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Comments
And now for something a bit, different...
https://heatst.com/culture-wars/a-chinese-toy-company-is-now-selling-isis-lego-sets-including-beheaded-figurines/
Couldn't have put it better myself. I know that this subject is always going to be subjective and divide people , but I think you have hit the nail on the head.
My wife has bought Lepin products in the past ( retired modular buildings) because you can't get them except for crazy prices on ebay etc. So she bought them so she could actually build them and then when complete, she went and bought genuine replacement bricks for around 30% of the sets because she wanted superior parts where she thought the quality was lacking. So yes it was cheaper than the £xxxx ones but still cost a fair bit in the end.
I personally bought one chinese brick set but that was because Lego themselves don't do it and it is the Lego Apple Store in 5th Avenue. It was fun building and looks good but boy you can tell it wasn't designed by TLG as the way it came together was a bit lacking.
I was appalled by the photos of SY terrorist sets. So these Chinese companies either rip off Lego sets or create disgusting sick-tasted sets when they produce their own designs. I am quite taken aback that these themes have been produced.
I will not be buying any sets from SY, Decool or Lepin or any other rogue company that believe that creating these sets is ok. They will not receive my money to put into the production of such disgusting sets.
I think that voting with your dollars is important- it's probably the single most important thing you can do to protest the actions of any company.
That said, while I think the ISIS-related brick sets are in extremely poor taste, I think there companies out there that are far worse in terms of adversely influencing society. For instance, companies that create realistic first-person shooting games are probably much more likely to encourage violent behavior than a company that produces ISIS-related plastic bricks. Then there are the many companies that lobby to increase spending on war, companies that engage in factory livestock farming, etc.
I don't mean to imply that because there are other problems in the world that ISIS-related brick sets should not be discussed/addressed, or that the sets are not a problem. However, I do think it's important to put things in perspective and not excessively demonize a company for producing sets that are in poor taste (but are much more socially benign than the practices of numerous other companies out there).
Taking the foregoing into consideration, boycotting companies such as Lepin because they are a threat to the overall Lego brand is a more worthy cause, but that's such me.
I must admit, I'm guilty of buying a couple of out-of-production Lego-copied sets from Lepin and was fairly pleased. Don't panic too much, though- I've spent many thousands of dollars on Lego, and only around $100 (so far) on Lepin.
Obviously, there is a group who wants realistic enemies. How about German, Japanese and USSR militaries from WW2? Are they okay or not?
Let me put it the other way. If there is no market for it, then there would be no product.
My original statement is not inherently inconsistent with your assertion. I was pointing out that a company producing plastic bricks depicting violence is probably not a big deal. It's in poor taste (in my opinion), but probably has little impact on anything.
I'm not a fan of them, so I won't buy them. It doesn't really bother me that they make them. Just like if Argos sell something I think is poor taste, I will still buy Lego from them. And I will buy age appropriate games from video game companies, even if they make 18+ violent games.
What about the soup Nazi? On the one hand, he's not very likeable. But on the other, he makes great soup!
Would i just love to get the real thing? You better believe it but the problem is after tax it would run me at least 275 bucks.
I don't know about you but i just don't have the patience for that nightmare. I would have to do a big ol clean up in my room since i have a bunch of parts that would need to be sorted out. I'd have to start reading Bricklink Inventory lists to see what's in the set. Then trying to figure out what i need vs what i have vs what i have that can act as substitutes. Plus seeing what in my clone brand stuff can be used towards is. Then i'd have to start the oh so fun task of trying to figure out the BL process while staying in budget.
Just off hand what do i know i need? I know i'd need that long spiral thingy, a haul of bigger plates(At least the 6x6, safe bet 8x8, who knows what else), a haul for both 2x2 and 2x3 Bricks in what i call "Minecraft colors"(Grey and brown since those are the first 2 colors i think of when i think MC) plus would probably have to check my supplies of the 2x6, 8, and 10's. Pretty safe i'd also need some more of those 1x1 bricks with handles since the small amount in brown i have is supposed to be used on a different Minecraft project. Plus i see those macaroni tiles that i know i'll need some of and more jumpers in green, brown, and white. Plus i would want to create the Mod head mosiac so i woud have to get the Trans ice color bricks and if i want a proper waterfall color i'd need to add trans blue to the list. And those 1x6 and 1x8 gray track tiles since i know i have no where near enough for the project. Plus those new tile thingys for tracks.
