LEGO Price Increase- Staggering!

BusMadDave

My son is starting to get into Lego in a big way and we recently visited a toy show in January where there was a Lego stand. Of the newer ranges are the Lego Ninjagos, Ninja based spinning battle tops and we ended up buying him one which he loves. On the stand they had a proper plastic arena for the battles to take place in, essentially a large plastic tray. When I enquired about the price, they said it wasn't released yet, but would be soon. We took a catalogue of products and when home saw the item and it was reasonably priced at £9.99.

I visited the online Lego store to see if the arena was released and avaialble, which it now is...price? £20.99!! 100% increase in less than 8 weeks!!:mad:

I have e-mailed Lego and they sent a hand-wringing reply stating raw materials increases have forced the change, yet suprisingly you can buy the same item from Lego in the USA for $19, a mere £11.

Why do these companies assume the British need to be ripped off constantly? I am waiting for a second reply from them, but I am staggered that firms can put on 100% increase within weeks of launching a product and advertising it in their catalogues.

Is there a consumer law against such increases?

Jeff_Bridges_hair

No there isnt.But you have to remember that the tax system in america is far different to ours and that we also have VAT which adds significantly onto the product.

vyle

It's like Nintendo when they were asked about why they rip the UK off with regards to prices.

When the pound was strong: "The value of the pound is so high that things are more expensive for us to buy/produce there, and so we have to charge more."

When the pound weakened: "The lower value of the pound means we're not making as much as we were, so we have to charge more."

vuvuzela

Your $19 example is incorrect, it isn't a 'mere' £11. At today's rate it is £11.67, but that is without tax - US prices are sales tax exclusive so if you use the UK's VAT rate then it works out to be £14. Yes there is still a big difference but not as much as you make out.

And no, there is no consumer law against increases. If you don't want to pay what they charge, don't buy it from them.

Esqui

Try https://www.bricklink.com - a bit like eBay, but for Lego

paddyrg

Of course lego is very expensive for a few pennies worth of plastic anyway, so it comes as no shock that it has gone from very high margin to very very high margin...

Flyboy152

BusMadDave wrote: »

My son is starting to get into Lego in a big way and we recently visited a toy show in January where there was a Lego stand. Of the newer ranges are the Lego Ninjagos, Ninja based spinning battle tops and we ended up buying him one which he loves. On the stand they had a proper plastic arena for the battles to take place in, essentially a large plastic tray. When I enquired about the price, they said it wasn't released yet, but would be soon. We took a catalogue of products and when home saw the item and it was reasonably priced at £9.99.

I visited the online Lego store to see if the arena was released and avaialble, which it now is...price? £20.99!! 100% increase in less than 8 weeks!!:mad:

I have e-mailed Lego and they sent a hand-wringing reply stating raw materials increases have forced the change, yet suprisingly you can buy the same item from Lego in the USA for $19, a mere £11.

Why do these companies assume the British need to be ripped off constantly? I am waiting for a second reply from them, but I am staggered that firms can put on 100% increase within weeks of launching a product and advertising it in their catalogues.

Is there a consumer law against such increases?

Or you just get a Bey Blade arena for ten pounds at The Entertainer, or try amazon or E-bay.

Flyboy152

Esqui wrote: »

Try www.bricklink.com - a bit like eBay, but for Lego

Here you go

Flyboy152

vuvuzela wrote: »

Your $19 example is incorrect, it isn't a 'mere' £11. At today's rate it is £11.67, but that is without tax - US prices are sales tax exclusive so if you use the UK's VAT rate then it works out to be £14. Yes there is still a big difference but not as much as you make out.

And no, there is no consumer law against increases. If you don't want to pay what they charge, don't buy it from them.

That's not strictly true, from a general perspective, it depends on what it is and when and where the price is increased.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Flyboy152 wrote: »

That's not strictly true, from a general perspective, it depends on what it is and when and where the price is increased.

But a price shown is an invitation to buy not a god given right to buy at that price is it not?

Flyboy152

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

But a price shown is an invitation to buy not a god given right to buy at that price is it not?

I wrote:

it depends on what it is and when and where the price is increased

..