Benefits of the Exclusive Millennium Falcon VIP Card

monkeyhanger

^ The card privileges are coming from the Devil's anus.

TheLegoMaster35

Sure enough, it came today all
 the way from Budapest, Hungary. 

BooTheMightyHamster

Personally I just like having - and using - the black card.  It's almost always a talking point with Lego cashiers, and several of them wanted to have a closer look because it was the first one they'd seen.

If we do get some bonus points / gifts / offers, then that's great, but if the benefits turn out to be a bit 'meh' I'm not that bothered.  It was a bit of fun but for me it was all about building the Falcon, which was a terrific 10 days.

Not looking forward to taking it apart though...

teal93mr2

But does the VIP card number match the queue number?

Oldfan

I ordered the UCS MF in late December.  My VIP card arrived yesterday.

ryjay

.......I cant believe i just read this whole thread, lol...sigh... 

Lego_Lord_Mayorca

Maybe the real benefits of the exclusive Millennium Falcon VIP Black Card were the friends we made along the way...

Bumblepants

Got mine yesterday too! Now I am excited to use it for whatever lame offer is going to happen next. That wasn't sarcasm, I will probably get suckered into buying in on whatever it is.

Legoboy

^ Mine have been put away for safe keeping.  They're worth more to me unscratched, unlost, unbreathed on than some crappy promo in store.  Hopefully they'd honour a physical promo on a photo or maybe a tag on their system.

Bumblepants

Legoboy said:

^ Mine have been put away for safe keeping.  They're worth more to me unscratched, unlost, unbreathed on than some crappy promo in store.  Hopefully they'd honour a physical promo on a photo or maybe a tag on their system.

I think the offers work as long as you are logged in to the website or use your regular card in store. I plan on keeping mine perfect too. 

Even if all the offers end up being complete rubbish I am thrilled to have a unique Lego item with my name printed on it.

Legoboy

^Exactly.  It's so far or proven to be a complete disaster of a promotion for us, for which I'm willing to bet somebody at HQ is deeply embarrassed about, "Seemed like a good idea at the time".

Or maybe not. Maybe it actually served it's purpose in generating massive sales figures running up to Christmas.  Who knows?

Pebbles

Legoboy said:

Or maybe not. Maybe it actually served it's purpose in generating massive sales figures running up to Christmas.  Who knows?

I find myself wondering how much they've made just through selling this set. It would be really interesting to know how many have been sold, and if it's better or worse than Lego anticipated.

Muftak1

^ The fact they suffered severe shortages in the run up to Christmas would lead one to assume the sales were better than they expected...

Mr_Cross

Yay! New Star Wars sets...


Scratches head...


Drum rolls fingers...


Rubs chin...


Hmmm, new Star Wars sets...


Now, I'm not complaining, I’m just confused. As others have said, it’s great having the Black VIP card, and nice to have the time to try to save. I'm just surprised there's not one of the exclusive promotions running to tie in right now.

TheLegoMaster35

New Black card VIP rewards. Kinda disappointed that the blueprint is only free with a purchase, but at least we get entered in the contest for free!

Unique code removed.

Mr_Cross

^ you've shared your unique code in that image there, perhaps one of the mods could remove that for you... @Huw or @drdavewatford maybe?

TheLegoMaster35

Whoops forgot about that. Thanks for spotting that out. 

Lobot

Good call @Mr_Cross - at least it proves that they're all unique!

colay

Pebbles said:

Legoboy said:

Or maybe not. Maybe it actually served it's purpose in generating massive sales figures running up to Christmas.  Who knows?

I find myself wondering how much they've made just through selling this set. It would be really interesting to know how many have been sold, and if it's better or worse than Lego anticipated.

I have it on very good authority, that demand, MASSIVELY, outstripped supply and forecast. I was quoted figures of a conservative 14k sets worldwide was thought, down from a possible forecast of 18k sets to sell in a quarter, but at Xmas they didnt think at the price point they would sell. In all honesty, they could have sold 48k sets at launch

Brainslugged

^ But that's a GOOD thing isn't it? You'd have thought Lego would be going all-out on the bonuses to celebrate smashing their sales forecasts and to say thanks to their most fervent customers. After all, anyone buying today is double VIP points and a brick-built BB8 better off than all the early purchasers. 

Fizyx

Brainslugged said:

^ But that's a GOOD thing isn't it? You'd have thought Lego would be going all-out on the bonuses to celebrate smashing their sales forecasts and to say thanks to their most fervent customers. After all, anyone buying today is double VIP points and a brick-built BB8 better off than all the early purchasers. 

