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Creator Expert Modular Buildings

DarciDarci Member Posts: 14
edited February 2017 in Buying & Selling Topics
Hi all!

I'm newly out of my DA and was wondering about the pricing on the expert modules.  I bought #10246 and love it and would like to get more of them but haven't seen them readily available in store, with the exception of the Lego store of course, and with no discount.  

Are discounts available or is my best bet going to be the 2x VIP rewards coming up?

Thanks in advance!!
SumoLegokiki180703
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Comments

  • SumoLegoSumoLego Member Posts: 15,235
    Occassionally they will be available at TRU (Toys R Us), and you may be able to get a discount based on points or a 'buy $x.xx and get $x.xx' promotion.

    But your best bet is double VIP points through S@H or the retail Lego Store.

    (Or trading with some of the clowns on this website.)
    Pitfall69kiki180703monstblitzpharmjodMuftak1GothamConstructionCo
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,833
    The LEGO 'modulars' are typically not in normal brick and mortar retail stores (though they do apparently appear in large retailer 'flapship' stores like those found in major downtown city locations. They will be also at brick and mortar LEGO stores, and Legoland Discovery Centers (though they not affiliated with LEGO so VIP points are not provided, but you get a 5% discount if you show your card to the clerk)

    Pitfall69kiki180703
  • monstblitzmonstblitz Member Posts: 653
    SumoLego said:
    Occassionally they will be available at TRU (Toys R Us), and you may be able to get a discount based on points or a 'buy $x.xx and get $x.xx' promotion.

    But your best bet is double VIP points through S@H or the retail Lego Store.

    (Or trading with some of the clowns on this website.)
    Just built Grand Emporium this last week.  Big thanks to the "clown" who traded it to me, and I hope he's enjoying the Tumbler! 

    To the OP - you're traveling down a dangerous road.  Once you start with the modulars, you wont be able to stop until you have them all.  Brick linking the more expensive retired modulars is a fun and rewarding process, speaking from experience. 
    Bumblepantskiki180703SumoLego
  • piratemania7piratemania7 Member Posts: 2,146
    Welcome @Darci.  A few searches on here will reveal a lot of discussion pertaining to modular collecting; but I would focus on buying anything that's been out the longest and working your way to the newer stuff that way you have a great chance of getting what's out there at retail.  Best of luck of course.
    omnium
  • SumoLegoSumoLego Member Posts: 15,235
    edited February 2017
    monstblitz said:
    Just built Grand Emporium this last week.  Big thanks to the "clown" who traded it to me, and I hope he's enjoying the Tumbler!  
    It's residing nicely on a very high shelf in a pole barn.  Wrapped in a Lego bag, in a Sandcrawler shipping box.
    monstblitzPitfall69gmonkey76BumblepantspharmjodFollowsCloselyMuftak1snowhitie
  • Rainstorm26Rainstorm26 Member Posts: 1,018
    ^That sounds like pure enjoyment to me!  ;)
    SumoLegoFollowsCloselykiki180703
  • SumoLegoSumoLego Member Posts: 15,235
    ^That sounds like pure enjoyment to me!  ;)
    Yes, it is.  

    (I have another in bags waiting to be re-assembled and displayed next to my @DadsAFOL Bat-pod, and 2006 UC Batmobile...)
  • DarciDarci Member Posts: 14
    Thanks for the input.  I'm going to jump in with the 2X VIP sale and oldest available.  

