Shoplifters Love Lego(cnn.com)
cnn.com
Shoplifters Love Lego
https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/29/business/lego-most-stolen-items/index.html
75 comments
That people are fans of certain creations for which they are willing to dish out a lot for to stimulate their imagination and have fun constructing what they are fans of?
More specifically, peoples purchases are not governed by any economic logic but instead their emotions and companies know and will exploit this. I don’t care what the tolerance is on a Lego piece if I’m going to pay the price of a new computer for some shaped plastic it better be able to do my taxes at least
I'm not a bicycle expert, but I suspect the tolerances on bicycles can't compare to Legos. You can find knockoff "Legos" for much cheaper, but the quality isn't there, and they just don't work as well if they don't match the strict tolerances. Like, are all of the parts on a bicycle within 0.01mm tolerance? I highly doubt it.
> I think the adjacent discussion is much more interesting: What does it say about our society that `s/a touring bicycle with 10 years of warranty/an engine block/` has the same price as 400g of plastic with a Star Wars license?
That's also about the price of a Ford 4-cyl shortblock [1] for $1050 - first large high-precision, mass-manufactured part I could think of. Plus it's solid metal :)
[1] https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/engine/other-engine-parts/...
That's also about the price of a Ford 4-cyl shortblock [1] for $1050 - first large high-precision, mass-manufactured part I could think of. Plus it's solid metal :)
[1] https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/engine/other-engine-parts/...
Sure but aren't Legos sort of a mass production nightmare (compared to an auto part) due to the enormous variety of bricks, all the combinations for different sets? and then there's IP licensing for many sets. I'm not buying a Star Wars branded short block for my truck but there's a Rivendell set in my living room, and the IP is why I wanted that set and I'm sure that's true for many of the branded kits
Im not sure if you follow the „knockoff“ legos, but the quality is very close for several brands. I own several 5000+ piece sets and while there is the occasional mold issue, you get plenty of replacement parts, pay a third for it and don’t have to deal with all the random colors that Lego includes in the unseen parts of the builds. They are usually tighter compared to Legos, but since I don’t intend to take these sets apart often that’s not an issue.
Also some of these sets are official as well. Like the Cada AMG One with the license from Mercedes and Michelin, which is miles ahead in feature/price compared to LEGO technic offers.
Also some of these sets are official as well. Like the Cada AMG One with the license from Mercedes and Michelin, which is miles ahead in feature/price compared to LEGO technic offers.
I mean, you just described a straight downgrade over lego. I understand it suits your specific need, but it's not lego. It was intended to be taken apart
The reason is spelled out in the article: "Lego sets are easy to resell, hard to trace, and fetch close to the original retail price."
Shoplifters love stealing Tide bottles, and a stolen one's worth maybe ten bucks. A Lego set can cost $500-$1000 and is worth nearly retail price on eBay? And it's in a low security toy store? And it's untraceable? It's an obvious choice for a burglar. The worst part is finding a buyer, and if you're desperate for cash you can just mark it down 25% and it'll be gone in an hour.
Shoplifters love stealing Tide bottles, and a stolen one's worth maybe ten bucks. A Lego set can cost $500-$1000 and is worth nearly retail price on eBay? And it's in a low security toy store? And it's untraceable? It's an obvious choice for a burglar. The worst part is finding a buyer, and if you're desperate for cash you can just mark it down 25% and it'll be gone in an hour.
As an aside, I with Americans would stop using _legos_ as the plural. (Most of) the rest of the world uses _lego_ as a mass noun.
The company itself insists though that it should only be used as an adjective :D: https://x.com/LEGO_Group/status/1359856214591627269?lang=en
The company itself insists though that it should only be used as an adjective :D: https://x.com/LEGO_Group/status/1359856214591627269?lang=en
Not Legos or Lego: LEGO. All caps.
For example: https://www.serious.global/LEGO-SERIOUS-PLAY-Trademark-Guide...
(It also says when you speak the word you're supposed to shout it as if you're scaring off birds. If you look down there on page 11.)
