[US] New Discounts at Amazon

LegoFanTexas

Yep... That is worse than most, but it isn't unique, I've had plenty of sets arrive in similar condition in the past year.

So... anyone want a discounted X-Wing? ;-)

prevere

A random sidetrack here. I noticed Amazon lists the Batwing at $44.99 for their standard retail price. But its real MSRP is $34.99.

LegoFanTexas

prevere said:

A random sidetrack here. I noticed Amazon lists the Batwing at $44.99 for their standard retail price. But its real MSRP is $34.99.

That isn't likely Amazon, more likely it is a third party seller who has changed the product detail page.

binaryeye

LegoFanTexas said:

That isn't likely Amazon, more likely it is a third party seller who has changed the product detail page.

Does that explain #4203 Excavator Transport? The Amazon RRP of that set has been $59.99 for a long time (true RRP is $39.99), and it is sold by Amazon with that RRP. I'd think Amazon would want the RRP to be correct if they are selling the item. As is, they're falsely advertising a discount of 43% off when it's closer to 15% off.

Hothgar

Use a hair dryer on the HE sticker

LegoFanTexas

Hothgar said:

Use a hair dryer on the HE sticker

Yep... :) Works like a champ... most of the time...

LegoFanTexas

binaryeye said:

LegoFanTexas said:

That isn't likely Amazon, more likely it is a third party seller who has changed the product detail page.

Does that explain #4203 Excavator Transport? The Amazon RRP of that set has been $59.99 for a long time (true RRP is $39.99), and it is sold by Amazon with that RRP. I'd think Amazon would want the RRP to be correct if they are selling the item. As is, they're falsely advertising a discount of 43% off when it's closer to 15% off.

Yes, that RRP was correct when it first launched, but someone with a high ASIN authority must have uploaded a feed with the wrong price in it and it has stuck for whatever reason.

Amazon's own internal pricing bots probably work off their MSRP, so they may well end up selling it for that price at some point. Which is wrong, but unless someone changes it who has a higher ASIN authority or who contacts seller support (and can actually reach someone competent), or enough customers complain using the report button on the page, it isn't likely to change.

dougts

my second box arrived today, containing only the AA. near-perfect condition. Lesson for future: order each set seperately rather than in the same order.

TheLoneTensor

LegoFanTexas said:

^ Ok, happy post... :)

My pair of HE arrived in nearly perfect condition (at least for Amazon), except that they decided to put a huge sticker on the back of one of them, one of their inventory control stickers, it is 3x4" in size, just right in the middle. Blah!

Clearly Amazon thinks the LEGO box is just packing material!

As for my pair of AA, neither is perfect, but both are ok. One has a 1" gash in the bottom edge, looks like it was dropped. The other is nicer overall, but not mint.

Not complaining, considering some of the damaged sets I get from Amazon (see attached X-Wing picture!), these aren't too bad.

That X-wing box is fine, it's just in the S-foil closed position :)

Bandit

dougts said:

my second box arrived today, containing only the AA. near-perfect condition. Lesson for future: order each set seperately rather than in the same order.

I've been doing this forever. Problem is, if you make 2 separate orders within a certain time period, they'll usually add them together in 1 anyway.

I've found separating them by an hour or 2 during business hours usually works. But when you're talking about a sale like this where inventory dwindles quickly, you don't have time to do that. :)

LegoFanTexas

^ This... :)

Yes, they love combining orders into a huge box, and who can blame them, it saves them money.

And yes, for sales like this, you really can't wait an hour, the deal is either over or sold out by then.

dougts

^ my experience with Amazon combining has been different. Just this week I placed two orders (both non-LEGO) withing 10 minutes of each other for small, cheap items. They were shipped separately.

Bandit

And for what it's worth, my 2 HH came in one big box that was pretty beat up. 2 separate orders, placed maybe 5 minutes apart. Both HH are in fine condition though, so no problems there.

I also try to order things on Sun/Mon/Tue if I can help it, rather than Wed/Thu/Fri, as that means the 2-day prime shipping gets pushed over the weekend, which makes for 2 extra days of my boxes getting thrown around and/or possibly smashed.

