Where should I buy LEGO sets? Toneil Bricks

When buying your LEGO sets, there are lots of options out there! It can feel extremely overwhelming. In this post, we aim to give some insight on the different options out there, the potential benefits and down-sides, and help you to make a decision on where to buy your next LEGO set from.

Option 1: The official LEGO website/LEGO stores

Buying from LEGO directly is a great option. I personally buy a decent amount of my own LEGO directly from LEGO themselves! When buying directly, you get access to the latest releases, and can trust their amazing customer service department. Additionally, depending on the time of year, you can claim various gift-with-purchases (GWPs) with spend-thresholds, and also collect VIP rewards points that can be used for either discounts off future orders or exclusive rewards available online. 

There are a few downsides that come with ordering directly from LEGO:

1) Discounts are rarely available. LEGO do sometimes run promotional discounts (such as May 4th and Insiders Weekend), but these are few and far between. Often, the same set may be available from an alternative retailer with a discount, so it is definitely worth shopping around. 

2) LEGO do not sell retired LEGO sets. Whilst the selection available from LEGO is amazing, for retired LEGO sets you will have to look elsewhere. If you have spotted a set from 2-3 years ago that you like the look of, it is unlikely it will still be available from LEGO directly. This means you will have to look at alternative options...

Option 2: Large retailers

Retailers such as Smyths, Argos and Amazon are another great option for picking up LEGO sets. The main benefit of large retailers is they are far more likely to offer discounts on their LEGO inventory than LEGO themselves. This means you are often able to get a great deal.

Another thing worth noting is that for recently retired LEGO sets, you will often be able to find a few copies of the set you are after hanging around on their websites, even after LEGO have sold out. If you know a set has recently retired and you are unable to get it from LEGO themselves, it is always a great idea to check the large retailers prior to giving up hope.

As much as we love large retailers, they again do not generally stock long-retired LEGO sets. The exception to this rule would be Amazon, who allow independent sellers to sell through their platform. This means you are usually able to pick up retired LEGO sets. This being said, the prices Amazon charge on retired LEGO sets are generally extortionate, so I would definitely recommend looking elsewhere before buying retired LEGO from Amazon. 

Option 3: Online marketplaces

Here, we are referring to eBay, Vinted, and Facebook Marketplace. These websites are absolutely fabulous, and should definitely be an option for all LEGO enthusiasts. 

Online marketplaces allow you to pick up your retired LEGO sets at bargain prices. Lots of independent LEGO retailers are quick to slander the online marketplaces (especially eBay!) as being risky, and full of hassle.

Whilst this is true to an extent, overall these platforms certainly have a place. eBay and Vinted are usually very good when it comes to disputes/returns, and you will struggle to end up out of pocket if you follow their procedures properly. This being said, if things do go wrong, this can be both stressful and time consuming, so it is all about weighing up whether the potential for a bargain is worth it to you. 

I personally still buy lots of LEGO from eBay. Here at Toneil Bricks, some of our stock actually originates from eBay and Facebook marketplace - with this in mind, who am I to say it isn't a good source for retired LEGO?

 However, if you are after an easy, hassle free buying experience with great customer service then online marketplaces are probably not the best option for you. Experience with the platforms helps, along with checking seller feedback, but you are still open to potential scams and disputes with sellers. 

Option 4: Specialist LEGO Retailers (such as Toneil Bricks)

An increasing number of specialist LEGO retailers have appeared over the last few years, giving collectors and LEGO fans another excellent option when searching for both new and retired sets.

The biggest advantage of buying from a specialist retailer is expertise. Unlike general retailers, specialist LEGO businesses understand the products they sell and often inspect, grade and accurately describe the condition of each set. This is especially important when buying retired LEGO, where box condition can make a big difference.

Specialist retailers also tend to stock a much wider selection of retired LEGO sets than traditional retailers, making them a great place to look if you've missed a set during its original production run or are trying to complete a collection.

At Toneil Bricks, we also pride ourselves on the relationships we build with our customers. You will get to know the team, and we are always willing to chat all-things LEGO! This is an experience that you will not usually get with the larger retailers. 

Of course, there are a few things to consider. As specialist retailers are sourcing retired LEGO from a variety of places, and have larger overheads than your average eBay seller, prices will generally be slightly higher than online marketplaces. It's always worth comparing prices and reading reviews before making a purchase.

The real question should always be "does the experience and quality of the retailer justify the x% markup over eBay/Facebook?". At Toneil Bricks, this question lies at the core of our pricing structure, and we hope that customers can agree our pricing fairly reflects the level of service we provide. 

So, where should you buy your LEGO?

As you probably expected, we can safely say there isn't one "best" place to buy LEGO - it depends on what you're looking for.

If you want the latest releases buying directly from LEGO is hard to beat.

If you're after a bargain on current sets, large retailers are often your best bet.

If you're happy to spend a little more time searching for the best deals, online marketplaces can offer fantastic value and can also be great fun to browse/bargain with sellers on!

And if you're looking for retired, hard-to-find or collectible LEGO sets with the reassurance of buying from experienced LEGO enthusiasts, a specialist retailer such as Toneil Bricks is well worth considering.

Whichever option you choose, we hope this guide has helped you decide where to buy your next LEGO set. And of course we hope you find something you like on our website 😉

Written by Tom (Toneil Bricks)