The One That Got Away: Biggest Non-Purchase Regret

birgoyle

My "biggest regrets" list has been somewhat shortened in the past few years thanks to eBay and Bricklink :-)

When I was younger my biggest miss was 6765 Gold City Junction. I remember looking at the promo sheet that came with my Fort Legoredo and just dreaming about it for hours.... I picked it up MISB last year for a very reasonable $120 AUD.

I know there's a new one coming out this year, but I'm with Darkknight, I really wish I'd picked up 7994 City Harbour. I saw it on clearance for $40 AUD, but I wasn't collecting City back then... Damn shame!

One I saw on eBay and know I should've bought but didn't, was the TIE collection... I've got multiples of all the TIE's except the actual TIE Fighter...

My "dark ages" only lasted 2 years (thanks ZOIDS!) and I sadly missed the original Republic Gunship with Jedi Bob :-(
I was beyond relieved when they released a new Gunship for the Clone Wars.... So relieved I bought 4 so I'd never feel the same despair again LOL
The feeling flowed through the Clone Wars and I stocked up on multiples of every set :-)

Redbullgivesuwind

So every lego fan has a set they wish they had gotten and missed it having to pay a ludicris amount for that set after the event. For me the one that got away was Cloud City. I wanted that set so badly but had to wait a month before i got paid. Went on to the lego website and it had been discontinued and with the prices people ask I think it will be a while before I get that set again.

What is everyone elses

atkinsar

In terms of sets released since I came out of my dark ages it's an easy one for me, The Tumbler, Town Plan and Green Grocer.

Matthew

Town Plan, and multiples of 'Draco's Encounter with Buckbeak' when they were reduced to £2.99! I kept saying I'd buy them tomorrow...

dougts

Town Plan, Green Grocer, Cafe Corner.

Redbullgivesuwind

^^ i used to do the same thing ill buy it tomorrow now i say ill buy it now

AScaryOctopus

Once upon a time I walked into a little comic shop, it's a little family owned thing, and I found some of the best deals I have ever seen there, and lots of sets from years ago with low prices when they were in mint condition! I got nothing there as I was in my dark ages at the time though.

They had:

Pretty much everything from Adventurers, they were a little beat up though.

Both Avatar sets.

Some of the first Star Wars sets.

Pretty much everything was half off the retail price and about a hundredth of what they are selling for now.

They also had loose figs being sold under the counter, there were some gems there, too, like the old Watto, some Catwomen, a Chrome Gold threepio (!), and a Red Sox fig selling five bucks a pop.

All of the things listed above are deals that got away.

Also when I wasn't in my dark ages I missed the Amazon Ancient Ruins because my parents thought it would be too hard for me.

richo

Cloud City or the Bat Cave, but not bothered about the latter now, since we have a re-release (of sorts).

jadeirene

10179 Millennium Falcon. I didn't think that spending $500 on a single LEGO set was a good decision so I passed on it then. Now I'm trying to piece it together on my own.

collect_that

I have a habit of leaving purchases saying ' I'll buy it next week' and then months later a set gets discontinued!! I did this with 10184 Town Plan for some unknown reason and almost cried. Luckily I managed to snag one since for not far off cost.

Picking up the Gold plated C-3P0 before prices shot up? Still a gap I HAVE to fill!

Si_UKNZ

I remember adding town plan and carousel to my [email protected] basket on several occasions, but never really liked them enough to bother. Wish I had now.

madforLEGO

I know it sounds gratuitous but buying more 10190s when I had the chance. OR buying a UCS Millennium Falcon... those things are CRAZY money now...

devilhead

Santa Fe Super Chief... of course that was a few years before getting back into LEGO.
Also put off paying $500 on Ebay for the Cafe Corner and Market Street. Oooops.

Zathras

I think my biggest fish story would be turning up my nose at 3 (7662) MMTs on clearance at Target for 49.99 back in the day. I was too much of a OT snob (at the time) to buy them. Now I would consider it lucky if I could procure a MISB one at 6 or 7 times that price from ebay/bricklink.

