Limiting social media is a big one for me. Watching too many videos on my hobby tends to make me buy more things I don't need. I don't cut out social media but I carefully curate what I watch.
@@marijn8057 That phenomenon is made even tougher because of all the LAN/Lego-sponsored videos and the way CZcamsrs generate income. Breathless hype (or, less commonly, the flip side of controversy or unwarranted negativity) is what's going to drive views and make CZcamsrs money, and Lego is essentially paying the LAN channels to promote their product, so you get this seemingly endless wave of Lego CZcams videos implying that your life will only be complete if you buy brand new set X.
I'm actually going to counter that. When I watch a review of a set or a speed build, that will often satisfy my appetite for the set, as opposed to wanting it more. Basically I build the set vicariously through that CZcams video. Of course everyone is different, and there are certain sets that are an automatic for me no matter what others are doing.
What about ads or child hood memories of sets? Like social media(Which CZcams is not it's a creative platfom.) Like I got Lego Fomo as a young kid in the '00s from the catalog... And that was when I only knew about Club penguin which had not product infulncers or press.
@@GreenBlueWalkthrough Similar yeah. As a younger man I used to enjoy TV shows and magazines about cars. It made me think about getting the next car when I hadn't finished paying off the one I was driving. I cut all that out and learned to be happy with what I had and it save me a ton of money over the years. :)
Very interesting presentation. One thing I like about your presentations is that you are able to have a long discussion without video cuts. Most social media influencers cannot get one to two sentences out without having to have a video cut. Your profession as a professor shows though in your public speaking quality and presentation.
Very interesting points. I combat my FOMO by limiting my thematic range, only focusing on Star Wars and pop culture sets, but also by focusing on Playscale builds and trying to get one build per ship or thing I want and then breaking down other versions I have. I have also switched to getting custom builds often (and making YT videos of those 😂 ) instead of the official versions. All of that said, I still spend what I think is too much money, several thousand per year.
I am glad you bring out this topic about FOMO. I often reflect about my relationship between Lego. Do I have the freedom to choose and play the Lego I like to play with OR Lego is manipulating me to buy more. I have been struggling FOMO for years, it was like an addiction to me. The attachment was intense. I had the opportunity to scale down my collection when I moved to North America from Asia. I selected the best collections to keep and the rest just letting go. I still have FOMO now and the intensity has been lessen. Recently, I watch less video about Lego especially, hauling one. Limit my self space for display and storing my Lego. If I really want to buy new stuff, old stuff must go to maintain balance. Often questioning my self, "Do I really want this?" Looking back, my old pattern used to find many reasons to persuade myself to make a purchase. After bought it, the excitement fade out, "Just another set" flowed in my mind then I felt empty and quickly set another goal to make another purchase to keep up my happiness. Now I will give myself 3 to 6 months to cool down before deciding my purchase. It takes time, self-awareness and determination to deal with my Lego FOMO. This is a meaningful topic and worth further discussion.
Thanks for adressing this topic that most big LEGO CZcamsrs irresponsibly miss out. They get all these huge pricey sets for FREE to review to pressure their viewers waste hundred of dollars on day one or they could miss out the next big thing.
@@GreenBlueWalkthroughName one LAN member who says a set ain't worth it? They all use negative thumbnails as click bait then their conclusion is always a safe one so they can keep getting more free Lego.
You click on their videos to watch them, they don't force you to do it. And I haven't yet seen any Lego YTer saying "Buy it on day one", seems like you are projecting your tendencies on them.
@@FlymanMS Yes, they don’t force you, but the video does. And there are definitely some CZcamsrs that do say a day one purchase lmao. Maybe you just haven’t experienced it yet 🤷🏼♂️
Lego has slowly brainwashed new generations into making them believe their product are there to display, rather to unbuild and recycled into infinite new builds as it was more encouraged 20-30 years ago
This is such a great point. As a casual adult builder, I actually just like the relaxed instruction build and display but as a kid I didn't have any of my lego dispayed. I'd build with the instructions once and in 24 hrs it was broken down so I could make the stuff I really wanted from my imagination.
They used to have nice boxes with separate compartments with hinged lids. I used to build a set display it for awhile then take it apart and put back in the box to rebuild again later.
1. The Release schedule is good. I like having new stuff leaked every so often 2. Number of products is getting annoying - however, the fewer sets they release, the less likely it is that we get something worthwhile (it is annoying with keeping up with series like ninjago - I hate missing out on cool sets that I might not even need / want, but I like checking the completion box. 3. Big influencers - I like watching some of them (reviews sometimes really help me not only decide if I should buy a set - or if it's worth the very high price, but they help me enjoy sets I just bought because I liked it, but didn't have the space to build and display them). 4. Big displays - I agree we should all build smaller, I for one am starved for a nice small / medium Castle set (and I usually like doing smaller builds ) - however a castle .... it just can't be made small. I do HATE it when the LEGO group makes blatant moves that prey on FOMO (like the limited edition GWPs - that don't even have the proper pieces or prints - looking at you, Majisto's GWP and the silly blacktron not having printed consoles T_T ). I would have liked proper market released sets that had full prints (they could have been a bit pricier ) and the proper parts for the Majisto set ...
Regarding Tiago, it's true that he will sometimes talk about a set negatively, but at the end of the day, he's sponsored by Lego and used to work for them, and he's surely not going to bite the hand that feeds him. I also find his reviews to generally be superficial and sometimes sloppily researched. Jang is a much better choice for English-language reviews: independent, knowledgeable, and observant, if a bit rambling and talky at times.
I struggle with FOMO as someone who wants to grow as a LEGO content creator while maintaining a full time job! For August 2024, that meant I needed to set a hard budget on what I can get, which meant I had to find innovative ways to build the Jaws set from smaller sets instead of buying it outright!
I applaud your innovation. Doing it your way will teach you far more about design and creation, and saving money is a great skill in itself that will prove invaluable in many ways. MOC your way to greatness!
Well if you can afford that good for you XD My wife would freak out if I just bought what I want because that's way over 1k for Lion knights Castle, Mountain Fortress and Rivendell ... Oh and then there is also the medieval town and so on I already have the Viking village which should be enough for me she says..
@@darkroy610 Lego is my outlet, I love it. I don't let my wife or anyone else tell me what I can and can't do with it. She has her own stupid stuff I would never spend money on but I don't tell her you can or can't. I can't stand when women tell their men what they can and can't do. Just my opinion.
It’s tough. Being a fan and wanting to build (which is my favorite part). I am always looking for the next build. I am getting better at being more selective and patient. This was a great topic.
@@dicedoom7162 I do that a lot myself, but the issue that OP probably suffers (along with me) is that repeatedly building the same builds over and over again can get tedious, so you want to switch things up every now and again
The only real times I get LEGO fomo is when there's a GWP I really like. When I start to feel fomo about not having a giant city or display, I imagine having to dust it. That cures me pretty instantly.
FOMO IS REAL 💀 I'm always thinking they are going to run out of something. And Ill miss out. Really bad addiction. Its so hard to block out all the promotions and social media. Great discussion!
I'd look at it this way if it's causing you problems: there will always be more cool sets. If you miss one now, another one that interests you is sure to pop up in a month or year. And ask yourself, has missing a set ever caused you any real harm? Has it negatively impacted your life? Or is the harm coming from the cycle of desire?
Yes, I learned that even though I like the set so much, I’ll wait for it to go on sale for 20% or even less if it’s possible nowadays… Day one purchase is honestly just a flex if we’re being honest. It doesn’t make the set any more special. And you won’t really miss out because it’s Lego and they will keep making these sets until they retire. Of course it will sell out on day one but it will restock in just a couple of weeks. Jedi bob was out of stock last week but my local target has many sitting now 😂
Also, I’ve been dealing with FOMO when it comes to Lego customs like GCC, LC, CHB, etc. It’s really bad and I’ve spent maybe over $200 in the last few months just for a couple of named figures 😅
They aren't sponsored by Lego, Lego sends certain influencers sets early to generate more awareness for the sets and to get constructive criticism for them. It also helps Lego see how popular the sets will be.
Definitely an struggle for me, most of the time i try to ask myself if a set includes a build or minifigures i would use in my own builds frequently or if it would become a dust collector
This is one of my favorite videos you’ve done. This is an issue I have with pretty much everything I collect. I have a FOMO problem for sure so this was a lot of fun Thank you
Another great video. Your channel is my favorite. Original thoughts and some great insights. The first couple years of me collecting I struggled with FOMO. I needed everything. All the sets. Even themes or sets that looking back on I didn’t even care for that much. Now my strategy is to not buy anything day one if I wait 3, 6, or even 12 months and have forgotten about a set I don’t need it. If I still want it at that point I’ll get it, and by then it should also be on sale or at a discount.
Such a great video. LEGO in social media is a double edged sword, and I think it's worth recognizing the positives too. On CZcams, reddit, etc. you can preview, and in a large sense experience LEGO that's otherwise too expensive, or takes up too much space, is too time consuming to build, etc. As a long time LEGO fan, there are thousands of sets that I've wanted to own over the years. More and more of them are showcased online in the form of speed builds, reviews, mods, and MOCs. With a certain amount of self control, watching builds and reviews can actually decrease FOMO and save money. I love that this video touched on agency. That word is so empowering.
Thank you for this video. A great reminder on how to keep it real, for myself personally. I broke my cycle of FOMO once I ran out of space to display. That, and tubs of disassembled sets as well. No more room! Looking back, I realized it didn’t really want/need about 25%-40% of it. I have regrets. Now I’m more selective. Again, great video!!
It's hard not to get caught up in the "hype" and FOMO can set it for sure. For me what has worked is knowing that I may never get all in a collection - I'm very fond of vintage City Space - those were my first sets as a young person back in the late 70's early 80's and I think that lots of people have traumatic memories of their parent selling their LEGO at a garage sale or giving it away to their friends/family. eBay and on-line forums sometimes makes things worse since you can with a couple of clicks recapture what was lost. I really try to focus on a theme or a series and look at each set and decide if I really want the set individually or if I just want to collect it all keeping in mind that for whatever reason it may be difficult or next to impossible to obtain everything in that collection.