Bandit

dougts said:

^ my experience with Amazon combining has been different. Just this week I placed two orders (both non-LEGO) withing 10 minutes of each other for small, cheap items. They were shipped separately.

It also depends on if they're from the same distribution center. If you buy 2 items (same order or not) that are in different locations, you'll get 2 shipments.

I think it all depends on how fast that order goes to distribution, where the items might be located in the warehouse (ie. how close or far apart they are), how backed up they may be with picking orders that day, etc. I'm sure it's a ridiculously complex algorithm that Amazon has crafted to perfection. Wait an hour though, and you're usually good (in my experience).

Dougout

Amazon combined my order of 2 Bwings with 2 HE. Then they put one HE in a separate package which is apparently being returned to sender. The other package arrived, everything having at least some damage. The train had some of its cardboard front missing from what I assume was a sticker being ripped off it. It was also slightly crushed along with one of the bwings.

I won't be placing multiple orders with them anymore. What annoys me most is every single one of my sets I order from them gets here with at least some sort of creasing or damage. They can't get it right. Either too much packaging or practically none at all. Sturdy boxes for small sets and then huge paper thin boxes for big orders. If their packaging can be this bad I don't want to see how bad their handling is. I think I'll be doing most of my online shopping from Target, most every set I receive from them is in above average condition. I've never sent anything back from anywhere, but this is ridiculous. Why should I care if they don't care.

pharmjod

I received my 2 AA's today (a little past the Prime's 2 day shipping promise...). I was worried that the extra transit time would mean crushed boxes. The outer box was crushed some, but both sets arrived in fairly good shape. One had some creasing on the front but the other was actually about perfect given the size of the box. I'm pleased either way since it was such a great discount. I still wished I could have gotten the HH at the discounted price, but I have faith that there will be other opportunities for it down the road.

madforLEGO

Boxes are all in decent shape, one AA has a torn up sticker seal, but the others look fine, it looks like the seal was not placed correctly and got ripped up. and one of the seals on the HE was lifted (again looks like it was not placed correctly)

y2josh

Turns out Amazon didn't have any HE in stock to replace my order with, so they simply refunded me, but said I was welcome to re-buy the sets at the original price if they ever showed up.

So, have any of you guys had any luck with FedEx mis-delivering a package and then it miraculously showing up like a week after it was declared 'delivered'?

ColoradoBricks

@y2josh, once I was waiting an Amazon package from UPS (was the EN...) then it showed "Delivered". With UPS tracking, I could see the delivery address and was like 10 miles away from me. I called UPS, the person that received it (was a business) already call them about it and was on their route to be picked on Monday (it was a Friday) to be re-delivered. I asked them if I could go pick up my self and they were OK with that.
Sometime after I returned, UPS came to deliver my packages and the driver apologized, she was already aware of the issue.

LegoFanTexas

^ That has happened to me before as well, the driver has always taken care of it personally.

Last Christmas I had about 12 boxes delivered two streets over, same number, different street. UPS driver showed back at my door with the boxes the next day. :) He was very sorry and apologetic...

It turns out, they track the GPS location of the trucks when they drop off packages, so they knew exactly where he was when he delivered them.

LegoFanTexas

BTW, that is why I ship via UPS, USPS would not usually be that attentive... my local driver is nice enough, I give him props for caring, but it just isn't the same level of service.

jasor

^UPS drivers are basically responsible for their routes almost like their own business. I did the "union" tour once on a UPS dist center, and to get to a driver level (at least back then), you had to work your posterior off....and it had extreme responsibility.

They are the face of the company, and UPS takes them very seriously.

cloaked7

^ Yeah, the way I understand it, UPS is a young man's company. I have yet to see a UPS worker with grey hair. :-) What happens to them? They put out to pasture?

Shouldn't say young 'man'. The current driver on the route for my home is female. In that sexy brown uniform. :-)

TheLoneTensor

My UPS guy is 50-something with gray hair.

Of course, he's one of the most in-shape 50-something guys I know also.

Pitfall69

^That's what they say about me...lol. I will be 42 soon.

