• Creat@discuss.tchncs.de
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    3 days ago

    They have for a whole. Their whole business model was having a patent. When that ran out, the predictable happened.

    I mean their quality was already going down hill in the lead-up to the patent end. Everyone else being allowed to compete on even ground just showed how bad their quality had actually become.

    • FilthyShrooms@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Are you serious? I’d argue their quality control is still leagues better than the competition, what makes you say otherwise?

      • anomnom@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        They are for some sets and lines, but some sets are much worse than Lego used to be, and those sets tend to be made in China from my experience.

        They are sacrificing quality, for more special pieces, more tie-ins and more volume. They have a solid 1/3 of Walmart and Target toy sections at this point.

        You can see defects and weak points in their new sets, and yet the price has gone up with everything else.

      • Creat@discuss.tchncs.de
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        3 days ago

        Yes, in serious. I’m personally not much of a Lego collector and/or builder, but two close friends of mine are. They were big Lego fans and collectors for most of our lives (decades). I’d say 10-15 years ago they started to complain about declining QC and just generally lower quality. Molds were clearly used for much longer, parts having worse tolerance and either not fitting well or being lose. Then the creative side also got worse, with kits just not meeting previous standards either. Clearly just being cranked out for the sake of releasing something, often under license (Star wars, marvel or whatever).

        Then when the patent ran out, some (select few) of the alternatives started to gain favor. Unfortunately I don’t remember who, but I can ask next time I see either of them. Not saying everything they make is great, but actually less problems with gas parts, and some kits are apparently just like old Lego.

        • hoppolito@mander.xyz
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          2 days ago

          Hey I’m not sure if I would ever use the information for any actual future shopping or whatever so no pressure, but would love to know what kind of Lego alternatives aficionados would recommend nowadays!