I agree. I try to limit my hobbies to just Lego, fishing and cycling. It is not just Lego FOMO. All hobbies have a certain degree of FOMO. Fishing, for example, I have been tempted to travel far and wide to catch something bigger. Back to Lego - I don't buy at RRP. I wait for sale and the minimum sale discount I look out for now is a minimum 20% off. There are many times that I hold on to a purchase even if it was at 20% off. There is a saying in Hong Kong that largely translates to "Buy Early, Enjoy Early. Buy Late, Enjoy Discount". I limit my Lego collection to fit my dream Lego City layout. Buildings or vehicles that can fit into my Lego City plan will definitely be purchased. I am into Lego Castle and the Botanical series as well. The one single Lego category I avoid is Lego StarWars. This helped me sink slower into the Lego bottomless pit. l try to include Lego shopping when I travel. I went to Japan recently for a holiday and I bought 20 Pick-A-Brick boxes and more than 50 Build-A-Minifigure. (largely because the selection in Japan is way better than where I am and of course the weak Japanese currency).
Very interesting video and topic. The FOMO is real and it is important to fight it. Personally I think that channels like yours help. Let me explain: At some point I think I watched all the major LEGO contributors on CZcams and slowly started realizing that what they had is impossible to achieve to 99% of us. From this point I realized something else, in most cases, hard earned cash is not a factor since LEGO provides a lot of youtubers with products...some of them weeks ahead of release dates. So I heavily reduced my screen time on these videos that either start or end with "and thank you to LEGO for providing this copy...". This is a major no no for me. I even considered like yourself, that some of them, despite this "sponsorship" from LEGO were realistic and honest, such as Tiago Catarino ( I am also portuguese) but I think no matter what these content creators say....they will never be 100% honest. They either got the copy from the company and you do not spit where you eat (portuguese expression) or, you have reached a level of making such a level of income that you can buy sets just for the sake of buying them. The straw that broke the camels back for me with Tiago Catarino was the review of this chewbacca set from Star Wars. The thing is appaling. There is no other way of looking at it but with your wallet and voting to not buy it. Still the guy was defending LEGO....for trying something new, for the typical "think outside the box" speech. At that time I realized more and more....that this type of content is not for me. My content is channels like yours....where you actually see someone that does not make a life out of this...and like myself, has to struggle with a budget for LEGO...and if you buy a set, it comes out of your pocket and cuts other sets you could possibly buy. So yeah, for me, I do not watch any early reviews and stuff like that. I watch reviews of sets after a month or so of release date, from curated creators....but I think I am not the majority so....
I quit watching and unsubscribed all Lego-sponsored channels. I find them at best ethically dubious, at worst ethically offensive, for their clear and shameful conflict of interest, as well as how some of them promote outrageously conspicuous consumption. They give off such an icky vibe of manipulating people and catering to their worst motivations (spend, spend, spend in the false hope it'll bring happiness). I much prefer non-sponsored, intelligent channels like this one that a) aren't in Lego's pocket, and b) have something thought provoking to say.
Tiago is realistic...You can't discuss someone's taste. If he thinks Chubacca is a quality product, than it is. You don't need to like it. And he often advise not to buy if not on discount.
@@ljupkadobrosavljevic8267 exactly. Taste is subjective. So like I said, for me, I stay away from reviewers that receive items from LEGO as I have my doubts on the information/opinion I am being given. But that is me. Tiago is doing great for himself and does not need me watching his videos. :)
I’m glad you addressed that it is a bigger issue than Lego alone. I do thank that as consumers we should try to hold them accountable, but I also think there are major limitations on how much effect we can actually have when they are just trying to increase profits.
The biggest thing that helped me was getting into other hobbies. I sew and play multiple instruments, I’m trying to learn four languages and still maintaining my love of Lego. Focusing on MOCs and not collection helps as well.
I think this problem is only related to collectors When I was as a kid or even right now as an adult I didn't really care about set, I just picked what was aviable at the moment and seemed nice and I think it applies to the majority of customers
I don’t struggle with it for LEGO sets, but I have been experiencing some fomo regarding LEGO CZcams as a content creator. Like “I would like to have more subscribers and views”, but there’s content creators out there with much better videos and maybe 10 to 1000 more views and they still need to have a day job, so I’ve realized it’s just best to make the videos I want to make. I’m still going to feel fomo even if I could have YT as my day job (which sounds like a nightmare to have once’s hobby as a job).
Great video. Limiting social media is a big thing, especially limiting viewing accounts that essentially just advertise Lego sets rather than delving deeper into MOCing or themes around Lego. Also stepping away from content creation has helped that a lot (not that I did much in the first place). I got into Lego for Lego not for social media, be that making content or being influenced. For me, buying a house during a global financial crisis has been a pretty big wake up call but appreciate that’s not a situation a lot of people might find themselves in. But eventually being financially responsible has been important for me. I think realising that Lego can be a demanding and dominating hobby has also helped me. I kinda forgot there are things to enjoy in life other than Lego.
I appreciate you making this video. My living space is small so I’ve had to become more discerning about the sets I buy. Now I mostly concentrate on minifigures and small vignette displays so I use Lego’s Pick-A-Brick service and Bricklink for new parts I’d like; but scouring those sites is in itself addicting, and then the FOMO is real with the worry that the parts I want will go out of stock, or that their prices will rise due to scarcity after a set retires, etc.
For me it comes down to money. If I can't afford a set, I just accept that it's out of reach and I move on. Like most of us, I've lived my entire life not being able to achieve certain things because of impractical obstacles like location, money, availability, time, etc, and you just learn to deal with that instead of obsessing. However, there are ways to overcome the money issue, by saving up, finding cheaper options, or just biding your time, so it's not necessarily a dead end to give up on. I'm relatively new to collecting Lego, so I'm spending most of my money on catching up on sets I've wanted for a while, and after that has subsided I'll go back to one or two purchases a year again. I'll stick to ones I really want and can afford, which are not that many of them. There hasn't been any in the last few months of announcements and releases that pique my interest, even those in my favourite theme (medieval/castle) so I won't be getting the LOTR or DnD sets, for example, despite their spectacular intricacies. But I'm sure there's another one that will interest me coming out soon enough.
The FOMO is real...for me. The last 2 years I got back into collecting and I went a little crazy, thinking I needed it all. But as it always does, money and space became a problem. So, altho its only 3 months, I have to say I've been holding off from buying sets. There are definitely ones I want BUT I will wait to see if there are any sales. I am resisting the urge to buy day 1 or immediately. but the struggle is very real. Great video!!!
Watching Lego set reviews makes me want to buy Lego! I need to be careful there, but I have been very grateful many times for watching a review that made me realise a set I had not considered was actually awesome and I've been happy to buy it, no regrets. But taking a break from reviews and coming back to them every so often helps me not get caught up on buying the "ok but not a favourite" kind of sets, sets that I've later thought I didn't really care much about.
Very well said! Sometimes it’s just nice to hear I’m not the only one feeling this. I try to maintain a “priority” list of sets and projects that I want. And if a new flashy set or trend comes out, I just make sure it deserves jumping ahead on my priority list over a set I’ve been wanting for a year. GWPs and discounts usually throw a wrench in that plan though
I'm struggling a bit right now with the JAWS set. I like the movie (seen it several times even in the theater when it was released) but I'm not a "super fan" - I like the set and watched several reviews on it. It doesn't really "go with" other sets in my collection and I'm not really sure where I'd display it. I can for sure appreciate it - will love to build it so for that reason I'll probably buy it - CZcams definitely has influenced my buying decision process. Counter that with - I've perhaps only purchased one or two sets where I thought after I'd built it "I'm not quite sure why I bought this.... kind of wish I'd purchased something else...."
That's something that doesn't get talked about much: it's not just that Lego is expensive, but sets can also be quite large commpared to other collectibles or things you can make, like scale models or miniatures. They eat up a ton of shelf space.
I combat FOMO by waiting weeks or months before buying a set. If I still want it after the waiting period, I get it. I think the GWP can backfire as this fits with my waiting as I can get the set I took time to get with a GWP that I want. I work on being more selective with the sets I purchase. My FOMO doesn’t make Lego money as many of the sets I chase are long since retired so I get the FOMO for retired sets. Thankfully Lego is not touching my weaknesses for Castle as they are just letting those sets trickle out. My white whales happen to be the first series of castle ,especially the Yellow Castle and trains, the Mearsk is my favorite. Love the video.
As soon as I came across this title and thumbnail I knew exactly what you are talking about. Being an AFOL who doesn’t make a ton of money can be a little tough, lol
This summer has been a financial blow for me so its been easy staying away from the FOMO. Been focusing on my MOCs and my plethora of bins with parts in it…taking a long break from official sets for the duration of 2024…waiting until my finances are plump enough. I also sold 90% of my sealed sets for a hefty sum. I guess im downsizing, descaling, and pulling back my LEGO Hobby Operations for the time being haha
I've struggled with FOMO but I think I've finally come to grips with buying only what I really "want" vs all the sets I really like. I just don't have the money/time/space for all the new sets that I think are great. I needed to focus on just my favorites. Also, while reddit is filled with "resellers are scum" hot takes, the boom of Lego resellers means you will always be able to find sets years after their retirement (and often without the extreme markup as maybe 10+ years ago). So if you miss out on a set at retail, you'll always be able to buy it.
I have a handful of ‘must-have before they retire’ sets and admire the rest at a distance. Space is a serious issue and I’ve got hundreds of sets boxed up and stored away as it is.
Avoiding content unfortunately seems to be the way forward for me. I regret many of my purchases but am too attached to them to sell them - FOMO is a problem for me and I’m not proud of it at all. I now only look at CZcams a couple of times a week to see what videos it suggests for Harry Potter leaks and try to avoid the rest. I’m also learning I don’t need every set in the range I collect - for example Harry Potter - I don’t particularly like some of the object sets so I’ve stopped buying those. Just castle and minifig scale items.
Ultimately it comes down to personal willpower. It helps to a degree to ask yourself genuine questions: What am I buying this for? Do I need to get it now? Are there other things that could be better spent on? Do I really need this? That last question is incredibly problematic, because Lego isn't a necessity, it's a luxury - a desirable. There isn't a 'need' to buy Lego, with the possible exception of being a toy seller. Buying Lego can almost become addictive. The reason why one buys Lego, along with the quantity we purchase is very personal, with a whole variety of reasons that will differ from person to person. So, there's no silver bullet answer. It's also important to note that, buyers remorse (which is a possible consequence of acting out on FOMO), is for me, much worse. The silver lining is you can sell Lego. Although for some, having the mental strength of letting go also requires personal willpower...
wonderful video and channel. I’m a HUGE collector and really appreciate the humility and reality you tapped into this video. thank you, keep on rocking, and as always… keep on bricking.
