Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not get why Lego is so fecking expensive?

70 replies

Bogeyface · 20/11/2013 21:01

Its plastic bricks FFS!

I can sort of see why the branded stuff (Star Wars etc) is more as they have to pay for the rights to use the brand, but even the standard stuff is exorbitant for what you get!

I have managed to avoid it thus far but after a play date a few weeks ago, DS i now hooked. I have a set budget at Xmas anyway, but this year it is set in stone thanks to redunancy followed by a NMW job, and what I can get, even with super savvy shopping, is pitiful :(

OP posts:
CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 20/11/2013 21:09

Try posting a wanted ad on your local FB selling pages. Someone did this last week and got quite a few offers of cheap sets.

Now is a good time as people are clearing space for new christmas gifts.

I was lucky enough to find a huge box at a carboot so only had to buy a couple of new sets over the years and now DD is just starting to grow out of it as DS is getting hooked so it's all being passed to him.

You could also ask relatives if they want present suggestions.

LindyHemming · 20/11/2013 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Annunziata · 20/11/2013 21:12

It's gone up soooo much in the past few years. My lot used to love it and it was a treat, but not too bad.

I've heard Ebay is good, but I've never used it.

5madthings · 20/11/2013 21:15

I have used some tesco points, lots of lego on tesco site is in the double up deal so esssentiaslky you get it at half price.

Def look on freecycle, Gumtree, eBay etc.

Opalite · 20/11/2013 21:15

YANBU, it's ridiculous. Luckily there are plenty of similar products out there, most of them say something like 'fits with other brands of plastic bricks' etc i.e. they're the same shapes and sizes as lego, just a different brand

5madthings · 20/11/2013 21:16

Also Wilkinson's do their own lego, the 'sets' they sell are crap but they sell individual bricks like pick n mix and they are fine and fit with normal lego.

All other copies of lego I have looked at are crap but this one seems fine.

BeCool · 20/11/2013 21:23

the patents protecting Lego ran out years ago, and courts elsewhere have upheld that the brick design is functional and therefore not protected by trademark - I think it's amazing the market hasn't been flooded with much cheaper compatible bricks especially considering the price and popularity of it.

I guess the Lego brand is so massive and strong, people actually want to pay the extra to get original Lego?

Financeprincess · 20/11/2013 21:25

They charge what they can get away with! Why wouldn't they?

BeCool · 20/11/2013 21:25

in 2012 Lego overtook Mattel as the worlds most valuable toy company!

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 20/11/2013 21:26

BeCool - it has started though. I've seen a few alternative makes coming onto the market recently.

DD got a Dr Who set last year. Think the make was 'character building' and it fits fine with her Lego stuff.

BatPenguin · 20/11/2013 21:29

It is over priced. I saw some on offer in Asda the other day if that's any help. Otherwise as PP's said try ebay?

BikeRunSki · 20/11/2013 21:30

Lego a bit cheaper and 3 for 2 at Kiddicare

BeCool · 20/11/2013 21:30

CAKE that's good to hear. You would have thought though that a major competitor would have come into the market by now?

I've never seen any - but I don't buy Lego (yet) though I do go into the Lego shop every time I pass wondering if they will every make Wonder Women key rings again, and cursing them for making 50 male character key rings, having Princess Leia available occasionally and deleting Wonder Woman! Grin

Pancakeflipper · 20/11/2013 21:31

I have seen a few and my children have had a few small sets but its not been good as Lego.

We are using vouchers/nectar points etc to fund our Lego habit.

Although costly my children do play with it so much that it is worth it.

And I am going to keep it for any possible future grandchildren.

Hope you find someone selling it or have supermarket points to use.

hallowisitmeyourelookingfor · 20/11/2013 21:31

I think it's partly down to it being virtually indestructible. It doesn't break and generally doesn't get thrown away. Therefore it doesn't get 'replaced' as such, just added to, so the price stays high.
I throw out all our old toys/games etc, but the things that have been kept are the sylvanians, brio and Thomas trains, and the lego.

NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 20/11/2013 21:33

not sure what it is about Lego but the plastic and molding is SO good.
we are using lego with the boys that DH and I had when we were children.

it has been through the washing machine to clean it

it has been trodden on and thrown and generally neglected and still after a quick milton fluid looks just like new.

I am not convinced that in 35-40 years the current crop of nonlego bricks will still be standing.

VworpVworp · 20/11/2013 21:34

It lasts forever! (well- all mine and DH's from 70s/80s still going strong, and played with every day)

Imitations are just not of the same quality, and it's easy to pick up 2nd hand (ebay, charity shops etc)

NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 20/11/2013 21:35

agree also about the brio. the stuff we have had has lasted through 2 generations of children the stuff we got from ikea and others have not lasted.

Cookethenook · 20/11/2013 21:36

I don't think lego is THAT expensive.

The little boxes of Chima, Harry Potter, Starwars are about £7.99, so pocket money prices. It's only if you buy the massive sets that it gets pricey and they take the fun out of getting creative!

It's indestructible, there are a million things you can do with it, great for all ages, fits with duplo. Pretty good value for money imo.

SoftSheen · 20/11/2013 21:37

Lego is very, very good quality, is almost impossible to break and lasts for decades. It has almost limitless play value: kids, and indeed adults, never get bored of it. It works beautifully- just try one of the cheap imitations to appreciate the difference.

Despite the price, lego has to be one of the best value toys there is. If you can't avoid new, how about looking on Ebay?

BikeRunSki · 20/11/2013 21:38

To be fair to Lego, DS (5) plays with Lego bricks that were originally bought for my 50+ year old brother, which has been played with by me and my 4 siblings and my 6 nephews/neices/children.

5madthings · 20/11/2013 21:45

Have to concur it is indestructible. Some of the lego my kids have was mine and DPs when we were kids, we have been buying it since ds1 was three? And have thousands of pounds worth now I guess. But it is the most played with toy and they have asked for more for Christmas!

Also our duplo was pretty much all secondhand but again has lasted for our five children, you can combine lego and duplo and mine often do.

It is an ever lasting toy.

Parietal · 20/11/2013 21:49

It seems expensive, but per hour of play it is better value than many other toys. And second hand is just as good as new. Much better to have lots.

Swipe left for the next trending thread