Cafe Corner and Green Grocer - Part Out or Pony Up?

[earl9371]

So after years of accumulating sets for a Lego city my kids and I hoped to build, we finally got to work about a month or so ago. We absolutely LOVE the large modular buildings (just finished the pet shop Wednesday), and want to build as many as possible.

We have Cafe Corner and Green Grocer NIB that we really want to build. However, when I look at the eBay prices for these pieces - $700+ for CC and $400 for GG - it makes my stomach hurt to think about opening them! Even used prices for the two together are north of $700.

I'm trying to figure out if we'd be better off to try and part out everything from Bricklink and hang onto the NIB versions. It seems like I remember reading that there were some HTF elements in these buildings (like the CC red bricks). We parted out the 3723 giant minifig a couple of years ago, and I think that ended up being a zero-sum gain based on what they were selling for on eBay.

I haven't entered parts lists for either house into Bricklink yet (a previous post was looking for XML lists for the two). I'm looking for any general experiences you may have in terms of parting out versus spending the $$ for HTF sets on eBay. Any insights on how this may have worked for you in the past would be appreciated - thank you!

[drtabo]

I feel this is largely up to your financial situation. If $1000k would make a difference, meaning you could buy more legos, or do something else that you couldn't now, that weighs heavily. If it doesn't matter too much, and you'd rather have something that would be difficult to replace, then I would go for that.

Sure can't commit about the bricklink method.

[natelite]

Sell them and build your own. Part of the fun in building your own is that you can substitute parts. have you seen some of the adults mod buildings? Blows cc or gg right out of the water! Unless these are license themes there's no reason not to modify them.

The only themes I consider to be sacred are licensed and castle. For castle, the pieces and prints can only be used in castle, hence not easily substitutable.

Btw, don't keep your nib sets for too long. I would just sell them when you've reached the price you like. $700 is a crazy price of almost 5x orig msrp. If it was me, I would sell at this price. You can easily build 4x or more of your own modular buildings with that price.

Prices will fall once the sets drop out of flavor or when there's a reissue.

[Luciant]

I disagree. You can say that new sets will come out that take the 'flavor' out of these, but if that was the case, how come the prices for Cafe Corner, Market Street, etc. keep going up up up? Cuz people LOVE modular buildings... they like variety and want to build a City of different buildings. Look at sets like the Millenium Falcon... how many times has it been reproduced, yet the prices continue to go up. I agree with nate that for some sets once they get to a price point, but for Modulars, the market will always be there... too many people love that theme.

Yes, I agree MoCs are more satisfying when you build something impressive. Some people don't have the bricks for it, or the imagination, or even patience.

I have the sets as well and I'm going to be putting them together.

So long as the set is 100% complete, with all mini figs, and instructions (especially if you keep the box too)..you're gonna get probably 80% of the cost of a NISB one (I say go Ebay instead of Bricklink if you sell). I personally think the 20% you lose out on is worth the avoiding the hassle of part hunting the pieces you need....

If you paid a decent price for your sets, then what are you REALLY doing by selling it and bricklinking it too... If you spent $100 on a GG, turn around and sell it for $400, but then it takes you another $100+ to buy the parts, instructions, plus cost of shipping and the time it took, is it really worth it? If you're interested in making money selling the set, why not just bricklink another set and sell it (for probably $300+) keeping the 'more valuable' one for yourself... either way you come out about the same.

I dunno, I've thought of doing that myself, I just see it like this: I want these sets myself for my personal collection, so even if I COULD sell it for $xxx.xx, I paid a much better price and I will enjoy it. If I ever decide to sell it, I'll probably get 60-80% of the cost of a 'NISB' one. I think that's a fair cost to enjoy the set and not have to spend time/energy to 'hunt' it down again like I did the first time :) Sets like these that tend to be highly desired for years and years I try to pick up 2 when available... one for me, one for resale... that way I lock in a 'low cost' to me, while having the ability to reduce the cost and even make money by selling the 2nd one in the future.

