Discounts on LEGO Exclusives

prof1515 · September 2013

Friend of mine worked the Star Trek convention in Chicago this summer. Compensation consisted of free admission and autographs from all 19 of the guests as well as the chance to hang out with them before and after the con (and during since she was assigned to serve as assistant for one of the TNG stars). In all, working the con for about 40 hours in that three-day con netted her about $800 in compensation. I don't think hotel and transportation costs were included but if they were that would effectively double the compensation.

Dougout · September 2013

After much thinking it is starting to seem to me like this whole move and recent changes were made to protect the aftermarket and reduce some resellers. We know this will raise the initial mark up price in the aftermarket. It can also be assumed that the aftermarket is important to the fans and lego and that TLG has business incentives to protect the collectibility of lego. The case of #41999 seems far too suspicious as well.

The fact is that the aftermarket is about supply and demand just like any market and it could be crushed tomorrow given enough people decide to sell their NIB or used sets tomorrow. Call it preservation of the aftermarket and self-preservation of Lego.

Legoboy · September 2013

prof1515 said:
Compensation consisted of free admission and autographs from all 19 of the guests as well as the chance to hang out with them before and after the con (and during since she was assigned to serve as assistant for one of the TNG stars). In all, working the con for about 40 hours in that three-day con netted her about $800 in compensation.

....but didn't actually cost the event a dime.

In rewarding their fans with discounts, LEGO would still be making money by selling their product at discount. I would imagine they'd rather that than give away something that's cost them to produce than give away for free.

prof1515 · September 2013

But with the autographs and admission, it's equal compensation for all. Discounts aren't equal because if two people, let's call them Dick and Jane, both work the same amount of time doing essentially the same thing and both receive a 10% discount, it's not the same compensation if it turns out Dick has $1000 to spend and Jane (damned glass ceiling) only has $500 to spend. Dick was effectively rewarded $100 for the same amount of work for which Jane only received $50.

That is wrong and it's that, not the loss of a discount, which should irk anyone. Instead of discounts, Lego should compensate via fixed amount gift certificates or something.

Legoboy · September 2013

But is an equal amount in terms of give away Vs what LEGO are bringing in. LEGO's 'previous' scheme worked well for both sides and I don't recall Jane ever complaining.

Previously, LEGO benefited from the help of loyal and faithful fans and they rewarded those fans without not actually giving anything away but instead getting an income from doing so. From a fan pov, you're right, giving me a £100 gift card would suit me down to the ground, but I have never felt hard done by when being rewarded discount for helping out. Now, I feel hard done by that they expect something for nothing.....because they know they can. That relationship the fan thought they had with their favourite store appears to have been a one-sided one.

prof1515 · September 2013

Legoboy said:
But is an equal amount in terms of give away Vs what LEGO are bringing in. LEGO's 'previous' scheme worked well for both sides and I don't recall Jane ever complaining.

Not to belittle Jane but she might not have ever thought about the implications of a discount and without any knowledge of what Dick has to spend wouldn't realize she was being compensated less.

Legoboy said:
Previously, LEGO benefited from the help of loyal and faithful fans and they rewarded those fans without not actually giving anything away but instead getting an income from doing so. From a fan pov, you're right, giving me a £100 gift card would suit me down to the ground, but I have never felt hard done by when being rewarded discount for helping out. Now, I feel hard done by that they expect something for nothing.....because they know they can. That relationship the fan thought they had with their favourite store appears to have been a one-sided one.

Well, you were always being ripped off and the relationship isn't any different than before. You're still getting a discount, just with restrictions on it. That's pretty much what a discount is anyway (or even a gift certificate for that matter): compensation with a conditional spending and reward clause. You can't utilize the compensation without spending your own money. You may not be able to utilize that compensation on everything you want but that was the case before (and still would be with a gift certificate). After all, you can't take the discount and use it to buy Star Trek: The Next Generation fourth season on Blu-Ray if you want. You have to spend it on Lego and you have to spend your own money to be able to even benefit from the compensation. So all along the relationship has been rather one-sided. It may be slightly more so, but you're still no closer to seeing "Sins of the Father" or "Redemption, Part 1" with HD clarity. :-D

Legoboy · September 2013

Well, you were always being ripped off and the relationship isn't any different than before.

