Hi, I’m Charles of Charles Builds Brick Toys.  I have been an avid builder and collector of Lego bricks since roughly 1976.

I make most of my new purchases through Lego.com although I do check the big box retailers for deals and clearance sales.  I recommend the Lego Insiders program for purchases for promotional and hard to find items, discounts on shipping, and points with each purchase that can be used in a variety of ways.

I frequently check thrift and second-hand stores for kits or bulk bin purchases. I do this with the understanding that some pieces may be missing.  If I decide I want to build the set in question, there are several sources for missing pieces, including but not limited to Lego.com’s pick and build section.