 | | | | | | |
| |
|
Have you ever had one of those Mondays where you wake up thinking it would be a
slow week only to find out you were waaaaaaaay off? Last Monday was just such a
day for me! I spent most of my week tracking down info, passing on your thoughts
to colleagues and responding to numerous emails, IMs, and phone calls regarding
the color change. You have to bear with me, as I’m not able to give immediate
responses, and often try to take some time off during the weekends.
The recent color change discovery and announcement has caused a great deal of
discussion here, and on other sites. At the same time, much discussion was had
over the apparent rumor of the demise of castle. (Will post separately about the
castle issues)
Before I go any further, let me make sure that everyone here is completely
clear: I understand fully the concerns you have about the color changes. I
understand the concern over how to continue to grow your collections of these
colors, collections you have spend much time and money to acquire.
When this broke, it did in fact catch us in Community Development a bit off
guard. Some of the 2004 products with the new colors appeared on shelf earlier
than they should have (they were shipped to retailers for an early December
appearance), so the usual product communication that happens with launches had
not yet been received (this is why Consumer Affairs didn’t have complete info
either). So please cut us (and especially me) some slack - we’re trying to get
the full story here, but this initiative is being managed out of Denmark so we
can’t just walk down the hall and chat.And I’m trying to keep up with the
literally hundreds of comments people have posted regarding this issue. It may
take a few days, but we’ll get and share further details.
As a number of people have rightly pointed out, people listen more to
reasonable, calm feedback on why this change is an issue. Let me assure you that
people are listening. But it doesn’t help the cause when colleagues read
profanity filled posts.
Thanks for listening to us. Now back to listening to you.
Jake
---
Jake McKee
Community Liaison
LEGO Community Development
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Jake McKee wrote:
snip
| |
As a number of people have rightly pointed out, people listen more to
reasonable, calm feedback on why this change is an issue. Let me assure you
that people are listening. But it doesn’t help the cause when colleagues read
profanity filled posts.
Thanks for listening to us. Now back to listening to you.
Jake
---
Jake McKee
Community Liaison
LEGO Community Development
|
Thanks for the info and continued support, Jake.
Your efforts are much appreciated.
Dave K
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Jake,
Thanks for helping out and listening to us. Please keep us up
to date.
I guess I missed the profane post. It's a shame someone had to
resort to profanity to be able to express themselves :(
Anyway, save our old gray! :)
-Anne
--
I always said I wanted to be (\`--/') _ _______ .-r-.
somebody. Perhaps I should >.~.\ `` ` `,`,`. ,'_'~`.
have been more specific. (v_," ; `,-\ ; : ; \/,-~) \
stripes at tigerlair dot com `--'_..),-/ ' ' '_.>-' )`.`.__.')
stripes at brickbox dot com ((,((,__..'~~~~~~((,__..' `-..-'fL
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Anne Carasik wrote:
> Jake,
> Thanks for helping out and listening to us. Please keep us up
> to date.
> I guess I missed the profane post. It's a shame someone had to
> resort to profanity to be able to express themselves :(
> Anyway, save our old gray! :)
> -Anne
Anne,
Do a search for "Marchetti"...you'll find it. Don't want to give the frog any
more ammo to make comments here...
Scott Lyttle
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Anne Carasik wrote:
snip
> I guess I missed the profane post. It's a shame someone had to
> resort to profanity to be able to express themselves :(
Hi Anne,
for what it's worth, and from what I recall reading, the profanity was not
directed at Lego, it appeared to be a spat between two posters that got out of
hand, one guy (can't remember who, and can't be bothered looking it up) replied
to a post in a way that upset the poster, who replied rather strongly and with
colourful (profane) language as to what the replier could do with himself.
Ken Bailey
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Jake McKee wrote:
| |
Have you ever had one of those Mondays where you wake up thinking it would be
a slow week only to find out you were waaaaaaaay off? Last Monday was just
such a day for me! I spent most of my week tracking down info, passing on
your thoughts to colleagues and responding to numerous emails, IMs, and phone
calls regarding the color change. You have to bear with me, as I’m not able
to give immediate responses, and often try to take some time off during the
weekends.
The recent color change discovery and announcement has caused a great deal of
discussion here, and on other sites. At the same time, much discussion was
had over the apparent rumor of the demise of castle. (Will post separately
about the castle issues)
Before I go any further, let me make sure that everyone here is completely
clear: I understand fully the concerns you have about the color changes. I
understand the concern over how to continue to grow your collections of these
colors, collections you have spend much time and money to acquire.
