Are buyouts a thing?

Jackad7 · February 2016

So I've been in the market for an Ayala secura for two months now and within the last week it went from easily had at 30 to 50 for a legitimate clone turbo tank version. This made me wonder, are buyouts a thing? I used to play a trading card game and very frequently someone or a store would buy out specific cards that you need to play specific decks shooting the price to the moon. Just wondering if this thing happens in the Lego community with figures. Thanks

brickupdate · February 2016

Hadn't heard of this, but perhaps I should try to corner the market on Construct-a-Zurg. Be prepared to pay big money if anyone wants their own! Bwah-hah-hah-hah-haaaaaaaaah!!!!!!

willobee498 · February 2016

It is. The Christmas that Minecraft sets came out, I believe in many cities scalpers would buy all the sets, then sell them for profit to parents desperate to give their kids what they want. Then after Christmas, they can just return the sets that didn't sell back to the store.

I am sure there other instances, especially on sets like Bricklink where someone trouble buy up all of a piece.

goshe7 · February 2016

^Absolutely on bricklink, although it is difficult to separate a massive collector from someone cornering the market. It is also very difficult for one to corner a market when so many others can pull parts out of the closet when the price is high.

Bionicle bat pod thingee, 6x6 radar for alternate ferris wheel colors, parts for that popular motorcycle moc are a few that jump to mind.

BuriedinBricks · February 2016

@Jackad7 - former MTG player? ;)

I think buyouts in that capacity are more difficult with LEGO, at least when it comes to sets. People can cite a few cases, but I think most of those are with newer releases where initial production runs that were too small. Minecraft, the Dynamic Duo Funhouse, and the first Frozen castle set are some more recent examples that jump to mind. Oh, and #41999...how can I forget that one?

A better comparison would be what @goshe7 mentioned - specific rare parts needed to source or customize popular sets. Things like the arches, doors, and panels from Cafe Corner and Market Street...printed parts or bley levers from the USC Falcon...those are things that are easier to identify and WAY easier to store.

KingAlanI · February 2016

goshe7 said:

It is also very difficult for one to corner a market when so many others can pull parts out of the closet when the price is high.

Like when the Hunt brothers tried to corner the silver market - people sold off silver coins and such.

I used to play MTG, and yes, some weird things happen in its marketplace.

Bumblepants · February 2016

BuriedinBricks said:

Oh, and #41999...how can I forget that one?

Pretty sure cornering that market backfired on at least one guy.

Kevin_Hyatt · February 2016

Think ive got an aayla secura somewhere. Sounds like time to dig it out!

CupIsHalfEmpty · February 2016

Bumblepants said:

BuriedinBricks said:

Oh, and #41999...how can I forget that one?

Pretty sure cornering that market backfired on at least one guy.

That was unreal, I wonder what ever happened to that guy. Was his name Mark? Rumors were flying that he had 2000 of the 20000 made.

tallblocktoo · February 2016

Lego only made 20, 000 of #41999? Isn't that a ridiculously low number? I really know nothing about production but seems for a worldwide market that seems very little. What was the reasoning?

CCC · February 2016

Read the first few words of the brickset review of it ... 4x4 Crawler Exclusive Edition.

prevere · February 2016

As soon as I saw this thread, I immediately thought of the Crawler guy.

willobee498 · February 2016

Yeah, the set exclusive crawler featured a fan designed body, limited run, each set had its number as a printed license plate for the vehicle. Hence a lot of people were buying one to build, one as an investment. But I've never heard of this guy who bought 2000. Is there more to the story?

BrickDancer · February 2016

It was @billy brown and he drove all around the UK to score this haul. I'm not sure which thread it was in, probably in 'the thread'. But I do believe that whole discussion was the spark for the last major reseller debate of yore 'Skirmish at Skirting Limits'.

CCC · February 2016

He bought from stores though. The other person was buying as many as he could on the secondary market paying crazy prizes too.

TigerMoth · February 2016

CCC said:

He bought from stores though.

He was also trying to trade Imperial Shuttles for them. If he succeeded, that may not have worked in his favour.

piratemania7 · February 2016

On a small scale maybe - perhaps local to your area. But overall I don't think it's possible. It is rather difficult to corner the market since LEGO is found in many countries. Again, it also depends on your selling forum. But everything in your area and sell it on Craigslist; but it's a different story if you are talking eBay.

Are buyouts a thing?

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