BNIB LEGO Sets on Marketplace

JuryWheel on 05/07/2023 - 10:59

Hi all

Maybe a dumb question but I was wondering if anyone knew why there are so many Lego sets (range of prices from $10+), generally brand new in box, that are for sale for roughly 'sale" price, sometimes a bit cheaper…..? In my 10km radius there are loads (often sellers selling 5-10 different sets).

I get that selling stuff for more when you get it for a bargain is a thing, but I've never really seen Lego go on a crazy clearance before, and most of these sets are still in the shops and current.

Any thoughts?

Toys & Kids Building Blocks LEGO

Comments

  • CrispyChrispy on 05/07/2023 - 11:00
    +4

    Unwanted gifts I'd guess

    Or stolen as others suggested

    • Ramrunner on 06/07/2023 - 12:22
      +1

      This - I still have Lego for sale that was given to the kids and never opened.

      Some of them are out of circulation and worth more to a collector.

      I normally put them on marketplace. Sold a bit of the in circulation stuff. A bit of the unique stuff is still here.

      But yeah largely gifts to the kids that were unopened, it wasn't our intention to "save" Lego or anything.

  • PissLUR on 05/07/2023 - 11:07

    its easy to see if its stolen goods or not. see whats available in store at kmart/big w/myer/target

  • Pattusm on 05/07/2023 - 11:15
    +1

    If they are currently available sets then they are almost definitely stolen.

  • Mikgsxr on 05/07/2023 - 11:15
    +1

    A lot are total scams. Some are stolen. I'd they don't do in-person cash deals, they are scamming.

    • lilkid28 on 05/07/2023 - 14:20

      Even if really stolen and you cant say for sure, is it illegal to buy them? If its a good deal

      • jacross on 06/07/2023 - 11:09

        In order to be guilty of the offence of receiving stolen goods you need to have known that the goods were stolen.

        So stop asking questions basically.

        • lew380 on 06/07/2023 - 12:56
          +2

          I find the scenario of a swat team busting your door to recover a $29.99 Lego set unlikely.

        • crocware on 07/07/2023 - 12:35
          +1

          The offence of "Receiving Stolen Goods" (aka receiving) requires knowledge that what you received/purchased was stolen at the time you took possession. However, the lesser offence of "Goods in Custody" doesn't. The only proofs required are you are in possession of goods, and that there is reasonable suspicion the goods you have are stolen. That's in NSW anyway, and it can also be cash you have on you as well.

          • jacross on 08/07/2023 - 09:43

            @crocware: Thanks for the addition, I overlooked that one.

    • Loopholio on 06/07/2023 - 09:34

      They could even be empty boxes. Double theift!

  • ultrasonix on 05/07/2023 - 11:15

    Stolen

  • tim80au on 05/07/2023 - 11:22

    Most likely pinched. I used to go to a lady who always had discounted sets. By the end when she got new stuff she would message me before posting on marketplace… she didn’t take requests sadly but it was awesome… for a time

  • HereForBargains on 05/07/2023 - 11:24
    -1

    Wow. Lot of cynical people here lmao. Most aren't stolen if I had to guess. More likely people hunting bargains all day and then reselling them for a bit of side profit (not sure they're making enough to quit their day jobs). They may not go on sale from the Lego site directly very often but there's deals to be found through retailers all the time.

    • Mythreesons on 06/07/2023 - 12:26
      +1

      One of our biggest theft items is Lego, they will walk out with trolleys full. It’s very common to see it come up for sale on market place and eBay. Check sellers other item’s, they will usually have multiple Lego products or brand new items still in packaging (you would just return for a refund rather than sell for less than you paid for it).

      • HereForBargains on 06/07/2023 - 12:53

        Don't doubt that it happens somewhat frequently from the perspective of a store employee but in totality it's got to be a small fraction of all the sets being sold all day every day on marketplace. Small sets and minifigs, maybe. Not large sets $200-1000+.

