10188 - UCS: Death Star

[Ciglione]

I found $100 once...

Than you have to start a career in the computer and internet business if you haven't already.

[tonysbricks]

He must have done something wrong if he is still being paid by the hour. 

Personally I think he gets his money for free now. So he can afford stopping a second to pick up that $50. Hence, those things only happens to the fortunate ones. I've never found $50 in the street. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunity_cost

[pharmjod]

It's also factually incorrect. BG makes ~$400 a second. It would cost him over $1000 to stop and pick up that $50.

I didn't realize Bill Gates income was dependent on him staying in motion. He must hemorrhage money in his sleep then. 

[GhostDad]

I didn't realize Bill Gates income was dependent on him staying in motion. He must hemorrhage money in his sleep then. 

Isn't he just making this money passively through his massive holdings of MSFT stock?  His income is completely non-dependent on actually working at this point.  Heck, he could mow lawns part time and come out ahead vs. an opportunity cost of zero.  Not to mention, I'd pay him double what I pay my regular guy, just so I could berate him about all the hours of my life I've lost to Windows and Internet Explorer bugginess...

[jaisonline]

not sure why we are talking about bill gates here unless he is a lego reseller with truckloads of 10188s...

[Ciglione]

not sure why we are talking about bill gates here unless he is a lego reseller with truckloads of 10188s...

[Alpinemaps]

In real terms, if LEGO went after secondary sales, their primary sales would suffer.  Here is an excellent article on the sneaker giant, Nike.  The sneaker secondary market is quite robust as well, but Nike promotes it.  Check it out...

http://blog.campless.com/2014/08/19/an-inquiry-into-can-nike-get-that-resell-cash/

Interesting read.  I will admit to not being an economist, but I followed it pretty well.  I realize the article is addressing the reseller market vs the primary market.  But, I feel like it is leaving something out of the equation - Little Timmy (e.g., the consumer themselves).

Because I'm a simple man, I will keep this simple - Little Timmy has $30 in his pocket.  He can spend it on LEGO Shop at Home or he can spend it on eBay.  If Little Timmy decides to spend that $30 at LEGO Shop at Home, then LEGO has just put $30 more in LEGO's pocket.  If Little Timmy spends the money on eBay, then LEGO doesn't see a dime of that money.

Back to my argument of LEGO already getting their money - resellers are buying it at $15, and selling it at $30.  So we (and eBay and Paypal and USPS) are pocketing the difference.  In this scenario, LEGO made $15, and resellers, etc. made $15.

But in the other scenario, LEGO makes $30.

I guess what that paper is describing works on the macro economic scale, but doesn't address the micro economic scale.  At least, that's my general feeling, as a non-economist that didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

[dcdfan]

Interesting read.  I will admit to not being an economist, but I followed it pretty well.  I realize the article is addressing the reseller market vs the primary market.  But, I feel like it is leaving something out of the equation - Little Timmy (e.g., the consumer themselves).

Because I'm a simple man, I will keep this simple - Little Timmy has $30 in his pocket.  He can spend it on LEGO Shop at Home or he can spend it on eBay.  If Little Timmy decides to spend that $30 at LEGO Shop at Home, then LEGO has just put $30 more in LEGO's pocket.  If Little Timmy spends the money on eBay, then LEGO doesn't see a dime of that money.

Back to my argument of LEGO already getting their money - resellers are buying it at $15, and selling it at $30.  So we (and eBay and Paypal and USPS) are pocketing the difference.  In this scenario, LEGO made $15, and resellers, etc. made $15.

But in the other scenario, LEGO makes $30.

I guess what that paper is describing works on the macro economic scale, but doesn't address the micro economic scale.  At least, that's my general feeling, as a non-economist that didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Timmy had the same opportunity to buy 2 with that $30 as resellers did...No?

[Alpinemaps]

Timmy had the same opportunity to buy 2 with that $30 as resellers did...No?

Yes and no.  You're assuming Timmy wanted to buy 2 of the $30 set.  I didn't say that.  I just said that Timmy has $30 to spend.  He might be perfectly willing to have a $30 set that is available on LEGO Shop at Home or a $30 set that is only available on eBay.

