Building on a Budget: How Second Hand LEGO® Bricks Let You Save

Building with LEGO® bricks is a great hobby; it lets you exercise your building and problem-solving skills in a fun and creative way. However, as any fan of LEGO® bricks will tell you, it can take a toll on your bank account. New LEGO® sets continue to soar in price, as the company must cover licensing fees, marketing and manufacturing costs.

Cheap LEGO® bricks are readily available on the second hand market. It’s not just more cost-effective, but also better for the environment, as it saves the need for new LEGO® pieces to be produced. Whilst you’re not always guaranteed a matching set, we think this just adds to the challenge of building something brilliant out of a jumble of bricks.

The Cost of New LEGO® Sets

The cost of new LEGO® sets continues to rise, with some sets like the Millennium Falcon costing as much as £734.99! There are various reasons why it is so expensive. First and foremost is the quality of materials. LEGO® bricks are hard-wearing and long-lasting, with bricks made to last for years. Some sets also feature intricate designs, like wheels, motors and minifigures. All of this must be factored into the cost.

The LEGO Group is a globally renowned brand, which takes a serious marketing budget. There’s advertising, social media, website content, videos, influencer marketing - and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! The LEGO Group also have over 800 stores worldwide, which all carry overhead costs.

A large part of the LEGO Group costs can be accounted for by licensing fees. The LEGO Group has collaborated with massive film series like Star Wars™, Harry Potter™, Indiana Jones™ and more. They have also worked with Disney and Marvel, creating various Princess and superhero sets. They must purchase the rights to produce all these sets, which carry a hefty cost.

The Rise of the Second-Hand LEGO® Brick Market

The rise of the second-hand LEGO® brick market can be directly attributed to the rising costs of new LEGO® bricks. Second-hand LEGO® bricks are just as good as new. LEGO® bricks are incredibly hard-wearing, so they are unlikely to be broken. Just check the photos carefully before you buy. The only thing they may need is a bit of a clean (especially if it used to belong to kids). Follow our guide to cleaning LEGO® bricks and you're ready to start building.

Get More for Your Money

There are lots of online selling sites like eBay where users sell cheap LEGO® bricks and sets. We’ve found bags with hundreds of bricks being sold for £5 or less! You can’t even get a single base plate for £5 from the official LEGO Group store - in fact, it's £7.99! Most second-hand listings are mixed bags with a mish-mash of bricks, but you can still build something incredible from them.

You can also find complete LEGO® sets on these selling sites, but these may cost a little more than unmatched sets. You should, however, still save on their recommended retail price. For example, we found an unopened LEGO® Icons set for £15 less than the retail price. These are normally people selling unwanted gifts or sets their children never got round to playing with

Rare or collectible LEGO® sets may actually sell for higher prices on the second-hand market, though. Collectors will bid to get their hands on these pieces, driving up the price. Stay away from these kind of sets though, and the second-hand market is a great place to find cheap LEGO® sets.

The Sustainable Way to Shop for LEGO® Bricks

Another reason to buy second-hand is that it’s better for the environment. There are over 400 billion LEGO® pieces in circulation, with 36,000 bricks produced every minute! With this many bricks already available, why would we need more? Take a stand against over-consumption and buy used LEGO® bricks instead.

Buying second-hand means that less LEGO® bricks need to be produced, reducing waste and pollution from manufacturing. It also reduces pollution from transport, as you can buy LEGO® bricks locally instead of shipping it overseas. It’s a small way you can do your part for the environment whilst also saving money.

Become Part of the LEGO® Brick Community

Buying from second-hand sellers is also a great way to become part of the LEGO® brick community. AFOL are one of the largest fandoms in the world. They have over 400 ambassadors who regularly meet with the LEGO Group to discuss new ideas for sets. Buying cheap LEGO® sets from other fans is a great way to make connections in this community.

Find Rare and Retired Sets

Some of the most sought after LEGO® sets can sell out pretty quickly. The second-hand market gives you access to rare or retired sets that you may have missed out on. That means you can complete your Star Wars™ collection or find your favourite Lord of The Ring scene. If you’re looking for cheap LEGO® sets though, we’d recommend staying away from these sets. Collectibles tend to go up in price on the second-hand market.

Quality and Condition Considerations

Some people are concerned that buying cheap bricks on the second-hand market means that they will be poor quality. In our experience, as long as you buy from a reputable seller, your LEGO® bricks should be fine.

Before buying, you should check to see if the seller has any photos of the set. This should give you an idea of the condition. If not, you can always ask the seller to send you some photos. You should also see if the seller has any reviews. If they have lots of poor reviews, you may want to stay away.

If you want cheap LEGO® bricks, the second-hand market is the place to go! You can get hundreds of bricks for a fiver or less! That means you get to enjoy your hobby for less.

And remember, once you’re done with your LEGO® bricks, you can resell it to us at webuybricks. Simply enter the weight of your bricks and we’ll give you an instant cash offer. Once you’ve accepted our offer, just post your bricks to us for free. Once we’ve received you items, we’ll pay you the next day. Start selling today!