    This is is too addictive....
    Bumblepantskiki180703
  • AllBrickAllBrick Member Posts: 1,497
    @Darci - Have you been to Kristel's place yet?
  • DarciDarci Member Posts: 14
    @AllBrick-Thanks so much for the link to Kristel's place!  I hadn't been there but just spent an inordinate amount of time!  I am drooling over Assembly Square!  
    AllBrickkiki180703
  • GeordiePaulGeordiePaul Member Posts: 599
    @Darci I just started building Assembly Square (finished bags #1) and I can't wait to open all the #2 bags! Definitely start at the oldest available modulars because the prices after they retire are ridiculous. I'm currently saving up my money to buy the Town Hall next and it's looking like I'll need about $500. Crazy!
  • CaptainRogersCaptainRogers Member Posts: 868
    ^Some do say that you won't stop until you get the old ones, but I'm perfectly content with the 4 I have - PR, PS, DO, and PC. I will probably, er, definitely, grab the currently available ones soon, but I'm perfectly ok without paying tje ridiculous prices for the old ones.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    ^Question. You say that you are content with the ones you have and that you won't pay the ridiculous prices for the older ones. What if you came into money; would you buy them then? What if the prices were somewhat reasonable; would you buy them then?
    piratemania7
  • BillyBricks84BillyBricks84 Member Posts: 355
    Pitfall69 said:
    ^Question. You say that you are content with the ones you have and that you won't pay the ridiculous prices for the older ones. What if you came into money; would you buy them then? What if the prices were somewhat reasonable; would you buy them then?
    And would you buy them with a goat? And would you buy them on a boat? 

    On topic: I bought my first modular (PR) for double points in the fall. I kind of thought that might be it for me. Then, in January, I picked up used versions of DO, PS, PC, and GE. Although I am content with these right now, I can see what @Pitfall69 is saying because if I happened to find something like the Fire House for a price I found reasonable, I would probably make an offer.

    This is indeed a slippery slope. 
    Bumblepantskiki180703
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    ^That's what I was trying to get at. Are you really content at what you have? I thought I was ok without not having Market Street; my disdain for that set is well documented in this forum, but if one pops up that is reasonable  (reasonable is different for everyone ), I will probably buy it because my collection is incomplete without it.
    SumoLegokiki180703
  • SumoLegoSumoLego Member Posts: 15,235
    ^ It's all about the friction pins.
    Rainstorm26Pitfall69gmonkey76Bumblepantspharmjoddavetheoxygenmankiki180703snowhitie
  • CaptainRogersCaptainRogers Member Posts: 868
    To answer the above questions: yes, I actually am content without them. My source of joy comes from things other than material. Now, Lego is a fun and wonderful hobby, but I recognized a while ago that collecting merely to 'complete' this or that isn't rewarding. Relationships with people and my Lord are. 

    Don't worry, I'm not gonna preach at ya...

    But, if I did come into the money, would I? That is the question. Right now, things like paying off my student loans and being serious with saving would be where I first allocate any extra cash. "But", you persistently ask, "what if all that was taken care of? If you had no financial obligations and plenty of financial wealth, WOULD YOU BUY THE OUT OF PRODUCTION MODULARS?!?!?"

    Well, probably, yeah. They would look nice in my city and each have their own wonderful details. But I'm perfectly ok if I never touch am. Just because I might one day own them doesn't mean that I can't be content with what I have now. I don't want lack of material goods to rob me of today's joy, because you know what? After you get your nice new toy... there's always a bigger, nicer, even newer toy.

    In a shorter and simpler analogy, might I one day own a Porsche or Lamborghini or some other sports car? Sure. It would be nice. But does that mean I'm not content with my Altima? Nope. I'm perfectly happy with my current sedan.
    oldtodd33pharmjodbandit778catwranglerricecakenicoyagomezkiki180703snowhitie
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    ^Ha, I wasn't persistent;  I asked 2 questions...Once :)

    I was just trying to gage what your idea of "content" meant in the grand scheme of things. Yes, I know money can be used for other things and that there are other things that are more important than Lego.

    As far as Market Street is concerned;  I had it once and it was sealed and I sold it. At first,  I was under the impression that it wasn't an official Modular, but then that theory fell to pieces after it was mentioned along with the other Modulars in the Assembly Square review. That doesn't change the fact that it is hideous. 

    flordgmonkey76pharmjodSumoLegokiki180703
  • CaptainRogersCaptainRogers Member Posts: 868
    edited March 2017
    Yeah, I was just trying to be thorough and explain everything from my point of view. It wasn't really directly pointed to you (though I guess you did ask...); I assumed for the one who vocalized it, more might have silently wondered. 

