I'm not particularly bothered by whether a creator is part of LAN or not... what bothers me is lack of knowledge about the set being reviewed. I have seen many reviews where people mess up the characters, which are named in the product description!!! To me that is just laziness. LAN members can decline sets and regular creators can also pick and chose what they review, stick to things you are knowledgeable and passionate about 😊
I was just thinking about this the other day. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a LAN member even insinuate that anything might be wrong with a set. It certainly feels like the fear of getting kicked out is real which sucks because I don’t need every LAN member telling me exactly the same thing.
Could it be a bad case of recency bias in the reviews? I find flaws don't become apparent till a few weeks after owning a set or so. When i review anything I give myself a few months before I allow myself to talk about it.
I agree with all that you've said, but the other thing that we have to bear in mind is that a lot of LAN members ALWAYS give glowing reviews, not necessarily because they are worried about losing their LAN status, but it's because they are BIG Lego fans! They choose which sets they get to review, so obviously they will choose sets that they like (for example... have you EVER seen Bricksie review a Lego Friends set!!!) So they are MUCH more likely to give it a good review, because they are a big Lego fan, and more than likely specifically like THAT set. just another opinion to throw into the discussion.
@@MinifigJez Thanks for the comment! I can definitely appreciate that point of view, I give glowing reviews a lot too because I just find LEGO ingenious and the build techniques are so creative! I’m still pretty open to the whole thing, really interesting to see so many different opinions in the comments.
@@brickodan Yes, as my channel has grown, I've considered applying for LAN (as I've seen channels with a LOT less Subs who are in the LAN) but ages ago I also watched a video by Bricksie, where he explained all the stuff you have to do, with submitting video stats back to Lego, after you've opened/reveiwed a set and the video has been uploaded etc. It would be great to get a load of free Lego, but I've had a few comments in the past, telling me that my opinion doesn't matter, because I'm an "influencer" who gets Lego for free!!!!! (I wish!) So to at least some people, it's definitely not a positive thing to be a LAN member!! Thanks for replying, nice chatting with you, good luck with the channel.
That's a really interesting take on the LAN. It would be interesting to get an insiders view on this. Really interesting video though! Was an enjoyable watch.
Maybe I can weigh in on it a little bit. I write for a LEGO Blog that is part of the program and thus have received a few sets for review from LEGO, like the Lion Knights Castle for example. The obvious stuff first: Never once has either LEGO or the 'boss' of the website told me what to write, positive or negative. Furthermore I was never "told off" for talking about negative points. The more interesting stuff of discussion is: How much did getting a set for free affect my views on the model. I'd like to say it is quite the contrary at least for my reviews from what popular belief would be in the community. I have no problem of rating a set 10/10 when I bought it myself. But when it comes to the sets the company provides to review, I feel much more pressure to not enjoy the set too much, as otherwise it would be seen as "shilling" for LEGO. I believe that a set is never perfect or at a point where it can't be improved upon, so I always try to get be as objective as I possibly can. But the word objective is at the heart of the issue. What is objective? Most people would agree that LEGO is very very expensive and I'm certainly not one to deny that. However it deserves to be said that the price of a LEGO set isn't quite the objective topic. What would be the "objectively" fair price for e.g. the Lion Knights Castle. Not some random pricetag I feel would be justified. 300 bucks? Well why not 310? Or 290? Or what if I feel I get my fair share of fun for my 400 bucks? I use the Lion Knights Castle as an example, as LEGO Castle is one of my favourite themes. Sure I'm glad I was send it by LEGO, but I would've absolutely been the first in line to get it on release day. Would've payed 400 bucks for it and wouldn't have regretted a penny. I don't have it in me to say that I think 400 bucks is too high of a price for that set. However I do realize that this wont be the case for everyone out there. There are many factors that play into what people consider "worth x amount of money". Someone who makes 1500 a month will certainly be more careful about a decision of spending 400 bucks on a LEGO Set compared to someone who makes 6000 a month. That was quite a long comment, but if you have any further questions, I'll be happy to answer them as far as I can. Of course I can only speak for myself and the way I tend to write my reviews. 🙂
@@AClassicBrick Thank you for taking the time to write a comment. Certainly insightful to hear from someone who stays objective and keeps integrity when reviewing LEGO sets. All though my video is mostly about RUclips reviews, I really appreciate your input!
there is a dark side to lego which people dont know very toxic and i agree everyone seems to love every lego set which is crazy a lot of lego are rubbish just turning out with higher prices and less lego and the some people high up in lego world are bullies and others are too afraid to push back or stand up . most are to scared i dont think you get a fair review or opinions when free lego is at steak
@@brickodan i know so i know some big players in the lego world some are bullies some and scared to rock the boat and some are money hungry . seems more i look in to it the more the love of lego and the play nice idea has gone.
