1) Does a replica of certain Lego set exist? Does anyone make this set?
Check on http://brick4.com website by Lego setcode (or by name if it is MOC). If a replica exists, you’ll see clone brands and their set numbers (besides Lego).
You gotta remember that even ko sets have lifecycle and might be discountinued.
Some of discontinued Lepin sets might be still in stock somewhere. Try CreepHybrid store (https://creephybrid.easy.co/), they have access to suppliers that still have some of retired Lepin sets.
2) What’s the difference between alternative bricks and Lego? Do KO sets come with minifigures?
The sets are usually identical, but some parts might have slightly different molds or colors. This highly depends on the brand and there are really a lot of chinese brick brands.
Minifigures are included if original set had them. If it’s a MOC then there might be no minifigures.
Sometimes minifigures are not displayed on pictures because of Lego copyright issues. Also, minifigures can usually be bought separately from minifigure brands.
3) Where can I buy certain set? What is the best place to buy?
None of the brands has an official store (the only exceprtion is CADA). All the brands do dropshipping so you are buying from a reseller, you can’t buy from a factory.
There is a list of recommended online stores in current Stores Rating Thread: You can check it (by flair) here. It is also available from the sidebar. If you are using mobile version you can find current stores rating thread here.
There are some factors that can lead to picking certain sellers, like your location for example. Some stores might not ship to your country and some might charge a lot for shipping, some might have a warehouse in your country. You gotta check prices at different sources first. Also customs duties might occur, pick sellers that can declare less value of your package and that provide delivery methods that can lower the chance of customs duties.
In general, people here mostly buy from Loy Chen (https://www.yourwobb.com/), Loy can be considered one of the most favourite sellers here.
Check the Stores Rating Thread to see all options: here
4) What’s the cheapest option to buy this set? Where is the lowest price?
See p.3 – all these sources, you have to check them to know. Prices of the same set differ so nobody can say right away where the price is lowest. Prices might depend on your location.
I would say that seller should be reliable, but well if you want to save, consider the risk.
The lowest price doesn’t guarantee best service quality or fast shipping. You can play a lottery and order cheapest AliExpress option from 90% rating store. AliExpress will protect your deal but you might lose time, because seller forgot to put you several bags for example, etc. But it might be a smooth transaction as well. Risk is on you.
5) What’s the quality of a brand or of a set?
Depends on the brand and depends on the set, but generally quality is decent for the price you pay. It’s really hard to find crappy sets these days.
GoBricks in considered the best brick supplier, quality about on par with Lego.
Brands by brick suppliers: https://www.reddit.com/r/astrobricks/comments/ic4vby/brick_brand/ and who uses GoBricks: https://www.yourwobb.com/blogs/news/the-brands-use-gobricks-bricks
6) Did anybody buy this set, impressions? How is this set?
Use the search please. There’s a high chance someone posted a review here. Also don’t forget to check if set was announced recently, in this case there won’t be any reviews anywhere.
7) I can’t find a set sold anywhere. Discountinued/Retired/EOL sets.
Firstly, check if you are using correct setcodes for searching. See p.1
Secondly, knockoff sets and minifigures can become retired too. They have lifecycle just like Lego sets.
Lots of minifigures and some stuff by SY (it exists longer than Lepin) as well as old sets from other brands are not produced anymore.
All of Lepin sets are discontinued because company was shutdown. KING/Queen/Jack, etc. (as Lepin’s successor) might make a replica of this set in the future. Track your wanted sets on http://brick4.com/.
However, some of discontinued sets might be still in stock on different marketplaces and local stores. Try CreepHybrid store (https://creephybrid.easy.co/), they have access to suppliers that still have some of retired sets. You can also browse Taobao, some sellers there might have it, but you’ll have to use shippinh agent to order from there.
8) Are lepinworld, lepinland, bricklepin, lepinbricks official stores?
No, Lepin never had any official stores, and KING doesn’t either. KING only does dropshipping, so in any case you will be buying from a reseller. These lepin-something stores are ones of many resellers.
They lie about their officialness and they often do not include shipping fee in the item price, in general buying from them turns out more expensive compared to other stores. They are legit though, but afaik most of users here try to avoid them.
9) Will somebody make this set? Any news about this set? When will be the restock?
Unfortunately we don’t have such information, there’s no representatives of Chinese brands here. Also please do not request sets here and don’t ask about the news on sets – nobody can answer this question. You can try ask the sellers about the restock.
10) Never heard of “Weird_brand_name”, how is it? Unknown brands.
The number of brands is limited. You can check most of them on Brick4: http://brick4.com/brand/list/
Some sellers on AliExpress sometimes rename well known brands to non existed brands, for exmaple named after their store. If they have a setcode – paste in on brick4 and you’ll find the real brand most likely.
LP brand on YourWOBB is the stock of old Lepin sets.
11) How to buy from AliExpress? How to pick an AliExpress seller? Is this seller reliable?
Read our AliExpress buyer’s guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TApv0EhSMiZsrqH1xZxDE7LLSGgZPIlAmmiujHfq2U0/
12) Where can I buy minifigures?
AliExpress recently forbade selling minifigs due to Lego complaints (Lego holds a patent on minifigs). Buy you can still find a lot of stores that display minifigures heads, though they sell whole minifigures.
Some AliExpress sellers opened their own websites:
https://www.minifiguresmall.com/ -> changed to http://kopftoy.com/ (Kopf Store)
http://www.worldminifigs.com/ -> changed to https://www.wmmocbricks.cn/ World Minifigures
These are useful to check full minifigure images too. But you can still use AE stores to get minifigures, check sellers rating thread.
13) Where can I buy spare parts?
There is list of stores that sell spares: https://www.reddit.com/r/lepin/comments/t85041/where_to_get_alternative_spare_parts/
14) Where can I find the building instructions?
If set is a replica of a Lego set, then you can download instruction from Lego website. Use http://brick4.com/ to know the set number.
For some MOCs sellers sell only the bricks and you have to buy the instruction from the original creator. Contact the seller for the information.
15) Is it illegal to own or to buy Lepin-like items?
This highly depends on your country laws, but in lots of countries it is not illegal to buy knock off goods for personal use even if you knew they were knock offs.
16) Where can I resell sets I don’t need anymore?
Use r/brickswap
