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.

[Sorrowshine]

Hello everyone.

I am new to Lego and right before christmas registered at their website.

The whole Idea of investing in Lego really got me and I tried to start my collection. 

From the get go I thought first I need to buy sets which are EOL.

And decided to buy 2 of the Pet Shops.

In the online shop I registered my account and my GF (so I can buy 2 sets). 1 to keep and 1 resell as soon as it reaches it EOL.

FIrst order went through.

After that I tried to order some other sets. All quantiy of 1 (Ewok Village, Sand Crawler). But system just started to cancel my orders. It sends email saying that automatic system cancelled your orders:(

Same is happening for my GF account. 

So as far as I understand my account on lego is banned. If I call they say we gonna let our technical team know about your problem but we can do nothing.

Do you have any experience for how long my account is banned? Is it forever? Is there any way to unban it? Do I need to change my name, address and may be gender

Thanx for reply

 

Edited January 25, 2016 by Sorrowshine

[dcdfan]

Hello everyone.

I am new to Lego and right before christmas registered at their website.

The whole Idea of investing in Lego really got me and I tried to start my collection. 

From the get go I thought first I need to buy sets which are EOL.

And decided to buy 2 of the Pet Shops.

In the online shop I registered my account and my GF (so I can buy 2 sets). 1 to keep and 1 resell as soon as it reaches it EOL.

FIrst order went through.

After that I tried to order some other sets. All quantiy of 1 (Ewok Village, Sand Crawler). But system just started to cancel my orders. It sends email saying that automatic system cancelled your orders:(

Same is happening for my GF account. 

So as far as I understand my account on lego is banned. If I call they say we gonna let our technical team know about your problem but we can do nothing.

Do you have any experience for how long my account is banned? Is it forever? Is there any way to unban it? Do I need to change my name, address and may be gender

Thanx for reply

 

I think changing your gender may be a little drastic...

[cladner]

2 hours ago, Sorrowshine said:

Hello everyone.

I am new to Lego and right before christmas registered at their website.

The whole Idea of investing in Lego really got me and I tried to start my collection. 

From the get go I thought first I need to buy sets which are EOL.

And decided to buy 2 of the Pet Shops.

In the online shop I registered my account and my GF (so I can buy 2 sets). 1 to keep and 1 resell as soon as it reaches it EOL.

FIrst order went through.

After that I tried to order some other sets. All quantiy of 1 (Ewok Village, Sand Crawler). But system just started to cancel my orders. It sends email saying that automatic system cancelled your orders:(

Same is happening for my GF account. 

So as far as I understand my account on lego is banned. If I call they say we gonna let our technical team know about your problem but we can do nothing.

Do you have any experience for how long my account is banned? Is it forever? Is there any way to unban it? Do I need to change my name, address and may be gender

Thanx for reply

 

I find it very hard to believe you were banned for buying 2 Pet Shops.  

Are you sure you didn't max out your credit card or set off some fraud thing?

Is there more to your purchase history besides 2 Pet shops?

 

The first thing anyone should do after they open a LEGO VIP account is to add all the children in your family to the account (real, imaginary, and wished for) to give yourself reasons to order duplicates.  Then when you order start to order duplicates, have 1 of each set go to each child.   

 

Edited January 25, 2016 by cladner

[Roy vd M.]

I think what may have been the problem is the twin accounts for one address. It may have set off a (software) alarm. Purchasing 2 pet shops might have been the (very early) trigger. 

[Ed Mack]

New customers are under increased scrutiny. Long time LEGO S@H members have to be flagrant violators in my opinion to get banned.

[newbie77]

59 minutes ago, Ed Mack said:

New customers are under increased scrutiny. Long time LEGO LEGO Shop at Home members have to be flagrant violators in my opinion to get banned.

i doubt about being flagrant but "one can't increase volume without being noticed". and that volume doesn't have to be LEGO Shop at Home purchase.

apparently some of the BB retailers are shipping directly from the Manufacturers hence LEGO Shop at Home is getting your name/address as well.

Now the kicker, as long as your address @ LEGO Shop at Home does not match your BB shipping/billing address you are good. otherwise, sooner or later LEGO Shop at Home is going to find you and put you under reseller. 

may be now they are expanding/enforcing their ban outside of US.

[Phil B]

38 minutes ago, newbie77 said:

i doubt about being flagrant but "one can't increase volume without being noticed". and that volume doesn't have to be LEGO Shop at Home purchase.

apparently some of the BB retailers are shipping directly from the Manufacturers hence LEGO Shop at Home is getting your name/address as well.

Now the kicker, as long as your address @ LEGO Shop at Home does not match your BB shipping/billing address you are good. otherwise, sooner or later LEGO Shop at Home is going to find you and put you under reseller. 

may be now they are expanding/enforcing their ban outside of US.

What are Brick Bounty retailers?

[trekgate502]

Bread and Breakfast

Chick Fil A for the win !

[DadsAFOL]

My BB-8 has the same address as me.

[Phil B]

Brown Bag retailers perhaps? Or Best Buy?

 

[trekgate502]

 

BIG BOX ?

