Lego.Com - More Than Just Bricks & Bits
Written: Jul 26 '02 (Updated Jul 30 '08)
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| Full Review |
Lego.Com – My Ex Husbands Worst Fear Come To Life
I guess it goes without saying that this is a site that I visit on more than a regular basis. It’s the ultimate Lego superstore; it never closes, will never kick you out and has an unending supply of merchandise. A truly family oriented site, this is a place where you can let your kids roam around without having to worry about questionable content, adult related pop ups and being led to another site. Make no mistake about it – this is not just an internet store, this is the mecca of Lego’s. You can’t call yourself a true junkie until you’ve explore the site, dug into the bowels and guts of the products and taken advantage of the excellent customer service that Lego offers.
Introduction
The Lego.com website is a massive beast. It has interactive games, theme oriented movies, products, history of the site, educational values, learning tools and about a hundred other features. I’ll try to cover the ones that are the most popular and throw in a few of the hidden gems. If you think that this is just a site to visit to purchase Lego and Lego related items, you are wrong – dead wrong. There are educational features, building modifications, new releases, catalog only promotions, discount coupons to the Legoland parks and about a bazillion other interesting things to check out.
This is a family oriented site so all ages are more than welcome to browse the site. The worst thing that can happen is that you get sent an electronic wish list of sets and products your children create. With the plethora of things to do as well as the outstanding graphics and ‘all ages’ feel, this is a site that you can let your child explore without worrying about anything controversial or objectionable popping up on the screen.
Navigation
If you have never been to the website, you honestly don’t know what you are missing. The site is designed well, but there is always room for improvement. From the main page [www.lego.com] you will see one of eight front pages, these rotate according to the time you arrive, number of times you visit and what the current promotion or newest products are. If you know the set you want to purchase or view, you can always avoid the unnecessary clicking and page views by entering the set number into the search box. Don’t get worried if your set doesn’t show up. Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed a bug in the system. If you do get an error, go back to the main page and enter the set number again. If this fails, enter the name into the search box.
Some sections of the site will take you into special areas, Star Wars for example. While the visuals are stunning and breathtaking, most of the time it is a nuisance since you are looking for specific information and not a laser show. Getting around the site is a snap – the two portals on the main page allow you to search by a certain product or by a series. Each of these links will take you to the section you desire to show, browse, get more information or see the stunning graphics the site has to offer.
You might need a little time to get used to all the different sections available at the site and if you ever lose your way, simply click the Lego banner in the top left corner to return to the main page. IF you are having trouble finding a set or have any questions about a product, call the customer service team and they’ll be more than happy to help you.
Shopping
One of the biggest problems I encounter when shopping for Lego’s at retail establishments is the limited number of sets or series a store is willing to carry. I’ve mentioned in numerous reviews that K-Mart, Target and Wal-Mart will put the non selling sets or older sets on sale or clearance – generally this is done to clear off the shelves to make ay for the newer products. Having the ability to shop at the Lego website, 24 hours a day, gives me the ability to purchase sets that are no longer offered in stores. Sure I could stroll over to Amazon.com or the Toys ‘R Us partner website, but most of the time the prices are more than at the Lego site. Even with free shipping you will still notice a considerable mark up on products that aren’t on sale or listed in the clearance section.
You can elect to shop on the fly or create an account when you enter the website. I highly suggest that you create a free account so you can create a wish list, request to be notified when out of stock sets are replenished or to be alerted about Lego deals and coupons. This also allows you to instantly access products rather than having to click through location selections and front screens. I don’t get a ton of mail from the Lego website but I do get alerted to my favorite products as well as those that are close matches.
Customer Service
Regardless of your quandary, the Lego team of customer service representatives will help you, guide you and answer any question you may have regarding your order, a set, individual pieces or checking on the availability of a product. In the past I’ve had to call about small things that most people would laugh at [the difference between a European set and American set for example] but the Lego people took it in stride and searched for an answer. One thing you are guaranteed, if the person taking your call can’t answer your question, they will fond someone that can and will assist you.
Since I spend a lot of money at the website, it is important to me that I’m valued as a customer. Not just that the calls are answered quickly and wait times are minimal, but that the people who are helping me have the same enthusiasm about Lego’s. They’ve helped me time and time again to track down hard to find sets, find a suitable replacement for a set that has been discontinued and to place orders for bulk bricks and elements. When you place and order with Lego they continue to give you support long after your order arrives.
