Predictions on Discontinuing Sets and their Secondary Market Value

piratemania7

SumoLego said:

^ ?

I don't think you need any popcorn for Star Wars puns.  Granted, SDI jokes is the Mark Russell realm of old-people humor.  I would suggest getting some metimucil instead...

Does anyone else consider the Ferris Wheel and the Mixer to be pseudo-Modulars?

I think you could make that argument.  But then you open it up to a whole range of options.  I see the connection because I can picture a whole modular block with a "fair" in town just down the road.

MAGNINOMINISUMBRA

As someone who can distinctly remember lining up for the ESB movie premiere with his torch with blue cellophane tube on top and having to ask mum 'Why are all these people saying Darth Vader is Luke's dad?' - I can assure you all I got these days is "old guy humour"!   I'm also told that on the sarcasm scale of Dr Phil to Peter Griffin - I top out at Blackadder...(commonly referred to in 'old guy speak' as "But this one goes to 11").
and while we're on the subject...where the hell is my hoverboard and jet pack?

SumoLego

Where the hell is my flying car?

https://youtu.be/KSVkQ88eZPI

And did someone insinuate (by saying it directly) that there is no difference between Star Wars and Star Trek?  That'll get you a condescending tongue-lashing!  And inundated with MegaBlok photos.

SumoLego

piratemania7 said:

SumoLego said:

Does anyone else consider the Ferris Wheel and the Mixer to be pseudo-Modulars?

I think you could make that argument.  But then you open it up to a whole range of options.  I see the connection because I can picture a whole modular block with a "fair" in town just down the road.

Other than the height of the Town Hall, the Ferris Wheel is an attention-getter for a modular town.  And it moves, so that increases the 'wow' factor.

CCC

MAGNINOMINISUMBRA said:

As someone who can distinctly remember lining up for the ESB movie premiere with his torch with blue cellophane tube on top and having to ask mum 'Why are all these people saying Darth Vader is Luke's dad?' - I can assure you all I got these days is "old guy humour"!   I'm also told that on the sarcasm scale of Dr Phil to Peter Griffin - I top out at Blackadder...(commonly referred to in 'old guy speak' as "But this one goes to 11").
and while we're on the subject...where the hell is my hoverboard and jet pack?

 

Farmer_John

Personally, I never thought of having a Hot Dog Guy army with sausage guns. Pretty creative.

Coincidentally, I heard on the news last night that Barney Frank came out of his dark ages...

SumoLego

^  Huh?

Farmer_John

^Never mind... ;-)

SumoLego

^ My non-Star Trek inclined brain just figured it out.  Mark Russell would be proud.

So.... when do we start speculating on the retirement of the Palace Cinema and complaining about the next modular?

Yodalicious

^ Jan. 2. We should at least get 1 day into the new year. 

SumoLego

^ That sounds reasonable for a completely irrational discussion.

So with that, I boldly predict that the Mixer is going the way of the dodo bird by the end of 2016.

pharmjod

I won't be surprised if mixer goes before summer.

Farmer_John

^Especially if another amusement park set is released in that timeframe.

madforLEGO

I think PS is still gone before PC.

It will be interesting to see if it survives the holidays though.

Yodalicious

I have mixed thoughts on the mixer. Get it?

Anyway...

When it first came out, I thought it was about $30 too expense. Even though the piece count was there, it didn't look like a $150 set. THEN...the Ferris wheel was released and I became even less enchanted with the mixer. I want the Ferris wheel. It's impressive to see built. The mixer is still just okay. I'm sure it'll have those that want it years from now, but I personally see the Ferris wheel as being the better investment of the two. 

iluvmyelement

I'm not a fan of the mixer.  It just doesn't have that special quality like the ferris wheel does.  I don't buy anything that I don't personally love.  I always ask myself - if this went out of production before I had any would I pay more to get one?  For the mixer - NO WAY!

CircleK

If the carnival theme turns out more greats like the Ferris Wheel then the Mixer will benefit. People will get into the theme and want all the sets, including the lack luster one that started it all. 