I beg to differ, but 95% of this forum will disagree entirely with you. LOL, this thread wouldn't exist if it were the case.

30% off an exclusive for producing a store model I wouldn't consider being ripped off. 19th signatures and free entry to my workplace on the other had? ;-)

cheshirecat · September 2013

Its not going to be a popular comment in these parts, but just to point out i dont see many kids admiring the showcase builds, in fact i see very few people admiring them. much much much more time is spent looking at boxes, official set displays and building from the boxes of lego. im not being an arse, i think they are often amazing builds that blow my mind, just that as a marketing mechanism i have a feeling that they arent as worthwhile to lego as many here like to think. I suspect moc pages and eurobricks does far more to promote lego than showcase models.

a few months ago lego were doing kids builds in store and left the creations on display for a few hours, days. I suspect that was much more worthwhile for the brand than a showcase, and the kids didnt expect any financial gain in exchange.

That said i can understand the annoyance with the rule change, confusion over sets allowed etc. Im sure that to most showcasers the fact that you have a model displayed is more important than the financial reward, but no doubt thats still a nice show of appreciation that feels worse now its been removed. The idea of giving showcasers/volunteers giftcards rather than discounts seems very sensible to me, it overcomes any issues with exclusives, it gets rid of any chance of possible abuse by buying huge amounts with a discount (there are posts ive seen here of people listing sets theyll buy with a volunteer discount and some did seem to be taking the piss) and means that everyone gets the same benefit regardless of ability to benefit. The discount system does clearly benefit those afols that resell more than others, as does AFOL day etc. In fact, LEGO could just replace the AFOL day, brick friday etc discoubts with a free gift voucher when you make a spend over x amount, limited to one per person. instead of scratching a different disvount you scratch a different gift card amount.

prof1515 · September 2013

Again, another fallacy. 99.9999999999999999999999% could disagree with me but that doesn't change the facts. People used to believe that the world was flat but it didn't make it so. :-)

Now, as for the store model example, we're seeing a jumping around here over and over with what these discounts are for and whether outrage over restrictions upon them is warranted. Some are justifiable and some are not.

Assisting in events: Outrage over lack of compensation justifiable but discounts are hardly a fair means to begin with. Outrage should be directed at the lack of any real accountable compensation that doesn't require an expenditure of your money to capitalize upon.

Building a store model: Outrage over compensation is not justifiable since you're getting the experience and enjoyment of doing it anyway. You're still being compensated for something that you enjoyed and Lego could find alternative ways of achieving.

Coupon on the back of catalog: Outrage not justifiable since it's a bonus that Lego doesn't have to offer and doesn't offer to those who may need it more than you. Count yourself lucky you've gotten it in the past and remember that if you still get the discount, you're still getting something for nothing regardless of restrictions.

Legoboy · September 2013

^ So 99.999999999999999% of this forum are wrong and you are right. Okay, I'm out.

prof1515 · September 2013

Legoboy said:
^ So 99.999999999999999% of this forum are wrong and you are right. Okay, I'm out.

You're assuming that 95% (as per your original comment or 99.999999999999999% as per my response) agree with you and that your position is therefore correct just because of (your assumption of) more support. The first is unproven and the second is a fallacy.

@cheshirecat Yep, I'm pretty much in agreement. :-)

Phonebooth · September 2013

This thread hurts my brain.

rocao · September 2013

prof1515 said:
I don't blame you for being disappointed but gift certificates for the work would be a better form of compensation. Instead of complaining, refusing to volunteer would be a more useful form of protest. Not only would Lego feel it more significantly but it would be a direct protest related to the activity for which you feel aggrieved.

