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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Or are Lego taking the piss?

96 replies

trashcanjunkie · 09/12/2015 02:12

Ds has asked for a medium sized Lego Star Wars set for one of his Christmas presents. It's not his 'main' present, just a stocking filler.... Except it looks like anything above a squiddly little thing is coming in around the forty quid mark. I mean.... it's plastic ffs! I wanted to spend around half that amount. There was a couple of things on the Smyths website for twenty quid - a Jedi interceptor - but they've sold out nationwide, and are on Amazon for twice the price. I'm aware that's not Lego's fault, but I feel a bit humped by the whole thing. Either I disappoint ds with no Lego, a small Lego thing, or shell out £25 for the next size up thing, which is already low stock.

Aargh. Rant over. I'll almost be grateful to be told aibu. Then it'll be me being a nobhead, and I'll wind my neck in.

OP posts:

SweepTheHalls · 09/12/2015 07:27

I would also say try actual lego stores as they don't have the mark up that Amazon adds on top.

Snoopadoop · 09/12/2015 07:34

Not that it helps you but I think lego is great value for the money when you compare it with other gifts. I saw an advert the other day for a minion, I don't think the minion even did anything that special £80!!! Last year DS wanted a transformer that cost £80?! Seriously? The cost of some toys is horrendous, for plastic crap that breaks in a week or they lose interest in after an hour.
For that kind of money you can get a great lego set that you can play with again and again and keep forever. I have a friend who still has all his lego from the 70s and his kids happily play with it and it all still works well (for building purposes, no loose bricks or anything).

1frenchfoodie · 09/12/2015 07:34

Star wars stuff very expensive but still have a soft spot for lego. At least it is compact so once you/DC have tired of building to the instructions it can be dumped in a mixed box (or scattered around like tiny carpet land mines ) And it is then creative as kids make their own shapes. Definately agree with AnyoneFucoffee on bolstering with non branded general bricks.

moooooo83 · 09/12/2015 07:39

YY to it being overpriced.
What I don't like about the 'new' lego is the tiny bits/various sizes/colours it is is made up of.
I bought DD2 a small lego house and the walls were made up of different sized bricks and a lot of the time it was completely unnecessary eg one tier of a length of wall that could have been made just with 2 long bits was made with 3 different sizes and every tier different - meant she needed a lot of help to make it (it was 6+ I think and she was 7). Then when it is made you are reluctant to touch it cos it was such a faff to make. And it is hard to customise/deviate from the design unless you have a pot of spares bricks the right colour as you are likely to end up needing a 2 long bit and you only have a 3.
(Don't know if that is explained very well - I think it limits imagination -eg you can't move the window to a different wall cos you won't have the 'right' sized bricks to do that -and there are hundreds of different colours)
I thought about getting her mixed bricks instead (classic)- not only are they expensive (few bricks for cost) but again they are all different colours and sizes ...lots of tiny bits (and wheels and eyes and doors etc ) ... but you can't build a 'traditional' wall -there just aren't enough bricks of the right size! - I wish I'd kept mine from being a child....

LumpySpacedPrincess · 09/12/2015 07:44

Lego is the one thing that stands the test of time and is worth the money.

Dd builds, admires then strips and adds to her collection from which she builds giant hybrid worlds that keep her busy for hours.

Bloody love lego.

TheCarpenter · 09/12/2015 07:52

YANBU. The minecraft sets are tiny for what you pay.

ricketytickety · 09/12/2015 07:56

YANBU. It's waaaaaay overpriced for the teeny sets you get these days. You used to be able to make lots of different things with it, but now it's just one little thing like a bus, unless you want to spend lots of money on it. Takes about 30 mins to make and then that's it, not played with again.

Athrawes · 09/12/2015 07:57

But it lasts forever and doesn't break. What other toy does this? My son (5) is playing with the stuff his Dad had 40 years ago! It is all compatible, needs no batteries, is washable, encourages imagination, improvisation and cooperation. Lego is the dogs cojones.

Stasie · 09/12/2015 08:08

It is expensive, no doubt, and the branded ones (ie Minecraft, simpsons) have to cover copyright I think? So they are far more than other more generic sets (like city)

I don't know how they work out the pricing. However it is a tough toy, very versatile, our sets get destroyed as soon as someone has made them (usually me!) and all the bits then get reused many many times.

Some kids like to keep things they have built, others get very creative with the bits...
The instructions though are super and if you have ever bought a large mgabloks set and tried to build that, you will always buy lego in future! The instructions are impossible to see properly with mgabloks and the bricks spring apart and so you can do a load of it and then it collapses. It makes you want to kill someone.

Lego just...works.

TheGirlAllTheBadGuysWant · 09/12/2015 08:16

I love it. Kids build the set then dismantle it and rebuild randomness. You can wash it, it lasts forever and is hours of fun. It being all over the bloody place is my only gripe but we bought a trofast unit for it. Lego goes into the boxes and we have boards on the top. The kids sit round it to play.

I think it is far more fairly priced than lots of the plastic tat. (Minions anyone?)

It also comes on offer a lot through the year, especially in Supermarkets. We got DS some Star Wars Lego and I got it on offer about 3 weeks ago.

