The Problem with LEGO Collectible Minifigures... 

lego fans discovering that gambling is unfair

Lego should 100% sell all 12 of them in one box. I’ve bought dozens and dozens before and still not gotta certain minifigs and I’ll have 5 each of 3-4 of them.

I guess I should go to Vegas because I grabbed two random CMF boxes off the shelf and both of them came with Basil 😂

People hoarding medieval figures so that the rest of us can't find or have to pay ridiculous prices just to have one...

My feedback to Lego was for them to sell the figures with full transparancy on their website. If one wanted to buy 50 vampire knights then they could easily do so without having to pay tripple the cost to scalpers. I bought about 150 of the series 25 and managed to scan about 90% of them. I'm lucky enough to live in a rather big town which has around 10 toy stores to buy from. The new QR-codes is the only reason I bothered to get into CMF.

For the amount of cmf 25 boxes I bought the fact I didn’t pull any bat lords is insane. I bit the bullet and bought it on eBay

I just went on Amazon and bought a $25 earwax camera that connects to my phone to peek inside. The hole it leaves behind is tiny and you can squeeze it back to together to make it look like the box wasn’t tampered with. I bought two boxes of 6 and the extras I had I took back to Lego and returned them. I plan on doing the same thing in May with the new space wave of CMF’s

A very simple way of telling what’s inside is to get the app that lets you scan the code at the bottom of the boxes, telling you what’s inside. It works really well for me, i don’t know if it’s not up for download in some countries (i live in Europe).

I have actually been flourishing in this new landscape. Thanks to the QR codes on the bottom of the boxes and some dedicated fans I have an app that let's me scan that to see what's inside. I have already gotten the minifigs I wanted from the two recent CMF series thanks to that. I was bad at feeling the bags and just couldn't figure out what I was feeling.

I wish they went back to the original bags. I bought 2 Marvel CMFs and I got an Echo and another Echo. (I already had an Echo).

there's an app. You just scan the bottom of the box and it tells you which figure is inside. It's been a 100% correct so far. There was the first variation with the smaller code, but they moved to the bigger one which is scannable.

It's obvious that Basil the favorite. But people opening boxes before they buy them is just plain wrong. There is no excuse for people acting like 2-year-olds. Lego fans must realize it was always meant to be a mystery box. If you don't like it, go on the aftermarket, weigh them, or don't buy them. It's not optimal, but oh well. I do agree with most of what you said, and I do believe that Basil should have come in a set not as a CMF, but Womp Womp I guess.

To play devil's advocate for a minute, If they keep up with putting the Qr codes on the boxes I'll be happy, it's a lot easier to scan a box (assuming you have a phone to do so) than fidget around a bunch of bags feeling for one part, I know they don't put the big Qr codes on every box but in my experience it's not usually too hard to find the one's that are scalable, and I don't think lego are intentionally making "higher quality" figs for a malicious purpose, they just want to have a diverse selection of characters to appeal to the most people, naturally this does also encourage the uninformed buyer to buy as many as is required to get the one they want which I don't approve of, but anyone that invested in collecting a specific character will likely turn to the internet and discover the Qr codes, I think characters like Basil and the Goat herder weren't made with the intent to persuade afol's to buy a bunch of figs they don't want, I think that's just how mystery packages are inherently designed, it was the same back when they were in bags, it's just now we're scanning instead of feeling, and I wouldn't even say the desirable fig are better than the others it's just that they have connections outside themselves that make people want them, basil as the fright knights leader and the goat herder for the long awaited goat reissue, my only complaint would be that they don't have the big codes on every box and doing a price hike at the same time as such a controversial change probably wasn't the smartest move on their end

Maybe they are trying to get rid of the hoarders who only buy to resell ✌️

Well there is an app for that now

A friend of mine bought one of these (sealed mind you) and somehow got a Friends mini-doll that wasn't in the series. So there's that to be worried about.