Obviously gift cards would be better but that costs LBR more since they would be giving product. Discounts require purchases and the value increases only when spending increases. They used to give gift cards and have long since done away with that.

Maybe you are more sensitive than I am, because most of the feedback I've heard doesn't move the needle in registering as complaints when compared to the type of complaints retailers typically field. You've used "outrage" a few times but I don't see that reaction here and I didn't see it on the ambassador forums. I can't speak for everyone, and in fact only represent my LUG, but our feedback mostly consists of what implication it will have on our participation in the programs (a negative impact) and the sentiment is best characterized as disappointment.

rocao · September 2013

cheshirecat said:
Its not going to be a popular comment in these parts, but just to point out i dont see many kids admiring the showcase builds, in fact i see very few people admiring them. much much much more time is spent looking at boxes, official set displays and building from the boxes of lego.

At our store, our display is tucked away in the very back near the Duplo, but I will usually find people looking at it and admiring it when I visit. We put business cards for our LUG by the window and it constantly needs replenishing. I'm not saying that we command the attention of the entire store, but since it is one model among hundreds of official models and thousand of boxes at the store, it makes perfect sense that you'd see more kids looking at those.

cheshirecat said:
... just that as a marketing mechanism i have a feeling that they arent as worthwhile to lego as many here like to think.

LBR can discontinue the program at any time if they feel the cost-benefit was unfavorable. They have not, so I'm left to assume they still see it's value.

I don't dispute that we can also walk away from the program if we don't find the terms agreeable. We very well may, but first we are informing LBR that might be the case and that the quality of our builds may suffer because it is now harder to justify spending hundreds of dollars on bricks when the incentive has decreased.

cheshirecat · September 2013

prof1515 said:

@cheshirecat Yep, I'm pretty much in agreement. :-)

That makes me feel deeply uncomfortable. :-(

cheshirecat · September 2013

@rocao I agree with most of what you say, and I dont want to see the,end of showcases because I like looking at them.

What's interesting though is that you say lego haven't discontinued it so they surely see the cost benefit. Yet, they have just changed the rules, seemingly with the result that people think the incentive is reduced. So perhaps they have looked at the benefits and costs (not just financial, but impact on other contracts, pr etc) and decided that the balance wasn't right.

LegoFanTexas · September 2013

cheshirecat said:
Its not going to be a popular comment in these parts, but just to point out i dont see many kids admiring the showcase builds, in fact i see very few people admiring them. much much much more time is spent looking at boxes, official set displays and building from the boxes of lego.

Actually, don't be shocked if this time next year the showcase displays are gone.

I hear from my local store that many customers ask, "where can I buy that set" and "when is that set coming out" when looking at the LUG displays.

The stores are using space to show off sets that don't exist and can't be purchased.

TheLoneTensor · September 2013

LegoFanTexas said:
The stores are using space to show off sets that don't exist and can't be purchased.

Kinda like #41999, kinda :)

cheshirecat · September 2013

I think my disappointment is that I always assumed people who get showcases in store are primarily doing it for the love and joy of having your Moc in store. Getting 30% off an ewok village would just be an added bonus. This discussion has suggested that might not be the case and reminds me a little of the somewhat cynical undertones that have surrounded volunteers planning their purchases/days and boasting about quantities bought at discount in excess of 700$. It just seems a little sad if this is the case as it surely cant compare to the first showcase you had displayed.

SirKevbags · September 2013

@LegoFanTexas Customers asking where they can buy showcase models is nothing new. I think to use that as reason for ditching the window is at best clutching at straws. Unless of course you know something about the situation we don't.

Despite the reduction of rewards support is still strong. In the store I co ordinate all slots are filled into the spring of next year. It appears to be a popular program with the staff to. There are always very enthusiastic during an install and are eager to find out what is coming next.

