to a mall or shop you could by a few. after a month or so, you'd probably collected them all.

[Legofan4ever88]

These look really cool, but they aren't really something that would be majorily popular here in the US unless the machines could be fitted with a dollar bill slot. I doubt a lot of people haul around large amounts of quarters unless at an arcade or on vacation and are pressed penny collectors and dollar coins aren't popular here. out of all the searching with articles on the subject I did, I could only find a few people that actually use the coins instead of bills.

As far as the random minifigure one, i'd probably be interested in the first couple i'd get but then i'd probably turn to the lego store or ebay to find exactly what i'm after.

[Donut]

Sorry I am a little late on the discussion. For small purchases, I find gumball machines to be a very fun form of purchasing LEGO because I like randomness. It is very rewarding when I get something I want based purely off luck. Since the converse also holds true, I prefer to buy in small quantities to limit the disappointment. Unfortunately here in the US, most people don't buy from gumball machines (at least where I live). The machines are often filled up and are not in areas where the shopping density is high (such as in a mall). The only places where I have seen them are in front of TRU and Best Buy.

It's amazing how the polybags were able to fit inside the plastic sphere. Do you guys remember LEGO promotions with Kabaya treats? Was that also inside a gumball machine?

I had no issues with buying Lego minifigs from the gumball machines when I was in Tokyo =) I actually liked the randomness of it all. I couldn't help myself and bought a whole bunch, even though I already had a boxed full set at home.

Very nice! It's interesting how the brand name of the machine is called Time Capsule. I wish there was a time capsule to fill the void in my series 1 collection.

[dmemmi]

I wish they did this for Star Wars minifigs in the U.S. Too bad hasbro has the liscence for figures

[The Cobra]

I just saw a new one in Mirabello-Cantù again.

For 3 Euros you can get a random Series 3 fig or a random keychain (2x4 brick in different colors, Darth Vader, Toy story three-eyed alien, Pirate captain, Red/white Jester, Atlantis Sharkman)

[Hoboman]

I just saw a new one in Mirabello-Cantù again.

For 3 Euros you can get a random Series 3 fig or a random keychain (2x4 brick in different colors, Darth Vader, Toy story three-eyed alien, Pirate captain, Red/white Jester, Atlantis Sharkman)

I would not mind the collectables, but I would hate it if I drew a keychain. If I wanted key chains I would buy them.

I would like to see the idea expand.

[The Cobra]

I guess it's the opposite here.

You could find series 3 figs for as low as 1,80, but keychains are (nealry) nowhere to be found in our country. And 3 Euros is less than S@H price.

[Mr_Malfoy]

My sister send me a picture of the minifgures like this.

I didn't ask her to buy me one, but if I was there myself, I would have gotten one just for the novelty.

I'd say the same if they started selling LEGO in such a way here in Aus. I'd do it once (regardless of the price). But only for the novelty of getting it in a different kind of package, and in a different kind of way.

I was just about to say that the idea of Collectable Minifigures in gumball machines would be really cool, but looks like I was beaten to it!

[Jedi master Brick]

Love it, the only "feeling" I have tried was when I was desperate for an elf. The idea is brilliant, in the uk we have some machines and they are full of cartoon crap

Edited July 12, 2011 by Jedi master Brick

[def]

Let me restate my original issue with these machines: cost vs randomness.

When the mini-figs cost ¥300 each, it's just too much for them not to let me hold the pack to try to scan it, or feel the pack. It just costs too much, and I still have no guarantee. If the price was less to allow me to buy more, I wouldn't have felt so burned by them.

Oh well, to each their own.

[wokajablocka]

I wish they had LEGO in machines like this here in the US. As a dad, I'd gladly drop some coins in a machine like this vs. the machines full of cheap junk that goes straight in the garbage when the kids aren't looking. As for the randomness... at least it gives the kids a fair shot at getting a popular set/minifig since the adults can't snatch up all of the good ones.

man, I'd like to see these in Australia. We miss out on so much Lego goodies like the mini sets. Id drop my couple of bucks in to try my luck.

[melrows]

My sister send me a picture of the minifgures like this.

I didn't ask her to buy me one, but if I was there myself, I would have gotten one just for the novelty.

I'd say the same if they started selling LEGO in such a way here in Aus. I'd do it once (regardless of the price). But only for the novelty of getting it in a different kind of package, and in a different kind of way.

I'd definitely love to try my luck on one of these!

[Superkalle]

I was in the supermarket yesterday thinking to myself - why don't they have LEGO in those gumball machines - just to compete with all the other crappy toys. And today I read that it's allready out there. Gotta love this site

[def]

It's amazing how the polybags were able to fit inside the plastic sphere. Do you guys remember LEGO promotions with Kabaya treats? Was that also inside a gumball machine?

I missed this question, but no, the Kabaya sets were sold at supermarkets. Japanese supermarkets usually have half an aisle of collectible toys. The one near my house even has a display case for them. Unbelievable!

[FuzzyBallz]

When I was little, I used to buy mini robot sets from gumball machines all the time. If I see one of these LEGO flavored gumball machines at my local supermarkets, I'm definitely getting one each time I go shopping.

[def]

Update!

So, I was at Nagasakiya the other day, and lo and behold, I saw series 5. This is so much of the frustration of this system. I know I can buy all 16 for about ¥4,000 including shipping. But the Lego minifigs are in front of me now! Save money/shipped to my door vs. instant gratification. Ah, I can't resist.

So, I bought six (graduate, British guard x 2, Egyptian princess, Sherlock, clown).

I really wanted the Egyptian and the clown, so that's alright. Of course, two days later, the minifigs were utterly nagging at me, and I went back and got four more (gladiator x 2, fitness instructor, monkey trainer).

Money spent? ¥3,000. And I feel sort of dumb too. Minifigs are ¥300 each, and to put the currency in perspective, a McDonalds cheeseburger is currently ¥120. So minifigs are 2.5 cheeseburgers each. These machines are great for Lego, but not for me, the AFOL. And I didn't get the Lizardman. I really wanted that one. I'm sure I'll get it when I toss more money at these machines in the coming weeks though.

How popular are these machines? Well, this is normal:

But then, so is this, dozens of UFO grabber machines with sexy anime dolls:

[F0NIX]

Seems like those LEGO vending machines is out in Europe too. In germany at least:

http://www.ulbrich.net/post/10806723782/neu-am-munchner-bahnhof-der-lego-automat-hmmm