MattsWhat

^if market Street has taught us anything, it's that a lacklustre set gets excused as being not part of the series. It's because mixer isn't on a baseplate, I can see the arguments already. We should all buy one just so we don't have to have it. 

Legoboy

But then every fairground needs a Carousel.  ;)

tamamahm

Yodalicious said:

I have mixed thoughts on the mixer. Get it?

Anyway...

When it first came out, I thought it was about $30 too expense. Even though the piece count was there, it didn't look like a $150 set. THEN...the Ferris wheel was released and I became even less enchanted with the mixer. I want the Ferris wheel. It's impressive to see built. The mixer is still just okay. I'm sure it'll have those that want it years from now, but I personally see the Ferris wheel as being the better investment of the two. 

What I have concluded... Between the Ferris wheel and mixer, I would buy the Ferris wheel no question. If I could then by the mixer? I would far rather put that money towards The Ninjago Airjitsu Temple or even the Parisian restaurant. 

My my point being, is that while I would love to be a completist and have the mixer to go with the Ferris wheel, there truly are sets I prefer far more than the mixer. 

CircleK

Sadly, this is how it will go for a lot of us:

Today: $150 for the Mixer?! Meh... I would rather have a Modular. 

The day the Mixer retires:  Wait! It's gone?! Oh shit!!!

The day after the Mixer retires: Oh Thank god! I scored a Mixer on eBay for $200. My collection would have been incomplete and worthless without it. It's my favorite set in ever!

William_Townsley

What else will a "Fairground Theme" include though.
The only other thing I could think of that could be included is a Dropper Ride or a possible Roller Coaster set which would include loads of picecs 

pharmjod

The mixer is an incredible technical build for anyone that actually cares about such things. It is also fun to play with. Buy it or don't.

SumoLego

A smaller scale carousel would be better for this iteration of the fairground.

Although I think the most recent Carousel is fantastic, its not quite the right scale as compared to the Ferris Wheel and Mixer.

(And the whole [incorrect] Market Street rationale for not including it in an unofficial fairground sub-theme would also apply.  Until someone at Lego identifies the Carousel as part of this theme.  Then I will shed many translucent blue 1x1 tiles.)

romdam

CircleK said:

If the carnival theme turns out more greats like the Ferris Wheel then the Mixer will benefit. People will get into the theme and want all the sets, including the lack luster one that started it all. 

Then Lego will just rehash the MIxer, only difference will be changed figures.  See Winter Village line.

CCC

William_Townsley said:

What else will a "Fairground Theme" include though.

Gypsies (carnies for US folk) with bent guns.

brumey

SumoLego said:

^ ?

I don't think you need any popcorn for Star Wars puns.  Granted, SDI jokes is the Mark Russell realm of old-people humor.  I would suggest getting some metimucil instead...

Does anyone else consider the Ferris Wheel and the Mixer to be pseudo-Modulars?

but its lego. its modular in itself dude!

William_Townsley

CCC said:

William_Townsley said:

What else will a "Fairground Theme" include though.

Gypsies (carnies for US folk) with bent guns.

With the detailed caravans 

Brew

pharmjod said:

The mixer is an incredible technical build for anyone that actually cares about such things. It is also fun to play with. Buy it or don't.

Totally agree. Maybe at first sight, the mixer doesn't look worth it. But once you build it, play with it, and possibly motorize it with power functions it looks great. Especially if you put it next to the Ferris Wheel (And GC if you've got one!) and motorize them all at once. The FW is really cool, but combine it with the Mixer and now you've got a carnival.

Also, one other note. Our kids have been a little too young to go to the 'Midway' of our state fair where all the rides are until this year. They had almost the perfect spitting image of the Mixer there, trailer and all. I always though the design was a little 'Legoized' and slightly flawed due to how the people had to load, but they had little platforms so that all the cars could be loaded at once. It was nearly identical to the Lego version. Should have taken a picture. It made the set even that much cooler to me.

