Heading to LEGO store for first time

[soccerkid6]

Have fun I'm hoping to go the LEGO store nearest me for the third time on Monday

[nanuck95]

Ah, I had a busy week and missed this post until now. I live just outside Cincinnati and was just at the LEGO store last week. Hope you had a good trip, at least the Reds won Friday night . The Kenwood mall where the store is located is kind of a zoo sometimes, it's not set up very well and getting in and out of there is kind of hectic. The PAB selection is hit or miss, I've found some decent parts and I think they had some of the dark bley palisade bricks when I was there the other day, but usually it's slim pickings for castle builders. Unfortunately, they rarely have polybags for sale there and you're slightly more likely to find them at TRU (across the street from Kenwood), although I have had difficulty finding ones like the Mirkwood elf and the Uruk-hai ballista, and I spent quite a few trips trying to track them down. They tend to go very fast and I've generally given up trying to find them after a store clerk at TRU told me some guy came in and bought their entire stock (about 50) of the Mirkwood bags the day they came in.

Anyway, let me know if you ever make it back up this way and if you need me to check out the store to make sure they have something you are planning on getting. I have less and less time to read the boards lately, but if you send me a PM I'm more likely to see it.

[Bruce N H]

So, how was it? Make any cool purchases? Was there an AFOL MOC on display?

I've got business in northern NJ this evening, and luckily my Google map route takes me right past the Bridgewater LEGO store, so I'm going to stop in. It'll probably be just a run-in/run-out kind of thing, so I can take a photo of the AFOL display window and probably fill a small PaB cup, but I live down by Philly, so I've never been to that store. I probably should be getting ready soon since I have to iron my shirt before I go.

Bruce

[SSchmidt]

I plan on posting my haul and detailed breakdown of pick a brick cups and value.
Unfortunately it might take a few days. My wife is in the hospital and there have been some complications with her pregnancy (this is our first). We are at week 35, and it looks like they may take him tomorrow. Unsure, but my LEGO building will be extremely limited the next few months!

[Quickblade22]

Take care of that family. Then when you have time to post, we can read 2 stories of good news.

[Bruce N H]

Congratulations on your expected child. Thoughts and prayers will be with you guys. Recovery from a c-section can be a long process. They wouldn't let my wife lift anything heavier than our daughter, and also she could only go up and down the steps once a day. Do you have one of your mothers or someone else to help? My mom was able to come stay with us for a while, which was invaluable.

Don't be surprised if you don't get around to that parts analysis for a long time. I had completed MOCs before my first was born that didn't get photographed until after she was a year old.

On my trip last night, I was a little disappointed. They didn't have a community display window. They did have the new Orthanc set up, which I drooled over for a bit. I was in a rush though since I was on my way to on evening event for work, so I just grabbed a small PaB cup and filled it with trans clear cheese slopes, a few trans orange cheese slopes, and 1x2 tiles in lime green and purple (no clue what I'll do with those, I just don't have much in those colors, so figured I'd grab them). I also got a BrickJournal. The build-a-fig station looked like it had pretty generic stuff, so I didn't bother (though maybe if I'd dug through I might have found something interesting).

Bruce

[ACPin]

So, how was it? Make any cool purchases? Was there an AFOL MOC on display?

I've got business in northern NJ this evening, and luckily my Google map route takes me right past the Bridgewater LEGO store, so I'm going to stop in. It'll probably be just a run-in/run-out kind of thing, so I can take a photo of the AFOL display window and probably fill a small PaB cup, but I live down by Philly, so I've never been to that store. I probably should be getting ready soon since I have to iron my shirt before I go.

Bruce

That's the store where I get all my stuff and if only I wasn't at work yereterday I could have mentioned what you'd expect to see there as I was there during my lunch break.

-snip-
On my trip last night, I was a little disappointed. They didn't have a community display window. They did have the new Orthanc set up, which I drooled over for a bit. I was in a rush though since I was on my way to on evening event for work, so I just grabbed a small PaB cup and filled it with trans clear cheese slopes, a few trans orange cheese slopes, and 1x2 tiles in lime green and purple (no clue what I'll do with those, I just don't have much in those colors, so figured I'd grab them). I also got a BrickJournal. The build-a-fig station looked like it had pretty generic stuff, so I didn't bother (though maybe if I'd dug through I might have found something interesting).

Bruce

Sorry about the community or the lack of it as I maybe the reason for both starting and ending it. You've missed out on these from the BAM. Lmk next time you plan on dropping by..