What's the obsession with the prices? Either the sets are within your budget or not. The prices are very transparent and most reviewers state them within their videos and/or in the descriptions.
When a sets is between $80 and $400, it kind of becomes the focal point of any discussion. There's a decent amount of fans that wish for cheaper sets in the $10 to $30 range because Lego has just gotten so out of control with prices.
An alternative point of view: people who are LAN members love lego, and are thus naturally going to view new sets in a brighter light. Personally, I don't have a lot of issue with the new sets Lego is producing. Yeah, they are expensive in many cases, but you play within your means, if I get a set that's a little more on the expensive side I may not get many other sets; granted I won't even get sets in the $400 + range because at that point I don't feel it's really worth it, and even though I would love to get some of the more expensive sets, it's not within my means to do so. Thus I feel that price is a bit of a moot point, Lego won't scale down the prices of their sets and consumers will speak with their wallets. If a set truly is too expensive for what it is, people won't get it and that will show.
Very important points. Seems to be a real mix of opinions on this matter and individual LAN members and former members all have a different take on it. It’s really great to get more insight into the topic. I’m personally in a similar position where I just decide which sets are important to me and how much I’m willing to spend on them. New set or not, there’s plenty of options for us to choose from.
Sorry but I disagree. IMO this is like Apple charging 500 dollars more for I phones then when people complain you say ‘’but you play within you means, if you can’t afford it get a cheaper I phone’’
In the program they get exclusive Lego set too like Lego employee Lego sets ago for $100 to 200 plus on the aftermarket and set early to what doesn’t seem fair seems like only workers of Lego should get them because they cause you tubers. I’m not really working for Lego in the long run they are just advertising a product.
Do people really need youtubers to tell them something is too expensive? Everyone knows the price. And you know your budget while content creators do not
Good question! All though I think price is definitely an important factor for product review, value is subjective. from the information I gathered online it’s a common criticism, but your point is exactly why I mentioned that I don’t think creators have much say in the pricing matter anyway, and this could be an unfair criticism of content creators.
I have found some of the best content creators are not LAN and have some of the smallest followings.... I think this is because they are hungrier for views and do more creative intros and story telling. With a lan your going to have tons of viewers nearly gauranteed so all one has to do is pump out the videos based on some formula and people flock to it, but its all the same stuff... I seem to notice this since I have an interest only in lego castle and watch like every review on a new set... the more niche creators just go into the lore and details a bit more, while the bigger content people seem to present it as the next thing lego made. Some showing interest but not necessarily as castle collectors
This is a very good point. I can see the benefit if you are a fan of a particular type of LEGO. i suppose a lot of LAN creators are mostly interested in the LEGO itself so it makes sense. I like to mix it up and watch a bit of both!
I am happy for people that become LAN members, nothing personal against them. But it feels like it is a program made by a rich company that rewards their richest customers with products, so they can push it on non rich afols. Creating FOMO and creating a false image for younger Lego fans. Unrealistic view on the hobby.
Something I noticed about news media in general is that different news stations across the country all get their stories from the same source. So when the local fireman saves a kitten from a tree, the same story, same phrasing same puns are used by hundreds of newscasters across the country. So when I watch different LAN reviews, I hear the same obscure comments made every one of them. For example, the recent GWP troop transport….and the green pieces used for the rails. They all reference how it’s a call back to a previous set. They all use the same obscure facts, provided by LEGO.
I could care less what any rando’s opinion is on Lego. Lego parts are amazing. Most of what Lego creates is shit. I’ve got to constantly modify sets, or completely scrap them for parts for other creations. I could care less about the price, since I take tons of money from trading on the market and you can too. It’s super easy. Money takes more money.
I’ve heard a number of Lego LAN members state the price and give their opinion as to whether they think it is a good value or not….
Yea, I've heard multiple LAN members say price is too high.
I'm not particularly bothered by whether a creator is part of LAN or not... what bothers me is lack of knowledge about the set being reviewed. I have seen many reviews where people mess up the characters, which are named in the product description!!! To me that is just laziness. LAN members can decline sets and regular creators can also pick and chose what they review, stick to things you are knowledgeable and passionate about 😊
Very good point!
