LEGO VIP Black Friday Early Shopping Pass

Russell844

Has anyone started to receive invitations? I am a contractor in a mailroom and one of the employees got one today. At least I am pretty sure that is what he got in the yellow envelope with the red minifigure on it. :)

I spent more this year at the LEGO Stores and S@H than I ever have before. I hope I get one this year.

SirKevbags

I understand stores, at least in the UK have been given the guest list. The stores don't make the decision buy have been given 5 discretionary invitations.

Russell844

I asked last week at a store if they were doing the early shopping day. He said they were but did not know when the invitations were going out.

madforLEGO

My guess is that the invites should be going out now because they want a week for RSVP and then it is a week before BF.
So my guess is that people should receive start to receive them this week.
I have been two two VIP pre BF events so I hope i get another invite this year.

cardgenius

What exactly happens at these? Im not very familiar with this.

madforLEGO

It is a pre BF event on the Saturday before BF.
Last year you get a PaB box for showing up and last year you got the scratchcards. I'm guessing this year is the same.
You also have the ability to get the Holiday set#2 if you spend over X dollars.
There is not much you get on this day that differs from BF (and BF may have other LEGO set discounts) But what I like is that I can go to the LEGO stores for BF stuff without having to go on BF.
You also got a poster last year. Again nothing hugely different but if you do not like going to the mall on BF, then it is better IMO.

gmpirate

Its more for fun than any great deals. I've been told by a manager, that there will be a new LotR poster and triple points. I'm sure there will be a PaB box as well, but I didn't ask any questions given most at the store levels know little to begin with.

wrangler6915

I also got the holiday exclusive set as part of the goodie bag they gave out. Plus, you could bring a friend (my wife) and they gave her a goodie bag as well. They were also very liberal with the PAB boxes with purchase

DoubleD

And these invited just come in the mail, at random.

dougts

^ not really random, but yeah they come in the mail

Poisso3

^Are they just sent to VIP members?

madforLEGO

I believe they are only for VIPs

cardgenius

Thanks for the info, sounds pretty cool.

llanowarsoldier

Also, you have to be in a top percentage of money spent at store too in order to get an invite. At least that has been way done in past.

neomonkey

Am I at a disadvantage if there's several stores in my area that I shop at?

madforLEGO

llanowarsoldier said:

Also, you have to be in a top percentage of money spent at store too in order to get an invite. At least that has been way done in past.

I dunno if that is it to be honest. I have spent at the store, but I doubt Im one of the top spenders.
I think it relies on maybe top buyers then there is a drawing or something..

DoubleD

Maybe those last 2 half price spring scene pushed me to the top.

LegoMom1

^ @doubledbrick- so that's why you bought 2. :)

madforLEGO

I am checking my mail each day with a new interest knowing that this can show up in the next few days. A nice distraction from the usual junk mail and bills

gmpirate

It's definitely not a top spender thing as many have attested to here before. Many big spenders are left off and many modest spenders are on :P

CurvedRoadPlate

I thought it was based on frequency of Lego purchases, both in store and online from last years discussion. I also thought each store had some discretionary invites for whomever they chose to invite

drdavewatford

It's not really the big spenders that LEGO should be wooing - they're already hooked !

It is nice to get an invite, though, and number of visits/spend is clearly a factor.

wrangler6915

Just curious if there are any other folks who, like me, got last years pre BF invite...but then DID NOT get the valentine keychain?

madforLEGO

I have gotten the pre BF invites (and went) but did not get the keychain.
Thanks for opening an old wound. :-p

drdavewatford

wrangler6915 said:

Just curious if there are any other folks who, like me, got last years pre BF invite...but then DID NOT get the valentine keychain?

Yep - guilty as charged.

SirKevbags

^ Me three.

Russell844

I have never gotten a pre-BF invite but I did get the keychain.

leemcg

^^ me four.

piratemania7

Does anyone know if this goes based off proximity to a Store?

margot

^Yes (I'm guessing). I know we won't get one because our closest store is 100 miles away.

madforLEGO

piratemania7 said:

Does anyone know if this goes based off proximity to a Store?

I'm guessing it probably does. I'm sure there are a few things they use to determine who gets invited, not just one. Proximity, frequency you shop at the physical store, and maybe money spent at a LEGO B&M store (not online) are the determining factors, maybe with another 1 or 2 things. Perhaps now if you have gone to one one of these previously as well.

JeffH

^Maybe. I have 2 Lego stores near my city, one is about 8 miles away and the other is over 25 miles. I got those pre BF invitations for the last few years. I mostly shop at the closer store and only once went to the other store and made a purchase last year. Guess what, I got the pre BF invitation from the other store last year. :( I called the closer store and asked the store manager if I could visit her store instead and she gladly took me. She did ask me not to make a second reservation with the other store though. ;)

chromedigi

Russell844 said:

I have never gotten a pre-BF invite but I did get the keychain.

I'm in that boat, too.

AFFOL_Shellz_Bellz

Our Pre-BF invite last year was for the Pleasanton store though we had only shopped there once, while we shopped regularly at the Sacramento store. Have not received one yet this year. Did receive the keychain. Would prefer that Pre-BF had more of a party atmosphere than a come give us your money vibe.

oldtodd33

BF invite and no key chain here also.

BombTec

My closest store is 50mi. I shop there and online alot; key chain but no invites.

starwarfan77

how much of spend are they looking at for these? over 1k, 2k, 3k, 5k, 10k /year?

gmpirate

^ think that question was already answered

starwarfan77

@gmpirate sorry for the repeated question.

http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/2024/vip-exclusive-holiday-shopping-event

has/had more details... had to do the search :P

gmpirate

Actually, just reading this thread would do :P

No one really knows the criteria, but if you are a frequent shopper and know the manager well, you can get an invite. And by frequent shopper, I don't mean you have to be a whale.

llanowarsoldier

I myself haven't received a pre-BF invite the whole 4 years the Lego Store has been opened and it is only 7miles away and I shop there alot. Although I did get the Key Chain this year.

Nelly

I believe the invite list is quite exclusive. Last year only 15-20 people were invited to the South Coast store, if I remember correctly.

Renny

I just received the invite in the mail. I have only been to my nearby store a couple times and spent about $300 each time so I am definitely not among the top spenders. I did receive the key chain when they sent that out but I honestly think it's just a random selection of VIP folks.

edit: I have also placed a few orders online but total was less than $2k.

starfire2

I got one today :)

AFFOL_Shellz_Bellz

@Renny and @starfire2 where are you located?

Renny

I am near the Northbrook store in Illinois.

vwong19

I got invited! First timer. I am going to the one in San Diego Fashion Valley. I frequent the store monthly, but wouldn't say I am a big spender.

dougts

hmm. wonder if they are skimming off people who spent over $X this year. Wouldn't surprise me with the other things that have gone on in 2013. I have been invited the past couple years, and both times I know everyone else invited for my store were big big big dollar spenders. Will be interesting to see if I get another invite this year or not

starfire2

AFFOL_Shellz_Bellz said:

@Renny and @starfire2 where are you located?

I am in Phoenix AZ

starfire2

I wouldn't consider myself a big spender. Maybe $1000- 1500

Renny

Kind of excited :) Never been invited to one of these before. I don't like shopping in stores for Black Friday (I avoid crowds) but this seems to be a controlled shopping experience so I think I'll participate.