Having a FIL who buys cheap imitation Lego I would not buy that personally. Every cheap set we have had has been so fiddly to build I've had to do it and even the my its a nightmare as the pieces don't fit properly as they are badly molded and the instructions are awful.

Alfieisnoisy · 09/12/2015 08:19

Any of the "sets" have to cover branding use costs etc.

However YANBU OP as it IS expensive. However, we have masses of the stuff and it's been here years now. DS still spends time building amazing contraptions from it all....it's not in sets now, just all piled in together.

CombineBananaFister · 09/12/2015 08:32

Yes Lego is pricey so YANBU but there have been some amazing deals - 2 for £15 at asda on star wars mini sets. Argos had 3 4 2 and Sainsburys had half price sets in DC and Marvel. It's like anything with supply and demand - the nearer the end date, the less stock = higher prices.

Sorry I know that's not helpful now but good to know for next year. I love Lego though because it does keep being re-invented, is consistent in size and shape and lasts forever.

Me and DH did have a chuckle that they were onto a winner though with all these build your own toys - it's a bit cheeky really, like going to an expensive restaurant and paying to cook your own meal but they give you the recipe

The main problem I have with Lego is the disproportionate amount of pain it causes when you stand on it.

OSETmum · 09/12/2015 08:37

The thing with Star Wars etc is that you're paying a premium for both the Lego brand and the Star Wars brand. If I were you I'd go for a Lego technic set. I've just ordered dh ( I know! But he'll love it!) a Lego Technic motorbike which is pretty cool!

MimsyBorogroves · 09/12/2015 08:50

It is expensive, but it's the one thing we buy which we know will stand the test of time - it gets played with daily and is unbreakable in itself. It's open ended play, logical, instructional and also has the ability for small world play with the minifigs. DS2 (3) has added to the bits from his advent calendar and put in his Star Wars figs to build some world from Star Wars. He's spent hours with it already.

We've also got boxes of the stuff. I'm lucky in that DH has some sort of amazing gift with Lego - he can look at the bricks and build anything, no instructions needed. Recent builds include a massive batmobile and a police station. If we had it and no DH it wouldn't get used in the same way as I'm useless.

reni2 · 09/12/2015 08:54

I think we could have bought a reasonably nice car instead of our Lego collection and that's only two childhoods' worth. One of them still going, the other has outgrown it.

The only consolation is that the 10 year old sets are coming out for No2 now, I remember how eyewateringly expensive each of them was. I'm imagining the grand kids with it all one day. At these prices I think the bloody Lego would be the first thing I'd save in a house fire.

wobblywindows · 09/12/2015 08:54

I looked at getting a Lego City Space Shuttle last month. £45 new, perfectly good equivalent (minus box) on ebay for £15 - meant that I was able to get him the middle sized kit instead of the smallest farty thing. I haven't looked in detail at the Star Wars- but don't fancy it in Lego- There are too many nicer kits with better detail. For instance- (2011) I bought Revell Easy kit Millenium Falcon on Amazon for just less than £20. Nearly fell off my chair looking it up today- £75 :-o
My best tip is to stay flexible and invite your guy to look at alternatives, and what he wants to do with it.

plopstar · 09/12/2015 09:02

I was struggling with a lego friends set last year and my dad told me it was always cheaper in John Lewis. I can't remember by howmuch now but worth a look.

Stickerrocks · 09/12/2015 09:04

Asda had loads a few days ago with around 25% off. I got a Darth Vader for £18.97.

Mayvis · 09/12/2015 09:26

It is expensive but there are deals to be had. My DD loves the Princess and Friends sets. We got the Frozen castle earlier this year for £25 in Tesco. Then another set and two generic boxes on 3 for 2 in Argos.

Finally picked up the Friends Dolphin Cruiser for £30 in Argos on Black Friday. It's usually £60.

I try to keep a reminder of how much the sets are usually, so I can spot a bargain when there is one.

Alibabsandthe40Musketeers · 09/12/2015 09:33

Ours get sets, build whatever it is - then it gets dismantled and used for endless different things.

Mine are hugely creative, and spend hours constructing all kinds of things. In terms of hours of play, it is the best value of any toys they have.

blatantplacemark · 09/12/2015 09:37

Yabu- although I've spent bloody thousands of pounds on the stuff over the years. It's a great toy that lasts and lasts . Worth the expense

Notso · 09/12/2015 09:39

I have to say all the Lego we have bought for DS1 has been worth every penny. He had his first set aged 5 and it's still played with now he is 11. I can't think of any of his other toys which have lasted as long.
Lego doesn't need batteries, you can't really break it, you can buy spare parts easily, it has masses of play opportunities and has a fantastic resale value.

DingbatsFur · 09/12/2015 09:41

The minecraft lego is such a rip off. I have refused to buy it.
I did however get some bargain minecraft minifigures from ali express. That should satisfy them!

Chattymummyhere · 09/12/2015 09:48

It is expensive to buy good sets. However it's worth the cost when you think how long it lasts and the resale value. We will be keeping all ours.

Don't forget toysrus will price match we have spent around £200 on Lego this Christmas but it's all been price matched, used the offer of spend X and get X set free and got £40 in Lego vouchers for spending after Christmas so far and friends and family are also buying it.

Egosumquisum · 09/12/2015 09:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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