    Also hope you don't think I was condescending. I have a tendency to overexplain cause I'm an Aspie, and folks get frustrated because they think I'm talking down like a jerkwad. Not true! I'm a really nice guy! It's just the whole... talking and dealing with people thing isn't always a strong suit.

    Hope I satisfied your curiosity, and glad to be of service. :)
    snowhitie
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    ^No No...I didn't think you were condescending. 
  • DarciDarci Member Posts: 14
    Although I wasn't asked I'd have to agree with @CaptainRogers.  I currently only own the DO.  I really cant see me paying the asking price for the retired sets, not that I wouldn't love to own them.  Staying current is expensive enough for me! The PC and PR are on the list for the 2X sale
    CaptainRogers
  • veritas313veritas313 Member Posts: 80
    One word........Lepin. Like it or not, right or wrong - it does allow you to get a few old sets reasonably priced. The quality is rather good too for the price.
  • sid3windrsid3windr Member Posts: 1,460
    ^ Except you're not getting "the old sets" of course...
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    veritas313 said:SumoLego said:
    One word........Lepin.
    Boo!

    One word........Lepin. Like it or not, right or wrong - it does allow you to get a few old sets reasonably priced. The quality is rather good too for the price.
    I think he/she has been playing with too many Bath Heroes ;) 
    Muftak1AllBrickkiki180703
  • AllBrickAllBrick Member Posts: 1,497
    I also think the imposter brand impregnates a mind control solvent into their bricks that is slowly released over time and brainwashes it's victims into supporting / excusing their products. 

    Building a hotch potch modular from genuine Lego with teeth marks all over every brick is preferable to allowing 'Neil P' into my life.
    madforLEGOPitfall69TechnicNickcatwranglerkiki180703
  • RecceRecce Member Posts: 923
    One word........Lepin. Like it or not, right or wrong - it does allow you to get a few old sets reasonably priced. The quality is rather good too for the price.
    You are not getting 'old sets', you are getting copies (and one could argue illegal copies) of old sets.
    There is one type of old LEGO set; it is made by and with LEGO; not by some company knocking off the brick and the designs. What is sad to me is that people endorse this behavior each time they buy a knockoff copy.
    By your definition, someone bricklinking bricks for a Cafe Corner is also knocking off the design, which means AFOLs have been ripping off the designs of retired Lego sets for decades!

    You only profit the set designer if you buy the OFFICIAL set, the designer would not get a single cent if you rip off the design by building the model with your own bricks, Lego or otherwise.

    Lets take an example using an Ideas set given it had loyalty payouts. Say TLG produced 5,000 sets of the EXO Suit and 1000 were sold, so that means designer only get royalty for that 1000 sold.

    Instead of buying the remaining sets, AFOLs now happily build their own version of the EXO suit, using own Lego bricks or bricks bought from BL. Will there be more loyalty going into the designer's pocket?
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,833
    Recce said:
    One word........Lepin. Like it or not, right or wrong - it does allow you to get a few old sets reasonably priced. The quality is rather good too for the price.
    You are not getting 'old sets', you are getting copies (and one could argue illegal copies) of old sets.
    There is one type of old LEGO set; it is made by and with LEGO; not by some company knocking off the brick and the designs. What is sad to me is that people endorse this behavior each time they buy a knockoff copy.
    By your definition, someone bricklinking bricks for a Cafe Corner is also knocking off the design, which means AFOLs have been ripping off the designs of retired Lego sets for decades!

    You only profit the set designer if you buy the OFFICIAL set, the designer would not get a single cent if you rip off the design by building the model with your own bricks, Lego or otherwise.

    Lets take an example using an Ideas set given it had loyalty payouts. Say TLG produced 5,000 sets of the EXO Suit and 1000 were sold, so that means designer only get royalty for that 1000 sold.

    Instead of buying the remaining sets, AFOLs now happily build their own version of the EXO suit, using own Lego bricks or bricks bought from BL. Will there be more loyalty going into the designer's pocket?

