Subject:
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Re: LEGO Factory / PaB Pricing Study
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.lego
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Date:
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Wed, 8 Apr 2009 14:45:23 GMT
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Highlighted:
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In lugnet.lego, Ludo Soete wrote:
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In lugnet.lego, Jordan Schwarz wrote:
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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
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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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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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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: LEGO Factory / PaB Pricing Study
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| (...) 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 (...) (16 years ago, 6-Apr-09, to lugnet.lego, FTX)
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