any idea what the 2015 winter village set is?

CircleK · December 2015

Pitfall69 said:

So, how many have purchased the "new" Toy Shop?

I did, but had sold my original so I didn't have one. I think the new one is a slight improvement over the original in some ways, though maybe not enough of an improvement to justify the price hike.

I would really like to see this question answered by people who own the original. Show of hands.

monkey_roo · December 2015

Yeap, I bought the new one and i have the old. The build is much the same with a few improvements, the sign for the toy Shop is lovely and the figure printing is a vast improvement. My village will now have two toy stores in it, I am sure the Lego kids who live in my village will be happy for it.

I think part of the Winter Village issue may be that there aren't too many structures left to offer and of the obvious ones (Pub, church) Lego will never make them, maybe a village hall or a school, but at that point you are starting to build a Lego city substitute and I don’t think that was the point of the line. So i suspect if we do get a set next year it could well be another re-release. But that’s ok

Lego re-release and update sets all the time, from almost every line they have, nothing new and it is vital to their business model (or they wouldn't do it). It has no bearing on the secondary market to a collector, if the set gets a new number and a few new pieces, then it’s a different set and a collector will want both and the price for the older set will be regulated by the supply and demand at the time.

I am not a fan of buying Lego (or anything really) to turn a profit because that isn’t my line of work, it is however, other peoples and while I don’t particularly like it, it is part and parcel of the free market economy that we all live off. As a big toy collector I pay what I feel is right for the piece I want and it is based on how much I want it, not what I can get for it tomorrow and that's ok, it's my choice. Love it or hate it, re-releases and secondary markets have always been around and always will.

Lego_Nerd98 · December 2015

I would love to see a Winter Village Park. They hinted at it with the Bakery, but there wasn't enough. If Lego made an icy pond bigger than 10 studs wide, and maybe added some playground or park elements, that would be great; throw in a few trees, snowman, snowy bridge over the pond, and about 5-8 minifigures donned with skis, skates, and scarves, and we're all ready for the 2016 Winter Village set!

hoodaddy · December 2015

We did not buy the new one. My daughter has been getting these for Christmas, and we have all of them up to the re-release. When we heard about the re-release, I showed it to my daughter and we compared them side by side. She agreed that they were basically the same and there was no point in getting the new one. It was disappointing as that was a nice guaranteed present for her, and now that she is 12, she is getting really hard to buy for...

tamamahm · December 2015

I have the old, and no, I did not buy the new one. I have other places to put the money instead of basically the exact same set...said the person considering two Doctor Who sets. ;-)

BrickDancer · December 2015

Why would I throw away money on the same exact set I already have? TLG might get the crazy idea it was a good thing to do in re-releasing the same fodder in a different year. I'd rather save that money and burn it at the altar of an evil reseller.

Paperballpark · December 2015

ToddMyers said:

I would imagine it not a huge percentage of their retail sales (maybe 10 to 20% ?

I'd say more like 1 to 2%, if that. It's really not a big market at all, compared to how much they sell to/for children.

Paperballpark · December 2015

Anyway, I didn't buy the WV Toy Shop, but I do have it, having got it for displaying at a show. I haven't built it yet, but the Eurobricks review makes it more likely that I will, as it seems that it's not just a couple of cosmetic changes they've made.

Lego_Nerd98 · December 2015

If anything, I would buy it for the parts.

ToddMyers · December 2015

Paperballpark said:

ToddMyers said:

I would imagine it not a huge percentage of their retail sales (maybe 10 to 20% ?

I'd say more like 1 to 2%, if that. It's really not a big market at all, compared to how much they sell to/for children.

Without numbers from LEGO, it's all just a stab in the dark.

TigerMoth · December 2015

AustinPowers said:

Which leads me directly to the next point: why people throw these ridiculous sums at resellers (just to satisfy the need to complete a collection? Honestly?) is beyond me.

Why do people, including YOU throw ridiculous sums of money at TLG? There isn't a lot of difference in principle between buying the latest modular at list price and an older one at five times that. If you really want to question it, both are ridiculous.

AustinPowers said:

After all, Lego is a toy, plastic bricks for kids (and adults) to play with (even the name Lego means "play well" for crying out loud), not something to be hoarded and later resold for trying to make the big buck.

