10228 - Haunted House

[DirtyZ]

Received damaged Haunted House today from Target-UPS delivery. Code 49R3. Plan on returning to a retail store. Went to order another online-Sold out at Target online.

 

Post which store.  A lot of the time those damaged online returns that are not carried in-store just get put on clearance.  Might help someone who wants one to build.

[DoNotInsertIntoMouth]

Anybody have any ideas on when this set will go EOL?

 

Judging by every other big set in the past couple of years - probably at least 2015 if not 2016.

[Kriterian]

Let us know the codes... Are they also selling 05R4 run?

 

Arrived today in decent condition except for a smooshed corner. 

 

Code: 49R3

[cladner]

walmart is OOS.  not sure that it means anything unless you were hoping to get one shipped to you with a giant label stuck on the front.

[newbie77]

people are already running wild with purchases. they are stocking up on it. hence all the major retailers are getting out of stock with exclusives.

[No More Monkeys]

HH is at "expected ship date 11 Aug 2014" at LEGO Shop at Home, if that matters

[CNH1974]

You may well disagree which is fine as we all have our own opinions.  I appreciate that Lego has grown to new heights of success and that controlling quality is a very difficult task with such a large manufacturing base.  My first job was in a very stringent QA team for a word processor manufacturer and I've had a very keen eye ever since that which sometimes proves to be a handicap if anything and even brings out OCD in me sometimes.  I'm one of those that takes a brand new car back to the showroom within a week with at least half a dozen minor faults.  I forgot to mention that when I sent the Helms Deep back, I was given another that was perfect along with a free Uruk Hai Army set.  I'd just like to see Lego go the extra mile to ensure more consistent colours like the old days as I love the product, the company and can't fault their customer service.  I can't help it but, these little things do bother me and I'd hate to see a household name becoming a victim of it's own success.  Maybe I should apply to join their QA team and post on here any "news" that I hear! ;-)

 

Coming in a bit late on this, but it is something that even the Lego store staff have noticed. I was chatting to a staff member about the new 31024 Bike Shop modular like set they had on display. We agreed its a great set but he took out the yellow car and pointed out all the defects in the yellow pieces. There were 4 shades of yellow in this small model.

As someone who deals in bulk vintage lots I have noticed that pre 2004 lego is of better quality (as long as it has not faded of course!).

[Ed Mack]

Life is not based on perfection.  If shades of bricks are off, it makes the item look even more realistic.  This especially works for buildings and vehicles...and even recreations of living things.  

[Guest TabbyBoy]

Life is not based on perfection.  If shades of bricks are off, it makes the item look even more realistic.  This especially works for buildings and vehicles...and even recreations of living things.  

 

When I've made lots of money investing in Lego, I'm going to pay a tribute to them by having my new Jaguar XFR painted as follows:

 

Bonnet (Hood): Metallic silver grey

Front doors: Metallic titanium grey

Rear doors: Metallic steel grey

Boot (Trunk): Metallic tungsten grey

Wings: Metallic Iridium silver

 

I can then drive to Lego's HDQ and see if they notice how odd it looks. ;-)

[spener90]

Life is not based on perfection.  If shades of bricks are off, it makes the item look even more realistic.  This especially works for buildings and vehicles...and even recreations of living things.  

That was deep 

[naf]

Coming in a bit late on this, but it is something that even the Lego store staff have noticed. I was chatting to a staff member about the new 31024 Bike Shop modular like set they had on display. We agreed its a great set but he took out the yellow car and pointed out all the defects in the yellow pieces. There were 4 shades of yellow in this small model.

As someone who deals in bulk vintage lots I have noticed that pre 2004 lego is of better quality (as long as it has not faded of course!).

 

I remember reading somewhere that Lego used to get the plastic ABS pellets pre-colored.  At a certain point (perhaps 2004, I'm not sure), Lego started coloring the ABS themselves.  I'm not sure what the reason is, whether it was to expand the color palette or because the original company (Bayer I believe) wasn't producing them pre-colored anymore.  But this is probably why there is some variation.

 

The worst offenders I've found in my collection have been the reddish brown bricks, they seem to have the most variation in color shades.  The other big offender in my opinion is white, some are warmer colored with a reddish hue, and others are colder and more bluish (can really tell with the architecture studio and all of it's white bricks) 

 

It doesn't necessarily bother me that much though, most of the time it's not too noticeable unless you know to look for it.  As was said before, Lego is making a ton more bricks now than in the past, and combined with the fact that they're mixing the colors themselves small differences are inevitable.

[CNH1974]

Life is not based on perfection.  If shades of bricks are off, it makes the item look even more realistic.  This especially works for buildings and vehicles...and even recreations of living things.  

