LEGO is scaling back its online offerings in the United States and Canada. A small selection of standard pieces is now subject to tariffs, and those items are temporarily unavailable through the company’s “Pick-a-Brick” service. The Pick-a-Brick program allows fans to reimagine their creations. “The Pick-a-Brick Program allows you to custom order individual pieces. You spend 50 cents for this piece, $2 for that piece. Get the most specialized pieces out there,” said LEGO enthusiast Kris Abel. He says Canadian fans have made their mark with LEGO. For example, Canadian Sandro Quattrini submitted a design based on Quebec lighthouses, and LEGO picked it up. “It’s one of the most popular sets that you can buy in stores. So this pick-a-brick program helps lead us to have more Canadians involved in creating sets that we can go and buy at stores,” Abel says. Yet, recent changes to trade rules brought in by the Donald Trump administration mean packages under USD $800 are no longer exempt from duties. Sellers are now required to collect tariffs before delivery. “Unfortunately, all those little tiny pieces are now subject to tariffs to the point where it’s just not worth financially for LEGO to run it anymore,” Abel adds. Currently, at Complexe Maestria in Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles, a collection called The Art of The Brick shows the possibilities with LEGO because of those specialized pieces. Abel says limiting part of the Pick-a-Brick service in North America isn’t just bad for fans, but for LEGO as well. “Right now, there’s a lot of competition out there in terms of other types of puzzle activities out there. There’s always other companies breathing down the neck of LEGO,” Abel added. In an email to CTV News, LEGO says they are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