That's not true any more. Some items are designed as being collectable. From lego.com regarding CMF Series 14:

"Each minifigure comes in a sealed ‘mystery’ bag with one or more accessories, display plate and collector’s leaflet."

A collector's leaflet is presumably for collectors - to be hoarded.

It's interesting to note that most of the sets you list would also be regarded by most people as collectable.

Indeed, it is the collectables that cause the problem - because they are collectable. Almost all the complaints about resellers' set prices relate to this century. There are earlier iconic sets, complete with hefty price tags, that are never mentioned.

AustinPowers said:

I hope this new version of the Toy Store sells incredibly well and Lego takes this as a hint that it would be a great idea to rerelease updated versions of popular models like Haunted House, Town Hall, Grand Carousel, Taj Mahal, UCS Millenium Falcon etc. Basically all those sets that resellers use to extort completely unreasonable amounts of money from those poor folks who missed the chance to buy a model at RRP the first time round - no matter for what reason.

Are you aware that most of those sets were released BEFORE the boom in the number of people who bought sets purely to resell?

Let me be clear about something. I don't particularly like resellers, largely because of the way that some of them (typically eBayers) tend to clear the shelves of anything that remotely approaches being a bargain. But it's wrong to assume that everybody is either a reseller or like yourself wanting everything to be available forever - until, of course, you've got it.

There was never any problem obtaining any of the sets you mention. Indeed, my own personal objection to resellers also goes out the window with them because, as exclusives, there generally weren't any bargains to be had that led to clearing of shelves.

The question to ask is why anybody wants any of the sets for which resellers charge large amounts - it's because they are collectable. I can think of a few older sets that I'd like. Mostly, it's because they contain parts that are no longer produced - if a new set came out with the same part, I'd be happy whether the set bore any likeness to the original or not. Even so, the originals tend to be relatively cheap because they're not collectable as such, even though they've been out of production for a long time.

TigerMoth · December 2015

khmellymel said:

I will, but next year. I'm a year behind, I bought Santa's Workshop this year :)

Be careful with that - it may not be available next year, whether as a cause or effect of it being re-released. If you want it, buy it.

Fauch · December 2015

ToddMyers said:

Couldn't diasgree more, @AustinPowers -- In my opinion, your view is very naive and completely ignores established market forces.

that's the point where we have to rant about huge income inequalities which allow a few people to drive prices up and break the market for everyone else.

no toy shop for me, can't bring myself to buy a WV set yet, they look nice, though small. santa's workshop, just under 1kg and it has 883 pieces? it is more like the weight of a 600 pieces set.

Lego_Nerd98 · December 2015

And if Lego just rereleased every single set, what would be the point of collecting? Reselling and purchasing discontinued sets makes one's collection unique. It wouldn't be fun to search intently for out-of-market sets that are just updated and released every year. It would be like purchasing an old IPhone just for fun.

Sethro3 · December 2015

You mean you don't seek out old iPhones?

TheLoneTensor · December 2015

AustinPowers said:

as much as I love 10228...I just don't see any reason to pay more than twice RRP even for a used set

Good for you. Don't then.

AustinPowers said:

P.S.: I know there are a lot of resellers on this forum and those will certainly detest what I said. But try to understand my reasoning also.

The only thing I detest is your certainty that people will detest what you said.

goshe7 · December 2015

TigerMoth said:

Let me be clear about something. I don't particularly like resellers, largely because of the way that some of them (typically eBayers) tend to clear the shelves of anything that remotely approaches being a bargain.

Please take a step back and focus your disgust on the proper target.

If you don't like the way some people tend to clear the shelves of anything that remotely approaches a bargain, I would choose to not like that group of people. That group of people would likely include resellers as well as builders looking to vastly increase their own collection. As for your claim that they are "typically eBayers", what evidence have you?

Let me give you a corresponding perspective. I personally loathe people that abuse the return system at stores. This includes people who regularly buy something, hold it for a period of time, and then return. It could be a reseller trying to make a quick buck and bailing when that doesn't materialize. It could also be an AFOL trying to scoop up a near-retirement set (Death Star) and then choosing to return it later when it is apparent it is not yet retiring and they want to spend their money elsewhere. I absolutely hate the people that buy a bunch of CMF, cherry pick at home, and return the leftovers to a store. I don't care if they are cherry picking an army for themselves or figures for resale.