Or, think of it this way - let's assume 7965 Millennium Falcon if $150 in September.  Let's assume that the new MF is also $150 in September.  Almost the same product, but Timmy is only getting 7965 from a reseller, while he can get the new MF at LEGO Shop at Home.  LEGO made $120 (basically) on the original 7965, but makes $150 (basically) on the new MF.  Same $150 spent.  Timmy may not care which one he gets, he just wants one.

[KShine]

Interesting read.  I will admit to not being an economist, but I followed it pretty well.  I realize the article is addressing the reseller market vs the primary market.  But, I feel like it is leaving something out of the equation - Little Timmy (e.g., the consumer themselves).

Because I'm a simple man, I will keep this simple - Little Timmy has $30 in his pocket.  He can spend it on LEGO Shop at Home or he can spend it on eBay.  If Little Timmy decides to spend that $30 at LEGO Shop at Home, then LEGO has just put $30 more in LEGO's pocket.  If Little Timmy spends the money on eBay, then LEGO doesn't see a dime of that money.

Back to my argument of LEGO already getting their money - resellers are buying it at $15, and selling it at $30.  So we (and eBay and Paypal and USPS) are pocketing the difference.  In this scenario, LEGO made $15, and resellers, etc. made $15.

But in the other scenario, LEGO makes $30.

I guess what that paper is describing works on the macro economic scale, but doesn't address the micro economic scale.  At least, that's my general feeling, as a non-economist that didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

When Little Timmy spends the $30 on ebay, Big Joey (the reseller) will buy $30 from LEGO - If LEGO stopped allowing Little Timmy to buy his LEGO off of ebay, Big Joey would also stop spending.

[dcdfan]

Yes and no.  You're assuming Timmy wanted to buy 2 of the $30 set.  I didn't say that.  I just said that Timmy has $30 to spend.  He might be perfectly willing to have a $30 set that is available on LEGO Shop at Home or a $30 set that is only available on eBay.

Or, think of it this way - let's assume 7965 Millennium Falcon if $150 in September.  Let's assume that the new MF is also $150 in September.  Almost the same product, but Timmy is only getting 7965 from a reseller, while he can get the new MF at LEGO Shop at Home.  LEGO made $120 (basically) on the original 7965, but makes $150 (basically) on the new MF.  Same $150 spent.  Timmy may not care which one he gets, he just wants one.

I don't think I particularly care for this Timmy character. He'll learn OT is way better & when he grows outta that new MF he'll be looking for my 7965...

[Miami Bomb Squad]

Just hypothetically, can't Lego open Amazon and eBays stores, and then cease/desist whoever they like (or do not like). many , uhm, cosmetics brands do that...

Why would Lego do that though, they already have their own and very popular website and do not have to pony up any fees to Amazon or Ebay.
Look, Ebay was founded based on collectables.
Ebay is where you dump stuff that you don't want. 

For Example: Little Johnny get several Birthday gifts...lets say Legos.  Either he has doubles or just plan don't want them.
So where would he sell them.....Ebay. 
Lego can't tell Johnny that he can not sell them on Ebay. 
No way they can control or police that. 

Ebay would tell Lego to go fly a kite. 

[speedsausage]

I just wanted to make the point that the selling side is changing just as fast as the buying side. 2 years ago if you would have told people that Lego would be banning people from buying their products they would have laughed at you. If you are expecting to unload a large volume of items in a few years and suddenly find out the brand is restricted and you cannot list as "new" because you are not an authorised reseller it could be an eye opener if you don;t have a backup plan.

I think a pretty good plan B would be "Brick Classifieds" if it actually came down to it.

[tonysbricks]

"BP - the only site that cares about the welfare of everyone from Bill Gates to little Timmy."

[Bold-Arrow]

Why would Lego do that though, they already have their own and very popular website and do not have to pony up any fees to Amazon or Ebay.Look, Ebay was founded based on collectables.
Ebay is where you dump stuff that you don't want. 