My biggest problem with Lego is that when I look at old catalogues I still want to collect almost every single series. I want Mars Mission sets, every single one of them was memorable, despite having same colour scheme, I want Vikings and every single fantasy castle set. I crave Bionicle. Gimme all space police sets, new and old. Star wars sets? They were great. City? Despite repetition it was solid. Nowadays i rarely want 3 in 10 sets, and out of these I can afford only one. And not because lack of money, but because I can't justify getting other two when I can get other things. Also, a lot of GwP sets should be regular sets. That's just something everyone can agree on.
Lego Killed my FOMO for the new Technic McLaren P1. I was already to spend $450 to get this Day 1 but they excluded the P1 set from being eligible to obtain the Space Babies GWP. I think this is the first time they have excluded an individual set. They have excluded entire themes all the time but not sets that I can recall. I don’t think it is because you get the P1 GWP because if you bought Barad Dur you got the Fells Beast and the regular GWP same with D&D I just got the Mimic and the Candy Shop.
That was odd I thought too - I'm not too sure why - perhaps LEGO thought people would buy several qualifying sets anyhow - I know the Dark Falcon went backorder almost immediately - my order didn't show backorder for that until a day later (on the 2nd) - I had that and the City Crane so received all 3 GWP
That was a very strange decision of Lego to exclude P1 from the GWP considering the price is far more than twice the $200 to get the Space Babies set. If you get a GWP for spending $200, surely it is reasonable to get two GWP if you are spending $450? Although they almost stopped me spending $200 twice to get 2 Space baby GWP by insisting it was one GWP per household, which also seems unfair. So it was just ONE GWP even if you spent over $400 which by all rights should have got you TWO GWP, maybe Lego thinks everyone earns $250,000 per year and has no problem spending $400+ on a plastic toy, they do not reward you for spending $400+ that is for sure.
Loved this video. As a 40 year old who only started getting into Lego at the start of the year, I have years and years of fomo to discover. Fortunately being that bit older I am able to take a step back and streamline my Lego purchases so they touch on multiple interests. I’m also able to realise that I just don’t have the time or money to purchase everything I may want, and that’s ok. I do worry that with the advent or pay in 4 cards, and easy credit, that some younger people may get themselves into trouble with impulse purchases etc. But like you say, none of that is going away anytime soon!
Your video speaks to one of my interests. In following LEGO on CZcams, it has been fascinating to watch Lego’s influence via CZcams and, conversely, CZcams’s influence on Lego.
Lego has very cleverly taken advantage of CZcams and social media to act as an extension of, maybe even replacement of, traditional advertising and PR. Why spend big wad of money on ads or PR people when you can ply CZcamsrs with free pre-release sets and get them to provide all the hype for you?
@@janets3094 Anyone studying marketing in school should write a thesis or disseration on how Lego markets and manipulates: it's masterful from a business perspective (as icky as it feels to be on the receiving end).
Nowadays, all companies that are focused on collectors rely heavily on FOMO. And I would say that Lego is not the worst case. I used to collect miniatures from one wargame, there were monthly releases, preorders, exlusive limited time offers and so on I like your "Build smaller" advice. I saw some small dioramas and scenes with minifigures (like 2 walls, small base and a figure) on instagram and I think they are also cool and maybe even more creative than a big city that was made only from modulars Personally I try to deal with FOMO by limiting themes. I'm not interested in most of the licensed stuff, so I collect mostly City and Castle. And speaking about City, I try to collect subthemes like current Jungle Explorers first, and some basic firetrucks and ambulances last. I'm sure, that if I need a firetruck or an ambulance for my city there always be one on the market, but a new release of something jungle related could happen in 3 years or even more
FOMO exists in one of my other hobbies (diamond painting). For that, I’ve created a wish list. Canvases go in and out of stock. But it gives me something to consider once it comes back in stock, do I still really want it? So, essentially, I let things marinate for awhile before I consider purchasing.
I just saw your FOMO video today having just said to myself yesterday - after buying a new set that I probably shouldn’t have - am I in some sort of endless cycle of “THAT is the set I gotta have…” Your diagnosis of FOMO is spot on and I definitely agree that I need to put aside these influencer videos that seem to make every new set thee set to get. Thanks for this Lego PSA!
I really appreciate the thoughtful approach you take to this issue on your channel. I feel like I had terrible FOMO when I first got into LEGO with Harry Potter sets, but quickly realized that I could not and would not collect them all. I've gotten a lot better about limiting myself to purchasing sets and themes that I really love (mostly modular buildings with a bit of medieval/fantasy or holiday sets mixed in these days), but I do admittedly feel compelled to buy each current modular building before retirement. I'm running out of display space and many of the sets coming out these days are very large (I couldn't even fit the Dungeons and Dragons set in my IKEA Billy bookcase without modifying it because the dock jutted out too far), so that has also helped discourage me from buying all the sets I'm interested in since I have nowhere to put them.
Thank you for your well done explanations on this perverse effect. I'm certainly concerned because I often feel a urge to buy sets which can be retired or parts because I have a big moc in mind and I want to build it the sooner possible. There is an addiction danger here and I'm goong to let it go just a little bit.
This is a highly valuable analysis. Dare I say - since you just posted it - the wisdom here will be underrated. Hope you get lots of views for this one. Great work on tapping into many of our mindsets
18:15 That's interesting. I am autistic, as is my son. I use Lego as a way to decompress when I am feeling overwhelmed. It focuses my hands and my mind and when I have finished the world always feels more manageable.
Fomo is a big issue for any product centric hobby. I have to calm myself each time something i might be interested in comes out. Sure, I may want it, but do i truly WANT it.
Like so many others I struggle with fomo too. But it’s not limited to Lego. It’s also books, movies or TV shows or clothes. FOMO affects us in so many ways and across so many different fields of interest. Thank you for shedding 💡on the this subject.
When I got back into Lego with Blacksmith in 2021, I chose to go "only preindustrial" to avoid this exact FOMO and I'm so glad. I nabbed 2 Barracuda Bay before discontinue. With no Castle sets I found Monkie Kid & Ninjago sets with swords & hand weapons. I built a 2x Blacksmith and a 3x Black Falcon Knight Castle off Rebrickable. Ideas Treehouse into Forestmen huts. I now have enough builds for an amazing fantasy world. D&D set, Forest Hideout, both regular size and mega-size Majisto Workshops. Cashed in points to get $200 off Rivendell. Next year I can get Barad Dur. Because I'm not spending my budget on tiny vintage castles for $350 or on an Eiffel Tower or Star Destroyer. The biggest project will be the landscape connecting all the builds. Just building the 4 or 5 projects from BDP rounds 3 & 4 that fit my theme will keep me busy all 2025!
I am currently successfully fending off FOMO for the modular line up. Its been pretty easy since theyre all in the hundreds range. I am tempted to get the bookstore or museum as my first as a birthday gift to myself. Im just afraid itll be a slippery slope.
I am blessed since I only care for Lego made before 2002. There are no new releases that can cause FOMO. I bought the blacktron cruiser didn't open it, realized that I dont care and sold it for profit. Defining what to collect really helps. I am interested in islander sets, but I am not going to buy them, since its not what I am collecting.
Fascinating video. I personally do not have any issues with FOMO with LEGO, and sometimes I watch the videos because I know that I will never actually get the set, and I can still vicariously enjoy the set through the video. But I for sure do see FOMO it as a big problem in the community.
"Caveat emptor" -- buyer beware -- is essential for being a consumer of any product -- from safety, to value, to impact of advertising and marketing pressures on our choices. Any hobby/past time can go from healthy pleasure to damaging pathology. I'm a psychotherapist (degreed/credentialed -- NYS licensed) and have noticed the potential for negative impact on mental health and finances of Lego FOMO, anxiety, depression, OCD -- and the pursuit of being a completist. Very cool that you're a political scientist (if I understood). I have massive Lego collection with "modern classics" if not vintage per se -- but slowing down and a new-found interest in micro building sets or MOCs. Thanks for contributing to the consumer awareness info.
I'm glad you stepped in as a mental health professional to talk about this. I see this topic as a microcosm of the widespread negative mental health impacts of social media and the Internet in general. Keeping up with the Joneses is hardly a new urge, but having millions of Joneses in your face every time you turn on a screen is. I see people in the comments here talking about regret, addiction, pain, etc. Surely, something is horribly wrong when a hobby--or the way one approaches a hobby--centering on kids' building blocks causes mental anguish.
@@SO-ym3zs I agree with your general observations -- I think we are pressured/manipulated by corporate and marketing forces so that out past times and hobbies are almost used against us to empty our pockets and ruin the joy of the hobby. Thanks for your comment.
I think my biggest problem when a new wave drops(for example the brand new star wars August wave that just dropped), is that it feels like i have to get the set now because of all the youtubers doing reviews on them and that gives me the FOMO. When i totally could have waited six months for a 20-25% off sale on Amazon or something lol.
I counter it by making videos on how to make your own MOCs in the same concept of the set in Lego studio atleast and can take months to bring the set into reality. Also My Lego city is just a fun still pleasing to the eyes collection of my old and new sets on an 8 foot by 4 foot table in the living room... It doesn't have ils plats or is all llego but it's a city that gets my sets off the shelves into a play space. And if you must have it all be bricks you can make a dyorma that honestly could be just a baseplate if not smaller. So yeah the best way to combat FOMO is to be creative with what yiouy currently have or can afford.
FOMO has cost me a bunch of money, in investing. Set a budget and stick to it. There will always be a good deal around the corner and missing out on a hobby object has little impact on your life.
I've noticed that I have pretty much an addiction on securing every interesting Lego set into my inventory. I don't think it's financially the best move, and the sets take up a lot of space. Somehow they've managed to get me hooked. I've also wondered if it would be more profitable to take the money I invest into Lego and invest it into stocks or something instead, and then later if I have a lot of money I can use it to buy retired sets if I really do want them. But yeah, it's getting out of hand for me, I just need to restrict myself not to buy sets even if it hurts that they will retire before I'm able to get them.