I can't comment on how effective it is as a marketing tool. After all once you're in the store they kind of already have you. I always gather feedback on the popularity of a display and not once have I had a negative response.

I do think it can be improved upon. I've recently suggested changes to make it more interactive with customers but only time will tell if those changes can or will be implemented.

hoyatables · September 2013

prof1515 said:
Again, another fallacy. 99.9999999999999999999999% could disagree with me but that doesn't change the facts. People used to believe that the world was flat but it didn't make it so. :-)

. . .

Coupon on the back of catalog: Outrage not justifiable since it's a bonus that Lego doesn't have to offer and doesn't offer to those who may need it more than you. Count yourself lucky you've gotten it in the past and remember that if you still get the discount, you're still getting something for nothing regardless of restrictions.

I don't understand why you are being so obnoxious about this. Yes, LEGO doesn't have to offer the coupon. But the fact is that they have offered it consistently for at least five years that I'm aware of, and any time a company changes a customary practice I see no reason why customers who invest large amounts of time and money in the company's product can't call that change into question. No one is outraged, but we are annoyed, disappointed, and dissatisfied, and I don't understand why those are not valid emotions.

Harris Teeter doubles all coupons up to $0.99. A few times a year, they offer double or even triple coupons on coupons up to $2.00. Plenty of families -- mine included -- have grown to rely on those markdowns as part of our budgeting and purchasing habits. If Harris Teeter suddenly stopped offering the coupon doubling, I see no reason why I shouldn't call that change into question and express dissatisfaction with the change.

rocao · September 2013

@chesirecat: I can't truly speak for everyone, but I imagine most people do feel a sense of pride and honor having a set on display at the store. Whether this is the primary motivation or not is up to the individual. For me it is definitely a component.

But as I mentioned there are also expectations of us. It is expected to be a "professional-quality" build. It is expected to suit the display space. Certain topics and elements are prohibited. As a result, many of our LUG's models are built specifically for the window.

Our manager has flatly rejected or asked us to modify some models. To take a page from LegoFanTexas's book, (but use it more appropriately, of course :p ) if they ask something of us, they should offer us something. They seem to realize it's not enough to expect this work from us merely because they offer a place to display it.

You're saying the change is now rebalancing what LBR views the value if this program is. But if that is true, why were ALL discount opportunities affected? If you're saying it's a matter of value, why are Technic sets that carry similar values as some of the excluded sets still allowed? These programs have always stated a maximum allowable discount, and that hasn't been adjusted down. So no, I don't buy that this is simply TLG deciding the program is worthless or worth less.

My prevailing point here is that the rationale hasn't been made known to us and that's why we are asking. You may say that they aren't obligated to provide an explanation, and in isolation you'd be right, but it runs counter to the cooperation and community outreach that TLG expresses interest in maintaining with the fan community.

cheshirecat · September 2013

I dont disagree with any of that and I dont see this as a rebalancing but your post suggested that if it ess that would be ok. I also dont think people shouldn't be annoyed with the change. However as an outsider looking in, it seems to me that the model builder/LUG is getting as much if not more from the deal than TLG/the store even without the monetary gain in terms of discount/vouchers. It should be and seemingly is a symbiotic relationship where everyone is happy. That a few restrictions on what a 30% voucher can and can't be used on is enough to make sone question if they will continue feels wrong, actually it suggests they are doing it for all the wrong reasons.

Just occasionally comments appear to suggest there is a sense of entitlement for all the discounts mentioned in this thread, including showcases, and that just seems too far.

SirKevbags · September 2013

@cheshirecat You are right when you say that builders see the rewards as a bonus. On more than one occasion I've seen them not take up their full allocation.

rocao · September 2013

SirKevbags said:
@cheshirecat You are right when you say that builders see the rewards as a bonus. On more than one occasion I've seen them not take up their full allocation.

The same is true of my LUG. The opportunity allows for up to 3 people to buy 5 sets each. The overwhelming amount of the time we have only one participant, and many times they are not buying the most expensive sets and sometimes don't even buy five.