For Example: Little Johnny get several Birthday gifts...lets say Legos.  Either he has doubles or just plan don't want them.
So where would he sell them.....Ebay. 
Lego can't tell Johnny that he can not sell them on Ebay. 
No way they can control or police that. 

Ebay would tell Lego to go fly a kite. 

little Johnny can sell it to little Timmy in the TRU parking lot while their grannies discuss the latest in the world of crochet 

[exciter1]

I hope you guys are ok with this. The hypothetical theories brought up over the last few pages are making me want to

[Ed Mack]

Still sold out in the US and potential inventory in Europe. Didn't the SSD do something similar?

[gregpj]

When Little Timmy spends the $30 on ebay, Big Joey (the reseller) will buy $30 from LEGO - If LEGO stopped allowing Little Timmy to buy his LEGO off of ebay, Big Joey would also stop spending.

Do you all plan on indefinitely buying LEGO with the profits? I don't... at some point, I'll sell everything and take the money I make and spend it elsewhere.

[No More Monkeys]

Why would Lego do that though, they already have their own and very popular website and do not have to pony up any fees to Amazon or Ebay.Look, Ebay was founded based on collectables.
Ebay is where you dump stuff that you don't want. 

For Example: Little Johnny get several Birthday gifts...lets say Legos.  Either he has doubles or just plan don't want them.
So where would he sell them.....Ebay. 
Lego can't tell Johnny that he can not sell them on Ebay. 
No way they can control or police that. 

Ebay would tell Lego to go fly a kite. 

lots of cosmetics and clothing brands sell stuff on their own sites AND open direct sales stores on Amazon and ebay, mostly to combat counterfeiters, with added benefit of shooing away small fish reseller wannabies

[ravenb99]

 

Ebay would tell Lego to go fly a kite. 

The point he was making earlier is if LEGO said that it is final say.  Ebay cannot tell LEGO to go fly a kite.  As NMM said above there are already companies that have gone to this format and they will sell on ebay with there store and VERO any listing they catch.  They are usually easy to spot because there will be only a handful of listings of that product.    Not a ton do it but some do.  

Could also go to a MAP pricing on new items like musical instrument companies, software and other companies have done as well.  Korg was one that comes to mind.  Anything listed under MAP on ebay was taken down by ebay.

Usually it would be towards current line up products only and not things out of production so in this case retired sets would not be affected.

 

[No More Monkeys]

Do you all plan on indefinitely buying LEGO with the profits? I don't... at some point, I'll sell everything and take the money I make and spend it elsewhere.

I am taking my eexo-suits to my grave...

[Bold-Arrow]

I am taking my eexo-suits to my grave...

you might have to  if you are ever gonna get rid of them . 

Edited July 24, 2015 by Bold-Arrow

[gregpj]

I am taking my eexo-suits to my grave...

You will not be alone... In 100 years from now it'll be like the guy that went searching for the Atari ET game.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial_(video_game)

 

[Miami Bomb Squad]

 

 

 

 

 

The point he was making earlier is if LEGO said that it is final say.  Ebay cannot tell LEGO to go fly a kite.  As NMM said above there are already companies that have gone to this format and they will sell on ebay with there store and VERO any listing they catch.  They are usually easy to spot because there will be only a handful of listings of that product.    Not a ton do it but some do.  

Could also go to a MAP pricing on new items like musical instrument companies, software and other companies have done as well.  Korg was one that comes to mind.  Anything listed under MAP on ebay was taken down by ebay.

Usually it would be towards current line up products only and not things out of production so in this case retired sets would not be affected.

 

Retired sets are the only sets that would concern me and its what I was referring to, never crossed my mind to sell sets that were still in production. 
How do people make any money selling sets that are still in production.  (besides Lego employee and Mr. Five Fingers?)

Edited July 24, 2015 by Miami Bomb Squad

[No More Monkeys]

 

Retired sets are the only sets that would concern me and its what I was referring to, never crossed my mind to sell sets that were still in production. How do people make any money selling sets that are still in production.  (besides Lego employee and Mr. Five Fingers?)

ah, research institutes... fond memories... yep, indeed they were very profitable while on initial run...