Vaio

I keep going to amazon to check Arkum Asylum everytime I see me comments in this thread lol...I'm just hoping...

gmpirate

Anyone else not seeing Lego show up in their "Today's Deals" page lately?

kwkw

Sets came in today from UPS. Outside shipping box looks someone tried to make a box angel on it i.e. squashed. AA looks like someone sat on it and HH only has a little damage. Time to hit up amazon customer service.

madforLEGO

@gmpirate: I saw a Marvel Super Heroes today #6869 at 24% off... But it is rare and rarer for me to see anything that is over 6-10% off in my deals. I wonder if you buy a large amount of LEGO that it reduces the amount you see in the deals page

y2josh said:

Turns out Amazon didn't have any HE in stock to replace my order with, so they simply refunded me, but said I was welcome to re-buy the sets at the original price if they ever showed up.

So, have any of you guys had any luck with FedEx mis-delivering a package and then it miraculously showing up like a week after it was declared 'delivered'?

I would say it was delivered to the wrong address, I would also check with neighbors of you are living in an apt complex, or a condo/townhouse complex (and if in a apt complex check with your office).

y2josh

I've actually checked with everyone in the neighborhood (within reason) at this point and, per FedEx's suggestion, checked with my girlfriend to make sure she didn't accidentally bring it into the house... hide it somewhere... and then completely forget to tell me about it. Their 'tips for locating your package' remind me a lot of the basic troubleshooting steps an IT would walk you through... only I don't think there's ANYONE that FedEx's suggestions would help.

Regardless, they've finally put a trace on it, so we'll see what happens.

madforLEGO

I figured, but you never know. If the suggestion sounds dumb or condescending it was not meant to.

y2josh

Not at all. I found FedEx's suggestion that I check with other members of my household to be dumb and condescending, but I certainly took no such offense here.

margot

jasor said:

^UPS drivers are basically responsible for their routes almost like their own business.

Used to be that way. Now I have several different drivers that cover my route, I guess that's what happens when mission statement goes from "most reliable to most profitable"...

madforLEGO

I guess it depends with UPS. I usually have the same guy every time. Now UPS does have different drivers on routes where there are different delivery options.. so on ocassion I see a different driver arrive at a different time

mathew

Last week the mailman dropped off my Futuron Monorail that I won off of ebay at the wrong address. I was literally standing at the foot of my driveway waiting for the guy. I saw him deliver a package at the end of the street. He was running late and it was dinner time so I went back in to eat. Ten minutes later I go out and check. Junk mail, but no package! Tracking showed that it was still out for delivery. I stewed around about it and then it occurred to me that he probably delivered my package to the wrong house. So I ran down the street and there it was sitting on someone else's doorstep. I frantically grabbed it and ran home. I must of looked like a thief to anyone watching. It's funny in retrospect, but at the time I was fuming. BTW, the address on the package was correct, but the idiot mailman due to his haste mis-delivered it.

y2josh

^To that end, I have nothing really to be upset about (sans my general disdain for FedEx as an entity). If the package doesn't turn up, I've already been refunded, so there's no real harm done. I just thought this was a nice opportunity to pick up two at a reasonable price. Were it closer to EOL, I'd probably be a lot angrier.

madforLEGO

I have had the mailman assume that I am not home and leave a card in my mailbox for me to go and pick up something at the PO, did not even ring the door bell.
I do not believe I have ever had a mailman deliver the package to the wrong house though, especially if it is down the street (maybe if it was next door I could understand).

TheLoneTensor

mathew said:

Last week the mailman dropped off my Futuron Monorail that I won off of ebay at the wrong address. I was literally standing at the foot of my driveway waiting for the guy. I saw him deliver a package at the end of the street. He was running late and it was dinner time so I went back in to eat. Ten minutes later I go out and check. Junk mail, but no package! Tracking showed that it was still out for delivery. I stewed around about it and then it occurred to me that he probably delivered my package to the wrong house. So I ran down the street and there it was sitting on someone else's doorstep. I frantically grabbed it and ran home. I must of looked like a thief to anyone watching. It's funny in retrospect, but at the time I was fuming. BTW, the address on the package was correct, but the idiot mailman due to his haste mis-delivered it.

In all fairness, mailmen and UPS guys (and women) are human, and things will get screwed up here and there. It's not an excuse, but who knows, maybe the guy got an emergency call and was totally thrown for a loop.