        As other users say, grey imports, unwanted gifts, change of mind, change of circumstances (bill needs to be paid/loss of job or whatever), sets purchased through Lego for the promotional items and reward points etc.

        I've sold several BNIB sets myself on marketplace at competitive prices and I surely didn't steal them lmao. I've had times where I had a backlog of sets and decided to de-clutter and sell several to get something else. Since I rarely pay full price I can sell it quick and break even/make a profit.

        "Check sellers other item’s, they will usually have multiple Lego products or brand new items still in packaging (you would just return for a refund rather than sell for less than you paid for it)."

        This is assuming you paid full price. Sets can be had at a heavy discount during sales or clearance. You wouldn't return a set you got heavily discounted if you could sell it on marketplace for a profit.

  • vee_el on 05/07/2023 - 11:45

    I've wondered the same thing. I recently saw a Parisian Restaurant being sold for $180 on marketplace. They offered pick up too but a bit far from where I am. I just assumed it was a scam. If it's too good to be true…

  • Guybrush57 on 05/07/2023 - 11:49

    Wouldn't LEGO make a racket if you were to pilfer a set from a shop?

    • Loopholio on 06/07/2023 - 09:37

      That's why you take another set, open it and throw bits of lego on the ground to cripple the security guard.

  • JuryWheel on 05/07/2023 - 11:50

    I assumed a stolen also - must be very easy to just walk out of Kmart these days with something under your arm that you could sell for a fairly easy $50. The bag checkers never even look at you!

    • HereForBargains on 05/07/2023 - 11:55

      Unlikely. Equal amount of large sets for sale. Think somebody might notice you walking out with a Mos Eisley Cantina or Imperial Star Destroyer under your arm.

      • Some Human on 05/07/2023 - 12:16

        But they can't do anything about it.

        • Mythreesons on 06/07/2023 - 12:30

          Because they are sick of staff being assaulted by the shoplifters. All video and photos are forwarded to police, it can take them months to find them but they do end up finding some of them and they do end up being charged.

  • gregsurname on 05/07/2023 - 12:06

    The marketplace lego sellers I've seen are all Chinese Australians selling big inventories of popular sets out of their garages. I had always thought that they must be grey importing them.

  • Coastgirl on 05/07/2023 - 12:08

    Yes sadly as others have said it's sale of stolen goods. When kids are on school holidays this is a notable uptick in theft of these easily sellable and popular items. I know Big W are no longer doing any trolley checks so it's become very easy for their stores alone. You'd be shocked the volume of larger sets people are taking, so due to the hemorrhaging of stock and the massive costs, there has been an active decision to offer certain lines of products online only (notably Lego one of the key items in this catergory) by major department stores.

    Also there are numerous private lego resellers as well now as it is now pretty easy to get a approved as a purchaser for selling with Lego.

  • Some Human on 05/07/2023 - 12:15
    +1

    100% stolen.
    I saw someone at Wantirna market selling sets extremely cheap and they didn't have anything you couldn’t buy at kmart. A few times I have spoken with the kmart door greeters and they say theft is a very common problem, because they're not allowed to stop them in any way.

    • HereForBargains on 05/07/2023 - 12:22

      Maybe for the small sets. Still haven't heard of any compelling evidence to say that the majority of the large sets for sale on marketplace are definitively stolen. Where are these people stealing $400-$1000+ sets from en masse? It's not Kmart and Target.

      • Some Human on 05/07/2023 - 12:28

        OP never said anything about the larger sets. They said $10+ so I assumed the were only speaking of the low range sets.

        The large ones could be stolen from myer, david jones, ebay, amazon.

        I don't believe ALL the large sets are stolen. There's probably a small percentage who never got around to building their set and just want to get rid of it or got it as a gift. But in general, I would say most would be stolen.

        Edit: I only mean the very underpriced sets.

        • HereForBargains on 05/07/2023 - 12:52

          I think you're right. He's gotta be taking about the small & cheap stuff. He didn't put an upper limit though so I'm not entirely sure.