But everyone would still like these AFOL-oriented, exclusive sets to be an option so that they can buy it once in a while. This is why I endeavor to understand the goal to see if there is a workable alternative that stops short of an outright ban.

cheshirecat said:
However as an outsider looking in, it seems to me that the model builder/LUG is getting as much if not more from the deal than TLG/the store even without the monetary gain in terms of discount/vouchers.

So let's set aside the discounts if you think without them the arrangement is already balanced. I'm curious to hear what value you assign to the "free" promotional display that LEGO would be receiving.

Legoboy · September 2013

SirKevbags said:
@cheshirecat You are right when you say that builders see the rewards as a bonus. On more than one occasion I've seen them not take up their full allocation.

That's exactly right. The disappointment or resentment lies with the fact that the TLG have withdrawn the ability to buy reduced Exclusives. The message sent out is one that says, "Thanks for sticking by us with all of the free advertising etc whilst we were in trouble, but now we can stand on our own two feet and we no longer need you, bye bye." That's the problem I have.

cheshirecat · September 2013

rocao said:
So let's set aside the discounts if you think without them the arrangement is already balanced. I'm curious to hear what value you assign to the "free" promotional display that LEGO would be receiving.

I suspect the lug gains more from the publicity than the store. After all its just one of a hundred displays in-store and many of the others can be bought by customers. And the designer gets their moc displayed. Dont get me wrong I love them, but there does appear to be an over estimation of their benefit?

LegoFanTexas · September 2013

Legoboy said:
That's exactly right. The disappointment or resentment lies with the fact that the TLG have withdrawn the ability to buy reduced Exclusives. The message sent out is one that says, "Thanks for sticking by us with all of the free advertising etc whilst we were in trouble, but now we can stand on our own two feet and we no longer need you, bye bye." That's the problem I have.

That right there is my primary issue with all the changes made in the past 6 months.

cheshirecat · September 2013

Legoboy said:
That's exactly right. The disappointment or resentment lies with the fact that the TLG have withdrawn the ability to buy reduced Exclusives. The message sent out is one that says, "Thanks for sticking by us with all of the free advertising etc whilst we were in trouble, but now we can stand on our own two feet and we no longer need you, bye bye." That's the problem I have.

But now that the same rules appear to apply to all other discounts is this resentment reduced? It appears it wasn't the slap in the face it first seemed rather part of a much bigger alignment of discounts, even staff discounts.

LegoFanTexas · September 2013

Cutting staff discounts is the worst of it all.

That is a slap in the face to employees.

rocao · September 2013

cheshirecat said:
I suspect the lug gains more from the publicity than the store. After all its just one of a hundred displays in-store and many of the others can be bought by customers. And the designer gets their moc displayed. Dont get me wrong I love them, but there does appear to be an over estimation of their benefit?

Sorry if it wasn't clear: I was asking what value you assign to the benefit that LEGO receives, not what the builder receives.

tamamahm · September 2013

prof1515 said:
Again, another fallacy. 99.9999999999999999999999% could disagree with me but that doesn't change the facts. People used to believe that the world was flat but it didn't make it so. :-)

Coupon on the back of catalog: Outrage not justifiable since it's a bonus that Lego doesn't have to offer and doesn't offer to those who may need it more than you. Count yourself lucky you've gotten it in the past and remember that if you still get the discount, you're still getting something for nothing regardless of restrictions.

Are you stating that IF people were expressing outrage, it would not be justifiable, or are you expressing that what you are seeing in this thread is outrage and that is not justifiable?

I ask because it seems that you are stating the later, which if that is the case is an opinion.
I have really only seen in this thread standard venting, annoyance, frustration, expression of anger. Those are all very typical and normal feelings for a change in a long standing policy or expectation. There is nothing not justifiable about that.
People are not stating that Lego has no right to change what they do at anytime. People are reacting to change and expressing an emotion.
Various personalities vent and frustrate differently, and so what may be simply venting to one person may seem louder than the norm to another.