Yeah, but if the bonuses are physical things, then they have to be manufactured, which takes time.  And especially when LEGO has been having trouble keeping capacity high enough to fill their demand the last couple of years, it's not always an easy thing to get emergency orders through.

CCC

Brainslugged said:

^ But that's a GOOD thing isn't it? You'd have thought Lego would be going all-out on the bonuses to celebrate smashing their sales forecasts and to say thanks to their most fervent customers. After all, anyone buying today is double VIP points and a brick-built BB8 better off than all the early purchasers. 

All customers are important, not just the first ones. Given the way LEGO handled demand, they would cause a lot of resentment if they gave a really cool exclusive to people that were able to get a black VIP card and not other purchasers of the UCS MF. Maybe reward them with a minifigure at Xmas time, but build it from regular parts. That way (i) everyone that wants the minifigure can obtain it and (ii) no extra parts would need to be printed. If necessary, put it in a clam shell type packaging, so it would be something like Bard or Azog comic con exclusives or the Lester figure. Exclusive in the packaging, but otherwise a regular figure.

ryjay

So, in a nut shell that lil black piece of paper got everyone a slightly larger  lil piece of blue paper :)

TheLegoMaster35

If no one managed to use the code I accidentally posted, I’m thinking of trading it for something on the forum. Think it would be worth a Lester?

Astrobricks

TheLegoMaster35 said:

If no one managed to use the code I accidentally posted, I’m thinking of trading it for something on the forum. Think it would be worth a Lester?

Considering I didn’t even have to use my code yesterday at the LEGO store, it seems like it might not be very valuable.

TheLegoMaster35

Astrobricks said:

TheLegoMaster35 said:

If no one managed to use the code I accidentally posted, I’m thinking of trading it for something on the forum. Think it would be worth a Lester?

Considering I didn’t even have to use my code yesterday at the LEGO store, it seems like it might not be very valuable.

It might’ve showed up when they used you’re VIP account. Or if you used the black card. 

monkey_roo

Yeah. When I went into the Leicester Sq store, they didn't even know about the codes :) just handed out the freebies and chatted away.
seems the entire black card is a crock... Other than being a very nice looking card, it is intrinsically pointless.

monkeyhanger

TheLegoMaster35 said:

Astrobricks said:

TheLegoMaster35 said:

If no one managed to use the code I accidentally posted, I’m thinking of trading it for something on the forum. Think it would be worth a Lester?

Considering I didn’t even have to use my code yesterday at the LEGO store, it seems like it might not be very valuable.

It might’ve showed up when they used you’re VIP account. Or if you used the black card. 

My BB8 bobble head, and even my discretionary freebie Scarif Stormtrooper poly are itemised on my receipt in store as 1p transactions, with that 1p spend refunded on the next line. No such transaction listed for the poster. I dare say that using someone else's code on [email protected] nay throw up an automated "computer says no", but in store, I doubt it.

Test the hypothesis by having a non black card holder try to claim one with someone else's code, when that someone else has already "used" it.

Any non-black card holders want to try their luck then pm me for my code.

TheLegoMaster35

monkeyhanger said:

TheLegoMaster35 said:

Astrobricks said:

TheLegoMaster35 said:

If no one managed to use the code I accidentally posted, I’m thinking of trading it for something on the forum. Think it would be worth a Lester?

Considering I didn’t even have to use my code yesterday at the LEGO store, it seems like it might not be very valuable.

It might’ve showed up when they used you’re VIP account. Or if you used the black card. 

My BB8 bobble head, and even my discretionary freebie Scarif Stormtrooper poly are itemised on my receipt in store as 1p transactions, with that 1p spend refunded on the next line. No such transaction listed for the poster. I dare say that using someone else's code on [email protected] nay throw up an automated "computer says no", but in store, I doubt it.

Test the hypothesis by having a non black card holder try to claim one with someone else's code, when that someone else has already "used" it.

Any non-black card holders want to try their luck then pm me for my code.

Let me know if it works for someone!

Astrobricks

TheLegoMaster35 said:

Astrobricks said:

TheLegoMaster35 said:

If no one managed to use the code I accidentally posted, I’m thinking of trading it for something on the forum. Think it would be worth a Lester?

Considering I didn’t even have to use my code yesterday at the LEGO store, it seems like it might not be very valuable.

It might’ve showed up when they used you’re VIP account. Or if you used the black card. 