In any event, in these days of electronic tracking, it's much better and can only get better as we get more granular real-time tracking on packages everywhere.

mathew

^ True, but it was early Friday evening and he was running later than usual. He was in a hurry and in the process delivered to the wrong address. He's sloppy as I often find my neighbor's mail in my mailbox. It's the last time I will have something that expensive shipped via USPS. It wasn't my choice though since that is the only shipping option the seller offered. In the future I will make sure to ask before the sale goes through to have different options.

madforLEGO

So now ymmv is: Your mailman may vary?

dr_teng

These aren't as big as the deals in the OP were but they might come in handy for some, a bunch of LEGO architecture sets on sale over at Amazon for 20-36% off :

LEGO Architecture White House (21006) for $37.73
LEGO Architecture Seattle Space Needle (21003) for $17.79
LEGO Architecture Empire State Building (21002) for $16.92
LEGO Sydney Opera House for $28.06
LEGO Architecture Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (21004) for $33.96
LEGO Architecture Willis Tower (21000) for $18.11
LEGO® Architecture Brandenburg Gate 21011 for $22.99
LEGO Architecture Burj Khalifa Dubai 21008 for $20.67
LEGO Architecture Farnsworth House 21009 for $46.43

legogregors

HH for $153 on warehouse deals...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0095ZMTE6/ref=sr_1_6_olp?s=merchant&ie=UTF8&qid=1370970865&sr=1-6&keywords=lego&condition=used

LegoFanTexas

dr_teng said:

These aren't as big as the deals in the OP were but they might come in handy for some, a bunch of LEGO architecture sets on sale over at Amazon for 20-36% off :

In fairness, these have been on "sale" for months now.

I picked up a few to hold long term, but the problem is once they are at this price for months and months, you run the risk of this becoming the new price.

They were usually overpriced anyway, this just brings it down to sane levels. They still aren't selling very fast at these discount levels.

TheLoneTensor

LegoFanTexas said:

dr_teng said:

These aren't as big as the deals in the OP were but they might come in handy for some, a bunch of LEGO architecture sets on sale over at Amazon for 20-36% off :

In fairness, these have been on "sale" for months now.

I picked up a few to hold long term, but the problem is once they are at this price for months and months, you run the risk of this becoming the new price.

They were usually overpriced anyway, this just brings it down to sane levels. They still aren't selling very fast at these discount levels.

Wait, you're saying a retailer would artificially inflate the "base" price so that when things go on "sale" they are still making a good profit? Say it ain't so.

binaryeye

tensor said:

Wait, you're saying a retailer would artificially inflate the "base" price so that when things go on "sale" they are still making a good profit? Say it ain't so.

I think he's saying the LEGO RRP of most Architecture sets is high.

LegoFanTexas

^ Yep... Not the retailer, the manufacture...

And the Architecture sets were inflated even more than the usual LEGO cost. They were priced as if they were licensed sets, Star Wars even, and they have generally small parts to boot.

Perhaps they are priced there because LEGO understood they would always be low volume sets.

graphite

^ self fulfilling prophesy? Pricing them too high is going to guarantee they are low volume.

Legofanscott

LegoFanTexas said:

^ Yep... Not the retailer, the manufacture...

And the Architecture sets were inflated even more than the usual LEGO cost. They were priced as if they were licensed sets, Star Wars even, and they have generally small parts to boot.

Perhaps they are priced there because LEGO understood they would always be low volume sets.

Youve gotta love the boxes on those architecture sets though, pity the same can't be said for the actual models :(

y2josh

LegoFanTexas said:

^ Yep... Not the retailer, the manufacture...

And the Architecture sets were inflated even more than the usual LEGO cost. They were priced as if they were licensed sets, Star Wars even, and they have generally small parts to boot.

Perhaps they are priced there because LEGO understood they would always be low volume sets.

You realize, of course, the Architecture sets ARE licensed. They're also a niche product with what appears to be a very specific type of collector in mind so, for the most part, I actually think the MSRP is spot-on.

jasor

gmpirate said:

Anyone else not seeing Lego show up in their "Today's Deals" page lately?

Less and less for me. I'm getting bits I have never even searched...fairly odd, indeed.