Death Star OoS Ships in 30 Days

LegoTT

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Death-Star-10188

Just wondering if this happens very often. I'm just getting out of my dark ages and am considering the Death Star but was hoping to wait until a double VIP points day... I'm sure there has been much speculation about when this will retire- but does the stock typically drop like this?

Thanks!

Vindic8ed

I'm curious about the retirement of this as well and how many they've actually sold. Either they haven't sold a lot and the inventory they had was from the initial production or it's been a really popular money maker which is why they've kept it around for so long.

SuperTramp

Didn't it say in the latest catalogue that it has a "limited quantity remaining"

Vindic8ed

They stopped sending me the catalog (even though I've repeatedly signed up for it to continue receiving it) so I wouldn't know.

LegoTT

Hmm- interesting. I may see if the local store has it today and just pick it up. The Hellicarrier will be around for the rest of the year...I can always snag that later. It's crazy how long this set has been around, though. It would make sense to retire if a new top dollar Lego Star Wars set were to hit the market around the release of the new movie.

TarDomo

This is quite usual and doesn´t mean it will take even near 30 days to ship it. They might ship it even next week. It doesn´t mean it´s gonna retire soon, but because it has been available for so long, it is possibly retiring soon.

LegoTT

My local Lego Store was out of stock- they didn't seem to think getting one would be an issue. They seemed confident that they'd be back in stock the first of next month. Hopefully that's the case!

CCC

Vindic8ed said:

I'm curious about the retirement of this as well and how many they've actually sold. Either they haven't sold a lot and the inventory they had was from the initial production or it's been a really popular money maker which is why they've kept it around for so long.

I doubt they would keep exactly the same unsold stock on the shelves for five years.

ryjay

I wonder now, after all this time, how many want it because it is "out of stock"?

madforLEGO

The DS has gone in and out of OoS in the US in its run, Im guessing mainly because they do not produce many in a run. All it takes are a group of people to all decide to buy a few, run it into OoS and then cause a frenzy of buying by others thinking it is close to EOL and buying more, making a cascade effect with the availability of sets like this at all retailers (not just LEGO)
Now it is reportedly going EOL this year, and perhaps will be gone by mid year with the increased buying, but my guess is these will still be produced by LEGO until at least mid year.
Sounding like a broken record, but if you want one, buy one now, especially in the US where there are very few discounts to be had on these anyway. Unless you consider double points a discount, in which case you can try to wait until the spring double points offer appears.

LegoTT

Just put the order in online...just in case. I figure I can always buy a something else on Double Points Day...even if it means I miss out on $20 of extra credit :)

I'll post again when the DS ships. I have a hunch that if it was going EOL there would be a sale price of 10-20 dollars off just to move the last bit of product.

I also snagged 5 Series 12 CMFs for $1.98 a piece in the online order. Hopefully I don't get any duplicates, but I'm not holding my breath...ha

sonsofsceva

@SuperTramp The January 2015 catalog doesn't say anything about limited quantities remaining, just the usual "Hard to Find" designation.

I do find it interesting that in all this time, though most of the figures have been updated (some twice, I think) since the initial DS offering, they have not done a "revised" version with a couple of tweaks and the newer versions of the figures, an update to the box, etc.

Regardless, it is better to get it now than pay double in the aftermarket when it does go EOL.

SuperTramp

Sorry I meant the UK one and I'm pretty certain that's what it says about it.

LegoTT

Just as a heads up- my order status is "In Warehouse"

To be fair, I have no idea what it was before this very moment...haha. I'm assuming that means it will ship well before the 30 day marker.

LegoTT

Apologies for the double post but just in case anyone else tries to order...my Death Star has shipped! Looks like [email protected] has it listed to ship on Feb 22nd now.

Not sure what the dealio is...I'm excited that the OoS gave me the push I needed to order it, though. Should be a fun build this weekend!

KingDave

^ If they have been at capacity for production of Lego across the board it may be difficult to schedule another production run of the DS. It is their biggest set with some unique and printed parts so the logistics of setting up the production run would be more complex than any other set. They may well have been letting the stocks run down following the 'just in time' production system and only just got the new batch through from the factory.

madforLEGO

KingDave said:

^ If they have been at capacity for production of Lego across the board it may be difficult to schedule another production run of the DS. It is their biggest set with some unique and printed parts so the logistics of setting up the production run would be more complex than any other set. They may well have been letting the stocks run down following the 'just in time' production system and only just got the new batch through from the factory.

Based on most sets in the past it seems LEGO is likely to end production runs mid -late year . My guess is DS will be produced until at least mid year, maybe longer, to exploit the build up of the next SW movie. That is of course if LEGO does not have another change of heart and run the DS until 16 like the did for 15

natro220

I agree with you madforLEGO. After the Falcon, I'd say the Death Star is the next most iconic thing from the Star Wars universe. To have neither in stores at a time when Star Wars fever will likely be hitting near epic proportions doesn't seem very smart to me. I remember when Episode 1 came out, Star Wars was everywhere. It'll be the same for the new movie - maybe even more so depending on how well received the movie is.