AC

[Bruce N H]

Ooh, I should have looked closer. I glanced through the fig bins and just saw some generic town torsos. There were a bunch of dark tan turbans in the headgear, and I briefly considered doing some sort of desert army building. But I literally spent less than ten minutes in the store, as I was on the way to a work thing, so I didn't really take time to think long about anything.

BTW, I did see tons of green bricks in the PaB if you are planning any landscaping. They have 1x2, 1x3, and 1x4, and I think maybe 1x6 as well.

[SSchmidt]

So I went to the LEGO store, and this is my haul...
I got the Spring time scene polybag, summer time scene polybag, and also 4 pick a brick cups. I added one series 10 minifig to push me over $75 to get a free Jor-El polybag.

I poured out all the bricks in their four piles, separated them, and counted them. Then I went on Bricklink to see how much it would cost me to order the same exact amount.
For example. In PAB cup 1, I got 32 1x10 white bricks. In order to buy AT LEAST 32, NEW, 1x10 white bricks in ONE ORDER, from ONE SELLER, I would have had to pay .20 each***
I could have bought less than 32 1x10 white bricks, and the price would have been cheaper. But for this purpose, if I wanted to replicate these exact purchases on Bricklink, the price is shown below.


Example of Statistical chart
(Pick a Brick Cup #)

(Brick #1) (number of brick) (Value of brick on Bricklink) (Total Value of bricks on Bricklink)

(MSRP price of large PAB cup) / (Total value of bricks in PAB cup VIA Bricklink)


Here are my statistics.

Pick a Brick Cup 1
1x10 White Bricks (32) (0.20 on BL) (6.40 TOTAL)
1x16 White Bricks (2) (0.34 on BL) (0.64 TOTAL)
4x4 Green Plates (15) (0.10 on BL) (1.50 TOTAL)
1x2 Tan Slopes (45) (0.02 on BL) (0.90 TOTAL)
Green Flower Stems (67) (0.03 on BL) (2.01 TOTAL)
2x2 Corner Tan Plates (168) (0.04 on BL) (6.72 TOTAL)

$14.99 Paid for PAB Cup 1 / $18.17 Value of Bricks on Bricklink


Pick a Brick Cup 2
2x2 Corner Tan Plates (52) (0.04 on BL) (2.20 TOTAL)
1x2 Dark Bluish Gray Logs (82) (0.02 on BL) (1.64 TOTAL)
2x4 Tan Bricks (20) (0.11 on BL) (2.20 TOTAL)
2x2 DarkBluishGray Corner Bricks (118) (0.06 on BL) (7.08 TOTAL)

$14.99 Paid for PAB Cup 2 / $13.12 Value of Bricks on Bricklink


Pick a Brick Cup 3
1x2 Dark Bluish Gray Logs (22) (0.02 on BL) (0.44 TOTAL)
2x2 Corner Tan Plates (27) (0.04 on BL) (1.08 TOTAL)
2x4 Dark Bluish Gray bricks (80) (0.14 on BL) (11.20 TOTAL)
4x4 Green plates (16) (0.10 on BL) (1.60 TOTAL)

$14.99 Paid for PAB Cup 3 / $14.32 Value of Bricks on Bricklink


Pick a Brick Cup 4
2x4 Orange Bricks (8) (0.07 on BL) (0.56 TOTAL)
2x4 Medium Blue Bricks (19) (0.13 on BL) (2.47 TOTAL)
2x2 Corner Tan Plates (34) (0.04 on BL) (1.36 TOTAL)
1x2 Tan Slopes (31) (0.02 on BL) (0.62 TOTAL)
2x4 Dark Bluish Gray Bricks (45) (0.14 on BL) (6.30 TOTAL)

$14.99 Paid for PAB Cup 4 / $11.31 Value of Bricks on Bricklink
***All prices were calculated as of 6/15/13. Prices may have changed by then.


Here is my thought after these statistics. Of course, with shipping and additional fees, these prices would have been quite higher. I can safely say that each PAB cup, even the ones with a lower BL value than MSRP value, hold better value than ordering on BL based upon additional fees.
All of these purchases were UNIFORMED purchases. I did not research the price of certain bricks before going, simply because the PAB wall had not been updated on websites for multiple months.
While the 2x4 bricks seems to hold a steady value, the longer bricks (1x10, 1x16, etc) seem to hold the strongest value.
Unfortunately, this PAB wall did not have any 1x1 round tiles or other small bricks, so 2x2 corner tiles and 1x2 slopes were used as filler items. Being the case, there was quite a bit of filler room in each cup, where smaller bricks could have filled even more room.
Based upon my findings, I will definitely be finding my way to the PAB wall again!