Sethro3 · December 2015

I think if anyone is upset at Austin Powers, it should only be because I haven't seen an Austin Powers MOC...the world needs one. It just does.

As far as buying and returning later, how is it abusing the system? They bought a product and returned it within the store's policy time period. Intentions can vary wildly.

I have not "cherry picked" the CMFs at home, but I will buy the figures I want in the store and sometimes later after opening one and holding it in my hand realize I don't want an army of them and return them later. Sure, they weren't available for someone else at the store, but it's a product to be purchased. Now by returning it, someone else gets the chance to stockpile the very figures that were returned. The only problem is you have to sift through the figures to find the ones you want. But you have to do that anyway when you are originally picking the figures you want.

crazycarl · December 2015

I have the old one....... I just cant get over that we paid $220 for it because it was discontinued. Never again shall I buy at collector prices. I would have loved to have gotten the new one. I'm pretty sure this is exactly why TLG is doing this now. To cut into the 2nd hand market and that is just fine with me. Being a builder and not a collector. They have been doing this for a long time with Star Wars. Bring on the Winter Village Train re-release in 2016!!!!!!

Paperballpark · December 2015

crazycarl said:

Bring on the Winter Village Train re-release in 2016!!!!!!

God no, please. At least not unless they substantially redesign it. I built the loco out of parts I have, and quite honestly, it's a rubbish train.

madforLEGO · December 2015

Not sure if anyone has access to LEGO's production or sales on the new TS, but in a very basic example so far I see about 1748 people on Brickset who bought the new toy shop. Compare that to the 7267 that bought the original and I think you can think about throwing out the idea that the new one would sell like hotcakes because there are more AFOLs now than when the original was out. Now I know this is a small sample size but still can give a very general idea about how popular the new one is. Even if it has only been out for a season. If you want to double that number it is still well under the number of original TS owned by those on Brickset

I will not lose sleep if the re-release toy shop sells poorly. Maybe it will be a lesson to those clamoring for redo's, and LEGO itself, that remaking EOL sets is not really a savvy business move after all.
Nevermind that this only helps resellers in the long run. Why? Eventually the set will discontinue again, causing prices on both the original and the new one to rise.

Sethro3 said:

..... As far as buying and returning later, how is it abusing the system? They bought a product and returned it within the store's policy time period. Intentions can vary wildly.

I have not "cherry picked" the CMFs at home, but I will buy the figures I want in the store and sometimes later after opening one and holding it in my hand realize I don't want an army of them and return them later. Sure, they weren't available for someone else at the store, but it's a product to be purchased. Now by returning it, someone else gets the chance to stockpile the very figures that were returned. The only problem is you have to sift through the figures to find the ones you want. But you have to do that anyway when you are originally picking the figures you want.

Simple, the systems is not being used as intended (and I think we can readily assume the stores intent is only if there is an issue with the product, or the wrong product bought). You return an item because you did not want it, or there was an issue with it. Hard to claim the former when you, not someone buying a gift for you, purchased the item, and the latter, well the item is damaged which means you would get another of the same typically.

The systems are not in place to use as a convenient loophole for someone's laziness in buying a whole box of CMFs to cherry pick in their home on their sofa. Or buying something hoping it will retire then returning it when they realize it will not retire.

crazycarl · December 2015

Thats cool but I still want it. Just not for $600+. If not a re-release than at least a WV train or even a train station would be even better!

goshe7 · December 2015

madforLEGO said:

Sethro3 said:

..... As far as buying and returning later, how is it abusing the system? They bought a product and returned it within the store's policy time period. Intentions can vary wildly.

I have not "cherry picked" the CMFs at home, but I will buy the figures I want in the store and sometimes later after opening one and holding it in my hand realize I don't want an army of them and return them later. Sure, they weren't available for someone else at the store, but it's a product to be purchased. Now by returning it, someone else gets the chance to stockpile the very figures that were returned. The only problem is you have to sift through the figures to find the ones you want. But you have to do that anyway when you are originally picking the figures you want.

