While you may think Lego is only a kids’ toy annoyingly scattered across the bedroom, just waiting for you to step on it with your bare foot, you’re not entirely wrong. But it can be much more than that. A growing number of people make it a decent investment, buying and selling Lego like stock shares.
The Telegraph even quoted a study which suggested Lego is a better investment than shares and gold.
You can make money from Lego – and this article will tell you how.
Why invest in Lego?
If you have a child, you’ll probably know that Lego regularly launches special sets alongside big movies or TV shows. You may have seen the plastic bricks themed with Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And that’s in addition to the regular ones, like police stations, castles or haunted houses. The Lego brand now also extends to video games and cartoons. It’s a huge business.
Buying and selling Lego could turn into a good money-making opportunity and it’s all about the life cycle of Lego sets. The company produces and sells sets for a couple of years, after which they retire and won’t be sold in traditional outlets anymore. Those who miss the boat and are desperate for a discontinued set will then need to look for the special editions on eBay or Amazon. So, if you choose to invest in Lego, this is your chance to command high prices for those unique sets people want.
Which sets should I buy?
Do your research first. Like with any other investment, to buy and sell Lego for a profit, you’ll need to know your market. Certain genres and sets do better than others. The trick is that nobody really knows if – or when – the brand might discontinue a special edition. This means there’s no way of telling whether a certain set could be sold later at a higher price.
To choose wisely, check out some of the specialist sites dedicated to buying and selling Lego. For example, the online price and investing guide Brickpicker offers plenty of advice and analysis on price trends. This could help you make more informed Lego purchases.
Bear in mind, though, that because Lego is under no obligation to discontinue their sets, there’s never any guarantee that what you buy will be a good investment.
Brick for brick, the sets linked to films or cartoons tend to be more expensive. Make sure you calculate the price per brick of the sets on offer, then wait to buy it when it’s on sale or a special offer. For instance, the resale value of the Star Wars sets has done well in the past, but previous success is not necessarily an indicator that these’ll be good buys for the future.
Storing Lego
It’s crucial that you keep your Lego in pristine condition. This means the box must be unopened and stored correctly – away from anyone who might be tempted to open it and play with its contents.
Some of the more serious investors in the US lease climate-controlled facilities to keep their Lego in optimum conditions. That’s not to say you should too. Those tend to be the people investing on a bigger scale, for instance, buying 3,000 boxed sets. If your operation is smaller, just make sure the boxes don’t get damaged.
How much can I make?
It depends. As previously explained, it can be tricky to predict which Lego sets will make a good investment. There’re US-based investors who claim to make a 10-15% return on their buys. But bear in mind, some think that this is a ‘bubble’ and the prices will soon crash. Again, just like with any investment, you should understand the risks before you spend your cash.
You could also make money selling old Lego in bulk. MusicMagpie and Zapper, for instance, will buy the bricks off you. Alternatively, you could try your luck on eBay. Some serious collectors often need a spare piece for their set which might just be hiding in your pile of Lego.
Top tips
- Be patient. It’s unlikely that you’ll instantly make big bucks buying and selling Lego. The profit arises from making a smart purchase, sitting on it for a while and waiting for the price to rise. Like any commodity, the price may fall before it rises. Or it may never rise.
- If you intend to sell your Lego on eBay, read our How to Make Money on eBay article.
- Learn as much as you can about the market. Use Brickpicker to gather information and study the price research.
- When you decide to buy, look out for deals and check out various retailers. If you buy your set at a low price, there’s more potential for profit later on when (or if) the set has been retired by Lego.
- There’s also a market for mini figures. It’s definitely worth the investment as they may become collectible later on.
Useful links
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