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Why Are This Years Polys So Huge ?

donutboydonutboy Member Posts: 758
in Collecting
Hi Everyone.
I've been wondering over the last week why this years polybags are so large. These days the box sizes in the shops seem to be shrinking (due to green concerns, or so I thought) but nearly all the polys from last weeks mail offer are huge. Compare last weeks #30228 - Police ATV to a #30010 - Fire Chief from a few years ago. Almost twice the size. The new ones are even bigger than the previous larger size. I wonder why Lego have made this change.
Anyway, I wondered if anyone has any thoughts on this.
Cheers

Comments

  • paul_mertonpaul_merton Member Posts: 2,967
    No idea to be honest, but the quality of the plastic seems a lot better as well, which is a good thing. It's nice and glossy.

    I'm not sure what those holes at the tops of the packets are called, but their inclusion suggests that they're now intended to be hung on retail display rails rather than chucked in a box, which could explain the larger frontage.
    andhecarlq
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,788
    It probably also to keep them flatter. More package means parts can lay flatter
  • vitreolumvitreolum Member Posts: 1,406
    edited May 2014
    I've noticed the holes at the tops are usually there in US versions of polybags (or maybe the other way around, not sure). I seriously hope they don't make any more polys I need like the prince of persia one, I don't want those sacks in my collection.

    Take Gandalf for example, which I got in both versions:

    image

    image
  • Cloud10000Cloud10000 Member Posts: 16
    No answers, just trivia.
    In my humble opinion, I think that polybags are more available in retail in America so the package is made with a built-in hook for hanging, as paul_merton pointed out. Coming from Europe I have never seen a polybag on sale (and I've been looking!) and I am forced to collect most of mine through promotions. Also, in Europe it is not required by the law to include the number of parts on display as it is in the States, so you can always tell an European from its American counterpart.
    Re: the bags getting bigger, I'd speculate madforLego is propbably correct.
  • DadDad Member Posts: 816
    paul_merton said:

    No idea to be honest, but the quality of the plastic seems a lot better as well, which is a good thing. It's nice and glossy.

    I'm not sure what those holes at the tops of the packets are called, but their inclusion suggests that they're now intended to be hung on retail display rails rather than chucked in a box, which could explain the larger frontage.

    FYI them holes in the top are called 'punch outs'. From the days when diecast cars in blister packs on a backing card were displayed on hangers. It increases the value if you can find mint examples with the 'punch out' still attached to the card.


  • donutboydonutboy Member Posts: 758
    edited May 2014
    vitreolum said: -

    Take Gandalf for example, which I got in both versions
    Are both those polys the same size other than the top with the hole ?
    I can't tell from the photos.
  • vitreolumvitreolum Member Posts: 1,406
    Yes, they are identical aside from the top part and extra info on the poly.
  • donutboydonutboy Member Posts: 758
    Which shows they can make small bags and have the 'punch out'. Hey I learned something ;)
  • JoeZilchJoeZilch Member Posts: 6
    They're constantly on hooks by the register in Target and Toys'R'Us and probably a few other retailers and the flatter they lay the more will fit on a display.

    I'm not sure that's why but it would make sense.

    That or TLG ordered a ton of the wrong sized bags and has to run through them.
  • ColoradoBricksColoradoBricks Member Posts: 1,659
    Definitively a size difference between EU and US poly for #30211. The US version didn't have the punched out hole but a glued on hook.
  • cmrt1014cmrt1014 Member Posts: 396
    ^^ I like the theory, but for ones that are hanging, wouldn't gravity cause the parts to all bunch at the bottom?
  • TheLoneTensorTheLoneTensor Member Posts: 3,937
    Bigger just looks better from an end-customer view. I bet the extra "bag" to make it bigger is miniscule compared to people thinking they are getting more than they actually are. Kinda like potato chip bags.
  • ShibShib Member Posts: 5,469
    ^That was my first thought, I often find myself opening a lego set and thinking, does the box really need to be this big?
  • graphitegraphite Member Posts: 3,275
    ^ They've actually started shrinking boxes or so it seems. A lot of the newer $40 and under sets seem to be in smaller boxes than they used to for the piece count, so when you pick up the box it feels fuller. I'm hoping they'll keep going and are just doing it slowly to get people used to the smaller boxes, vs just dropping really small boxes on the shelf next to the last sets with the same piece count and having people think they aren't getting as much. Packaging in todays products is just ridiculous and can be minimized more.
  • ShibShib Member Posts: 5,469
    Even so the boxes do still have a lot more space in than they need for the most part. Not something exclusive to Lego.
  • graphitegraphite Member Posts: 3,275
    ^ I agree which is why I was trying to explain what I think they're doing and that I feel all packaging could be reduced.
  • ShibShib Member Posts: 5,469
    Also has to be said that TLG are no where near as bad as a lot of food manufacturers
  • binaryeyebinaryeye Member Posts: 1,831
    I recall seeing #30187 at Target around Easter and thinking the bag was huge for a polybag, maybe 4" x 6" or so.