Danes are weird.
For example: https://www.serious.global/LEGO-SERIOUS-PLAY-Trademark-Guide...
(It also says when you speak the word you're supposed to shout it as if you're scaring off birds. If you look down there on page 11.)
Danes are weird.
[deleted]
In Danish, they are called »legoklodser« (i.e. Lego bricks); seldom is the word capitalised.
Yep. It's a brand style thing probably so they can trademark it.
PS: I had the pleasure of having eusocial Danish neighbors growing up. The guy worked for Spectra-Physics as a laser technician and drove a Wankel '81 Mazda RX-7 that I could hear revving away towards work every morning.
PS: I had the pleasure of having eusocial Danish neighbors growing up. The guy worked for Spectra-Physics as a laser technician and drove a Wankel '81 Mazda RX-7 that I could hear revving away towards work every morning.
I'm curious how you're using the word "eusocial" here, because I've only heard it used to describe the structure of bee or ant (or naked mole rat) colonies.
Really social, never bothered by anything, absurdly friendly, and cool peeps. And, of course, Scandinavian furniture and always smoking weed. :o)
Stipulative definitions since meanings of words vary from person-to-person:
"Eusocial" to me means "prone to socializing".
"Prosocial" to me means "aware of the interests of the group and seeks to positive contributions to the groups and individuals."
"Asocial" to me means "neural or indifferent towards others."
"Antisocial" to me has multiple meanings either "avoids people", "doesn't get along with people", or "is indifferent to or against the interests of others".
Stipulative definitions since meanings of words vary from person-to-person:
"Eusocial" to me means "prone to socializing".
"Prosocial" to me means "aware of the interests of the group and seeks to positive contributions to the groups and individuals."
"Asocial" to me means "neural or indifferent towards others."
"Antisocial" to me has multiple meanings either "avoids people", "doesn't get along with people", or "is indifferent to or against the interests of others".
MF LEGO, all caps
> If you look down there on page 11.
There's only 8 pages in the linked PDF.
There's only 8 pages in the linked PDF.
This and Visas always make my heart skip a beat.
Exercise in futility. We like our S's. I don't know a single person in the Midwest who doesn't say Meijers and Krogers, despite neither having an S in their name.
same in the UK actually. The supermarkets Tesco, Aldi and Lidl are frequently pronounced as Tescos, Aldis and Lidls.
That's not the same.
That's a possessive s, so it's Tesco's. As in "we're going to Tesco's" or "I'm just nipping down to Aldi's". Not Tescos or Aldis.
We effectively drop the word 'store'. So it's a shortened form of "I'm nipping to the Tesco's store". The 's indicates that Tesco owns the store.
We use the same phrases when going to someone's house, as in "I'm going to Sarah's" which is a shortened form of "I'm going to Sarah's house".
We don't use an s in Lego, so we use Lego like Europe, not Legos.
Edit: My partner just pointed out there are some exceptions (and weird ones). Asda is a store like Aldi or Tesco, but we say "I'm going to Asda". But that could be an artifact of their marketing jingles or perhaps because it is originally an abbreviation of Associated Diaries which already has an s. We also have a pharmacy chain called Boots, and it's "we going to Boots" not 'we're going to Boots' ".
That's a possessive s, so it's Tesco's. As in "we're going to Tesco's" or "I'm just nipping down to Aldi's". Not Tescos or Aldis.
We effectively drop the word 'store'. So it's a shortened form of "I'm nipping to the Tesco's store". The 's indicates that Tesco owns the store.
We use the same phrases when going to someone's house, as in "I'm going to Sarah's" which is a shortened form of "I'm going to Sarah's house".
We don't use an s in Lego, so we use Lego like Europe, not Legos.
Edit: My partner just pointed out there are some exceptions (and weird ones). Asda is a store like Aldi or Tesco, but we say "I'm going to Asda". But that could be an artifact of their marketing jingles or perhaps because it is originally an abbreviation of Associated Diaries which already has an s. We also have a pharmacy chain called Boots, and it's "we going to Boots" not 'we're going to Boots' ".
