SteamSewnEmpire Posted June 7, 2020 Posted June 7, 2020 I'm not trying to "start something." I'm not here to share opinions on current events (although I am certainly in possession of some strong ones). But, I did just run into this article: https://toybook.com/lego-pulling-back-potentially-sensitive-product-amid-george-floyd-protests/ ... and it's not exactly looking good.
mindstormsboi Posted June 7, 2020 Posted June 7, 2020 (edited) Don't worry, we can still buy them from Lepin and AliExpress! To me Lepin and Lego are the same because of the sets as well as almost identical quality. In the U.S. you cannot find such sets but they are quite common in Ukraine, lucky me! Also, your post seems like a duplicate of this one. Edited June 7, 2020 by mindstormsboi
The Island Chronicles Posted June 7, 2020 Posted June 7, 2020 Lego actually confirmed via Twitter that the discontinuation of police sets is 100% false. They're sImply pausing advertising for them in the US.
SteamSewnEmpire Posted June 7, 2020 Author Posted June 7, 2020 (edited) 23 minutes ago, mindstormsboi said: Don't worry, we can still buy them from Lepin and AliExpress! To me Lepin and Lego are the same because of the sets as well as almost identical quality. In the U.S. you cannot find such sets but they are quite common in Ukraine, lucky me! Also, your post seems like a duplicate of this one. Somehow, I don't think "but Lepin" is an answer most people on this website are looking for. 20 minutes ago, Brandon Pea said: Lego actually confirmed via Twitter that the discontinuation of police sets is 100% false. They're sImply pausing advertising for them in the US. It's probably not feasible to abruptly pull every Lego Police set off a shelf as a snap reaction. For the past 2 decades or so, however, Lego has been a company that does its best to avoid anything controversial. I would not be shocked to see Police gone from the perennial lineup beginning next spring. Edited June 7, 2020 by SteamSewnEmpire
The Island Chronicles Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 26 minutes ago, SteamSewnEmpire said: It's probably not feasible to abruptly pull every Lego Police set off a shelf as a snap reaction. For the past 2 decades or so, however, Lego has been a company that does its best to avoid anything controversial. I would not be shocked to see Police gone from the perennial lineup beginning next spring. Yeah.....and police has been an annual thing (much to most AFOLs annoyance) for the past decade. So it probably wouldn't be convenient now. Now if they decided that there wouldn't be a police wave for 2021, which I'm assuming there will be as some special forces-like police sets have been leaked on Instagram, that would be a different story. But to abruptly take them off the shelves in the middle of the year would do some damage. SERIOUS damage!
Faefrost Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 Be warned, the Misandrist Pop Culture Grifter and all around outrage pimp, Anita Sarkeesian, having finally worn out her welcome over in the Videogame world is back trying to stir up sh@t with Lego. I would advise do not engage Sarkeesian directly, it's how her grift works. Just politely let Lego know that you are dedicated customers of their City Police and Fire lines. That you are a supporter of the Police and Emergency Services, and that you would view any decision to end those product lines to be anti-consumer, and one that would cost them your business.
Karalora Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 Backing off of promoting Police sets for the time being is probably a good move, to avoid association with horrible current events. I doubt they will be discontinued entirely, though I wouldn't be sad if they were--those "cops 'n' robbers" scenarios are so same-y, year after year. Where are the grinning villains in striped shirts hiding this time and which natural hazards will figure in the play functions? I guess it will depend on what happens out here in the real world. If enough cities disband or heavily scale back their police departments like some are seriously considering/planning, LEGO Police will no longer seem true-to-life as a concept. Hang on...my Sarkeesian Mindlink Chip is buzzing. My mistress has an assignment for me! What's that, Empress Anita...break into the nearest LEGO Store and destroy all Police merchandise? Your wish is my command, O Queen! (Seriously...she's STILL the boogiewoman of choice?)
SteamSewnEmpire Posted June 8, 2020 Author Posted June 8, 2020 4 minutes ago, Karalora said: Backing off of promoting Police sets for the time being is probably a good move, to avoid association with horrible current events. I doubt they will be discontinued entirely, though I wouldn't be sad if they were--those "cops 'n' robbers" scenarios are so same-y, year after year. Where are the grinning villains in striped shirts hiding this time and which natural hazards will figure in the play functions? I was very disappointed in the 'flying' line - attempting to make the helicopters actually fly resulted in laughable aeronautical performance, and chintzy models that should be beneath Lego. I understand that these are toys, but they're expensive, and should look like a quality model, regardless of what age group they are intended for. Theming and current events aside, I never want to see a garbage-effort helicopter like that again in my lifetime. I guess it will depend on what happens out here in the real world. If enough cities disband or heavily scale back their police departments like some are seriously considering/planning, LEGO Police will no longer seem true-to-life as a concept. That will never come to pass. The most you might see is something analogous to Camden, NJ, where they "disbanded" their police force only to have the county take over. Urban society cannot exist without police. People are simply not good enough.
Karalora Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 4 minutes ago, SteamSewnEmpire said: That will never come to pass. The most you might see is something analogous to Camden, NJ, where they "disbanded" their police force only to have the county take over. Two weeks ago, even that much would have been completely out of the realm of possibility. Never say never. I don't want to turn this thread nasty, so I'll leave it at that.
SteamSewnEmpire Posted June 8, 2020 Author Posted June 8, 2020 Just now, Karalora said: I don't want to turn this thread nasty, so I'll leave it at that. Same. I have no interest in a political fight.
