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LEGO Post-Christmas Sales

DaveBeyDaveBey Member Posts: 46
edited December 2012 in Buying & Selling Topics
Howdy!

Does anyone know if LEGO is having a post-Christmas sale or any specials? I want to order some elements from Pick-A-Brick but will wait if there is a promotion of some sorts I can use with some sets.

Merry Christmas from Claremore, Oklahoma!
Dave
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Comments

  • sramsram Member Posts: 60
    I was thinking of opening a thread on this myself. Last year someone posted a list of the items that was to go on sale post XMas. Perhaps this year too we can get that list?
  • iBartiBart Member Posts: 121
    edited December 2012
    Anyone remember when it started last year?
    From the 1st, or at some later date?
  • bricksanbricksan Member Posts: 566
    Earlier ;-)
  • iBartiBart Member Posts: 121
    U made my day, thx! :D
    On the other hand, me and my wallet hates you. :P
  • atkinsaratkinsar Member Posts: 4,258
    edited December 2012
    Normally starts on the 24th I think, I really wouldn't get too excited though.
  • legodorklegodork Member Posts: 20
    Good question. I also wondered if anyone has any insights into what types of clearance sales we might see from B&M stores in the US like Target and Walmart. They usually have clearance sales right after Christmas but this year, for the first time in my memory, Target has already started putting toys, including some LEGO sets, on clearance a week before Christmas (I saw all Series 1 planet sets and the Joker 4527 at 50% off at my local Targets). Could this be a harbinger of deep clearance sales to come? To put toys on clearance before Christmas suggests that Target isn't doing too well but who knows. Also, to make room for new sets for Chima, TMNT, Galaxy Squad, and the Hobbit coming out, these B&M stores would have to clear a decent amount of shelf and stockroom space. Should be interesting.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    May 4th! :-)
  • brickupdatebrickupdate Member Posts: 1,020
    One thing I have noticed in the past couple years is that there are ALWAYS amazing sales to be found, but you never know from which retailer or when they will occur. It is rare (in my experience) that the same amazing deal is repeated year after year.

    For instance: last year Wal-Mart had an incredible 50% of sale. But what made it more amazing is that they didn't put signs up or change prices on shelves. So they shelves were stocked with 50% merchandise for me to buy because no regular customer would have known.

    LEGO Store sales seems to be getting "weaker" - they are getting better at managing this stuff to sell more product at full price or 30% off, etc. A couple years back, I bumped into some amazing 70% off deals at a LEGO Store. I don't expect that to happen again.

    Barnes & Noble had a great 50% off sale; TRU had some strange sale where you got to double-down on discounts; Kmart has some good sales; this Fall, Wal-Mart had Amazon price matches on some insane deals on exclusive sets.

    All this to say: it's hard to plan for a great sale, but you must always be prepared for one! And that is why this hobby (and this forum) is so much fun.
  • emilewskiemilewski Member Posts: 482
    ^ Yes. And why I always have to struggle between buying EOL and sale sets now and depleting funds, or make sure I have enough of a cash reserve so when that great sale comes along I can afford to grab it.
  • dougtsdougts Member Posts: 4,110
    Lego brand stores are having a post-Christmas sale. I don't have specific items to list, but word was most of them are the expiring soon/eol stuff that most stores don't have in stock anymore anyway.
  • brickupdatebrickupdate Member Posts: 1,020
    Yep, there is always that: "most stores don't have in stock anymore anyway." Same reason I skipped venturing out to the LEGO Store on Black Friday eve, I figured chances are there was no gold to be found.
  • intromissionintromission Member Posts: 197
    Would love to see something like last year's post Christmas Walmart sales but we'll just have to wait and see. Better still if they are reported here first before the shelf tag is marked like last year as well. ;) I'm not expecting much but does anyone have a guess WHICH sets would be discounted. I was thinking Star Wars, Dino, and Ninjago wave 2.

    I just wanted to report as well that TJMaxx and Marshall's (at least in the New England area) don't seem to be stocking any LEGO this year apart from the Brickmaster books. Unfortunate because last year I was able to get some Atlantis, Prince of Persia, and Kingdom LEGO at deep discounts. I don't know what the deal is this year. I guess they didn't buy any bulk salvages from other stores. Was hoping to fill in the gaps on the Pharaoh's Quest line.

