LEGO Grab Bags to be Discontinued

Despite the exciting news of the 10233 Horizon Express which I will be very happy to have, I have some bad news from the man himself, K. Hinkle.

According to a thread on Eurobricks, and with him quoted, they are no longer allowing Brand Retail to sell Grab Bags. Reason being, there are legal implications to the quality of product and they probably are following legislation to prevent any future lawsuit over "broken" parts, or maybe scratches, or some legal mumbo-jumbo. This obviously seems bad and uncomfortable for the expert builder like myself who has recently begun to live off of these (see a couple past and future entries).

I will look at it in a different eye. He says he is trying to arrange for a solution for us AFOLs, since we are a reasonable fraction of the company's clientele. What can be done?

• All schools where I am at ban the sale of food in "competition" with the cafeteria (seriously, how is someone going to run the cafeteria out of business?) Victims are fundraiser sales for clubs and "(insert holiday here) Grams". Now, if the food is "given" in another sold package (of "Balloons" for example), there is a little bit of going around it.
• In context, clients can be "Given" the parts to fill in a Paid Pick-A-Brick Cup. But to keep it within reason and compliance, I would limit it only to AFOL and people who have known staff of their store. The idea is to prevent any complaint from anyone not seriously into this (general consumer). If you are an AFOL, it is certainly understood any 1-in-1000 complaint is genuine and you're not trying to screw the company. It makes ZERO sense for anyone to inspect the contents of your pick a brick cup, so we all can get our Dark Tan 1x6 bricks there. No one is going to inspect the PAB stock sold anyway. It's just get a plastic cup and fill it with whatever you want. Gum wrappers, megablocks, or maybe real LEGO.
• Now, if the parts have to be given away to someone, maybe WE can benefit from it. The idea is stores may not profit from Grab Bag material [used brick, brick from damaged sets, excess/mistreated PAB brick]. The parts can be given to trusted LUGs as we AFOL are truly the only people that can be "trusted" with used material and will probably not complain at all like any ordinary client could. Lots of fans would not want the material to be thrown away or recycled as it is LEGO and it can last 30-40 years. Remember that this stock is already losing market value when opened and built, and that it already generated big bucks by being advertising space for said set. (Economic principle, think opportunity cost of NOT displaying it!)

I really hope something positive and helpful to us works out in the future.

-$0.02

I Like Grab Bags

Grab bags are the loose part bags LEGO Brand Retail sells. In these are parts from old floor models, PAB wall selections, or sets damaged in transit.

I bought three of them on Thursday and they were well supplied with common and uncommon parts. They were a great way to stock up on supporting basic bricks for Element while getting the value on rarer elements. 24 dollars (I'll say 21.50 to split the 5 bucks VIP rewards that was used on the purchase of this and PAB) bought these three and the total parts count was 674.

Bag 1 was probably the best and most numbered bag. In there were 1 light brick, several orange bricks (like in all 15), a dark pink slope, dark tan 2x2, lots of the greens and rare elements in md blue (like cheese and arches). 270 pcs.

Bag 2 was a Friends laden bag with the pink 8x16 and the slopes. Had several parts of interest and few more in the grays, white, and black. Also a hidden brick brick in DkTan and 1 silver antenna. 225pcs

Bag 3 was varied in color. Azure, pink, trans light blue elements plus a friends torso. 179 pcs. When I had this taken parts like a bright green 8x16 were in the box already. Ugh.

Not too bad where as the cost per part was 3.2 cents after the discount.

I love grab bags because of the ability to have this sort of access. It takes luck and timing to get it right. No two grab bags are alike, and it serves as a little reminder to the days when 4679 had the 500 part bonus that fit this description. Those were more bizarre elements but at least this comes close to some extent. I had one with Maersk Blue elements, one with dark orange elements from the Sandcrawler, and one with some Market street parts.

As I always do, it is suggested to ask your store if they have grab bags available.