Is there something wrong with me?

[sadowsk1]

This might be too much question, but between this thread and the one about investing in Lego. Do you see yourself paying the high after market prices for sets you wanted when you have more disposable income or would it be difficult since you knew how much it used to cost?

I don't think I would. If it's something I really wanted, I would have bought it when it was out. Although if you buy something and keep it sealed, ie. Cafe Corner, UCS MF, etc. you could trade that for a high priced set you wanted.

I guess I mean if you couldn't afford them or buy them for clearance when they were out in mainstream. I think that most of us collectors if we see something we really truly want, we budget for it.

[cbaker1974]

I guess I mean if you couldn't afford them or buy them for clearance when they were out in mainstream. I think that most of us collectors if we see something we really truly want, we budget for it.

If you aren't someone who needs the box and instructions, then sometimes it can make sense to just build it yourself out of your pool of MOC/building bricks, buying any special minifigs or hard to find pieces. Every few months I will buy a lot here or there from eBay, Craigslist, yard sales...wherever I can get cheap bricks a few pounds at a time (prefer less than $5 a pound). These random assortments slowly purchased over time allow you to build a nice collection so that you can build just about anything by making a small bricklink order for the specialty pieces at a fraction of the cost of the set's aftermarket price. This of course requires a lot of work and effort, but can be fun. I've purchased a lot of lots on eBay where there were bulk lots, but you could actually identify some of the sets in the lots (pull out some unique pieces and compare them against the Peeron database). They usually were missing pieces, so I was able to "restore" them by buying a few extra pieces here and there. I've built Republic Gunship 7676, Harry Potter Gringotts Bank, and the Creator Beach House in this way. Becoming a "Lego Set Restorer(tm)" in this fashion is another alternative to help finance your hobby if you've got a good eye when buying lots and can sell a set from the mixed lot.

[condor]

I guess I mean if you couldn't afford them or buy them for clearance when they were out in mainstream. I think that most of us collectors if we see something we really truly want, we budget for it.

The only set I did that with was the Skeleton Tower in the Fantasy Castle line. I paid $65 shipped for it on ebay when the MSRP was $50. That was only because I started collecting the line a year or two after it started. That will be very rare for me to do since I hate paying MSRP for sets as it is

[ShaydDeGrai]

By Rook's handy definitions, I guess I'm a Builder/Collector. As I look around my office at the moment, I've got nine set unopened, waiting for me to get cracking (or snapping as the case may be). I DO however plan on opening and assembling all of them. Once assembled, I tend not scrap them for parts (yet that certain does happen from time to time). My office is littered with assembled models and my attic, basement, and old bedroom at my parents' house is packed with sets that I rotate in and out of the living space. In what's probably a bad habit that I started years ago, I also have all the original boxes and a 4 drawer filing cabinet full of the original instruction books. My nephew says I own a Lego museum.

I also have a couple hundred pounds of bulk bricks accumulated over the years either from spare sets that I picked up as red tag specials at failing toy stores, salvaged from kits that I either got bored with or accidently dropped and decided not to rebuild, bulk orders on-line, or randomly filled cups from the local Lego store. These I use for MOCs (which usually end up in the rotating collection of display pieces).

A friend who does a lot of trading on eBay says, even opened and assembled, I'm sitting on a fortune, but I've never sold a Lego part in my life and so long as the mortgage is getting paid and there's food on the table, I don't see any reason to change that.

I grew up poor, when getting a little Lego car stocking stuffer was the high-light of Christmas. I was in my late twenties before I had a disposable income to spend on Lego sets. Since then, it's turned into something somewhere between a passion and a vice. In the grand scheme of things though, it's probably better for me than Scotch and cheaper than therapy, so I can justify the expense.

Fortunately, I have a very understanding spouse who accepts and encourages my hobby.

[melsig]

My thinking is similar to Rook's. I don't collect Lego but buy them for my son and I always take an interest in what he likes. I've always been a collector of various things and buy him more lego than he needs because of this.

I'm with you there! Although, lately, I find myself gritting my teeth more and more as we inevitably start losing pieces from built sets, playdates end in smashed sets (although this bothers my son, too - we'll have to figure out something there), my son starts swapping out parts between sets and minifigs, etc. When I buy a highly desired set on sale, I've started buying a second one to have a sealed, clean copy in storage (my son doesn't know it, but we have 3 ice dragons in the basement that I picked up on sale after Christmas). I tell myself it's for when my son is old enough to have true collector's instincts and want completely pristine sets. But, really, whom am I kidding?!?

