Selling LEGO: Advice for a Novice

T_Lars

I would also advise that you take into consideration the amount of space you have and how you plan on displaying your collection. You can get a few modulars and smaller city sets and show them off very nicely on a small table. If you do get the Maersk train decide if you want it just as a display piece or if you'll end up adding a power function to it, in which case you may want to build a large track layout.

T_Lars

^I am in the exact same situation. I too am just over a year out from my dark age and am dangerously close to running out of room on my modular table. Not to get too far off topic, but I'm sort of at a crossroad right now between town and castle. I don't plan on making any more major purchaces until I see how these new castle sets look because I doubt I'll have the room for my modulars, all of my misc. stand alone sets and a castle set up... unless I totally take over the livingroom and I don't think that would go over too well.

zjygkmatt

I find it annoying how flooded it seems with people just in it to sell. I do collect, I have sets unopened, but I also have doubles of most so I can open one. Like said, get what you like. I liked Star Wars originally, and have branched out to a few others recently, Castle is a new one for me.

Brikt

I guess buying whatever I like is what makes sense. I don't have the urge to build them for some reason...I just enjoy the idea of having the sets in their original boxes.

I'm considering it as a possible investment as well and that's why I mentioned I wanted to also get some that would value in time so I could sell later (which I guess there's no real way to know). Better than having money in the bank, if they value up.

but some I am considering buying just to build like the 5892 Sonic Boom. I also like nice Airplanes and Helicopters. Too bad there are no Oil Rigs apart from the Cars Oil rig escape...

drdavewatford

It seems utterly bizarre for you to tell us that you've suddenly been hit with "the Lego fever" and then ask us which sets would be good to sell in a few years !

If you do really love LEGO then buy what you like the look of, enjoy building it, and forget about resale values. Talk about putting the cart before the horse....

LegoFanTexas

Brikt said:

but some I am considering buying just to build like the 5892 Sonic Boom

Side note... I have one of these in a damaged retail box that I'd do for a fair price.

Assuming you're in the USA of course. :)

Brikt

drdavewatford said:

It seems utterly bizarre for you to tell us that you've suddenly been hit with "the Lego fever" and then ask us which sets would be good to sell in a few years !

If you do really love LEGO then buy what you like the look of, enjoy building it, and forget about resale values. Talk about putting the cart before the horse....

That's what I get a kick out of...what's wrong with that?

Brikt

LegoFanTexas said:

Brikt said:

but some I am considering buying just to build like the 5892 Sonic Boom

Side note... I have one of these in a damaged retail box that I'd do for a fair price.

Assuming you're in the USA of course. :)

Unfortunatelly, I'm outside of the USA...thx anyway :)

CCC

Brikt said:

drdavewatford said:

It seems utterly bizarre for you to tell us that you've suddenly been hit with "the Lego fever" and then ask us which sets would be good to sell in a few years !

If you do really love LEGO then buy what you like the look of, enjoy building it, and forget about resale values. Talk about putting the cart before the horse....

That's what I get a kick out of...what's wrong with that?

There is nothing wrong with it. But if you really are buying to sell in the future and are not that bothered about building them, then don't open the sets (at least not yet). Buy what you like and put it away. Once it is EOL, then decide do you want to build it or not, and check what the rough resale price is for new/boxed and used. Maybe even leave it another year or two and check then. You can then see what it will cost you to open the box and build it.

emilewski

My personal experience was that for my first year it was all about buying whatever I could for my new collection and building (phase 1). Then I started learning about sales and how to buy cheap and get smart about my buying (phase 2). Then after having been in it for a while and reading the forums and learning the hobby and being more selective and informed, I am reselling enough to self-support my hobby (phase 3). I am still learning the nuances of buying and selling for maximum profit.

My advice is when first getting back into LEGO is to enjoy building and collecting for you right now. Read the forums. Find good sales. After a while you will have a better feel for the hobby and then open a bricklink shop and sell a few things. It will come together for investment and reselling in time. Don't jump right in with the intent just to sell foremost.

Reselling does take a little from the pure enjoyment of the hobby. I debate if I am selling a set too early before peak appreciation and max ROI or waiting too long and value decreases...or wanting to build that MISB QAR in the closet for me but keep thinking about the $ value of selling instead.