Simple, the systems is not being used as intended (and I think we can readily assume the stores intent is only if there is an issue with the product, or the wrong product bought). You return an item because you did not want it, or there was an issue with it. Hard to claim the former when you, not someone buying a gift for you, purchased the item, and the latter, well the item is damaged which means you would get another of the same typically.

The systems are not in place to use as a convenient loophole for someone's laziness in buying a whole box of CMFs to cherry pick in their home on their sofa. Or buying something hoping it will retire then returning it when they realize it will not retire.

I even consider the occasional "I changed my mind" or "I found it cheaper elsewhere" as an acceptable reason to return. For me, the key word was regular. When it becomes a pattern of behavior, those actions will impact store inventory management and return policies (ultimately negative for everyone).

TheLoneTensor · December 2015

Exactly, we are currently in a VERY generous age when it comes to liberal retail return policies. When the time comes, and it will come, that retailers band together to mitigate against the large amount of loss when it comes to returns, we'll lament how good we had it.

TigerMoth · December 2015

goshe7 said:

TigerMoth said:

Let me be clear about something. I don't particularly like resellers, largely because of the way that some of them (typically eBayers) tend to clear the shelves of anything that remotely approaches being a bargain.

Please take a step back and focus your disgust on the proper target.

What disgust? Why do idiots like you try to imply things that haven't been said.

I said "I don't particularly like resellers", that's a long, long way from being disgusted by them. It was only worth mentioning because I was commenting on a post criticising resellers, and which I thought was excessive (but I still wouldn't describe as expressing disgust); whilst I thought it was excessive, I wanted to make it clear that I was neither a reseller, nor on their side of that particular "us and them" fence.

goshe7 said:

As for your claim that they are "typically eBayers", what evidence have you?

How about boasting over the top of their trolleys to their companions? It becomes very clear that they have no idea what they're buying, but are simply doing so based on the principle that they think they can sell virtually anything with a "LEGO" label at list price, or maybe a bit more, and that a sign which says "money off" simply means "profit".

Some other resellers tend to be a bit more savvy and selective about what they buy, but they are not discrete groups.

Lego_Nerd98 · December 2015

Unfortunately, prices are just going to be tough for the discontinued sets. I'm okay with watching the market, and snatching up something at the proper time, when prices are down. The mark of a true collector is knowing what they want, how they want it, and at what price; and knowing when to get it and how to get it. It takes patience, persistence, and skill.

TigerMoth · December 2015

madforLEGO said:

Simple, the systems is not being used as intended (and I think we can readily assume the stores intent is only if there is an issue with the product, or the wrong product bought).

The returns system is for the store's benefit.

Faulty goods are hopefully covered by a purchaser's legal right to get whatever it is they've paid for.

The idea is that a customer sees a product but is undecided about buying it - either because they're not sure it's what they want or because they think they might to be able to get it cheaper elsewhere. By having a policy of accepting returns, the store can effectively say "buy it anyway - if you don't want it, or find it cheaper, you can always return it". Kerching! Sold! Then inertia takes over. A lot of people that change their mind won't then return the item, and so the store has made sales that it wouldn't if people had thought things through completely.

Chubbles · December 2015

plus it's money they wouldn't have had otherwise and money today is better than no money

goshe7 · December 2015

TigerMoth said:

goshe7 said:

TigerMoth said:

Let me be clear about something. I don't particularly like resellers, largely because of the way that some of them (typically eBayers) tend to clear the shelves of anything that remotely approaches being a bargain.

Please take a step back and focus your disgust on the proper target.

What disgust? Why do idiots like you try to imply things that haven't been said.

I said "I don't particularly like resellers", that's a long, long way from being disgusted by them.

I find it perplexing that you take such offense to me using a word to describe your feelings based on my interpretation of what you wrote when you are confident in using a word to describe your feelings (idiots like you) based on your interpretation of what I wrote.

I don't find it perplexing that you chose to attack this word, rather than reconsidering the target of your not particular liking.

TigerMoth said:
goshe7 said:

As for your claim that they are "typically eBayers", what evidence have you?
How about boasting over the top of their trolleys to their companions? It becomes very clear that they have no idea what they're buying, but are simply doing so based on the principle that they think they can sell virtually anything with a "LEGO" label at list price, or maybe a bit more, and that a sign which says "money off" simply means "profit".