I’m pretty sure there is some sorta film that makes it so you can only see the silhouette of an object, perhaps they could incorporate that into the boxes

Basil leaves! *Kicking basil* That was a good one :-)

I have had pretty good success just gessing by weight in hand and how many pieces rattle... the train guy and goat are similar but slightly pressing on the box reveals the train. then basil is decently weighted but has a lot of pieces but is slightly muted due to the extra cardboard from the cape. Also there is the QR code which I have not used, and if you can find a fresh box, there is a distinct packing order.... I got a couple extra I do not want, but have found multiples of the ones I do want this way.

Talking about how hard it is to get certain figures due to the move to boxes while displaying an outsized number of goat herders and basil figs.

Its frustrating for me because I live in an area that doesn't have a large lego retail store. I have a Kroger and a Walmart close by and neither sell very much. And when I go to try and snag a minifig from one of those boxes, Basil and the Goat Herder are nowhere to be seen. I'm not the only one who's looking for that figure and I'm punished for not having the free time to lurk around when a new box is opened.

Adding lesser interesting mf’s to the lineup might be a cost thing too. Some mf’s cost more to make, so they might offset it by making cheaper ones. Series 36 imo doesn’t have any that suck. But some are much cooler than others

I just purchase the already open ones at a small mark-up from my local toy store. It's just ridiculous buying these for the current price when you can't even do basic things such as feeling. And that QR code box trick doesn't work in my country either.

Good thing I only wanted the Lego Fitness Instructor and I managed to get that one on my first purchase.

Dood.. just use the QR Code and reader.

i mean, the whole point of these was always that they were blind bags right? and the only downside of the new boxes that i can see is that everyone can have a chance at getting any of the figures? instead of having one guy that just comes and takes all the bags with the figure that everyone wants.

Got the Goat & Man, and Basil on first three boxes lol. 😂 It's been 10 years since i touched a series, and tada! The best consumer restraint for some is just 6 or less, and not the whole deck. Heck, i just get 3, and will do for the next one. There's also a digit code to abuse below the boxes to identify each pack individually.

The solution to this is to give people the choice to buy the minifigure they want instead of blind bags. How many figures are sat in a draw unwanted . Not really eco friendly.

What about the special QR codes which make it possible to choose exactly the dirigée you want/need? It also seems those codes will also appear in the forthcoming space series too.

Every time castle related cmfs are the ones w highest demand, and lego simply doesnt want to do anything about this. No $10 $20 $30 castle set.

All I want is a medieval themed cmf

Me and colleague using the qr code to get our army, my colleague already have 20 of the vampire hunter, goat hearder and the barbarian, me I'm about 7 vampire hunter, 4 goat hearder and 4 barbarian with a little help from my colleague.

You know, back when the vidiyo figures were being released, it seemed impossible in my area at least, to find a box that WASNT tampered with. Even then it was bad, and I still see broken boxes with the newer figures as well. And I still haven’t found a goat herder yet because all the boxes I’ve found have had the non-scannable QR on the bottom

Got OK at feeling blind bags. Maybe 85% success rate. Got very good at weights. 95%. Gonna get the app for 100% When Lego changes Lego consumers have to change. Why are polybags still in plastic?🤠

I can tell my story to collect the entire 25th set ..my first as im mainly a total lego noob ...well last time was childhood ITS DIRTY TACTICS. so i played dirty to ..BUT ..main thing is basically the way to ensure a complete set quickly is to buy a entire case an do whatever with the rest . I founnd these late but a full case CVS ..at marked up $7 each.....yeah but these are gone everywhere...so i can deal with the markup .....first ...wont lie hid them in store to go back day after day to RETURN DUPLICATES...an get a few more . Honestly i took them home cut them open insanely precise l,,, ooked in ... TOOK NOTHING out .. an reglued them an brought them back did it like 6 times . I told them i was scanning QR codes which is possible but not for me a the time . So lego your telling me... So when im at 11 figures an need 1 MORE.....i have to just buy 8,9,10 more duplicates till you get that last one at a 2 dollar markup ..oh no . I returned complete items ..basically all i needed was too LOOK ...thats why people say the bags were fun ...i missed the entire bag era ...so i never experienced it once ......oh an i did end up keeping a few of the cooler duplicates wont lie ....who dosent want two evil knigts an a extra goat ....so yeah look at what i had to spend .an go through ..for 12 figures .