When this broke, it did in fact catch us in Community Development a bit off
guard. Some of the 2004 products with the new colors appeared on shelf
earlier than they should have (they were shipped to retailers for an early
December appearance), so the usual product communication that happens with
launches had not yet been received (this is why Consumer Affairs didn’t have
complete info either). So please cut us (and especially me) some slack -
we’re trying to get the full story here, but this initiative is being managed
out of Denmark so we can’t just walk down the hall and chat.And I’m trying to
keep up with the literally hundreds of comments people have posted regarding
this issue. It may take a few days, but we’ll get and share further details.
As a number of people have rightly pointed out, people listen more to
reasonable, calm feedback on why this change is an issue. Let me assure you
that people are listening. But it doesn’t help the cause when colleagues read
profanity filled posts.
Thanks for listening to us. Now back to listening to you.
Jake
---
Jake McKee
Community Liaison
LEGO Community Development
|
Hi Jake, I thought we might have lost you in the flames. I hope you have a flame
retardent suit handy for a while. However, the anger is not pointed at you, I
hope, rather at Lego.
There are those of us who are actually remaining calm and cool and not losing
our heads, or using profanity in our posts. While many of us would be very
dissapointed to see the demise of the grays as they are now, we would be able to
move on, although slowly. I know many people have spent tens of thousands of
dollars on gray parts, including me, either from sets or from S@H bulk packs,
and Bricklink. It would be cost prohibitive for many folks to do that again on a
series of new colors.
The greatest thing about the “old grays” is that almost every part one could
imagine is being made in these “old grays”. Will all of these be made in the
new colors? Perhaps, but not all at once.
It would literally take years to replace many large collections. Mine is over
220,000 pieces, and I just started purchasing Lego 2 years ago.
It is my hope and the hope of many here, that Lego will not replace the “old
grays”, and perhaps add the new colors to the color pallete. I fear the “old
gray” is already discontinued, but production could be restarted in the near
future. Hopefully, the decision makers at Lego are listening to the majority of
level headed posters and not the minority of knuckle-heads who seem to find that
profanity is the only way to get their point across.
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all the
information you have provided so far. And keep that flame retardent suit close
by. I have been wearing mine ever since this story broke.
Steven Weiser
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Jake McKee wrote:
| |
Have you ever had one of those Mondays where you wake up thinking it would be
a slow week only to find out you were waaaaaaaay off? Last Monday was just
such a day for me!
|
I hope people aren’t shooting the messenger! I am greatful for having an
authoritative source of information from the LEGO Company.
FWIW, I have updated the Brickshelf Poll with the question:
“Do you like the replacement of classic colors?”
http://www.brickshelf.com
KL
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.lego, Jake McKee wrote:
> Have you ever had one of those Mondays where you wake up thinking it would be
> a slow week only to find out you were waaaaaaaay off? Last Monday was just
> such a day for me! I spent most of my week tracking down info, passing on
> your thoughts to colleagues and responding to numerous emails, IMs, and phone
> calls regarding the color change. You have to bear with me, as I’m not able
> to give immediate responses, and often try to take some time off during the
> weekends.
>
> The recent color change discovery and announcement has caused a great deal of
> discussion here, and on other sites. At the same time, much discussion was
> had over the apparent rumor of the demise of castle. (Will post separately
> about the castle issues)
>
> Before I go any further, let me make sure that everyone here is completely
> clear: I understand fully the concerns you have about the color changes. I
> understand the concern over how to continue to grow your collections of these
> colors, collections you have spend much time and money to acquire.
>
> When this broke, it did in fact catch us in Community Development a bit off
> guard. Some of the 2004 products with the new colors appeared on shelf
> earlier than they should have (they were shipped to retailers for an early
> December appearance), so the usual product communication that happens with
> launches had not yet been received (this is why Consumer Affairs didn't have
> complete info either). So please cut us (and especially me) some slack -
> we're trying to get the full story here, but this initiative is being managed
> out of Denmark so we can't just walk down the hall and chat.And I'm trying to
> keep up with the literally hundreds of comments people have posted regarding
> this issue. It may take a few days, but we'll get and share further details.
>
> As a number of people have rightly pointed out, people listen more to
> reasonable, calm feedback on why this change is an issue. Let me assure you
> that people are listening. But it doesn’t help the cause when colleagues read
> profanity filled posts.
