LEGO Bans - Open Discussion

[TheBrickClique]

As for operating with a single account to stay within the vendor’s technically-enforced limits, I believe this is the current state of things.
 

Cliff notes: you’ll be fine as long as you don’t go on a spending spree at Target.com, and try not to bring attention to your buying patterns by dealing with online customer service for small gripes that can be dealt with in store instead.

Target - the easiest place to get banned based simply on purchase volume online and the most aggressive against resellers in store — employees trained to identify resellers loading up carts for example.  Can still use red card in store after online ban, but using with a new email account will result in repeat ban — start receiving auto cancellations and email about possible issues including payment purchase method.  Some people have bans lifted after a period in timeout. Others indefinitely. The amount of purchases that may identify you as a reseller and get a ban? One data point: I have been unable to purchase online going on 18 months now after two months of $5k purchases on the red card. Same red card still works fine in store.
 

LEGO shop at home — with the purchase limits mechanics implemented a few years ago, it is much more difficult to get the SAH ban hammer. If you exceed a limit on any item based on past purchases of the same item, they will cancel your entire order. Be warned that if they cancel an order with a VIP Rewards purchase, the reward is not automatically credited back to your account. Also, if they cancel an item due to inventory issues, the system still tracks it as qty purchased. Qty purchased in brick and mortar stores that are purchased with VIP accounts are not counted towards SAH limits and and limits in store are done at the individual store’s discretion. If you do have to call customer service to resolve an issue, they do have easy visibility to all of your previous orders and will make comments about you “really liking LEGOs”.  No indication that that is how the ban process starts, but unless you really have an issue that needs CS, might be best to just let the small things go. 
 

Amazon — shop away. Their limits are tracked to the second on a 168-hour FIFO.  Limits apply and are tracked in that window only to items sold and shipped by Amazon.com. Buy as many third party items as you wish. Anecdotal stories of bans for excessive returns, but no clear information on the metrics used. Generally, probably best to save the returns for the really bad boxes.  Creating multiple accounts will get noticed and is the quickest way to get the warning shot emails. 
 

Barnes and Noble — similar to LEGO, has a five qty per item lifetime limit online. Exceed that amount and just that item will be cancelled from the order. No reports of bans. In store purchases do not appear to be tied to online memberships as far as adding to your 5-count quantity.  
 

Walmart — most LEGO are limited to two per order, but they won’t say how often that limit is reset.  Doing a couple of multiple limit orders in the same day has worked.  Doing dozens has resulted in order cancellations of those specific items but no bans that I am aware of. Generally, I have found one limit order per day has never resulted in a cancellation. 
 

ShopDisney — some items have limits but they are selectively enforced. If you put in multiple limit orders at the same time, they might cancel those items. If you space them out, they will be fine. I ordered a dozen castles (limit one per customer) last year and they all went through. Sometimes two in two consecutive days. 
 

Costco — has item limits on some items, but I haven’t seen any on LEGOs. Even with items with limits, possible to space them out without issue.  In store limits are usually “per day”. 
 

Best Buy — unsure on LEGO as I’ve never pushed the limits on them. In the past, I would make 50 purchases at a time of 2-dollar items that had limits and they would all go through.  I have tried to make multiple purchases of Xbox consoles and those were cancelled.  So YMMV. But no reports of bans.

Anyways, those are my observations.

[Jules_K]

I think all of us in the EU / Asia have ordered over the limit and never received a ban before, this is the first reported case I believe.

[dcdfan]

It was 10. I had account there for years and few times I ordered over limit and I have never problem.

Your eBay account is the same user name...

[Jules_K]

How could a low-cost item like a card holder be the trigger for a ban? I can think of a dozen legit reasons why you would want 20 of those things as a non-reseller.

Doesn't matter if you have legit reasons or not, exceeding the specified limit stated by Lego could now be a no-no. Unless you have any other theories?

edit: Looks like dcdfan may have another theory.

Edited July 1, 2015 by jkaesler

[Majkl]

dcdfan might be right. I created new eBay account with same username recently. Not for reselling these sets. Just for selling some collector sets and minifigures.