I was just thinking about this the other day. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a LAN member even insinuate that anything might be wrong with a set. It certainly feels like the fear of getting kicked out is real which sucks because I don’t need every LAN member telling me exactly the same thing.
Yes for sure, I don’t blame them either. Expect it’s just the way the cookie crumbles!
Could it be a bad case of recency bias in the reviews? I find flaws don't become apparent till a few weeks after owning a set or so. When i review anything I give myself a few months before I allow myself to talk about it.
Great video
Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated.
I agree with all that you've said, but the other thing that we have to bear in mind is that a lot of LAN members ALWAYS give glowing reviews, not necessarily because they are worried about losing their LAN status, but it's because they are BIG Lego fans!
They choose which sets they get to review, so obviously they will choose sets that they like (for example... have you EVER seen Bricksie review a Lego Friends set!!!)
So they are MUCH more likely to give it a good review, because they are a big Lego fan, and more than likely specifically like THAT set.
just another opinion to throw into the discussion.
@@MinifigJez Thanks for the comment! I can definitely appreciate that point of view, I give glowing reviews a lot too because I just find LEGO ingenious and the build techniques are so creative! I’m still pretty open to the whole thing, really interesting to see so many different opinions in the comments.
@@brickodan Yes, as my channel has grown, I've considered applying for LAN (as I've seen channels with a LOT less Subs who are in the LAN) but ages ago I also watched a video by Bricksie, where he explained all the stuff you have to do, with submitting video stats back to Lego, after you've opened/reveiwed a set and the video has been uploaded etc.
It would be great to get a load of free Lego, but I've had a few comments in the past, telling me that my opinion doesn't matter, because I'm an "influencer" who gets Lego for free!!!!! (I wish!) So to at least some people, it's definitely not a positive thing to be a LAN member!!
Thanks for replying, nice chatting with you, good luck with the channel.
Opinions on LAN can be subjective to the individual but this is a really interesting video and opens up the table for many avenues of discussion.
Yep, everyone has a different experience I’m sure!
That's a really interesting take on the LAN. It would be interesting to get an insiders view on this. Really interesting video though! Was an enjoyable watch.
It sure would!
Maybe I can weigh in on it a little bit. I write for a LEGO Blog that is part of the program and thus have received a few sets for review from LEGO, like the Lion Knights Castle for example. The obvious stuff first: Never once has either LEGO or the 'boss' of the website told me what to write, positive or negative. Furthermore I was never "told off" for talking about negative points.
The more interesting stuff of discussion is: How much did getting a set for free affect my views on the model. I'd like to say it is quite the contrary at least for my reviews from what popular belief would be in the community. I have no problem of rating a set 10/10 when I bought it myself. But when it comes to the sets the company provides to review, I feel much more pressure to not enjoy the set too much, as otherwise it would be seen as "shilling" for LEGO.
I believe that a set is never perfect or at a point where it can't be improved upon, so I always try to get be as objective as I possibly can. But the word objective is at the heart of the issue. What is objective? Most people would agree that LEGO is very very expensive and I'm certainly not one to deny that. However it deserves to be said that the price of a LEGO set isn't quite the objective topic. What would be the "objectively" fair price for e.g. the Lion Knights Castle. Not some random pricetag I feel would be justified. 300 bucks? Well why not 310? Or 290? Or what if I feel I get my fair share of fun for my 400 bucks?
I use the Lion Knights Castle as an example, as LEGO Castle is one of my favourite themes. Sure I'm glad I was send it by LEGO, but I would've absolutely been the first in line to get it on release day. Would've payed 400 bucks for it and wouldn't have regretted a penny. I don't have it in me to say that I think 400 bucks is too high of a price for that set. However I do realize that this wont be the case for everyone out there. There are many factors that play into what people consider "worth x amount of money". Someone who makes 1500 a month will certainly be more careful about a decision of spending 400 bucks on a LEGO Set compared to someone who makes 6000 a month.
That was quite a long comment, but if you have any further questions, I'll be happy to answer them as far as I can. Of course I can only speak for myself and the way I tend to write my reviews. 🙂
@@AClassicBrick Thank you for taking the time to write a comment. Certainly insightful to hear from someone who stays objective and keeps integrity when reviewing LEGO sets. All though my video is mostly about RUclips reviews, I really appreciate your input!
there is a dark side to lego which people dont know very toxic and i agree everyone seems to love every lego set which is crazy a lot of lego are rubbish just turning out with higher prices and less lego and the some people high up in lego world are bullies and others are too afraid to push back or stand up . most are to scared i dont think you get a fair review or opinions when free lego is at steak
Do you think so?