>
> Thanks for listening to us. Now back to listening to you.
>
> Jake¬
> ---¬
> Jake McKee¬
> Community Liaison¬
> LEGO Community Development
Jake,
Thanks for the update! As one of the more vocal color change critics, I
certainly appreciate your efforts to get more information out to the LUGNET
community. I also am glad to hear that you are bringing our concerns back to
TLC, and look forward to receiving more information from you.
I hope that we have not made your job more difficult by voicing our concerns
about this issue. I know that there have been more than a few emotional posts,
and at least one containing inappropriate language. I hope that you and your
colleagues are able to read past the the misdirected anger and even the
profanity in order to understand the passion for this hobby that has motivated
it. Clearly, many of us are upset by this change and unfortunately a few have
chosen to express it in less than appropriate ways.
I trust that you are aware of the issues that we have raised, so I won't waste
your time repeating them here. (Did I just hear ALL of LUGNET let out a
collective sigh of relief?) I know that you are as much a fan of LEGO as any of
us, and we couldn't ask for a better person to represent our concerns to your
employer.
Thanks for listening!
- Chris.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Thank you Jake. It's really good to know that you've made this a priority
this past week. Even without concrete answers to our myriad of questions, we
feel better knowing that you are working on finding more info on the color
change.
You said that things are managed out of Denmark, so I assume that the color
change was decided there. Do you (or anyone) know if there are any translators
that work for LEGO in Denmark? If I write a letter asking LEGO to keep making
the regular grays and brown, it would be nice to know that there would be
someone there who could translate my english into danish. Writing a letter to
LEGO's American branch would be the easier route, but I'd hate to burden those
Connecticutians (is that a word?) if they didn't have anything to do with the
color change.
David "Fuzzy" Gregory
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| |
|
Dear Jake, dear Kate (if you are still among us),
Jake McKee wrote:
> When this broke, it did in fact catch us in Community Development a
> bit off guard. Some of the 2004 products with the new colors appeared
> on shelf earlier than they should have (they were shipped to
> retailers for an early December appearance), so the usual product
> communication that happens with launches had not yet been received
> (this is why Consumer Affairs didn't have complete info either). So
> please cut us (and especially me) some slack - we're trying to get
> the full story here, but this initiative is being managed out of
> Denmark so we can't just walk down the hall and chat.And I'm trying
> to keep up with the literally hundreds of comments people have posted
> regarding this issue. It may take a few days, but we'll get and share
> further details.
Thank you for your efforts to help us.
Time and again it seems that the internal communication within TLC seems
to be the problem. How about using the force of this consumer reaction
storm to improve your stand in the more or less broken chain of
communication in the company? I have seen you and Kate more often than
not being caught off-guard on important issues. Not that I blame you -
You cannot know what you have not not been told. But it is quite
frustrating to see that those who should inform the public about
important issues from within the company are informed *by* the public
and than have to go for a lengthy hunt for the details. As long as the
flow of information stays this problematic, rumours will continue to
rule the seas, making your job even more problematic.
Nonetheless, I resent the very idea of LEGO changing basic colors. I am
in the middle of building a largeish MOC, that already consumed about
10000 gray bricks and will consume the same amount again (most of which
I still have to purchase).
Has any consideration been given to the point that actions like that may
cause problems with resellers, too? I just told one of my local area
Toy/LEGO resellers of TLCs plans and he was immediately aware that such
a change may lead to (unnecessary?) product complaints and returns
because "the gray bricks are of a wrong colour", thereby drastically
endangering profits and sales.
And, finally, even though I don not appreciate the use of
censorship-prone communication regarding this and other issues, have you
ever thought of seeing these extreme emotional reactions as a sign how
extremely, even fanatically devoted the fans are to the product? Very
few companies can treat their customers like TLC did and does and still
have fans.
Yours, Christian Treczoks
PS: Is Kate still with consumer affairs? I haven't heard of her lately.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.lego, Jake McKee wrote:
> The recent color change discovery and announcement has caused a great deal of
> discussion here, and on other sites. At the same time, much discussion was
> had over the apparent rumor of the demise of castle.
Dear Jake,
you seem to have expected otherwise - I wonder how that could be? Anyway, sorry
for your ruined slow week ;)
With all the changes going on lately in the LEGO cataloge and the lack of an
information flow worth mentioning (despite your efforts, which are appreciated),
could you really blame us for assuming the worst, for starting to speculate and
for venting heat in advance?