Edited July 1, 2015 by Majkl

[minicoopers11]

The "Lego Ban" people are well versed in Bricklink, et all. Is your BL username the same as here, but with one more letter? If so, I found your Bricklink store already...

[Ciglione]

I expected this to happen. All the signs were there that Europe and maybe Asia would be next. I fear many bans here in Europe cause many thought this would not happen here and maybe pushed their luck.

[mudcatsfan]

CSI: Lego Ban Team: Europe

-Looks like we've cracked the case chief. We've cross referenced this user name in a highly complicated online algorithm called "Google". This Low Life Quick Flipper has been buying from us and getting end-user discounts and freebies then sells them at a markup to lazy consumers with more money then sense. Makes me sick.

-I guess you've BUILT a great case. [crickets]

------YYYYYYYYEOOOWWWWWW

 

[ravenb99]

CSI: Lego Ban Team: Europe

-Looks like we've cracked the case chief. We've cross referenced this user name in a highly complicated online algorithm called "Google". This Low Life Quick Flipper has been buying from us and getting end-user discounts and freebies then sells them at a markup to lazy consumers with more money then sense. Makes me sick.

-I guess you've BUILT a great case. [crickets]

------YYYYYYYYEOOOWWWWWW

 

The Horatio Caine sunglass stare!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mznsEcZlM2I

[Val-E]

I expected this to happen. All the signs were there that Europe and maybe Asia would be next. I fear many bans here in Europe cause many thought this would not happen here and maybe pushed their luck.

Good to see they were happy to fulfill the orders of their dud products that were going rotten in storage......

Edited July 1, 2015 by valenciaeric

[thoroakenfelder]

The Horatio Caine sunglass stare!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mznsEcZlM2I

My favorite part of that show was the way he put on and took off sunglasses.

[MarleyMoose]

"Cut the chatter, Red 2"

[Yellowtot]

I had one of my accounts banned like two weeks, all I was trying to buy was 5x Double Decker couches nothing major, but like others have stated most likely goes off your lifetime purchases/account names linked to eBay/Bricklink/Amazon etc.

[Majkl]

The "Lego Ban" people are well versed in Bricklink, et all. Is your BL username the same as here, but with one more letter? If so, I found your Bricklink store already...

No, my BL name is different. Different and longer name

[Zelgazra]

I haven't received one, but reading this thread, the email says something about 'contact our wholesalers for future bulk purchases'.

Have any banned folks pursued this avenue? I wonder if they offer some sort of bulk reseller deal for businesses. I've never seen any links to business/corporate sales on shop at home though... I know at my work (also retail) if people ask/think/know to order through wholesale they get 10% off or something. 

Edit: Of course, there's always some fine print, I think in our case for people to get the discount X dollars need to be spent at once. 

Edited July 1, 2015 by Zelgazra

[marcandre]

I haven't received one, but reading this thread, the email says something about 'contact our wholesalers for future bulk purchases'.

Have any banned folks pursued this avenue? I wonder if they offer some sort of bulk reseller deal for businesses. I've never seen any links to business/corporate sales on shop at home though... I know at my work (also retail) if people ask/think/know to order through wholesale they get 10% off or something. 

Edit: Of course, there's always some fine print, I think in our case for people to get the discount X dollars need to be spent at once. 

You have to have a brick and mortar toy store to be eligible. You cannot choose which sets you get either.

[dcdfan]

I haven't received one, but reading this thread, the email says something about 'contact our wholesalers for future bulk purchases'.

Have any banned folks pursued this avenue? I wonder if they offer some sort of bulk reseller deal for businesses. I've never seen any links to business/corporate sales on shop at home though... I know at my work (also retail) if people ask/think/know to order through wholesale they get 10% off or something. 

Edit: Of course, there's always some fine print, I think in our case for people to get the discount X dollars need to be spent at once. 

I can't remember where but there's a thread about buying qty from Lego & basically IIRC you need to buy every line...& I believe the discount was 30%...?

