Still don't understand the Outlet concept

QuentinBrick

A question and a comment...

Question - I am still not sure if I understand the LEGO store v. outlet concept, but the store here at Potomac Mills, is the store in the DC area that always seems to get large shipments of "damaged" boxes to sell.   Is there a way to know what stores get the "quarterly dump" of sets?

Comment - Potomac yesterday had two large tables full of 20% off "damaged" boxes, everything from star wars to creator...

Aanchir

I had thought the Potomac Mills store had stopped being an outlet store years ago? :confused: Maybe I should check there more often.

QuentinBrick

Again you might be right, I really don't understand the difference, but they continue to get "loads" of "damaged" sets that they sell at 20% off...

SumoLego

There was an outlet in Colorado a few years back.  

There is a super-secret one in Connecticut.

ryjay

It is usually a third party selling them to the discount stores.  I have never come across any lego items, but I currently sell packaging to companies to bulk ship items to discounters after they have purchased merchandise that is no longer fit for stores....for whatever reason, damage, out of date, over stocked, miss shipped, etc.

There is a convention in Las Vegas, where these liquidators go to meet the buyers of discount stores to sell.   This past week I've sold packaging to reship portable solar panels, knives, and those round "robotic" vacuums.  I also see lots of cameras.  But if I ever see legos, I'd most likely make a bid! :)

DadsAFOL

Ontario, CA is one of the outlet stores.  They always have damaged boxes, but the volume ebbs and flows.  They sell them at 20% off, except exclusives due to the no-discount policy.  For exclusives they'll load extra VIP points to your account for you.  So if you do a lot of part out, you can get some decent volume.  But you can usually get new sets for 20-25% off plus free shipping from Amazon.  So the "outlet" stores aren't a great deal, but better than nothing.

dragon114

when i went to potmic mills in april i did not see section for damage boxes

ReesesPieces

Might have to hit up Potomac mills today...

QuentinBrick

The lady there said about once a quarter, March had a big selection and they just put out this one.

piratemania7

This begs a very good question. Where
do the damaged sets come from? [email protected] orders? Other stores? I know they have policies in place for when they disassemble a set that's been built for display in the store but moving the volume of goods that TLG does surely there must be some sort of volume of damaged goods. Does it all go to such stores?

DadsAFOL

The stores (Lego Brand Retail) are a separate subsidiary from [email protected] (which is actually outsourced to a fulfillment company).  So the sets that arrive at the "outlet" stores are from the ~70 other US stores or if boxes get crushed in distribution on their way to the retail stores.  I'm not sure where the returns for [email protected] go.  Anyone know that?