Some other resellers tend to be a bit more savvy and selective about what they buy, but they are not discrete groups.

Your typical experience is that they boast loudly to others that they will resell the items on eBay? My typical experience is that they behave discreetly. We just must have different neighbors.

TigerMoth · December 2015

goshe7 said:

I find it perplexing that you take such offense to me using a word to describe your feelings based on my interpretation of what you wrote when you are confident in using a word to describe your feelings (idiots like you) based on your interpretation of what I wrote.

Deliberately so.

goshe7 said:

Your typical experience is that they boast loudly to others that they will resell the items on eBay? My typical experience is that they behave discreetly. We just must have different neighbors.

I should hope so; we're in different countries. And as that is always likely to be the case, it's best to assume that, or something similar, explains a difference in perception before criticising or questioning it.

SumoLego · December 2015

Pitfall69 said:
So, how many have purchased the "new" Toy Shop?

I will also buy two next year. As a slave to my OCD.

SumoLego · December 2015

@ToddMyers - Well put. Although I don't think Lego pays much attention to the secondary market.

Frankly, it would be bad if they did. The vast lion's share of profits and sales are civilians and not collectors.

I don't think Nike pays much attention to their secondary market, or Hallmark much cares about the ornament collecting sector.

sklamb · December 2015

I bought the new Toy Shop, because I was still in my Dark Ages when the first version came out, and (given its price on the resale market since I've become an AFOL) I was never going to get it. Mind you, since I don't inventory my collection at BrickSet, my purchase hasn't shown up there.

If they try re-issuing the Winter Village Cottage, I won't buy it, because I had a chance to buy it once, didn't, and don't regret passing it up. If I had had the old Toy Shop, I suspect I might have bought a few of the new minifigures from BrickLink and left it at that. And while I can sympathize with those who spent more than they would have liked buying the original set on the secondary market, they still have something that the new version doesn't replace.

As for the resellers? This is surely one of the risks you take when you make any sort of investment.

Bumblepants · December 2015

Fun Fact: There are no arguments for or against reselling that have not been reiterated dozens of times each already.

Fauch · December 2015

the cottage is the one I'm interested to see re-released. especially if they improve the look of the roof from inside.

Pitfall69 · December 2015

Bumblepants said:

Fun Fact: There are no arguments for or against reselling that have not been reiterated dozens of times each already.

Yes, but the "newbies" haven't experienced the joy of "Evil Reseller" arguments before. Might as well grab some popcorn, sit back and enjoy...I mean, shake your head ;)

Pumpkin_3CK5 · December 2015

I wouldn't mind if they re-release a collection of the vehicles in the winter series.

LostInTranslation · December 2015

You know it's Christmas time when the Reseller arguments flare up again :-)

FWIW my first year or so on here I was fully engaged in this argument (anti-reseller).
Now I just go with the flow and try not to stress about it either way, having become a reseller myself on a small scale (I am genetically unable to leave a bargain on the shelf! But have no space :-( )

So I say live and let live.
Peace and Lego to all AFOLkind :-)

But those who haven't enjoyed the argument before, by all means have at it!

Venunder · December 2015

Any idea what the Winter Village 2016 set will be?

I would go for a small Ice skating lake with a couple of seats, some conifer Trees and banks of snow around it. Maybe a Lamp post and a small bridge across one corner. With 5 or 6 minifigs.
Cost £30-40.
A smaller price tag for these sets seems reasonable to me.
This years set seems very overpriced at £60.

Lego_Nerd98 · December 2015

Venunder said:

Any idea what the Winter Village 2016 set will be?

I would go for a small Ice skating lake with a couple of seats, some conifer Trees and banks of snow around it. Maybe a Lamp post and a small bridge across one corner. With 5 or 6 minifigs.
Cost £30-40.
A smaller price tag for these sets seems reasonable to me.
This years set seems very overpriced at £60.

Yep! It should be called Winter Village Park, kinda like I said up there ^

AustinPowers · December 2015

ToddMyers said:

...