I hear that the smaller cups hold the highest value, but I can't imagine how. They seem too small to hold any larger valuable bricks.

In addition to the aforementioned, I only had around 30 minutes in this store, so I had to scan with my eyes quick, and fill even quicker. I know I could have packed this cups even better if I had more time, so the value would have been even greater. As far as a nostalgia kick, it was worth every bit of going for even a short time. However, I plan to have at least an hour when I go back, to not have to worry about my internal timer, and get the greatest value in the PAB wall.

[AK_Brickster]

Good analysis. It's definitely true that the larger bricks are worth more. Small bricks that have been on the PaB wall for a long time aren't worth a lot, because others have been selling their PaB hauls on BL for a while, but as "free" filler, you can't complain too much.

As for the small cups being better value than the big ones,that theory is based on price per part, assuming that the part you want to get fits well in both cups. For example, if you were buying cheese slopes, you can get a better value with two small cups than one big cup. If you're buying 1x16 bricks or horses, then the bigger cup probably is your only option.

[SSchmidt]

Good analysis. It's definitely true that the larger bricks are worth more. Small bricks that have been on the PaB wall for a long time aren't worth a lot, because others have been selling their PaB hauls on BL for a while, but as "free" filler, you can't complain too much.

As for the small cups being better value than the big ones,that theory is based on price per part, assuming that the part you want to get fits well in both cups. For example, if you were buying cheese slopes, you can get a better value with two small cups than one big cup. If you're buying 1x16 bricks or horses, then the bigger cup probably is your only option.

I would have loved to get some cheese slopes.

Is there a certain rhyme or reason as to when a store puts out specific bricks, or is it just at random?
I would like to call ahead and get some of these smaller bricks if I knew they would be in stock.

[nanuck95]

I would like to call ahead and get some of these smaller bricks if I knew they would be in stock.

I have found the store associates to be very friendly and helpful at the Kenwood store. If you know you're coming or thinking about coming, you can always let me know a few days in advance and I can check for you. From what I've seen, the store doesn't change up a ton and I can take a look for you if there's something in particular you're looking for. I live about 35 minutes from the store, but I work about 15 minutes away and any excuse to head over there during lunch (assuming I can break away for a few minutes) is ok by me.

[SSchmidt]

I would like to call ahead and get some of these smaller bricks if I knew they would be in stock.

I have found the store associates to be very friendly and helpful at the Kenwood store. If you know you're coming or thinking about coming, you can always let me know a few days in advance and I can check for you. From what I've seen, the store doesn't change up a ton and I can take a look for you if there's something in particular you're looking for. I live about 35 minutes from the store, but I work about 15 minutes away and any excuse to head over there during lunch (assuming I can break away for a few minutes) is ok by me.

Hey I appreciate it! It didn't seem terribly crowded nor populated (Cincinnati is incredibly small, say to, San Diego ) I will have to let you know when I am headed back in the area.

I do appreciate it!

[Bluesecrets]

It didn't seem terribly crowded nor populated (Cincinnati is incredibly small, say to, San Diego

It totally depends on the time of day you are stepping foot into that store. If it is a day where the kids aren't in school, then yeah it probably will be crazy in there. If it is early in the morning, probably quiet and a good time. Later at night is too. But size of the city doesn't necessarily determine the craziness of the store...the number of customers at the time does. Oh and make sure you know if they are having some kind of event...like a spinning competition..because those times are crazy. Check the store calendar for that. If they don't give you one, ask for one.

My advice is to talk to the employees when they have time. Make some buddies there. Be friendly to them. It's always good to have them know who you are when you walk in because they give you a little insight to things. And if you can get a turn in the community window...well that is always fun. But remember, they are there to do a job and not to just socialize with us.

As far as the pab wall and the pab cups are concern, I don't stack because I'm not going to waste that kind of time. And whatever I get I usually don't care about it's value. Most of the time the pab wall doesn't have things in it that thrills me or that I can even use. But I have heard from several that the smaller the piece the better you do for value. But what if you aren't looking for tiny pieces?

I guess my advice is...just have fun.

[SSchmidt]

So I am planning another trip to the LEGO store soon.

I plan on getting Kingdoms Just and a chess set. If you were personally getting these, would you get them online, or in store?

Also, any word on the August bonus yet?