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You’ve probably noticed that the LEGO online Pick-A-Brick / LEGO Factory palette
has recently been updated with new parts - and new prices. As an avid user of
the LEGO Factory system, I was curious just how much the prices had gone up by.
I created three train models in order to evaluate the new prices - a caboose in
6-wide, the same caboose as an 8-wide model, and an AAR-style wheelset using
some new wheels that were recently added to the Palette.
I’ve designed numerous LEGO Factory models over the years and have a feel for
what these models should cost based on previous pricing. In my experience,
models typically average about 15 cents per part. A 6-wide railcar typically
runs less than $70. My 6-wide caboose uses the train baseplate and minimal SNOT,
so it should cost about $50 or less. At 329 elements, my 15c/part estimate gives
$49.35 - almost in exact agreement. The 8-wide version is SNOTtier and has 601
pieces, so $90 is a good estimate. The AAR truck has only 43 pieces, but it uses
an expensive magnetic buffer piece. To estimate the price, take the 15c/part
estimate of $6.45 and add on the (former) cost for the buffer of $1.54. This
brings the estimated cost to $7.99.
So, how did these estimates check with the new (USA) LEGO Factory prices? The
results aren’t encouraging. Let’s start with the AAR truck... this little
43-part gem is now a whopping $21.57 - 270% more than the estimate using the
previous Factory pricing. At this price, it would cost you over $40 just to
supply the wheels for a railcar using two of these AAR trucks.
8-wide railcars are always expensive. Just before the price increase, I ordered
an 8-wide, 1086-element locomotive, sans 9V motors and wheels, from LEGO Factory
for a cost of $107. This caboose has 601 elements, so we would expect the cost
to be less, given the same pricing. However, the pricing is not the same
anymore... and this caboose now costs $201.50 - averaging 33.5 cents per brick.
That’s more than double the old prices.
The real shocker is the 6-wide caboose, which should have cost about $50 with
the old pricing. It comes in at an unbelievable $181.51, or 55 cents per brick!
Why so much more for the 6-wide model? The secret is in the wheels. For this
model, I used stock train wheelsets. There is a bug (if you can call it that) in
LEGO Digital Designer that includes one four-pack of train axles for each
wheelset ordered. That means that the caboose model will actually ship with four
axle packs, or 16 total. These axles are now priced at $13 per 4-pack, and a
wheelset costs $16.10 as a result. Since the model includes four wheelsets,
these add more than $64 to the cost of the model. The AAR trucks actually end up
being cheaper, even at more than $20 each!
I’m really disappointed by this new pricing. LDD models and online Pick-a-Brick
have become unaffordable. If LEGO requires such high prices in order for online
PaB to be profitable, then it appears that the time has come for LEGO Factory to
close its doors.
As a LEGO Ambassador, I have voiced my concerns through the LEGO Ambassadors’
message board. I also contacted LEGO Customer Service by phone and was told that
several customers had voiced the same concerns over Factory pricing. I was told,
however, that these prices are set by LEGO in Denmark and that the US Customer
Service could not provide me with further information at the time of my call.
LEGO is already aware that there are a number of fans upset over the new prices.
However, if you find these new online Pick-a-Brick / LEGO Factory prices
objectionable, I still encourage you to make your concerns known so that LEGO
can understand the impact of the new prices - which are more than double the old
and have made online PaB impossibly expensive. Their toll-free number in the US
is +1 (800) 835-4386. I will pass along more information as I receive it.
--
I also posted this story - with pictures of the MOCs - on MOCpages. The link
for that is:
http://mocpages.com/moc.php/109368
-- Jordan Schwarz
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Jordan Schwarz wrote:
| |
You’ve probably noticed that the LEGO online Pick-A-Brick / LEGO Factory
palette has recently been updated with new parts - and new prices. As an avid
user of the LEGO Factory system, I was curious just how much the prices had
gone up by. I created three train models in order to evaluate the new prices
- a caboose in 6-wide, the same caboose as an 8-wide model, and an AAR-style
wheelset using some new wheels that were recently added to the Palette.
I’ve designed numerous LEGO Factory models over the years and have a feel for
what these models should cost based on previous pricing. In my experience,
models typically average about 15 cents per part. A 6-wide railcar typically
runs less than $70. My 6-wide caboose uses the train baseplate and minimal
SNOT, so it should cost about $50 or less. At 329 elements, my 15c/part
estimate gives $49.35 - almost in exact agreement. The 8-wide version is
SNOTtier and has 601 pieces, so $90 is a good estimate. The AAR truck has
only 43 pieces, but it uses an expensive magnetic buffer piece. To estimate
the price, take the 15c/part estimate of $6.45 and add on the (former) cost
for the buffer of $1.54. This brings the estimated cost to $7.99.