On the other hand, LEGO has started down the path of being unfriendly to resellers and the secondary market, so maybe they agree with you. I'd love to see what happens to their profits if their secondary target audience -- adult collectors -- takes a hike. I would imagine it not a huge percentage of their retail sales (maybe 10 to 20% ? -- I don't think that they have ever released that data), but the thing about those pesky AFOLs is that they are also parents of kids who like LEGO, and if a company does something that angers me or makes me feel personally marginalized, you can bet that I'm not going to spend my money there for my kids. So.... I wonder if they have considered the possible ramifications to their core market audience if they continue to anger their secondary market audience?

Personally, it's all bunk to me anyway -- you'll be happy to know that there is one less collector out there paying those "outrageous" secondary market prices. I've thrown in the towel and will be buying no more sets (secondary or otherwise). Maybe you'll get that UCS Falcon for MSRP after all.

Just for the record, I am not into SW at all, I just took the MF (and others) as an example. Of the sets I mentioned, only Town Hall and Haunted House would interest me. And TH not even so much anymore. I was only keen on the clock piece, but now that I have bought Santa's Workshop, in don't need TH for that anyway. I am not a collector after all, but a MOCer and father of two kids who share my Lego building passion of almost forty years. Details to my thoughts and reasoning by the way are in the PM I just sent you.

And as for Lego and their need for a secondary market. Why should they be interested in the secondary market at all? They don't sell in the secondary market. Parents shouldn't even need to buy from resellers. Funny anyway, some modulars like PS, PC or PR which are all still available at RRP from Lego S@H, are sold via ebay for up to 50% above RRP. That is not even stuff that isn't around any more. How stupid does one have to be to buy these sets from the "secondary market" above retail when you can easily get them at RRP at the same time from Lego themselves???

Or would you buy a new car from a used car salesman at above retail price even if you could get the same model from the offical dealership at RRP (or even less, if they offer discounts, much like Lego sometimes does)?

AustinPowers · December 2015

Lego_Nerd98 said:

I would love to see a Winter Village Park. They hinted at it with the Bakery, but there wasn't enough. If Lego made an icy pond bigger than 10 studs wide, and maybe added some playground or park elements, that would be great; throw in a few trees, snowman, snowy bridge over the pond, and about 5-8 minifigures donned with skis, skates, and scarves, and we're all ready for the 2016 Winter Village set!

Sounds a bit like the Friends advent calenders :-)

AustinPowers · December 2015

TigerMoth said:

Why do people, including YOU throw ridiculous sums of money at TLG? There isn't a lot of difference in principle between buying the latest modular at list price and an older one at five times that. If you really want to question it, both are ridiculous.

Who says I am paying RRP for the Lego I buy?
I live in Germany after all, a country of bargain hunters if ever you saw some. Our grocery prices for example are some of the lowest in the world, and toys are also often available for bargain basement prices.

For the record, I have only three modulars - the latest (PC, PR and DO). And I got every one of them for between 10 and 25% discount.
Or Benny's spaceship. Bought from Lego S@H a couple of months ago at 50% off!
And so on and so on. Come to think of it, I haven't bought any Lego set at RRP for a very long time.

tamamahm · December 2015

Pitfall69 said:

Bumblepants said:

Fun Fact: There are no arguments for or against reselling that have not been reiterated dozens of times each already.

Yes, but the "newbies" haven't experienced the joy of "Evil Reseller" arguments before. Might as well grab some popcorn, sit back and enjoy...I mean, shake your head ;)

Yeah, I'm torn between regret in that I bumped this thread in order to share I had found a reasonable solution for our family for doing a non-repeat winter build over Thanksgiving weekend , and joy of sitting back with popcorn and shaking my head.

Hemel · December 2015

Paperballpark said:

crazycarl said:

Bring on the Winter Village Train re-release in 2016!!!!!!

God no, please. At least not unless they substantially redesign it. I built the loco out of parts I have, and quite honestly, it's a rubbish train.

I bricklink'ed 10173 to complete my WV set and I agree. The train is crap. But my COD to have everything Winter Village wanted it (luckily it hasn't made my buy 10249)

Should've spent my money on bricklinking 10194 instead.

AustinPowers · December 2015

TigerMoth said:

AustinPowers said:

After all, Lego is a toy, plastic bricks for kids (and adults) to play with (even the name Lego means "play well" for crying out loud), not something to be hoarded and later resold for trying to make the big buck.
That's not true any more. Some items are designed as being collectable. From lego.com regarding CMF Series 14:

"Each minifigure comes in a sealed ‘mystery’ bag with one or more accessories, display plate and collector’s leaflet."