  • intromissionintromission Member Posts: 197
    Lord of the Rings would be great to see go on sale as well.
  • PoochyPoochy Member Posts: 479
    edited December 2012
    ^^^ I was at the Disney Downtown Lego store earlier today, and they had no GE, no TH, no HH, no Imperial Shuttle, and only one FB and a couple of PS left. No WV Bakery either, or any of the larger Friends set. I was really disappointed :(.
  • gmpirategmpirate Member Posts: 1,654
    ^ most of those sets have been gone for a while there . . .
  • sramsram Member Posts: 60
    FBTB.net has a list -- extremely disappointing. It is only 20% off. I guess TLC has figured out it is a sellers market...
  • makmak Member Posts: 300
    That's terrible, a lot of the sets are either sold out or retired. 20%? Really?
  • brickupdatebrickupdate Member Posts: 1,020
    Oooh! Now is our chance to stock up on The Zombies at 20% off! Oh wait....

    Yep, this all follows the trend that LEGO is getting smarter about managing their sales/inventory. For whatever reason, all of the "good" stuff on this list is likely already gone, and whatever is left is stuff we have probably seen much better discounts on elsewhere throughout the year.

    Thanks for the list though. One problem with this: as a big LEGO fan, I WON'T be going to the LEGO Store after the holidays. I sort of thought the point of sales was to drive folks like me TO the stores.
  • drdavewatforddrdavewatford Administrator Posts: 6,754
    brickupdate said:

    One problem with this: as a big LEGO fan, I WON'T be going to the LEGO Store after the holidays. I sort of thought the point of sales was to drive folks like me TO the stores.

    Yep - LEGO don't really do 'loss leaders' or even deep discounting to get folks into the stores any more, do they ? I suppose when you're as successful as LEGO have been recently they don't see a need.

  • BillybrownBillybrown Member Posts: 748
    drdavewatford said:

    brickupdate said:

    One problem with this: as a big LEGO fan, I WON'T be going to the LEGO Store after the holidays. I sort of thought the point of sales was to drive folks like me TO the stores.

    Yep - LEGO don't really do 'loss leaders' or even deep discounting to get folks into the stores any more, do they ? I suppose when you're as successful as LEGO have been recently they don't see a need.

    Unless they are 'hiding' these discounts by passing stock onto Amazon, where the discounts are deeper? That avoids the last minute big discounts by off loading like this and it could then be perceived that Lego have looked after their inventory more?

  • brickupdatebrickupdate Member Posts: 1,020
    Interesting point @BillyBrown. The LEGO Stores are very much about brand experience, and other retailers (Abercrombie & Fitch, etc) for years had avoided sales to not have the brand experience of trolling the stores for sales. That changed with the recession a bit, but I wonder if you are right, they just manage the overflow of sets differently on the back end.
  • BrianBrian Guest Posts: 87
    Will in store be 20% off those select sets as well? Will each store have their own clearance?
  • BillybrownBillybrown Member Posts: 748
    brickupdate said:

    Interesting point @BillyBrown. The LEGO Stores are very much about brand experience, and other retailers (Abercrombie & Fitch, etc) for years had avoided sales to not have the brand experience of trolling the stores for sales. That changed with the recession a bit, but I wonder if you are right, they just manage the overflow of sets differently on the back end.

    I only started out in 2010 so more research would need to be done, but its just been my gut feeling this year that Lego are 'protecting' their brand more by off loading to other distributers, hence they have safer stock levels.
    Brian said:

    Will in store be 20% off those select sets as well? Will each store have their own clearance?

    From past experience it will be 20% off all those sets for every store, assuming they have it in stock.

  • absolut3absolut3 Member Posts: 83
    edited December 2012
    All the good stuff are already gone
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,787
    Surprised a bit that #10193 is not being offered at discount.
    I figured with it 'retiring soon' that it would be gone. I also wonder if the one thing this list does do is imply what they want to get rid of because it will be gone for good, as there are many sets that are on the list that appear to be long gone, or were speculated to to be going.
    Ill probably hit LEGO's site that night to see if there are any surprises but I think I may have to get up early with the rest of the people and try for a Walmart sale.
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,787
    I will also say that like years past, even though stuff is gone online, this means anything left at stores will be clearance'd the same, so if you know of any stores with these sets, and do not mind getting a 20% discount, then Id say check the stores as well....
  • smellywormsmellyworm Member Posts: 34
    No discount on the Winter Village Post office?
  • BillybrownBillybrown Member Posts: 748
    smellyworm said:

    No discount on the Winter Village Post office?

    Didnt think that was EOL until next year? 2011 was 10199 and this year its 10216.

  • smellywormsmellyworm Member Posts: 34
    I agree with you but after the holidays last year the Post Office was 20% off.
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,787
    Bakery is probably gone, Post Office more than likely has another year on it left.
    Winter Village Cottage will most likely be back for a couple of more years, unless LEGO changes their runs on those as well.
  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    Many items NOT discounted online, will be discounted in the stores.
  • LegoboyLegoboy Member Posts: 8,827
    smellyworm said:

    I agree with you but after the holidays last year the Post Office was 20% off.

