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The One That Got Away: Biggest Non-Purchase Regret

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  • LuciusMalfoy7LuciusMalfoy7 Member Posts: 107
    I have a much lower LEGO budget, so of course, the entire modular line falls under this category for me - but on a more realistic scale, the entire HP line before the 2010 rerelease (I've since bought all the latest sets, but this leaves serious gaps in my collection, of course - especially with minifigures. My other regret is Deep Sea Quest. I have all of the other Agents sets, and I went into Target window-shopping one week. Next week, I came back to pick it up, only to find it discontinued.
  • bmwlegobmwlego Member Posts: 819
    2 sets:
    Metroliner Legends Reissue
    Bullet Run Tiny Turbos set
  • BuriedinBricksBuriedinBricks Member Posts: 1,367
    edited March 2012
    I basically came out of my dark ages just a little too late to pick up a set I'm now very much in love with, the IF (10210). I've been watching on ebay for a good deal to come up and have had some near misses on bids. I have not been that aggressive though because they do seem to come up quite often and I do not care much about MISB. I plan to build the thing, not store it in a closet.

    It's obviously a little too early for used display sets to pop up frequently. So I guess the question is, am I just going to kick myself if I wait awhile for used sets to start showing up more often? Or should I just bite the bullet now and pick up the new set while it's still averaging below the $300 mark? I don't have that much experience with price trends on retired modern sets, so I want to avoid making a huge mistake by waiting too long. I also imagine it will be awhile before someone decides to give up such a wonderful display piece.

    Most of the people who post here seem to be pretty savvy about this stuff, so I figured it would not hurt to ask.
  • StuBoyStuBoy Member Posts: 623
    I'm not too savvy on the e-bay thing, but it hasn't been retired long, in fact, its still available from a few retailers in my country (New Zealand) if you get desperate!

    Don't worry, it happens to us all - I vaguely remember the UCS Falcon and Green Grocer available when I came out of my dark ages - if only I knew then what I know now!
  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    If you want it, you'll kick yourself for not buying it now...

    I fully expect that by this fall, new this set will be $500 and used sets will be $300, so you might as well buy a new one now for $300.

    Just my opinion anyway... :)
  • tk79tk79 Member Posts: 329
    You could probably wait until the summer when sales die down, I don't think there's too much risk waiting until then (I could be wrong of course, just a guess really at this point).

    In favor of buying sooner, I will say, I bought a used GG last January for $220 and was glad I did for two reasons:

    1) I got to build it sooner
    2) no more nagging "worries" in the back of my head about getting one...not sure if the prices ever dropped over the summer, but a little peace of mind was worth a few extra bucks of potential savings (to me at least).
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    If you want it, you'll kick yourself for not buying it now...

    I fully expect that by this fall, new this set will be $500 and used sets will be $300, so you might as well buy a new one now for $300.

    Just my opinion anyway... :)
    And a sound opinion it is. This set will only go up in price. Buy it now before the "new" price of today becomes the "used" price of tomorrow.
  • mathewmathew Member Posts: 2,099
    The Imperial Flagship looks really nice but was too expensive for me even at original MSRP. But I agree with the others, if you have the money then go ahead and buy it now. I doubt we'll see a Pirate ship as nice for awhile if ever again. I hate to say it but I have a feeling that Lego is scaling back on the "generic" themes in favor of the licensed ones. I went ahead and bit the bullet on Medieval Market Village and Mill Village Raid because I don't think we'll see these types of sets from Lego again any time soon.
  • StuBoyStuBoy Member Posts: 623
    ^ Agreed - especially with LOTR coming soon the Castle theme is dead and so is Pirates at this stage.
  • FatMattFatMatt Member Posts: 502
    MMV & MVR are both exceptional sets. Good call on buying them. Lego has made very few village type castle sets ever.
  • mathewmathew Member Posts: 2,099
    Yeah, I'm in the middle of building MMV and really love it. With that said, initial sorting of the bricks is a real b*tch. MVR seems a little overpriced to me but I've read that it compliments MMV very well. For anyone still looking for MVR, Barnes and Noble has them in stock at MSRP. Ebay prices seem to be hovering around MSRP, but I'd rather just buy from a B&M in case of problems.
  • BuriedinBricksBuriedinBricks Member Posts: 1,367
    Thanks all. I guess I just need to pull the trigger.
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    That and stay away from the sun.
  • y2joshy2josh Member Posts: 1,996
    ^And that was awesome.
  • Lego_Lord_MayorcaLego_Lord_Mayorca Member Posts: 619
    If I may throw in a long-range perspective here...it is VERY possible to still snag used and MISB copies of sets you missed out on even after many years have passed since the set left shelves AND for a reasonable price. Lego on eBay, as you no doubt are aware, is vast. There's stuff being put up for sale and auction every hour, every day. If you are focused on finding a particular set as I have been, chances are you will sooner (rather than later) find one for a very good price.