Sethro3

a caravan, in periwinkle blue...

I'm sure the mixer is a nice set, but I agree with others. It just doesn't look it...similar to the Winter Village Market... it's a fun set, but it doesn't seem as substantial due to how it is broken up...

I don't see myself ever getting the mixer, although I did recently start bricklinking my own version of the Carousel since my daughter is getting the Ferris Wheel for her birthday...I had no interest in the Carousel prior to that (and I still don't care for some of the features on it). But I actually like the mixer side games more than the mixer itself.

SithLord196

The Mixer has grown on me but I'll probably pass on it for my personal collection.

I have a hard time matching it up with the Ferris Wheel though. I think it's because the Ferris Wheel is a permanent structure while the Mixer is designed to be able to go from place to place. 

I feel like the Carousel and Ferris Wheel go together better than the Mixer goes with either of them.

SumoLego

^ Because I don't personally have one....

The Carousel is a stand-alone set from years past and isn't part of the current fairground iteration.

Blasphemy!

(Who designed the Carousel?)

Aanchir

SumoLego said:

^ Because I don't personally have one....

The Carousel is a stand-alone set from years past and isn't part of the current fairground iteration.

Blasphemy!

(Who designed the Carousel?)

Wasn't it Steen Sig Andersen? I feel like Brickset had a quiz/contest/sweepstakes asking people that question a year or so ago...

Brew

SithLord196 said:

The Mixer has grown on me but I'll probably pass on it for my personal collection.

I have a hard time matching it up with the Ferris Wheel though. I think it's because the Ferris Wheel is a permanent structure while the Mixer is designed to be able to go from place to place. 

I feel like the Carousel and Ferris Wheel go together better than the Mixer goes with either of them.

Ferris wheels are often assembled on the ground and then either left in the fairgrounds as permanent structures or disassembled and put inside multiple trucks. Mixers are often integrated to a flat-bed trailer. I think they go together pretty well. Also, Ferris wheels are often the largest structure in a fair/carnival so I'm not bothered by the size difference.

I think the biggest problem perceived with the Mixer is that it is too expensive, especially when compared with the FW. I agree, but only by $10-$15 because once you build both you realize that the Mixer is a dense model and the FW is large, but mostly air.

Buy it or don't buy it, but as with lots of exclusive sets, if you are on the fence you may regret not buying it later.

danstraindepot

I think the mixer does not get nearly enough credit for the quality of design, it operates and fits on the Semi.  I think its quite ingenious.  I have one built, and a few set aside MIB.

Aanchir

I can't help but think that part of the reason for the lukewarm reactions to the Mixer here is that a lot of its most impressive features, like being able to stow everything on the trucks, are more play-oriented than display-oriented. Having everything unfolded is really the only way it makes a statement as a display piece, and it's a lot of work to get everything folded or unfolded. Whereas the Ferris Wheel is a much more effective display piece, and all its play features are easy to show off to visitors even if you don't have it motorized.

I got the Mixer at the employee shop when I went on the Inside Tour earlier this year, but it wasn't very high on my wish list before that and I mostly bought it because it was a good deal and I had extra room in my shipping box. My brother and I have built it, but it's now back in its box because my family's house just isn't organized enough to have a permanent display space for it (part of why I've been trying to cut down on extraneous LEGO purchases this year). That's another mark against it compared to the Grand Carousel or Ferris Wheel — it's not very space-efficient, since you have to spread everything out a great deal for an ideal display.

Farmer_John

I like the Mixer too, and think Jamie did a great job with it.