      • Mythreesons on 06/07/2023 - 12:34

        They most certainly do steal the larger sets, the less experienced shoplifters will leave dents and scratches around the edges of the box from working the security tags off (zoom in on some of the large sets for sale on Facebook).

        • HereForBargains on 06/07/2023 - 12:55

          I've had sets from Lego that had banged up corners haha. Hardly definitive. 🤦

  • Porker on 05/07/2023 - 13:21

    I knew someone that could get the kits at staff discount or cost price, so they'd buy (as example) 10 kits and sell 9 in order to get 1 for free.

    That however explains only that one person I knew, not the many others that seem to be able to sell in large quantities.

  • FW190 on 05/07/2023 - 15:07

    could be wannabe scalpers trying to clear out some excess/un-movable stock

  • 87percent on 05/07/2023 - 15:13

    I was wondering this too. There’s a seller that I buy some sets from, all BNIB. I asked her once how/why she does it, and says it’s usually to get the free gifts as she’s a collector

  • waz8088 on 05/07/2023 - 19:20
    +1

    Most of these sellers are buying direct from wholesalers or importing from overseas. Some are also micro investors selling out. I believe they can sell cheap as they have no overheads. Cash money

  • garddn on 06/07/2023 - 07:55
    +1

    I picked up a bnib ucs falcon for 500 bucks. I didn't ask any questions 🤫

    • vee_el on 06/07/2023 - 10:11

      ignorance is bliss

  • MickeyRules on 06/07/2023 - 10:19
    +1

    People often buy from Lego online to get the free gift with purchase and get the Lego rewards points. They flog off the free gift at high prices as they are rare and can then sell the kits at a loss. For example, during star wars week, each sale could get 3 free gifts and double points on all starwars kits bought.

  • voustube on 06/07/2023 - 13:05
    +1

    Not sure why so many people think they're stolen, I never thought so as I have sold a couple myself, probably under RRP because I just want to get rid of them after sitting in the home for a while with no one playing with them! Mostly unwanted gifts. I'd think most sellers are the same but I notice some others that seem to have a shop or something and want to clear their stock. Also yes, if you buy from Lego online you get free gifts, which some collectors like I think.

  • Dawei Lego on 08/07/2023 - 23:51
    +3

    Right now I have at least 10 sets on Marketplace where I am selling 40-60% off, and let me tell you, it's very hard to even sell at that steep discount. I just get people lowballing me at 75% off RRP. Of course, I paid for these sets I am selling - however I need to sell desperately because I am moving house and I simply cannot transport so much crap to my new house haha. And if you have scepticism - I'm also the dude on S3 Legomasters with the ridiculous Lego room (which is about 5-10% of my collection - my house is a mess)

    So I'm sure me being asian (as mentioned above) and selling at a steep discount automatically conjures up connotations of being either a flipper, a dodgy person or whatever - but for me, I simply just need space.

    But on the other hand - I buy a LOT of Lego and have encountered this issue where I had my suspicions.

    I've visited my local Police Station after one of the sellers seemed to bail when a Police car drove past (claiming he just didn't want any trouble), and I have also asked my colleague at work (who is also a Police Officer) and both have given me the same response - as long as you are buying the products in good faith and there is no evidence that they are stolen goods, then you as a private citizen are in a reasonable position to continue buying. In fact, in both instances the Police's first response was "Look we don't want anything to do with facebook marketplace purchases - it's a private/civil matter" - it was only when I insisted on asking them about this situation, and how I didn't want to become an unwitting fence, did they give me more information.

    There was one supplier I purchased from who always had Lego at like 50% off, and I suspected maybe they were stolen - but she continued having heaps of stock even during lockdown - and new stock at that (this was when all the retail outlets were closed*) so how can I conclude they were stolen goods when this was happening - where was she stealing them from?

    *yes it was legal to buy toys during lockdown - Scomo even said buying toys was "essential" on national TV.

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