You can use the app to scan. Yet, you haven't thought about people who werr unable to feel the content of the bag. Lego could simply sell the minifigures openly so that you know what you're buying. That would be the best. I find no fun in neither the bag nor the box.

me: can i get a goat lego: no, get three dino guy. -_-

The main thing I don't get is why you act like they were lying about this being an environmental decision? Lego has been trying to be more eco-friendly before even Vidyo. I agree it's anti-consumer, but both can be true at the same time. I wouldn't even be surprised if it was a little bit of both, but I feel completely denying the environmental aspect feels unfair. Anyways, I agree with the conclusion of making better CMFs beings solution, altho I guess it's up to the buyer what they'd consider "invaluable" in a CMF. Another way to curb the issue is to do what other companies have done and mark them with special codes, because they're pretty easy to ignore if you're looking to have the blind box experience.

Glad I got my 1 goat and Basil. But I am buying all the Beetlezoids in my town.

I went to Barnes and noble back when the marvel CMFs came out. There were all sorts of people using mini scales. Everyone looked at me weird when I just grabbed one. I got Wolverine. Really good mini fig.

Boy.. Welcome to Pokémon / Yu gi oh / Magic

I bough half of a case of series 25. I got 3x Train costume fan, Harpie, E sports Champion and Goatherd. 2x Vampire Knight & Noir Classic Detective, follwed by 1 Weighlifter and Feirce Warrior. Happy to get 3 Goatherds.

I think its a good thing that it went to boxes. Now everyone with a smart phone can find out what is inside rather then having to spend ages feeling what is inside. I think its a lot fairer this way

I think you are over thinking it, Lego don't care about after market prices or damage or shoplifting. Once the store has paid and they are in the shipping container lego's job is done. Blind bags are a shitty business practice but thats been the case since day one. From what I found most figures are worth a stupid amount once they are a couple of series old anyway.

All I wanted was the goat, even with the app I couldn't find it. Part of the fun was feeling for the accessories so I could find which I wanted. The boxes took the fun out of it, so I don't collect the figures anymore

Personally i haven't been able to get the total of 15 for the vampire knight yet i only have 7 of them so far

you can hust scan the qr-code though?

Every type of loot box is unethical. Either you're telling me exactly what I'm buying or you have to declare it as a "lottery" of "gambling". And those boxes are clearly the latter.

I've been lucky this series, walmart by me just put out a new case of mf 2 days ago. I bought 19 and have 3 goats and 3 bat loards, and I only need the amputee guy for all. The whole case is on a discount, paid 3.75 after tax per mini fig

The whole discussion is moot, and people simply skip over facts. First off most people do not have that great a "feel" when it comes to the bags. And sometimes people would be unable to tell what is inside. And for those that love the gamble game they would not be phased by the idea of risking a duplicate. As for the foil bag, yes it is worse for the environment than carton boxes. The boxes, well it is easy. You either do not weigh or scan to get the figures and you still experience the randomness of having a figure you do not know which you get. As for the material it is better for the environment. Do you really want to know what is inside before opening? Scan it. That way you never ever run into a duplicate. The only people that are affected by the change in packaging are people that loved to try and feel the figure. This is but a fraction of the people that bought these. And they just got to deal with the fact they can no longer feel the content. But if their thrill was guessing what's inside or make sure what is inside both options are there, but changed method. Now who gets upset the most here? And again and again and again it is the same people....scalpers. Those that buy empty shelves of CMFs or rare figures from boxes and resell them for insane prices. 100 bucks for a figure or brick animal is insane. Lego knows this and combats it. They are done with the practice. Because newsflash, they don't want these people in the fanbase. The toy, Lego is for enjoyment, play. Not as a business opportunity for scalpers. Try getting a bear knight or the Raven knight online. It goes for insane prices. And guess what, a lot of them come from the same sellers. Who bought empty shelves of figures. Now with the code. Well the figures are not that worth while anymore since anyone can simply scan a box and get a basil if he wants.

you can scan the qr code?