A collector's leaflet is presumably for collectors - to be hoarded.

It's interesting to note that most of the sets you list would also be regarded by most people as collectable.

Indeed, it is the collectables that cause the problem - because they are collectable. Almost all the complaints about resellers' set prices relate to this century. There are earlier iconic sets, complete with hefty price tags, that are never mentioned.

....

The question to ask is why anybody wants any of the sets for which resellers charge large amounts - it's because they are collectable. I can think of a few older sets that I'd like. Mostly, it's because they contain parts that are no longer produced - if a new set came out with the same part, I'd be happy whether the set bore any likeness to the original or not. Even so, the originals tend to be relatively cheap because they're not collectable as such, even though they've been out of production for a long time.

Concerning CMF. True, those are collectables, at least they are even designated as such by Lego themselves. No question about that.

But why should modulars for example be considered as "collectables" more so than any city set? Because they have more parts? Because they are targeted at age 16+? Because they look nice?

Modulars in particular have great play value, even for kids of ten years or younger. Believe me, I know what I am talking about from experience with my own kids.
I don't see any reason to call them collectable.

Architecture sets, ok, these have basically no play value, bad value for money brick-wise even at RRP and are therefor clearly aimed at affluent adult collectors mainly.

But modulars? The are not cheap, sure, but in terms of price per part they are real bargains even at RRP. Plus, as I said they have great play value, and are immensely fun to build. Both of which seems more important to kids than collectors. Hell, even stuff like Tower Bridge is great for kids. I built mine together with our seven-year-old daughter, and she loved every minute of it - even putting on all those cheese-slopes ;-)

So as to the notion that people are willing to pay a lot for the older modulars that are no longer available. Perhaps these are indeed the collectors, because no sane parent would (could?) spend such amounts of money on stuff they would want to play with. Shame really.

Oh and as for really old sets: I grew up in the Seventies and Eighties, and basically started my Lego affiliation with Classic Space. In those days I didn't get stuff like Galaxy Explorer and some others I would have loved to have back in the day. I now have most of these sets thanks to ebay sellers, but that is private sellers of their own stuff from their own childhood. Not the greedy kind of "quick big buck" resellers I mentioned that I so absolutely hate.

Chubbles · December 2015

Sounds like a lot of projecting your own values onto others. If I have the means and am willing to pay for something, that doesn't force your hand in any way. Different people collect different things, my collection may seem stupid to the next guy who in turn may collect something even 'stupider'. It's all relative.

AustinPowers · December 2015

Lego_Nerd98 said:

And if Lego just rereleased every single set, what would be the point of collecting? Reselling and purchasing discontinued sets makes one's collection unique. It wouldn't be fun to search intently for out-of-market sets that are just updated and released every year. It would be like purchasing an old IPhone just for fun.

My point exactly: Lego is for being played with, not collecting. If you want stuff to collect, try stamps, coins, beer towels or other pointless stuff. I have never understood the need for collecting stuff anyway. What's the point? Why amass a lot of stuff to collect dust on some shelf, when you could rather have fun playing with it?

And you find it "fun" to search for out-of-market sets? Where's the fun in that. Sounds as much fun as sitting on a bench and staring at cars go by the whole day. But if you are into collecting old iPhones, perhaps you would find that fun as well.

(And no, I DID get your irony in that last sentence).

AustinPowers · December 2015

TheLoneTensor said:

AustinPowers said:

as much as I love 10228...I just don't see any reason to pay more than twice RRP even for a used set
Good for you. Don't then.

Well, you are right. I don't ;-)

MattsWhat · December 2015

AustinPowers said:
My point exactly: Lego is for being played with, not collecting. If you want stuff to collect, try stamps, coins, beer towels or other pointless stuff.

I wasn't going to get involved in this at all as it's a pointless and petty argument, but this statement is just rude. People can collect whatever they want and define fun as whatever they want. And coming on a forum aimed specifically at a group of people who enjoy that exact thing (and maybe a few who enjoy lego in a different way apparently) and telling them they are wrong makes you look like an asshat.

any idea what the 2015 winter village set is?

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