    Some examples:

    During October 2010, I found a seller who was auctioning off a lot of MISB sets as part of a personal "Bricktober" sale of his. One of those sets was brand-new Aqua Dozer from 1997. I wanted that set so bad back in the day, and I never got it. Starting bid was the MSRP from 1997, $24.99. Somehow, NO ONE else bid on it (or wanted it), so I managed to buy it for that price. A brand-new, then-13 year-old Lego set for MSRP. How often does that happen for a set of that age?

    Another example: The Cyber Strikers from 1998's "Cyber Slam" Technic theme was another missed set due to its $50 price tag back in the day. Nonetheless, after searching for it semi-regularly on eBay, I found a MISB one for only $19.99. You read that right. And it had the "Buy-it-Now!" option. No brainer. And indeed, when I received the set, it was sealed and in perfect shape, like it had time traveled to the year 2009 without so much as a fuss.

    Obviously, for big-ticket items and much older sets, this kinds of opportunities will be much more difficult to find, if at all. But trust me, with a little patience, you never know what you happen upon on eBay.
  • snowtygersnowtyger Member Posts: 47
    I'd say to still go ahead and purchase one now; if you can buy another, at a good/better price, you can always resell to recoup your cost (I do agree with LLM though, to keep searching for it)
  • mathewmathew Member Posts: 2,099
    edited March 2012
    If I may throw in a long-range perspective here...it is VERY possible to still snag used and MISB copies of sets you missed out on even after many years have passed since the set left shelves AND for a reasonable price.
    I don't know, maybe for lesser known sets. Imperial Flagship is a pretty nice looking set and I think it will be hard to top even if Lego were to re-introduce the Pirate theme. The POTC ships just don't do it for me and will look dated in a few years. IF on the other hand looks to be a classic set that will only appreciate in value. I wish I had the money as I would probably buy it.

  • YellowcastleYellowcastle Administrator, Moderator Posts: 5,234
    @Lego_Lord_Mayorca - you make a great point. You have to stay vigilant but patient when chasing a retired set. One of these days I will finally get the Imperial Trading Post and Fort Legoredo. :o)
  • dougtsdougts Member Posts: 4,110
    I was bidding on a Fort Legoredo last week on ebay (used, not NIB), but I dropped out after it went higher than I was willing to pay. Oh well
  • hoyatableshoyatables Member Posts: 873
    I just bought my first Medieval Market Village as well (only a few left on Amazon at $90 -- weighed that against going to the LEGO store, using my 10% coupon, and getting double points and decided that the free shipping and no tax on Amazon made it a wash). I LOVED the castle toys as a kid. I may just leave this one in the box as an investment for the future.
  • pantenkindpantenkind Member Posts: 258
    @iccarus I have an imperial flagship I am selling, I have not listed it yet. I have the box and directions and of course all pieces. It is open as I had it displayed, I just dont have any room for it. I also have enough cannons to fill every porthole (the set comes with only half.) I am in Illinois and will sell to you for 275.00 if you pay exact shipping to your place. Pm me if your interested.
  • mathewmathew Member Posts: 2,099
    I was just thinking how crazy it is for a set like IF to double in price almost over night. Makes me a little depressed knowing that Amazon had these for $150 around Christmas. With that said, isn't the scale of the ship pretty big compared to something like MMV? I'm saying that because both IF and MMV share similar color bricks and styling. I would think they would look cool together.
  • BuriedinBricksBuriedinBricks Member Posts: 1,367
    @panetenkind - I have one lined up now from another member (oddly enough, in IL as well), but thank you so much for offering. Hopefully I will be building this wonderful ship by the weekend.
  • y2joshy2josh Member Posts: 1,996
    @mathew - I don't know what pirate ships you own... but the IF dwarfs them all. The Black Pearl, The Black Seas Barracuda and even Queen Anne's Revenge look ridiculously tiny sitting next to it.
  • mathewmathew Member Posts: 2,099
    I don't own any pirate ships. I just really like how intricate the IF is. It's probably too big for my current layout.
  • doriansdaddoriansdad Member Posts: 1,337
    It is the same story every time a nice set retires. Nobody wants to actually purchase it UNTIL it is EOL, and then suddenly they are happy to pay twice retail.