So, how did these estimates check with the new (USA) LEGO Factory prices? The
results aren’t encouraging. Let’s start with the AAR truck... this little
43-part gem is now a whopping $21.57 - 270% more than the estimate using the
previous Factory pricing. At this price, it would cost you over $40 just to
supply the wheels for a railcar using two of these AAR trucks.
8-wide railcars are always expensive. Just before the price increase, I
ordered an 8-wide, 1086-element locomotive, sans 9V motors and wheels, from
LEGO Factory for a cost of $107. This caboose has 601 elements, so we would
expect the cost to be less, given the same pricing. However, the pricing is
not the same anymore... and this caboose now costs $201.50 - averaging 33.5
cents per brick. That’s more than double the old prices.
The real shocker is the 6-wide caboose, which should have cost about $50 with
the old pricing. It comes in at an unbelievable $181.51, or 55 cents per
brick! Why so much more for the 6-wide model? The secret is in the wheels.
For this model, I used stock train wheelsets. There is a bug (if you can call
it that) in LEGO Digital Designer that includes one four-pack of train axles
for each wheelset ordered. That means that the caboose model will actually
ship with four axle packs, or 16 total. These axles are now priced at $13 per
4-pack, and a wheelset costs $16.10 as a result. Since the model includes
four wheelsets, these add more than $64 to the cost of the model. The AAR
trucks actually end up being cheaper, even at more than $20 each!
I’m really disappointed by this new pricing. LDD models and online
Pick-a-Brick have become unaffordable. If LEGO requires such high prices in
order for online PaB to be profitable, then it appears that the time has come
for LEGO Factory to close its doors.
As a LEGO Ambassador, I have voiced my concerns through the LEGO Ambassadors’
message board. I also contacted LEGO Customer Service by phone and was told
that several customers had voiced the same concerns over Factory pricing. I
was told, however, that these prices are set by LEGO in Denmark and that the
US Customer Service could not provide me with further information at the time
of my call.
LEGO is already aware that there are a number of fans upset over the new
prices. However, if you find these new online Pick-a-Brick / LEGO Factory
prices objectionable, I still encourage you to make your concerns known so
that LEGO can understand the impact of the new prices - which are more than
double the old and have made online PaB impossibly expensive. Their toll-free
number in the US is +1 (800) 835-4386. I will pass along more information as
I receive it.
--
I also posted this story - with pictures of the MOCs - on MOCpages. The link
for that is:
http://mocpages.com/moc.php/109368
-- Jordan Schwarz
|
Hi Jordan,
Thanks for this information.
I noticed it today also after a message from one of the French FreeLUG people
about those ridiculous high prices. I found the previous (European) prices
already on the high side, but now its as you wrote, they can close the PAB shop.
At those prices I won’t buy at all. Lets hope there’s a believable explanation
for it, but I don’t need it anymore. I think I better put my new building
(aprox.100 x 60 studs) in the deepfreezer!
Regards,
Ludo
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In lugnet.lego, Ludo Soete wrote:
| |
In lugnet.lego, Jordan Schwarz wrote:
| |
You’ve probably noticed that the LEGO online Pick-A-Brick / LEGO Factory
palette has recently been updated with new parts - and new prices. As an
avid user of the LEGO Factory system, I was curious just how much the prices
had gone up by. I created three train models in order to evaluate the new
prices - a caboose in 6-wide, the same caboose as an 8-wide model, and an
AAR-style wheelset using some new wheels that were recently added to the
Palette.
I’ve designed numerous LEGO Factory models over the years and have a feel
for what these models should cost based on previous pricing. In my
experience, models typically average about 15 cents per part. A 6-wide
railcar typically runs less than $70. My 6-wide caboose uses the train
baseplate and minimal SNOT, so it should cost about $50 or less. At 329
elements, my 15c/part estimate gives $49.35 - almost in exact agreement. The
8-wide version is SNOTtier and has 601 pieces, so $90 is a good estimate.
The AAR truck has only 43 pieces, but it uses an expensive magnetic buffer
piece. To estimate the price, take the 15c/part estimate of $6.45 and add on
the (former) cost for the buffer of $1.54. This brings the estimated cost to
$7.99.
So, how did these estimates check with the new (USA) LEGO Factory prices?
The results aren’t encouraging. Let’s start with the AAR truck... this
little 43-part gem is now a whopping $21.57 - 270% more than the estimate
using the previous Factory pricing. At this price, it would cost you over
$40 just to supply the wheels for a railcar using two of these AAR trucks.