Nice Hyperboil.

keep opening boxes in store

They should lable what it is or sell in a set of about 5 minifigures or sell the complete colecrion in 1 box

just bought 5 boxes, of course trying to get basil and the goat man. i got 3 fitness lady’s, one mushroom girl (the only one I already had) and the kid with the train. I used to go to stores with my mom and feel for the figures i wanted, which like you said in the video was most of the fun about them, but i just spend €20 and feel kind of scammed. please Lego go back to blind bags, not these corporate greed boxes:(

Cardboard box? Yes, this is more eco friendly! But it would be way more simple to sell them with a printed picture of the minifigures you are buying. So everyone pay for what they want and less plastic is wasted on minifigures you don’t want! That would be more ecological! If some minifigures cost more to produce… well charge accordingly! I don’t see why Lego use this gambling path to sell just some minifigures! People want more vampires… just make more of them instead and sell them! Love Lego, but i never understood why they do this.

Can you ship me 20 Lego goats?

I ordered two 6 packs while Target had a sale and got all 12 of them.

Pure nonsense. It’s not like prices didn’t vary wildly from CMS1 onward. Unless each minifig in a series is identical, there will always be price differences in the secondary market based on supply and demand.

Sell CMF as a set. All 12 in one box. Done.

Yes.. I get a set of 12. Then there are figures i get more of, and I have to hunt for them.

Who cares a box is a box the random is what makes it fun

You shouldn't buy the product to hope in reselling it, these are originally kids toys btw

Can I buy one of your fright knights? :D good video though, agreed!

Do you actually think I wanted two skater guys no I wanted my brown spaceman it took me a while now series 26 all I want is ice planet and m tron

But better box can do hunt for treasure

Perhaps LEGO could put a QR code on the outside packaging, which will reveal the silhouette of a component inside. That would keep people from breaking open the boxes or weighing them to determine which minifigure is inside. However, I doubt they would do this.

i like the blind boxes, takes me back to being a kid, no idea whats inside, i just buy one every now and then and see what i get. so much more exciting to open when you dont already know whats inside. i always thought feeling the bags defeated the whole purpose. Theyre collectibles they shouldnt be so easy to collect them all or have people hogging all the good ones by simply feeling them out. now i actually feel like i have a chance at getting a good minifig from them because people cant just go feel them out and take all the best ones the day they drop.

I got 4 goat men and 2 basils.... And 4 barbarians. I bought 20 boxes.

Scanning is easy. You can be either very dumb or very lazy to avoid it. And blind bags is GAMBLING, deceiving children from their goal, which, in its basic form, is illegal in many, many countries. Don't be that person.

Seems more like a con because you can build 3 Minifigures for $9.99 in the Lego store and get what you want. But we buy these boxes for $4.99 and almost never get what we want.

I don't even think the vampire is in the top half for me. But the goat obviously kicks ass

do you live in oregon by chance?

Personally, I've had a problem with cmfs for a while pre box era. But you make a great argument for why the community is pissed about this decision. I also applaud you for pointing out the real reason behind the decision as well. Hopefully Lego will see the large outcry over this and change this sometime soon.

The transition to cardboard is simply for waste reduction and eco friendly reasons. Also you were never supposed to feel for a certain minifigure, you are supposed to have the same chance as any other customer. Here in Germany the CMFs would usually be placed near the counter so nobody will scan or feel for a specific figure. If you ask me, i understand the nostalgia but i think the new system is better, if carried out correctly.

I've never heard anyone moan about Pokemon packs being blindbags, most times you get trash, sometimes you get a nice card. Buying these things is a gamble, that's the whole idea, live with it.