    10% this year I think.
  • PoochyPoochy Member Posts: 479
    Do the stores opened at normal hours on the 26th or something funky like BF?
  • sadowsk1sadowsk1 Member Posts: 124
    Good for Lego and a productive business year. Keep going strong!
  • krklintkrklint Member Posts: 502
    the reason I love all of you on this forum :) TLG gets smarter about controlling prices, and we become (as a community) better at sharing the best way to maximize our buying power through discussions and sharing knowledge and insight.

    Happy Holidays to each of you around the globe. And to every AFOL Bricksetter, a good night :D
    momof2boys99
  • sramsram Member Posts: 60
    @LegoFanTexas -- is it really worthwhile heading to a store? I mean can we expect better than 20% off deals? Or is it 20% off sets not in the published list please?
  • LegoboyLegoboy Member Posts: 8,827
    @sram - I haven't seen the published list, but the discounted sets this year are generally 10 and 20 percent with the odd one being 30% and 50%. These will generally be the same in-store as they will online although you're more likely to find one or two of those EOLs in store than you are online.
  • sramsram Member Posts: 60
    @Legoboy -- check fbtb.net, they have the list. This is a spreadsheet that the stores get. Someone typically gets hold off them and puts 'em on the web.

    It seemed that the last post by LegoFanTexas alluded to either bigger discounts or discounts on sets not on the list -- I had not known about that in the past.
  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    ^ There is the "official list", then there is the list of stuff that stores put on sale, either of their own choice, or because their DM/corporate told them too.

    For example, some sets may be nearly sold out in 1 region, so they won't put those on sale, but other stores are just having a hard time moving them, so they can put them on sale to clear them out.

    Not all sets sell equally well in different parts of the country.

    On Black Friday, there were sets in the store that were on sale that were not online. Joust being another good example, I picked up 5 of those. 20% discount, plus 20% scratcher, plus VIP points, not a bad deal... :)
  • sidersddsidersdd Member Posts: 2,432
    FWIW, the LEGO.com sale is active now. Prices don't reflect the discount until you add them to your cart.
  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    ^ Yes, but since everything is already sold out, does it matter?

    LEGO did a great job this year clearing everything out prior to Christmas so they wouldn't have to blow out inventory.

    So far, the only items I've found they have stock of (other than the gear and keychains) is:

    #9092 - Crazy Demon
    #9674 - Naboo Starfighter - Planet Set
    #7877 - Naboo Starfighter

    None of which is worth buying in my humble opinion. A million and one Planet sets are being held back, and #7877 has been cheaper for two weeks from Target stores.
    madforLEGO
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,787
    Well at least it saves me a bit of money.. also causes me to have to decide if I want to bother trying to check the Walmart's by me on Wednesday morning
  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    Even more so when you consider the lack of free shipping. Shipping adds another 5% or more onto the cost. While VIP points cancel that out to some extent, it really makes it a pointless sale.

    I think this sale is really to help the retail stores clear out their stuff, since [email protected] is already empty of everything worth buying.
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,787
    Guessing that the heady days of sets like EN for 60-70 dollars have gone the way of the Dodo
    Kanohi
  • momof2boys99momof2boys99 Member Posts: 322
    I think this is the first time that I clicked on a after Christmas sale and it only had a few items. I have been so spoiled by all of the sales on Amazon and Walmart lately. Also, the past sales at Lego.com were so nice. I knew everything was sold out, but to see it.....good Lord that looks weird.
  • roxioroxio Member Posts: 1,384
    I remember ny first real [email protected] sale a few yeara ago, it involved multiples of 7662 and 6210 for around £75 and £55 respectively, doubt we'll see anything like that again
  • CoyotelilyCoyotelily Member Posts: 661
    What time ish is the sale due to start?
  • LegobrandonCPLegobrandonCP Member Posts: 1,917
    edited December 2012
    Coyotelily said:

    What time ish is the sale due to start?

    Already started at 9pm PST. ;-)

    EDIT: Oops, realized you were in the UK after posting.
  • brickupdatebrickupdate Member Posts: 1,020
    Wow, the LEGO sales and deals page is a joke. Sorry to sound overly harsh, but I remember 2 years back when fans were frustrated that great sets were listed as "on sale" but sold out immediately. Now we have pages and pages of "sale" items, most of which are not available.

    Oh well. Ready to see what other retailers offer after the 25th.
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,787
    What is bad are the people that will go to the sale now and think that everything they have listed WAS available but sold out in those few minutes even though nothing was available.. at least in the US.
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