The timing of this video is spot on as I've been struggling with fomo pretty bad lately. I suppose all the August releases aren't helping, and what's worse, are the people that found them early. Sets I really have no interest in, yet felt the need to run to Walmart or Target and see if I could be so lucky. I collect 90% Star Wars and am super content with what I have, however again with all the youtube content, I almost blew $180 on another Falcon I don't need (mostly for the figs) and a way overpriced starship, again for the minifig. A fig, btw (Jedi Bob) I've had zero desire to own previously. It's absolutely crazy. I still don't feel like the figure is anything special, yet my brain keeps saying, ahhh you should probably get this because everyone is talking about it.
That's one of the dangers to mental health that social media has amplified a million fold. Wanting to "keep up with the Joneses" is hardly new, but having thousands and thousands of Joneses in your face whenever you use your phone or computer really amplifies that self-destructive drive we tend to feel. And remember that in the case you mention, a lot of the people talking about a figure or set are getting paid to talk about it and make you want it. They're manipulating you. Which is why I quit watching any Lego-sponsored channel or any channel that is about hype/collecting/spending money instead of real substance.
This is a great video! Our species is FOMO Sapiens. I’m actually very grateful to be me. Very lucky. I build Castle/Fantasy MODs/MOCs. But I’m a jerk. I have very very strong opinions of what I love and hate. I admit it. I own up to it. I build (love) Black Falcons, Forestmen, Wolfpack, Snow Guardian, Bat Knights, and a few factions I’ve created from miscellaneous Minifigure parts. I look for plant parts and all animals. The rest is junk. I look at sets for parts. Lego sets in themselves are pretty much junk builds; facades are a farce. I feel bad for anyone that is obsessed with Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter. But I am grateful for these themes because they make great parts for my builds, and keep Lego alive. I’m a jerk. I own up to it. I get really bothered by people who have massive tabletop builds. It causes me great unease. I own up to it. I get bothered by people who have drawers and drawers of pieces just sitting there, unused, hoarded. I get bothered by people who have 1000 Minifigure armies. I get bothered by massive medium stone gray builds. These things cause me great unease. I admit it. I see people obsessed. I see people compulsive. I see people drowning in FOMO. The cure is to be a jerk at the right time. Own up to it. Focus. Get some sleep. All we have is now, and there it goes.
I've definitely had FOMO and brought more retired sets rather than new sets this year as i could not afford those sets previously now I'm older i can but i still can go back and get them however this also takes away from getting newer sets perpetuating this cycle so to combat this i try to keep to certain themes and price ranges however I've had more income so I've increased the cost of the sets i can actually buy now entering that £250 range before I'd just about spend £100 on a single set. 1. Star Wars 2. Speed Champions 3. Technic 4. Ninjago 5. City (Police) The only themes i care about and with the 25th anniversary i would like to get all the sets but i obviously know that can't happen would be nice but gotta be the R2D2, Star Destroyer, Skiff and Mauls ship from phantom menace (dont really care for that one outside of Saw lol). I would have loved to get the Droideka and UCS intercepter but all of this is just star wars i haven't even looked at the other themes 💀💀💀🤣🤣🤣😩 lol and it also didn't help i brought more retired stuff this year so i have to cut that out 😅. Marvel has some cool stuff coming out too, and The Technic Supercars at least the Sian i would like to have in my collection and I know I'm gonna have to pay a lot for that set. But I'm not impressionable i won't just buy something just because someone else has it i literally couldn't afford the Venator so I don't mind watching reviews or seeing it in shorts but sets like the 25th anniversary Star Destroyer something within my price range i guess i get a bit annoyed that others have it before i do. GWP i also despise as most of these sets could easily be £25-35 sets sold separately/be widely available.
I realized I was too into buying sets and disliked the building process. So, I ended up selling a bunch of LEGO star wars sets sealed and felt much better. I was just comfort buying. Yeah I need to get checked. lol
My bank account solves FOMO for me, 💀 In all seriousness, the fact that LEGO has gotten so expensive over the years, the decline in quality of some of the themes (lookin' at you, _Star Wars_), and the fact most of the sets out there just don't interest me to begin with, I'm forced to pick and choose what I buy, so for the most part, I don't even worry about FOMO.
Great video! Personally I avoid Haul videos, and it was something that I decided never to do in my channel, even if they seem to be highly successful, because I really don't want to contribute to people's FOMO in that way. Also I control my budget in a funny way. I need to earn my LEGO money. I daily control stuff like exercise and what I eat, and the healthier the choices, more money I get, up to a max of 10 euros a day, that is extremely hard to achieve, usually on average I reach half of that. So I feed one urge by controlling my other urges :D I'm weird, I know :D
u can buy everything 2nd hand it just takes 2x as much money which just means waiting a bit longer. there’s literally no reason for fomo. especially when half the impossibly rare sets are 99% generic parts
Don't buy lego as an investment. Don't buy things you aren't excited to immediately build just because you might want it later. Don't buy a $300 set because it has minifigures of some character that never got a minifigure before. Only buy things that genuinely excite you the first time you see them.
For those also suffering from FOMO, have you heard of sand mandalas? Buddhist monks build these intricate designs from sand particles, a laborious task, only to then sweep or blow them away when they are done. It teaches detachment. I known it might be against every fiber of your being (or not, i don't know you), but maybe its time to build a Lego mandala from your most treasured sets, so to speak
Is it still "Fear of Missing Out", if you resisted buying the set and now live in sad wimpering noises regret that you did not buy it, and now its so expensive I cant buy it? I have a rule, I will NEVER pay more than the retail price for any Lego set, if they are charging more than the RRP then I will not buy it. This rule tends to make my fear of missing out far worse, but it stops me getting fleeced. I never bought the Fishing Tackle Shop, at the time I had nowhere to put it, now I do have a place...but I do not have it and there is nothing even similar to it that I could get. So is it still FOMO if you did not buy something and now bitterly regret that very poor decision you made and your own rule prevents you rectifying that awful choice I made? I do not tend to regret buying sets, I regret not buying sets, so do I need MORE "Fear Of Missing Out"? Im thinking my "FOMO" levels are way too low, I need to start taking FOMO Tablets to increase my FOMO levels, I clearly needs a Vitamin FOMO booster shot so I can stop living in sad regret at missing out.
My $.02: step back and put it in perspective. These are plastic toys, and they won't change your life or make you a better person. Can they be fun to build and look at? Of course, but if they're even indirectly generating negative feelings and making you unhappy, it's possible you should alter your relation to the hobby or simply leave it. Hobbies are supposed to be fun, things you can learn from and grow with and build relationships around, not things that leave you with bitter regret, as you say. I had a different hobby where I started to go down that FOMO path, saw what was happening, left it, and sold it all off. Much happier now. And I have more money for things that are more rewarding.
I've only been 'in the hobby' for little over a year, but I've already stopped watching haul video. They're all the same anyway and I don't care how much someone buys; I'm interested with the builds or how they use sets or parts in interesting ways. I don't use most social media either; YT is the main one. It probably also helps that I have very specific likes and dislikes when it comes to Lego. For instance I have no interest in Lego Star Wars, vehicles in general (with just a select few exceptions) and the vast majority of non minifig scale stuff. The area where I think I have the most FOMO when it comes to Lego is with discounts.
Yes, FOMO is very, very real and can be an extremely expensive way of building Lego. I love Lego however every day if not twice daily I receive promotional emails from Lego. I agree social media is here to stay, however Lego can dial it down a tad bit. These days, I rarely click on the emails to see what's on offer as I know I don't have the finances to purchase the sets anyway, nor the storage capacity!!!! However, I do have an inventory of my Lego on a spreadsheet in my Excel file and at the bottom of this inventory I place sets I'd like to save up for to purchase when funds allow and then build and display in my Lego room.
Very good video!! The outro is good ... this is not just about lego! I believe teaching capitalist marketing tactics should be tought in school so people would grow more aware and less "manipulated" ❤
"Oh my gawd I LAV this set it's amazing Lego did a wonderful job the printing is immaculate we rarely ever get such good products out of Lego this is definitely the one to get can you believe this OMG TWO hands on this minifigure it portrays the character so so so well I'm just in love with this set what's this printed pieces oh my gawd Lego you're making me high I want you Lego guys go buy this set it's definitely worth the money trust me I have built thousands of sets this is one of the better ones also Lego please continue giving me free sets I'm right here take me to Billund I love you Lego AHHHHHHH!"
Many CZcamsrs seem more interested in the minifigures than the builds. When 50% of a video is dedicated to a small percentage of a sets pieces, its telling. Its all about buying sets for figures and for me, thats not what Lego is about.
Limiting social media is a big one for me. Watching too many videos on my hobby tends to make me buy more things I don't need. I don't cut out social media but I carefully curate what I watch.
Good point. If I watch too many videos about a certain set I feel like I have to buy it so I don't miss out.
@@marijn8057 That phenomenon is made even tougher because of all the LAN/Lego-sponsored videos and the way CZcamsrs generate income. Breathless hype (or, less commonly, the flip side of controversy or unwarranted negativity) is what's going to drive views and make CZcamsrs money, and Lego is essentially paying the LAN channels to promote their product, so you get this seemingly endless wave of Lego CZcams videos implying that your life will only be complete if you buy brand new set X.
I'm actually going to counter that. When I watch a review of a set or a speed build, that will often satisfy my appetite for the set, as opposed to wanting it more. Basically I build the set vicariously through that CZcams video. Of course everyone is different, and there are certain sets that are an automatic for me no matter what others are doing.
What about ads or child hood memories of sets? Like social media(Which CZcams is not it's a creative platfom.) Like I got Lego Fomo as a young kid in the '00s from the catalog... And that was when I only knew about Club penguin which had not product infulncers or press.
@@GreenBlueWalkthrough Similar yeah. As a younger man I used to enjoy TV shows and magazines about cars. It made me think about getting the next car when I hadn't finished paying off the one I was driving. I cut all that out and learned to be happy with what I had and it save me a ton of money over the years. :)
Very interesting presentation.
One thing I like about your presentations is that you are able to have a long discussion without video cuts. Most social media influencers cannot get one to two sentences out without having to have a video cut. Your profession as a professor shows though in your public speaking quality and presentation.
