2011 Stock, Out of Cash

Rainstorm26

Is anyone else having the same problem as I am? Too many really nice looking sets and not enough money?
I hope TLG keeps the sets from this year out a little longer. That way I can space out my purchases.

TalasAntares

I'm certainly blowing through my limited disposable income much faster this year...as you say, just too many nice sets.

llanowarsoldier

With the exception of 2 creator sets, rest of PotC i'm missing, Maersk Train, the Holday set later this year and remaining HP sets I'd say my wallet is doing good. None of the City summer sets appeal to me and I'm not into SW or Castle,etc., So this year is cheaper that last year for me.

bmwlego

The City sets don't do it for me either and I'm a City fan. I'll be buying a Pet Shop though!

bluemoose

The do seem to have hit a new 'golden age', at least as far as my tastes go; not every 2011 set is a 'must-buy' for me, but the ratio of good/meh sets is the highest it's been for a long time ... damn those set deisgners! ;-)

drdavewatford

^ Seconded - this will be by far the most expensive year for me ever as far as retail purchases are concerned.....

atkinsar

I promised myself I would spend less on LEGO this year.

I lied...

mirandir

I've had this problem more or less since I got out of my Dark age... :(

So I'm actually glad that the latest modular building didn't quite cut it for me...

Legoboy

^ What?? You have the previous modulars but because you don't like the latest you're not going to bother??

dougts

Just came out of my dark age, so this year is one of playing catch-up - 3 modulars, Emerald Night, Flagship, 3 holiday sets, log cabin, apple tree house, hillside house, lighthouse. and that doesn't include any of the odd sets or PaB.

So yeah, this year I'm going a bit overboard. but once I'm caught up, I'm hoping to keep it reasonable going forward. I purposely avoid the themed stuff, so it's really just going to be modulars/creator going forward. maybe the odd City item that I like.

Yellowcastle

The Apple Tree House and the Lighthouse are definite musts. The cabin was a bit of a letdown but has a very nice kayak. And I'll be passing on the hillside house.

I agree that 2010/2011 are probably going to be the worst back to back years for AFOL wallets. The fire brigade, emerald night, death star, and medieval market are likely soon to be gone and we only recently lost the green grocer and carousel. Then there's the space shuttle, imperial shuttle, diagon, and soon to be super star destroyer. IMO, all the Pirates and Kingdoms sets look great as do many of the Alien Conquest. Luckily, the City Harbor and Spaceport sets have mostly been letdowns for me and I'll probably pass on Cars if only to save room on my plate. :o).

legoDad

Totally with you Rainstorm. With getting the whole Alien Conquest line plus Star Wars soon (getting just about all), it's crazy 'cause I'm now falling into other themes I don't normally collect...PotC, Creator sets, of course all the collectable mini-figs, City sets, PaB Wall...plus soon the Master Builder Academy stuff...etc...there's so many great designs and builds out there, just too good to pass on...oh, plus sales on stuff I missed out last year from Target, Walmart, TRU...etc..etc...eBay....ughhh...uhhhhh...the Wife's ready to throw me out for sure now.

jwsmart

This, I think, is the the best kind of "problem" we can hope for.

So yeah, this year I'm going a bit overboard. but once I'm caught up, I'm hoping to keep it reasonable going forward.

I said that about 2010, since then I've given up hope of keeping my LEGO expenditure "reasonable".

rocao

Personally, I've found the designs improving steadily since 2007, and the quantities in my collection listing are indicative of it.

@Yellowcastle: I agree almost exactly with your assessment (I like the same sets you mention, and am underwhelmed by City Harbor and Spaceport), except why are you passing on Hillside house?

1265

So many present and future sets to be had. Of course, I'm always on the prowl for older retired sets I want.

Agree that buying Lego sets is expensive but just as equally important to me is having the space.

mirandir

^ What?? You have the previous modulars but because you don't like the latest you're not going to bother??

No, I'm quite stressed over the fact that I have, so far, only managed to afford Cafe Corner from the modular series. Therefore it's a relief that I don't quite like the newest modular as that means one set less to be anxious about getting.

And I should have mentioned that it was just an example. There are several other sets that I want but has not been able to afford yet. And many of them are about to be expired... :/

dougts

just bummed I came out of my dark age about a month or so too late for green grocer...

TalasAntares

...and so it goes, wallet got a bit lighter today when I grabbed a 7066 and 7067 at TRU...

jb15

Yeah. It seems all the really nice sets are out now--they all seem like awesome purchases.

And the new Star Wars sets have yet to be released...

tk79

I wish I was purchasing only this year's sets! The again, I'd probably just be more likely to get more duplicates of the sets I really like, so I probably wouldn't be helping my wallet at all.

This is the first year out of my dark ages too, just started buying before Christmas. Between buying for me and my kids, there's too much catching up to do.

Really trying to focus mainly on City, Castle & Trains but with Atlantis, PoP, SP3, TS3 and Power Miner's mixed in, all the costs from catching up are really starting to rise. I fear I'll always be buying a year or two late. At least I can probably get more of a discount that way though and I'm grateful to be getting into the hobby before many of these great sets get discontinued. I've had to pay up for a few discontinued sets I wanted like GG and Vladek's Fortress, but luckily the markup wasn't terrible.

