10188 - UCS: Death Star

[thedingman5]

Amazon DS bought Tuesday has code 20R5.

[tacsniper]

Got my 2nd DS today at Lego store. Need 5 more to reach my quota.

[Alpinemaps]

Hell of a time to decide you haven't hit your quota. Lol You are running out of time my friend.

[tacsniper]

Hell of a time to decide you haven't hit your quota. Lol You are running out of time my friend.

You were right! I was monitoring Amazon.ca's inventory since DS went sold out and it I just snagged the last one. They sold 14 DS in the last 16 hrs!

[Sandwraith]

You were right! I was monitoring Amazon.ca's inventory since DS went sold out and it I just snagged the last one. They sold 14 DS in the last 16 hrs!

Wow.. it was at 18 or so the past couple days, and even this AM when i checked. Just TRU.ca and WM.ca to go!

[exciter1]

Rumors of a restock, what could this mean?

1.  Great move by LEGO, how could it be?  Recognize a popular EOL product and let it go to sold out and clear the market to increase demand?  Release one last large run for the bottom line?
2.  More time to get some Death Stars?
3.  See if the DS jumps before the restock, sell and restock again?
4.  Plenty of stock for the holidays?
5.  Limited run, like other exclusives on their last leg in past years?
6. Stick a fork in it, the DS is done?

Maybe this should be a poll?

Edited July 17, 2015 by exciter1

[redghostx]

Rumors of a restock, what could this mean?

1.  Great move by LEGO, how could it be?  Recognize a popular EOL product and let it go to sold out and clear the market to increase demand?  Release one last large run for the bottom line?
2.  More time to get some Death Stars?
3.  See if the DS jumps before the restock, sell and restock again?
4.  Plenty of stock for the holidays?
5.  Limited run, like other exclusives on their last leg in past years?
6. Stick a fork in it, the DS is done?

Maybe this should be a poll?

I think it is simply dancing and may vanish at any time, even with a subsequent run. "It has to be around for the movie or Christmas", so did all of last year's retiring exclusives.

[rcdb1984]

1st one today. 12R5

[iujj012]

Just got my first DS today, and wondered where you find the seal codes? What does it mean?

[gbg108]

Just got an email from Amazon letting me know they combined my order of a PS with my DS. I'm a little annoyed. I mean, that PS doesn't stand a chance.  I guess I'll just hope they ship the DS in the factory box and it's in good shape at least.

[gregpj]

Just got my first DS today, and wondered where you find the seal codes? What does it mean?

http://community.brickpicker.com/topic/10400-assumed-lego-factory-tape-seal-date-codes-for-set-boxes/?page=1

Seal Codes are the numbers printed on the seals you cut to open a box.

[iujj012]

http://community.brickpicker.com/topic/10400-assumed-lego-factory-tape-seal-date-codes-for-set-boxes/?page=1

Seal Codes are the numbers printed on the seals you cut to open a box.

Thanks for the link and kind reply! 

[shortyz]

2 left at the store, 1 on hold, bought the other. said they are not getting any more, but who knows.

[GhostDad]

Just got an email from Amazon letting me know they combined my order of a PS with my DS. I'm a little annoyed. I mean, that PS doesn't stand a chance.  I guess I'll just hope they ship the DS in the factory box and it's in good shape at least.

Amazon would combine DS with fine, hand-painted china from the Ming dynasty.  That's just how they roll.  On the other hand, Wal-Mart, if they sold such things, would just slap a shipping label on the china and drop it in the mail.

[iujj012]

Just checked my seal code from the one I got from Target. The code is 20R5.

[No More Monkeys]

Oh, you guys brought up seal codes...

[nolanfan34]

Just got an email from Amazon letting me know they combined my order of a PS with my DS. I'm a little annoyed. I mean, that PS doesn't stand a chance.  I guess I'll just hope they ship the DS in the factory box and it's in good shape at least.