The best part is my 9 year old son has made it clear several different ways that Santa should bring him one for Christmas. sigh.

Ravenhook

Two that I'd come within a minute of pulling out my wallet but then put back on the shelves:

Market Street - Held it in my hands in 2008 or whenever it was on the shelves, and thought, "this isn't worth the money".

Grand Carousel - Held a really beaten up box and decided against it because of the condition.

madforLEGO

Two that I'd come within a minute of pulling out my wallet but then put back on the shelves:

Market Street - Held it in my hands in 2008 or whenever it was on the shelves, and thought, "this isn't worth the money".

A LOT of people did that, which is why it is at the price it is at

oldtodd33

I was in the Lego Store near me and the staff there had just found 3 Cafe Corners in a box in the back room several months after it sold out. They put them out on the sales floor and another customer and myself were looking at them considering buying one. He walked away and wished me luck on buying them for the profit. I thought to myself that I had better buy all three and then the other part of me thought knowing my luck no one would want them and I would end up storing them for years without being able to sell them. So I talked myself into buying just one incase they actually did increase in value. Boy, I have wished many times I'd have just bought them all.

tdhbr

Grand Carousel. As I realized too late, it is really unique. As good as modular buildings and UCS spaceships are, there will probably always be some version of those available. I doubt there will be anything much like the Grand Carousel again, at least not until they redesign it, and price it twice as high. But I'd buy it then if they do.

romdam

Looking thru those old Shop at Home catalogs, Id have to go with the Santa Fe collection. The price on those were goodd so I have no idea why I didn't. Every time I pick up one of those old catalogs, I just stare at them.

llanowarsoldier

I was in my dark ages at time..came out of them the year CC was being discontinued. Since I am also into Transformers I would still go into Toys R US and I remember every time I walked past the Lego section and seeing the 1st 2 Creator House's before the Beach House one. Even though I wasn't into Lego at the time I was oh so tempted to buy those, and now the Villa goes for an obscene amount. Friggin' Dark Age :(

When I came out of my Dark Ages...thank you Beach House...it was x-mas season and Cafe Corner was about to go the way of the DoDo Bird. I didn't know that info as it had been 10 years since I had bought a set. Needless to say I didn't pick it up as I told myself I would get it after X-mas(there were stacks and stacks of them at the Lego shop). To this day I still kick my self for that, although I did pick up the Town Plan. I have though bought every Modular from GG to present.

If I ever were to do a CC I would make it a different color as I know some of the pieces for that set are up there in price or I could just do a black roof instead of the Maroon.

One set that I am glad I picked up recently even though I am not into SW sets that much is the Death Star, I don't regret it and I am going to make sure I get the Super Star Destroyer at some time so I don't miss out on that one.

sonsofsceva

Definitely 10179 UCS Millennium Falcon. I do remember seeing them at one point on a shelf at some store while in my dark age. I thought it was really cool but way too much money. Hmm. Green Grocer and the Carousel are right behind, but that is really the one that I most want to see show up in a classic revival, somehow. I hope they do a Star Wars Legends series when they begin to get to the end of their SW run.

davee123

I think there was a period of time during my dim age where I didn't buy much, and there was a LOT of great stuff. From 1994-1998, I knew I was a LEGO hobbyist, but I didn't know there was anyone else out there like myself, and to boot I was a college student and/or didn't have a lot of cash. I'm not sure if the money thing would have changed much, though-- the hobby really only became really interesting when there were others to share it with.

The result is that there were tons of sets from that era that I now kick myself for not buying. Like monorails and some amazing Model Team sets.

After I transformed from mild hobbyist to stark-raving-mad AFOL, there were a lot fewer sets that I missed and never purchased. The only ones I can think of offhand are the "collectible" minifigs that came in packs of 3, like 3346, and the NBA figures.