My list of purchases so far in the last 5 months by price not including a few little odds and ends:

10188 Death Star, 10185 Green Grocer , 7939 Cargo Train x2, 10210 Imperial Flagship, 8877 Vladek's Dark Fortress , 10197 Fire Brigade , 10211 Grand Emporium , 7938 Passenger Train x2, 10193 Medieval Market Village x2, 10194 Emerald Night x3, 7946 King's Castle , 3182 Airport , 7498 Police Station , 7754 Home One Mon Calimari Star Cruiser , 10199 Winter Toy Shop , 7642 Garage , 10216 Winter Village Bakery , 6754 Family Home x2, 5974 Galactic Enforcer , 7637 Farm City , 7573 Battle of Alamut, 7597 Western Train Chase, 7641 City Corner , 7937 Train Station , 4996 Beach House, 7947 Prison Tower Rescue , 7288 Mobile Police Unit , 5770 Lighthouse Island, 8077 Atlantis Exploration HQ , 7747 Wind Turbine Transport , 8403 City House , 7572 Quest Against Time, 8075 Neptune Carrier , 5973 Hyperspeed Pursuit , 7635 4WD with Horse Trailer, 8191 Lavatraz , 8080 Undersea Explorer , 7593 Buzz's Star Command Spaceship , 5984 Lunar Limo , 7594 Woody's Roundup!, 7596 Trash Compactor Escape, 8190 Claw Catcher , 7571 The Fight for the Dagger, 7684 Pig Farm & Tractor , 5560 Large Pink Brick Box, 7746 Single-Drum Roller , 7206 Fire Helicopter , 7639 Camper , 3180 Tank Truck , 8061 Gateway of the Squid, 7936 Level Crossing , 8899 Gator Swamp World Racers, 5983 Undercover Cruiser , 7741 Police Helicopter , 8189 Magma Mech x2, 3179 Repair Truck , 7592 Construct-a-Buzz, 5982 Smash 'n' Grab Space , 7914 Mandalorian Battle Pack, 8058 Guardian of the Deep , 7195 Ambush In Cairo, 8402 Sports Car x2, 8057 Wreck Raider , 7595 Army Men on Patrol , 7567 Traveller , 7950 Knight's Showdown x2, 7235 Police Motorcycle, 8056 Monster Crab Clash , 3177 Small Car x4, 7949 Prison Carriage Rescue , 7566 Farmer City , 7569 Desert Attack Prince of Persia , 7953 Court Jester , 7955 Wizard , 7279 Police Minifigure Collection


And I'm still adding to my want list daily. Oh boy...

50missioncap

Seriously, Lego is like crack.

Yellowcastle

I don't know what bothers me more....that gigantic Lego list or the realization that I bought most of those and some duplicates...

rocao

^ easy choice for me: it's the gigantic LEGO list since I am quite pleased that I own most of those.

Matthew

^ easy choice for me: it's the gigantic LEGO list since I am quite pleased that I own most of those.

And I am very cross with myself as I don't. I keep thinking about what to buy (as I'm on a tight budget), instead of actually buying it, so by the time I have decided to buy something, the price has jumped sky high :-(

kor

I went a little overboard on POTC so now I'm behind on everything else. I plan on buying multiple Pet Shops over the course of its life so I can stock up on some Sand Blue bricks.

wander099

I'm having the same trouble. I want so many sets and my budget is strained as a result. I'm trying to hold off on buying and wait for sales as much as possible, but it isn't easy. And I'm just out of my dark ages too!

StuBoy

^ Its always hard when you first come out of your Dark Ages cause you have to play catch-up! Unfortunately, I'm about 3 years out of my Dark Ages and still playing catch-up because I keep branching into new themes I didn't previously collect. Started with only Castle, then Star Wars, now City for my son when he's older, and I'm thinking about starting to collect the modulars and some POTC and also Pirates II (that Imperial Flagship looks too good!)

Rogue

I'm having the same problem! I thought I would just finish up my Castle collection... but then PotC came out... and then I thought the Pet Store would look nice with my Green Grocer... and on it goes!

madforLEGO

The rule of thumb is this: Lego has most common theme sets (Castle, City, Train, Creator(i.e Pet shop, emerald night) etc) out for a least two to three years. The Licensed themes are a little spotty.. usually you can get those sets for 1-2 years after release (based on popularity, demand for exist stock after production of the line etc) SW seemly have gone to at least 2-3 years of availability for their lines.

So sets that came out to buy as soon as you can would probably be: Diagon Alley/Potter sets and PoTC sets(especially QAR -Queen Anne's Revenge- cause I have a feeling once it is gone it is gone for good and will not be out for more than a year until the next run of PoTC is released), Maersk Sealand train because who knows how long they will produced (although indications are if TRU has Diagon Alley it will be out for a while.. we will need to see on the Maersk Sealand train though)

I believe the sets about to go bye-bye are: Death Star, Fire Brigade, Medieval market village, Emerald Night. There may be some of the city sets going to go away too, like the camper, and city corner. I also believe Battle for Endor is on its way out, as well as the SW dropship and Tantive (I am guessing on those though)