HereWeGoAgain Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 (edited) I think Lego retiring these sets from shelves in regards to what is going on in the U.S. says a lot. I find it quite sad actually. I wonder if it's to protect the brand or to make more of a statement which would be strange as Lego has always tried to stay completely neutral when it comes to political stuff. I mean the figures are yellow for a reason. I doubt they are going to discontinue the police line, it's one of the city subthemes that generates the most cash... Edited June 8, 2020 by HereWeGoAgain
MAB Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 No, it isn't the end of LEGO police. They are not retiring sets. This is the era of clickbait headlines.
The Island Chronicles Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 (edited) 51 minutes ago, MAB said: No, it isn't the end of LEGO police. They are not retiring sets. This is the era of clickbait headlines. That's brutal buddy. But like its been said over 1,000 times already - Cast your dreams of a police free year for Citt away. Its not happening. Edited June 8, 2020 by Brandon Pea
SteamSewnEmpire Posted June 8, 2020 Author Posted June 8, 2020 1 hour ago, HereWeGoAgain said: I think Lego retiring these sets from shelves in regards to what is going on in the U.S. says a lot. I find it quite sad actually. I wonder if it's to protect the brand or to make more of a statement which would be strange as Lego has always tried to stay completely neutral when it comes to political stuff. I mean the figures are yellow for a reason. I doubt they are going to discontinue the police line, it's one of the city subthemes that generates the most cash... Panic would be a better word, I think. A lot of the reactions I have seen from other name brands - the NFL, for example - could be described exactly that way. I think people in corporations across the globe are misreading the moment on this big time. A couple of thousand protesters here and there are not mainstream, and should not be interpreted as such. 51 minutes ago, MAB said: No, it isn't the end of LEGO police. They are not retiring sets. This is the era of clickbait headlines. You are in no more possession of an accurate crystal ball than I am.
The Island Chronicles Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 21 minutes ago, SteamSewnEmpire said: You are in no more possession of an accurate crystal ball than I am. Well.....
SteamSewnEmpire Posted June 8, 2020 Author Posted June 8, 2020 (edited) 36 minutes ago, Brandon Pea said: Well..... Okay, but pausing advertising is a reaction. If they had done nothing - if all this was were a few triggered extremists crying for attention as they demand that Lego kill off the Police line, that would be something else. But Lego took the initiative here and did something noticeable (and also something which, I would argue, was intended to send some kind of message). It would be clickbait nonsense if Lego hadn't taken this step. Taking this step indicates that they acknowledge - openly - that right now, there is a problem with the police line. If that continues to be true, how could it possibly maintain its place within their seasonal rotation? That's not supposition, it's just logic. I'm not saying that it will happen, of course. But someone saying "OH, THAT'LL NEVER HAPPEN AND IT'S FAKE NEWS" is decoupled from reality. Edited June 8, 2020 by SteamSewnEmpire
Robert8 Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 3 hours ago, MAB said: No, it isn't the end of LEGO police. They are not retiring sets. This is the era of clickbait headlines.
The Island Chronicles Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 1 hour ago, SteamSewnEmpire said: I'm not saying that it will happen, of course. But someone saying "OH, THAT'LL NEVER HAPPEN AND IT'S FAKE NEWS" is decoupled from reality. Well I do have to admit that some people on Eurobricks can be a little brutal. Especially on people with "outlandish" ideas. To them: None of our new ideas will ever happen, any criticism or negative opinion about a set is considered a "complaint" and anytime we stand up against them we're considered "being rude and obnoxious". I'm with you there. Critique Lego too much and you're practically seen as an awful human being on here. I'm with you there.
Karalora Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 20 minutes ago, Brandon Pea said: any criticism or negative opinion about a set is considered a "complaint" That's an exaggeration. We're "allowed" to criticize all we want on technical aspects like piece count, print quality, similarity to other sets that came out last year, and so on. We just can't bring (horrified whisper) politics into it. (And the definition of what counts as "politics" tends to be a bit lopsided.)
The Island Chronicles Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 3 minutes ago, Karalora said: That's an exaggeration. We're "allowed" to criticize all we want on technical aspects like piece count, print quality, similarity to other sets that came out last year, and so on. It's not. I say that from experience here.
Karalora Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 I was being wry about the types of criticism that get the most negative response. People tend to be pretty cool if you stick to technical criticism, even if they disagree. But say something like "How come the only women in this set are damsels in distress?" and they come down on you like...like a...oh my goodness...this is perfect... ...like a ton of bricks.
Options Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 Lego police sets aren’t going anywhere due to their sales and popularity. And, big city American police aren’t going anywhere. Why? Google FBI crime statistics.
The Island Chronicles Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 59 minutes ago, Options said: Lego police sets aren’t going anywhere due to their sales and popularity Nothing against the subtheme. Lego just oversaturates them too much. Though this years wave was a decent size for the mere fact of it being Classic Police.
Options Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve never bought one. I buy modulars, large creator expert sets and architecture. But, I appreciate the popularity of other themes.
TeriXeri Posted June 8, 2020 Posted June 8, 2020 (edited) 10 hours ago, SteamSewnEmpire said: I was very disappointed in the 'flying' line - attempting to make the helicopters actually fly resulted in laughable aeronautical performance, and chintzy models that should be beneath Lego. I understand that these are toys, but they're expensive, and should look like a quality model, regardless of what age group they are intended for. Looking at the reviews of those pull-cord sets, on LEGO.com , it's very negative, and LEGO jumping in with "we'll pass it on to the design team". Did they really test those things themselves before approval? And there's still a set with 2 of those Helicopters somewhere, a website says August 1st, but I wonder at this point if it'll get sold at all. It's a €30 set, basicly you pay €20 for the helicopters and pylons. I'd think 2 airplanes with some more pylons would be a more interesting set. This set was €10 in 2017 : Edited June 8, 2020 by TeriXeri
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