    As I noted originally, it is one thing to get an old set made by and with LEGO brick, and another that uses knockoff parts from a knockoff company. A company is taking a shortcut and using designs owned by LEGO on top of that. They are doing nothing but sponging off of the company doing all of the work for their own profits trying to build their company. People buying LEGO brick and instructions to build their favorite set is one thing, knockoffs are entirely different.
    oldtodd33kiki180703gmonkey76BumblepantsRogerKirkFollowsClosely
  • RecceRecce Member Posts: 923
    Recce said:
    One word........Lepin. Like it or not, right or wrong - it does allow you to get a few old sets reasonably priced. The quality is rather good too for the price.
    You are not getting 'old sets', you are getting copies (and one could argue illegal copies) of old sets.
    There is one type of old LEGO set; it is made by and with LEGO; not by some company knocking off the brick and the designs. What is sad to me is that people endorse this behavior each time they buy a knockoff copy.
    By your definition, someone bricklinking bricks for a Cafe Corner is also knocking off the design, which means AFOLs have been ripping off the designs of retired Lego sets for decades!

    You only profit the set designer if you buy the OFFICIAL set, the designer would not get a single cent if you rip off the design by building the model with your own bricks, Lego or otherwise.

    Lets take an example using an Ideas set given it had loyalty payouts. Say TLG produced 5,000 sets of the EXO Suit and 1000 were sold, so that means designer only get royalty for that 1000 sold.

    Instead of buying the remaining sets, AFOLs now happily build their own version of the EXO suit, using own Lego bricks or bricks bought from BL. Will there be more loyalty going into the designer's pocket?

    As I noted originally, it is one thing to get an old set made by and with LEGO brick, and another that uses knockoff parts from a knockoff company. A company is taking a shortcut and using designs owned by LEGO on top of that. They are doing nothing but sponging off of the company doing all of the work for their own profits trying to build their company. People buying LEGO brick and instructions to build their favorite set is one thing, knockoffs are entirely different.
    I'm talking more of designers getting ripped off by AFOLs Bricklinking to build their own while you're talking about the company as a whole getting ripped off by copycats. I see AFOLs ripping off Lego designers as no different than copycats ripping off TLG.

    Old set or not, by not buying the official set the designers get zero profit. That is my point. If we really value the Lego designers' effort we shouldn't even BL the parts, at all.

    What was the company's yearly profit again? I do wonder how much of it goes to the designers as profit sharing bonus? Any Lego designers or TLG employees here care to comment?
  • sid3windrsid3windr Member Posts: 1,460
    My head hurts now. And the original topic has been missed by a few lightyears by now :/
  • MaffyDMaffyD Member Posts: 3,575
    ^ The 'other' Brickset effect... :)
  • VenunderVenunder Member Posts: 2,666
    edited March 2017
    More and more, other stores, are getting the Modulars and "Exclusive" sets.
    However TLG do still keep one or two sets purely for sale in their own stores.

    I don't known about the USA but would be surprised if TLG can keep their product Exclusive.

    TRU UK do have The Parisian Restaurant, The Palace Cinema and The Brick Bank.
    They are currently full RRP but at the weekend TRU had a 20% discount using the Gold Card Reward Scheme. They also have other big sets which previously would have been Lego Exclusives like the Simpsons House, The Kwik-E-mart, The Shield Helicarrier, The Ferris Wheel, (The Minecraft) The Village and The Ghostbusters HQ.

    Smyth's Toys have had The Ewok Village, the Pet Shop (there might still be one or two in the stores), and other exclusives like the Classic Batman 1960's Batcave, The Simpson House, The Kwik-E-mart. Again they run a 20% weekend in September and other promotions through the year.
    John Lewis UK have had the Tower Bridge, The Petshop, The Palace Cinema and the Brick Bank, and other previous exclusives like the Beetle Camper Van and the Mini. JL will generally price-match other stores and have their own discount days.  

