Uncle refuses to buy his 14-year-old nephew the $650 Lego Set he asked for after discovering he didn't plan to build it: 'He wants to keep the sets new-in-box as an investment.'

Why would he buy him a toy if he isn't even going to play with it? There is a whole world of toy collectors, but very few toys could yield enough money to cover a down payment on a house. 

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  • Young teacher using digital tablet and trying to connect artificial car together with teenager for science project
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • What is the function of giving a gift? Some people give gifts to feel better about themselves. After all, how could you be a bad friend if you got your friend a $50 birthday gift? Anyone can fall into the trap of accidentally getting someone a gift that they don't like. It's very easy, considering we can't ask someone, "Would you like this gift?" before buying it for them. In my family, we have this concept called a Rubber Snake gift. It's based on my dad's brother's friend, who gave his dad a rubber snake when he was little. Basically, a rubber snake is a gift you'd like to receive, but you buy for someone who wouldn't care to receive it. 

    Most gift-givers want their gifts actually to be used by the recipients. It's sad to spend $30 on a shirt for your friend, only for them never to wear it. It's even worse to give someone a gift and find out after the fact that they sold it! That's bad taste. If you don't like the gift, you could at least regift it to someone else instead of profiting off of it!

    There's something strange about asking for a toy so that you can flip it for cash instead of playing with it. Especially if you're 14 years old, and you've been having fun playing with the Legos your Uncle bought you for your whole childhood! It's okay to grow up and want to stop playing with Legos, but the kid in this story is pushing the bounds of his Uncle's generosity. 

  • I discovered my nephew doesn't plan to build the sets he asked for. Am I a villain for not wanting to indulge him?

    First off, he is a good kid. Smart and polite. He's about to turn 14 this summer.
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • I've bought him a nice Lego set for Christmas every year since he was 8. Last Christmas he told me to wait to get his present since what he really wanted wasn't released yet (the Pokemon starter set).
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • Pile of wrapped gifts near a decorated Christmas tree
    via Stanislav Rozhkov

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • He told me it costs $650 and I laughed and looked at him sideways. I told him that's a lot for one Christmas gift, but if he waits until next Christmas, and skips a present for his birthday, I'd consider it.
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • He was enthused about this idea. And then told me that I'd need to order it as soon as it came out to get the Kanto Badges as a GWP, and to use LEGO points for the Pokemon center.
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • It was clear he's very excited and offered to do yardwork over the summer to "earn" it.
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • A person digging in the dirt with a rake
    via Drazen Nesic (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • So that's what I did, and I managed to get all three sets. They are waiting to get wrapped and presented to him this Christmas.
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • He doesn't yet know I managed to get them all. Today I learned talking to my sister (his mom) that he doesn't want to build them.
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • He wants to keep the sets new-in- box...as an "investment". When I was his age you could not pay me to keep my sets in the box.
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • Personally I'd rather see these sets get built by a kid that wants to display them in their room.
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • If my nephew wants to invest that's fine, I'll give him a check that he can put in an investment account.
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • I'd not expect the ROI on lego sets to beat the SPY over time... so what am I missing, here?
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • Unfair-Cause9943 I would sit him down and explain investment trends. Teach him about S&P500, etc. have him explain to you why he thinks Lego is the better option. Offer the check, offer the Lego set. Let him decide. It's a learning moment for him, it's very easy to get sucked into the internet and someone claiming that putting a set aside will make you tons of money and especially at 14 it's very easy to get influenced by misinformation. This is a cool opportunity for you to teach, but let him b
    via u/Unfair-Cause9943
  • FractalEnemy Original Poster's Reply Thanks, this is a solid middle- ground approach. Looking at eBay prices actually seems to substantiate his position but I suspect it is just a craze that will fizzle out.
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • Mjcarlin907317 Not the j at all. Explain that your gifts are intended for him to use and enjoy them. If he's focused on money maybe put money aside in college savings plan for him for future gifts.
    via u/Mjcarlin907317
  • FractalEnemy Original Poster's Reply Yeah this is what I floated to his mom and she agreed that would be a better place for that money.
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • StandardTime3865 Really, what he does with them once he has them is his own business. But knowing that he regards this as a transaction, then so should you. Put him to work over the summer and get your moneys worth out of him.
    via u/StandardTime3865
  • FractalEnemy Original Poster's Reply I agree with you, but also feel that if he is after a return then he's better off putting that money to work in the market rather than taking a long bet on a Lego set appreciating faster than the SPY. So yes, I agree it is his business what he does with his gifts, but he's also a kid and doesn't know much about investing. Unless there is a cogent argument for this set to outpace the market it seems he'd be better off having this enthusiasm redirected.
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • pohatu771 You were going to give him the sets anyway, so give them to him. His bad investment will be a lesson.
    via u/pohatu771
  • FractalEnemy Original Poster's Reply Maybe, but I don't believe all lessons need to be learned the hard-way. He is young and needs guidance. I am honestly impressed that he has taken an interest in wealth-building. That part should be encouraged. Ironically, he may be right... I'm very confused because on my receipt the Badge set and the Pokemon center are shown with unit prices of $30 and $20, respectively. But looking at eBay they are getting much more than that. So who knows. I'm certain that
    via u/FractalEnemy
  • MountainJaded3068 You're missing what ever dumb YouTube videos he has been watching. "How to invest in Lego!!" Or something similar.
    via u/MountainJaded3068
  • barcode2099 My 5 cents: The era of Lego "investment" is over. The word got out that there was a market for old sets and "investors" started putting them into storage, hoping to see those same returns. The issue is that those old sets gained in value because nobody was putting them aside intentionally. Getting a sealed set was just one that someone had put on the backlog and never got to, or your aunt forgot to give it to you for Christmas '98. They're expensive because they're rare, and the new
    via u/barcode2099
  • ruxtpin Where's this uncle of mine that will drop a cool grand on Lego sets for me?
    via u/ruxtpin
  • Maintenance Time I would say you made a deal with him and should stick to your word. It s ks he doesnt want to build them but they should be his to do with what he wants. Like a few other people commented offer to help him invest in actual stocks instead of the legos but let it still be his choice
    via u/MaintenanceTime
  • 802ScubaF1sh Sir, this is a childhood. Nothing says being 14 like carefully preserving your Pokémon for long- term capital gains.
    via u/802ScubaF1sh

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