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Given the trend over the past few years and looking at the pictures of
upcoming products (spybots - just WHAT are these?????? - et. al.) I have to
ask - Is TLC killing off "traditional" Technics? I'm hard pressed to find
any traditional Technic style holed beams in new releases. Other than those
in the basic RIS set, it seems that Technic has moved more and more to the
axle/flex piece - connector method. There are lots of new odd-sized plates
and "new-style" unstudded beams (straight or bent) but very few traditional
pieces. The result is that there is far less "compatability" with regular
Lego blocks and plates (Meanwhile, there seems to be a large and active
market for Technic beams and plates on eBay and elsewhere). Whatever
happened to compatability across product lines?????? Yes, some of the new
pieces are interesting and given time, I'm sure I'll find many uses for them
but it is becoming VERY VERY difficult to find basic Technic parts (hence my
call for Technic buckets soem time back).
The only place where "traditional" Technic seems to remain is DACTA. Even
there however, TLC is starting to see strong competition from K'nex. The
tech teachers at our middle school have begun purchasing K'nex sets for
constructing cars and such. Frankly, the K'nex stuff is cheaper and does
the same job.
I hate to say it but it seems that TLC is once again shooting themselves in
the foot here. There's a large market in old large Technic sets - trading
at far above their original prices. I suppose that the only hope here is if
Lego Direct makes a move to support this market. THey HAVE re-released a
few sets (which seem to sell out quite quickly) but their efforts seem to be
fighting the tide. But then maybe this is the best way to sell such sets.
Mass market outlets are NOT good for large expensive sets - especially in
the new wimpy packaging.
The irony in all this can be seen in ANY big box store. I was in a few Toys
R Us over the past week. THe large Technic Star Wars sets are getting
marked down - though all are beat to hell and resealed. Every single one of
the large ($119) 4x4 boxes were open on the shelves. This scenario cannot
be profitable for TRU. In contrast, just TRY to find one of the Pirate
series sets.
Pointing up my past comments about these stores being the WRONG place for
Mindstorms, these sets sit forlorn and shelfworn. Ironically, they are
still at original prices - even though their web prices show substantial
price cuts. SOme of the Droid sets were stuck together - looking like soda
was spilled on them. THey still sat at $29.99 after 6 months.
I get the feeling with the demise of the blue tubs and other moves that
mainstream Lego is moving farther and farther away from making bricks. Only
a rogue rebel element at Lego Direct seems to have some focus on this - but
even their efforts are limited (and pricey).
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