I guess you’re right that as long as they had my VIP number, they would know both that I’m a black card holder, and that I hadn’t used my code yet. So, maybe the code is just a gimmick.

monkeyhanger said:
My BB8 bobble head, and even my discretionary freebie Scarif Stormtrooper poly are itemised on my receipt in store as 1p transactions, with that 1p spend refunded on the next line. No such transaction listed for the poster. I dare say that using someone else's code on [email protected] nay throw up an automated "computer says no", but in store, I doubt it.

Test the hypothesis by having a non black card holder try to claim one with someone else's code, when that someone else has already "used" it.

Any non-black card holders want to try their luck then pm me for my code.

My BB8 rang up as $4.99 followed by -$4.99 “Mini BB-8 gift”, and my poster rang up similarly, except the value was $0.01. So, I guess that gives a clue how valuable they think it is.

Addicted2Oxygen

@monkeyhanger already gave mine away and it was claimed with no issue. Will have to see if they actually get it .....

Addicted2Oxygen

Given that there appears to be enough posters to cover black cars holders walking into and shop and getting a poster, there is clearly a massive surplus. So I will not be surprised to see these given away to others. Most likely with purchases of the y wing only. 

piratemania7

I think the "niceness" of having the VIP Black Card is a perk that TLG wants people to appreciate.  The fact that you got one should supposedly mean something.  I mean, don't get me wrong, it would have been nice to have a bi-monthly "perk" of some sort instead of the blueprint being only the (second?) exclusive promo - which, as we have found out, might not be that exclusive.

The_Rancor

So the rundown of a 'Year of Exclusive Benefits':

• February - Double Points, which anyone can get multiple times throughout the year
• May - Poster from a £30 spend, which it appears anyone can get
• May - Prize draw for a white gold R2D2, which unless someone admits to winning will just be consigned to memory

As for the rest of the year - who knows? Perhaps now everyone who should have a Black VIP card has the physical card so that's out of the way on the whole. Couldn't we at least get something really awesome but non-controversial like early release of Summer Sets or even better early access to the rumoured (and seen?) Cloud City?

MrJackson

Whenever I had a customer bring in a Black card, they always had the physical card on them.  I tried looking up with the email address and when their VIP info would come up, there was no indication of Black status. It's certainly cool. But I'm glad I waited till I could use my discount rather than buying the Falcon for full price back in November.

TheLegoMaster35

• February - Double Points, which anyone can get multiple times throughout the year

Even worse, it was only on Star Wars purchases. 

mssloan1962

I've received my Black VIP card. I think I've only seen two special Black Card VIP deals so far:
In February: 2 x VIP points on Star Wars purchases
This month: A free Y‑Wing limited edition Blue Print (about A4 in size so a bit disappointing) on Star Wars purchases over £30. Also free entry into a draw for a one-of-one 18k White Gold R2‑D2.



Have I missed anything?

mssloan1962

Aleydita

Have I missed anything?

Yes, the blueprint isn't a black card VIP exclusive - selected other retailers also had stocks to hand out with purchases of the Y-wing.

mssloan1962

Aleydita said:

Have I missed anything?

Yes, the blueprint isn't a black card VIP exclusive - selected other retailers also had stocks to hand out with purchases of the Y-wing.

This deal is getting worse all the time

omnium

I'm doing all right. I got a free #75192 LEGO Millennium Falcon with my £650 Black VIP card.

Awesomeness

omnium said:

I'm doing all right. I got a free #75192 LEGO Millennium Falcon with my £650 Black VIP card.

Im pretty sure you just won the internet today.

Astrobricks

^^ Like hog :P

omnium

I just can't believe I wrote "all right". I think someone must have edited my post behind my back ;)

SumoLego

Okay - so I finagled one of the Y-Wing Schematic prints - it's tiny and a really sub-par "benefit" of spending $800.00 on LEGO.  Atleast the Hoth print from a few years ago is artistic and interesting to look at.  This is a total junk giveaway.

And by the way - can we get an official "The Last Jedi" minifigure movie poster already?

if someone is in the marketing department - please wake up!

CCC

Someone paid $25 for one on BL!

MrJackson

That's almost how much I paid for the Falcon...

pharmjod

Anyone here thar built the new falcon able to confirm with me whether the inner white boxes come sealed or are not? I just got a like new open box and it's already not like new as it's missing the instructions. I'm curious if the inner boxes are also supposed to be sealed too.

TheLegoMaster35

If I remember correctly, they are sealed. But as mine are already opened, I can’t say that 100%

Yo_dA

Yes, I can confirm the inner boxes are sealed. 

pharmjod

Yeah, that was a fail all around. I knew it was wrong when the shipping weight was only 18 pounds. And I'm pretty sure that manual isn't 12 pounds by itself. Back it goes.