Theo van Vroenhoven Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Since my 'comeback' in LEGO Technic some two years ago I did a lot of catch up. I bought some 40 Technic sets, most of them used but also some new. A few of these sets are still sitting MISB, like 8070 Supercar, 8110 Unimog and 8043 Excavator. I was also lucky enough to get my hands on a 41999 Crawler. Now for the dilemma: the value of most of these MISB sets has increased heavily over the past two years. For instance, I bought my 8043 for 120 euro but since it is no longer available a MISB set nowadays costs easily over 200 euro. Sames goes for 8070 and 8110, not to mention the 41999 which is being sold for over 300 euro! I would love to build these sets but don't like the idea of 'burning' over 100 euros a set by just opening the box ;-) I consider buying some second hand copies for building and leaving the MISB sets sitting on the shelf. But then immediately the question arises why keeping the MISB sets if I will never open them? I am not planning on investing or speculating on LEGO, we are talking 'only' a few hundred euros. I would love to hear your opinions on this issue! Quote
Gee Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Open them and build and play with them!!!! I've never understood keeping LEGO MISB to be honest. If you are not interested in LEGO and are only buying as an investment (which I am sure there are lots of people doing) then that's one thing, but if you are a LEGO fan, then it seems criminal to me to have sets sat in boxes not used. Everything is about money these days, LEGO is a toy and is meant to bring fun, why does this have to be sullied with thoughts of making money (this is a rhetorical question and I already know the answer). My tuppence anyway. Enjoy whatever you do! Quote
astra Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Ask yourself, do you consider the sets as an investment or was the 'comeback' related on the love of building sets... If it is the last, don't hesitate and start building them. In my opinion the fun in building the sets is worth (much!) more then the (extra) money a MISB set is worth. Quote
Cumulonimbus Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I think it is a question of values. Is the value of opening a new set, discovering new parts/colors, building, playing and/or MOC-ing over the years worth more to you than the profit after reselling? For me personally, it isn't. The whole point (for me) of the Lego hobby is to build. I had the opportunity to buy a 41999, but was uncertain what to do with it as I wasn't won over with the 9398 chassis and functionality. I bought the set, giving me time to think about my options and in the "worst case" I could sell the set. Eventually I opened the set, MOC-ed a new chassis and interior and rebuild the body. The satisfaction of finishing this unique creation is priceless. Quote
Bricktrain Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 If you can afford to buy another and are happy with used then buy them and keep the sealed set. I like to have built sets but I also like to keep sealed sets and some for resale later, so if I can afford to buy 3 then I have all bases covered. Sometimes I get one for parting out too. Quote
afol1969 Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 @Gee 100% agree! What do you have from lego, if you only stock unused sets? Lego ist for playing, constructing....and having fun I've some older Technik sets, but If I need parts, I dismantle them for new creations. And mix with other Lego sets. So I don't have originals. Who cares? Greetings Alex Quote
zux Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 @Gee100% agree! What do you have from lego, if you only stock unused sets? Lego ist for playing, constructing....and having fun I've some older Technik sets, but If I need parts, I dismantle them for new creations. And mix with other Lego sets. So I don't have originals. Who cares? Greetings Alex Some of us like to collect too, not just build and MOC. I can allow myself to pick some parts temporarly from sets I prefer to keep assembled, just to make sure these parts are the ones needed for MOC and I'd buy copy from BL later. Quote
astra Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I, for one, am a collector. I don't have that much inspiration to build a MOC I really love to see what others can build out of Lego, but doing it self, that's a different story. So I just buy the sets I like, build them and (when running out of display space) store them separate in a plastic storage container. But I have never bought a set with the idea of storing it for a long time and then selling it. Lego is for me a hobby and as such I build the sets I buy. Quote
Darth Dino Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Hi compared to other themes Technic sets do not grow in value as Star Wars or Modulars. 41999 is an exception (its sold for 450€ in Germany) but this set IS exceptional. I am sure you wil never see the famous excavator being sold MISB for 400€... People pay high prices for the sets being rare, exclusive not being a great set! Thats why the Cloud City set of the SW theme is so wanted, nobody has bought it when it was on shelves.... I recommend to open all your Technic sets and play with id you like to. If you store the box and the manuals, you can sell the sets after years for a very good price if its still complete. Even used excavators goes higher than mrsp, used 41999 goes doubble mrsp... What else could somebody want? Have fun AND dont lose money ;) Dino Quote
Paul B Technic Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Open them, build them, do what LEGO was designed for :) Quote
Jim Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I recommend to open all your Technic sets and play with id you like to. If you store the box and the manuals, you can sell the sets after years for a very good price if its still complete. Even used excavators goes higher than mrsp, used 41999 goes doubble mrsp... I second that. Since you are not using the sets as an investment, at least have fun with them. Quote
andythenorth Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) Build them. Even better, rip the boxes open in front of a 'collector'. Toys are for playing with. Edited January 23, 2014 by andythenorth Quote
DrJB Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I started a 'related' thread a while back, and the question I was asking was: "Sets you have bought, but not opened yet". There are many 'opinions' on here but ultimately, the question YOU need to ask yourself is: Does the amount of joy you get from building the set equate to the 'devaluation' ? It is a hard question to answer ... Quote
Theo van Vroenhoven Posted January 23, 2014 Author Posted January 23, 2014 Thanks for all the reactions and good to hear that they all point in the same direction. I think I will open and build them eventually but not mix the parts with other sets. If I ever get tired of my LEGO I can sell the complete sets without making a huge loss. That they are now worth more than I paid for them is nice but artificial since I don't have any intention to sell them. Which one shall I open first.... ;) Quote
nicjasno Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I have started collecting the sets from 1980-1994 and while i like my parts and boxes to be in great condition (i even polish the bricks, to remove as many scratches as possible), they are all packed in quick seal bags and ready to be built whenever i or anyone feels like building them. Lego is for enjoying and building, not for being left unopened and unplayed with in the box. Quote
Lakop Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 An intersting topic. Build them, have some fun with them, you can always sell them on later and buy newer sets. I'm a builder myself so I don't always understand why some keep their lego in the sealed boxes. H Quote
jantjeuh Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 You've got to ask yourself: 'are you in it for the money, or in it for the love?' Build, build, build! Quote
Phoxtane Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 I'd say go for it - but only because it's way too expensive to get second copies for later sale or building as a student, personally. I would save the boxes, instructions, and sticker sheets if at all possible... I have a large bag with all the sticker sheets from the sets I've gotten over the past two or three years. Pretty sure some of them will be worth something someday! Quote
jantjeuh Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Same here, since I never apply stickers anyway. Hate them with a passion. I also kept all boxes in pristine condition. Quote
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