7 ms·

> I think the biggest threat to the generic lines is the fact that they have to compete against other generic stuff that's produced cheaper. I'd say the bigges

> I think the biggest threat to the generic lines is the fact that they have to compete against other generic stuff that's produced cheaper. I'd say the biggest threat is Lego's pricing. Even Lego's small generic sets are sold for over 20€. Even Lego fans pause when faced with that kind of price tags.

morsch 3y ago
Fortunately, hundreds of billions of Lego bricks were sold over the years, many of which survive, making for a very deep secondary market. On average, families only seem to grow wealthier, in terms of the amount of Lego they acquire.
- simplotek 3y ago
  Lego's secondary market works for the benefit of diehard fans, but it doesn't help finance Lego the company. The non-diehard fans can simply buy Lego knockoffs. I'd like to support Lego but I don't get to do that by buying used sets or knockoffs, but Lego's pricing also prices me out of the market.
  - morsch 3y ago
    It benefits die hard fans, including the kind that's not tall enough to ride a rollercoaster, because they're routinely gifted Lego by the bucket. I think an argument could be made that there is enough Lego in rotation that we can stop making more of it for a couple of decades.
  - WillAdams 3y ago
    Lego Corp. bought Bricklink, so they at least benefit from sales there.
    - bombcar 3y ago
      From evidence not directly stated they bought it more to keep it alive than to make millions. Bricklink is a value add; what other toy can you get spare parts for sets 30+ years old even on the secondary market? Inflation considered, and set size, Lego has gone down in price since I was a kid, and generic sets (Creator) are still available. What’s also amazing is the “licensed premium” isn’t that high if you do direct comparisons. They did perfect low quantity manufacturing which is evident by the vast numbers of obvious for-adults “Ideas” that are produced.
  - nuancebydefault 3y ago
    The knockoffs are still of less quality, especially the manuals. In my opinion, the strategy of quality-first is the main reason for lego's sustainable success.
- Freak_NL 3y ago
  As evidenced by my four year old who is eagerly anticipating the day my childhood boxes of Lego will come to him (as they will later this year; being the only grandchild). He is already very happily playing with them over at his grandparents house of course. He has three sets of his own (gotten at 3¾ and his fourth birthday), and has now progressed from building the sets (the 5+ Lego City generic stuff) to disassembling them and building his own things.

morsch 3y ago

Fortunately, hundreds of billions of Lego bricks were sold over the years, many of which survive, making for a very deep secondary market. On average, families only seem to grow wealthier, in terms of the amount of Lego they acquire.

simplotek 3y ago
Lego's secondary market works for the benefit of diehard fans, but it doesn't help finance Lego the company. The non-diehard fans can simply buy Lego knockoffs. I'd like to support Lego but I don't get to do that by buying used sets or knockoffs, but Lego's pricing also prices me out of the market.
- morsch 3y ago
  It benefits die hard fans, including the kind that's not tall enough to ride a rollercoaster, because they're routinely gifted Lego by the bucket. I think an argument could be made that there is enough Lego in rotation that we can stop making more of it for a couple of decades.
- WillAdams 3y ago
  Lego Corp. bought Bricklink, so they at least benefit from sales there.
  - bombcar 3y ago
    From evidence not directly stated they bought it more to keep it alive than to make millions. Bricklink is a value add; what other toy can you get spare parts for sets 30+ years old even on the secondary market? Inflation considered, and set size, Lego has gone down in price since I was a kid, and generic sets (Creator) are still available. What’s also amazing is the “licensed premium” isn’t that high if you do direct comparisons. They did perfect low quantity manufacturing which is evident by the vast numbers of obvious for-adults “Ideas” that are produced.
- nuancebydefault 3y ago
  The knockoffs are still of less quality, especially the manuals. In my opinion, the strategy of quality-first is the main reason for lego's sustainable success.
Freak_NL 3y ago
As evidenced by my four year old who is eagerly anticipating the day my childhood boxes of Lego will come to him (as they will later this year; being the only grandchild). He is already very happily playing with them over at his grandparents house of course. He has three sets of his own (gotten at 3¾ and his fourth birthday), and has now progressed from building the sets (the 5+ Lego City generic stuff) to disassembling them and building his own things.