Thank you!
Hear hear! I love the longer format, intelligent discussion approach too. The Lego Professor at work!
Definitely an inspiration for academics.
Very interesting points. I combat my FOMO by limiting my thematic range, only focusing on Star Wars and pop culture sets, but also by focusing on Playscale builds and trying to get one build per ship or thing I want and then breaking down other versions I have. I have also switched to getting custom builds often (and making YT videos of those 😂 ) instead of the official versions. All of that said, I still spend what I think is too much money, several thousand per year.
Limiting yourself to specific themes is what I do too...although they keep getting me with new ones.
@@ZachBobBob Yeah, then they start making Lord of the Rings sets again, and the all cost 400+ 😅
I am glad you bring out this topic about FOMO. I often reflect about my relationship between Lego. Do I have the freedom to choose and play the Lego I like to play with OR Lego is manipulating me to buy more. I have been struggling FOMO for years, it was like an addiction to me. The attachment was intense. I had the opportunity to scale down my collection when I moved to North America from Asia. I selected the best collections to keep and the rest just letting go. I still have FOMO now and the intensity has been lessen. Recently, I watch less video about Lego especially, hauling one. Limit my self space for display and storing my Lego. If I really want to buy new stuff, old stuff must go to maintain balance. Often questioning my self, "Do I really want this?" Looking back, my old pattern used to find many reasons to persuade myself to make a purchase. After bought it, the excitement fade out, "Just another set" flowed in my mind then I felt empty and quickly set another goal to make another purchase to keep up my happiness. Now I will give myself 3 to 6 months to cool down before deciding my purchase. It takes time, self-awareness and determination to deal with my Lego FOMO. This is a meaningful topic and worth further discussion.
Thanks for adressing this topic that most big LEGO CZcamsrs irresponsibly miss out. They get all these huge pricey sets for FREE to review to pressure their viewers waste hundred of dollars on day one or they could miss out the next big thing.
Who exactly is saying"you must gtet this now?" exactly the dozen "Big" channels I watch just say it's worth it or not... Not you need to buy it.
@@GreenBlueWalkthroughName one LAN member who says a set ain't worth it? They all use negative thumbnails as click bait then their conclusion is always a safe one so they can keep getting more free Lego.
You click on their videos to watch them, they don't force you to do it. And I haven't yet seen any Lego YTer saying "Buy it on day one", seems like you are projecting your tendencies on them.
@@FlymanMS Yes, they don’t force you, but the video does. And there are definitely some CZcamsrs that do say a day one purchase lmao. Maybe you just haven’t experienced it yet 🤷🏼♂️
Lego has slowly brainwashed new generations into making them believe their product are there to display, rather to unbuild and recycled into infinite new builds as it was more encouraged 20-30 years ago
This is such a great point. As a casual adult builder, I actually just like the relaxed instruction build and display but as a kid I didn't have any of my lego dispayed. I'd build with the instructions once and in 24 hrs it was broken down so I could make the stuff I really wanted from my imagination.
They used to have nice boxes with separate compartments with hinged lids. I used to build a set display it for awhile then take it apart and put back in the box to rebuild again later.
1. The Release schedule is good. I like having new stuff leaked every so often
2. Number of products is getting annoying - however, the fewer sets they release, the less likely it is that we get something worthwhile (it is annoying with keeping up with series like ninjago - I hate missing out on cool sets that I might not even need / want, but I like checking the completion box.
3. Big influencers - I like watching some of them (reviews sometimes really help me not only decide if I should buy a set - or if it's worth the very high price, but they help me enjoy sets I just bought because I liked it, but didn't have the space to build and display them).
4. Big displays - I agree we should all build smaller, I for one am starved for a nice small / medium Castle set (and I usually like doing smaller builds ) - however a castle .... it just can't be made small.
I do HATE it when the LEGO group makes blatant moves that prey on FOMO (like the limited edition GWPs - that don't even have the proper pieces or prints - looking at you, Majisto's GWP and the silly blacktron not having printed consoles T_T ). I would have liked proper market released sets that had full prints (they could have been a bit pricier ) and the proper parts for the Majisto set ...
Regarding Tiago, it's true that he will sometimes talk about a set negatively, but at the end of the day, he's sponsored by Lego and used to work for them, and he's surely not going to bite the hand that feeds him. I also find his reviews to generally be superficial and sometimes sloppily researched. Jang is a much better choice for English-language reviews: independent, knowledgeable, and observant, if a bit rambling and talky at times.
I struggle with FOMO as someone who wants to grow as a LEGO content creator while maintaining a full time job! For August 2024, that meant I needed to set a hard budget on what I can get, which meant I had to find innovative ways to build the Jaws set from smaller sets instead of buying it outright!
I applaud your innovation. Doing it your way will teach you far more about design and creation, and saving money is a great skill in itself that will prove invaluable in many ways. MOC your way to greatness!
Nice I just do MOCs using the concept of the set in lego studio and maybye months later IRL if I find the budget.
Zero problems with fomo. I just buy what I like.
Well if you can afford that good for you XD
My wife would freak out if I just bought what I want because that's way over 1k for Lion knights Castle, Mountain Fortress and Rivendell ... Oh and then there is also the medieval town and so on
I already have the Viking village which should be enough for me she says..
@@darkroy610 Lego is my outlet, I love it. I don't let my wife or anyone else tell me what I can and can't do with it. She has her own stupid stuff I would never spend money on but I don't tell her you can or can't. I can't stand when women tell their men what they can and can't do. Just my opinion.
It’s tough. Being a fan and wanting to build (which is my favorite part). I am always looking for the next build. I am getting better at being more selective and patient. This was a great topic.
you can also just build with the blocks you have right? you dont have to buy new
@@dicedoom7162 I do that a lot myself, but the issue that OP probably suffers (along with me) is that repeatedly building the same builds over and over again can get tedious, so you want to switch things up every now and again
The only real times I get LEGO fomo is when there's a GWP I really like. When I start to feel fomo about not having a giant city or display, I imagine having to dust it. That cures me pretty instantly.
FOMO IS REAL 💀 I'm always thinking they are going to run out of something. And Ill miss out. Really bad addiction. Its so hard to block out all the promotions and social media. Great discussion!
I'd look at it this way if it's causing you problems: there will always be more cool sets. If you miss one now, another one that interests you is sure to pop up in a month or year. And ask yourself, has missing a set ever caused you any real harm? Has it negatively impacted your life? Or is the harm coming from the cycle of desire?
Yes, I learned that even though I like the set so much, I’ll wait for it to go on sale for 20% or even less if it’s possible nowadays… Day one purchase is honestly just a flex if we’re being honest. It doesn’t make the set any more special. And you won’t really miss out because it’s Lego and they will keep making these sets until they retire. Of course it will sell out on day one but it will restock in just a couple of weeks. Jedi bob was out of stock last week but my local target has many sitting now 😂
Also, I’ve been dealing with FOMO when it comes to Lego customs like GCC, LC, CHB, etc. It’s really bad and I’ve spent maybe over $200 in the last few months just for a couple of named figures 😅
Knowing that most LEGO CZcamsrs are sponsored and get LEGO for free helps me avoid FOMO.
They aren't sponsored by Lego, Lego sends certain influencers sets early to generate more awareness for the sets and to get constructive criticism for them. It also helps Lego see how popular the sets will be.
I appreciate you discussing this topic which we rarely see with LEGO. Your points made a lot of sense and the way you explained was very clear.
Definitely an struggle for me, most of the time i try to ask myself if a set includes a build or minifigures i would use in my own builds frequently or if it would become a dust collector
This is one of my favorite videos you’ve done. This is an issue I have with pretty much everything I collect. I have a FOMO problem for sure so this was a lot of fun
Thank you
Thanks!
Another great video. Your channel is my favorite. Original thoughts and some great insights.
The first couple years of me collecting I struggled with FOMO. I needed everything. All the sets. Even themes or sets that looking back on I didn’t even care for that much.
Now my strategy is to not buy anything day one if I wait 3, 6, or even 12 months and have forgotten about a set I don’t need it. If I still want it at that point I’ll get it, and by then it should also be on sale or at a discount.
Such a great video. LEGO in social media is a double edged sword, and I think it's worth recognizing the positives too. On CZcams, reddit, etc. you can preview, and in a large sense experience LEGO that's otherwise too expensive, or takes up too much space, is too time consuming to build, etc. As a long time LEGO fan, there are thousands of sets that I've wanted to own over the years. More and more of them are showcased online in the form of speed builds, reviews, mods, and MOCs. With a certain amount of self control, watching builds and reviews can actually decrease FOMO and save money. I love that this video touched on agency. That word is so empowering.
Thank you for this video. A great reminder on how to keep it real, for myself personally. I broke my cycle of FOMO once I ran out of space to display. That, and tubs of disassembled sets as well. No more room! Looking back, I realized it didn’t really want/need about 25%-40% of it. I have regrets. Now I’m more selective. Again, great video!!
It's hard not to get caught up in the "hype" and FOMO can set it for sure. For me what has worked is knowing that I may never get all in a collection - I'm very fond of vintage City Space - those were my first sets as a young person back in the late 70's early 80's and I think that lots of people have traumatic memories of their parent selling their LEGO at a garage sale or giving it away to their friends/family. eBay and on-line forums sometimes makes things worse since you can with a couple of clicks recapture what was lost. I really try to focus on a theme or a series and look at each set and decide if I really want the set individually or if I just want to collect it all keeping in mind that for whatever reason it may be difficult or next to impossible to obtain everything in that collection.
I agree. I try to limit my hobbies to just Lego, fishing and cycling. It is not just Lego FOMO. All hobbies have a certain degree of FOMO. Fishing, for example, I have been tempted to travel far and wide to catch something bigger.
Back to Lego - I don't buy at RRP. I wait for sale and the minimum sale discount I look out for now is a minimum 20% off. There are many times that I hold on to a purchase even if it was at 20% off. There is a saying in Hong Kong that largely translates to "Buy Early, Enjoy Early. Buy Late, Enjoy Discount".
