[CAN Only?] Toys R Us Bricktober 2012

[unclephn]

I just received the latest LEGO Kids Club Magazine in the mail today, and it briefly mentions a couple events in regards to this year's Bricktober.

Minifigures Trade Weekend - October 13th & 14th

Bring your LEGO minifigures to a store and you can trade them for new ones with Toys R Us associates! Just look for the store associate wearing LEGO minifigures and ask them to trade.*

Make & Take - October 27th

Build your very own LEGO Dracula or LEGO Friends model and bring it home with you! For younger builders, there's a DUPLO pumpkin to build.*

*While supplies last. Excludes Express locations.

I'm sure we'll hear more details within the next week or so!

[Zeya]

So I can bring my generic boring minifigs in and upgrade them? What? Color me intrigued.

[gorenoirmag]

Maybe call in first and see how they are doing it? Might have a store that won't participate

[Legobrandon]

Do they show an image of the mini-build models?

[legogod]

I have heard of this same system being implemented in the Lego parks. We got a brochure for Legoland in Florida and it said you could trade one minifig that you had with any of the park employees. Minifigs were affixed to brick badges on employee vests so they would be readily viewable and quickly exchanged.

Here is a summation of the ritual. We ended up not going to Legoland on our past trip but I was excited for this little idea and wanted to see how it functioned. I'd be happy to hear how this smaller program works out.

Jared

[meyerc13]

We went to the LEGOLand Discovery Center in Chicago over the Labor Day weekend. They were running this same promotion. Employees have LEGO minifigs on their badge, and you can trade with them. We brought some Spongebob minifigs that we don't want (my kids aren't allowed to watch that show, but we bought the set for parts). In trade, we got two old knights, a pirate, and a female minifig. These weren't new, but well used. They were also in terrible shape - cracks in the arms, chewed up legs... at least we got some nice torsos and cool shields with the knights, but don't expect anything too spectacular.

Basically, it's a nice way to get rid of some of the extra police and fire fighter minifigs that everyone seems to have, and you might get something interesting.

[unclephn]

Do they show an image of the mini-build models?

Bricktober 2012 by unclephn, on Flickr

I apologize for the poor photo quality, but the images in the magazine don't show much to begin with anyway!

[UnknownUser]

Do they show an image of the mini-build models?

Bricktober 2012 by unclephn, on Flickr

I apologize for the poor photo quality, but the images in the magazine don't show much to begin with anyway!

Are those minifigs shown above the ones that people can trade in their minifigs for?

[Luciant]

LOL prolly just minifigs in general... No way they are going to be giving away Lloyd when he's so popular and hard to find.

[Legobrandon]

The Dracula looks like a CubeDude! Also excited to see what the Friends model is. Would love to get some free Friends coloured bricks. :)

[hatcher]

Ok, so if I'm reading this right, the employee will have 1 mini-figure on a name tag, and you can walk up to them and ask them to trade that one, for the one you have. So then the next guy who comes along will see them with your mini on their badge. Well, that sounds kind of lame. What if the first guy brings in an old city dude with a missing hand and worn off face? No one is going to trade for that. Or are they going to have bin of figures that they will put on? Is it just me or am I missing something?

[meyerc13]

If it works the same way that the Legoland one worked, you have it pretty much right except that most of the employees had a few minifigs at the start. I don't know if the employees have any rules to follow, but I suspect that they might. I saw one person trade a minifig keychain for a minifig, and the employee didn't display that keychain on his badge, so perhaps he 'restocked' later with another new minifig. But don't expect to walk away with anything too exciting unless you happen to be the first. The kids thought it was fun, but they can overlook cracked arms and chewed legs/torsos.

[atmail35]

The Friends build doesn't look too great oh why must they keep that a secret? I'll definitely take my daughter though, usually these events are slow and they let participants have one of each and not just have to choose one. Let's hope this time it is the same. Of course I can't seem to go into and leave TRU without buying her something, so I guess they got us there!

[vynsane]

Of course I can't seem to go into and leave TRU without buying her something, so I guess they got us there!

Why do you think they'd run a 'free give-away' event in the first place? They've institutionalized the "drag your child kicking and screaming out of Toys R Us" trope

[TClone]

I went through my LEGO Club magazine again, and it doesn't have this ad. What page is it on? It's in the regular magazine or Club Jr.?

[scatmanjack]

So the Friends set is the lame pumpkin or the pile of pastel bricks???

[radiocd]

I went through my LEGO Club magazine again, and it doesn't have this ad. What page is it on? It's in the regular magazine or Club Jr.?

I have both LEGO Club and Club Jr and I can't find this ad either.

[vynsane]

So the Friends set is the lame pumpkin or the pile of pastel bricks???

The pumpkin is the Duplo build for younger kids.

[Legobrandon]

I went through my LEGO Club magazine again, and it doesn't have this ad. What page is it on? It's in the regular magazine or Club Jr.?

Maybe Canada only? :D

[Cara]

I think its good, its like Disney collector pins. Now if only they would do this with Lego Store employees all the time in the brand stores! hehe (And it better not be Canada only )