BrickLink offline? Six other places to find LEGO® parts

Option 01

Brick Owl

Brick Owl is the independent LEGO marketplace that works most like BrickLink. Thousands of sellers run their own stores there, and you can search the catalogue by part, colour or set, add parts to a wishlist and buy from several stores at once.

Many sellers have stores on both BrickLink and Brick Owl, so there's a good chance your usual shops are already there, including plenty of Australian stores. Brick Owl doesn't charge buyers any fees, and stores can't add handling or packing charges, so what you pay is the parts plus postage.

Best for

Specific parts in specific colours, minifigures and sets

Watch out for

Postage from each store adds up, so try to buy from fewer stores

Option 02

LEGO® Pick a Brick (the Bricks and Pieces hub)

LEGO.com's Pick a Brick, part of the Pick and Build hub (it used to be called Bricks and Pieces), lets you buy brand new parts directly from LEGO. You can browse by part type and colour, and there's also a minifigure builder.

It only carries parts that are currently in production, so you won't find older or retired pieces here. But for current bricks, plates and tiles in bulk, it's hard to beat. You can also upload a parts list, including one exported from BrickLink Studio, and it will show you what's available.

Best for

New, current parts in quantity

Delivery

Up to 17 working days in Australia

Watch out for

A service fee on smaller orders, and no retired parts

Option 03

LEGO® Certified Stores: the Pick & Build wall

If you'd rather pick your parts in person, the LEGO® Certified Stores have a Pick & Build wall. You grab a container, fill it with whatever bricks and elements you want from the wall, and pay one price for it, however many pieces you can fit in.

What's on the wall changes from time to time, so it's a bit of luck what you'll find. But it's a great way to stock up on parts in useful colours, and you walk out with them the same day, with no postage and no waiting. Most stores also have a Build a Minifigure (BAM) station if you're after minifigure parts.

To take some of the guesswork out of it, many stores have a Facebook group or page where fans share what's currently on the Pick & Build wall and BAM station. Search Facebook for your local store's name and you'll usually find one. It's a handy way to see whether the parts you're after are in before you make the trip.

Our closest is the LEGO Store at Charlestown Square, and its Charlestown Pick & Build and BAM Facebook group shows what's on the wall there. The LEGO Certified Stores are supporters of our Brickfest events, so it's nice to be able to send some business their way. Not every store has the same set-up, so if you're travelling for the wall, it's worth checking your store's group or calling ahead.

Best for

Common parts in bulk, on the same day

Watch out for

You can only choose from what's on the wall

Option 04

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is great for local bulk lots, collections being cleared out and second-hand sets, often at a good price per piece. Because it's local, you can usually pick up in person and see what you're getting before you pay. There are also plenty of Australian LEGO buy, swap and sell groups worth joining.

Best for

Bulk lots, used sets and building up your parts collection

Watch out for

Clone bricks mixed in, incomplete sets and scams

• Ask for clear photos, and check that the studs say LEGO.
• "Complete" doesn't always mean complete, so check against the set inventory if it matters.
• Pay on pick-up where you can, meet somewhere public and be wary of anyone asking for a deposit or payment to a link.

Option 05

Online retailers

A number of online shops sell loose LEGO parts as well as sets. A few worth a look:

• Bricks to the World: an Australian-owned business based in Maffra, Victoria, delivering LEGO products to your door, including plenty of retired and hard-to-find items. We've used them for years and they've always been very reliable.
• Toy Bricks: an Australian business that has sold LEGO online since 2006, with a store in Bayswater, Victoria. Its range includes parts, minifigures and bulk.
• Brick Resales: an Australian store selling second-hand LEGO parts and minifigures, with new stock added regularly.
• ToyPro: a large parts specialist based in the Netherlands. It shows prices in Australian dollars and lets you look up the parts in a set by set number.

Best for

One easy order from a single shop

Watch out for

Shipping times and costs from overseas shops

Option 06

eBay

eBay has a huge range of LEGO: bulk lots, minifigures, instructions and sets that have been parted out. It's a good place for older and harder-to-find pieces, and eBay's buyer protection gives you some peace of mind if an order doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

Best for

Minifigures, bulk lots and older parts

Watch out for

Clone parts, stock photos and overseas postage

• Check the seller's feedback and look for listings that say "100% genuine LEGO".
• Look for actual photos of the lot, not stock images.
• Check where it's shipping from, as overseas items can take a while.