Subject:
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Re: The difference between hobbyists and collectors...
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto
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Date:
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Tue, 9 Jan 2007 16:35:57 GMT
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Viewed:
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1719 times
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In lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto, David Eaton wrote:
> In lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto, David Koudys wrote:
> > I've seen it before--John Doe has an excellent idea for designing something
> > new and great. 'Ahh, but I need part 'x' and only Richard Roe has part 'x'
> > and he wants a gazillion dollars for it.'
>
> I guess the thing I'd point out is that collectors really do value their pieces
> and their sets as more than just the sum of their parts.
I value the LEGO parts as more than the sets they comes in. That's why I build
with LEGO bricks--if I didn't care about the parts, then I certainly would save
lots of money by not buying the sets.
And again, the difference between the parts I have and the set that someone is
selling for 400 dollars is a cardboard box. I never could justify 400 dollars
for a cardboard box.
As some pundits are prone to point out (paraphrased)--'It's the pieces, stupid!'
LEGO is about the pieces and what you do with them. LEGO was never about 'the
box' or 'the set'. My brother and I hardly ever fought, but when we did, we
fought over LEGO--he built somehting and wanted to put it up on a shelf for
display indefinitely. 'Hey!' I'd say, 'I need some of those parts for this
thing I'm building over here!!'
Of course, this was back in the '70's when our entire LEGO collection could fit
into 1 canning pot (not that I'd know that...)
Now I have enought that wehn the kids come over and build somehting, it stays
together for when they come back the next time. That's also something else I
remember when I was a kid and visiting the aunts and uncles--I'd start building
something, not finish it 'cuase we had to go home, come back the next week and
it'd be broken down back in the box (never got the bit where other cousins
visited and also played wit hthe LEGO bricks...)
So I try to make sure that when kids come over and build something, it stays
together for their next visit. That's just 'an artifact' from my childhood.
>
> Here's the thing: for example, if Galaxy Explorers were $20 a pop, they'd be
> gone. Anyone who was first on the scene would scoop 'em up. And I mean anyone--
> some 7-year-old wants one and his parents could buy it for him. But as it is,
> they're around for sale for a while. And, furthermore, you KNOW that if you paid
> $400 for your Galaxy Explorer, you're NOT going to treat it like crap. If you
> bought one MISB, chances are it's going to get treated with extreme care. It's
> sort of a preservation of heritage-type thingy.
>
> For instance, I recall getting asked about old Star Wars sets from 1999 or 2000
> or so. Where could you still buy them, and how much would they be? If it weren't
> for a bunch of people who decided to stock up and save them for later, there'd
> be a depleted supply, and you'd rarely ever see any new ones for sale. Jacking
> up the price gives people who are serious about the collecting aspect a chance
> to get the things they want to get.
>
> DaveE
And as I said to Steve, if he wants a 'Galaxy Explorer', I'd ship him the 2 1x4
bricks with the LL number on the side and he can build the rest--the
instructions are on-line and the pieces he doesn't have are readily available on
BL (or he can come over to my place and get what he needs)
So what's the difference between the Galaxy Explorer built out of the pieces in
my basement and the Galaxy Explorer 'still in box' being sold on eBay for aome
astronomical value? A cardboard box? Non-used pieces??
That's not good enough for me. As River would say, "I understand it, I don't
comprehend it". It goes against common sense. It goes against 'fair'. It goes
against my personal thoughts of what LEGO and the community are all about--LEGO
pieces are the important bit--and using them in creations moreso. The best bit
was when I'd be with a bunch of friends and/or family, and all of us would build
and share--pieces and ideas, and have a grande afternoon just enjoying 'the
brick'.
I started expanding the collection after 'The Big Melt' (circa 1978) (if you
don't know, don't ask), and by the time I moved out on my own, I had amassed
quite the collection--bigger than the 'hope chest' that I stored most of them
in. So when I moved in with 3 of my buddies at age 19-20, our place was the
place to hang out for all our friends. You never saw such a sight--after church
on Sunday a whole bunch of people (10-15) would come back to our rented house,
and, in their sunday best, sit on the living room floor and play with the bricks
all afternoon.
It's akin to the same mentality I have now when at shows and such--"Dave, I need
to borrow some firction pegs--I'll bring 'em back when I'm done"
Whatever--it's a friction peg and I have thousands--if I never get them back,
why would I care? Again degrees people--I wouldn't expect someoen to walk of f
with an RCX or something, but if my good friend needs some parts and pieces that
I have in abundance, why wouldn't I just give them to him? It's not like i'm
going to miss the pieces, and it's better for the community.
Dave K
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