[brickarmor]

Excellent array offered in this thread. I find pieces of my own thinking scattered here and there. I was a poor kid too, wanted more Lego than I ever actually had, and up until last Christmas, I really thought Lego was just some houses and Star Wars ships. My wife bought our 6 yr old son some sets, and man oh man does she regret it now!! His b-day was in January, and something in me--the inner AFOL seed frozen but fertile--went a little nuts. Only six months later, much of my days are consumed by Lego in some form or fashion. I love to build, my son loves to build and "play comics" as he calls it, but (this is key) right now I'm really looking for a way to make the hobby self-sustaining as some claim can be done. I see how, but I can't risk getting burned on the market. My wife (the breadwinner) would kill me...and my son would get all the used but complete sets I've horded in the closet. I don't want to make any money that wouldn't be reinvested in more Lego, and trying to pick the winners is taking up the space and time in my brain that used to be reserved for sleeping. So hello to all of you, consider this my misplaced introduction...

[jeremyp4]

I am 31 also and have a son who is a year and a half old. I have been buying various sets to set aside for him since before he was born. So far I am at around 60 sets or so, focusing primarily on Harry Potter and Star Wars. I am a teacher and actually use HP in my class... and I can't wait to explore the books, movies, and LEGO sets of the HP (and Star Wars) universe with my son when he gets older.

[MarkV]

Ah, OCLD - obsessive/compulsive Lego disorder. I have just caught it after being away from Legos for 30+ years. I made the mistake of taking my kids to the Lego store in Downtown Disney. They're interested now and my itch has come back with a vengeance just in the past 45 days. I'm a sucker for the bigger sets. The bigger, the more enticing for me and say "hard to find" or "discontinued" and the drool runs down my chin...

How does one pass on UCS sets? They just scream "buy me, store me, sell me!"

Also, having a problem limiting my set theme interest - Star Wars (check!), Harry Potter (check!), Kingdoms (check!), LoTR (check! although most of the sets look "eh" to me), architecture (eventual check), minifigures (must eventually have them all!), Technics (expensive check!)...

Bad things I have done in a short time
* I picked up a full, opened (no boxes) set of 2010 Kingdoms and then an unopened set on accident. Paid too much for the unopened one and about right for the opened set...
* I couldn't resist the MMV and am wondering if a second would be a good idea. It's such an inexpensive set for the part count and has great play value for my kids (yeah, I did it for the kids) ...
* Bought out 2 Meijers stores worth of Series 5 (I tried to buy out 3, but one had already been cleared out) - at $1.50, they're great to answer the occasional "Dad, did you bring us anything from your trip?"
* Son #1 will be receiving Lego oriented birthday gifts (it was their idea, really!)
* Daughter #1 will be receiving Lego oriented birthday gifts (her idea, I swear!)

I'm sure we all have our lists, but expressing them is carthartic for me
Bad things I'm about todo if they're instock Friday at the local Legostore - someone tell me to wait for a sale :)
* Kingdoms Joust
* Technics Unimog
* Lego MBA 2-9 (Lego S&H - free shipping!)
* Diagon Alley
* Maersk Train

Bad things I'd like to do
* Another MMV
* UCS IS
* UCS SSD
* UCS R2D2
* Lego Trains
* Lego Supersonic RC 8366 (x3)
* Technic Logging Truck
* Lego NXT 2.0 set (just a matter of time)

Let's hope it's just a phase... mid-life Lego crisis maybe?

[sadowsk1]

Ah, OCLD - obsessive/compulsive Lego disorder. I have just caught it after being away from Legos for 30+ years. I made the mistake of taking my kids to the Lego store in Downtown Disney. They're interested now and my itch has come back with a vengeance just in the past 45 days. I'm a sucker for the bigger sets. The bigger, the more enticing for me and say "hard to find" or "discontinued" and the drool runs down my chin...

How does one pass on UCS sets? They just scream "buy me, store me, sell me!"

Also, having a problem limiting my set theme interest - Star Wars (check!), Harry Potter (check!), Kingdoms (check!), LoTR (check! although most of the sets look "eh" to me), architecture (eventual check), minifigures (must eventually have them all!), Technics (expensive check!)...

Bad things I have done in a short time
* I picked up a full, opened (no boxes) set of 2010 Kingdoms and then an unopened set on accident. Paid too much for the unopened one and about right for the opened set...
* I couldn't resist the MMV and am wondering if a second would be a good idea. It's such an inexpensive set for the part count and has great play value for my kids (yeah, I did it for the kids) ...
* Bought out 2 Meijers stores worth of Series 5 (I tried to buy out 3, but one had already been cleared out) - at $1.50, they're great to answer the occasional "Dad, did you bring us anything from your trip?"
* Son #1 will be receiving Lego oriented birthday gifts (it was their idea, really!)
* Daughter #1 will be receiving Lego oriented birthday gifts (her idea, I swear!)

