What can and cannot be done
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 1:01 am
Someone wrote to me privately about a post I made in this forum. I find the subject suitable for public discussion. So, here is my reply to that person. Every word that is below is my content and mine alone. I don't even quote the other person in my reply - I paraphrase.
Just sayin'...
-----
You make the same sort of claims that people have been making on behalf of the Lego company for years. I used to read the same claims in Rec Toys Lego, then on Lugnet, Bricklink, and most everywhere else for that matter. Molds are expensive, the plastic is expensive, the engineering is precise to the point of madness, etc etc etc - all kinds of good reasons that suggest making plastic toys is a nearly impossible task.
And yet dozens of manufacturers manage to make all kinds of plastic crap.
Here's a funny thing: we now have brick hobbyists that are making and mass manufacturing their own elements. Now I am sure it's hard for them to do these things - I don't know exactly what is involved but I imagine there's several layers of complexity to navigate before arriving at a product that is ready for the marketplace. And yet they are pumping out dozens of amateur designed elements. Look at Big Ben Bricks or Brick Forge! Maybe they could make a killing making some kind of autumn colored foliage knock-off design. You know, almost but not quite the same as Lego's - something that is actually original in some details but functionally very similar. That would be perfectly legal. Competition is a wonderful thing.
And here's another funny thing: this is what Lego does as its main internationally renowned business. They make little plastic modular toy elements.
I simply don't believe that it's that hard for Lego to do whatever they want to do.
Yes, I understand that profit motive is a factor. There is also marketing as an expense of doing business. And sometimes a company does a thing because it creates good will and excellent word of mouth advertising too. It just depends on the balance they wish to attain.
If they want to, Lego can achieve anything it wants to in order to better serve the adult brick enthusiast community.
Just sayin'...
-----
You make the same sort of claims that people have been making on behalf of the Lego company for years. I used to read the same claims in Rec Toys Lego, then on Lugnet, Bricklink, and most everywhere else for that matter. Molds are expensive, the plastic is expensive, the engineering is precise to the point of madness, etc etc etc - all kinds of good reasons that suggest making plastic toys is a nearly impossible task.
And yet dozens of manufacturers manage to make all kinds of plastic crap.
Here's a funny thing: we now have brick hobbyists that are making and mass manufacturing their own elements. Now I am sure it's hard for them to do these things - I don't know exactly what is involved but I imagine there's several layers of complexity to navigate before arriving at a product that is ready for the marketplace. And yet they are pumping out dozens of amateur designed elements. Look at Big Ben Bricks or Brick Forge! Maybe they could make a killing making some kind of autumn colored foliage knock-off design. You know, almost but not quite the same as Lego's - something that is actually original in some details but functionally very similar. That would be perfectly legal. Competition is a wonderful thing.
And here's another funny thing: this is what Lego does as its main internationally renowned business. They make little plastic modular toy elements.
I simply don't believe that it's that hard for Lego to do whatever they want to do.
Yes, I understand that profit motive is a factor. There is also marketing as an expense of doing business. And sometimes a company does a thing because it creates good will and excellent word of mouth advertising too. It just depends on the balance they wish to attain.
If they want to, Lego can achieve anything it wants to in order to better serve the adult brick enthusiast community.