I’ve also gotten video game support from the support team. When Lego Racers wouldn’t load correctly, I called and they talked me through all the steps I needed to take to correct the computer conflict I was having between the software and my computer. If it’s a Lego product, regardless of whether you purchased it from the site or not, they will bend over backwards to ensure you 100% satisfaction.
Payment Options
Lego.com accepts the usual credit cards including MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover. You can also opt to call the Lego customer service department to provide your credit card information. To do so, submit your order checking the “provide information over the phone” box. Allow at least an hour for the order to be process then simply call and provide your information. You have 72 hours to call in and complete the transaction before it is removed from the system.
So far I’ve never had any trouble with any of the credit cards I have used and all returns were credited within one billing cycle. Yes, I actually returned Lego’s. All of the credit card charges were accurate to the penny and I was never double billed, over billed or hassled over getting a credit for my purchase. The site encrypts your information and protects your privacy. Your personal information will never be shared with a third party or sold to any outside marketing agency.
Return Policy
This is one section that is guaranteed to blow you away. Lets say you order a set and just don’t like it – you have up to one year to return it for a credit on future orders from Lego.com. If the box is unopened you can return it within 60 days of the order date for a full refund to your credit card. If it’s past the 60 day mark you can return your unopened set at any time for an exchange or replacement set. Lego has one of the best return policies in the world of online shopping – but they will only refund, exchange or credit items purchased through their online store. So if you received a set for your birthday and don’t like it, take it back to the store it was purchased from.
Shipping Charges
The charges to get your order to your doorstep are pretty much the usual run of the mill prices. Depending on the size of the order, you can expect it to ship either USPS or UPS. I’ve received orders from both, in a variety of sizes so I’m not sure what the criteria is for picking one over the other. Order up to $20.00 will set you back $2.95. Up to $50.00 - $4.95. Anything $125.00 and over and there is a flat rate of $10.00 – regardless of the size of your order. For the most part, the shipping fees are average and hardly noticeable when you are placing a huge order. If your order ships separately, you will not be charged for each box that is shipped, they do that to speed up the delivery process and make sure you get your items in a timely fashion.
If you need to get your order faster, call the customer service center to arrange Next Day or Second Day delivery. You have to pay the additional fee, but if you need it in a hurry, money usually isn’t a factor. I’ve never had to have something in my hands the next day so I can’t really comment on this portion of the shipping options, but if it falls inline with the rest of the shipping aspects of the company – it should be great.
The World of Lego’s
Lego Preschool
This is one portion of the site that I urge all parents to check out. It is fun, entertaining and educational – all at the same time. The various musical notes that chime out when you roll your cursor over an image makes it even more engaging for the smaller kids. The different sets geared towards the younger crowd are showcased in this section and most of the have a detailed text description as well as photos that can be click on to show and enlarged image. Within this portion of the site there are games, puzzles and memory games. This is a great way to supplement your childs educational experience as well as letting them explore the Lego and Duplo elements.
Since this portion of the site deals with the preschool crowd, it is nice to know that it stresses individuality and being proud of the things you can accomplish. The Complete Learning System is a great place to start to help your child build a solid foundation in the realm of education, exploration and creativity. Within this section, you can access the games or products at any time by clicking on the links located in the top right corner. To return to the main page, simply click the Lego icon in the top left corner of the page.
The product section is broken down into four distinct groupings. Each of them are targeted for different areas of early learning: logic, imagination, self exploration and community play. These products teach children basic skills – but to them – they are just having fun. All of the products in this section carry the Lego name as well as the high quality control standard that Lego insists upon. If you have a preschooler and are looking to purchase Duplo, Action Wheelers or any of the other sets for younger kids, I highly suggest that you use this portion of the site rather than skipping around looking at a few sets here and a few sets there. http://www.lego.com/eng/explore
My biggest recommendation is the new Music Composer! This is a great way for the little folks to learn about music and have fun at the same time. Now, don’t fall over when you see the price tags on Music line – they are not cheap. But you are getting a toy that will last, hold up to use and abuse and allow your child to explore all things musical. Be sure to check out the Activity Bank, which is a great section for print out sheets for coloring and problem solving. More of these can be found in the Dacta section.