8-wide railcars are always expensive. Just before the price increase, I
ordered an 8-wide, 1086-element locomotive, sans 9V motors and wheels, from
LEGO Factory for a cost of $107. This caboose has 601 elements, so we would
expect the cost to be less, given the same pricing. However, the pricing is
not the same anymore... and this caboose now costs $201.50 - averaging 33.5
cents per brick. That’s more than double the old prices.
The real shocker is the 6-wide caboose, which should have cost about $50
with the old pricing. It comes in at an unbelievable $181.51, or 55 cents
per brick! Why so much more for the 6-wide model? The secret is in the
wheels. For this model, I used stock train wheelsets. There is a bug (if you
can call it that) in LEGO Digital Designer that includes one four-pack of
train axles for each wheelset ordered. That means that the caboose model
will actually ship with four axle packs, or 16 total. These axles are now
priced at $13 per 4-pack, and a wheelset costs $16.10 as a result. Since the
model includes four wheelsets, these add more than $64 to the cost of the
model. The AAR trucks actually end up being cheaper, even at more than $20
each!
I’m really disappointed by this new pricing. LDD models and online
Pick-a-Brick have become unaffordable. If LEGO requires such high prices in
order for online PaB to be profitable, then it appears that the time has
come for LEGO Factory to close its doors.
As a LEGO Ambassador, I have voiced my concerns through the LEGO
Ambassadors’ message board. I also contacted LEGO Customer Service by phone
and was told that several customers had voiced the same concerns over
Factory pricing. I was told, however, that these prices are set by LEGO in
Denmark and that the US Customer Service could not provide me with further
information at the time of my call.
LEGO is already aware that there are a number of fans upset over the new
prices. However, if you find these new online Pick-a-Brick / LEGO Factory
prices objectionable, I still encourage you to make your concerns known so
that LEGO can understand the impact of the new prices - which are more than
double the old and have made online PaB impossibly expensive. Their
toll-free number in the US is +1 (800) 835-4386. I will pass along more
information as I receive it.
--
I also posted this story - with pictures of the MOCs - on MOCpages. The
link for that is:
http://mocpages.com/moc.php/109368
-- Jordan Schwarz
|
Hi Jordan,
Thanks for this information.
I noticed it today also after a message from one of the French FreeLUG people
about those ridiculous high prices. I found the previous (European) prices
already on the high side, but now its as you wrote, they can close the PAB
shop. At those prices I won’t buy at all. Lets hope there’s a believable
explanation for it, but I don’t need it anymore. I think I better put my new
building (aprox.100 x 60 studs) in the deepfreezer!
Regards,
Ludo
|
I just received the following communication from Jan Beyer of the LEGO Community
Team. He says that PaB prices should be adjusted soon, perhaps later today.
Dear LEGO fans, Based on all the feedback over the past week regarding our new
Pick A Brick elements and pricing we will reduce the pricing on LEGO Pick A
Brick elements.
There were good reasons behind our decision to raise prices of this relatively
operationally complex Pick A Brick service. However, over the last week we have
realised, thanks to you, that it was unacceptable to raise the prices so steeply
without notice. We have acted quickly and have taken the decision to reduce the
pricing on LEGO Pick A Brick elements. The prices cannot return to the original
2008 level but the increases are now very much smaller. We are pleased to now
offer you the biggest, most comprehensive assortment ever including: - More
colours - Most recent doors and windows are now available in PAB and MOD - More
longer beams to enable larger constructions - More accessories (such as head
dresses) - More mini-figs (now with girl and child (short legs)) - More cool
tires and rims
We hope to welcome you back to Pick A Brick soon.
Your LEGO team
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The 2X2 tiles and 2X3 plates seem to have reasonable prices. Everything else is
insane.
David
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In lugnet.lego, David Gregory wrote:
> The 2X2 tiles and 2X3 plates seem to have reasonable prices.
> Everything else is insane.¬ ¬
Wow. I was wondering if this was across-the-board bad, so I checked out the
aspect I've used, Technic. I don't have the "old" prices squirreled away, but
from memory the price of studded beams hasn't changed much (although the types
have changed some - for instance, they no longer offer 14L). But the pins!
Almost all of them are $0.25 a *piece*, which is much more expensive than I
remember... about 8x Bricklink prices.
I've done a couple of significant orders from S@H PaB previously: mostly for
mass quantities of certain elements, but I would then add a bunch of other
things "because I was there" and the prices weren't too far above Bricklink. In
short, impulse buying, or "one stop shopping".
