LEGO® has grown to be a costly passion for many creators. Yet, there are ways to enjoy fantastic LEGO sets without spending a fortune. Here are tips to save money and create amazing LEGO sets!
1. Buy Used Sets
There are many places (like here at Bricks & Minifigs) where you can buy a used built LEGO set. These sets are typically almost complete, and any missing parts or minifigs can be easily found or purchased to finish them. You can even find manuals online and parts lists to use to complete them. Used sets are priced lower than new or refurbished (Certified) sets.
2. Buy Certified Sets
At Bricks & Minifigs, we ensure used sets are certified by confirming the presence of every part, all stickers are attached, the manual is usable, and a new clean white box is included if the original box is missing or damaged. These sets should be buildable just like a new set, but at a much lower price than a new in box (NIB) set. This is especially true for retired and hard-to-find sets.
3. New in Open Box sets
Some of our trade-ins are new sets that someone opened, and for whatever reason, decided not to build the set. We mark these as "New in Open Box" after we certify that everything is there. These are sold at a little lower than a NIB set would cost.
4. Build from Scratch
This is one of the best ways to build the set you want at a fraction of the price. This method involves either getting a manual with a parts list, or downloading a parts list, then finding all the parts needed from the bulk LEGO® in our store or from your collection of bricks. We have seen people build small sets, big sets, and more this way.
One family, that comes in regularly, has nearly completed building every Star Wars™ UCS (Ultimate Collector Series) set available by doing this. They travel a lot and look for parts at all the Bricks & Minifigs stores they come close to. (There are nearly 150 BAM stores now! as of Sept 2024)
Most manuals have a list of parts and quantities in the back. You can use these to find all the parts you need. If you need help, just ask. We'll either point you to the most likely place to find the part, or find one from our sorted bricks for just a few cents more.
To help with #4, we will soon be offering FREE and Low-cost manuals from our collection for this purpose. The Free manuals are for smaller sets and a great way to get started. Whether you need a Police car for your City, a setting for a bedroom, a Micro-Build Millennium Falcon™, or a veterinarian clinic, you can probably find the manual and most of the parts pretty quickly.
Summary
LEGO enthusiasts can indulge their passion without overspending by exploring a few smart options. First, consider buying used LEGO sets, which are often available at lower prices and can be completed with missing parts or manuals. Certified used sets, checked for completeness and condition, offer nearly the same experience as new sets but at reduced costs, especially for rare ones. Alternatively, "New in Open Box" sets, which are open boxes, but most parts are in their original packaging, are sold at a discount. For the most cost-effective option, building from scratch using parts from bulk LEGO collections or your own stash can be a great way to recreate sets at a fraction of the price. Free and low-cost manuals for smaller sets are also available to aid in this process.
