LEGO Minifigures Series 16 - Bump Codes

LEGO Minifigures Series 16 - 71013

LEGO Minifigures are awesome.  Normally, these are hard to find in my area.  I happen to be on holiday in Utah, stopped by a Target, and found a bunch on the pegs.  I noticed that there was a guy in a banana suit on the package.  Seriously, a guy in a banana outfit.  I have to have this!

I also noticed there was a guy in penguin outfit...and a baby Minifigure.  What?  I have to have these, too.

So, like many, I stood there and felt the blind bags for about half and hour.  As I was feeling up the Minifigures, I felt some parts that seemed like they were not part of the line up on the package.  Thanks to free wi-fi at Target, I looked up the line up and realised there was a mini penguin as well.  Oh, this is going to take a while.

LEGO Minifigures Series 16

Above is the image I used as reference as I pinched and felt my way through about 50 bags. Eventually, I got the four that I wanted.

When I got home, I did some more research on Series 16.  That is when I found out about Bump Codes.  What?  There are a series of bumps on the bottom of the bags that can tell you which Minifigure is in the pack.  No need to feel, if you know the codes.  This saves a lot of time and crazy looks from others as you stand there feeling bags.  I know I was on the security cameras and the crew was watching me.

As of this post there has not been an update of bump codes for Series 16.  These four should hopefully helps in that quest.  Anyway, here are the Minifigs I got and their bump codes.  There are no 'official names' for the Minifugures, that I know of, so I made some up.  I have also 'enhanced' the bumps so it shows up better on camera.

Banana Man

Banana Man - Probably the easiest to feel because of the banana outfit.

Bump Code:  Two bumps.  Left bump about 14mm from left edge, 4mm up from bottom. Right bump about 12mm from right edge, 4mm from bottom.

Babysitter with Baby

Babysitter with Baby - Feel for the baby's body.  You will notice the shape of hands and feet. 

Bump Code:  Left bump about 23mm from edge, 3mm from bottom.  Right bump about 15mm from edge, 3mm from bottom.

Penguin Man

Penguin Man - Feel for the arms, they will be straight and flat and will not have hands to twist.

Bump Code:  Left-A, 11mm, 4mm.  Left-B, 25mm, 6mm.  Left-C, 37mm, 2mm.  Right, 14mm, 5mm.

Arctic Explorer with Baby Penguin

Arctic Explorer with Baby Penguin - This one is harder to feel.  Feel for the Explorers hoodie, two big openings.  Then feel for baby penguin, you should be able to feel the shape of the flippers.

Bump Code:  Left-A, 9mm, 6mm.  Left-B, 33mm, 3mm.  Right, 11mm, 3mm.

Hopefully, with the Bump Codes and feel techniques, that will help you find one of the four I found.

Series 16 Bump Codes

These are the four I wanted.  I was also running out of time.  This should help others get started in decoding the bumps.  Good luck and have fun.

Waiting In Line At Toys 'R' Us

I go to Toys 'R' Us (or TRU for you cool people out there) a lot...you know, for research. There is usually one local on that I frequent, but when I see one on the road, I go in and see what is in stock. In the past three months, I have been to about ten different TRU's (like that?). One thing that they all have in common...very poor customer service.

As a kid, there is no better reward than getting a toy. Every kid, including me, that walks into a Target, Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, K-Mart, etc. will run to the toy section to pick out a toy. Now, throw in a toy store such as Toys 'R' Us, that kid is in heaven.

Let me first say that bringing a kid along with you while you shop is pure torture for the kid. Kids have a short attention span...ALL KIDS have short attention spans. It is called being a kid, not that attention deficit/ADD crap! You need to purchase a little something to keep the kid quite and occupied on the way home. Hence the term "Shut-Me-Up-Toy", and industry term. It describes a toy that a guardian buys to shut the kid up, usually under five dollars. When you go to a Toys 'R' Us with a kid, expect to purchase an item at least within the fifteen dollar range. Taking a kid to a toy store and not buying anything for him/her is just cruel.

Back to my problem with TRU. Like many mass market stores, there are multiple check out lines. Your average TRU will have ten checkout stations, including at least one in electronics and at least one at customer service. Then why...WHY is there only one register open? I have seen lines with more than five people waiting, and there will be one register open with the slowest cashier on staff. (Oh, K-Mart sucks, too. But that is another post.) You have antsy kids in line with fed up parents...and there is only one line open? Meanwhile, there are other staff...wait, they like to be call "team members", just wandering about. How about you grab a register and get the next guest in line? There are a dozen registers NOT being used.

Seriously, how hard is it to work the register? I have done it, it is easy. The little bar code thingy makes it so damn easy these days. In fact, they make a toy register that you can buy at TRU, if you get to the register. Most of the time you do not even have to make change. Most transactions are made with a credit card. Even if there is cash involved, all you do is punch in some numbers and it does all the math for you. Heck, I bet the four year old in line can playing with the toy register can run the TRU one.