Advice needed please

Poseypig

 i have been given a large amount of Lego in various states to sell for fund raising for a Sen playgroup and family support for children with ASD and learning delay that I help run but have no idea what it's worth, if it's worth anything at all or the best way to sell. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I have the following:
Used, loose Lego bricks of various sizes, both in plastic tubs and not
Used Bionics kits in cylindrical tubs, all in excellent condition, complete with instructions
a Star Wars clone tank number 7261 in the original box. The box does have some external damage to the corners where it has been stored. all the pieces are still in the sealed bags and the two figures are there. The one with the light sabre lights up but I don't know if it still works.
a Vikings set number 7017, still sealed, never been open box, in good condition

there is more but I haven't gone through it all yet

is it worth the effort of trying to sell and where is best to do it? 

Thank you

SprinkleOtter

Bricklink or the market here will get you the most money. Go for complete sets- Bionicle sets aren't that hard to put together.

Once everything valuable is gone, sell the rest as a bulk lot, possibly on (fe)ebay.

Coolguy5000

First you could try the marketplace  threads here! People will know values and offer fairly. Other than that I'd say gumtree or worst case scenario  ebay. Just remember  ebay charges fees.

Poseypig

Thanks. Got to stop hubby playing with it all first :) 

Coolguy5000

Poseypig said:e

Thanks. Got to stop hubby playing with it all first :) 

Ha ha. If you  post a few spread out pictured of the  lego  I'm sure some of the members here will be able to  identify  some parts which might give an idea of what sets you  have mixed in there.

Poseypig

I might do that, there seems to be a couple of army sets, something with Vikings, racing cars, what I think is Indiana Jones and some emergency vehicles but everything is all mixed up. I'm in OCD heaven sorting through it all :) my mother in law has just told me she has another 2 big storage boxes full to bring down too! 

Coolguy5000

A lot of bricksetters will spot certain parts and prints and be able to figure out what you've got. If you get any superhero or star wars sets send me a private message.

SprinkleOtter

Poseypig said:

I might do that, there seems to be a couple of army sets, something with Vikings, racing cars, what I think is Indiana Jones and some emergency vehicles but everything is all mixed up. I'm in OCD heaven sorting through it all :) my mother in law has just told me she has another 2 big storage boxes full to bring down too! 

LEGO doesn't make army sets... Be wary of clone brands, who are exceptionally worthless.

Shib

SprinkleOtter said:

Poseypig said:

I might do that, there seems to be a couple of army sets, something with Vikings, racing cars, what I think is Indiana Jones and some emergency vehicles but everything is all mixed up. I'm in OCD heaven sorting through it all :) my mother in law has just told me she has another 2 big storage boxes full to bring down too! 

LEGO doesn't make army sets... Be wary of clone brands, who are exceptionally worthless.

This is true, but to the uninformed some of the indianna jones stuff will look like army sets. If you have camo pattern bricks though they will almost certainly be other brand stuff.

madforLEGO

I will say this. It is really a matter of how much time and effort you want to put into this. Most times, sorting and building the individual sets will make more money than selling bulk lots of parts, at least in my experience. Mostly because it takes time (and sometimes a good amount of cleaning) to sort and put them back into their sets.
You can also get inventory lists from bricklink.com to ensure the sets are complete (I usually print out the inventory lists, and then go through and 're-part' the set then build it to ensure it is complete (though bricklink.com inventories are usually pretty good)
I would say start out by sorting the parts by, at least, color. This will make it far easier to rebuild any sets. If you really have the patience you can sort by part type but be prepared to take a lot of time to do it.

A for ensuring the parts you have are LEGO (as a lot of people will get cheesed off if the set they buy has any clone brands in it) Just look for 'LEGO' on most parts as the Brand should be on them. Any parts not like that (as that is possible I think with some LEGO parts) just pic them and post them in the thread in the forum for identifying pieces if you are not sure ( http://bricksetforum.com/discussion/513/master-thread-help-identifying-parts#latest )

Also sites like bricklink.com and brickowl.com will help greatly in finding missing pieces for sets to complete them OR finding out what some pieces go to as well (same with getting instruction books for sets you may have but do not have the instructions).

Finally I believe someone said you can replace the batteries in the light up saber figures, but not sure how as I do not have one (and hopefully the battery is not corroded). In any case they are valuable I believe as they did not make them in many sets.

Good luck!

Poseypig

Thanks for all the help, I will look at the army bits carefully to check they are Lego or not. There is definately an Indiana set so they might be with that but I will check. I'd hate to sell anything that isn't the right thing. Quite enjoying sorting the bits and building the sets, I might be getting the Lego bug :)

TigerMoth

SprinkleOtter said:

LEGO doesn't make army sets...

That's not quite true:

http://brickset.com/sets/30071-1/Army-Jeep
http://brickset.com/sets/7595-1/Army-Men-on-Patrol

Be careful - both ways.

 

ryjay

Why sell them?  Why not give them to the families and children to build?  The exercise of building with lego for these children might be more valuable then the money you get.

But if you must sell them, do you have events during the year where you can have silent auctions?  I  would not be selling these as lego sets on their own, as a fundrasier, you want to "sell" these sets as opportunity for someone to contribute to a worthy cause...and they get the legos as a thank you to take home.

madforLEGO

ryjay said:

Why sell them?  Why not give them to the families and children to build?  The exercise of building with lego for these children might be more valuable then the money you get.