Otherwise, there were a lot of sets that I wish I had bought MORE of-- but that's a different topic :)

DaveE

pantenkind

I am like many on here where mine come from my dark ages..I was in a Wal Mart with my daughter and she was picking out a present for a birthday party. Of course being the big kid I am I was looking at LEGO (just for nostolgias sake at that point) and remember the ucs x-wing sitting on the shelf. I am an avid star wars fan and because of that I picked it up and looked at it. I almost bought it simply because I thought it was kinda cool. Here's the kicker, it was on clearance for 39.99! I remember because I was thinking for forty bucks it would look cool on my dresser or something. I really had no idea about the concept of sets retiring or going up in price like I do now so I talked myself out of it. Oh, the memories! :-) And again, for the sake of kicking my own butt there were probably 10 on the shelf at that price. Probably why they were that price.

LusiferSam

Market Street and the '07 Batman sets are my biggest regrets right now. I have no idea why I didn't pick up Market Street. I had plenty of opportunities. The '07 Batman sets I never in any stores and [email protected] seem to sell of out of them quickly. Market Street is untouchable for less $600. I won't pay that much for a $90 set. The Batman sets aren't much better.

4WD

The set that got away for me was probably the Hogwarts Castle from 07'. Many people don't seem to consider it such a good model, but I love the greenhouse and some of the figures are sublime. I plan on picking up the Hogwarts add-on to accompany my current Hogwarts, but then I've got Professor Sprout as a sick reminder of the greenhouse that got away.

Galidorneveragain

Fot a set:
The one set I regret about never buying was 7667, mainly because if I had it I would have all the battle packs ever released, but oh well , theres plenty more sets out there.
For a theme:
I still kick my self for never buying a batman set, but I got into lego around 2006 christmas and at the time I didn't even know lego Batman existed, I was fixed on Star Wars at the time.I think it was around 2008 when I saw my first batman set, can't remember which one it was but it looked awesome.
Also Indiana Jones which until recently I had never watched the films but watching them now I really want a Indy fig, would any one have one for sale?

xowainx

7676 Republic Gunship.. There is no set I want more than this and I severly regret not picking it up instead of Home One when I had the choice. I love the Home One set, but could have picked it up for over a year afterwards, whereas 7676 disappeared soon after. I hope i'll be lucky enough to get it one day, even without figs I would be happy!

Si_UKNZ

^^ If you want a cheap indy fig, just pick up one of the small sets e.g. the one with the tent in it, you can get them cheaply.

Redbullgivesuwind

^^ I had the same thought as you about not picking it up just before woolworths went under. Im so glad i did but i almost didnt

Galidorneveragain

^^I had a look on ebay and theres some which seem to be in a reasonable price range eg. ambush in cario has only doubled since its release, so around about early £20 for a used set

Im going to GWLS tomorrow so I will take a look around and if I cant find any I will buy the buy one on ebay.If any ones going tomorrow and are sellling anything, I would be interested.

Yellowcastle

^^^^ I rarely build these days but just had to build the gunship when I got it last year. It is arguably the most perfect set I have ever built and that says a lot next to my Deep Sea Refuge. :o)

bmwlego

When I first emerged from my Dark Ages in 2006, I was at a store called Tuesday Morning which was a flossing place that had brand name stuff like LEGO for sale. They had the reissue of the Metroliner set and I passed on it. They were selling it for $80 and I said to myself I am not a train fan so I won't buy this. D'oh!!! Other than that I've tried my best to not to pass up a good deal. I will either build the set I am looking at or save the receipt and return it if I have buyer's remorse.

atkinsar

Im going to GWLS tomorrow so I will take a look around and if I cant find any I will buy the buy one on ebay.

They did actually have the Ambush in Cairo set at GWLS, did you pick it up, I think it was £20.

Eric

I regret not pestering my parents for the 8421 Mobile Crane. I remember holding it in my 12 year old hands and thinking Wow. Shame it was well out of my $15 budget. :/

I think the 10193 MMV, will be added to this list, as I can't seem to bring myself to make the purchase... :/

Silber334

I gotta say Green Grocer, which some of you folks already mentioned. 37,000 yen just ain't worth it when you usual pay half of it.
Now to get my hands on the Emerald Night before it dematerializes from the local store shelves. It's currently selling at around 12,800 yen which is quite a [email protected]

Redbullgivesuwind

^I've never understood quite how that one works is the yen strong at the moment and hence is 12,800 how do they work it?