    I imagine these larger bags are helpful to those that build the models without opening the bag.
  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    Is there a benefit from the manufacturer's side for going bigger than necessary for packaging of toys? Just seems like extra waste of raw materials and space for all the cartons/packages.
  • AleyditaAleydita Member Posts: 952
    binaryeye said:

    I recall seeing #30187 at Target around Easter and thinking the bag was huge for a polybag, maybe 4" x 6" or so.

    I imagine these larger bags are helpful to those that build the models without opening the bag.

    Wait.. .what? People build the models without opening the bags?
  • donutboydonutboy Member Posts: 758
    ^ I couldn't figure that out either.
  • graphitegraphite Member Posts: 3,275
    ^ At some lego events they even have competitions for it. It is kind of fun to try. Would have to add a new condition category on Bricklink to sell them: "Used, Sealed"
    legomason
  • tom4086tom4086 Member Posts: 689
    Have you never picked up, say a promo minifigure poly bag and built the minifigure without opening the poly? It's a great challenge!
  • SirBenSirBen Member Posts: 592
    edited May 2014
    I even recall a recent discussion about the bewilderment that could be caused by assembling polybag sets in the bag in the store and leaving them to be purchased by someone else.

    I have a #41042 that I assembled in the clear bag that comes inside the purple pouch. It significantly increased the challenge and at least doubled the build time.
  • paul_mertonpaul_merton Member Posts: 2,967
    Making the Monthly Mini Model Build polybags inside the packet makes more sense - at least those are transparent all over!
  • paul_mertonpaul_merton Member Posts: 2,967
    BrickDancer said:

    Is there a benefit from the manufacturer's side for going bigger than necessary for packaging of toys? Just seems like extra waste of raw materials and space for all the cartons/packages.

    Isn't the benefit obvious? Everyone understands that larger sets are generally more expensive, so if two building brick sets are completely identical apart from the size of their boxes, then the larger one will have a higher perceived value in many people's eyes.

    I thought it was a bold (yet welcome) move of LEGO to reduce the size of their boxes. I still see parents commenting on how expensive some of the small sets are in their even-smaller boxes.
  • ShibShib Member Posts: 5,469
    ^Thats one of those things that really annoys me about the general public. That mind set along with the "Cheaper means better value" ideology makes me despair at how gullible people can be.
  • paul_mertonpaul_merton Member Posts: 2,967
    It seems common for polybag collectors to want at least two of every polybag (one to build, one to keep sealed). Does anyone actually worry about getting all of the different sizes and formats of the same polybag set? I noticed last night that I have #30071 in 3 different shapes/sizes!
  • carlqcarlq Member Posts: 792
    paul_merton said:

    It seems common for polybag collectors to want at least two of every polybag (one to build, one to keep sealed). Does anyone actually worry about getting all of the different sizes and formats of the same polybag set? I noticed last night that I have #30071 in 3 different shapes/sizes!

    Ohh, I am SO not going there...! (Not listening, not listening, lalalalala...)
    LegobutterflyAleyditavitreolumGothamConstructionCo
  • SirKevbagsSirKevbags Member Posts: 4,027
    I put stickers on the Fairy Bricks ones. Does that count as another variant that is required? Enquiries for stickers welcome ;)
    carlq
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