Shoppers furious over ‘rip-off’ Lego advent calendars and say their kids ‘feel cheated’
LEGO fans have slated the new Avengers advent calendar for “wasting days” with “lazy” gifts – leaving kids feeling cheated.
The new Marvel Avengers calendar comes with a host of characters including Okoye, Doctor Strange, Captain America, Spider-Man, Wong, Iron Man and Black Widow.
It costs £29.99 on the Lego website, while Amazon and Smyths Toys currently charge £23.99, and Argos sets you back £25.
But some fans are upset that Dr Strange’s one-piece cloak is the only gift on December 17, before Dr Strange has even been unveiled on December 18.
Previous Lego advent calendars have included character capes on the same day as the figure.
Others pointed out that Spider-Man comes on day three, and his golden webs appear on day four, and Captain America and his jetpack are also given on separate days.
Reviewer Ashnflash said on his YouTube channel: “Today’s build (day nine) is a jetpack, and that’s just really lazy.
“If you want to give him a jetpack just give it to him on the same day.
“This could have been another day. He’s never had a jetpack in the Infinity saga so they are making it up now at this point.”
One viewer replied saying: “Easily the weakest advent calendar this year, mainly because some days the gifts are things that should be with another day: like the cloak should be with Dr. Strange.”
Another said: ”Nice figures, but so many wasted days.
“I know if I was a kid opening this daily, I’d be thinking ‘is that it?’ on most of these, and hoping I’d gotten a chocolate calendar as well.”
There’s a similar consensus among reviewers on the Lego site too.
One said: “A single part that should have been included in the Dr. Strange figure.
“This literally made my nephew cry and feel cheated upon discovery. This is the last advent we will ever buy.”
Another added: “I still can’t get over the fact that one of the days you get a cape and then next you get the mini fig…. My jaw legit DROPPED when I saw that.
“Lego makes so much money from us and they do something like that, idk if I’ll ever buy an advent calendar again after that.”
Susannah Streeter, from investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said Lego like other companies had been facing economic challenges caused by inflation, from transportation to raw materials.
She added: “This is why it may be trying to trim products where it can, to increase margins.
“However, it has been ahead of rivals in the toy business in terms of sales.
“Lego continues to out-perform the industry thanks to its enduring popularity among fans of all ages.
“So, as inflationary pressures ease, and it steals a march on the competition, it does have room to be a bit more generous, particularly at Christmas time.
“The Christmas calendar market is now fiercely competitive, and Lego risks losing repeat festive custom through this cost-cutting move, although it probably won’t dent sales for its core lines of Lego sets.’’
A spokesperson for the LEGO Group said: “We always want to give builders a fun and engaging experience and our Avengers Advent Calendar (76267) is no different.
“It has a piece count consistent with our other themed Advent Calendars, seven different Minifigures and certain character accessories that are large and need their own windows to be housed properly, which we hope Marvel and LEGO fans alike will enjoy this festive season.”
If you’re after food advent calendars instead of toys, we’ve tested the top ones and crowned a winner.
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