Typical feelkns, though, are normal and justifiable for any change.
It is when we move off typical emotion into atypical, that things become unjustifiable.

Being mad that someone cut you off in traffic? Typical. Road rage against someone that cut you for in traffic? Atypical.

I think most folks would probably agree with your statement about atypical feelings not being justifiable for the lose of a measly 10% that people were never guaranteed anyway.

The difference here comes in that I only see typical, normal feelings expressed on this thread, and that is justifiable IMHO.

Legoboy · September 2013

SirKevbags said:
@cheshirecat You are right when you say that builders see the rewards as a bonus. On more than one occasion I've seen them not take up their full allocation.

That's exactly right. The disappointment or resentment lies with the fact that the TLG have withdrawn the ability to buy reduced Exclusives. The message sent out is one that says, "Thanks for sticking by us with all of the free advertising etc whilst we were in trouble, but now we can stand on our own two feet and we no longer need you, bye bye." That's the problem I have.

cheshirecat said:

Legoboy said:
That's exactly right. The disappointment or resentment lies with the fact that the TLG have withdrawn the ability to buy reduced Exclusives. The message sent out is one that says, "Thanks for sticking by us with all of the free advertising etc whilst we were in trouble, but now we can stand on our own two feet and we no longer need you, bye bye." That's the problem I have.
But now that the same rules appear to apply to all other discounts is this resentment reduced? It appears it wasn't the slap in the face it first seemed rather part of a much bigger alignment of discounts, even staff discounts.

I think the bloody lot is wrong - the worst of it being for the staff. To enter into a contract for one thing and later be told they are changing its content without consultation I find disrespectful. I've personally not encountered anything like it, fortunately, but I would be pissed if my employer told me my private health care for example had now been done away with, "Oh, by the way.....". It's a big perk and has a bearing whether I' work for him or not.

The level of resentment from a personal point of view is lessened to some extent in knowing that we are part of a bigger picture, but it's still a kick in the teeth.

Dad · September 2013

@Legoboy You'd be more pi**ed off if they took your final salary pension away. That wasn't a very good week at work!

TheLoneTensor · September 2013

hoyatables said:
Harris Teeter doubles all coupons up to $0.99. A few times a year, they offer double or even triple coupons on coupons up to $2.00. Plenty of families -- mine included -- have grown to rely on those markdowns as part of our budgeting and purchasing habits. If Harris Teeter suddenly stopped offering the coupon doubling, I see no reason why I shouldn't call that change into question and express dissatisfaction with the change.

If I learned anything from this thread, it's that a place called "Harris Teeter" exists.

Legoboy · September 2013

@Dad - Indeed. I am sorry. :-(

Still, I'm sure your current pension plan will work out far better. ;-)

Dougout · September 2013

LegoFanTexas said:
Cutting staff discounts is the worst of it all.

That is a slap in the face to employees.

This one is puzzling. I doubt TLG did it to slap their employees in the face. Rather I believe it has to do with the abuse of reselling as I believe that is what most of the changes are about. On several occasions I have heard my manager spell it out to an employee that they can not use their discount to sell sets online.

pillpod · September 2013

Taking away employee discounts on lego is the farthest thing from taking away someone's healthcare.

It would be more along the lines of making you buy your own office supplies...

Legoboy · September 2013

pillpod said:
Taking away employee discounts on lego is the farthest thing from taking away someone's healthcare.

It would be more along the lines of making you buy your own office supplies...

I disagree. After my pension, my healthcare would be my next biggest perk. The staff won't be particularly well paid and are unlikely to have any other perks than their discount scheme. Cutting what seems to be their only perk would be exactly like cutting healthcare.