[atmail35]

If you like the sets, I personally would build them. We have a NIB Taj Mahal sitting in the basement waiting to be built (probably a winter project) that I bought at 10% off MSRP in November 2010. I won't sell it (well I gave it to DH for Xmas, so technically I "can't"). I bought the Green Grocer at the same time as the TM and that is built already, and I love it. I WISH I had the Cafe Corner!

I agree w/ Luciant, the time and effort to track down the pieces you need really do outway the extra $$ you would get back from selling the original. You time is worth $$, in my opinion.

Also those sets are on Ebay for $$$$, but are they getting bid on/sold? I think Ebay can be misleading as a way to gauge prices. People can put a whatever price they want but if there isn't true demad for it then it is useless.

Good luck on your decision!

[slacker]

I just checked ebay and the price listed are the paid price. That's insane. It looks like cafe corner will be on track to hit $1k!!! Taj Mahal is getting $750. I really want cafe corner but if I only had one that was sealed, I would keep it for a rainy day. That's why I buy two sets of each for modular during BOGO. Only problem is that the packaging sucks from TRU.

[Luciant]

Anyone who would pay $750 for Taj is just stupid. There are no unique parts to it, so you could EASILY just PAB Wall it / Bricklink it for MUCH MUCH cheaper.

[condor]

Anyone who would pay $750 for Taj is just stupid. There are no unique parts to it, so you could EASILY just PAB Wall it / Bricklink it for MUCH MUCH cheaper.

Tell that to the buyer that paid $850 for the one I had listed on Amazon

For what it's worth, I would keep the sets. It would take forever to try to track down all the pieces. I too have a sealed Cafe Corner my wife gave me for Christmas 2 years ago that I haven't had time to build. I was tempted to sell it and buy a used one, but it seems like too much effort for what it's worth.

[cbaker1974]

I would do the following:
1) Go ahead and sell Cafe Corner..it should be nearing a plateau soon (sure, it should continue to increase in value, but the rate of increase will start to level off now that it is 2+ years retired).
2) Take the proceeds and buy used CC+Green Grocer, build those out...especially if you can find them without the instructions and box (unless you value those things). You can also get better pricing if you buy them when they are advertised as "not sure if everything is there, but looks mostly complete". Since you know where to source any missing parts (bricklink) this should allow you to be comfortable to bid on those auctions.
3) Hold NIB GG another 6 months and sell it for $500 (by market trending that is about where it should be or slightly less).

If you do this, you should be able to end up with GG and CC + $4-500 in pocket. The profit will help ease your mind about the "NIB paralysis" and you will still get to enjoy building them...plus it puts more cash in your pocket so you can make the hobby self-sustaining.

[earl9371]

I would do the following:
1) Go ahead and sell Cafe Corner..it should be nearing a plateau soon (sure, it should continue to increase in value, but the rate of increase will start to level off now that it is 2+ years retired).
2) Take the proceeds and buy used CC+Green Grocer, build those out...especially if you can find them without the instructions and box (unless you value those things). You can also get better pricing if you buy them when they are advertised as "not sure if everything is there, but looks mostly complete". Since you know where to source any missing parts (bricklink) this should allow you to be comfortable to bid on those auctions.
3) Hold NIB GG another 6 months and sell it for $500 (by market trending that is about where it should be or slightly less).

If you do this, you should be able to end up with GG and CC + $4-500 in pocket. The profit will help ease your mind about the "NIB paralysis" and you will still get to enjoy building them...plus it puts more cash in your pocket so you can make the hobby self-sustaining.

Fantastic advice! Thank you! I found a CC that is similar to what you described, so it'll be interesting to see the action on it.

[earl9371]

So the CC I referenced above? It was in broken up and mixed in with a bunch of junk, and with no guarantee it was complete, sold for over $460. Unbelievable.

[condor]

So the CC I referenced above? It was in broken up and mixed in with a bunch of junk, and with no guarantee it was complete, sold for over $460. Unbelievable.

It is crazy how expensive it is. I think you should just keep the one you have and save yourself the headache.