Please stop ripping open LEGO Minifigure boxes
September 8, 2023
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We’re about a week into the release of LEGO Marvel Minifigures Series 2 and the transition from blind bags to blind boxes has… not been pretty.
Update: LEGO seems to be trialling the sale of complete sets of Collectible Minifigures in Denmark.
There have been countless reports and photos of these new unidentifiable boxes ripped open, inspected and just left strewn across toy aisles, mostly in stores like Walmart, Kohls and Asda in the UK.
I have to state unequivocally that this behaviour is unacceptable and really reflects poorly on LEGO fans.
While the shift to blind boxes has been overall a disappointing experience for long-time LEGO Minifigure fans and those of us who dislike the principle of introducing a pseudo-gambling element into LEGO Minifigures, it does not excuse theft and damaging of products just to get a Marvel minifigure you want.
This is why I advocate either using a sensitive scale and use a weight guide or trying to find a complete set of minifigures online, because, let’s face it, damaging product/theft is not cool, no matter how you feel about this change.
I asked on Facebook and Instagram to ascertain if these cases were isolated incidences, but it’s clear that it’s becoming an issue in stores like Walmart, Kohls and Asda where minifigures are placed on shelves away from the counter.
From NearlyHeadless-Brick on Reddit
From Elizabeth on Instagram (Walmart, Texas)
From @Nate5516 on Twitter (Kohl’s)
From Naomi on Instagram.
And there are also plenty of reports without photos, such as this one early on from fourstud on Instagram who was one of the first to report of incidents of theft.
I can’t imagine that retailers (or LEGO) will be happy about this, and just like Trading Cards and other high value items that are magnets for theft, they’ll likely end up sealed in these plastic cases, or be kept under lock and key at the cash registers/counters.
I can’t see this happening at LEGO Stores, as Minifigures are usually kept near the counters, and it’s much harder to be discrete about commiting crimes when you’re in a small store with plenty of observers, but as retailers begin to notice lots of theft and damaged goods, it’s not going to make things easy for those of us looking to
That said, with this being the first time a highly anticipated blind box series is released to the public, it’s not that surprising for long-time LEGO fans who may have noticed this happening with Vidiyo and the Mario Figures, which also come in blind boxes, but didn’t have a large enough fanbase to see the effects of this.
Plus, highly sought-after minifigures like Moon Knight, who is commanding high resale prices will no doubt be alluring to thieves.
As a long-time LEGO Minifigures fan, this is really disappointing to see people do this, and this behavious should be roundly condemned by LEGO fans – the vast majority of whom do not stoop to such petty practices just to get a minifigure.
Please don’t do this. We as LEGO fans should be better than this.
Now that we’re a week into the launch of LEGO Marvel Minifigures Series 2 in the US, UK and Europe, have you seen these blind boxes been broken into at stores?
For a slightly more reliable way of finding the minifigures you want, check out my weight guide or opt for buying 6-packs on Amazon.com [affiliate link] which should contain unique minifigures in each 6-pack, which is a good way to start your collection, and either buy the remaining on eBay or Bricklink.
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