Two weeks ago I would have laughed myself silly at the rumor of TLG changing
basic colors, heck, THE basic color: light grey! Now I am the wiser. And
obviously it was TLG's intention not to let A SINGLE WORD slip through until we
open our first 2004-purchases with utter disbelieve ...
In my opinion, this unnecessary and totally uncalled for "improvement" of basic
colors bears the same signature as the "Duplo -> Explore (and back again)" brand
renaming issue. And we know how stupid that was and how it went, now don't we?
This latest Coup d' LEGO is in the same league of idiocity (read: shortsighted,
greedy business decision) entirely. But the difference is: now it affects
everyone with any sort of collection of bricks, wheather they realize or care
about it or not.
Color standards are every bit a part of the LEGO system as stud diameter. No
matter if we eventually going to like the "new" colors or getting used to them
(or not), with actions like this TLG shakes the very foundation of what once was
"LEGO SYSTEM", alienates its most loyal customers and destroys trust built over
decades with one single stroke.
Wasn't there a "Year of the communtity" to come? Interesting LEGO times ahead!
still yours,
"Primus" Burkhard
Brick Commander (LEGO & Battletech)
Official BattleTech & Mechwarrior Fan-Site
http://www.BrickCommander.com
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Jake McKee wrote:
(Snipped.)
| |
Jake
---
Jake McKee
Community Liaison
LEGO Community Development
|
Jake,
Thanks.
I, like others, hope that this is only an addition to LEGO’s colors and not
intended to replace colors we’ve known for decades. I personally feel that will
be the case when it’s all over with.
Adr.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
"Jake McKee" wrote:
snip
> Thanks for listening to us. Now back to listening to you.
Thank you for sharing.
The color change will be rather interesting. New things are allways welcome,
and a couple of new colors is IMHO a good thing.
/Joakim
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
All I want to know is if the color change can be reversed... if it can’t, then
I’m afraid my dark age will continue indefinitely
oz
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Jake McKee wrote:
| |
Before I go any further, let me make sure that everyone here is completely
clear: I understand fully the concerns you have about the color changes. I
understand the concern over how to continue to grow your collections of these
colors, collections you have spend much time and money to acquire.
|
Thanks. Your empathy is appreciated.
| |
When this broke, it did in fact catch us in Community Development a bit off
guard. Some of the 2004 products with the new colors appeared on shelf
earlier than they should have (they were shipped to retailers for an early
December appearance), so the usual product communication that happens with
launches had not yet been received (this is why Consumer Affairs didn’t have
complete info either).
|
Are you saying you don’t receive these communications until the products are
actually shipping to retailers? Wow. I thought only Lucasfilm was that secretive
;)
| |
So please cut us (and especially me) some slack -
|
I’m sure the greater proportion of Lugnetters have nothing but respect for you
Jake, but as the Voice of Lego on Lugnet, you should expect to be something of a
sounding board for any discontent with the company the Lugnet community may be
feeling. It goes with the territory, but it’s nothing personal.
| |
we’re trying to get the full story here, but this initiative is being managed
out of Denmark so we can’t just walk down the hall and chat.And I’m trying to
keep up with the literally hundreds of comments people have posted regarding
this issue. It may take a few days, but we’ll get and share further details.
|
Looking forward to it. I am curious though - if you are now saying you don’t
have the full story, what was the last post then? I for one would have preferred
it if you’d forgone any explanations until you did have the full story and
merely assured us, as you have in this post, that you were working on it.
| |
As a number of people have rightly pointed out, people listen more to
reasonable, calm feedback on why this change is an issue. Let me assure you
that people are listening. But it doesn’t help the cause when colleagues read
profanity filled posts.
|
To be fair, there was really only one post that could be described as ‘profanity
filled’, and that wasn’t directed at TLC nor the colour change issue.
Cheers,
Allister
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Thank you Jake, and hi all. I’m sure I might get flamed and/or hate mail for
this but.....
LEGOs are TOYS, a CHILD’S PLAY THING! TLC is in the business to make toys for
children to play with. Yes, the adult/collector base is large, but the child fan
base is much larger. Little “Timmy” is not going to tell his mother he will
never play with his LEGOs because one grey is darker than an other. I think it
is great to have 4 shades of grey, and will be getting all the old greys I can
before they’re all gone.
robert
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Robert Passman wrote:
> Thank you Jake, and hi all. I'm sure I might get flamed and/or hate mail for
> this but.....