Just curious are you American? Because British people say shop, not store :)
Perhaps were pronouncing them as a hyphenated possession rather than a plural.
Right. Sainsbury's was the leading supermarket of most of the 20th century and probably influenced the way we refer to all of them
(It's Sainsbury's because it was John Sainsbury's shop)
(It's Sainsbury's because it was John Sainsbury's shop)
That is different. For example “Lidls” is actually “Lidl’s”, which is not plural and grammatically correct. Same as saying “I’m going to the doctor’s”.
> who doesn't say Meijers and Krogers, despite neither having an S in their name
Those aren't pluralizations with an s though. They're possessives with an apostrophe s.
LEFOs is a pluralization. Like Kleenexes instead of "Kleenex tissues."
Those aren't pluralizations with an s though. They're possessives with an apostrophe s.
LEFOs is a pluralization. Like Kleenexes instead of "Kleenex tissues."
Does it matter that much? Either way, people are adding an S where it doesn't belong. Kroger commercials are careful to call it Kroger. People call it Kroger's.
Whether it's Legos or Lego's is just a matter of spelling. The problem is identical.
Whether it's Legos or Lego's is just a matter of spelling. The problem is identical.
[deleted]
If we're going to be really American and overuse caps, shouldn't we also be sticking in all kinds of unnecessary periods? Like: L.E.G.O.
Then someone can set about to backform the phrase being acronymed.
Then someone can set about to backform the phrase being acronymed.
[deleted]
> If we're going to be really American
It's Danish though :-)
It's Danish though :-)
Just for the record, the name "Lego" comes from »leg godt« which means to play well. The earliest toys from Lego were not the iconic bricks we know today.
They insist likely due to the “Kleenex” effect. Couldn’t find a good reference, but once an item becomes generic, it can loose copyright.
Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/24/smarter-living/how-a-bran...
Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/24/smarter-living/how-a-bran...
Not copyright, trademark. Two very different things, with very different laws.
Sure, gp misspoke in saying "copyright" but correctly linked to a relevant article about trademarks and was correct in the sentiment that owners of widely used brand names need to be vigilant about their intellectual property.
You can find a reference by looking for "generic trademark"
If anything, the insistence of the Lego company ensures that I won't ever say it that way. I'm not here to protect their trademark, and I resent them trying to cajole me into it.
In Finnish (spoken in another Nordic country) it's plural "legoja" / "legot", with the singular only used as attribute, e.g. "legoukkeli". It's been this way at least since the 80s.
Legos makes sense for me as a short form of “different boxes of lego”. Similarly I’d be fine with e.g. “plant milks”, “kinetic sands”, etc.
English has a small, shrinking set of irregular plurals, and new loan words don't deserve special consideration, much less foreign loan word brands.
Octopuses. Indexes. Legos.
Octopuses. Indexes. Legos.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/yvx77j/why-stealing-legos-ma...
This isn't a new development. And it was going on long before the vice article... in the early 2000's it was an eBay "issue".
Recently I have found a bunch of "lego" sets on some Chinese websites (they are pretty good, and the unique kits are interesting). And it points to an interesting pattern. IN the west we are keen on steeling high end goods, honey, wine, TV's, fancy bags, Legos. IN china they just make a knockoff... food, wine, phones, bags, and legos.
Im now kind of curious if this is a manufacturing base outcome or a cultural thing (or a bit of both).
This isn't a new development. And it was going on long before the vice article... in the early 2000's it was an eBay "issue".
Recently I have found a bunch of "lego" sets on some Chinese websites (they are pretty good, and the unique kits are interesting). And it points to an interesting pattern. IN the west we are keen on steeling high end goods, honey, wine, TV's, fancy bags, Legos. IN china they just make a knockoff... food, wine, phones, bags, and legos.
Im now kind of curious if this is a manufacturing base outcome or a cultural thing (or a bit of both).