GIR3691 · September 2013

Legoboy said:

I think the bloody lot is wrong - the worst of it being for the staff. To enter into a contract for one thing and later be told they are changing its content without consultation I find disrespectful. I've personally not encountered anything like it, fortunately, but I would be pissed if my employer told me my private health care for example had now been done away with, "Oh, by the way.....". It's a big perk and has a bearing whether I' work for him or not.

The level of resentment from a personal point of view is lessened to some extent in knowing that we are part of a bigger picture, but it's still a kick in the teeth.

Yeah. It's always in the paperwork that the company can change terms and conditions at will, but it was kind of a dick move to spring it on us suddenly, without explanation, and with nothing offered to make up for it. I don't think we should feel entitled to or to expect the discount program to last forever, but we're all annoyed at how it was handled.

I'm most annoyed that I built a display for a window, drove out to the store to install it, and grabbed an Arkham Asylum off the shelf only to discover that I couldn't get a discount on it. That was the only thing I'd planned on even buying that month. I wasted all that time, effort, and money on gas only to have been bait-and-switched. That is not okay.

LegoFanTexas · September 2013

Dougout said:
This one is puzzling. I doubt TLG did it to slap their employees in the face. Rather I believe it has to do with the abuse of reselling as I believe that is what most of the changes are about. On several occasions I have heard my manager spell it out to an employee that they can not use their discount to sell sets online.

Two problems...

First, that should be easy to fix, simply limit 1 per set at the discount price. So they could resell, but not much and not for long.

Second, they could be limited to 5 sets per month at the discount. (or some other number)

Keep in mind that this isn't just $8/hr local store employees, this is everyone from HQ on down.

This perk didn't really cost TLG anything, they are still making money at 30% off RRP, it just takes away something of value to employees.

Will many (or any) quit over it? No, probably not, but it does leave a sour taste in everyone's mouth. It makes them all love the company they work for just a bit less. And that has an effect over time that is hard to measure, but exists regardless.

LegoFanTexas · September 2013

GIR3691 said:
Yeah. It's always in the paperwork that the company can change terms and conditions at will, but it was kind of a dick move to spring it on us suddenly, without explanation, and with nothing offered to make up for it.

Just because you can do a thing doesn't mean you should do a thing.

TLG is well within their legal rights to do this. But then companies act all surprised when employees quit without notice.

Big surprise, treat your employees like dirt and you get the same in response.

Employees are the lifeblood of any business, treat them right and they'll return the favor. They are human beings, not machines.

:)

rocao · September 2013

LegoFanTexas said:
Just because you can do a thing doesn't mean you should do a thing.

Kind of like not indulging yourself to circumvent purchase limits just because you can, right?

edit: ;)

wagnerml2 · September 2013

^^ That was missing a ;), right? Otherwise it was unnecessary.

tamamahm · September 2013

They did not take away employee discounts completely, though, correct? They took them away on just the specific exclusives, or have we even confirmed that?

One interesting item I have been considering, which may or may not be connected...

I have been noticing over the past year that discounts at places are becoming smaller and smaller. In addition, often the discounts are not on as many items as before, especially in regard to 'name brand' items.

Last year I picked up a bunch of name brand school supplies to donate to a classroom when Target hit their clearance. I went back a day later that day, and those particular name brand items were suddenly no longer discounted! I went to another Target, and they let me have them at the discount, BUT they had been told to remove them from the back to school section and put them in the back room not to be sold.

This year was worse, in that they 'prepared' the back to school areas several weeks before one would expect discounts hit. They removed the 'exclusive' or 'name brand' items that one would really want the discounts on, and that I have seen on clearance in the past.

Name brand school supplies are pretty small potatoes when it comes to cost, but when even they are being very particular about allowing discounts, then one has to wonder if part of this is more a global trend instead of simply specific to Lego.

MCNwakeboard · September 2013

I haven't noticed that trend specifically, but I've heard about it with regard to retailers. Since the recession started a lot of retailers (especially clothing stores) had to offer regular 40-50% discounts to move merchandise and people got used to it. It's hard to wean consumers off discounts after they get used to them but at some point retailers have to take a hit to volume in order to get back to profitable margins.

