The LEPIN "LEGO" for non sensitive types
Discussion
Stig said:
Had 05027 on order with Dollhousebuilder which was pre-order. Just checked and missed a message just before Christmas to say that as the package contains a magnet, they cannot ship it - so sending refund (which I don't recall seeing!).
Has anyone else ordered/received one?
That is the Imperial Star Destroyer. I am sure someone has ordered it.Has anyone else ordered/received one?
Why could they not just take the magnet out? (What does the magnet do in the set anyway?)
Have you tried another seller?
Was it DHL that said they could ship a small magnet?
CoolHands said:
I open every bag and empty them out into various tubs. This time I have put similar shapes together but not worried about colours. E.g. Single width bricks grey and green all together (of various lengths like 6 or 8); whereas the shorter 3 & 4 length ones I have in their own tub. All flat joining bits in one tub; All smooth tiles together (all colours); one tub for weird bits; one tub for all window bits etc. I found sorting everything by colours (rather than type) didn't work so well.
This is what I have done, pretty much. Putting types of blocks together. I've also not been that "sorty" about things and just dumped the bags in tubs - one bag per tub. I have found the bags from the companies are put together in various types (must be how they sort them to pack) so it all works out.
Stig said:
Had 05027 on order with Dollhousebuilder which was pre-order. Just checked and missed a message just before Christmas to say that as the package contains a magnet, they cannot ship it - so sending refund (which I don't recall seeing!).
Has anyone else ordered/received one?
Maybe the Lele one would be a better choice anyway (after reading this: https://www.reddit.com/r/lepin/comments/5n2zd3/ord...Has anyone else ordered/received one?
woodysnr said:
Been following various threads on this and the Lego/Leppin thread .Interested in buying the Porsche gt3 RS who are the best company to buy from as prices are all over the place and is it worth the hassle as customs duty seems payable in some cases but not in others .Or just bite the bullet and buy from a Uk store Smyths had the model for £146 last week now no longer available at this price John Lewis not at £169 is it really worth this over the Lepin one.
By all accounts th decool 3368 is just as good.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/IN-STOCK-NEW-2726P...
woodysnr said:
Been following various threads on this and the Lego/Leppin thread .Interested in buying the Porsche gt3 RS who are the best company to buy from as prices are all over the place and is it worth the hassle as customs duty seems payable in some cases but not in others .Or just bite the bullet and buy from a Uk store Smyths had the model for £146 last week now no longer available at this price John Lewis not at £169 is it really worth this over the Lepin one.
For 170 Pounds and then tax on top of it, you could, essentially, get 1 Lepin version and 2 different coloured Decool versions for the same price delivered to your door. (Just ask the seller if they will mark the value of it at 14 (or less) Pounds so you do not get nicked for duty.)By the way the last two modular buildings I've bought have now been Lele despite essentially being advertised as lepin, (as per lots of people on the reddit thread). I've decided it doesn't matter as they're pretty much identical anyway, but thought you might want to know. I reckon the lepin have sold out in many cases, I doubt if their production is completely stable.
I find the most frustrating thing about the process is the sellers. They don't answer questions, or send gobbledygook answers. In one set I have a complete bag of pieces missing. I have now bought a different set from the same seller and asked them to put the missing bag in with the new set, but as yet I'm hearing nothing.... very annoying. They're all as bad as each other from what I can tell.
I find the most frustrating thing about the process is the sellers. They don't answer questions, or send gobbledygook answers. In one set I have a complete bag of pieces missing. I have now bought a different set from the same seller and asked them to put the missing bag in with the new set, but as yet I'm hearing nothing.... very annoying. They're all as bad as each other from what I can tell.