@@brickodan i know so i know some big players in the lego world some are bullies some and scared to rock the boat and some are money hungry . seems more i look in to it the more the love of lego and the play nice idea has gone.
What mic do you use bro? Sounds great
It’s a Shure SM57 with a pop filter on it. Great mic.
What's the obsession with the prices? Either the sets are within your budget or not. The prices are very transparent and most reviewers state them within their videos and/or in the descriptions.
When a sets is between $80 and $400, it kind of becomes the focal point of any discussion. There's a decent amount of fans that wish for cheaper sets in the $10 to $30 range because Lego has just gotten so out of control with prices.
An alternative point of view: people who are LAN members love lego, and are thus naturally going to view new sets in a brighter light. Personally, I don't have a lot of issue with the new sets Lego is producing. Yeah, they are expensive in many cases, but you play within your means, if I get a set that's a little more on the expensive side I may not get many other sets; granted I won't even get sets in the $400 + range because at that point I don't feel it's really worth it, and even though I would love to get some of the more expensive sets, it's not within my means to do so. Thus I feel that price is a bit of a moot point, Lego won't scale down the prices of their sets and consumers will speak with their wallets. If a set truly is too expensive for what it is, people won't get it and that will show.
Very important points. Seems to be a real mix of opinions on this matter and individual LAN members and former members all have a different take on it. It’s really great to get more insight into the topic. I’m personally in a similar position where I just decide which sets are important to me and how much I’m willing to spend on them. New set or not, there’s plenty of options for us to choose from.
Sorry but I disagree. IMO this is like Apple charging 500 dollars more for I phones then when people complain you say ‘’but you play within you means, if you can’t afford it get a cheaper I phone’’
In the program they get exclusive Lego set too like Lego employee Lego sets ago for $100 to 200 plus on the aftermarket and set early to what doesn’t seem fair seems like only workers of Lego should get them because they cause you tubers. I’m not really working for Lego in the long run they are just advertising a product.
I didn’t know they get those employee sets.
Do people really need youtubers to tell them something is too expensive? Everyone knows the price. And you know your budget while content creators do not
Good question! All though I think price is definitely an important factor for product review, value is subjective. from the information I gathered online it’s a common criticism, but your point is exactly why I mentioned that I don’t think creators have much say in the pricing matter anyway, and this could be an unfair criticism of content creators.
I have found some of the best content creators are not LAN and have some of the smallest followings.... I think this is because they are hungrier for views and do more creative intros and story telling. With a lan your going to have tons of viewers nearly gauranteed so all one has to do is pump out the videos based on some formula and people flock to it, but its all the same stuff... I seem to notice this since I have an interest only in lego castle and watch like every review on a new set... the more niche creators just go into the lore and details a bit more, while the bigger content people seem to present it as the next thing lego made. Some showing interest but not necessarily as castle collectors
This is a very good point. I can see the benefit if you are a fan of a particular type of LEGO. i suppose a lot of LAN creators are mostly interested in the LEGO itself so it makes sense. I like to mix it up and watch a bit of both!
I am happy for people that become LAN members, nothing personal against them. But it feels like it is a program made by a rich company that rewards their richest customers with products, so they can push it on non rich afols. Creating FOMO and creating a false image for younger Lego fans. Unrealistic view on the hobby.
If you're a LAN member, you neither value your time nor your content. You want me to advertise for you, I want to be paid.
Something I noticed about news media in general is that different news stations across the country all get their stories from the same source.
So when the local fireman saves a kitten from a tree, the same story, same phrasing same puns are used by hundreds of newscasters across the country.
So when I watch different LAN reviews, I hear the same obscure comments made every one of them.
For example, the recent GWP troop transport….and the green pieces used for the rails.
They all reference how it’s a call back to a previous set. They all use the same obscure facts, provided by LEGO.
I skip RUclips ads so I can watch Lego reviews, which are ads. ;)
haha yeah mostly!
I could care less what any rando’s opinion is on Lego. Lego parts are amazing. Most of what Lego creates is shit. I’ve got to constantly modify sets, or completely scrap them for parts for other creations. I could care less about the price, since I take tons of money from trading on the market and you can too. It’s super easy. Money takes more money.
This is not true. You can get paid if you are not an idiot. If the people with the biggest following want to do it for free its on them.
Great video, really informative
Great video!
MandR is pretty non biased, people really love to hate him, but generally those people have seen one MandR video for 5 years ago