Any Reason Why Amazon US Doesn't Sell Technic Sets?

nkx1

Just curious... all the other Amazon sites seem to carry Technic. Is it because they don't sell very well?

FollowsClosely

They do, or have.

gmpirate

why do you think they don't?

jocappy

They do...

thenos

Most of the ones for sale are Fulfilled by Amazon, not for sale by Amazon. In fact, I didn't see one that was sold by Amazon on my list (search: lego technic).

nkx1

Thanks for the replies. I should have clarified- I was referring specifically to Technic sets sold directly by Amazon US (excluding the marketplace). Currently, there are no Technic sets being sold directly by Amazon US.

LegoFanTexas

They do carry them, they are just out of stock right now, all Technic is on short supply for the holidays, but they'll restock soon enough.

Ma1234

Technic is Toys R Us exclusive in the United States starting with 2012.

nkx1

@LegoFanTexas It's plausible I'm remembering incorrectly, but I can't recall them having any large Technic sets for at least a year or so. Not sure about the smaller sets, which I don't typically buy.

@Ma1234 That would certainly explain it, if true. Thanks for the insight. Mind telling how you came across that info? Just curious.

EDIT: Just checked Target and Walmart sites, and there were no large 2012 Technic sets to be found (didn't check for the smaller ones). Interesting...

nkx1

^Just found a few sources that confirm 2012 Technic is in fact exclusive to TRU. Great info, @Ma1234. That might shed some light on why Technic hasn't been included in recent BOGO50 (or BOGO40) promotions; the only other place we can easily buy them is Lego directly! Of course, Technic sets can still be purchased from the various European Amazon sites, and often at a decent discount.

Guess that answers my original question!

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/09/13/toys-r-us-hot-toy-reservation-program-holiday-shopping/
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-shop-anywhere-else-for-toys-why-asks-toysrus-as-it-raises-the-curtain-on-2012-holiday-season-2012-09-12

LegoFanTexas

Interesting, that is new then, it didn't start at the begining of 2012, I know that much for sure because I was buying Technic from Amazon this past summer.

Why on Earth TRU or LEGO would want to do this I don't know, but to each their own. That sure limits a lot of sales that otherwise could have gone to TLG.

Thanks for the info.

cloaked7

Technic a TRU exclusive. That is strange and a surprise. I had never really noticed before. Also, in the past Technic was part of BOGO's. I have some Excavators and Unimogs because of BOGO's last year.

madforLEGO

LegoFanTexas said:

Interesting, that is new then, it didn't start at the begining of 2012, I know that much for sure because I was buying Technic from Amazon this past summer.

Why on Earth TRU or LEGO would want to do this I don't know, but to each their own. That sure limits a lot of sales that otherwise could have gone to TLG.

Thanks for the info.

Im guessing because TRU is paying more of that over pricing money to LEGO to get it out of Amazon.coms hands.. I think TRU really sees Amazon.com as a chief competitor now.. Im sure they were aware in the past, but Im guessing after this past year it has woken up TRU to realize they have to compete.. The simplest answer would be drop prices for Technic at TRU, but no no no.. Lets get an agreement with LEGO so we can not only be the sole provider of Technic BUT charge our outrageous prices for those sets too.

With all the huge sales with the Mods at Walmart, maybe Mods are being taken away from Walmart as well.. but that is just speculation on my part.

LegoFanTexas

If TLG wants to torpedo their business, that is their choice... But if they start making entire lines exclusive to stores like TRU that mark up prices, they might find people buying something else.

brickmatic

You still can buy direct from LEGO without markup.

dougts

yeah, this really seems like the opposite of what most businesses want to do. As a manufacturer, you want your products in MORE places, not less.

Although Technic is somewhat of a niche product line, and many stores who carry LEGO carry little to no Technic to begin with, so they are probably really only losing placement in Amazon and perhaps the online versions of Wal-Mart, Target, etc. - I admit that I don't shop in Walmart stores, but I pretty much never see any Technic sets inside Targets or other retailers that I do shop at. If TRU agreed to pay a premium wholesale to TLG for Technic to get an exclusivity on it, maybe that actually makes sense for TLG, if the only losses are coming from Amazon and a few online sales at other big-box stores.

LegoFanTexas

brickmatic said:

You still can buy direct from LEGO without markup.

Yes, but you'd be shocked how many people don't know about LEGO Stores or even Shop @ Home.

LEGO has done a terrible job making everyone aware that they have 100+ retail stores and a nice Shop @ Home web site.

Naturally LEGO comes up a lot in conversations I have with just about everyone, and I can't recall a single person knowing about either option.

Everyone seems to buy from either Walmart, TRU, or Amazon.

BrickDancer

dougts said:

yeah, this really seems like the opposite of what most businesses want to do. As a manufacturer, you want your products in MORE places, not less.

Customer access is not the problem at this point for TLG though, since its in such demand that the customer will go where ever the product is, however limited. If you have high volume customers that represent a large channel of distribution, then you need to help them as much as possible during the growth phase of the product marketing curve. By reducing the small volume outlets, revenue and overall sales throughput can be easier realized by your big accounts and they will have less pressure to raise prices while carrying the same amount of merchandise. Having only 5 main points (Target, Walmart, Amazon, TRU and Lego) of purchase ensures those parties can still make good margin while doing so. Plus the added benefit to administration and logistics in handling less distributor accounts.

nkx1

-deleted-

brickmatic

Maybe they should advertise that more.

LegoFanTexas

BrickDancer said:

Having only 5 main points (Target, Walmart, Amazon, TRU and Lego) of purchase ensures those parties can still make good margin while doing so. Plus the added benefit to administration and logistics in handling less distributor accounts.

That sounds great, doesn't it? Except, it isn't 5 points of purchase, it is 2, TRU and LEGO. Amazon, Walmart, and Target are very large customers to leave out of the party for all Technic.

BrickDancer

^Oops, yes for Technic in specific its only 2 outlets.

brickmatic

Like someone said, Lego probably gets higher margins from the sale to TRU because of the exclusivity. Also, TLG is probably doing it to gauge the effect it will have on sales.

meyerc13

Meanwhile it sucks for people without a LEGO or TRU store nearby. The city where I grew up is an hour away from the nearest TRU or LEGO store, and it's a city of 50,000 people. In fact, I'd bet half of my state is more than an hour away from one of these stores. If this keeps up, how many kids will never see a Technic set on the shelf?

gmpirate

^ you mean little Jimmy?

LegoFanTexas

gmpirate said:

^ you mean little Jimmy?

I thought it was little Timmy... ;-)

cloaked7

Tiny Tim? Is someone being a Scrooge? :-)