I limit my Lego collection to fit my dream Lego City layout. Buildings or vehicles that can fit into my Lego City plan will definitely be purchased. I am into Lego Castle and the Botanical series as well. The one single Lego category I avoid is Lego StarWars. This helped me sink slower into the Lego bottomless pit.
l try to include Lego shopping when I travel. I went to Japan recently for a holiday and I bought 20 Pick-A-Brick boxes and more than 50 Build-A-Minifigure. (largely because the selection in Japan is way better than where I am and of course the weak Japanese currency).
Very interesting video and topic. The FOMO is real and it is important to fight it. Personally I think that channels like yours help. Let me explain: At some point I think I watched all the major LEGO contributors on CZcams and slowly started realizing that what they had is impossible to achieve to 99% of us. From this point I realized something else, in most cases, hard earned cash is not a factor since LEGO provides a lot of youtubers with products...some of them weeks ahead of release dates. So I heavily reduced my screen time on these videos that either start or end with "and thank you to LEGO for providing this copy...". This is a major no no for me. I even considered like yourself, that some of them, despite this "sponsorship" from LEGO were realistic and honest, such as Tiago Catarino ( I am also portuguese) but I think no matter what these content creators say....they will never be 100% honest. They either got the copy from the company and you do not spit where you eat (portuguese expression) or, you have reached a level of making such a level of income that you can buy sets just for the sake of buying them. The straw that broke the camels back for me with Tiago Catarino was the review of this chewbacca set from Star Wars. The thing is appaling. There is no other way of looking at it but with your wallet and voting to not buy it. Still the guy was defending LEGO....for trying something new, for the typical "think outside the box" speech. At that time I realized more and more....that this type of content is not for me. My content is channels like yours....where you actually see someone that does not make a life out of this...and like myself, has to struggle with a budget for LEGO...and if you buy a set, it comes out of your pocket and cuts other sets you could possibly buy. So yeah, for me, I do not watch any early reviews and stuff like that. I watch reviews of sets after a month or so of release date, from curated creators....but I think I am not the majority so....
I quit watching and unsubscribed all Lego-sponsored channels. I find them at best ethically dubious, at worst ethically offensive, for their clear and shameful conflict of interest, as well as how some of them promote outrageously conspicuous consumption. They give off such an icky vibe of manipulating people and catering to their worst motivations (spend, spend, spend in the false hope it'll bring happiness). I much prefer non-sponsored, intelligent channels like this one that a) aren't in Lego's pocket, and b) have something thought provoking to say.
Tiago is realistic...You can't discuss someone's taste. If he thinks Chubacca is a quality product, than it is. You don't need to like it. And he often advise not to buy if not on discount.
@@ljupkadobrosavljevic8267 exactly. Taste is subjective. So like I said, for me, I stay away from reviewers that receive items from LEGO as I have my doubts on the information/opinion I am being given. But that is me. Tiago is doing great for himself and does not need me watching his videos. :)
I’m glad you addressed that it is a bigger issue than Lego alone. I do thank that as consumers we should try to hold them accountable, but I also think there are major limitations on how much effect we can actually have when they are just trying to increase profits.
The biggest thing that helped me was getting into other hobbies. I sew and play multiple instruments, I’m trying to learn four languages and still maintaining my love of Lego. Focusing on MOCs and not collection helps as well.
I think this problem is only related to collectors
When I was as a kid or even right now as an adult I didn't really care about set, I just picked what was aviable at the moment and seemed nice and I think it applies to the majority of customers
I don’t struggle with it for LEGO sets, but I have been experiencing some fomo regarding LEGO CZcams as a content creator. Like “I would like to have more subscribers and views”, but there’s content creators out there with much better videos and maybe 10 to 1000 more views and they still need to have a day job, so I’ve realized it’s just best to make the videos I want to make. I’m still going to feel fomo even if I could have YT as my day job (which sounds like a nightmare to have once’s hobby as a job).
Great video. Limiting social media is a big thing, especially limiting viewing accounts that essentially just advertise Lego sets rather than delving deeper into MOCing or themes around Lego. Also stepping away from content creation has helped that a lot (not that I did much in the first place). I got into Lego for Lego not for social media, be that making content or being influenced.
For me, buying a house during a global financial crisis has been a pretty big wake up call but appreciate that’s not a situation a lot of people might find themselves in. But eventually being financially responsible has been important for me.
I think realising that Lego can be a demanding and dominating hobby has also helped me. I kinda forgot there are things to enjoy in life other than Lego.
I appreciate you making this video. My living space is small so I’ve had to become more discerning about the sets I buy. Now I mostly concentrate on minifigures and small vignette displays so I use Lego’s Pick-A-Brick service and Bricklink for new parts I’d like; but scouring those sites is in itself addicting, and then the FOMO is real with the worry that the parts I want will go out of stock, or that their prices will rise due to scarcity after a set retires, etc.
I too, struggle with my addiction to plastic crack.
For me it comes down to money. If I can't afford a set, I just accept that it's out of reach and I move on. Like most of us, I've lived my entire life not being able to achieve certain things because of impractical obstacles like location, money, availability, time, etc, and you just learn to deal with that instead of obsessing. However, there are ways to overcome the money issue, by saving up, finding cheaper options, or just biding your time, so it's not necessarily a dead end to give up on. I'm relatively new to collecting Lego, so I'm spending most of my money on catching up on sets I've wanted for a while, and after that has subsided I'll go back to one or two purchases a year again. I'll stick to ones I really want and can afford, which are not that many of them. There hasn't been any in the last few months of announcements and releases that pique my interest, even those in my favourite theme (medieval/castle) so I won't be getting the LOTR or DnD sets, for example, despite their spectacular intricacies. But I'm sure there's another one that will interest me coming out soon enough.
The FOMO is real...for me. The last 2 years I got back into collecting and I went a little crazy, thinking I needed it all. But as it always does, money and space became a problem. So, altho its only 3 months, I have to say I've been holding off from buying sets. There are definitely ones I want BUT I will wait to see if there are any sales. I am resisting the urge to buy day 1 or immediately. but the struggle is very real. Great video!!!
Watching Lego set reviews makes me want to buy Lego! I need to be careful there, but I have been very grateful many times for watching a review that made me realise a set I had not considered was actually awesome and I've been happy to buy it, no regrets. But taking a break from reviews and coming back to them every so often helps me not get caught up on buying the "ok but not a favourite" kind of sets, sets that I've later thought I didn't really care much about.
It used to be called, Keeping up with the Joneses. It actually applies to to all kinds of things, not just Lego. Thanks for addressing this.
Very well said! Sometimes it’s just nice to hear I’m not the only one feeling this. I try to maintain a “priority” list of sets and projects that I want. And if a new flashy set or trend comes out, I just make sure it deserves jumping ahead on my priority list over a set I’ve been wanting for a year. GWPs and discounts usually throw a wrench in that plan though
I'm struggling a bit right now with the JAWS set. I like the movie (seen it several times even in the theater when it was released) but I'm not a "super fan" - I like the set and watched several reviews on it. It doesn't really "go with" other sets in my collection and I'm not really sure where I'd display it. I can for sure appreciate it - will love to build it so for that reason I'll probably buy it - CZcams definitely has influenced my buying decision process. Counter that with - I've perhaps only purchased one or two sets where I thought after I'd built it "I'm not quite sure why I bought this.... kind of wish I'd purchased something else...."
Many people recommend waiting a few months to see if you still really want a set. That might be a great tactic for you to take with the Jaws set!
I have a 900 sq. ft. house, no basement, no attic, no garage, that does a pretty good job of keeping FOMO in check! 😂
That's something that doesn't get talked about much: it's not just that Lego is expensive, but sets can also be quite large commpared to other collectibles or things you can make, like scale models or miniatures. They eat up a ton of shelf space.
I combat FOMO by waiting weeks or months before buying a set. If I still want it after the waiting period, I get it. I think the GWP can backfire as this fits with my waiting as I can get the set I took time to get with a GWP that I want. I work on being more selective with the sets I purchase. My FOMO doesn’t make Lego money as many of the sets I chase are long since retired so I get the FOMO for retired sets. Thankfully Lego is not touching my weaknesses for Castle as they are just letting those sets trickle out. My white whales happen to be the first series of castle ,especially the Yellow Castle and trains, the Mearsk is my favorite. Love the video.
As soon as I came across this title and thumbnail I knew exactly what you are talking about. Being an AFOL who doesn’t make a ton of money can be a little tough, lol
This summer has been a financial blow for me so its been easy staying away from the FOMO. Been focusing on my MOCs and my plethora of bins with parts in it…taking a long break from official sets for the duration of 2024…waiting until my finances are plump enough. I also sold 90% of my sealed sets for a hefty sum. I guess im downsizing, descaling, and pulling back my LEGO Hobby Operations for the time being haha
I've struggled with FOMO but I think I've finally come to grips with buying only what I really "want" vs all the sets I really like. I just don't have the money/time/space for all the new sets that I think are great. I needed to focus on just my favorites.
Also, while reddit is filled with "resellers are scum" hot takes, the boom of Lego resellers means you will always be able to find sets years after their retirement (and often without the extreme markup as maybe 10+ years ago). So if you miss out on a set at retail, you'll always be able to buy it.
I watch one of the big CZcams Lego guys and he goes shopping nearly every video. And he posts every day! 🤯
I have a handful of ‘must-have before they retire’ sets and admire the rest at a distance. Space is a serious issue and I’ve got hundreds of sets boxed up and stored away as it is.
Avoiding content unfortunately seems to be the way forward for me. I regret many of my purchases but am too attached to them to sell them - FOMO is a problem for me and I’m not proud of it at all. I now only look at CZcams a couple of times a week to see what videos it suggests for Harry Potter leaks and try to avoid the rest. I’m also learning I don’t need every set in the range I collect - for example Harry Potter - I don’t particularly like some of the object sets so I’ve stopped buying those. Just castle and minifig scale items.
Ultimately it comes down to personal willpower. It helps to a degree to ask yourself genuine questions: What am I buying this for? Do I need to get it now? Are there other things that could be better spent on? Do I really need this? That last question is incredibly problematic, because Lego isn't a necessity, it's a luxury - a desirable. There isn't a 'need' to buy Lego, with the possible exception of being a toy seller. Buying Lego can almost become addictive. The reason why one buys Lego, along with the quantity we purchase is very personal, with a whole variety of reasons that will differ from person to person. So, there's no silver bullet answer. It's also important to note that, buyers remorse (which is a possible consequence of acting out on FOMO), is for me, much worse. The silver lining is you can sell Lego. Although for some, having the mental strength of letting go also requires personal willpower...
wonderful video and channel. I’m a HUGE collector and really appreciate the humility and reality you tapped into this video. thank you, keep on rocking, and as always… keep on bricking.