Just enjoy for a while. Buy a FB for yourself and build it. Sell it in 2 years if you like.

Brikt

I guess right now I am indeed just enjoying buying them. And the more I think about it the less I feel inclined to sell them later, I guess I just like to have them and to keep in mind the idea that they are getting more valuable with time.

CCC

Brikt said:

I guess right now I am indeed just enjoying buying them. And the more I think about it the less I feel inclined to sell them later, I guess I just like to have them and to keep in mind the idea that they are getting more valuable with time.

That is not necessarily true. They might be getting more valuable, but then again, maybe not.

emilewski

^ true. Some appreciate, some do not. If you keep box and instructions and buy on sale then you should at least not lose money.

Brikt

I'm just buying stuff I like anyway, so even if it doesn't get more valuable over time I guess I don't care anymore. I just want to collect :)

Basta

For majority (but not all) of sets if you buy them at 25% plus off and keep them MISB you will most likely at least get your money back, and in a lot of cases more.

I think if you crack just one box open and built it you may just get the urge to open more ;)

AdeelZubair

I'm selling my unwanted Lego sets to buy more Lego but they are just not selling?? I'm selling them on Gumtree they have about 4-13 views and is only been four days?

CCC

Sounds like your prices are to high for the local market. Try here, eBay or bricklink. Or bricktrader.net

AdeelZubair

Check out the prices tell me what you think: http://www.gumtree.com/search?q=lego&search_location=Leyton,+London&category=for-sale&min_price=&max_price=

the police station one is not mine but the rest are.

TheOneVeyronian

As a relatively experienced seller on various websites, I don't think you're selling them on the right website. Gumtree can often restrict how many potential buyers you have for your Lego (due to the fact that you have to trade face-to-face on the site). Try a site which may give your Lego a wider national/international audience and postage options. That's my advice. There is normally a good demand for Lego regardless of time of year.
Hope this info was somewhat useful to you.

Note: Oops, looks like I took too long to write this message!

Phonebooth

Thor poly for £7 says it all. If they don't sell on eBay for £1.50 why would anyone pay you £7?

roxio

honestly? Take the 1 out of the asking price on the 7676 and its about right

Wardy079

Hi
I am fairly new to selling lego and have acquired about 60 or so sealed series 5 minifigures.

What is the best way to sell them? Open them? Keep them sealed? In bulk? And what price could I put on them for any of these options?

Thanks
B

indigobox

It all depends on the buyer to be honest.

Some people buy only sealed, some buy new but opened, some buy full sets, especially the late collectors of the mini figures. I guess some people like to see the figures though to make sure they are getting a full set, rather than 16 Lumberjacks.

I think if it was myself that had them, I'd feel out a set, then see what is left. See if you can feel out a second and sell set by set then spares.

CJ.

Wardy079

Hmmm that should be interesting feeling them out. But I will give it a go

indigobox

I don't know how accurate the dot codes are for Series 5, but you could do a search in google for 'LEGO Dot Codes Series 5' and then look at the dots on the bottom of the packets.

I know with Series 6, that's how I got @kwkw all his Romans :)

Wardy079

Oh cool. Thanks I will look into that

Diggydoes

Is it a sealed Box or are these "loose packages"? I fit's a sealed box you can sell it of course as this,if not it will make sense to either cut open the packages to see which figures you have there or like @indigobox stated feel the packages!

Wardy079

Loose packages :)

indigobox

Start feeling them up then :)

natro220

If you are unfamiliar with detecting what minifigure you have, you may want to open them and sell them that way. If you tell someone they're getting something and they get something else, you're going to end up with a lot of Paypal cases against you and you'll lose for sending them inaccurate products. I'm terrible at figuring them out...but the guys at my local Lego Store are decent at it, as they do it all day long for people.

CCC

Bump codes were quite prominent for S5 and an accurate way of detecting what you have. Unfortunately, it wasn't one of the better series ...

pillpod

If you decide to sell them or want to trade, post in the marketplace! I'd be interested in some.

Wardy079

Dumb question..... New to this specific site, but where is the market place?

binaryeye

Wardy079 said:

Dumb question..... New to this specific site, but where is the market place?

Click on the Forum tab at the top of the page, then scroll down to the Marketplace forum.

Wardy079

Oh!!!! THANKS :))