Lego Dacta
Taking the themes that were explored in the preschool section and expanding upon them, Dacta is a wonderful place for kids and parents to learn more about the world of Lego’s as well as how to take their Lego skills and adapt them to everyday life. Recently the Lego team decided to change the name of the Dacta division to the Lego Educational Division. While it will always be known as Dacta to me, the change was made so the name of the division would better suit their purpose and intent of education through a hands on approach.
This portion of the site caters to the post preschool through 3rd grade children. Most children have different learning curves so don’t limit yourself to one grade or age setting when browsing this area of the site. There are supports for ROBOLAB and eLAB systems to keep kids challenged and entertain; all the while embedding crucial learning tools that will give them an extreme advantage over other students. This section allows kids to explore new creations and build their self-esteem through creative problem solving. I highly recommend checking out this section for its wealth of information, ideas and projects.
One of the nicest things about this section is that it highlights all the educational toys and resources that are used to promote ‘self learning’. From the basic early learning games to advanced robotic kits, shopping in this section is highly addictive but well worth it when you see your child build a robot, learn about gears and mechanisms or simply explore the alphabet.
Bionicle And Technic Lines
These are the more advanced sets and elements that Lego created to challenge those who want to explore their creative side. The sets available from the website range from the popular Bionicle line of non-motorized robots to amazing electronic robots that can be controlled from your computer or hand held remotes. These sets are the crème de la crème of the Lego systems and have unlimited capabilities. More than just building sets or robots, these teach advanced structure, organization skills and a sense of accomplishment. My boys have several of the Bionicle sets and while they aren’t completely in love with them, they have adapted them for use with some of the mainstream Lego sets.
Sets, Sets And More Sets!
Once you get your bearings and can figure out how to get from point to point within the site, that’s when the fun starts! Each of the individual sections has their own unique aspect. The Castle section features an interactive movie when you first entire the main page for that section, but if you want to skip directly to the products, just click the ‘products’ button. Star Wars has a fantastic 360-degree view of the sets and products – something that you can’t get even from hundreds of pictures or pages of text.
On each of the breakdown pages you see all the other sets in the series listed to the left hand side [sometimes to the right hand side]. These allow you to check out the different products available within the set without having to backtrack or waste time.
The Entire Site
As I mentioned earlier, this site is 100% kid friendly. Aside from kids creating a wish list of sets they’d love to have, there really isn’t much trouble they can get into. My boys visit this site almost everyday and have yet to get bored with it or cover the entire site – that’s how big it is. Rather than have them park in front of the television or play video games, they would rather log on to the site and check out the new sets and series, play games or get ideas for new scenes to create.
For me, the site gives me the ability to purchase sets that are hard to find as well as ‘site only ‘ or ‘catalog only’ products. Anything from t-shirts to watches, books to robotic elements, anything that is Lego related can be found on the site. I can honestly say that if it weren’t for the site I would have never known about the wonderful stage learning books that Lego offers or the advanced robotic sets that have helped the boys explore basic electronic components. To say that this is “just a site that sells Lego’s” is selling the site short.
Who Would Love This
Well, obviously anyone that has an interest in Lego’s, Duplo’s or Technic sets would find this site an invaluable resource. Kids can poke around the site without parents having to worry about pop ups that will lead them to other sites. If you are a parent and are looking for information about the background of the set, this is a great place to start. If you still have unanswered question, call the customer service team for more information.
The Bottom Line
Overall, the site has been a tremendous tool for my boys to use. Aside from my personal usage and purchases, I see the enthusiasm that they have for Lego’s and the things they are learning everyday from their healthy addiction. When you look at some of the other things kids can get into, Lego’s seem pretty innocent. Our love of Lego’s runs deep in this household and while at times it may be an expensive habit it is one that my children and I share. Through Lego’s we’ve bonded on a level I never thought imaginable and the hours of building, creating and constructing I’ve seen them grow from little toddlers into mighty little men.
I could sit here and go on for hours about the benefits of visiting the site, but you really have to see it and cruise around the site to see all the benefits and opportunities that exist for you and your child. It’s free, fun and educational – what more could you ask for?
As always, thanks for the visit!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© Freak369 2008
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Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Lego sets, gifts, toys
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