Not at these prices. I wonder what happened.
--
Brian Davis
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I have also noticed the higher prices from the online Pick-a-Brick. I wonder
how often and how thoroughly that the calculations that go into these prices are
looked over by management.
With such a high volume of parts that the machines that make these parts put
out, the slightest error, or even rounding a decimal for convenience could have
dramatic results.
I don't envy that person's job; still it should not be a job that goes
unchecked.
I'm sure that all of us (TLG included) would see more sales with prices that
were set more accurately, or just more often, so the sticker shock isn't as bad.
On the bright side, we can still pick up minifig pieces far cheaper than from
any seller on BrickLink.
Scott
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> I'm sure that all of us (TLG included) would see more sales with prices that
> were set more accurately, or just more often, so the sticker shock isn't as bad.
To me, the answer is that TLG should be charging "cost plus" on PAB (i.e.
their cost to produce the part plus some amount). However, that then means
the price changes every time they do a new run of the part where the new
run cost them more or less than the last one (be it because the price of
plastic/oil changed, the exchange rate is different or whatever else)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Jordan Schwarz wrote:
| |
You’ve probably noticed that the LEGO online Pick-A-Brick / LEGO Factory
palette has recently been updated with new parts - and new prices.
|
There are a couple elements that I’ve been meaning to purchase for a few
projects. They used to be 11cents, now they’re 34cents. Since I’d need to
purchase several hundred of each that is a big difference.
I guess I won’t be starting those projects anytime soon...
JohnG, GMLTC
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In lugnet.lego, Jordan Schwarz wrote:
| |
You’ve probably noticed that the LEGO online Pick-A-Brick / LEGO Factory
palette has recently been updated with new parts - and new prices.
|
-snip-
| |
The real shocker is the 6-wide caboose, which should have cost about $50 with
the old pricing. It comes in at an unbelievable $181.51, or 55 cents per
brick!
|
55 cents a piece?
That’s what market dominance lets them do: Big Ben’s Bricks, BrickArms and
Brickforge could never get away with charging that much per piece.
Or could they?
Richie Dulin
CO Legeaux
Please consider FUT if replying
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Now if Ldraw and Bricklink developers would get together this whole issue would
be moot.
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In lugnet.lego, Daniel Siskind wrote:
> Now if Ldraw and Bricklink developers would get together this whole issue would
> be moot.
Not sure if I'm reading your meaning exactly here, but:
1. Many parts are not available on Bricklink in the quantities required - you
end up having to buy from multiple stores, which ends up being just as pricey,
especially for people not in the USA.
2. Ldraw and Bricklink are used for totally different purposes, so there's no
point developers wasting their time trying to merge their catalogs. That said,
I've found Brickstore to be very good translating from Ldraw to Bricklink. You
can find it here:
http://www.brickforge.de/software/brickstore/
ROSCO
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| |
|
In lugnet.lego, Ross Crawford wrote:
> In lugnet.lego, Daniel Siskind wrote:
> > Now if Ldraw and Bricklink developers would get together this whole issue would
> > be moot.
>
> Not sure if I'm reading your meaning exactly here, but:
>
> 1. Many parts are not available on Bricklink in the quantities required - you
> end up having to buy from multiple stores, which ends up being just as pricey,
> especially for people not in the USA.
>
> 2. Ldraw and Bricklink are used for totally different purposes, so there's no
> point developers wasting their time trying to merge their catalogs. That said,
> I've found Brickstore to be very good translating from Ldraw to Bricklink. You
> can find it here:
>
> http://www.brickforge.de/software/brickstore/
>
> ROSCO
I think that the "Please consider FUT if replying" was missed further back in
this thread, as the current discussion doesn't seem o-t.clone-brands related.
But I could be wrong.
Richie Dulin
CO Legeaux
FUT now to .lego only, but that might not be ideal.
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| |
|
In lugnet.lego, Richie Dulin wrote:
> In lugnet.lego, Ross Crawford wrote:
> > In lugnet.lego, Daniel Siskind wrote:
> > > Now if Ldraw and Bricklink developers would get together this whole issue would
> > > be moot.
> >
> > Not sure if I'm reading your meaning exactly here, but:
> >
> > 1. Many parts are not available on Bricklink in the quantities required - you
> > end up having to buy from multiple stores, which ends up being just as pricey,
> > especially for people not in the USA.
> >
> > 2. Ldraw and Bricklink are used for totally different purposes, so there's no
> > point developers wasting their time trying to merge their catalogs. That said,
> > I've found Brickstore to be very good translating from Ldraw to Bricklink. You
> > can find it here:
> >
> > http://www.brickforge.de/software/brickstore/
> >
> > ROSCO
>
> I think that the "Please consider FUT if replying" was missed further back in
> this thread, as the current discussion doesn't seem o-t.clone-brands related.
