[US] S@H Deals

monstblitz

I've had nothing but great deliveries from Lego S&H until today.  Crushed fountain underneath Ghostbuster HQ.  Not too worked up over it, 1 of 3 fountains I'll be getting and this will be the one I'll build. HQ box was in fine shape.  Such a tank, that fountain didn't even make a scratch!

prevere

I have a buddy whose recently starting buy a lot. Ewok Village - damaged; Slave 1 - damaged; 50% of his Speed Champions - damaged; Fountains - damaged. I told him I typically see about 10-20% of deliveries damaged at most - but man - his mailman must not like him or something.

ColoradoBricks

I have 90+% damage with S@H shipment, the reason is too many air bags and they inflate with altitude crushing the boxes, every other retailer seem to be more careful about that.

prevere

ColoradoBricks said:

I have 90+% damage with S@H shipment, the reason is too many air bags and they inflate with altitude crushing the boxes, every other retailer seem to be more careful about that.

Did you say 90%?

ColoradoBricks

Yes, I never expect a box from S@H to not have damage, when I care about the box, I go to the store...

77ncaachamps

One of my complaints has been the shipped item to shipping box ratio.

Lego uses a small selection of boxes, presumably to save money, but it really allows for sliding around inside the shipping box to take place. The inadequate (read: skimping) amount of bubble wrap just makes it worse.

They should have the variety of boxes Amazon has.
After all, Lego has the capital to do so.

MugenPower

My ratio of damaged shipments from S@H is pretty high as well.  I think it's compounded by the fact that I usually only buy larger sets from S@H (UCS and licensed Creator vehicles) so they're all on the larger end of the spectrum and get shipped in overly large boxes with either too little or too much cushioning inside (not to mention, the bonus items that get crushed or cause damage the larger items themselves, like the case of the Yularen poly leaving pockmarks all over the larger set's box).  In my last order of a UCS TIE, the first one came without any cushioning in a much larger box and one corner was largely dented.  I asked for replacements and those came with a strip of air cushions that was jammed over the face of the box, crushing it after it was sealed or something was placed on top of it during shipment.  I ended up driving almost an hour to a store to get it replaced which, unfortunately, only had boxes with a decent amount of shelfwear on them, but still better than what I originally received.

As far as Amazon is concerned, they may have a larger variety of box sizes but trusting them to ship things unscathed has also been a losing battle over the past few years...

sklamb

With Amazon, surely it depends on what you're ordering? I've never had a book from them damaged, or a CD/DVD. Lego sets are somewhat iffier, I'll agree.

monstblitz

I also forgot to note there was 0 bubble wrap or any other packaging in the box.  Just a GB HQ on top of a crushed fountain.  I was surprised considering it's currently one of the largest and most expensive sets Lego is selling.

legobod

I just received my Spaceport (spaceport! SPACEPORT!!!) from a seller on ebay and they just stuck my address to the actual lego box with no sort of outer box or packaging and it arrived unharmed!
Do S@H post via UPS or FedEx? I've seen so many beat up boxes at my work from those two. Good job USPS getting mine to me undamaged.

JooTog

legobod said:

I just received my Spaceport (spaceport! SPACEPORT!!!) from a seller on ebay and they just stuck my address to the actual lego box with no sort of outer box or packaging and it arrived unharmed!
Do S@H post via UPS or FedEx? I've seen so many beat up boxes at my work from those two. Good job USPS getting mine to me undamaged.

All the sets I have ordered from S@H have been shipped through FedEx; some transferred from FedEx to USPS for final delivery... but by then I guess the damage is already done.

