Were the 2013 SDCC Minifigure Raffles "rigged"?

[sadowsk1]

Without knowing all the details of different situations it's hard to speculate how things should have or were actually executed.  In addition to whether or not it was the Lego groups intention or the failings of particular individuals.  I don't believe the overall goal of Lego is to cheat, mislead, or deceive people.  It's a shame rumors like this get generated since there is no proof so far that I've seen.

[TheDarkness]

I can't help but find the whole thing humorous really. It seems there is a conspiracy theory and Lego are out to get us!

It is a vicious cycle, if people weren't paying ridiculous amounts for minifigs then resellers wouldn't be as interested. If the minifigures weren't so limited and rare they wouldn't gather us much attention.

Moral of the story, take a kid to Comic Con to improve your chances!

[TheOrcKing]

I don't really care either way myself. I don't attend these conventions and I would never pay $500 -$1000 for a single minifigure. Give them all to kids. As a matter of fact, make sure every one of these minifigures are reproduced later in other sets or polybags. I'm not being anti-investor here, but the prices for these Superhero minifigures on eBay are ridiculous.

I'm a collector and I would never pay that much for any single minifigure. It's pure lunacy. Plus there will only be so many of them left on the secondary market at any given time meaning not every 'serious' collector will be able to get themselves one at all. I wish Lego did go back and do these as preview editions to appear elsewhere like the Superman given out in 2011 instead of short run exclusives like Green Lantern from the same year.

I think I liked it more when they just released figures early as a promotion in unique cases. So there was never any unique figures, just figures that weren't available for the general public yet. Makes me think of the first Admiral Ackbar. Man I wanted one, but thankfully it was just a matter of patience since a person knew the set was on the way.

I agree. I would think the new blister pack setup for those recent giveaways with the San Diego Comic-Con stamp on the case makes them exclusive enough like how they gave away that Vader's Transformation set featuring a special event sleeve for the premiere of one of the prequel Star Wars films (or whatever the event was exactly).

[cohens714]

I don't really care either way myself.  I don't attend these conventions and I would never pay $500 -$1000 for a single minifigure.  Give them all to kids.  As a matter of fact, make sure every one of these minifigures are reproduced later in other sets or polybags.  I'm not being anti-investor here, but the prices for these Superhero minifigures on eBay are ridiculous.

I personally have made thousands on these figures and that's even paying aftermarket prices and I can keep all of them in a little box in my closet instead of having to dedicate an entire room of my house in the hopes of making a little on each set 2 years from now. Lego's are insanely collectible right now and these have a very limited production run which is why the prices are so high. There is certainly some risk on these but honestly I feel like at worst I could always break even as long as am somewhat smart when I buy them.

[TheOrcKing]

Here is the news being reported on Brickset. Take it how you want but sounds like many agrees Lego should stop it with these promotions altogether.

There is also this post on Brickset about Lego having a survey for feedback on peoples experience at the San Diego Comic-Con.

If you really want to, tell em' how you feel with this survey.

[colm9999]

think about the children

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh2sWSVRrmo

[exciter1]

They put up Part 3 today:

 

http://www.fbtb.net/2013/07/31/sdcc-marvel-and-dc-minifigure-giveaways-how-lego-gamed-the-system-part-3/

[DoNotInsertIntoMouth]

They put up Part 3 today:

 

http://www.fbtb.net/2013/07/31/sdcc-marvel-and-dc-minifigure-giveaways-how-lego-gamed-the-system-part-3/

 

It is interesting. I think he is being fair about it and is giving counter viewpoints pretty well. Honestly I find him credible. But I don't really have a problem with it either.

[exciter1]

I enjoyed Part 3, it's a good read.

[matt1147]

Sounds like TLG just needs to rethink their whole process for their exclusives

[willy431]

Sounds like TLG just needs to rethink their whole process for their exclusives

https://www.facebook.com/joshtoys

 

Yep.  page down once or twice.

 

I am going to run to Josh's and get a bunch of blind bags now!