Seriously its terrifying to think how much that would run me in the end since its not like i can go to a lego store and get bricks for cheaper since they are too LAZY to put a branch anywhere near us and trips there are extremely rare.
We haven't even picked up the Village yet, but if we miss out, we miss out. To put it in perspective, the Village is AU$350 & the Mountain Cave is going to retail at AU$400 for us, that's the better part of a grand, add in GBHQ at AU$500 & Assembly Square at AU$400 & we're just looking AU$1650 & that's just for the big ticket items. Will we manage all that, plus all the smaller sets we're wanting? Maybe, maybe not....especially since I'm going to probably want this year's SDCC Lego Marvel items too.
All I'm getting from those posting support for Lepin, LOZ, etc, is a strong sense of self entitlement... It's a children's toy, not medication, not a medical device, it's a luxury item you do not need to live. You have two real choices if you can't afford it; be a decent, moral human being & not buy Chinese rip-offs, or help contribute to IP theft, Trademark infringement, etc & buy that junk because you feel you deserve that set.
We don't even have a genuine Lego Store in Australia, the two stores we have here are certified stores, that means that they aren't owned by TLG, so no VIP points use, no earning VIP points, we won't be guaranteed to get the promos that [email protected] has on offer (which, btw, we need a AU$200 spend for free shipping from [email protected]). Also, there is no guarantees that we will get everything that is available from [email protected], last I heard, neither certified store has the MC the Village set, so they're not likely to get the Mountain Cave either.
Add to that, the nearest one is at the Melbourne LDC, which for me is an eight hour drive, each way. The one on the Gold Coast isn't any better, that's a twenty two hour drive, each way. It's even worse for the people in Perth, they'd be driving thirty six hours to Melbourne & forty six hours to the Gold Coast.
Do I think it's lazy of TLG? No. Would I like a Lego Store in Australia? WTF, of course I want a genuine Lego Store here, preferably located closer to me than an eight hour drive. You should be grateful you have a Lego Store you can visit without having to jump on a plane & leave your country to visit, cause news flash, there are a number of countries around the world still waiting for their first Lego Store.
Its not like i get bootlegs all the time so lego has gotten plenty of money from me plus the occasional set from mom as it is. I have a small collection of Bootleg figures and that's it as far as Bootlegs go in my collection at this time.
Honestly is it a moral thing to do to by Bootleg, or at least lets say in production stuff since its not like lego gets money from OOP stuff? No. However.... I just don't know anymore. It really doesn't feel right to me at times but the thing is Lego Minecraft is literally the only theme out there that's in production that i can actually say I haven't lost all/the bulk of interest it. This year the big buys for me was Minecraft sets and mom managed to catch some clearance on a few other things i have minor interest it(Seasonal and couple creator sets for the most part).
And trust me. Up until the realities of how much it'd run me hit me, i was going to be GLADLY ordering the real deal in a matter of days. But then the reality hit me. 275 would wipe me out completely on the hobby budget and then some.
I have to cross a border and drive 1.5hrs to get to my closest Lego store, so that's not too bad compared to @VorpalRyu! Next closest is taking a flight to London City airport and take the DLR to the Stratford store.
But yes, "having" to drive 1.5hrs to my closest Lego Store is definitely a luxury problem. Just like not being able to afford every single set I'd like to have is a luxury problem, and my life will be just as complete with some gaps in my collection. No need to fill those gaps with knock-offs.
@stlux I knew the Budapest stores were certified after I tried to use my VIP card! :-) I will say though, they had great customer service - I was groping the Disney CMF bags and the manager came over to me and said if I didn't find everything to let him know and he'd bring out another box of them. He then got a staff member to help me find the remaining figs.
When I was in London, my kids were with me and had a ball in the Lego store building minifigs to take home.
The Gold Coast store is a 20 minute drive and I've only bothered going once so far!
FWIW - They DO have a PAB wall (technically it's actually a 4m wide column in the centre of the store). Prices are close to double what our Northern Hemisphere friends pay (not unlike our set prices).
http://www.chinalug.com/portal.php?mod=view&aid=28
More pics on ChinaLug at the link above.