CircleK

MugenPower said:

My ratio of damaged shipments from S@H is pretty high as well.  I think it's compounded by the fact that I usually only buy larger sets from S@H (UCS and licensed Creator vehicles) so they're all on the larger end of the spectrum and get shipped in overly large boxes with either too little or too much cushioning inside (not to mention, the bonus items that get crushed or cause damage the larger items themselves, like the case of the Yularen poly leaving pockmarks all over the larger set's box).  In my last order of a UCS TIE, the first one came without any cushioning in a much larger box and one corner was largely dented.  I asked for replacements and those came with a strip of air cushions that was jammed over the face of the box, crushing it after it was sealed or something was placed on top of it during shipment.  I ended up driving almost an hour to a store to get it replaced which, unfortunately, only had boxes with a decent amount of shelfwear on them, but still better than what I originally received.

As far as Amazon is concerned, they may have a larger variety of box sizes but trusting them to ship things unscathed has also been a losing battle over the past few years...

This is my issue. I rarely buy anything from S@H other than large exclusives and I only do so during 2x VIP or when there is a decent promo set being offered. So, the odds of receiving a smashed something or other is higher. I don't care when the promo is a keeper, but I sometimes sell them off in order to help buy down the exclusive. In those cases, I would rather the box not be crushed.

77ncaachamps

The only times S@H hasn't ruined a large box were with the Tumbler and Death Star since they have their own boxes. At least they double boxed them

erequena

S@H has just added "Retiring Soon" tags to a bunch of items on the Sales and Deals section, though the discount remains the same. For those in the know: does that usually signal upcoming larger discounts? 

Bumblepants

^I think "retiring soon" is more often than not code for "We still have a crap-ton of these so please buy them!" So they could go cheaper as it is usually not the stuff in high demand. Hard to predict S@H though

ryjay

"Retiring Soon" is Lego's version of a cattle prong.

 BTW, have you ever noticed how Lego will attach the words, "Hard to Find", next to items in their print catalog before the item has ever been released?  It is just how they go about marketing.

erequena

I thought the hard to find was an indication of exclusivity 

ryjay

^ I'm sure it is....but the "hard to find" tag tries to send a message of urgency and scarcity...at least that is how I read it... rather then the reality....it's just an exclusive.

JooTog

I agree with @ryjay. Coming out of my Dark Ages last year, I bought a couple of "hard to find" sets because it came across as "Holy macaroni and cheese Batman! Get it now! NOW I tell you! Or you will be left with a whole in your collection and in your heart"... stupid #75059 Sandcrawler is still easily available in stores :-(

(No sandcrawler, I really love you, I only said that just for "effect")

JooTog

*hole

3stackshs

What did you call me?

teal93mr2

Had to pull the trigger today and only spend $50 to get free shipping and the VIP Retro Castle set, not a bad deal.

KingAlanI

I remembered that deal but not in time to plan an order. I'm not sure what I'll get above $75. Maybe 2 fun in the park. I want #31044 Park Animals, but $14.99 doesn't help me get to $75. (It would've gotten me to $50, d'oh!). I can afford Brick Bank, but I'm holding out for a better VIP Points deal. I don't see anything else I want. Perhaps some discount bionicle - 20% off is at least good enough for filling out an order.

Bumblepants

@KingAlanl you could get the Ra's al Ghul set for your BL store. the new figures will sell for a good bit early in the release and the rest of the parts seem pretty decent as well.

KingAlanI

#76056 ? Will consider that as well

Rakul

^ For what it's worth I did not pay shipping today on my $59.99 order at S@H maybe the extended the free shipping offer?

Bumblepants

500 VIP points on Temple of Airjitsu offer. Not too shabby for a D2C, better than 2x VIP

eggshen

^ That's interesting. I wonder if it's not moving as quickly as they expected. I still haven't picked one up so I hope that they don't start moving quickly with that type of promotion. Any rumors as to how long the temple will be available?

Rainstorm26

^i heard from a Lego Store employee that they aren't getting anymore in. Must be almost retired. ;)

erequena

It seems the free shipping is now $35 for all orders, not just VIP members, or am I reading something wrong?

