Lego now number two in U.K.

[larry marak]

It was announced at the U.K. toy fair this weekend that MegaBrands is now the dominant construction toy seller in the U.K., with a 43 % market share. This appears to be the result of the acquisition of the Rose Arts company with its magnetix line's units adding to its sales figures. Still it is difficult to think of Lego and K'nex dueling for number two status in the U.K.

[exo attack]

Yay lego climbing up the ladder of success! Mega brands is number 1? Thats krazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy. Just like me.

[Ickelpete]

This does not surprise me at all

Most of my local toy shops sell both Lego and Megablocks the area give to MB was far greater than that given to Lego so there was more variety to choose from.

The other thing I noticed was that Lego had sold out most of the stock before christmas but there was still shelf loads of MB left for the January sales. One Toys r US I went into had virtually all the shelves that are usually full with Lego full with MB with hardly no Lego to be found. >:-(

It is not hard to see why Lego is pushed into second place when even if people want to buy it they can't maybe with the restructuring of the company these supply problems will be solved.

[mutley777]

I can't say that i am to suprised by this news. Price is obviously the main factor here. Lego's prices are far to greedy in the UK. The new y-wing is $40 in the USA and is

[Brainbox]

I can't say that i am to suprised by this news. Price is obviously the main factor here. Lego's prices are far to greedy in the UK.

And what with MB being much cheaper, parents are more likely to buy it for their kids, and the kids are more likely to buy it. That's 2 demographics already singled out.

As for Lego's prices... I try not to think about it.

[lostcarpark]

I'm in Ireland, but the situation is fairly similar here.

Price is certainly a factor, but comparing prices with the US is not quite so simple - shelf prices in US generally don't include sales tax, while European prices already have VAT applied (17.5% for UK). So

[Zaktan of the Shadows]

That sucks. At least LEGOs voted best toy of the year in my town.

-ZotS

[Norro]

I'm in Ireland, but the situation is fairly similar here.

Price is certainly a factor, but comparing prices with the US is not quite so simple - shelf prices in US generally don't include sales tax,

True, but sales tax in the states is between 4 and 6% (in my limited experience), very different from our 17-19%...

God Bless,

Nathan

[blueandwhite]

True, but sales tax in the states is between 4 and 6% (in my limited experience), very different from our 17-19%...

God Bless,

Nathan

Regardless, tax should not be a consideration when comparing prices. They have nothing to do with LEGO themselves. the fact that the VAT is included in UK pricing doesn't change the fact that is a tax. In Ontario, we pay 14% (used to be 15%), and there are a number of other regions with high taxes which are not included in the price.

Consider that the new X-Wing (the Y-Wing is

[Norro]

Its not that you Europeans have high prices. Its just the US prices are articficially low.

While I agree the US is the anomaly (as opposed to a high price in Europe). I wouldn't describe it as 'artificial'. A variety of market forces work in the favour of the US consumer, they are not subsidized.

God Bless,

Nathan

[blueandwhite]

While I agree the US is the anomaly (as opposed to a high price in Europe). I wouldn't describe it as 'artificial'. A variety of market forces work in the favour of the US consumer, they are not subsidized.

God Bless,

Nathan

Yes, yes. Artificial was a poor choice of word. What I meant was that US pricing seems to be the anomaly, rather than the norm. Despite a struggling economy, and a US dollar that has suffered in the face of other world currencies (noticeably the EURO), US pricing has remained relatively low.

Of course, none of this changes the fact that taxes probably should be omitted when comparing LEGO prices. At the very least, if we are comparing prices, taxes should be considered on all products or none.

[larry marak]

Over in the U.S. market, Mega Bloks are not significantly cheaper than Lego....Lego is keeping its production prices down by shifting manufacturing and assembly to countries (China and Mexico) where $6.00 per day is a handsome wage and in the case of Mexico, where petroleum is controled by a national monopoly and kept below world market for domestic consumption. The cheap brand over here is the revived Best-Lock, which is selling Cobi branded sets at remarkably low prices.

[blueandwhite]

Over in the U.S. market, Mega Bloks are not significantly cheaper than Lego....Lego is keeping its production prices down by shifting manufacturing and assembly to countries (China and Mexico) where $6.00 per day is a handsome wage and in the case of Mexico, where petroleum is controled by a national monopoly and kept below world market for domestic consumption. The cheap brand over here is the revived Best-Lock, which is selling Cobi branded sets at remarkably low prices.

Um, Mega Bloks are way cheaper than LEGO in pretty much every jurisdiction, including the US. This isn't exclusive to the UK. Check out Mega Bloks' website. There is no way that LEGO will ever match those prices.

[mutley777]

Consider that the new X-Wing (the Y-Wing is

[blueandwhite]

The Y-wing IS new and IS

[Capn Frank]

True, but sales tax in the states is between 4 and 6% (in my limited experience), very different from our 17-19%...

God Bless,

Nathan

In Iowa, there is one county with 0% sales tax.

Also just south of Denver colorado, the sales tax is as high as 7 or 8%.

But yes nathan, in general the sales tax is between 4-6%.

I also am frustrated at the lack of lego stock right after christmas when i wanted to spend my christmas money :-( . All i saw was stupid M***B*** sets.

[JINZONINGEN73]

Yeah, right now, in the US, in a town in Pennsylvania where I live...

...they have a few Toa Inika, not even all the Barraki in stock, 2 different Spongebob sets, and a few of the ugly Technic crash cars.

And that's annoying, for it'll probably look the same a month from now, after my money is gone elsewhere.

*sigh*

Hopefully their recent switches in production and corporate headquarters will lead to gaining #1 again.

[SuvieD]

I find it sort of funny how people will talk about money (in general) for post after post but when someone puts a MOC up it only gets a few people who say next to nothing.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks eh?

Everyone one knows the US gets the best prices. I am fairly confident we also buy the most LEGO product as saturation here versus countries like Germany and Denmark is far less and the average US citizen either has the extra money to spend or uses credit to do so anyways.

. . . and now back to your regularly scheduled topic.

[larry marak]

Apparently the Lego supply shortage may last as long as October...they've told independent toy stores not to expect new or resupply SW kits till then. To have something new to work with, I suggest picking up one K'nex brix starter set. They contain K'nex's version of technic plates, bricks and axels, and technic pins to allow connection to K'nex elements, as well as conversion plates that clip onto the center of any K'nex connector to turn them all into 4 stud Lego-system elements. Something different to do while waiting for new product.