Dear Lego: Uninspired "Collectable" Minifigs

[TheWarrior]

...I really liked the Diver.

[thepatient]

Well, I went back to TRU today, and used the Z-bar app to get the ones that I wanted. The thing that made me feel better about "cheating", I helped three families get the ones they wanted too. We wiped out the stock between the punch of us. So i don't think there are any more in my TRU any more.

It was weird calling off the names -and the crowd that started to form around me. It was nice to help some kids get what they wanted.

[SuperDave]

...I really liked the Diver.

I have some extras if you want 'em. Send me a PM.

[ttoole73]

Being a cop myself, I'm actually looking forward to getting as many of those traffic cops as I can. I'm kinda glad he's not everyones favorite. Hopefully that'll make him easier for me to acquire in greater numbers.

[Iare Tosevite]

Why is diver not popular?

.. because diver took a dive on popularity polls.

[vynsane]

Being a cop myself, I'm actually looking forward to getting as many of those traffic cops as I can. I'm kinda glad he's not everyones favorite. Hopefully that'll make him easier for me to acquire in greater numbers.

Are you going to get one for each squad car?

[Marty]

After reading this thread, I would like to say, no! I didn't care much for the diver either, but saying that, not many has a diver in their collection so I guess it was a safe bet for Lego to include one?
This is only the first wave of these figures, and as far as the second series goes, it is looking promising.
There is also the idea that the barcode thing was Cheating, I don't believe so, I bought at least 40 figures all up to get the complete set and if I had heard about the barcode thing sooner I wouldn't have, and left some for others who where disappointed at having none to buy. I even helped a few people with the barcode thing as they too where getting fed up. At buying the same one's over and over again. Oh, and Lego wasn't much help either, the one's I ordered from them never arrived and where a lot dearer not to mention the $30 freight charge, yeah they helped a lot!
The end result was, even if they had arrived, by the time they did, most shops already had them, they where cheaper, and it put me off buying something like this from them again.
But the bottom line is I like the figures, not all of them but some, and Lego is heading in the right direction for once!

[Daz Hoo]

The other day, I was talking with one of my fellow LUG member who is a designer for the LEGO CITY theme (Pierre Normandin, not to name him), and he told me that the biggest complain LEGO got about the Minifig collection is not the selection of minifigs or the poor quality, but rather AFOLs and/or parents complaining that they didn't get THE minifig that they (or their kids) wanted when they went to the store. He said that, judging by the complains, I would seem that LEGO fans aren't used to that "Buy multiple to collect them all" way to make business and have a hard time adjusting.

But all complains aside, the bottom line for LEGO are the sales. Sure, retailers didn't order enough the first time around, but all of LEGO's production run is probably sold out by now and I'm sure that orders are pourring in for series 2.

So, despite some complains about the cheap quality (which is debatable IMHO) or the selection offered, I think the Minifig Collection is a big success for LEGO right now.

[vynsane]

But all complains aside, the bottom line for LEGO are the sales. Sure, retailers didn't order enough the first time around, but all of LEGO's production run is probably sold out by now and I'm sure that orders are pourring in for series 2.

Unfortunately, I believe series 2 will be only slightly easier to complete, as I've read LEGO solicited both 1 and 2 at the same time. I think you'll have to wait until series 3 to see a marked improvement in distribution/availability.

[Daz Hoo]

Well, I don't know about the States, but here in Canada, independant retailers who ordered them back in January were prioritized for sure. But given the success of series 1, I assume LEGO did a longer production run for series 2, hence why I think retailers might still be able to order a few more boxes from LEGO.

[vynsane]

But given the success of series 1, I assume LEGO did a longer production run for series 2, hence why I think retailers might still be able to order a few more boxes from LEGO.

That's what I'm saying, though - from what I've read, series 1 and 2 were solicited, ordred and therefore produced simultaneously. That being the case, series 2 will be just as rare as series 1, because it had the same production run.

[Daz Hoo]

That makes sense.

Still, if LEGO has no problem selling its production, it makes is very unlikely that they will change anything to that product, complains from AFOLs or not...

[Prince Kahuka]

That's what I'm saying, though - from what I've read, series 1 and 2 were solicited, ordred and therefore produced simultaneously. That being the case, series 2 will be just as rare as series 1, because it had the same production run.

Series 2 won't necessarily be as rare in the US as Series 1. I've read elsewhere that LEGO didn't expect the figs to do so well in the US, so Europe was given a bigger share of the Series 1 figs. For Series 2, some of the production run that was originally planned for Europe will make its was to the US instead. Makes sense to me, since I've also heard that there are many places in Europe you can still find Series 1 by the bucketful.

[vynsane]

Series 2 won't necessarily be as rare in the US as Series 1. I've read elsewhere that LEGO didn't expect the figs to do so well in the US, so Europe was given a bigger share of the Series 1 figs. For Series 2, some of the production run that was originally planned for Europe will make its was to the US instead. Makes sense to me, since I've also heard that there are many places in Europe you can still find Series 1 by the bucketful.

I never said it would be the same exact distribution, just that it was the same production run. There may be a slightly improved availability in The States with series 2 due to reallocation of the initial distribution plan. I only said that you'd have to wait until series 3 for a marked improvement in availability, as series 1 and 2 were produced to order at the same time.

The fact that LEGO didn't expect the CMFs to do well in the US seems like a crock to me. They were only available through TRU and LEGO brand stores here as well as the pitiful 5 per order shop.lego option. It's a question of retail outlets - they just weren't widely available here because they weren't widely ordered by stores.