CoolHands Voiceofrevold
Thanks for the info but still a wee bit confused I take it from the link you kindly sent that maker is different to Lepin and Aliexpress are distributers for all these models .So looking at the link you can buy one of the GT3 for around $88 which is approx. £60 ( whereas here it would cost £170 for Lego ) delivered but how do you know how muck Tax /Customs duty will have to be paid you said ask the company to mark it as a value of $14 how can I tell them that .Also how secure are you giving out you CC details on these sites .Sorry for all the question but I am a senior person and not up to speed with all this ebay buying stuff
Clicked on and said no original box I take it from that it is just bags of bits and I take it instructions are included confused on another site said same model is $56 -888
Thanks for the info but still a wee bit confused I take it from the link you kindly sent that maker is different to Lepin and Aliexpress are distributers for all these models .So looking at the link you can buy one of the GT3 for around $88 which is approx. £60 ( whereas here it would cost £170 for Lego ) delivered but how do you know how muck Tax /Customs duty will have to be paid you said ask the company to mark it as a value of $14 how can I tell them that .Also how secure are you giving out you CC details on these sites .Sorry for all the question but I am a senior person and not up to speed with all this ebay buying stuff
Clicked on and said no original box I take it from that it is just bags of bits and I take it instructions are included confused on another site said same model is $56 -888
Edited by woodysnr on Friday 27th January 12:24
With aliexpress, you just have to accept that it will be a bit of bumpy ride. It may take a while, you'll be given the wrong tracking numbers, you may have to chase etc.
Some of the sellers (i.e. the shops that sit under the Aliexpress umbrella) recommended on here are very good and have a quick delivery of around a week and you won't have a problem. You pay slightly more for these guys but that's your choice.
What Aliexpress is very good at though is returning your money if you don't receive an item. It is black and white. You go to the site, tell them it didn't arrive, you get a refund. Aliexpress deals with the hassle of the sellers. In this respect it is far better than eBay. Work on the assumption that Aliexpress's business model is zero fraud in order to make sure people like are 100% confident in buying from there. Your money is safe, it's whether you receive what you think you've bought that is normally the problem. But even then it is a straight refund, no hassle.
Some of the sellers (i.e. the shops that sit under the Aliexpress umbrella) recommended on here are very good and have a quick delivery of around a week and you won't have a problem. You pay slightly more for these guys but that's your choice.
What Aliexpress is very good at though is returning your money if you don't receive an item. It is black and white. You go to the site, tell them it didn't arrive, you get a refund. Aliexpress deals with the hassle of the sellers. In this respect it is far better than eBay. Work on the assumption that Aliexpress's business model is zero fraud in order to make sure people like are 100% confident in buying from there. Your money is safe, it's whether you receive what you think you've bought that is normally the problem. But even then it is a straight refund, no hassle.
yes most of these sets come with no original style box - just lots of bags of bricks in a plain brown box. An instruction manual is included but you can usually find the original lego manual online as a pdf anyway if you need it (sometimes the colours are better in the lego manual to help identify similar bricks).
The one I linked to for you is assumed to be a good seller as they have sold many of these and other lepin kits. The gt3 is available made by lepin or decool. The reviews for the decool are just as good as lepin so either make would be ok. Aliexpress is very large worldwide and has proved safe. So just sign up and use it. You use your credit-card info to pay for items. Customs is an unknown and a risk, but most people are getting them with no charges - you would just be unlucky if it did get hit. In which case dhl would charge you 15-20 quid for the fees, there's no real way of knowing you just take a chance. When you by the item you can add a message to the seller so ask there to put low value on item.
I say try it once, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
The one I linked to for you is assumed to be a good seller as they have sold many of these and other lepin kits. The gt3 is available made by lepin or decool. The reviews for the decool are just as good as lepin so either make would be ok. Aliexpress is very large worldwide and has proved safe. So just sign up and use it. You use your credit-card info to pay for items. Customs is an unknown and a risk, but most people are getting them with no charges - you would just be unlucky if it did get hit. In which case dhl would charge you 15-20 quid for the fees, there's no real way of knowing you just take a chance. When you by the item you can add a message to the seller so ask there to put low value on item.
I say try it once, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
May have just been stuffed by Dollhousebuilder. Had 05027 on pre-order with them. After extending the buyer deadlines, they contacted me (back in December, but I missed the message 
) to say that they tried to DHL but they rejected it because it has a magnet inside? So they would refund me.
As yet - no refund given.
Now outside of the buyer protection, I can't raise a dispute. Have messaged them to see what's happening , but may have to chalk it up to experience
) to say that they tried to DHL but they rejected it because it has a magnet inside? So they would refund me.As yet - no refund given.
