No More Reduced LEGO Box Sizes?

[Toys N Bricks]

Remember this article that we've posted about earlier this year regarding reduced LEGO Box Sizes? Well, it appears that LEGO is boosting the Box Sizes back up as a new bigger box size for LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean 4191 Captain's Cabin has been spotted at a Toys R Us in Canada.

• Old Stock = Box on the Left
• New Stock = Box on the Right

Article Link: http://toysnbricks.com/no-more-reduced-lego-box-sizes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ezra]

does anybody know if the new stock of potc has dull or shiny gold pieces?

[Blacknight]

Sigh, silly marketing tricks trump environmental stewardship and economic efficiency every time.

If proper sized, form fitting boxes make Lego sets seem overpriced, then the problem isn't the boxes, it's Lego's prices.

[ncbarrett]

I think it is just different stock.
Not necessarily that they are going to the bigger boxes, but that they ran them in both sizes, perhaps different factories?

[anthonyj8]

If they really are making the boxes bigger again, I'll be disappointed. The smaller box was better for me space wise, since I keep all of my boxes. But oh well. Whatever happens, happens.

[harry99]

I don't get it why Retailers like this idea (maybe they were not even asked) - but even for Shelf-Spacce this is a nightmare. Imagine stores like WalMart that are already crunched for space. I can't imagine them being happy?

[Akitakara]

I don't get it why Retailers like this idea (maybe they were not even asked) - but even for Shelf-Spacce this is a nightmare. Imagine stores like WalMart that are already crunched for space. I can't imagine them being happy?

I'm pretty sure the basis is that smaller boxes can be tucked behind other things more easily in the aisles, and less noticeable than a bigger box.

[sadowsk1]

I'm cool either way. I like the more compact box, but for marketing it makes sense.

[Legobrandon]

Yea, it is just a marketing scheme, people think they get more for their money with bigger packages. Actually, I think that way sometimes too.

[meyerc13]

What is the proof that the bigger box is newer? How do you know it wasn't a returned present, an old case from the back of the warehouse, etc?

[sadowsk1]

I saw them at my local Walmart today. Who knows if it is new or backstock, it's weird.

[autobrick]

What is the proof that the bigger box is newer? How do you know it wasn't a returned present, an old case from the back of the warehouse, etc?

Well, we haven't seen any of the bigger boxes until now (nearly a year after release) so I think it is safe to say that the bigger boxes are newer (and are likely here to stay, since having two different sizes of the same set would serve no purpose).

[Relhak]

I've got two guesses:

During the Christmas season, they want to pack as much product onto the shelves as possible. No air filled boxes allowed.
or...
New, hotter selling sets get larger boxes to promote them more, while older sets are shrunk down to fit more SKUs into the same space. That way they maximize the turn rate for each square foot of shelf space.

[dhaas06]

I think some are trying to read too much into this.

TLG had already begun shrinking box sizes when the POTC line came out. Thus, the original, smaller box.
The problem is that there has to be discretion when shrinking all box sizes by the same ratio, because it probably hurts the smallest ones most. The Captain Cabin's smaller box was sized closer to a $6-$7 set than it was to a $10-$12 set (like SW battlepacks, the two HP sets, or the Toy Story army men). In most cases, reduced box size has probably proven to be of little sales consequence. For this set, however, it would be best to make it seem as good as the other offerings in that price range. It is much easier for parents to be critical of differences between $10 sets and their perceived value based on box size than it would be for $50+ sets, where each one is very different and much more complex.

In short, if this set originally came out as the new, bigger size, than I don't think anyone would have said a thing regarding box size. This is just an adjustment to get it back to where it should have been.

[hatcher]

Well, I don't know if they are going back to large boxes or if its just old stock finally making its way to the store, but I bought a Captains Cabin set at Walmart last week that is the large box, and bought one today at Zellers that is the small size. I'll be taking the Walmart one back as I got it for a better price at Zellers.

[Legobrandon]

Also seen at Target. They had about 10 of each. Please excuse the poor quality of the photograph.