    The current Lego Exclusives are The Disney Castle, The Big Ben, and  the Assembly Square, but they may become available in other stores and will then be subject to discounts and other offers.
    SumoLegocatwranglerkiki180703
  • Boardshorts85Boardshorts85 Member Posts: 183
    I saw a Brick Bank at a B&N location in Chicago once and that remains the only time I've seen a Modular in a non-LEGO brick & mortar location.  The modulars are available online through TRU, Target, Walmart, B&N, Amazon etc, which makes some dealing possible.  (5% REDCard at Target, Amazon rewards points, etc)

    I only got into the modular game when the little lady bought me the Palace Cinema for my birthday last year.  The Pet Shop followed on Black Friday, plus a Parisian Restaurant at 2x VIP right before Christmas.  And I finished my expanded GB Firehouse Headquarters mod to reign supreme over the rest.

    Assembly Square was ordered yesterday and I'll be looking forward to dig into that, esp for the 2x2 light grey turntables that I can use to mimic "Melissa's Lego"'s Art Deco Palace Cinema mod.  Between stockpiled VIP points and some Amazon credit card rewards I've got available, hoping to justify pulling the trigger on the Brick Bank and the Detective Office soon.

    But, as far as the older modulars go, I really only have a strong affinity for Grand Emporium and the Green Grocer.  I keep an eye on eBay for good prices on the former and one day maybe I'll BL the latter.

    Fire Brigade, Town Hall, Market Street, and Cafe Corner just don't "do it" for me.
    MattDawson
  • Bosstone100Bosstone100 Member Posts: 1,431
    ^ When Fire Brigade was still out, I found three at a Target for $106.95 each. I already had four so I didn't but more. Oops.
    Boardshorts85Pitfall69kiki180703
  • Sethro3Sethro3 Member Posts: 1,014
    I'd say, get what makes you happy.

    I have bricklinked CC, but then ultimately didn't put it together because even though it is iconic, it doesn't do anything for me visually. The GG is similar. I ended up changing colors to sand blue because I think it looks better. But when I bricklink a building, I might as well modify the design to how I like it instead of using the original set up since that doesn't do it for me. MS will likely never get bricklinked because, c'mon...

    As for official releases, I try to keep up with them because I do like the build techniques and colors and whatnot, but to complete a collection, I've missed out on that so I'm not too concerned.
    pharmjodkiki180703
  • RecceRecce Member Posts: 923
    ^ When Fire Brigade was still out, I found three at a Target for $106.95 each. I already had four so I didn't but more. Oops.
    I remembered Amazon also selling it at around this price back then. I already had 3 so didn't get them.

    Now I'm only left with 1 set which is fixed up and on display.
  • DedgeckoDedgecko Member Posts: 798
    One word........Lepin. Like it or not, right or wrong - it does allow you to get a few old sets reasonably priced. The quality is rather good too for the price.

    oldtodd33
  • piratemania7piratemania7 Member Posts: 2,146
    Pitfall69 said:
    ^Question. You say that you are content with the ones you have and that you won't pay the ridiculous prices for the older ones. What if you came into money; would you buy them then? What if the prices were somewhat reasonable; would you buy them then?
    Great analysis - If I came into significant free money I would definitely pick up any of the older mods I did not have a chance to purchase when they were available at retail (GG, CC and MS).  I can say that I am content having what I have, because the alternative is a very very angry wife, an expensive divorce lawyer bill and no money in the bank!  If the prices were "reasonable" enough though I would have no problem pulling the trigger.
  • RecceRecce Member Posts: 923

     I'll admit, I know no designers so I cannot verify what Im going to say next, but I would guess that buying an illegal knockoff product of their design is a helluvalot more insulting to a designer than someone buying LEGO parts and building their own version of the set.
    Take it easy, no one is encouraging others to get copycat brands, certainly not me. What you said above is correct. Though there is a difference between Brickling parts and buying official sets, depending on whether there is profit sharing or share options from the company.