Now outside of the buyer protection, I can't raise a dispute. Have messaged them to see what's happening , but may have to chalk it up to experience
woodysnr said:
CoolHands Voiceofrevold
Thanks for the info but still a wee bit confused I take it from the link you kindly sent that maker is different to Lepin and Aliexpress are distributers for all these models .So looking at the link you can buy one of the GT3 for around $88 which is approx. £60 ( whereas here it would cost £170 for Lego ) delivered but how do you know how muck Tax /Customs duty will have to be paid you said ask the company to mark it as a value of $14 how can I tell them that .Also how secure are you giving out you CC details on these sites .Sorry for all the question but I am a senior person and not up to speed with all this ebay buying stuff
Clicked on and said no original box I take it from that it is just bags of bits and I take it instructions are included confused on another site said same model is $56 -888
I am new to Lepin too and over this month I have bought four sets ( slave 1, small falcon, Tumbler and Simpsons house) all from aliexpress and all over the customs limit. All arrive in around a week to ten days, three in plain boxes and one in a bag. Nothing to pay and all smashing looking.Thanks for the info but still a wee bit confused I take it from the link you kindly sent that maker is different to Lepin and Aliexpress are distributers for all these models .So looking at the link you can buy one of the GT3 for around $88 which is approx. £60 ( whereas here it would cost £170 for Lego ) delivered but how do you know how muck Tax /Customs duty will have to be paid you said ask the company to mark it as a value of $14 how can I tell them that .Also how secure are you giving out you CC details on these sites .Sorry for all the question but I am a senior person and not up to speed with all this ebay buying stuff
Clicked on and said no original box I take it from that it is just bags of bits and I take it instructions are included confused on another site said same model is $56 -888
Edited by woodysnr on Friday 27th January 12:24
Thanks to all who have answered by questions and worries it has reassured me .
Will make up my mind if I just go for the Decool or Lepin one .I noted they do them in Orange .Green White .The white one is a bit cheaper at $56 but it does state not in stock and could be 6 weeks delivery whereas the O and G appear to be X stock at around $84= £60 even given that I get hit for £20 customs is still a lot cheaper than the £176 to £246 all be it an original Lego .
One last question as about to order one ,may go for the Green one not sure or may stick with Orange in either Decool or Lepin are there any of the suppliers ( toy shops) who one would recommend as they are several advertised or are they all about the same.
Brian
Will make up my mind if I just go for the Decool or Lepin one .I noted they do them in Orange .Green White .The white one is a bit cheaper at $56 but it does state not in stock and could be 6 weeks delivery whereas the O and G appear to be X stock at around $84= £60 even given that I get hit for £20 customs is still a lot cheaper than the £176 to £246 all be it an original Lego .
One last question as about to order one ,may go for the Green one not sure or may stick with Orange in either Decool or Lepin are there any of the suppliers ( toy shops) who one would recommend as they are several advertised or are they all about the same.
Brian
Edited by woodysnr on Friday 27th January 16:04
woodysnr said:
Thanks to all who have answered by questions and worries it has reassured me .
Will make up my mind if I just go for the Decool or Lepin one .I noted they do them in Orange .Green White .The white one is a bit cheaper at $56 but it does state not in stock and could be 6 weeks delivery whereas the O and G appear to be X stock at around $84= £60 even given that I get hit for £20 customs is still a lot cheaper than the £176 to £246 all be it an original Lego .
One last question as about to order one ,may go for the Green one not sure or may stick with Orange in either Decool or Lepin are there any of the suppliers ( toy shops) who one would recommend as they are several advertised or are they all about the same.
Brian
The sellers are not all the same. The ones with highest positive reviews are the ones you want to buy from. Will make up my mind if I just go for the Decool or Lepin one .I noted they do them in Orange .Green White .The white one is a bit cheaper at $56 but it does state not in stock and could be 6 weeks delivery whereas the O and G appear to be X stock at around $84= £60 even given that I get hit for £20 customs is still a lot cheaper than the £176 to £246 all be it an original Lego .
One last question as about to order one ,may go for the Green one not sure or may stick with Orange in either Decool or Lepin are there any of the suppliers ( toy shops) who one would recommend as they are several advertised or are they all about the same.
Brian
Edited by woodysnr on Friday 27th January 16:04
Right now is Chinese New Year - so a two week national holiday. Order after the New Year holiday.
Look at the shipping method for each item. DHL ships very quickly but are very accurate about collecting customs, duty and taxes.