[No More Monkeys]

I can't remember where but there's a thread about buying qty from Lego & basically IIRC you need to buy every line...& I believe the discount was 30%...?

and forget about exclusives (don't remember if all exclusives, or only super-exclusives like triple-E)

[Ed Mack]

No exclusives. Brick and mortar store. Two major toy brands besides LEGO in store. 20-30% discount.

[newbie77]

I can't remember where but there's a thread about buying qty from Lego & basically IIRC you need to buy every line...& I believe the discount was 30%...?

based on what i read requirement were (if my memory serves me right. this was about 2 years ago. now must be even tighter):

1. have to have a b&m store

2. lego should not be more than 30% of what you carry.

3. one has to carry at least 8 product lines ( you can choose but at least 8. product line means, creator, friends, chima, starwar etc... meaning one is going to get stuck with duds )

4. one won't get exclusives (hard to find, or Target or TRU or Walmart or anything else that's branded exclusive no exception .. someone wanted to get kingdom joust at the time and didn't get it )

5. discount is 20%  but one won't get free shipping rather discounted shipping.

6. there is 12 months wait period.

i believe this has been discussed in detail in brickset. 

 

Edited July 2, 2015 by newbie77

[No More Monkeys]

based on what i read requirement were (if my memory serves me right. this was about 2 years ago. now must be even tighter):

1. have to have a b&m store

2. lego should not be more than 30% of what you carry.

3. one has to carry at least 8 product lines ( you can choose but at least 8. product line means, creator, friends, chima, starwar etc... meaning one is going to get stuck with duds )

4. one won't get exclusives (hard to find, or Target or TRU or Walmart or anything else that's branded exclusive no exception .. someone wanted to get kingdom joust at the time and didn't get it )

5. discount is 20%  but one won't get free shipping rather discounted shipping.

6. there is 12 months wait period.

i believe this has been discussed in detail in brickset. 

 

but that's  USA policy - isn't Europe different?

[redcell]

No exclusives. Brick and mortar store. Two major toy brands besides LEGO in store. 20-30% discount.

Isn't there also a requirement around the % of your business that has to come from non-Lego sales?  Also, there are certainly non-B&M retailers with wholesale accounts (e.g., Entertainment Earth) and I've never been clear on how those types of accounts work, but I am assuming that you have to be doing something very different to get one.

[Achilles]

The thing that baffles me the most about LEGO SAH bans is the fact that they offer limits of say 5 on Ewok Village. What "regular" LEGO fan/customer is buying 5 of a set like that? I mean, that has to set of a huge red flag, but if they don't want to sell to resellers, why offers limit numbers like that?

[newbie77]

Isn't there also a requirement around the % of your business that has to come from non-Lego sales?  Also, there are certainly non-B&M retailers with wholesale accounts (e.g., Entertainment Earth) and I've never been clear on how those types of accounts work, but I am assuming that you have to be doing something very different to get one.

i believe in US they are not looking for online-only sellers. so i am guessing entertainment earth; thinkgeeks are all grandfathered-in.

but that's  USA policy - isn't Europe different?

surely. i was talking about US only though.

 

[Val-E]

i believe in US they are not looking for online-only sellers. so i am guessing entertainment earth; thinkgeeks are all grandfathered-in.

surely. i was talking about US only though.

 

Those are definitely US requirements. Lego wouldn´t sell anything if they applied those criteria in smaller countries.

[newbie77]

The thing that baffles me the most about LEGO SAH bans is the fact that they offer limits of say 5 on Ewok Village. What "regular" LEGO fan/customer is buying 5 of a set like that? I mean, that has to set of a huge red flag, but if they don't want to sell to resellers, why offers limit numbers like that?

sorry.. if they really didn't put the limit then likes of "raven" will gobble up everything and all you and I could do was sniff on the pictures... trust me when i say that there are very very big player in this game.

there are some heavy hitters who i believe gobble up over 500 of those sets you named just to part out at "ONE TIME".

so although 5 may seem ridiculously high but that's a reasonable number in a family who are LEGO enthusiast. i am not saying five each of every exclusives but 5 of a kind . not all SW enthusiasts will go and buy simpson house for that matter . 

Edited July 2, 2015 by newbie77