Bricklink Designer Program 2021: LEGO reacts to criticism

I believe it can be said that the launch of the first phase of crowdfunding of the Bricklink Designer Program 2021 has been a success for some or a fiasco for others. A success because the most prominent projects were funded in just a few minutes, a fiasco because you had to be very quick to hope to get a copy of the set 910001 Castle of the Forest (149.99 €) while many boxes were already listed on eBay at incredible prices just minutes after the opening of the crowdfunding phase.

LEGO finally reacts to the many criticisms that have not failed to invade social networks or forums and provides some clarification on what happened and on the measures that will be taken so that the next phase of crowdfunding is not from the same barrel.

When the first phase was launched on July 1, Bricklink.com did not hold the load and the site was quickly unavailable to many visitors, preventing them from attempting to place an order. LEGO promises to work on this subject without specifying what measures will be taken to streamline the process and level the playing field (queue?).

Regarding the limit set at 5000 copies per set, LEGO admits that it was inspired by the quota of 2500 copies implemented during the first edition of the Bricklink Designer Program in 2019. The 2500 copies of each reference had then struggled to find a buyer for certain references and LEGO estimated that the quota of 5000 units per product would be more than sufficient this time. The manufacturer acknowledges having greatly underestimated demand and promises to double this quota for the next phases of financing.

The icing on the cake, the dysfunction of the site from the launch of the operation allowed 10.000 copies of the set 910001 Castle of the Forest to be ordered, the initial quota of 5000 units being largely exceeded. In response, LEGO promises to manufacture 10.000 copies of the set to honor all validated orders and not disappoint anyone.

Four projects from the first phase will also be put back on sale from August 3, with a new quota set at 10.000 copies, i.e. 5000 new copies available: 910010 The Great Fishing Boat (€ 109.99), 910016 Sheriff's Safe (€ 44.99), 910017 Kakapo (69.99 €) and 910028 Pursuit of Flight (49.99 €).
The next phases of crowdfunding will see the quota of product sets set from the start at 10.0000 copies.

Please note, this increase in production will have an impact on product availability: the 5000 additional copies of each of the references in the first phase will not be available until June 2022 instead of January 2022. The other two funding phases will be also affected by this lengthening of production and delivery times.

Regarding the limit of 5 copies of each set per customer which many saw as a possibility for speculators to make more than a small ticket on the resale of the sets: LEGO claims that a minority of customers have taken advantage of this possibility, 75% of the sales of the set 910001 Castle of the Forest would relate to only one copy of the product. 15% on two copies and only 5% of customers would have bought five copies, but decided all the same to reduce this limit to a single copy per customer for the releasing of the sets from the first phase and for the following phases.

LEGO also specifies that the choice to make the flow of orders via the official online store limits the possibilities of delivery to certain geographical areas. This solution will remain in place for future funding phases, as will the quotas in place by geographic area.

The instruction files of the various product sets will not be made available to the general public, even for a fee. LEGO invokes the contractual relationships entered into with fan designers who will receive a commission on the sales of physical products.

In the end, those who wanted a copy of the set 910001 Castle of the Forest but who did not succeed in validating an order will not have one. Those who wanted a copy of one of the other four sets mentioned above will have a new chance from August 3.

Regarding sets resold on eBay : LEGO is working on the withdrawal of these listings based on the rule in force on the marketplace that if a seller cannot provide the product within 30 days of it being put on sale, he has no the right to sell it. New ads are coming online every day, however, as sellers try to get through the drops.