Well, hold out some hope! I got mine from Amazon today. Seal code 20R5. But the shipping was great - came in a box perfectly sized for a modular sized set, 24x20x16 I think? The DS was still in the Lego shipping container inside, but they could have still put another modular on top. So hope you get that person who packed my box. :-)

[Kenxxx]

Who knows TLG's plan. It's possible ...Step 1) make the set "sell out" at SAH to send resellers into a panic....Step 2)...slowly put the set back in the market. Send out as many as possible but not too many....you need it to continue to sell out to maintain artificial demand between resellers.Step 3) pick your date and actually retire it.  You exit the set with no leftover inventory on the exact date you wanted and managed to cram in an additional 1-2 years worth of sales before EOL....

I don't think Lego is executing any Machiavellian plans to manipulate resellers / investors.  They are too busy engaged in their business, trying to increase the desirability of their product for more and more consumers around the world.  That's what makes a global company more profit... when you can get everyone to need your product they way they need, say, water... that's the way you make more profit.  Playing some short term game to milk resellers for an extra million or two is short-sighted, and I think they're smart enough to know that.

In fact, I might propose that having the DS retire this summer (either now, or after one more batch hits the market and sells out quickly), might make them a LOT more money than the plan you suggest.  As the new movie hype ramps up prior to Christmas, moms and dads might notice the recent disappearance of 10188, see the $500 - $600 price tag on Amazon and ebay... used prices at $300 or $400... and say, "Wow. Look at all the crap toys I bought my kid last year that are worthless now.  Even used Legos are worth good money... I'm buying more Lego for Christmas this year.  In fact... maybe I'll get 2 each of the new Star Wars sets and save one in the attic."  If Lego could get a new "10179 story" out of the DS, many more resellers would be created, many more moms and dads would feel better about buying Lego... it would be a great thing for TLG.

Edited July 17, 2015 by Kenxxx

[Miami Bomb Squad]

IMO, the DS is dead.
I had a conversation last year with a member on this site,  predicting that the DS will just disappear without any notice.
Lego didn't want to create a frenzy online or in store regarding this set. 
They reached the ear marked # in their warehouse and put up the Call for Availability sign. 
Then, whatever is left goes to the stores.  (you may still find some in stores these few weeks)
And that is that.  

In regards to the resellers? 
By executing what just took place this week, they did take a jab at the resellers by not giving them (us) time to load up.  

Call for Availability.......then straight to Sold Out. 

 

[pchurchill2003]

They still had two available in the Overland Park KS Lego Store last night and the store employee said that they should get more before the holiday but also admitted store employee's are kept in the dark.  I wonder if the shipment we have been hearing about from store employee's is before the horde started buying them all out.  In other words Lego thought they would have more for another shipment but not so much anymore. 

[Locutus001]

You can still order as many as you want here in Europe...

[emonster]

very available in canada. My opinion... The DS still has legs into early 2016 where it will curl up "like a ball" and quietly exhale it's last laser beam.

[Sandwraith]

very available in canada. My opinion... The DS still has legs into early 2016 where it will curl up "like a ball" and quietly exhale it's last laser beam.

Sold out of TRU.ca this morning, Amazon.ca Last night, Mastermindtoys who knows when. Only WM.ca left. I agree it "was" widely available a couple days ago, but i expect WM to lose stock very quickly now.

[emonster]

I guess it will go out of stock here also (canada), but I can't imagine that lego would let the DS run out ahead of the movie, so i expect a full restock before the movie. Of course alot of factors could change this, like a NEW DS model just ahead of the movie. 

 

[malsk]

Sold out of TRU.ca this morning, Amazon.ca Last night, Mastermindtoys who knows when. Only WM.ca left. I agree it "was" widely available a couple days ago, but i expect WM to lose stock very quickly now.

I bought at Walmart.ca and it was cancelled saying they didn't have it in stock sorry blah blah. WM.ca is very unreliable.