    Public listed and privately owned companies probably have different policies when it comes to sharing the profit. In my former public listed company we have share options, we have company performance bonus and project bonus. Project bonus means if the project that I'm involved in sold above a targeted figure we will get that bonus. Assuming TLG had this project bonus, it will affect the whole project team (including the designers) if all AFOLs do their Bricklinking instead of supporting the designer in buying the actual official set. 
  • DedgeckoDedgecko Member Posts: 798
    Recce said:

     I'll admit, I know no designers so I cannot verify what Im going to say next, but I would guess that buying an illegal knockoff product of their design is a helluvalot more insulting to a designer than someone buying LEGO parts and building their own version of the set.
    Take it easy, no one is encouraging others to get copycat brands, certainly not me. What you said above is correct. Though there is a difference between Brickling parts and buying official sets, depending on whether there is profit sharing or share options from the company.

    Public listed and privately owned companies probably have different policies when it comes to sharing the profit. In my former public listed company we have share options, we have company performance bonus and project bonus. Project bonus means if the project that I'm involved in sold above a targeted figure we will get that bonus. Assuming TLG had this project bonus, it will affect the whole project team (including the designers) if all AFOLs do their Bricklinking instead of supporting the designer in buying the actual official set. 

    Is it cheaper to Bricklink any set that's available at retail?  I would find that very hard to believe considering the prices I see, and annectodal stories of the extravagant prices people pay to put together older sets.  After TLG retires a set... you are buying from a reseller that either picked up the set at a discount or at full MSRP---which TLG has been compensated for.  Your Bricklink argument is moot at that point.  TLG got was owed them.
    sid3windrAanchirkiki180703
  • MrJacksonMrJackson Member Posts: 454
    Dedgecko said:

    Is it cheaper to Bricklink any set that's available at retail?  I would find that very hard to believe considering the prices I see, and annectodal stories of the extravagant prices people pay to put together older sets.  After TLG retires a set... you are buying from a reseller that either picked up the set at a discount or at full MSRP---which TLG has been compensated for.  Your Bricklink argument is moot at that point.  TLG got was owed them.
    Not at all cheaper. Especially if there are unique elements (Big Ben's clocks, for example). As for the older modulars, Cafe Corner and Market street are WAY cheaper to BL than buy outright.  FB, GE, and TH are a toss up, and there's no easy answer to the Grocer as so many parts are rare or unique to it. As for the newer ones, now that so many people have gotten on the bandwagon of buying with the intent to sell at a huge profit down the road, I don't think you'll have to worry too much about supply, which should help keep prices down.  There's tons of resellers who have dozens each of every modular, Disney Castle, Firehouse, and other big exclusives, so it's not like a MISB Taj Mahal, of which you'd be lucky to find and would need to be willing to pay because sets like those, 10179, etc. come from a time period where no one realized what the sets would appreciate to. They're expensive because there's no supply of them to buy. That's not the case with the newer ones. And you'd be surprised what can make its way through your local (or not-so-local) Lego Store. We STILL had VW Camper Vans just last week. 
  • Sethro3Sethro3 Member Posts: 1,014
    Considering Pet Shop on Bricklink goes for cheapest $175 sealed vs $353.60 based on current sale prices of individual pieces. Parisian Restaurant $160 sealed vs $373.85...

    I'd say, if they are retail, get them at MSRP or on sale. If they are retired, that is a different setting altogether.
  • DarciDarci Member Posts: 14
    For those interested I got #10232, #10243 and #10251.  Using ebates and double VIP saved 12.5%.  Not a lot but sometimes you have to take what you can get!
    Bumblepantskiki180703
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,833
    Darci said:
    For those interested I got #10232, #10243 and #10251.  Using ebates and double VIP saved 12.5%.  Not a lot but sometimes you have to take what you can get!
    Yeah, picked up the GB HQ and will likely pick up the classic Batcave next VIP double points event. I'm tempted to get both now, but trying to exercise some shred of control.
  • DarciDarci Member Posts: 14
    @madforLEGO I was at the Lego store and heavily admired the GB HQ.  it's now on the must have list, along with AS. My $ is spent for this promo so I'm  just admiring.  You should totally get it though.  You also really need the classic Bat Cave.  I have the new one and it's not nearly as nice.

    see, I figured out how we help each other not spend $ on the forums
    BumblepantsmadforLEGOkiki180703Boardshorts85stlux
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