As soon as I was finished with my PhD exams, I began calling around the local NE Ohio toy stores to find out if any of them had received Lego’s (8683) first series of collectible minifigures. I had read sporadic reports online about some folks finding them all at Canadian Wal-Marts, US Targets, and Toys R Us. Unfortunately, everywhere I initially called either hadn’t received them or they had already sold out.
Yufang and I went to Sakura for sushi in Fairlawn last week on Monday, and while we were there, we stopped by the local Toys R Us. They were one of the places that had already received some, but had sold out. They still didn’t have any, but a helpful sales associate told me to check back on Wednesday. I did, and they did receive a single box. Yufang and I bolted out the door and made our way to Fairlawn. When we arrived, we looked around, and finally found the display box (pictured above, safely at home) at the customer service desk. We set to work trying to decipher the identifying barcodes on the back of the packages. Unfortunately, none of the bar codes matched the list that I had downloaded some time back. Later, I learned that the codes I had were for the European release, which differ from the character bar codes on the US release. The box was nearly full, so I decided to be “that guy” and purchase the whole lot to sort through at home.
Back at home, Yufang and I took turns opening the small yellow packages, assembling the minifig, and cutting out the bar code to make our own cheat sheet.
Later, I located an updated bar code cheat sheet from The Brothers Brick Lego blog here.
This initial opening revealed 13 of the total set of 16:
The next day, I called Toys R Us in Cuyahoga Falls, which had not yet received any of the collectible minifigures. The customer service person confirmed that they had finally received a shipment of the figures, too. I drove over there by myself with cheat sheet in hand, and I pulled the remaining three figures that I needed:
Now, I have a full set, and some extras that need homes (so let me know if you need any). Otherwise, they will be returned to Toys R Us.
My favorite series one collectible minifigure is the worried expression robot, who is ready to lend a helping hand:
Next Week-of-Lego posts: X-Wing Starfighter 30051 and Republic Attack Shuttle 30050 minisets.
I am a professor of English at the New York City College of Technology, CUNY whose teaching includes composition and technical communication, and research focuses on 20th/21st-century American culture, science fiction, neuroscience, and digital technology.
Dr. Jason W. Ellis shares his interdisciplinary research and pedagogy on DynamicSubspace.net. Its focus includes the exploration of science, technology, and cultural issues through science fiction and neuroscientific approaches. It includes vintage computing, LEGO, and other wonderful things, too.
Which ones are your extras and what are you looking for in terms of compensation. I’m missing 10 of them.
Hi Kapgar,
I bought all of mine at TRU, so they were $2.49/each. I would only want to get my money back + cost of envelope + 1st class shipping. These are the figures that I have; let me know if you can use any of them.
2 x Forestmen
1 x Scuba diver
2 x Cheerleader
2 x Skateboarder
1 x Cowboy
1 x Nurse
1 x Tribal Hunter
1 x Spaceman
-Jason
Hi Jason. I chanced upon your site. My kids would love the extras. Of the ones you have, they need all except the skateboarder, dive, and forestman. Andy
Hi Andy,
Send me an email at dynamicsubspace at gmail.com with the figures that you want and I will send you a Paypal invoice by Monday afternoon. I may not be at a computer until then. Thanks!
Jason
Hello, do you happen to have any lego colelctible minifigure series 1 still available? Please let me know, my toys r us isnt receiving them anymore I belive. Thanks!
Hi Nolan. I’m sorry but I don’t have any more mini figures available. -Jason
Hi,
I found in search in the internet that you selling Lego Minifigures Series 1
My child is Missing the following
Nr. 2 Cheerleader
Nr. 7 Robot
Nr. 10 Wrestler
Please let me know your price include P&P
Thanks
You’re sincerely
Arie Landsmann
Dear Arie,
Thanks for your post, but I am afraid that all of my extra figures are gone. I wish you the best of luck completing your set!
Jason
Hello, I have been looking around like crazy for the 1st series of the minifigurines. I recently just got a whole set of the 2 series. I was wondering if you had extras of the 1st series and would be willing to trade them for an equal amount of the 2nd. My husband loves legos and this would be a great present for him. I will be willing to go out and buy extras of the second to trade…Hope to hear form you soon
Dear Kathleen,
Unfortunately, I don’t have any extras of Series 1, or I would gladly trade with you. Besides ebay, you may also check http://www.bricklink.com/ for the figures that you are missing. Good luck with your search!
Best, Jason
Jason, I have some extra minifigs from seris 1 and 3 and i would be willing to trade. I have Some Native American Bow Hunters and some Mummy’s.
Andrew
Dear Andrew,
Thank you for your offer, but I now have complete sets for series 1 and 3.
Best, Jason
I’ll take em I’ll email you my adress
Dear Brian,
Thanks for your comment, but I do not have any more minifigures available.
Best, Jason