Buying LEGO lots, pieces, sets and minifigures on eBay can sometimes seem overwhelming. There are many factors to consider before buying. Is the item authentic LEGO? How accurate is the condition of the item? Is it possible that the item is stolen? Here are four fast tips to improve your odds of buying accurately described LEGO items from excellent eBay seller.
1. Beware Knockoff LEGO Minifigures from China
Knockoff minifigures that look almost exactly like authentic LEGO pieces in the photo run rampant on eBay. The easiest way to spot a fake minifigure on eBay is typically by looking at the title. Almost none of the fake minifigures will use the word “LEGO” in the title of the listing. Other red flags to look out for are: suspiciously low prices (e.g. a set of Captain America minifigures for $9.58 with free shipping–ONE authentic Captain America minifigures currently sells for at least $3-4), items shipping from China (most of the knockoffs are manufactured in China), and poor feedback comments for the seller mentioning cheap quality minifigures. If it looks to good to be true, it probably is.
2. Proceed with caution when buying LEGO by the pound or unsorted bulk LEGO
With both unsorted bulk LEGO lots and LEGO by the pound lots, a buyer is going into a transaction at least partially blind. Sells that list clean, used lots get bonus points. Receiving clean, used LEGO pieces is not only more convenient, but clean pieces also demonstrates that the seller cares about quality and indicates an attention to detail.
LEGO by the pound listings
LEGO by the pound listings use stock photos or example photos. Read the seller’s description carefully. The description should mention types of pieces you should expect to get and should also mention that non-LEGO pieces have been sorted out of the lot. Also, comb through the seller’s feedback carefully. If many buyers seem satisfied with their LEGO by the pound purchases, then the quality of the pieces is likely pretty decent.
Unsorted Bulk LEGO lots
Many of the same precautions for LEGO by the pound listings apply to unsorted bulk LEGO lots. One distinguishing factor of unsorted bulk lots is the listing should include photos of the exact lot you will be receiving. Watch out for listings with blurry photos, few photos, or photos that only show the top layer of pieces in a large bin. When in doubt, ask the sellers for more photos of the pieces. Ask if the pieces are clean. Ask if the lot is 100% authentic LEGO.
See what other types of items the user is selling. If the seller is only selling one LEGO and a bunch of other non-LEGO items, then it’s more likely that the seller wouldn’t be able distinguish between LEGO and Megabloks, K’NEX, Hot Wheels, or anything else that might end up mixed into the same bin as LEGO pieces.
3.Watch out for stolen LEGO sets!
Sometimes stolen LEGO sets turn up on eBay and buyers definitely want to avoid purchasing stolen merchandise. The most common red flag that a LEGO set on eBay is stolen is if the set is if the seller is discounting the set a bit too much (some LEGO sets over $100 are rarely discounted more than 10%) and is selling or has sold many of the exact same set. Sometimes a seller is just dumping one LEGO Tower Bridge 10214 set on eBay for $195 ($239.99 MSRP in the United States). For whatever reason, they gone one and they don’t want it. If the seller is dumping MANY LEGO Tower Bridge 10214 sets on eBay for a $45 discount, then be wary.
4. ALWAYS consider an eBay seller’s feedback carefully
Whether you’re buying a set, pieces, minifigures, Technic gears, or anything else on eBay, make sure you thoroughly read the eBay seller’s feedback. Looking at the score or percentage is not enough. Read the negatives and neutrals that the seller has received. Do you spot any patterns? Do many buyer mention poor condition, received wrong item, or item not received at all? How does the seller reply to the feedback?
No matter what the buyer writes or who is at fault, watch out for sellers that attack the buyer in the feedback response. Attacking the buyer, regardless of who is at fault, is highly unprofessional behavior for an eBay seller. Also, if the seller does not respond to negative feedback comments at all, this is also a red flag, especially when feedback from buyers mentions a serious errors or falsities.
Further reading on BrickingTips.com:
How and Where to Buy Authentic LEGO Minifigures
How to Avoid Buying Knockoff LEGO Minifigs on eBay
The Genuine Article: Proving LEGO Authenticity to eBay Buyers
LEGO vs. Mega Bloks: Tips on Distinguishing Real LEGO from Knockoff Brands and Custom Pieces
Buyer Beware: 6 Red Flags That You Bought Stolen LEGO Sets on eBay