My biggest problem with Lego is that when I look at old catalogues I still want to collect almost every single series. I want Mars Mission sets, every single one of them was memorable, despite having same colour scheme, I want Vikings and every single fantasy castle set. I crave Bionicle. Gimme all space police sets, new and old.
Star wars sets? They were great. City? Despite repetition it was solid.
Nowadays i rarely want 3 in 10 sets, and out of these I can afford only one. And not because lack of money, but because I can't justify getting other two when I can get other things.
Also, a lot of GwP sets should be regular sets. That's just something everyone can agree on.
Lego Killed my FOMO for the new Technic McLaren P1. I was already to spend $450 to get this Day 1 but they excluded the P1 set from being eligible to obtain the Space Babies GWP. I think this is the first time they have excluded an individual set. They have excluded entire themes all the time but not sets that I can recall. I don’t think it is because you get the P1 GWP because if you bought Barad Dur you got the Fells Beast and the regular GWP same with D&D I just got the Mimic and the Candy Shop.
That was odd I thought too - I'm not too sure why - perhaps LEGO thought people would buy several qualifying sets anyhow - I know the Dark Falcon went backorder almost immediately - my order didn't show backorder for that until a day later (on the 2nd) - I had that and the City Crane so received all 3 GWP
That was a very strange decision of Lego to exclude P1 from the GWP considering the price is far more than twice the $200 to get the Space Babies set. If you get a GWP for spending $200, surely it is reasonable to get two GWP if you are spending $450?
Although they almost stopped me spending $200 twice to get 2 Space baby GWP by insisting it was one GWP per household, which also seems unfair. So it was just ONE GWP even if you spent over $400 which by all rights should have got you TWO GWP, maybe Lego thinks everyone earns $250,000 per year and has no problem spending $400+ on a plastic toy, they do not reward you for spending $400+ that is for sure.
Loved this video. As a 40 year old who only started getting into Lego at the start of the year, I have years and years of fomo to discover.
Fortunately being that bit older I am able to take a step back and streamline my Lego purchases so they touch on multiple interests.
I’m also able to realise that I just don’t have the time or money to purchase everything I may want, and that’s ok. I do worry that with the advent or pay in 4 cards, and easy credit, that some younger people may get themselves into trouble with impulse purchases etc. But like you say, none of that is going away anytime soon!
Your video speaks to one of my interests. In following LEGO on CZcams, it has been fascinating to watch Lego’s influence via CZcams and, conversely, CZcams’s influence on Lego.
Lego has very cleverly taken advantage of CZcams and social media to act as an extension of, maybe even replacement of, traditional advertising and PR. Why spend big wad of money on ads or PR people when you can ply CZcamsrs with free pre-release sets and get them to provide all the hype for you?
@@SO-ym3zs So true.
@@janets3094 Anyone studying marketing in school should write a thesis or disseration on how Lego markets and manipulates: it's masterful from a business perspective (as icky as it feels to be on the receiving end).
Nowadays, all companies that are focused on collectors rely heavily on FOMO. And I would say that Lego is not the worst case. I used to collect miniatures from one wargame, there were monthly releases, preorders, exlusive limited time offers and so on
I like your "Build smaller" advice. I saw some small dioramas and scenes with minifigures (like 2 walls, small base and a figure) on instagram and I think they are also cool and maybe even more creative than a big city that was made only from modulars
Personally I try to deal with FOMO by limiting themes. I'm not interested in most of the licensed stuff, so I collect mostly City and Castle. And speaking about City, I try to collect subthemes like current Jungle Explorers first, and some basic firetrucks and ambulances last. I'm sure, that if I need a firetruck or an ambulance for my city there always be one on the market, but a new release of something jungle related could happen in 3 years or even more
FOMO exists in one of my other hobbies (diamond painting). For that, I’ve created a wish list. Canvases go in and out of stock. But it gives me something to consider once it comes back in stock, do I still really want it? So, essentially, I let things marinate for awhile before I consider purchasing.
I just saw your FOMO video today having just said to myself yesterday - after buying a new set that I probably shouldn’t have - am I in some sort of endless cycle of “THAT is the set I gotta have…” Your diagnosis of FOMO is spot on and I definitely agree that I need to put aside these influencer videos that seem to make every new set thee set to get. Thanks for this Lego PSA!
I really appreciate the thoughtful approach you take to this issue on your channel. I feel like I had terrible FOMO when I first got into LEGO with Harry Potter sets, but quickly realized that I could not and would not collect them all. I've gotten a lot better about limiting myself to purchasing sets and themes that I really love (mostly modular buildings with a bit of medieval/fantasy or holiday sets mixed in these days), but I do admittedly feel compelled to buy each current modular building before retirement. I'm running out of display space and many of the sets coming out these days are very large (I couldn't even fit the Dungeons and Dragons set in my IKEA Billy bookcase without modifying it because the dock jutted out too far), so that has also helped discourage me from buying all the sets I'm interested in since I have nowhere to put them.
Thank you for your well done explanations on this perverse effect. I'm certainly concerned because I often feel a urge to buy sets which can be retired or parts because I have a big moc in mind and I want to build it the sooner possible. There is an addiction danger here and I'm goong to let it go just a little bit.
This is a highly valuable analysis. Dare I say - since you just posted it - the wisdom here will be underrated. Hope you get lots of views for this one. Great work on tapping into many of our mindsets
Even being aware of this, it is still difficult to hold back or wait. Thanks for the video!
Do y'all have an IG?
Yep! buildingtogether2021 is our handle. Unfortunately, we haven't been keeping up with it well, but hope to do better in the future!
18:15 That's interesting. I am autistic, as is my son. I use Lego as a way to decompress when I am feeling overwhelmed. It focuses my hands and my mind and when I have finished the world always feels more manageable.
Fomo is a big issue for any product centric hobby. I have to calm myself each time something i might be interested in comes out. Sure, I may want it, but do i truly WANT it.
Like so many others I struggle with fomo too. But it’s not limited to Lego. It’s also books, movies or TV shows or clothes. FOMO affects us in so many ways and across so many different fields of interest. Thank you for shedding 💡on the this subject.
Best thing to do is come off Instagram,Reddit,FB,TikTok then you only really buy the things you actually want.
When I got back into Lego with Blacksmith in 2021, I chose to go "only preindustrial" to avoid this exact FOMO and I'm so glad. I nabbed 2 Barracuda Bay before discontinue. With no Castle sets I found Monkie Kid & Ninjago sets with swords & hand weapons. I built a 2x Blacksmith and a 3x Black Falcon Knight Castle off Rebrickable. Ideas Treehouse into Forestmen huts. I now have enough builds for an amazing fantasy world. D&D set, Forest Hideout, both regular size and mega-size Majisto Workshops. Cashed in points to get $200 off Rivendell. Next year I can get Barad Dur. Because I'm not spending my budget on tiny vintage castles for $350 or on an Eiffel Tower or Star Destroyer. The biggest project will be the landscape connecting all the builds. Just building the 4 or 5 projects from BDP rounds 3 & 4 that fit my theme will keep me busy all 2025!
LEGO FOMO! It’s real and rough. 😂 great video!
Excellent video.. Food for thought.
I am currently successfully fending off FOMO for the modular line up. Its been pretty easy since theyre all in the hundreds range. I am tempted to get the bookstore or museum as my first as a birthday gift to myself. Im just afraid itll be a slippery slope.
I am blessed since I only care for Lego made before 2002.
There are no new releases that can cause FOMO. I bought the blacktron cruiser didn't open it, realized that I dont care and sold it for profit.
Defining what to collect really helps. I am interested in islander sets, but I am not going to buy them, since its not what I am collecting.
Fascinating video. I personally do not have any issues with FOMO with LEGO, and sometimes I watch the videos because I know that I will never actually get the set, and I can still vicariously enjoy the set through the video. But I for sure do see FOMO it as a big problem in the community.
"Caveat emptor" -- buyer beware -- is essential for being a consumer of any product -- from safety, to value, to impact of advertising and marketing pressures on our choices. Any hobby/past time can go from healthy pleasure to damaging pathology. I'm a psychotherapist (degreed/credentialed -- NYS licensed) and have noticed the potential for negative impact on mental health and finances of Lego FOMO, anxiety, depression, OCD -- and the pursuit of being a completist. Very cool that you're a political scientist (if I understood). I have massive Lego collection with "modern classics" if not vintage per se -- but slowing down and a new-found interest in micro building sets or MOCs. Thanks for contributing to the consumer awareness info.
I'm glad you stepped in as a mental health professional to talk about this. I see this topic as a microcosm of the widespread negative mental health impacts of social media and the Internet in general. Keeping up with the Joneses is hardly a new urge, but having millions of Joneses in your face every time you turn on a screen is. I see people in the comments here talking about regret, addiction, pain, etc. Surely, something is horribly wrong when a hobby--or the way one approaches a hobby--centering on kids' building blocks causes mental anguish.
@@SO-ym3zs I agree with your general observations -- I think we are pressured/manipulated by corporate and marketing forces so that out past times and hobbies are almost used against us to empty our pockets and ruin the joy of the hobby. Thanks for your comment.
I think my biggest problem when a new wave drops(for example the brand new star wars August wave that just dropped), is that it feels like i have to get the set now because of all the youtubers doing reviews on them and that gives me the FOMO. When i totally could have waited six months for a 20-25% off sale on Amazon or something lol.
i don't struggle with this at all. youtube videos allow me get the same brief satisfaction of building the sets without spending any money on them.
I counter it by making videos on how to make your own MOCs in the same concept of the set in Lego studio atleast and can take months to bring the set into reality. Also My Lego city is just a fun still pleasing to the eyes collection of my old and new sets on an 8 foot by 4 foot table in the living room... It doesn't have ils plats or is all llego but it's a city that gets my sets off the shelves into a play space. And if you must have it all be bricks you can make a dyorma that honestly could be just a baseplate if not smaller. So yeah the best way to combat FOMO is to be creative with what yiouy currently have or can afford.