Its because in the west you will end up in court. In china only laws benefitting the CPC is enforced (hyperbole - maybe.. but still).
Well, yes, Lego sets are super fun for everyone. Even shoplifters.
If I were to hazard a guess, 95% of shoplifting is to subsidize a substance abuse problem, 3% is alternative criminal enterprise, and 1% each for survival and kleptomania.
Growing up, a friend's sister struggled with kleptomania. Not because it was cool or for a rush, but she had to steal shit similar to the compulsions associated with OCD.
Growing up, a friend's sister struggled with kleptomania. Not because it was cool or for a rush, but she had to steal shit similar to the compulsions associated with OCD.
By volume sure but by dollar organized crime is surely far higher
From what I've heard, the majority of it (in California at least) is organized crime.
Well, the immediate offenders are subsidizing a substance abuse problem, but the cartel pays them to steal stuff. The logistics and reselling are organized (on second thought I wouldn't be surprised if they're the same people supplying the drugs).
Well, the immediate offenders are subsidizing a substance abuse problem, but the cartel pays them to steal stuff. The logistics and reselling are organized (on second thought I wouldn't be surprised if they're the same people supplying the drugs).
I've been buying some Lego knockoffs with great satisfaction. There are many companies now, and their quality has been really great, only slightly below Lego. The prices are so low that I can easily buy replacements if I would need to and still come out cheaper.
It's s bit questionable to buy a Str Wrs knockoff lego set instead of an actual Star Wars lego set imo. If they cut legal corners like that, I would have my doubts about the chemical composition of the blocks themselves. They might contain chemicals or heavy metals in unsafe amounts.
Heaven forfend we should not throw baskets of money at LEGO and Disney!
> I would have my doubts about the chemical composition of the blocks themselves
The real ones don't have midi-chlorians either.
> I would have my doubts about the chemical composition of the blocks themselves
The real ones don't have midi-chlorians either.
> The real ones don't have midi-chlorians either.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Well, they're not that kind of knockoffs. They are fully legal (some are EU based), and one of those companies even have the Star Trek license, which is great.
Really, take a look around, it isn't like that at all.
Really, take a look around, it isn't like that at all.
I understood knockoffs as having the same offering but cheaper, but that wasn't really what you meant. After a quick Google it seems you mean brands like Cobi?
Ahhh Lego the Oracle of Toy-makers ;)
fortran77(4)
Maybe it is also because many families cannot afford anymore the prices Lego demands for their sets. I can imagine the poor father in front of the shelf weighting his options.
Thats not your typical shopflifter.
Btw, there are pretty good off-brand Legos.
Btw, there are pretty good off-brand Legos.
Also, you can buy used ones, reuse plastics already out in this world. We bought for our small kids literal few big shopping bags full of them for maybe 50$. Not in original packages but who cares.
The guy selling them also mentioned he had big trains & tracks bag, another 50$ and we are all set. Duplo bricks are relatively huge but for 2-4 year old they are perfect, and I dont see a reason for a change for a couple of years. I myself prefer them to small ones, much easier to build bigger stuff, small pieces of regular lego are very easy to scatter all across home.
The plastics on original are very durable, 0 degradation compared to new ones, all pieces hold very well together. I dont expect them to sell for less once the time comes. All have lego logo (ehm) on those connecting circles, not sure if original or not but who cares.
The guy selling them also mentioned he had big trains & tracks bag, another 50$ and we are all set. Duplo bricks are relatively huge but for 2-4 year old they are perfect, and I dont see a reason for a change for a couple of years. I myself prefer them to small ones, much easier to build bigger stuff, small pieces of regular lego are very easy to scatter all across home.
The plastics on original are very durable, 0 degradation compared to new ones, all pieces hold very well together. I dont expect them to sell for less once the time comes. All have lego logo (ehm) on those connecting circles, not sure if original or not but who cares.
I think the adjacent discussion is much more interesting: What does it say about our society that a touring bicycle with 10 years of warranty has the same price as 400g of plastic with a Star Wars license?