Best LEGO Vendor to Buy From?

[legitimatealex]

It struck me today while I was popping over many different sites that sell LEGO that there are so many to choose from really, with all their different deals and bargains and selection that, I began to wonder where people mostly get their online LEGO purchases from. The stores I buy from all usually have one sale or another that I want to take advantage of but is there really one that is considered best?

LEGO has the online pick a brick and has the VIP reward system, Walmart bundles LEGO constantly, Target has...well actually not much online. Most of their sales are clearance in store. Toys R Us usually has BOGO going and Barns and Nobles and Borders occasionally surprise us all with a sale. Which ones do you guys use most?

[darknight]

LEGO is one of the better vendors. The sad news is their sets are regular price and when there are clearances or deals, they get sold out within minutes. Generally speaking, I buy Lego where theres a good bargain.

[natelite]

just get from whichever is cheapest and available. ;)

i used to love amazon but it doesn't price match anymore and frankly it also starts to raise prices like TRU.

target has excellent selection and can surprise you with like 10-15% off and stackable with coupons which are like 10-15% off, and you can also use bing cashback (though that will end july 31) making some highly exclusive and hard to get item to be like 25-30% off. sweet!!! just last week the death star was available for like a few hours before selling out. i betcha those who bought used those coupon codes.

i don't like walmart. hardly ever sale. marking those small sets (msrp approx $25) down to $20 is like throwing us bones compared to what you can get elsewhere.

BN is also excellent though mostly for small sets and not large $100 or higher. you also have to be early to the game since sets at 40% off sell quickly. coupons also stackable with BOGO 50%...sweet!!! :D

S@H is not that good. discounts are pathetic. only reason items on sale sold out quickly is because it won't be sold any more. think of S@H as the factory. if the factory is not making the set anymore, then it's time to buy at any price! i only buy from S@H for exclusive items, like magnet sets, battle packs, etc.

[slacker]

Lately TRU has been the place to go with the BOGO 50% sale. That's also where I got my MFC1 for $2.50. Also Target has had some great deals. But I usually go where the sales are.

[vynsane]

I was hitting up TRU with their BOGO1/2off sales a couple of times over the past few months, but now I'm concentrating on Target clearances. I check Walmart every once-in-a-while, but their prices aren't all that much better than anyone else's and I generally hate that company anyway. I'd rather spend an extra $0.13 somewhere else just to not give WM my money.

With TRU rewards points and coupons and sales, you can really get a lot for your money, regardless of the markup (which has recently reduced across the board, I find). I used a $10 off $50 coupon when I got the CMF's and paid $1.70 per!

Anything new that I really want immediately I will buy at LEGO Stores, especially when they're offering double VIP points.

[ncbarrett]

I check Walmart every once-in-a-while, but their prices aren't all that much better than anyone else's and I generally hate that company anyway. I'd rather spend an extra $0.13 somewhere else just to not give WM my money.

Totally agree on that statement.

[Zithy]

Whoever is cheapest works best :)

TRU with the BOGO is the current best, especially when it includes Star Wars.

Amazon - free shipping over $25 and no sales tax.

Walmart - free shipping to store (forgot min amount)

Target - sometimes has inventory blowouts.

Lego store and LS@H - only for sales or if you want/need the current set at full price which I rarely do. Their ViP points are nice, but pales in comparison to Amazon if you pay sales tax in your state over 5%. Amazon sales can actually be better than the Lego store employee discounts; just not the amount to choose from.

What also helps is getting reward points or miles. Amazon Visa gives 3X points per items bought through Amazon. AA shopping mall can get you 3X miles from Target, 2X from LS@H, Walmart(i forget, but it's at least 1X), and use the Amazon visa and you still get 1X points. Bing was great but is ending really soon.

I just like getting the bonuses on things I'm already going to buy :)