With regard to the staff discount; if reselling sets is an issue they could find a way to limit the purchase to 1 per person as LFT mentioned earlier. Maybe I am missing something, but after ebay/paypal fees and shipping, a 30% discount is not going to generate a lot of income. Sure, they could hold it until retirement, but I'm not sure if a lot of LBR employees can float the capital until that time.

Since this is a retailer, I would think they want their employees to buy and build sets (including exclusives). This gives them something to share with people buying gifts who ask for advice. Imagine hearing an employee respond;

"oh, I haven't built the Ewok Village.... Corporate axed our employee discount on exclusive sets so I haven't been able to buy as many excusives, but it looks nice."

Sure this is hypothetical and I'm sure there are lots of fallacies, but disgruntled employees aren't going to generate much goodwill. I would think LBR would want to encourage employees to use their product.

pillpod · September 2013

Legoboy said:

pillpod said:
Taking away employee discounts on lego is the farthest thing from taking away someone's healthcare.

It would be more along the lines of making you buy your own office supplies...
I disagree. After my pension, my healthcare would be my next biggest perk. The staff won't be particularly well paid and are unlikely to have any other perks than their discount scheme. Cutting what seems to be their only perk would be exactly like cutting healthcare.

I was looking at it more along the lines of monetary value, so I'll stick with my original opinion that a discount on lego is no where near as important as healthcare.

TheLoneTensor · September 2013

pillpod said:

Legoboy said:

pillpod said:
Taking away employee discounts on lego is the farthest thing from taking away someone's healthcare.

It would be more along the lines of making you buy your own office supplies...
I disagree. After my pension, my healthcare would be my next biggest perk. The staff won't be particularly well paid and are unlikely to have any other perks than their discount scheme. Cutting what seems to be their only perk would be exactly like cutting healthcare.
I was looking at it more along the lines of monetary value, so I'll stick with my original opinion that a discount on lego is no where near as important as healthcare.

Lego store employees get healthcare? Pensions?

legomatt · September 2013

prof1515 said:
Instead of complaining, refusing to volunteer would be a more useful form of protest. Not only would Lego feel it more significantly but it would be a direct protest related to the activity...
...If you don't like the compensation, don't do the work. Chances are though that they'll find someone who will.

I was supposed to be working a game developer's booth at GenCon last month, but instead... they just offer the cost of my badge in exchange for 8+ hours. In protest, I didn't go. Not exactly hurting them since they had enough volunteers.

err... Your argument is in disagreement with itself.

You acknowledged in both of your examples that downing tools likely has no effect. Therefore expressing your feelings is the course of action to draw attention to your displeasure (even if it might fall on deaf ears).

At least by having your say, even if nothing comes of it, those in a position to make changes will then have additional facts to consider in future decisions - and might decide in your favour.

I have always said it to colleagues in work, if you aren't happy with something you must take it up with superiors, don't just quit in frustration and walk away saying nothing. Otherwise everybody carries on as before, non-the-wiser as to why people continually quit on them, and might never think to ask.

I'm not particularly bothered by the changes personally, but to suggest people who are should make no complaint but instead just walk away is stupid.

Sometimes a voice, a vote, is all we have. So use it, lest it be taken from you.

graphite · September 2013

legomatt said:
I have always said it to colleagues in work, if you aren't happy with something you must take it up with superiors, don't just quit in frustration and walk away saying nothing. Otherwise everybody carries on as before, non-the-wiser as to why people continually quit on them, and might never think to ask.

I definitely agree with this and am one to voice my opinion on things at work regularly. The problem is, most of the problems in the workplace are due to the people you are complaining to, and typically they don't want to fix what was their fault so people end up quitting anyway. Some people are afraid to burn bridges but an exit interview is a good time to voice the same concerns again adding in that management did nothing in response to them.

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