[ExoBro94]

So LEGO has an official response about this issue. Very interesting stuff.

http://brickfanatics.co.uk/lego-respond-to-sdcc-raffle-issue/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+brickfanatics+%28Brick+Fanatics%29

[DoNotInsertIntoMouth]

So LEGO has an official response about this issue. Very interesting stuff.

http://brickfanatics.co.uk/lego-respond-to-sdcc-raffle-issue/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+brickfanatics+%28Brick+Fanatics%29

 

They did say they didn't like that people are reselling them. At least they admitted it.

[willy431]

Wait---lego marketing, outreach and social media relations folks are reading lego forums?  Shocked!

Anyone still think I am a conspiracy nut when i said they were watching this forum months ago.

 

My nephew works for GE--electronics.  And is paid to sit in a chair all day reading forums and posts on home improvements/contractor sites, and "trolling" HD and Lowes sites reading reviews on their products and collating the data.  There are 6 in his dept!  Mass media marketing /social media specialist.  All big companies have them.  During their down time they get names from HR of potential candidates and they search book face, and google searches as pre-pre background checks.  Intranetz skills pays!

 

Hi Lego!

[ExoBro94]

Wait---lego marketing, outreach and social media relations folks are reading lego forums?  Shocked!

Anyone still think I am a conspiracy nut when i said they were watching this forum months ago.

 

Hi Lego!

And I like how they must all be lurkers. Just stealing our info and not providing any. Shame on them! They already have all te good info anyway.

[StarPod]

Wait---lego marketing, outreach and social media relations folks are reading lego forums?  Shocked!

Anyone still think I am a conspiracy nut when i said they were watching this forum months ago.

 

Hi Lego!

We're recognized. I'm flattered

Maybe Lego sent out spies to blend into the community to determine what sets they should overly produce just to f**k us over

[ExoBro94]

Maybe Emazers is the VP of sales! Trying to get us to buy all those expensive sets and then he will have LEGO keep them around for another 10 years!!!! :P

[tormentalous]

Let's keep in mind that LEGO isn't obligated to do any giveaways so don't be surprised that this might be the last time we see any giveaways at future events.

[ExoBro94]

Let's keep in mind that LEGO isn't obligated to do any giveaways so don't be surprised that this might be the last time we see any giveaways at future events.

I'm thinking this exact same thing. All of the commenters on FTBT seem to still be whining even after this press release. Say goodbye to the SDCC exclusives..

[Fcbarcelona101]

Let's keep in mind that LEGO isn't obligated to do any giveaways so don't be surprised that this might be the last time we see any giveaways at future events.

I prefer that or an "only kids" giveaway rather than a less than honest raffle where not everyone has the same chances of winning.

[TheOrcKing]

Say goodbye to the SDCC exclusives..

Goodbye, Exclusives!

[Anakinisvader]

Let's keep in mind that LEGO isn't obligated to do any giveaways so don't be surprised that this might be the last time we see any giveaways at future events.

 

If they didn't have any giveaways hardly anyone would go to their booth.  Its Comic Con not LEGO con.  People visit the booths for freebies. 

[TheOrcKing]

I love this part right here.

However if you live in the real world you will know LEGO would not and could not do it. Not only would it be wrong and most likely illegal for rigging a raffle but it would cause untold bad press for the company.

If you live in the real world, how could anyone put it past a business to rig their own games? In the end, that is all Lego, the company, is; a business. Besides, you have to actually hold proof there was foulplay to begin with and how can you prove a thing from a bunch of rumors? It's like a casino, they hold all the cards but you can't do anything about it besides walking away.

I prefer that or an "only kids" giveaway rather than a less than honest raffle where not everyone has the same chances of winning.

I agree wholeheartedly. If they promoted the raffle as a "kids only" event, I would hold no objections to it. You still couldn't stop parents from persuading their kids to sell the minifigures anyway but at least it goes into a child's hand to begin with.

[chinothegeeko]

Have no issues with whatever they choose but they created the mess by offering limited edition figures to begin with. 

[Ed Mack]

Giveaways at these events could work.  Look at the Darth Maul minifigure from a year or two ago.  Everyone though they had an exclusive, then LEGO released thousands.  Give out thousands and they will still be exclusive, just not as exclusive and people will be a little less keen on getting one.