But if you must sell them, do you have events during the year where you can have silent auctions?  I  would not be selling these as lego sets on their own, as a fundrasier, you want to "sell" these sets as opportunity for someone to contribute to a worthy cause...and they get the legos as a thank you to take home.

I would guess that money is far more flexible and can be used for many different ways than just buying/using a toy.

Poseypig

I'm sure your comment wasn't ment to be so condescending madforlego but just to clarify my reasons for selling the Lego.

1. The majority of the children we work with are under the age of 5 years, small Lego is not really ideal. Add in the fact that due to sensory needs arising from ASD many of the children 'mouth' toys and other items. Some of our children also have PICA, a medical condition which causes the uncontrollable urge to eat non-food items. I'm sure you appreciate that Lego, for a young child with a sensory issues such as these, is not a good toy.

2. The amount of Lego we have been given is huge! This organisation is run by myself and two friends, we live in ordinary houses and do not have room to store it all. We don't have specific premises belonging to our group.

3. We are fund raising for a very specific event. Due to their need, many of our children, siblings and families do not get to experience things most of us take for granted. Come December we want to provide a Christmas party, visit from Santa and panto experience all tailored to the needs of ASD children and their families.

4. Many of our children have obsessions. Nothing outside of that interest is of any concern to them. It might be trains, you tube videos, surprise eggs, certain cartoon characters but whatever it is, it will exclude all other things. All our children have piles of toys purchased in a desperate bid to get them interested in something else. They usually end up gathering dust in the corner. I don't want to add this Lego to that pile.

there are other issues I've had to consider but those are the main reasons for selling. Everything we sell to raise funds is done under our group name (Square Peg), we make it clear what the funds are for and any selling fees are covered by myself so all of the money goes to the group.

a big thank you to those who have offered useful advice in regards to selling the Lego. I've started the long process of sorting it all, trying to work out what goes with what is a challenge but I won't be beaten :)

madforLEGO

Poseypig said:

I'm sure your comment wasn't ment to be so condescending madforlego but just to clarify my reasons for selling the Lego.

1. The majority of the children we work with are under the age of 5 years, small Lego is not really ideal. Add in the fact that due to sensory needs arising from ASD many of the children 'mouth' toys and other items. Some of our children also have PICA, a medical condition which causes the uncontrollable urge to eat non-food items. I'm sure you appreciate that Lego, for a young child with a sensory issues such as these, is not a good toy.

2. The amount of Lego we have been given is huge! This organisation is run by myself and two friends, we live in ordinary houses and do not have room to store it all. We don't have specific premises belonging to our group.

3. We are fund raising for a very specific event. Due to their need, many of our children, siblings and families do not get to experience things most of us take for granted. Come December we want to provide a Christmas party, visit from Santa and panto experience all tailored to the needs of ASD children and their families.

4. Many of our children have obsessions. Nothing outside of that interest is of any concern to them. It might be trains, you tube videos, surprise eggs, certain cartoon characters but whatever it is, it will exclude all other things. All our children have piles of toys purchased in a desperate bid to get them interested in something else. They usually end up gathering dust in the corner. I don't want to add this Lego to that pile.

there are other issues I've had to consider but those are the main reasons for selling. Everything we sell to raise funds is done under our group name (Square Peg), we make it clear what the funds are for and any selling fees are covered by myself so all of the money goes to the group.

a big thank you to those who have offered useful advice in regards to selling the Lego. I've started the long process of sorting it all, trying to work out what goes with what is a challenge but I won't be beaten :)

I'm not sure how my comment could be viewed as 'so condescending', but rest assured it most certainly was not meant in that way. I was simply replying to @ryjay 's comment/question about why not just give the LEGO to the kids?

I presume that cash is more flexible to buy other things needed for the organization, which is likely why you were looking to sell this LEGO (and I believe you explained above),  correct?

Poseypig

Apologies, madforlego, it was actually ryjay I was responding to not you. I'm very sorry, not looking carefully enough. You are correct, the cash is much more flexible. Again, I'm very sorry for mixing up your names. That'll teach me to try responding while doing other things. Please forgive me

madforLEGO

Poseypig said:

Apologies, madforlego, it was actually ryjay I was responding to not you. I'm very sorry, not looking carefully enough. You are correct, the cash is much more flexible. Again, I'm very sorry for mixing up your names. That'll teach me to try responding while doing other things. Please forgive me

No worries. :-)

ryjay

Now, my turn to apologize...I'm sorry for my post.  In no way was I trying to come across as condescending. 

I had interpreted ASD as Autism Spectrum Disorder, and after watching a DVD on Lego they had a segment were they addressed lego as a wonderful toy to help children who suffer with autism, and that's the point I was coming from about not selling them, but using them as an aid.  Now obviously for children under 5 legos are a problem regardless,  but I didn't get that from you original post.

Again, I'm sorry...and you and your friends are doing  a wonderful thing for these families and I hope you are able to have a successful holiday party from your efforts.

And sorry to you too, Madforlego for getting you crossed up with me.

Poseypig

:) thanks ryjay and madfor lego

everyone here has been so helpful. I didn't realise what a complicated world Lego was! And I swear, if one more person sings 'everything is awesome' at me I will be locked up in Lego prison for my actions ;)

there are are bits I really don't know what they belong to so might have to impose on you all some more with pics.....right back to my search for a missing stormtrooper head and a dragons left leg (not something I thought I'd ever say) 

plasmodium

http://bricksetforum.com/discussion/513/master-thread-help-identifying-parts#latest

Feel free to post pictures in this thread. People have often been able to identify multiple sets in a big haul like yours, or identify a set from one obscure piece. :-)