>
> LEGOs are TOYS, a CHILD'S PLAY THING! TLC is in the business to make toys for
> children to play with. Yes, the adult/collector base is large, but the child
> fan base is much larger. Little "Timmy" is not going to tell his mother he
> will never play with his LEGOs because one grey is darker than an other.
If the color of the bricks means so little to him, is Little Timmy or his mother
any more likely to buy LEGO because one grey is lighter than the other?
Regardless of what percentage of their sales we adults represent, I still don't
know too many companies that can afford to ignore any significant percentage of
their market.
- Chris.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
Chris Phillips wrote:
> If the color of the bricks means so little to him, is Little Timmy or his mother
> any more likely to buy LEGO because one grey is lighter than the other?
Yes yes yes... we know, we know. Colors won't entice kids where color
doesn't matter into buying more LEGO than they already do, so this
change seems aimless.
But I have a suspicion that's not the point of this whole mess.
Having thought about this for a while now, I suspect that the intention
is to try to bring in *NEW* people. Although I believe, and I'm sure
many others here feel the same way, that LEGO is of good enough quality
to stand on its own merits and doesn't need more "friendly" colors to
entice people into buying once they've seen one set, but it's evident
that LEGO doesn't feel the same way, hence the color change towards what
their research teams have determined to be a more "kid-friendly" color.
Their claimed reason for doing this is to improve sales, so let's take
that reason at face value, okay? Believe it or not, there _ARE_ people
who seem to think that "that other brick" *DOES* have a prettier color
selection than LEGO, and I'd bet anything that this color selection has
been done to try to lure such people into buying LEGO. The number of
people who feel strongly enough about the color change to not buy any
more LEGO after this are not as high as what they estimate they will be
able to bring in as new fans. LEGO purists may gasp at the thought of
mixing non LEGO with LEGO, but I don't think LEGO minds very much as
long as the newer purchases are from LEGO.
>> Mark
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.lego, Mark Tarrabain wrote:
> Chris Phillips wrote:
>
> > If the color of the bricks means so little to him, is Little Timmy or his mother
> > any more likely to buy LEGO because one grey is lighter than the other?
>
> Yes yes yes... we know, we know. Colors won't entice kids where color
> doesn't matter into buying more LEGO than they already do, so this
> change seems aimless.
>
> But I have a suspicion that's not the point of this whole mess.
>
> Having thought about this for a while now, I suspect that the intention
> is to try to bring in *NEW* people. Although I believe, and I'm sure
> many others here feel the same way, that LEGO is of good enough quality
> to stand on its own merits and doesn't need more "friendly" colors to
> entice people into buying once they've seen one set, but it's evident
> that LEGO doesn't feel the same way, hence the color change towards what
> their research teams have determined to be a more "kid-friendly" color.
>
> Their claimed reason for doing this is to improve sales, so let's take
> that reason at face value, okay? Believe it or not, there _ARE_ people
> who seem to think that "that other brick" *DOES* have a prettier color
> selection than LEGO, and I'd bet anything that this color selection has
> been done to try to lure such people into buying LEGO. The number of
> people who feel strongly enough about the color change to not buy any
> more LEGO after this are not as high as what they estimate they will be
> able to bring in as new fans. LEGO purists may gasp at the thought of
> mixing non LEGO with LEGO, but I don't think LEGO minds very much as
> long as the newer purchases are from LEGO.
Thank you for providing an answer to this question! Believe it or not, I am not
going to debate you on this point.
I know this discussion became tiresome for all of us a long time ago. The main
reason it keeps going in circles is that a lot of people seem perfectly willing
to make statements in this thread that they have no interest in backing up. Yet
those same unsupported statements keep coming back.
I've read that the color change won't *hurt* sales with kids at least a dozen
times, but I am yet (until now) to see anyone take a crack at answering my very
obvious follow-up question.
Again, thank you for actually engaging in this discussion!
- Chris.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.lego, Chris Phillips wrote:
> In lugnet.lego, Robert Passman wrote:
> > Thank you Jake, and hi all. I'm sure I might get flamed and/or hate mail for
> > this but.....
