10221 Super Star Destroyer overpriced?

rocao

I would say resoundingly 'yes'!

400 USD for 3152 pieces, half of which look to be greeble. Meanwhile, 10188 Death Star is the same price point, but with 3803 pieces and 24 minifigs (19 more than SSD!).

The Super Star Destroyer's nearest relative was 10030 Imperial Star Destroyer with 3096 pieces and a 270 USD price tag in 2002. Using an inflation calculator, 10030 would cost 338 USD by today's dollar, which is a smaller gap, but still 62 USD short.

Will I still get it? Probably, but I'll do it with a disapproving scowl.
How about you?

doriansdad

If a first run offers a bonus like the UCS Falcon did (doubtful) I will buy it at retail fairly quickly. If not I will wait for a good sale on this set around 50% off.

jb15

Yep.

macmon

I will wait for a sale since 1. I am still saving for it and 2 most likely by that time it is on sale.

Legoboy

I don't know. I appreciate the Death Star has more minifigs and a fair amount of cool features within it, but in terms of design, I can imagine it took far more effort and time perfecting the shape of this monster to allow the thing to balance right and actually stand up. And then like you said, there's inflation etc. I'm not gong to say it's not a tiny bit higher than it ought to be, but given the size of the individual pieces compared with the Death Star, there's a hell of a lot more plastic included - even with the little bits around the edge.

legoDad

Definitely will get it but hoping there will be some percentage off down the road or I'll save up my ViP points religously to ease the pain.
I do love the model and would be a signature piece in anyone's collection.

Ypres

I could care less about piece counts and half-baked math. The point to consider is the model's size.

It's big, so chances are it's worth that much in size alone. If I decide I'll fork that much money in one purchase at any point on a Starwars foundation weight than I'll buy this set... it doesn't look bad to me.

Yellowcastle

I could care less about piece counts and half-baked math. The point to consider is the model's size

I'm not sure where you think the math is faulty here but I can certainly appreciate liking a set despite any perceived flaws or a questionable pricetag. I'm a big fan of the new Tantive IV though it's piece ratio isn't great for it's size nor is it apparently highly rated.

rocao

Here is the inflation calculator I was using: http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm

TLG has been known to cite inflation when defending set prices, claiming they aren't really rising as quickly (or at all) as many people suggest. Thus, I thought it was quite legitimate.

collect_that

I've seen this model up close on display recently in the UK built by @drdavewatford and have to say I'm not impressed, it's a fair size but just doesn't reach out with that wow factor! Theres smaller,cheaper and better SW sets out there - 6211??

prof1515

I'm likely not getting it unless it's on sale for at least 20-30% off. As far as ships go it has no character, hardly any screen time and doesn't fit well having mini-figures, the only real attraction of the set. I'll willingly pay $100 for the figures on bricklink and skip the set itself.

Yellowcastle

Aren't the figures all dups from previous sets?

madforLEGO

I do not know how anyone could be surprised that Lego is overcharging on a SW set....
It sounds like the SW Advent calendar is going to be 5 dollars over the price of the reg advent and it has set interesting things in it than the other advent calendars..

prof1515

Aren't the figures all dups from previous sets?

Admiral Piett has never been released before and Dengar is a new version.

drdavewatford

^ Correct, and IG-88 is also new.

Versions of both Dengar and IG-88 did previously appear in the 6209 Slave 1 set, but the new versions are IMHO a big improvement.

Legoboy

As painful as it is to swallow, in my mind a set is only proven overpriced when only a few people buy it - UCS Imperial Shuttle or Obi-Wan Starfighter anyone? As such it's either reduced or TLG provide incentives through their VIP points scheme.

Again, if noone buys the SSD (which lets be honest, isn't going to happen) TLG will be forced to reduce its price.

Bottom line, if you feel it's overpriced, don't buy it. If 95% of the fans agree with you, the price will come down to reflect it.

Sure, the sets cost more than I'd like to be, but then we still buy. We're our own worst enemy.

yys4u

Definitely NOT buying it, however I'm not a LEGO star wars fan. That being said I ALMOST bought the death star, but didn't have money. If I had to choose I'd definitely get the Death Star, and still might someday if the opportunity comes, but I will NEVER buy 10221 Super Star Destroyer. I'm not saying I hate it, it's just not as iconic as the Death Star, and doesn't have that WOW factor. To me its just a big pile of gray bricks with a couple minifigs thrown in.

prof1515

As painful as it is to swallow, in my mind a set is only proven overpriced when only a few people buy it - UCS Imperial Shuttle or Obi-Wan Starfighter anyone? As such it's either reduced or TLG provide incentives through their VIP points scheme...TLG will be forced to reduce its price.

Not for a while. They'll do offers involving VIP points and eventually discount it but quite frankly this won't be a popular set. Plus, VIP offers still don't make up for the fact that it's far too overpriced. Even doubling VIP points is just offering 10% off. For a $400 set, that's not enough because it's just too expensive for what you're getting. The UCS Shuttle is vastly superior, far more recognizable and a not priced anywhere near as high. Quite honestly I have no intention of getting it either.

Legoboy

^ This is the point I am making - the more people that take this approach and resist the temptation to 'buy it at any cost', just to complete their collection, the more pressure there will be on TLG to reduce its price. The Obi-Wan Starfighter is a perfect example. Sales were slow so what did they do? TLG themselves reduced the cost by a third to temporarily boost sales (that's when I pushed the button). It's unheard of for TLG to do that mid-season. Just goes to show, if nobody buys it, TLG will have to significantly reduce the cost to encourage sales - even if it's just temporarily.

atkinsar

Yes I think it's overpriced. I'll wait for a good deal or discount to buy it, but buy it I will. I still haven't bought the imperial shuttle as I've not seen any decent offers on it so far. There's no rush to get these UCS sets, they'll be around for a long time.

Yellowcastle

Yes I think it's overpriced. I'll wait for a good deal or discount to buy it, but buy it I will.

Was this an intentional Yoda-ism? :o)

kylejohnson11

I'll stick with my City and Collectable Minifigures :)

sidersdd

Anyone know how much this set will be in Australian dollars? And will it be available down under on September 1 as well?

dougts

it's listed as $699 Australian direct from LEGO. not sure about release date down there.

Aaron

This reminds me of the price points for the VW Camper Van. The discount that the US market seems to get over the rest of the world has decressed. It probably has most to do with the low valulation of the US dollar compared to the Danish krone, since TLC is based in Demmark. Less profit flowing back to the home country due to the difference in exchange rate means the price has to go up. The larger the set, the bigger the difference.

richo

This is the first UCS set I have immediatelly decided I wouldnt buy at full price. The brick count is 700 pieces lower than the Death Star (the current UCS flagship), yet the price is £75 more. Also, whilst its not exactly the point of the UCS range, the minfigure count is vastly lower than the Death Star.
I need to be pragmatic. Its a lot of money, and with a young daughter, it just feels too selfish. If there is a sale, thats when I will consider it. I really can't see this selling much at all. It's not even in the arena of xmas present values for older children like the Death Star and a couple of the other UCSs. It's purely aimed at adult collectors, yet in the current environment, even if you are comfortable, you have to think twice before spending £350 on one set ahead of all the other priorities and opportunity costs that the money could be linked to.