 

The biggest problem I have now is that you can see on the stud where the injection has come on. It now really stands out. On pieces made 20-30 years you had to go looking for it.

 

I remember reading somewhere that Lego used to get the plastic ABS pellets pre-colored.  At a certain point (perhaps 2004, I'm not sure), Lego started coloring the ABS themselves.  I'm not sure what the reason is, whether it was to expand the color palette or because the original company (Bayer I believe) wasn't producing them pre-colored anymore.  But this is probably why there is some variation.

 

The worst offenders I've found in my collection have been the reddish brown bricks, they seem to have the most variation in color shades.  The other big offender in my opinion is white, some are warmer colored with a reddish hue, and others are colder and more bluish (can really tell with the architecture studio and all of it's white bricks) 

 

It doesn't necessarily bother me that much though, most of the time it's not too noticeable unless you know to look for it.  As was said before, Lego is making a ton more bricks now than in the past, and combined with the fact that they're mixing the colors themselves small differences are inevitable.

 

So this is a very rare case of insourcing a process has made the service worse.

[Ed Mack]

When I've made lots of money investing in Lego, I'm going to pay a tribute to them by having my new Jaguar XFR painted as follows:

 

Bonnet (Hood): Metallic silver grey

Front doors: Metallic titanium grey

Rear doors: Metallic steel grey

Boot (Trunk): Metallic tungsten grey

Wings: Metallic Iridium silver

 

I can then drive to Lego's HDQ and see if they notice how odd it looks. ;-)

Jaguar XFR?  Come on!  That's an old lady's car.  The new F types are hot!  I deal with thousands of cars a week in my business, and they rarely come in one solid color.  The panels and pieces of modern cars are made of different materials and the paint reacts and looks different on each...especially with age.  I'm not disagreeing with your original point about LEGO's quality control, just stating that slight color variations give LEGO sets some realistic qualities.  

[Guest TabbyBoy]

Jaguar XFR?  Come on!  That's an old lady's car.  The new F types are hot!  I deal with thousands of cars a week in my business, and they rarely come in one solid color.  The panels and pieces of modern cars are made of different materials and the paint reacts and looks different on each...especially with age.  I'm not disagreeing with your original point about LEGO's quality control, just stating that slight color variations give LEGO sets some realistic qualities.  

 

I'd rather an XF than an M5 however, I can't disagree with you on the F-type - very sexy!.  But, where will I put the sets that I pick up?  That's why I'm the proud owner of a Skoda Superb Estate (in the US?) with 40,000 miles and not a squeak.  My main reason for starting this is that if I notice the colour difference, won't an awkward buyer use it too as an excuse to send it back?

[kandykop]

Jaguar XFR?  Come on!  That's an old lady's car.  The new F types are hot!  I deal with thousands of cars a week in my business, and they rarely come in one solid color.  The panels and pieces of modern cars are made of different materials and the paint reacts and looks different on each...especially with age.  I'm not disagreeing with your original point about LEGO's quality control, just stating that slight color variations give LEGO sets some realistic qualities.  

Sexy indeed! but poor performance.

[Guest TabbyBoy]

Now posted at the end of every Lego listing:

 

"Due to manufacturing processes out of my control, there may be very slight variations in colour which are within tolerance of Lego's quality assurance guidlines."

[Ed Mack]

Sexy indeed! but poor performance.

It looks fast...LOL

[kandykop]

It looks fast...LOL

I have to agree with you on "looks" fast. hah..

[CNH1974]

I'd rather have an Aston Martin.

And a Jag XF Wagon for the Lego. :P

[Ed Mack]

I'd rather have an Aston Martin.

 

I would too...How about a new Range Rover for the transportation of LEGO sets?

[CNH1974]

Good point. I was followed by a lowered Range Rover Sport today. Looked nice.

[No More Monkeys]

This got so off-topic... Ed will probably lock this thread. oh, wait....

 

[kandykop]

Good point. I was followed by a lowered Range Rover Sport today. Looked nice.

My car is Range Rover Evoque 2 doors. Smaller version of Range Rover Sport but seems more exquisite.

[Ed Mack]

This got so off-topic... Ed will probably lock this thread. oh, wait....

 

Well, forgive me.  Please don't talk about LEGO brick color variations in this thread anymore!  Thank you....The Management.

[CNH1974]

My car is Range Rover Evoque 2 doors. Smaller version of Range Rover Sport but seems more exquisite.

Looked at those, can't afford one. So I am first on the list at my local dealer for the new Mini five door.

  

Well, forgive me.  Please don't talk about LEGO brick color variations in this thread anymore!  Thank you....The Management.

Ahem.... Back on topic. The haunted house WILL retire.......... eventually.

Sure no one noticed our little deviation there. :)