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/free-shipping-guarantee?icmp=SHBanner_FreeShippingStores

Bumblepants

^Wow that is great! Makes S@H a whole lot more appealing. Now I am thinking I need a second Classic Castle set...

TheOriginalSimonB

It would be so nice to see this sort of discount in the UK S@H...

Rakul

erequena said:

It seems the free shipping is now $35 for all orders, not just VIP members, or am I reading something wrong?

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/free-shipping-guarantee?icmp=SHBanner_FreeShippingStores

Even better!

monstblitz

Bumblepants said:

500 VIP points on Temple of Airjitsu offer. Not too shabby for a D2C, better than 2x VIP

I saw that today.  I bought one a few weeks ago that had a hole in it to get the bonus points.  Kinda wished I had waited.  I would have jumped on it to get the same deal with a nice box!

I ended up getting a damaged box Simpson's House to get the Knight set.  I had been wanting to get it ever since getting the Kwik E Mart in the Barnes & Noble deal awhile back and they happened to have one in the back room. 

natro220

I was hoping to get Temple of Airjitsu around Christmas as money will be tight for me until then.  I hate how their retirement schedule can be so unpredictable, that set just came out in September!

Ma1234

natro220 said:

I was hoping to get Temple of Airjitsu around Christmas as money will be tight for me until then.  I hate how their retirement schedule can be so unpredictable, that set just came out in September!

It's not being retired.  You'll be fine. 

I dont one understand why people are always so quick to believe employees when they say "this is our last shipment." 99.99% of the time, they are wrong. 

ReesesPieces

Ma1234 
" 99.99% of the time, they are wrong. 

So you're saying there is a chance of it retiring???  Buy, buy, buy!!!

3stackshs

Bumblepants said:

500 VIP points on Temple of Airjitsu offer. Not too shabby for a D2C, better than 2x VIP

The best part is it is an EXTRA 500 VIP points, I just bought one and you get the 500 plus the 199, so total is 699 VIP and the Knights set.  Not a bad deal.

KingAlanI

placed a $50 rather than $75 order. :)

Ma1234

Looks like the VIP retro castle set is sold out. A few for only $15 on eBay at the moment. 

SumoLego

Ma1234 said:

It's not being retired.  You'll be fine. 

Famous last words.  I think my paying after-market prices for a Town Hall begs to differ.

(Although, I agree the Temple's retirement is far too premature.)

Bumblepants

There is a smattering of new sale items up today including #40161 What Am I?, #75140 Resistance Troop Transporter, and #75139 Battle on Takodana, the Upscale Mugs, and some Star Wars constraction figures.

prevere

^Thanks. Surprised to see the #40161 on sale - that must have only been active a short awhile. But we've seen this lately, citing Speed Champions, where new sets are on sale for a short awhile and then put back to regular price.

KingAlanI

Ma1234 said:

Looks like the VIP retro castle set is sold out. A few for only $15 on eBay at the moment. 

As for #40221 Fountain, I first saw it on BL for about $17, then $15, now $13. #5004419 Classic Knights Minifigure might have a similar drop but with smaller numbers due to set size. It's going for about $12 right now.

prevere

Fountain will get back to $20. Similar to what balloon vendor and flower cart have done.

Bumblepants

New stuff on sale in the US including the large Classic Bricks bucket, Heartlake airplane, Undersea lab, City of Stix, and the large Angry Birds sets. Probably others I am forgetting.

monstblitz

Visited the Lego Store in Arundel Mills, MD today and noticed a lot of the older Ninjago sets were on sale including Temple of Airjitsu at $179.00.   Not sure if this is noteworthy or has already been reported but figured I'd mention it. 

Jenni

I think that might be one of their three day sales, it was that price a few weeks ago but went back up to $199. 

Bumblepants

got an email advertising free shipping no minimum until the 30th. Not bad.

Rakul

That combined with the Star Wars offer on 9/30 is a great promo combo.