    If you are going to purchase on ebay I'd wait until summer and no doubt groupon or living social will come up with yet another 50% off.....a great time to scoop any retired set. Im selling my IF's for $600 around xmas time.
  • brclark82brclark82 Member Posts: 217
    It is the same story every time a nice set retires. Nobody wants to actually purchase it UNTIL it is EOL, and then suddenly they are happy to pay twice retail.

    If you are going to purchase on ebay I'd wait until summer and no doubt groupon or living social will come up with yet another 50% off.....a great time to scoop any retired set. Im selling my IF's for $600 around xmas time.
    What? 50% off of an eBay purchase?
  • mathewmathew Member Posts: 2,099
    It is the same story every time a nice set retires. Nobody wants to actually purchase it UNTIL it is EOL, and then suddenly they are happy to pay twice retail.
    Maybe Lego should adopt a new marketing strategy on certain products. Start out with an entry level pricing. For example, $150 for the Imperial Flagship. Leave it at that price for a few months. Then raise the price to $179. When the product is ready to be EOL'd, bump up the price to $200. As stock dwindles, keep bumping the price $50 every few days. By then end of the run, $300. This would motivate people to buy sooner and keep resellers from cleaning house so to speak.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    edited March 2012
    It is the same story every time a nice set retires. Nobody wants to actually purchase it UNTIL it is EOL, and then suddenly they are happy to pay twice retail.
    Maybe Lego should adopt a new marketing strategy on certain products. Start out with an entry level pricing. For example, $150 for the Imperial Flagship. Leave it at that price for a few months. Then raise the price to $179. When the product is ready to be EOL'd, bump up the price to $200. As stock dwindles, keep bumping the price $50 every few days. By then end of the run, $300. This would motivate people to buy sooner and keep resellers from cleaning house so to speak.
    But then the sales would lag as it is more expensive and they get the problem of storing them. And isn't the point of making them EOL to clear them out and release space for new sets. Otherwise, why bother with discount sales when the item is approaching EOL?
  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    ^ Yes... Lego is in the volume business, not the margin business...
  • DadDad Member Posts: 816
    edited March 2012
    ^^ I don't know any resellers big enough to clean the house regarding sets that have been on sale for 2 years.
  • Farmer_JohnFarmer_John Member Posts: 2,405
    I agree that the IF is a wonderful set and was great to build. Black Friday sales had it for roughly $122 shipped from [email protected] deal impossible to pass up...especially for a set this iconic.

    That said, TLG is very creative and there will always be more iconic sets in the pipeline so don't sweat it.
  • The_Brick_BuilderThe_Brick_Builder Member Posts: 658
    I'm really mad at myself for not buying IF at the [email protected] Holiday sale. When I get it off of eBay, I'm going to display it on my shelf :)
  • mathewmathew Member Posts: 2,099
    I agree that the IF is a wonderful set and was great to build. Black Friday sales had it for roughly $122 shipped from [email protected]
    Oh man... only if I knew. And I was only then *thinking* about buying a box of legos for my son for Christmas. Had no idea that I would soon become addicted. I would of bought five, kept one, and sold the other four to subsidize this crazy hobby.

