Lego price per part over the years

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Price-per-part (PPP) and alternative metrics

  • Many mention the informal “$0.10 per part” rule; some note newer sets creeping toward $0.20, especially licensed or Disney princess sets.
  • Several argue PPP is crude: small decorative pieces inflate part counts, and complex parts (electronics, pneumatics, big Technic elements) cost more.
  • Some suggest price per gram/weight, or hybrid metrics, as more honest. Past analyses shared in the thread find weak correlation between size and PPP.

Piece size, greebling, and specialization

  • Commenters note more tiny “greeble” pieces, increasing part counts without adding bulk.
  • Debate over specialization: some feel modern sets include too many specialized or new shapes that limit reuse; others say LEGO actually reduced set-specific parts vs. the 1990s, but expanded generic SNOT/tiles/slopes.
  • A few propose metrics for “creative potential” based on number/orientation of connection points and piece weight.

Licensing and themes

  • Many attribute higher PPP to licensed IP (Disney, Star Wars), though one referenced analysis claims licensing is less important than piece size, with Star Wars being the big outlier.
  • Internal themes (Creator, Classic, Ninjago, Minecraft) are frequently praised for value and reusability.

Quality control and missing pieces

  • Strong disagreement: some report frequent missing key pieces in recent years; others, even with dozens or hundreds of sets, report zero missing parts.
  • Explanations offered: regional factory variation, localized QC issues, misplacement by builders, static-charged bags, and deliberate inclusion of extra 1x1 pieces to mask QA misses.
  • Consensus that LEGO’s replacement service is easy and generous.

Stickers, prints, and build experience

  • Some strongly dislike the proliferation of stickers, seeing it as cost-cutting and contrary to LEGO’s ethos; others enjoy the flexibility or simply omit them.
  • Desire for higher-quality, repositionable stickers and more printed parts is common.

Alternatives, used markets, and knockoffs

  • Many recommend buying used (eBay, Goodwill bulk lots, ex-employee collections) as best value; cleaning tips include pillowcases in washing machines or dishwashers on low heat.
  • Opinions on non-LEGO bricks are split: some claim modern brands (e.g., CaDA, BlueBrixx) rival or surpass LEGO in features and price; others report inconsistent fit, colors, and durability, and value LEGO’s predictable quality and nostalgia.

Data and visualization critiques

  • Several criticize the linked site’s charts as poorly scaled, dominated by outliers, and hard to read; suggest log-scaled scatterplots, median/quartiles, and clearer time axes for better insight.