[US/CA] LEGO Retiring Medieval Market Village + More

[meyerc13]

Backordered because the warehouse that does fulfillment for shop.lego.com orders isn't the master warehouse and there are likely more on planes/trains/ships/trucks en route from the factory or main warehouse to the shop.lego.com fulfillment center.

Think of shop.lego.com as a really big LEGO retail store and it will make sense. Too often people think that a toy company's website is picking items off the factory floor and shipping them out, but in reality they are just a big store that gets orders from the factory/warehouse just like any other store, albeit at larger quantities.

[gfones]

I love this retiring list and agree that it takes out the guessing game when on a budget and wondering which to buy first.

[cstojano]

All those sets listed are really the golden age I was talking about. MMV, DS, FB, GE may all increase in the after market but the next big hit to me is Tower Bridge and other sets in that expensive adult category. Honestly the one HUGE tail risk downside I see in lego "investing" is







dust. There I said it. The sight of dust accumulating on sets has led me to stop building them now. Not entirely but the thought of putting displays together only to collect dust has put a damper on my enthusiasm. Sure I could buy a display case but...

[lemus]

The sight of dust accumulating on sets has led me to stop building them now. Not entirely but the thought of putting displays together only to collect dust has put a damper on my enthusiasm. Sure I could buy a display case but...

Here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J4 ... g=tonbr-20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It makes a horrible noise, sometimes I need to use earplugs or I can't tolerate it for long. But it gets the job done.
Can combine it with a regular vacuum on the other hand and run them simultaneously.

My problem now is space. I live in a really small apartment and the LEGO is already everywhere. I wish somebody would take it all from my BL store so that I can actually have space to build.

[bea]

Maybe these sets really are retiring, but somehow I don't think that these are all the sets that have ended production. The Lego site still lists the full line of Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean sets, many of which show "out of stock". Are these going to be restocked soon? What about the airport, recycling centre or Maersk train?

While I think letting the community know what sets are on their way out to help plan purchases would be a great benefit, I don't think this is the full story.

[Luciant]

the previous post about the cost of customer service is accurate and one of drivers. I work in a call center for a credit union and spikes in volume have a dramatic effect on cost per call. In addition, i think Lego used to base retirement on sales data. I think what we've seen Lego try to "get the share of the aftermarket" by extending life of sets thinking the after market exists because people are missing out on sets they would buy because they thought they had more time to get it, then running into out of stock in stores.. It has worked in increasing sales, but they have also had to continue production to meet extra demand... The problem was the sets wouldn't sell far at msrp, but once on a sale, sales would increase again...making Lego choose to produce another wave, our leave upset customers and demand. The problem was you have sales spikes during sales, natural customers bought, but investors majorly jumped causing artificial demand. This has helped and hurt lego, and i think they are trying to find a balance between the two.

I for one am happy... I buy sets when i can get 25% out better and then buy/return if found cheaper...sometimes buying another to resell the higher one later...so knowing end of line will ensure i don't miss out on another limo and helicopter or green grocer because i think i can wait and get a better discount.

Btw... I think this is only a test sample leaving modulars and other popular investment options off to test if this works for their customer service. I don't think it excludes other sets from retiring. Nor does them being out of stock mean they are discontinued. Some of you are very quick to make assumptions without ant fact, without understanding that economics have a lot to do withgimmicks things... Its not always about gimmicks.

I also agree about the exaggerated effect Afols and especially the sub group of resellers in o it small minority has on the direction or economics of TLG. I'm very vocal about my love for Lego, and i haven't found another AFol locally much less a serious reseller. They exist, but if you actual sell, you realize the profit margin simply isn't that great unless that is all you do, which is still risky.... Most resellers i talk to are small collectors trying to recoup some cost to their personal collection, not get rich on.