Teach your children well.

[cookiemonstr69]

I was at my first Lego Club Monthly Build this weekend. The theme was Monster Fighters and the challenge was to build an evil mad scientist laboratory. While all of the kids seemed to have a great time, some things really bothered me.

Obviously with 15-20 kids in attendance, you've got that many parents (or sets of parents) in the store an hour early. This gave a nice opportunity to pick up freshly stocked product before the store opened for regular customers. I watched in awe as a mother cleared the shelves in front of the cash register of the Christmas bagged sets (train, sled, rocking horse), waited for one of the 2 employees in the store to restock, and then did it again. She must have had 30 sets! I watched a father make a purchase and then continue to fill his bag with unpaid Lego. There were only 2 employees in the store to manage the event. There was no way they could control so much activity.

I watched kids filling their pockets with Lego (some specialty pieces and minifigs) for the build, and then watched a mother take a few pictures with a DSLR camera and then start filling her bag before putting her camera back.

Is this what we teach kids? Gluttony and outright theft? That was a tough conversation on the ride home with one of my boys when they asked why other kids were breaking the rules.

Sorry for the ramble. I'm new to Lego-mania with my kids, and the last 2 events I've participated in (TRU Bricktober being the other) really have me scratching my head.

On the plus side, the 2 store employees did a fantastic job with the kids. Each kid got a Monster Fighters mini set, sticker, $5 club money voucher and a really nice Monster Fighters t-shirt to take home. They even allowed the kids (a first from what they told me) to break down their build into a pick a brick container if they wanted to bring it home (without minifigs of course). Also on the plus side (for me) was that I picked up the Winter Village Post Office to go with the Cottage..and I'm picking up the Winter Village Bakery at Lego S@H today! We have a great weekend of Christmas Lego building when the tree goes up in December!

I guess all I can do as a parent is reinforce proper values and lead by example. Maybe the parents in the store are on these forums. If so, I hope you realize that your actions were noticed and hope you re-evaluate what you did and teach your children well.

[lego the hutt]

Unfortunately people around here seem to think this kind of thing is justifiable (well, not usually the theft part but...I bet some would be ok with it if it was just a kid and random loose Lego bricks)

I have major issues with people who try to take advantage of a situation for their own benefit. It is one thing to get a good deal and find that great clearance price. It is another thing to make morally questionable, and often times reprehensible, actions to try to get things for as cheap, or as many, as possible.

Recently there have been posts by people who involved the better business bureau because the items they wanted to buy weren't included in a specific sale. They called and were told by customer service that "those items aren't included in the sale" so they thought it appropriate to take it a step further and involve the BBB. I feel like there is a line there where it crossed over into being unreasonable (to put it nicely).

It is sad that these are the kinds of role models some kids have to look up to. Those kids wouldn't be filling their pockets with Lego if their parents had instilled them with better values...or at the very least set a better example. It makes it difficult for other parents to try to explain to their kids why they shouldn't fill their pockets with free Lego.

I usually assume it is adults on these forums who are buying expensive lego sets, but maybe I am mistaken. It is hard to tell age through a forum post.

On the bright side it sounds like they had fun. I always hear good things about these Lego Build Club meetings.

I guess all I can do as a parent is reinforce proper values and lead by example. Maybe the parents in the store are on these forums. If so, I hope you realize that your actions were noticed and hope you re-evaluate what you did and teach your children well.

^This sums it up well. That is all you can do.

[Luciant]

I watched in awe as a mother cleared the shelves in front of the cash register of the Christmas bagged sets (train, sled, rocking horse), waited for one of the 2 employees in the store to restock, and then did it again. She must have had 30 sets! I watched a father make a purchase and then continue to fill his bag with unpaid Lego. There were only 2 employees in the store to manage the event. There was no way they could control so much activity.

As for the mom clearing out the holiday polybags... more power to her. She paid for them, most likely gonna resell them on ebay, or maybe a project. Either way... would be nice to leave some for others, but hey, the store can always order them direct to your house. I'm cool with this one.

As for the father, that is absolutely pathetic. Yes, he at least paid for SOME sets, but he's still a thief.

I watched kids filling their pockets with Lego (some specialty pieces and minifigs) for the build, and then watched a mother take a few pictures with a DSLR camera and then start filling her bag before putting her camera back.

Kids filling pockets with pieces and minifigs is to be expected. My concern would be parents purposefully telling their kids to do so, which I'm sure occurred for some. Parents really should teach their kids better.

I can't believe mom would snag some pieces in the Camera bag... that is just shiesty.

I guess all I can do as a parent is reinforce proper values and lead by example. Maybe the parents in the store are on these forums. If so, I hope you realize that your actions were noticed and hope you re-evaluate what you did and teach your children well.

Completely agree. This is what is wrong with society here in the states too.... No morals. No personal accountability. No respect for other's property. It's all about me and what I can get for free or get away with.

Had my parents seen me exhibit such behavior when I was a kid... not only would my parents have publicly shamed me, forcing me to empty my pockets in front of everyone and apologize.... I would be lucky to ever see the inside of a Lego store again on top of being grounded.

Thank God I had parents who care more about my morals and values, than the value of a dollar and toys.

[Heathbar]

I watched in awe as a mother cleared the shelves in front of the cash register of the Christmas bagged sets (train, sled, rocking horse), waited for one of the 2 employees in the store to restock, and then did it again. She must have had 30 sets!

Although she has every right to do this, it bugs me to no end. I know she'll resell but does she have to take them ALL? I mean, take a bunch but leave a few for other people at the event. Do you take all the food from the free sample tray in the grocery store too?

I will say that we visit the free build area at MOA several times a year and I've never seen anyone there take legos. I'm sure it happens, but they have several tables set up and tons of bricks for building with and everyone just plays. Come to think of it there aren't really any special pieces out, but I assumed Lego knew better than to put the good stuff out.

[cookiemonstr69]

Had my parents seen me exhibit such behavior when I was a kid... not only would my parents have publicly shamed me, forcing me to empty my pockets in front of everyone and apologize.... I would be lucky to ever see the inside of a Lego store again on top of being grounded.

Thank God I had parents who care more about my morals and values, than the value of a dollar and toys.

My parents would have done the exact same thing.

[crazybirdman]

Do you take all the food from the free sample tray in the grocery store too?

That depends, is it bacon?

In all seriousnesss, I've worked at a LEGO store (and plenty of other retail store) and while stuff like this happens from time to time, it's not the norm. You just get the random people that have such a sense of entitlement. And the worst part is, you have to let it go, because heaven help you if they complain to the corporate office.