  • JP3804JP3804 Member Posts: 332
    ^ I thought you didn't like resellers. ;-)
  • mathewmathew Member Posts: 2,099
    ^^ Ha, ha... I don't but that doesn't mean I'm against being one myself.
  • FatMattFatMatt Member Posts: 502
    edited March 2012
    mathew said:
    But trying to make a quick buck off a recently discontinued or out of stock set is kind of scummy.
    Predictions on Discontinuing Sets and their Secondary Market Value: 2/22
    :)
    I think this one's coming to the dark side.
  • LegobrandonCPLegobrandonCP Member Posts: 1,917
    LOL, whatever you say can be used against you.
  • tk79tk79 Member Posts: 329
    Well gentlemen, the procedure was a bit painful for all involved, but I'd like to announce that the assimilation is now complete.
  • mathewmathew Member Posts: 2,099
    ^^ I've learned a lot in the past few days, what can I say. I was actually tempted to buy more than one King's Castle today from BN.com, but it doesn't seem to be doing all that well on ebay. I still don't think I would horde sets and try to make a living off of it. More like a way to pay for the hobby itself.
  • parkerwilsonparkerwilson Member Posts: 142
    If you want it, you'll kick yourself for not buying it now...

    I fully expect that by this fall, new this set will be $500 and used sets will be $300, so you might as well buy a new one now for $300.

    Just my opinion anyway... :)
    Don't tell me that, I have 1 sealed that I am waiting to build, its last on the list of my current back catalog of 10179, 6211, Cafe Corner, Market Street, Green Grocer.
  • JP3804JP3804 Member Posts: 332
    @mathew "More like a way to pay for the hoddy itself" Exactly, we knew we could assimilate ( thanks tk79) you. ;-) Happy Building
  • sjerakatsjerakat Member Posts: 27
    On three different occasions back in 2004, I picked up the 10134 UCS Y-Wing at my local Lego store but I never made it to the register. A deadly combination of lack of display space, feeling like I was outgrowing Lego, and just wanting to buy other things prevented me from buying it. Now, 9 years later, I find myself regretting it everytime I look at ebay prices, and my Y-Wing-less UCS collection.

    Unlike many other Lego sets that I missed out on due to my dark ages, 10134 strikes a chord with me because I held it in my hands, and was a few steps and $120 away from taking it home. Something I never did with sets like UCS Falcon, Carousel, Cafe Corner and Grocer.

    This is my Lego set that got away...

    I'm sure some of you have similar experiences. Again this is not Lego sets you simply missed out on, but rather Lego sets that were so close to being yours, and now far far away...
  • duilimduilim Member Posts: 61
    Back in 2011, Cafe Corner and Green Grocer, both $250 buy it now on ebay. For some reason, I passed on it, a decision that's haunted me to this day....
  • vitreolumvitreolum Member Posts: 1,406
    Green Grocer for me, added that to the online store carts several times, always deciding against it. Loved the set, but always felt it had no room in my fantasy/sf/historical collection. It was just after dark ages, didn't know then the money I could resell it for would have more than enough room in my pocket.
  • ThegoThego Member Posts: 264
    10198 Tantive IV for me. Need to pick it up before it gets too far away from RRP.
  • CapnRex101CapnRex101 Administrator Posts: 2,364
    Although it has yet to be retired, mine will doubtless be #10197 Fire Brigade. Just about every time I go to the LEGO store I look at it but I always put it down in favour of something else.

    I may yet buy it, but with #10236 Ewok Village coming out soon and the set presumably being retired at the end of this year, it seems unlikely.
  • jondesouzaCEjondesouzaCE Member Posts: 241
    Not including things that were released during my dark ages, my top 3 would be:
    1) Emerald Night
    2) Grand Carousel
    3) Mill Village Raid

    In each case I prioritised other sets and then these were removed from general sale.
  • khmellymelkhmellymel Member Posts: 1,313
    Hogwarts Express and the Burrow for me.
    FollowsClosely
  • HarryPotterLoverHarryPotterLover Member Posts: 238
    I had the Maserk train (2011) in my [email protected] cart 3 times but then each time i thought "meh"
    But then when I decided i DEFIANTLY wanted it, it had JUST retired.
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