@Eric you should get it i feel its gonna go for silly money once it is retired

Galidorneveragain

@atkinsar I bought the Indiana Jones Jungle Duel(7624) and the lego ideas book from I think @Martin 's shop 'brickends' for £20 and £15 for the book, MISB, I totally recommend this seller.

Silber334

^I've never understood quite how that one works is the yen strong at the moment and hence is 12,800 how do they work it?

Most of the prices here aren't much affected by the strong currency. Of course if it gains tremendous strength against maybe the Dannish kronor ( ie, a 20% gain, which would be regarded as impossible the way things are so far ), and importers are buying up Lego sets during that moment, then that would be something else.
Or, importers can purchase from the US, where Legos are dirt cheap, even despite the weak dollar. But again, the yen has to gain a heckuva lot against the dollar when the products are being imported to make up for the margin.

Redbullgivesuwind

ah that makes sense. it did look at it and think wow if i were charged 12,800 for something then i would not be buying lego lol

purple_haze

Argh, it still pains me now, why did I have to read this thread and remind myself of it.... Back when good ol' Woolies was still trading, I cant remember when exactly but they had several copies of the 7784 UCS Batmobile for £24.99, I was in my dark ages at the time but stood holding it for ages thinking should I, Shouldn't I?
In the end I decided I had better things to spend my money on. If only I knew then what I know now!!!

Lego_Lord_Mayorca

For a long time, 1992's "Gas Transit" was my typical "one that got away..." story, but since I got that set MISB 2 years ago, it has reached a happy conclusion. If you really want to hear that old story for the umpteenth time, it's in the description for the set in my list, "The Unbuilt".

Can't quite think of any other ones right now...several ones that have gotten away from me are too recent methinks to make a good story.

Yellowcastle

Thought I'd resurrect some old interesting discussions....I mostly regret missing the MTT, especially when TRU had it for half price. :o( I also now wonder if I should have picked up a carousel.

The_Brick_Builder

My biggest one was Market Street, Green Grocer, and Town Plan. Still have nightmares on the night when I was on [email protected] and saw them, but didn't buy them. I would say Cafe Corner but I got a great deal on eBay. All sealed bags plus original manuals for $406 and $15 shipping.

pcirone

Mine was seeing the statue of liberty set on clearance at TRU (dark ages still) and thinking who spends this much on a Lego set? Ha, 25k+ later I guess I know the answer now :-)

Si_UKNZ

I had town plan and carousel in my basket a number of times, but for some reason never bought them .... something about the style I didnt like, but I think I should have bought them as they look better in real life.

streeker

Mine wasn't a set, it was the uber expensive but cool LEGO wooden shelving and kid's furniture from a couple of years ago. Do you guys remember those? It went to 80% clearance I think at [email protected] I bought toy boxes, stackable shelving and two stools. Everything got cancelled except for my two toy boxes. I understood after why they were so expensive - they were actually made in Scandinavia, and the groove gliders on the underside to move the heavy boxes around are super smooth. The kids beat them up, but they stay very sturdy. I don't think LEGO will venture into the furniture side again after that experiment.

mackrel

Duplicate posting

tdhbr

Interesting ... I haven't seen anyone mention my regret - Grand Carousel. I had bought UCS Falcon a few years ago, but was still telling myself that was an exception, that I wasn't going to buy anything else big. Then the modulars got me this summer.

I've never seen a Grand Carousel in person, but the photos make it look like the coolest thing ever done with LEGO.

Odindusk

^ agree. The photos make it look amazing. I guess it's mechanically-awful though? That's what I've read from more than one forum.

roxio

Just emerging from my dark ages and was is toysrus Preston UK about 5 years ago. They had basket full of 4501 Cantina for sale £15 each (50% off RRP at the time). Got as far as loading them all in a trolley, then realised it was going to be £300+ and bottled it.
Got home and checked out online. Bought the last 3 they had but couldn't get back to a store for 7 days and by then they were all gone.