One of the main things for me while visiting a Lego store is filling out a box. I love to stack these, it is like a puzzle and I simply think it is lots of fun. Just thinking about what you are going to use them for is a very good delayed gratification treat. I think it is a good time spend. It feels pretty zen to stack bricks, even if it is just to fill out a cardboard box. We need more slow things in life, to lessen the strain on our brains from all the devices, the work and the stress we experience day to day. I don't think there is anything wrong with simply piling stuff into boxes, but for me this stacking thing is just a joy and you get rewarded with not just a bunch of great looking shiny new bricks, but also about 30% more value.
I also found today when stacking a box full of masonry bricks, that they had some 1x4 tile pieces also on the wall. By using those to cap off the top row of studs, essentially got those "for free" as well. It's nice when you can find other ways to even further optimize your stacking with small/complimentary pieces to fill in gaps, etc.
I can't go to the lego store without taking at least one of my children. As such, I can't spend time stacking either cups nor boxes. You're right though, the older we get the more precious that time becomes anyway. I'll gladly spend less time and just buy an extra box if I need that many parts.
That makes sense, a lego store is a great place to take your kids, but I can imagine stacking a box for this long can take a bit of strain on their patience. It could be a fun task to complete with your children, something they might even think is fun, stacking a box together. However, if you're just there and need parts, I can perfectly understand you grab a bunch of boxes and scoop them full.
I find it really fun to get creative and find ways to fit the maximum amount of parts i need. I assume lego are aware cause the employees at my local store ask if i had fun filling my cup/box. Alot of lego building is problem solving whether its trying to get the perfect angle, craft a natural curve or even just filling a box in the most efficient manner but when you combine that with the monetary value of lego it makes filling a box super enjoyable especially when you look at bricklink and see how much you saved!
One technique we discovered was with transparant 6x6 panels, you can overlay them with eachother and fill the inside with smaller pieces (like 1x1 plates or 1x1 round plates), lock them together with a tile or a larger plate and you've made effectively a transparant drawer. The pieces are excellent to use, but if you don't fill them up, that air is all going to waste.
Great video! You're so right that this aspect of the PAB boxes isn't covered. Time is so limited and precious. Better not to waste it. BTW, I don't think I ever mentioned that I love your background. 👍👍
I think the answer is clear. Bring your family to the store and put them to work at the PAB wall. BOOM, family time and Lego parts covered! 🤣Seriously though, I agree with your take and I have always said there is no wrong way to fill a cup or box, just do what works for you. For me, certain pieces deserve the time and others don't. It's all relative to the part.
That is exactly what I was thinking. I don't have children yet, but I take my girlfriend there and she needs her own parts and we tend to fill out one or two boxes together. This saves 50% of the time and even is time well spent as we chat during the stacking process. I would 100% take my children there and once they are old enough to build with lego, I would let them help filling the boxes. (and pay them with a small Lego set as a reward)
Was at a Lego store today and they had multiple masonry colors on the PAB wall (including 1x2 light gray, which I had never found any of that type there until today!). One of the clerks said they had just restocked those yesterday. He also mentioned about how they don't really mind overfilling them some because they have tape/stickers to keep them shut, and how "time is valuable" (meaning if can overfill it some, you can get closer to about what you would with spending time stacking it perfectly to get it closed well). I did spend some time stacking 2 large boxes but then was getting a little hungry and tired (after running around earlier in the day) and so decided to just grab a bunch more loose ones to fill a 3rd box.
It is great when you find good parts on the wall. There are certainly times when stacking is worth it, others time is more valuable than money. Thanks for watching!
yeah, a lot of times there's only like 1 or 2 type of parts I may want to get, but it's not enough to want to try to get even a small box of just that. Then there's other times like today where I found 3 different color masonry bricks in a couple different sizes that can make it worth getting multiple boxes (if they have enough parts left to fill boxes). Depends on what you're looking for, but some of the popular stuff goes pretty fast!
With you 100%--I just don't have time to stack. I think your point is well placed...However, I am wondering what DC store has masonry bricks! They def weren't at the Tyson's store when I hit the PAB wall this afternoon on my way from work! BTW--I always add tiny pieces after filling with bricks and shake. It fills in those loose spaces so I don't feel like I wasted the space. However, I do have enough flames to have a Lego forest fire!
That is totally fair. Everyone has to make their decisions based on the resources available. I don't mind stacking when I have the time, sometimes it isn't worth it, so I just cram in as much as possible. Thanks for watching!
Sane here bud. I value my free time more than my working time, so I work less and have more time to spend on fun things, including stacking these boxes.
I had no issue with music, but there was a short part in the video at 6:49, where the voice was doubled. (maybe the stereo didn't sync up, I'm not an audio expert) It didn't take anything away from the video, but I just wanted to point that out.
Those bricks look familiar! I was on the lookout for this video, good stuff. For the record, I was able to stack twelve rows by eleven rows of six tall stacks, plus five more stacks sideways along the side, leaving one 1x1 space left in the corner, so I ended up getting 822 masonry bricks in one large box. Would I have been better off loosely filling more boxes to end up with more pieces at the end of the day than I had time to stack? Maybe!
The box is slightly easier to fill with stacked rows of masonry bricks on their side. I usually lock them in with any 2 studs wide tiles if they have them, as that perfectly fits the box to the edge. Stacking them vertically can work, but isn't as effective.
I put some music on start stackin’. And let me tell you, if I walked into a store and they had masonary bricks, I would put on a Marvel movie and make it happen! Calling my store in the morning! ❤
I have two kids so usually when I am at the Lego store, they are there too. At times like those I am dumping. On my birthday, I took the day off work and went on my own. Stacked the crap out of my haul! You are spot on.... it is a choice based on situation.