FOMO has cost me a bunch of money, in investing. Set a budget and stick to it. There will always be a good deal around the corner and missing out on a hobby object has little impact on your life.
Wow, didnt know it was so hard for some people. Personally I buy mostly bricks for mocs, and a set every other year
I've noticed that I have pretty much an addiction on securing every interesting Lego set into my inventory. I don't think it's financially the best move, and the sets take up a lot of space. Somehow they've managed to get me hooked. I've also wondered if it would be more profitable to take the money I invest into Lego and invest it into stocks or something instead, and then later if I have a lot of money I can use it to buy retired sets if I really do want them. But yeah, it's getting out of hand for me, I just need to restrict myself not to buy sets even if it hurts that they will retire before I'm able to get them.
The timing of this video is spot on as I've been struggling with fomo pretty bad lately. I suppose all the August releases aren't helping, and what's worse, are the people that found them early. Sets I really have no interest in, yet felt the need to run to Walmart or Target and see if I could be so lucky. I collect 90% Star Wars and am super content with what I have, however again with all the youtube content, I almost blew $180 on another Falcon I don't need (mostly for the figs) and a way overpriced starship, again for the minifig. A fig, btw (Jedi Bob) I've had zero desire to own previously. It's absolutely crazy. I still don't feel like the figure is anything special, yet my brain keeps saying, ahhh you should probably get this because everyone is talking about it.
That's one of the dangers to mental health that social media has amplified a million fold. Wanting to "keep up with the Joneses" is hardly new, but having thousands and thousands of Joneses in your face whenever you use your phone or computer really amplifies that self-destructive drive we tend to feel. And remember that in the case you mention, a lot of the people talking about a figure or set are getting paid to talk about it and make you want it. They're manipulating you. Which is why I quit watching any Lego-sponsored channel or any channel that is about hype/collecting/spending money instead of real substance.
I have no LEGOs, but I just bought my first Funwhole build set, and it’s great and affordable! 🙂
This is a great video!
Our species is FOMO Sapiens.
I’m actually very grateful to be me.
Very lucky.
I build Castle/Fantasy MODs/MOCs.
But I’m a jerk.
I have very very strong opinions of what I love and hate.
I admit it. I own up to it.
I build (love) Black Falcons, Forestmen, Wolfpack, Snow Guardian, Bat Knights, and a few factions I’ve created from miscellaneous Minifigure parts.
I look for plant parts and all animals.
The rest is junk.
I look at sets for parts.
Lego sets in themselves are pretty much junk builds; facades are a farce.
I feel bad for anyone that is obsessed with Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter.
But I am grateful for these themes because they make great parts for my builds, and keep Lego alive.
I’m a jerk. I own up to it.
I get really bothered by people who have massive tabletop builds.
It causes me great unease. I own up to it.
I get bothered by people who have drawers and drawers of pieces just sitting there, unused, hoarded.
I get bothered by people who have 1000 Minifigure armies.
I get bothered by massive medium stone gray builds.
These things cause me great unease. I admit it.
I see people obsessed.
I see people compulsive.
I see people drowning in FOMO.
The cure is to be a jerk at the right time.
Own up to it.
Focus.
Get some sleep.
All we have is now, and there it goes.
Fantastic video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I've definitely had FOMO and brought more retired sets rather than new sets this year as i could not afford those sets previously now I'm older i can but i still can go back and get them however this also takes away from getting newer sets perpetuating this cycle so to combat this i try to keep to certain themes and price ranges however I've had more income so I've increased the cost of the sets i can actually buy now entering that £250 range before I'd just about spend £100 on a single set.
1. Star Wars
2. Speed Champions
3. Technic
4. Ninjago
5. City (Police)
The only themes i care about and with the 25th anniversary i would like to get all the sets but i obviously know that can't happen would be nice but gotta be the R2D2, Star Destroyer, Skiff and Mauls ship from phantom menace (dont really care for that one outside of Saw lol). I would have loved to get the Droideka and UCS intercepter but all of this is just star wars i haven't even looked at the other themes 💀💀💀🤣🤣🤣😩 lol and it also didn't help i brought more retired stuff this year so i have to cut that out 😅.
Marvel has some cool stuff coming out too, and The Technic Supercars at least the Sian i would like to have in my collection and I know I'm gonna have to pay a lot for that set.
But I'm not impressionable i won't just buy something just because someone else has it i literally couldn't afford the Venator so I don't mind watching reviews or seeing it in shorts but sets like the 25th anniversary Star Destroyer something within my price range i guess i get a bit annoyed that others have it before i do.
GWP i also despise as most of these sets could easily be £25-35 sets sold separately/be widely available.
I realized I was too into buying sets and disliked the building process. So, I ended up selling a bunch of LEGO star wars sets sealed and felt much better. I was just comfort buying. Yeah I need to get checked. lol
My bank account solves FOMO for me, 💀
In all seriousness, the fact that LEGO has gotten so expensive over the years, the decline in quality of some of the themes (lookin' at you, _Star Wars_), and the fact most of the sets out there just don't interest me to begin with, I'm forced to pick and choose what I buy, so for the most part, I don't even worry about FOMO.
Great video!
Personally I avoid Haul videos, and it was something that I decided never to do in my channel, even if they seem to be highly successful, because I really don't want to contribute to people's FOMO in that way.
Also I control my budget in a funny way. I need to earn my LEGO money.
I daily control stuff like exercise and what I eat, and the healthier the choices, more money I get, up to a max of 10 euros a day, that is extremely hard to achieve, usually on average I reach half of that. So I feed one urge by controlling my other urges :D
I'm weird, I know :D
u can buy everything 2nd hand it just takes 2x as much money which just means waiting a bit longer. there’s literally no reason for fomo. especially when half the impossibly rare sets are 99% generic parts
me as a hardcore classic space fan who ignores almost everything else:
In terms of marketing and sales that FOMO people have is perfect. I personally dont mind if only lego prices werent so ridiculously high.
Don't buy lego as an investment. Don't buy things you aren't excited to immediately build just because you might want it later. Don't buy a $300 set because it has minifigures of some character that never got a minifigure before. Only buy things that genuinely excite you the first time you see them.
For those also suffering from FOMO, have you heard of sand mandalas? Buddhist monks build these intricate designs from sand particles, a laborious task, only to then sweep or blow them away when they are done. It teaches detachment.
I known it might be against every fiber of your being (or not, i don't know you), but maybe its time to build a Lego mandala from your most treasured sets, so to speak
I like the builds, not the figures, so much, so i generally sell the minifigures to cut down the cost
Is it still "Fear of Missing Out", if you resisted buying the set and now live in sad wimpering noises regret that you did not buy it, and now its so expensive I cant buy it? I have a rule, I will NEVER pay more than the retail price for any Lego set, if they are charging more than the RRP then I will not buy it. This rule tends to make my fear of missing out far worse, but it stops me getting fleeced. I never bought the Fishing Tackle Shop, at the time I had nowhere to put it, now I do have a place...but I do not have it and there is nothing even similar to it that I could get. So is it still FOMO if you did not buy something and now bitterly regret that very poor decision you made and your own rule prevents you rectifying that awful choice I made?
I do not tend to regret buying sets, I regret not buying sets, so do I need MORE "Fear Of Missing Out"? Im thinking my "FOMO" levels are way too low, I need to start taking FOMO Tablets to increase my FOMO levels, I clearly needs a Vitamin FOMO booster shot so I can stop living in sad regret at missing out.
My $.02: step back and put it in perspective. These are plastic toys, and they won't change your life or make you a better person. Can they be fun to build and look at? Of course, but if they're even indirectly generating negative feelings and making you unhappy, it's possible you should alter your relation to the hobby or simply leave it. Hobbies are supposed to be fun, things you can learn from and grow with and build relationships around, not things that leave you with bitter regret, as you say. I had a different hobby where I started to go down that FOMO path, saw what was happening, left it, and sold it all off. Much happier now. And I have more money for things that are more rewarding.
I've only been 'in the hobby' for little over a year, but I've already stopped watching haul video. They're all the same anyway and I don't care how much someone buys; I'm interested with the builds or how they use sets or parts in interesting ways. I don't use most social media either; YT is the main one.
It probably also helps that I have very specific likes and dislikes when it comes to Lego. For instance I have no interest in Lego Star Wars, vehicles in general (with just a select few exceptions) and the vast majority of non minifig scale stuff.
The area where I think I have the most FOMO when it comes to Lego is with discounts.
Its getting worse too, Lego went after a bunch of knockoff producers shutting down factories.
Yes, FOMO is very, very real and can be an extremely expensive way of building Lego. I love Lego however every day if not twice daily I receive promotional emails from Lego. I agree social media is here to stay, however Lego can dial it down a tad bit. These days, I rarely click on the emails to see what's on offer as I know I don't have the finances to purchase the sets anyway, nor the storage capacity!!!! However, I do have an inventory of my Lego on a spreadsheet in my Excel file and at the bottom of this inventory I place sets I'd like to save up for to purchase when funds allow and then build and display in my Lego room.
Very good video!! The outro is good ... this is not just about lego! I believe teaching capitalist marketing tactics should be tought in school so people would grow more aware and less "manipulated" ❤
Im a victim of Lego FOMO! Btw Do you have a video of your Lego room?
me watching this as if i’m going to follow a single word of advice
"Oh my gawd I LAV this set it's amazing Lego did a wonderful job the printing is immaculate we rarely ever get such good products out of Lego this is definitely the one to get can you believe this OMG TWO hands on this minifigure it portrays the character so so so well I'm just in love with this set what's this printed pieces oh my gawd Lego you're making me high I want you Lego guys go buy this set it's definitely worth the money trust me I have built thousands of sets this is one of the better ones also Lego please continue giving me free sets I'm right here take me to Billund I love you Lego AHHHHHHH!"
Many CZcamsrs seem more interested in the minifigures than the builds. When 50% of a video is dedicated to a small percentage of a sets pieces, its telling. Its all about buying sets for figures and for me, thats not what Lego is about.
Avoid FOMO by being aware of LEGO’s price creep and the poor value for money of many sets
That was excellent. Thank you.
Lego can't do anything to get people to buy more Legos. Their biggest sellers by far are the Friends. And those are for little kids.