None of us have infinite shelf or desk space. Sadly, most of us don’t even have a decent amount of either. That means there’s a finite amount of places in our homes and offices to put our completed LEGO sets. So how can we make room for all the new ones we also want without just giving away our old ones? LEGO has come up with the perfect way to do exactly that. The company has started a new program where you can send them old pieces in exchange for e-gift cards.
The new limited-time LEGO Brick Take Back program wants to make bringing new sets into your home easy and affordable. It will let you “turn pre-loved bricks into new rewards.” All you have to do is go to the site to get an estimate for your used LEGO pieces. Then disassemble them, pack them up, and mail them to LEGO with a free(!!!) shipping label. After LEGO verifies your pieces, you’ll receive a LEGO e-Gift Card.
You just have to make sure any packages you send weigh no more than 25 pounds. LEGO also only accepts LEGO bricks “in good condition,” minifigures and mini-dolls (which you don’t need to disassemble), and LEGO baseplates.
A few items are excluded from the program. First off, all pieces must be actual LEGO bricks, no knockoffs. And you can’t send in DUPLO items, any pieces still connected, batteries or electronic components, storage containers, packaging, or building instructions. As for the gift card rate, one pound will net you four dollars. A 25-pound bag of acceptable LEGO pieces will net you $100.
Don’t worry that this limited-time swap is a bad sign for the company. This isn’t about LEGO needing pieces back. The company explained why they’re doing this:
We’re on a mission to keep bricks in play today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. This pilot will help us understand how our fans prefer to participate in a take-back program as we look to reuse or repurpose LEGO bricks. We’ll use the insights to refine our circular and sorting processes and learn even more about the best ways to keep bricks in play.
Talk about a win-win. LEGO will learn about how their fans engage with their products via a recycling program. Meanwhile, we’ll clear much needed space for new LEGO sets while making the money to buy them.
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