What's Better? Buying Sets or Individual Pieces?

[Brickstarrunner]

I'm sure this topic has been posted before, but I didn't really know what to search into both the search box and Google, so I decided to ask my question here.

What would you say is better? Buying the entire box/set straight from a retail store/Lego.com/other online vendor/etc. or buying individual bricks from, let's say, Bricklink? I would like to hear your answers because I am personally stumped on this question. Both have their reasonable pros and cons and left me at a stand still. It's all just opinion here. I would like to hear what you have to say to help me figure out which way is best. Thanks!

[AncientDayz]

I wouldn't mind hearing other members' thoughts as well. So far I've built items on the computer and then ordered the pieces individually. I think this way has the potential to save more money (unless you find some tremendous bargains on sets), but I am thinking about changing my approach. There's just something to building and designing with the pieces in hand. I think you get to experiment more and be more creative ...just my thoughts.

[Kristel]

I'm sure this topic has been posted before, but I didn't really know what to search into both the search box and Google, so I decided to ask my question here.

What would you say is better? Buying the entire box/set straight from a retail store/Lego.com/other online vendor/etc. or buying individual bricks from, let's say, Bricklink? I would like to hear your answers because I am personally stumped on this question. Both have their reasonable pros and cons and left me at a stand still. It's all just opinion here. I would like to hear what you have to say to help me figure out which way is best. Thanks!

For me, it is a function of space and money (i.e. not enough of either), and how badly I want the set. I usually only have few things on display and rotate them regularly. Most of the sets I buy get built once and then the parts go into the general collection for MOCs, mainly modular buildings.

After a while you end up with quite a collection of bricks and it ends up being cheaper just to buy the pieces you need to complete a set from Bricklink. A good recent example for me was the Haunted House. I love the look of the Haunted House, but I'm not interested in the Monster Fighters theme or zombies, and I don't have a need or desire to have this on display for any extended period of time. Further, I could build most of it from existing parts in my collection. In this case, it was a lot cheaper to buy the missing pieces to build a "restored" Haunted House (excluding minifigs, ghosts, spider web, etc) from Bricklink than paying the Aussie retail price for the set. I don't have an exact number because there were a couple of orders, with other parts in them, but I expect it was probably less than $20AU.

I don't think this works for whole sets, though. Unless it is one that is out of production, in which case you don't have much choice!

At the other end of the range was R2-D2, which I did purchase at retail price. I didn't have a lot of the pieces required to build him, but he was a "must have" for me and it was one that I intended to keep on display (rather than rotate).

Hope this helps a little.

Kristel

[HawkLord]

Brickstarrunner, I really like your Fallout 3 pic.

As for sets versus pieces, I guess it depends on the purpose. If you're building a large MOC and need specific pieces or many of the same piece making buying duplicate sets expensive, then I can see going the individual piece route. If you're just buying the minifigures from a set because you want them, then I'd recommend just buying the set (assuming it's still a retail set), because usually the sets would just be alittle more, since popular minifigures get marked up.

Personally, I buy sets because as a collector I want everything complete.

[davee123]

I would guess it depends on your budget, your collection size, and your level of collecting vs. MOC building.

If you're just starting out your collection, you probably want sets. You may not have an immediate need for more 1x6 black plates, but if your collection only has 20 of them, you'll probably want more SOMEDAY. Hence, all that extra "fluff" that you get in sets slowly builds up over time and gives you a diverse collection.

As you get a large collection, though, this isn't economical-- both in terms of money and space. When you have 480 1x6 plates, you actually DON'T WANT MORE, because you'll never use them, and they'll just sit in an overflow bin taking up space. All that "fluff" starts going to waste, but you're still paying for it when you buy a set. Even if someone offers you 100 red minifig legs FOR FREE, you might not want to take them, because you've already got way more than you'll ever uses!

If you're a collector, you obviously want sets. Particularly valuable, rare, or memorable sets. If you're a MOC builder, though, you probably couldn't care less, and should just get the elements you want as you need them.

I generally went the set-buying route, and I now have a pretty unmanagable collection. However, on the plus side, I have just about enough of anything I ever want already on-hand, and I don't often have to order anything through BrickLink.

DaveE

[TheLegoDr]

It all depends on the purpose. I personally do both. I buy the sets because I do like the minifigures (and the cost of minifigures is basically the price of the set, plus you get the pieces). But I also buy individual pieces if I don't have enough in my supply for my needs. Sometimes it does depend on price. Some sets have a great parts pack and buying a few of them might be easier than just buying one piece multiple times on Bricklink. But since I love collecting figures, it is almost silly not to buy the set due to cost. Space isn't really an issue at my house since I have a whole unused basement that can be LEGO-fied if I desire.

[ShaydDeGrai]

I'm both a collector and a MOC builder so I'm really a fan of both. I appreciate the _idea_ of a complete set and try to keep a few handy for days when I just want to open a box, follow an instruction book and chill out. Other than trying to find just the right part in 20+ open polybags, there's no stress with a kit, you just watch it come together as you work and enjoy yourself (Technic kits are especially fun in this regard in that sometimes you don't even know what part of the model you're working on as you build it). Occasionally, you learn a new building trick or discover a part you'd never seen before. They're fun.

Parts, on the other hand are like crayons, paints, clay or any other creative medium of your choosing. Often the more variety you've got to play with, the more creative you can get. Creativity can be a double edged sword, though. It's great when your vision comes to life and frustrating when it doesn't. The breadth and diversity of the collection that you have to draw from can often help make the difference (but if the collection gets too big you're back to the stresses of trying to find things, where to store them, how to explain to the wife why there's 10,000 bricks and an Argonath covering the dining room table with company coming over in less than an hour, etc.)

I rarely buy sets to use for just parts (unless its a good sale or the set has a good supply of less common parts) but I never leave the local LEGO store without a packed PAB cup even if I don't have any major projects in mind at the moment. If I do have a design in mind, I'll pop over to Bricklink or S@H, but even there I'll always order extras in case my design changes.

In the end, I think it all just comes down to what you want to do.