My first MOC...Where do I get bricks in bulk?

[Funnyham]

It still is the best place for grey 1x2 bricks though, which you need a lot of for most MOCs, and I'm falling behind badly.

[Cdr.Donatra]

1. LEGO simply is quite expensive, so maybe scale back your original plans and find intermediate designs you can enjoy until you can build up to what you really want. You could even aim to build a kind of storyline out of it, and photograph each stage, so you're not just wasting time in the intermediate stages. By the way I speak as someone rebuilding from absolute zero, so I think I may know what you feel like.

2. bricklink has a really badly designed interface like something from the early ugly days of the internet, BUT, do use the "advanced search" page where you can select for example buyers by country, and also if you narrow the search to a specific brick, you can find in the bottom left "Sort By > Highest Qty" and that might bring you up people with a shedload of 2x1 grey, or whatever else - you can then refine by country, compare shipping prices etc.

You can also save your favourite searches, which is useful if you say plan a monthly budget, with a particular kind of brick as your priority each buy.

3. the PAB wall in the stores - I'm aiming to write a review of all the stores shortly but advance tip, PHONE THEM FIRST - I got lucky on my trip to Brighton just after Xmas, because I was after boring old grey, but sadly lots of kids who showed up as I was there didn't, and when they run out the staff weren't very helpful about when they'll get more in - so if the 3 stores are places you'd need to travel to, make sure you call first, and don't waste your trip.

Also, don't just grab loose bricks and shovel them in - you're paying for LEGO not air, and by volume and not weight, so link them into strips, fill the gaps with small plates, tiles etc, and you'll be getting what you pay for in your cup.

4. I've found e-Bay has a few good sellers, though not as cost-effective as LEGO PAB online - look at their reviews, their other buyers will also be LEGO fans and that should clue you up on quality.

And do search on terms that bricklink sellers wouldn't use, but which ARE descriptive - not everyone selling on e-Bay is as immersed in the naming conventions hardcore LEGO fans use, and you might snap up a rare bargain.

Hope that helps.

Dx

[CodeGeorge]

The absolute cheapest quality Legos I've found are in 1) Goodwill Stores and other stores like it where they get used stuff (you can get boxes for a few bucks sometimes!) and 2) Thrift Stores. The Grocery Outlets often get shipments of Legos which they'll sell for often 50% the price or less!

The bad thing is you have to get lucky in the Goodwill stores and the Grocery Outlets only get those shipments a few times a year and they go quick.

[Cdr.Donatra]

I've never seen any LEGO, loose or packed, in a British charity shop, sadly - and I love them, buy most of my clothes and books from them, I even used to work in one!

I still keep a keen eye out though, just in case.

Dx