My local Walmarts have put all Lego behind lock and key. It’s tragic.

lol minifig scan just made this whole vid not matter sorry

I cant believe a grown man posted a video crying that he can no longer cheat "the system" lol I do agree with the folks saying Lego should sell the complete set in one box, if you want, and still have the blind box for those that like to take risks. Or even better, why cant we have our cake and eat it too? 3 options, priced accordingly. 1) blind box, the cheapest 2) clearly labeled, maybe a buck higher 3) sell in complete sets, maybe cheaper than 12 blind boxes, maybe double price? whatever. Either way, people should go to prison for opening boxes in the store and not paying for them.

To sell blind bags to and for children that you have no idea what it is inside and at a large price for some plastic is a low ball move it’s out of order really . we can live without Lego it’s a commodity it’s plastic that’s polluting for nothing but entertainment and greed. Lego knows this and decided to give children a fighting chance of finding what they wanted . And most of the time being told they. Cannot have them all we cannot afford it sweet heart etc . Everything was fine at first till we realised 1 full of was full of randoms and to compete a set you would have to go through many boxes to find that one fig that’s in only one box . That was another low ball move by Lego . Then came mr gold and the highway man and the fans went mad but many many left disappointed.. children mainly screw the adults . Then came the boxes no more feeling and legos profits went through the roof as many many people got many dupes untill …. The app came out . Now I believe lego is being paid by Bricksearch and Mini fig scan unofficial for the QR code data . At first I thought they cracked it and we had this new app and I thought to myself Lego gonna be really really pissed off now . They gonna lose millions upon millions no more dupes being sold … half Lego stock not sold as it usually does. I thought Lego will fix the codes for sure like near impossible to crack so they stop losing out . New series 26 comes out the apps already have the codes ?? 🤔. How so soon ?!! Lego gave the codes to them on purpose it’s the only explanation I can come up with so far.. Why? Well I have no idea yet. If I was Lego I’d go back to paper bags or recycled recyclable plastic and no app bs it’s taken the fun out of it for everyone and is encouraging children to have a phone 📱 Earlier and use a phone shame on them. Series 26 is out and 25 still everywhere to much stock available they already down to £2.50 in some shops from £3.50 in just a few months instead of last January sales 🤷‍♂️ why . To much stock from app bs

pretty sure they are gonna make qr codes on the back so u can see what figure ur getting

went to 5 mullers 2 lego stores and 2 smiths in Vienna trying to find the vampire lord with no success. fed up i just paid 7euro for him on bricklink

Lego is just like every other company. Greedy and money hungry. Sad when i genuinely belive pbandai is less scummy

Not everyone likes D&D or the idea of D&D minifigures. Some are Bemoaning it, and even the space set coming next month.

I know someone who just reseals the boxes with super glue and returns his duplicates; not spending $20+ for a random mini fig. Eff Lego.

I think its funny......😂

They're plastic toys... There's bigger things to worry about that not being able to figure out what figure you're gonna get 😂😂😂😂😂

😂😅😂😅😂

If they really only made this changed for their climate impact, they would have used paper bags. It is without a doubt to make it harder to find the figure you want

If you tear one of the corners barely just right you can use your flashlight to tell the colors without completely ruining the box. It does take a little skill.

Isn't this just people being mad they can't cheat their way into getting the figures they want from what is supposed to be a mystery box?

For gods sake, cry more ...

Amen brother🙏🏽💪🏽

womp womp

We live in a time where three generations are spoiled little bratz.. that have never been told No in there life.

just collectings 12? What you from Boy? We scan and weight. There after market vaule don't matter.. it's what the Minifigures are. "The Vampire knight" is wanted due to all of us want our old Fright Knights back.. or if we never had them.. want a Fright knight army. The Fix? Lego drops a new Fright knight set or sets.

Do you actually think I wanted two skater guys no I wanted my brown spaceman it took me a while now series 26 all I want is ice planet and m tron

Nice Hyperboil.