You just need to ask the seller to mark the value at a certain amount (you can include a message with your order as you place it).
The previous link given was for H&H and I can give my recommendation for this seller - they respond quickly to emails with good English (I think we have to remember there is a language barrier - we expect them to be fluent in English and they may actually just use translation software (like google translate and we all know how inaccurate that can be).
H&H has never given me fake tracking numbers. Actually not a single seller on Aliexpress has given me a fake tracking number. I have gotten a couple off of Ebay, but not Aliexpress.
H&H has pretty good prices - not as high as many other sellers (that's why I started buying from them - they offered DHL shipping and cheaper prices than other sellers and I have been VERY happy with them!) In fact, I just got the Lepin UCS Millennium Falcon and a modular Town hall from them yesterday. The day before I got 5 sets from them (one larger and 4 smaller - all were ePacket delivery but I asked if I ordered all 5 if they would ship it DHL and they did at no extra cost!). All via DHL.
EPacket is actually a fairly quick method as well (at least to Canada - maybe to Great Britain it would take a day or two longer they would have pass over Canada and then the Atlantic ocean - then again, with air shipping, it might be just as fast or faster to GB! (I live in a rural area in Western Canada - think literally Cowboys and Indians and then think small village in a Spaghetti Western movie but with some Victorian architecture and you get the idea).
Here are a couple of comparison videos for both the Lepin and Decool sets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwjqJLl9x1A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hzZHIMPKqE
Thanks for all you impute will take your advice and wait till after the CNY .
I can just see Clint Eastwood walking down your main street with his cheroot in his mouth.
Will report back once I have ordered one looks like a complicated build from all those Vid links that are about.
Brian
I can just see Clint Eastwood walking down your main street with his cheroot in his mouth.
Will report back once I have ordered one looks like a complicated build from all those Vid links that are about.Brian
woodysnr said:
Thanks for all you impute will take your advice and wait till after the CNY .
I can just see Clint Eastwood walking down your main street with his cheroot in his mouth. Will report back once I have ordered one looks like a complicated build from all those Vid links that are about.
Brian
Here is a picture to give you an idea - that's me and my bike in the front.I can just see Clint Eastwood walking down your main street with his cheroot in his mouth.
Will report back once I have ordered one looks like a complicated build from all those Vid links that are about.Brian
Here it is in more prosperous times:
Edited by voiceofrevolt on Saturday 28th January 16:54
Hi,
some pictures of my finished Imperial Shuttle UCS from Lepin.
What was supposed to be fun to build turns out to be more painful than necessary.
Lepin gave the correct number of plates but the wrong size for a lot of plates (like providing 1 x 12 plates instead of 1 x 8 plates). As I built this model away from home, I didn't have spare parts available, so I had to cut some plates. And because I didn't know what was needed, I just cut plates randomly and put some wrong color (you will notice a lot of black areas on the wings that are supposed to be white ...).
In total probably around 50 plates were the wrong length or color ...
When I will go back home I will have to remove the wrong plates and put back the right one.
Also, as I am very hard on myself for details, some white block looks already yellowish. A good clean of the final product is quite necessary if you want the best display effect. Right now, from afar it is good, not so much when you come closer.
Anyway, lucky for Lepin, I am a big fan of Star Wars ... The Tie Fighter UCS was perfect, not so much this one.
some pictures of my finished Imperial Shuttle UCS from Lepin.
What was supposed to be fun to build turns out to be more painful than necessary.
Lepin gave the correct number of plates but the wrong size for a lot of plates (like providing 1 x 12 plates instead of 1 x 8 plates). As I built this model away from home, I didn't have spare parts available, so I had to cut some plates. And because I didn't know what was needed, I just cut plates randomly and put some wrong color (you will notice a lot of black areas on the wings that are supposed to be white ...).
In total probably around 50 plates were the wrong length or color ...
When I will go back home I will have to remove the wrong plates and put back the right one.
Also, as I am very hard on myself for details, some white block looks already yellowish. A good clean of the final product is quite necessary if you want the best display effect. Right now, from afar it is good, not so much when you come closer.
Anyway, lucky for Lepin, I am a big fan of Star Wars ... The Tie Fighter UCS was perfect, not so much this one.
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