> >
> > LEGOs are TOYS, a CHILD'S PLAY THING! TLC is in the business to make toys
> > for children to play with. Yes, the adult/collector base is large, but the
> > child fan base is much larger. Little "Timmy" is not going to tell his
> > mother he will never play with his LEGOs because one grey is darker than
> > an other.
>
> If the color of the bricks means so little to him, is Little Timmy or his
> mother any more likely to buy LEGO because one grey is lighter than the
> other?
Nope..that's exactly the point. Remember that most children don't have enough
Lego bricks to make huge color-coordinated MOC like most of us AFOL's. To most
children, the fact there are Lego bricks is all they need. Color coordination
doesn't matter much to most of the general public buying Lego bricks, primarily
because parent's are too focused on spending for things like clothes, shoes,
backpacks, school supplies, house mortgage for house big enough for the entire
family, etc, instead of purchasing a lot of Lego.
> Regardless of what percentage of their sales we adults represent, I still
> don't know too many companies that can afford to ignore any significant
> percentage of their market.
>
> - Chris.
AFOL's = approximately 1-5% of market
remaining public = approximately 95% of market
I will let those numbers speak for themselves.
'nuff said
-Scott
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Scott Lyttle wrote:
> AFOL's = approximately 1-5% of market
> remaining public = approximately 95% of market
>
> I will let those numbers speak for themselves.
>
> 'nuff said
Care to venture a guess as to what percentage of sales TLC projects from the
Pick-a-Brick walls in the new Retail Stores?
From what I've observed in the stores, these sales are driven almost entirely by
the AFOL market. And I'll tell you that TLC's own sales projections place this
percentage a few multiples over your upper water mark.
- Chris.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.lego, Chris Phillips wrote:
> In lugnet.lego, Scott Lyttle wrote:
> > AFOL's = approximately 1-5% of market
> > remaining public = approximately 95% of market
> >
> > I will let those numbers speak for themselves.
> >
> > 'nuff said
>
> Care to venture a guess as to what percentage of sales TLC projects from the
> Pick-a-Brick walls in the new Retail Stores?
>
> From what I've observed in the stores, these sales are driven almost entirely by
> the AFOL market. And I'll tell you that TLC's own sales projections place this
> percentage a few multiples over your upper water mark.
I've seen many, many more parents and kids fill cups than AFOLs. Though we do
have a handful of AFOL regulars who come in and pack cups.
-Tim
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In lugnet.lego, Chris Phillips wrote:
> In lugnet.lego, Scott Lyttle wrote:
> > AFOL's = approximately 1-5% of market
> > remaining public = approximately 95% of market
> >
> > I will let those numbers speak for themselves.
> >
> > 'nuff said
>
> Care to venture a guess as to what percentage of sales TLC projects from the
> Pick-a-Brick walls in the new Retail Stores?
>
> From what I've observed in the stores, these sales are driven almost entirely by
> the AFOL market.
I was just at the LIC in Orlando yesterday and I can say that the PaB was doing
quite well with the general public, I had to keep pushing those pesky kids away
so I could get to the bricks I wanted ;)
jt
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In lugnet.lego, Scott Lyttle wrote:
snipped
> Nope..that's exactly the point. Remember that most children don't have enough
> Lego bricks to make huge color-coordinated MOC like most of us AFOL's. To most
> children, the fact there are Lego bricks is all they need. Color coordination
> doesn't matter much to most of the general public buying Lego bricks, primarily
> because parent's are too focused on spending for things like clothes, shoes,
> backpacks, school supplies, house mortgage for house big enough for the entire
> family, etc, instead of purchasing a lot of Lego.
>
>
> -Scott
I certainly did not have the 100,000+ bricks I do today but I certainly had
enough of an idea to make my creations color coordinated as a kid (as did many
of my friends and cousins who played with LEGO too) and got more satisfaction of
what I built by doing so. Ok, so I wasn't able to build huge MOCs back then but
could certainly build small and medium sized (less than 2 ft.) ones and make
them color coordinated.
Also, kids look at the sets and see that they are built color coordinated and
want to do the same with their creations. I can't say that's the rule but have
enough experience to say I've seen it very often.
Adr.
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In lugnet.lego, Jake McKee wrote:
> As a number of people have rightly pointed out, people listen more to
> reasonable, calm feedback on why this change is an issue. Let me assure you
> that people are listening. But it doesn’t help the cause when colleagues read
> profanity filled posts.
>
> Thanks for listening to us. Now back to listening to you.
I'm not a frequent poster to Lugnet, but I read it almost every day.
