New Installment - Used Tuesdays

It's been about last July since I stopped posting. Sorry about that. I became so overrun with work that I could no longer keep up on non-income producing activities. Like this blog, sad but true. But I've got a bit of a slow down right now, enough to start an occasional new topic I like to call Used Tuesdays.

As you may (or should) have read in my amazing ebook, Insider Secrets to Funding Your LEGO Hobby, I sell new parts on Bricklink, almost exclusively. But that's slowly been changing. I'm not giving up new, just adding a bit more used into the mix. Here are some lessons I've learned so far.

My first used lot was donated from a good friend. I was mentioning that I would be teaching after school LEGO classes and needed to find a nice lot on Craigslist to use. Her kids were grown and out of the house and she offered her old LEGO. It was 42# but ended up containing at least 10# of off-brand and non-LEGO items. There were quite a few classic sets in there and with her permission I reassembled some to sell to help pay for extra materials for the class. All sets were missing pieces, most were older looking and worn. A few were in good enough condition to put in my Bricklink store, the rest will become BRIX Museum pieces.

I used this lot to teach a couple of terms of after school classes for kids. It worked pretty well, the kids improvised with older pieces just fine. When it came time for the ramp race it was immediately apparent that wheels were lacking, and I hadn't pulled any out to complete older sets. I'll continue to use this lot for classes and such but I obviously need to add some wheels and other pieces. I've thrown some of my own older pieces in too.

Lessons learned:

  • Even self proclaimed LEGO fans may not always consider Mega Blocks as off limits.
  • Even if all the parts are there to complete a set, the condition of pieces may not be suitable.
  • Those couple of missing pieces could be worth half the amount of the set itself.

A LEGO Museum? BRIX is coming!

While the LEGO Group is busy finishing up their new Idea House in Billund, I've been busy with my own idea. After years of dreaming and planning, I'm getting ready to bring a LEGO Museum to the Portland, OR market!

BRIX will offer everything LEGO that you could ever think of under one roof. There will be interactive history exhibits, art pieces, classes and camps, a gift shop with unique items and plans are already underway for future expansions when we are ready.

 Early concept drawing
Early concept drawing, BRIX Museum

We have some funding secured already but you can help us! Click here to read more and pledge your support. Then, tell all your friends about this amazing opportunity. We appreciate all the Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and media coverage we can get.

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you at our #brixmuseum grand opening!

Bricklink Seller Review - Real Bricks

Have you ever dealt with buying a big box of used LEGO pieces? I had the thrill of receiving a donation to use for LEGO classes. The donor was a proud tried and true LEGO fan and swore they only played with LEGO brick. I got 35# worth of contents. Once I pulled out a Mega Blocks jet fighter, some still unknown brand of Humvee, Tente, GI*Joe, doll accessories, K'nex, gum and crayon wrappers, etc., I was left with a nice 28# of real LEGO bricks remaining.

Profile
Seller: Real Bricks
Store: http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=Drareg
Feedback (at time of writing): 340
Feedback Ratio: 99.7% (one neutral from a buyer using the feedback system as a comms device.)
Location: Netherlands, Noord-Brabant
Prices: Average

My Order
Order Size: 12 items in 3 lots
Condition: 67% Used
Shipping Charge: Actual
Other: 0,50 charge for orders under 2,50 when paying via Paypal.
Final Cost per Part: $1.40

Timeline
Order Date: Jun 20
Invoice Date: Jun 21
Payment Date: Jun 21
Shipping Date: Jun 22
Delivery Date: Jun 30

Order Details
Why this store: Wanted list ping for a rare item at a reasonable price.
Packaging: Each lot in individual baggies, one with a cardboard insert, all in a bubble mailer.
Feedback left: Positive
Odd telltale signs: none
Issues: itemized all 3 lots on the customs form and used the word "LEGO". C'mon, "Used Toys" is more than sufficient and doesn't raise any eyebrows for any reasons.

Recommendation
I only ordered the 3 lots because there was really nothing else I needed. I had a few other filler items but they barely bumped me into the next shipping bracket. It was too far to go to fill that next bracket and nothing more I wanted to fill it with so I backed off. Prices seem reasonable, shipping is at cost and the proprietor is very responsive to questions and to ship. I would have no problem shopping here again.

Bonus points! Can you identify the pieces I bought?