For better or worse, a big reason the Mixer doesn't get any love is its price tag. Fairgound set completists will bite, but the rank-and-file buyers are more discriminatory with their cash. It certainly would have done much better in the $100 price range, but I'm not sure how it could have been pared down and still had something resembling a set.

dougts

^ the problem I've always had with the Mixer is that a far too much of the budget is used to build a couple of trucks that sit on the sideline when the model is setup as part of a fairground.  Go to a fair - no one gives a care about all the trucks parked in the back to haul the gear off after the fair is over. They could have put out a similar non-mobile mixer with the added booths for $99, or used the price/piece budget on other far more interesting add-ons

VorpalRyu

One of the Myer stores local to me had a display case with the mixer in it late last year, I'd have to say that it seems that people underrate it a lot. Seeing it in the brick, it is a very nice set, but between all the other sets my wife, our boys & I want, the household Lego budget atm doesn't quite stretch far enough for us to grab the mixer or FW. We've already agreed that the price-point they are at now, is the most we're willing to pay, so should we miss out on one of them, we'll be leaving off the fairground stuff all together.

dougts

^ I have the set, for the record.  I've built it and used it.  I stand by my criticisms.  The booths and mixer are good, wasting so much of the budget on trucks is not good

Yodalicious

It's not that I'm totally unimpressed by it (and as I've said before, it technically has a good piece count for the price), but it's that overall regardless of look, play features, or price per brick, it doesn't seem like a $150 set to me.

For the most part, I ignore the number of pieces when it comes to price because I build my sets and my son (okay, really it's me) plays with them. So I don't necessarily balk at a set that may be $50 but only contain 350 pieces. If the end result is a good set then the lack of the additional 150 pieces means nothing to me. But that goes the other way too, meaning I don't buy a $50 set just because it has 650 pieces.

There is obviously a lot going on with the mixer and a lot when it comes to play features, but I just can't get it out of my head that (to me, not everyone is the same) it's not a $150 set. I'd be definitely be in at $100 and would be thinking seriously about it at $120, but eventually I draw the line for myself and $150 is over that line.

TheLoneTensor

Aanchir said:

I can't help but think that part of the reason for the lukewarm reactions to the Mixer here is that a lot of its most impressive features, like being able to stow everything on the trucks, are more play-oriented than display-oriented. Having everything unfolded is really the only way it makes a statement as a display piece, and it's a lot of work to get everything folded or unfolded.

This is a great point, which was the crux of a discussion way back on how they could have foregone the truck and trimmed a couple other things to make this a $100 set, which would have undoubtedly made this set more popular.

William_Townsley

The Mixer is second on my buy list. I just don't think there is enough there for it to be a £120 Set 

CCC

I don't have the mixer. I've seen it, but not built it. I didn't think much of it for the price, much of this is down to the trucks for me too.

The statement "a lot of work to get everything folded or unfolded" is interesting. To me, it doesn't sound like a play feature, it sounds like a pain. Play features shouldn't be work, they should be fun.

Aanchir

CCC said:

I don't have the mixer. I've seen it, but not built it. I didn't think much of it for the price, much of this is down to the trucks for me too.

The statement "a lot of work to get everything folded or unfolded" is interesting. To me, it doesn't sound like a play feature, it sounds like a pain. Play features shouldn't be work, they should be fun.

Oh, it's fun for sure! I just meant "a lot of work" in terms of "it's not something you're going to want to go through every time you have a visitor in the house". I think it's one of the set's most compelling play features, but it can be pretty time-consuming, especially lining up the fence.

SumoLego

Well... if Jamie didn't design it, then it's definitely not part of the same collection, even though they are theme-related.

(And this will continue to be my position until I can get my hands on one.)

binaryeye

SumoLego said:

Well... if Jamie didn't design it, then it's definitely not part of the same collection, even though they are theme-related.

So TH and PC aren't part of the same collection as the other modulars?

legofanfromleeds

With the new star wars due out in December  and the rumour a further 5 films to follow whats everyone's  opinion on the thought that lego might not actually keep releasing original triology and just consentrate on the here and now..if so could it be a good time to stock pile while everything is still available 

Chubbles

The new stuff will certainly outnumber the old in terms of sets released but I don't see Lego ever abandoning the OT, it's a proven moneymaker and I don't see that changing.  to be honest the new stuff may create a whole new fan base for the OT as kids want to see the backstory for the first time.

BuriedinBricks

Well, this is interesting.