From my perspective, Lego has been doing better stuff than ever, especially in
2003:
1. *Creator, Designer and Inventor sets
2. *Fascinating tubs at great prices
3. *Return of some harcore technic
4. *Legends - especially the Metroliner and club car
5. *More trains in general
6. The under-appreciated Adventurers Oriental stuff
7. The Discovery Space sets
8. The later Harry Potter Sets
9. Star Wars, especially the Minis, Star Destroyer, and AT-AT
10. (as a father not AFOL) a beautifully rejuvenated "Duplo" line
11. Bionicle sets that are actually quite good (boo hiss!!!)
12. *Bulk bricks
13. *Bulk bricks with discounts
14. Pick a brick
15. *Extension of online store to more countries with lower postage points
16. Sculptures of famous planes
17. return of "Town" sets in Harry Potter and World City
18. Even this year's Advent calendar is dramatically better!
Plus a couple of "positioning" things they have done, such as very firmly
placing Juniorisation in its place, and not allowing it to spread into other
lines.
(an aside - however my favourite theme is SW. If 2005 is the year SW is
Juniorised, like maybe Pirates is this year and Town was for the last few years,
I will be pretty irate! But hey if its the younger kids who want pirates and
fire engines, and the older kids who want R2D2 and AT-TEs who am I to argue with
your market research?)
The split between "tubs/creator/designer/inventor" and "story" based sets allows
us to understand what Lego is trying to get at. Surely the 2003
Creator/Designer/Inventor sets represent a fantastic return to what AFOLs see as
the core Lego value of open-ended creative building. But with cooler colour
schemes and ideas books included in every carton.
Now, assuming the colour change is "2004", can anyone point to a better year
than 2003?
OK. Now to my main point. People on Lugnet are still whining. The colour change
has been a particular example. It makes me cringe to see grown men and women
whine like this! I won't pick anyone out as an example, but really, its
embarrassing. Sure there is some intelligent discussion as well, but the overall
tone has been somewhat immature.
HOWEVER
Many of the things that TLG has done (as above, marked with asterisks) were the
subject of exactly the same kinds of childish whinges and whines in the past (as
well as intelligent discussion). And from many of the same people.
So, to the posters who have cringed and pointed out how dumb some of these
complaints are, maybe you should think again. Maybe its the whiners and
complainers who really influence TLG to do the amazing stuff they have been
doing lately.
I have quietly wished for some of the things Lego has been doing recently, but I
have only ever voted with my wallet, not by asking for things in posts to
Lugnet.
I'd like to hear other's opinions on this, including representatives of TLG.
Does whining work? And if so, what kind of whining is best? Brad, name names!
Give some examples of AFOLs who have influenced you and what kind of input you
can really use.
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In lugnet.lego, Jake McKee wrote:
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The recent color change discovery and announcement has caused a great deal of
discussion here
|
Jake, Another THANK YOU for providing the AFOL community with updates. Did we
ever hear the complete list of colors being changed? Most of the talk has been
about the 2 shades of gray, but I have seen mention of brown, and mention of 4
colors changing. Any additional news available? Thanks!
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In lugnet.lego, John Cooper wrote:
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In lugnet.lego, Jake McKee wrote:
| |
The recent color change discovery and announcement has caused a great deal
of discussion here
|
Jake, Another THANK YOU for providing the AFOL community with updates. Did we
ever hear the complete list of colors being changed? Most of the talk has
been about the 2 shades of gray, but I have seen mention of brown, and
mention of 4 colors changing. Any additional news available? Thanks!
|
Brown has definitely changed, but not much. It’s a little lighter with more of
a hint of reddish-orange to it than before. It’s still very definitely brown
though. I think this is a better colour, as the old one was dark and dull.
It’s not as noticeable a change as the bluish tint to the dark grey (which I
don’t like - makes me think of carbon monoxide rich exhaust from a failing
petrol engine), but it does show up when you put it next to the old brown.
The one set I have (Star Wars Cantina) uses a lot of tan, dark red and sand red
on the speeder, and sand green for the Dewback. None of these appear to have
changed. I’m not sure what colour Greedo’s arms are made out of though.
They’re painted with tan, but underneath it’s a light green/blue It’s not
medium blue, and it’s not teal either. I’ll have to check it against some
Maersk blue or my Watto.
If that’s not it, then the fourth colour is still a mystery.
Jason Railton
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