I'm sure we all have our lists, but expressing them is carthartic for me
Bad things I'm about todo if they're instock Friday at the local Legostore - someone tell me to wait for a sale :)
* Kingdoms Joust
* Technics Unimog
* Lego MBA 2-9 (Lego S&H - free shipping!)
* Diagon Alley
* Maersk Train

Bad things I'd like to do
* Another MMV
* UCS IS
* UCS SSD
* UCS R2D2
* Lego Trains
* Lego Supersonic RC 8366 (x3)
* Technic Logging Truck
* Lego NXT 2.0 set (just a matter of time)

Let's hope it's just a phase... mid-life Lego crisis maybe?

Hello friend,

After returning from the dark ages I can tell you now, wait for a sale, be patient. Many times I've gone out and bought things at full price and regretted it. Most Lego don't sell out that quickly and a sale usually pops up if you can be patient.

[lordharrier]

Ah, OCLD - obsessive/compulsive Lego disorder. I have just caught it after being away from Legos for 30+ years.
Let's hope it's just a phase... mid-life Lego crisis maybe?

Oh my ..this is exactly my problem.. but I never got into Lego as a kid so I'm going nuts right now. Its definitely a very early mid-life Lego crisis for me. I'm sticking to sales and clearances and such.. definitely aiming for no more than 10cents/piece on new sets. In my case, I've unloaded my entire toy collection from the last 2 decades to make it all guilt-free purchasing.

To answer the question posed in the subject line: No.

I proposed a counter-question to my wife about this topic.. would you rather I have a vice like smoking or drinking or visiting nightclubs? Look at what a smoker's expenditure for cigarettes is like.. they can smoke,on average, a pack every 1.5 days. At an average 8$ per pack here near NYC that comes out to $160/month for cigarettes alone. How much do people spend on payday when they go to a bar or to a nightclub? At least I'm home building Lego with both my kids.. justifiable Family time.

[MarkV]

Yes, but if I was drinking/smoking the equivalent of what I spent on Legos, I'd check myself in to rehab :)

Also, at some point, one has a large number of Lego bricks (We just almost hit 12k bricks in 51 sets, probably what many here consider a small number). Does one really need more sets? How does that justification work? Just looking for some... justification I mean.

[brickarmor]

I want to get to the point where I've got all the sets I want to keep forever, which I realistically--seriously!!--estimate to be around 30 or 40, and then begin an arbitrary cycle of buy, build, debuild, sell, repeat. Because for me, I really love to build the sets and learn new ways to use old pieces or find new pieces... I'm sure at this point, having not even remotely tested my hypothesis of "selling," that I'd be able to go through with it. Mostly sure. Isn't there anyone else who says, "You know, I'd love to just build Cafe Corner, just once, then pass it on to somebody else"? Ah, but this brings up the old issues of display and attachment, yadda yadda yadda...

[lordharrier]

Yes, but if I was drinking/smoking the equivalent of what I spent on Legos, I'd check myself in to rehab :)

Also, at some point, one has a large number of Lego bricks (We just almost hit 12k bricks in 51 sets, probably what many here consider a small number). Does one really need more sets? How does that justification work? Just looking for some... justification I mean.

My justification: I'm spending time with my kids. My little one will play with anything I get and right now she really likes Batman and Star Wars. My little one assembles the smaller stuff and helps me build the bigger sets. I will sit with her and play after we build something. At least I'm not sitting at her table drinking "tea" with some plush animals. The teenager wants to build the challenging sets.. for those of you who have teenagers .. its much better to have her interested in spending time with me versus being locked in her room chatting with some boy...knowwhatImean?

[Bizarro]

As to your question, well, yes, you might have a problem. The good news is you are at the right place. Many of us have "Lego issues" also :)

Not me! The only reason I have thousands of dollars worth of this stuff is because I NEED it... for my plans! MAUAHAHAHHAHAHAW!

[Luciant]

I want to get to the point where I've got all the sets I want to keep forever, which I realistically--seriously!!--estimate to be around 30 or 40, and then begin an arbitrary cycle of buy, build, debuild, sell, repeat. Because for me, I really love to build the sets and learn new ways to use old pieces or find new pieces... I'm sure at this point, having not even remotely tested my hypothesis of "selling," that I'd be able to go through with it. Mostly sure. Isn't there anyone else who says, "You know, I'd love to just build Cafe Corner, just once, then pass it on to somebody else"? Ah, but this brings up the old issues of display and attachment, yadda yadda yadda...

I'm starting to get into this mentality myself. I love Lego with a passion, and I have way too many and can't stop buying. I tend to do the buy, build, display, debuild, bag, and store. I had delusions of grandeur of owning every set, but debt and reality set in on me. I've decided to 'limit' my theme interest (which is still way too many). I'm realizing now that I'm more interested in Minifigs than anything else I think, so I ultimately might decide to buy / build / debuild / keep minifigs, sell sets/bricks. I enjoy the build aspect and plan to keep fun display type stuff like City / Castle. But I figure eventually I might move to just minifigs =)