[Phil B]

10 minutes ago, trekgate502 said:

 

BIG BOX ?

Now that would make sense, wouldn't it? BTW, is Fat Brain Toys one of those? I had never heard of them before, but allegedly my Jet.com order is going to be shipped through them. Wonder if they also drop-ship directly from LEGO .....

[Sorrowshine]

17 hours ago, cladner said:

I find it very hard to believe you were banned for buying 2 Pet Shops.  

Are you sure you didn't max out your credit card or set off some fraud thing?

Is there more to your purchase history besides 2 Pet shops?

 

The first thing anyone should do after they open a LEGO VIP account is to add all the children in your family to the account (real, imaginary, and wished for) to give yourself reasons to order duplicates.  Then when you order start to order duplicates, have 1 of each set go to each child.   

 

My Credit Card is fine for sure.

Before that I bough Slave 1 in the Lego Shop and attached VIP Card to the account.

It was literally my 2nd order from Lego.

[c_rpg]

17 hours ago, Roy vd M. said:

Hate to be the one to tell you this but in Belgium Ewok Village MSRP is €260,- (see here).

Become a VIP at Lego Shop @ Home by registering; it's free so why not. You get VIP points for 5% of every purchase. Those VIP points can be used for a future purchase. So basically (and abstractly), you pay €247,- there. Plus, you have a big chance of receiving a (near-) mint box. Plus, shipping is free. 

Sorry for the off-topic bit but this seemed the best place. 

Bummer. I'm banned at Lego Shop at Home though. No idea why.

Edited January 30, 2016 by c_rpg

[Brenner]

35 minutes ago, c_rpg said:

Bummer. I'm banned at Lego Shop at Home though. No idea why.

Did you made several orders the past days of items with a limit of 1?

Edited January 30, 2016 by Brenner
typo

[c_rpg]

5 hours ago, Brenner said:

Did you made several orders the past days of items with a limit of 1?

I ordered some UCS sets and a few modulars, but one of each only. Total value was just under 1000€, but the sandcrawler alone is a 330€ set so I don't see how that's a big deal.

[BP]

7 minutes ago, c_rpg said:

I ordered some UCS sets and a few modulars, but one of each only. Total value was just under 1000€, but the sandcrawler alone is a 330€ set so I don't see how that's a big deal.

And that's it? Weird!

[tractorboy]

3 hours ago, c_rpg said:

I ordered some UCS sets and a few modulars, but one of each only. Total value was just under 1000€, but the sandcrawler alone is a 330€ set so I don't see how that's a big deal.

I find that hard to believe. What exactly did you order?

[c_rpg]

10 hours ago, tractorboy said:

I find that hard to believe. What exactly did you order?

I'm not gonna list the exact items cause I'm kinda paranoid. They were all 'limit 1' items and less than 10 items in total. I got the "Your recent order didn’t pass our order validation checks and has been cancelled as a result." e-mail a few minutes after placing my order.

[Brenner]

11 minutes ago, c_rpg said:

I'm not gonna list the exact items cause I'm kinda paranoid. They were all 'limit 1' items and less than 10 items in total. I got the "Your recent order didn’t pass our order validation checks and has been cancelled as a result." e-mail a few minutes after placing my order.

How can you expect advice if you don't provide the listing? BP-ers are always willing to help when all available information is available....

[stephen_rockefeller]

20 hours ago, c_rpg said:

Bummer. I'm banned at Lego Shop at Home though. No idea why.

Probably because you are a reseller?

[c_rpg]

11 minutes ago, Brenner said:

How can you expect advice if you don't provide the listing? BP-ers are always willing to help when all available information is available....

I'm not trying to be a smartass, but I don't really see why an exact list would make any difference. Unless there is some set that automatically triggers a ban when you buy it.

Sorry, like I said I'm just paranoid I guess

[Anomander]

20 hours ago, c_rpg said:

Bummer. I'm banned at Lego Shop at Home though. No idea why.

Was it your first time ordering from LEGO Shop at Home?

Did you also sign up for VIP points?

Do you have a thriving ebay/Amazon reselling business going on?

I know this really belongs in the LEGO Shop at Home bans discussion thread, but this seems like an extraordinarily harsh case.

[Jules_K]

17 minutes ago, stephen_rockefeller said:

Probably because you are a reseller?

Such wild accusations! 

[c_rpg]

16 minutes ago, stephen_rockefeller said:

Probably because you are a reseller?

I'd be interested to see the algorithm they use to determine if you're a reseller or not. There are no direct links to my ebay or amazon accounts. I do have an ebay account under the same email, but it's not used for reselling. If it's just based on what you buy that would be ridiculous. What if some milionair wants to buy some Lego?

14 minutes ago, Anomander said:

Was it your first time ordering from LEGO Shop at Home?

Did you also sign up for VIP points?

Do you have a thriving ebay/Amazon reselling business going on?

I know this really belongs in the LEGO Shop at Home bans discussion thread, but this seems like an extraordinarily harsh case.

Yes, yes and no. Yeah I wasn't trying to hijack the thread or anything.