> But I could be wrong.
>
> Richie Dulin
> CO Legeaux
>
> FUT now to .lego only, but that might not be ideal.
:sorry:
Now to .lego only.
Richie Dulin
CO Legeaux
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.lego, Ross Crawford wrote:
> In lugnet.lego, Daniel Siskind wrote:
> > Now if Ldraw and Bricklink developers would get together this whole issue would
> > be moot.
>
> Not sure if I'm reading your meaning exactly here, but:
>
> 1. Many parts are not available on Bricklink in the quantities required - you
> end up having to buy from multiple stores, which ends up being just as pricey,
> especially for people not in the USA.
>
> 2. Ldraw and Bricklink are used for totally different purposes, so there's no
> point developers wasting their time trying to merge their catalogs. That said,
> I've found Brickstore to be very good translating from Ldraw to Bricklink. You
> can find it here:
>
> http://www.brickforge.de/software/brickstore/
>
> ROSCO
I think that the "Please consider FUT if replying" was missed further back in
this thread, as the current discussion doesn't seem o-t.clone-brands related.
But I could be wrong.
Richie Dulin
CO Legeaux
FUT now to .lego only, but that might not be ideal.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Jordan Schwarz wrote:
-snip-
I believe that this is one of the biggest downfalls in the LEGO(R) Company’s
organizational structure which is the lack of representation here in the US.
Denmark has always had a stronghold over the US operations in such a way that
the US has not been able to determine what works best for LEGO(R) in the US. For
more than 50 years this has been an extreme detriment to the LEGO(R) Company,
NOT ONLY in their operations here (displayed through their closing of the old
samsonite location in Colorado, plus their distribution center in Enfield as
well as probably other offices) however as well in their relationship with US
LEGO(R) enthusiasts and customers. I have ALWAYS been discouraged by the fact
that LEGO(R) US hasn’t had more involvement and participation in the LEGO(R)
Company and even though they are a Danish based company, they DO have an
important presence and marketplace here in the US as well as designers, stores,
a theme park as well as other important offices held here in the US, the need to
get their offices here in order so that when concerns are raised here in the US,
they can be addressed here in the US. That is the dilemma of being a
multi-national company. They have always tried to run a multi-national company
from a uni-national perspective. While they have been successful in running
their company we have seen over the past years a lot of mistakes have been made
and clearly if they have had to close several facilities they are in need of a
restructure here in the US.
Just my thoughts. Anyone with similar company knowledge have any thoughts?
Sincerely,
B
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| |
|
In lugnet.lego, Brian Kelley wrote:
> I believe that this is one of the biggest downfalls in the LEGO(R)
> Company's organizational structure which is the lack of representation
> here in the US.
Huh. Ironicly,my experience (limited though it is) is just the opposite. I'm
involved in some associations where the complaint is the other way around: that
LEGO panders to the US market (a large one to be sure) but doesn't pay nearly as
close attention, or give the same "deals", to the European markets. And, again
from my limited experience, it would seem there's a grain of truth in this.
Witness, for instance, the recent release of a Black NXT... in North America
only (not available to Europeans).
> Denmark has always had a stronghold over the US operations in
> such a way that the US has not been able to determine what works
> best for LEGO(R) in the US.
Umm... it might be expected that Denmark has a significant say in the product,
since, after all, it's a Danish company. They have had things like Samsonite and
Enfield. Have there been similar things in other European countries? South
America? Asia? It would seem to me that North America has been singled out for
special attention and more autonomy than other geographic regoins... not the
reverse.
> I have ALWAYS been discouraged by the fact that LEGO(R) US hasn't
> had more involvement and participation in the LEGO(R) Company...
Huh. Remembering the "Original Four" AFoL's brought into the Mindstorms project,
they were three Americans and a Canadian. No Danish or French or Germans (other
very big Mindstorms markets, with some amazingly talented builders) in the mix.
Even later variations on the MUP program (MDP, MCP) tend to be heavily biased
towards North America when you look at them.
> While they have been successful in running their company we have seen
> over the past years a lot of mistakes have been made and clearly if
> they have had to close several facilities they are in need of a
> restructure here in the US.
Name a US company right now that *isn't* in need of a significant restructuring.
For that matter, name another toy company that has done as well, financially, as
LEGO in the last five years. They may have made "a lot of mistakes"... but from
the standpoint of a successful company, I have trouble seeing them.
--
Brian Davis
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