10188 - UCS: Death Star

[terrymc4677]

I am one who is staying away from this set. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a cool set and will do well when and if it ever retires. My son has one in our personal collection that we assembled together. It was a great build and he plays with it all the time. At $400 a pop though, I'd rather get 2 Slave 1s or 2 tumblers. I think both of those sets have as much if not more potential as the DS, and they don't weigh a crap ton, so shipping will be a lot easier. I've been buying one of each of those each month and will continue to do so for the bulk of their life cycle. This way I can accumulate my target on those and stay under the radar as I do it.

[vexxet]

Does anyone know what the latest reported seal code is on this set?

when my 2 from LS@**** come in ill let you know.  the latest one I have personally is R4 37 though from Toys R Us.

[ravenb99]

Double post

 

I am one who is staying away from this set. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a cool set and will do well when and if it ever retires. My son has one in our personal collection that we assembled together. It was a great build and he plays with it all the time. At $400 a pop though, I'd rather get 2 Slave 1s or 2 tumblers. I think both of those sets have as much if not more potential as the DS, and they don't weigh a crap ton, so shipping will be a lot easier. I've been buying one of each of those each month and will continue to do so for the bulk of their life cycle. This way I can accumulate my target on those and stay under the radar as I do it.

right there with you.  Much rather have 2 Tumbler, 2 ToO, Almost 3 AA / R2 when they were available and a slew of other sets.  Not saying it won't go up in value just not one I'm worried about accumulating.  I'll let a few exclusives pass by for other ones I like better and feel better with and get can high quantities on.  

[cdenmier]

I'm hoping now for just one to build. It's a bit pricey for investment for me (just like $30-50 sets are typically too cheap). I started out with funds last fall and bought TH and PS instead...I wish the best of luck to investors on this, though, and think they'll succeed, but not my taste. Still, after re-watching the original trilogy two weekends ago I suddenly realized, "that IS a really cool set after all. Look at all the classic scenes!"

 

I'm watching eagerly for my nearly two-week old order to ship so that I can have this piece as a Lego Star Wars centerpiece for my boys and I. (Is it wrong to want mash up Luke and Han in the trash compactor a bit...just for fun?)

[Sauromosis]

emazers is 100% correct on this

[BrickLegacy]

For the newbies, you know the ones that have been on here for months but it seems like years...veterans, please help us understand how many times this set was available to purchase at a discount besides the typical 2-3x VIP promotion, discount gift cards, etc.  I'm sure some stockpiled these from B&****** stores using kids club.  I'm guessing there were other sporadic sales over time, maybe even price mistakes.  My question is this, what would be your best guess for someone's average buy-in price if they've been accumulating these for 3+ years?  Anyone recent to the game only has a few options to score these at discount so they will need to hold onto them longer to see them appreciate.

 

I'm bullish on this and everything OT Star Wars.  I'm on the record for that.  I think this has a chance to skyrocket if retirement coincides with the movie release.  I have one to build but wish I had a pile of these.  Then again, I wish I had a pile of everything!

[stephen_rockefeller]

emazers is 100% correct on this

Everyone else that has said the exact same thing he did is 100% correct also.

[newbie77]

For the newbies, you know the ones that have been on here for months but it seems like years...veterans, please help us understand how many times this set was available to purchase at a discount besides the typical 2-3x VIP promotion, discount gift cards, etc.  I'm sure some stockpiled these from B&****** stores using kids club.  I'm guessing there were other sporadic sales over time, maybe even price mistakes.  My question is this, what would be your best guess for someone's average buy-in price if they've been accumulating these for 3+ years?  Anyone recent to the game only has a few options to score these at discount so they will need to hold onto them longer to see them appreciate.

 

I'm bullish on this and everything OT Star Wars.  I'm on the record for that.  I think this has a chance to skyrocket if retirement coincides with the movie release.  I have one to build but wish I had a pile of these.  Then again, I wish I had a pile of everything!

before 2012.. or close to end of 2012 this was available from target @ $255.99+tax which i believe was price matched by amazon and walmart. 309.99 was very normal selling price of this.... .

[exciter1]

For the newbies, you know the ones that have been on here for months but it seems like years...veterans, please help us understand how many times this set was available to purchase at a discount besides the typical 2-3x VIP promotion, discount gift cards, etc.  I'm sure some stockpiled these from B&N stores using kids club.  I'm guessing there were other sporadic sales over time, maybe even price mistakes.  My question is this, what would be your best guess for someone's average buy-in price if they've been accumulating these for 3+ years?  Anyone recent to the game only has a few options to score these at discount so they will need to hold onto them longer to see them appreciate.

 

I'm bullish on this and everything OT Star Wars.  I'm on the record for that.  I think this has a chance to skyrocket if retirement coincides with the movie release.  I have one to build but wish I had a pile of these.  Then again, I wish I had a pile of everything!

 

Toysrus.com, BOGO 50% off and B2G1 FREE.

[stoltzjl77]

I got my one for personal build, and subsidized it by buying and flipping 3 others during various shortages. It is an amazing set. If I had $4k laying around and could afford to have it tied up in 10 of these for who knows how long, I'd be in fo sho. I have no doubt this will do really, really well both during the initial couple months when everyone realizes they missed the boat, and then for years to come. My pockets aren't deep enough and my shelves aren't big enough, alas and woe is me.

 

One of the reasons it has stuck around so long has got to be that it is the one SW set that will never be re-issued. That alone makes it gold.

[GhostDad]

Huh.  The lowest I remember seeing it was $360, or 10% off.  Oh well.  Maybe it's the $255 buyers who are selling on eBay for $500 right now.  I had trouble seeing how that was worthwhile with a buy-in at $400.

 

Pro tip: Don't stack DS sets that are out of their brown reinforced cartons more than 8 high, or you'll get a leaning tower of Pisa dynamic going with potentially disastrous results...

[BrickLegacy]

I can only imagine how many big players stocked up on BOGO Death Stars in 2012 predicting it would retire in the next year or two. I guess the question is how many have been able to flip (and are currently flipping) their short-term inventory leaving this with ample room to grow.

 

The flip side...how many new LEGO fans have been created in the past 3 years or so who haven't bought one for personal use because they believe they have ample time to buy one?  Perhaps that number will drive the appreciation up.  I suspect it will.

 

Hypothetical question: if you could sell 1 SSD for $800 would you use that capital to buy two Death Stars right now?

[Ed Mack]

Lowest price I know of for 10188 was a true BOGO from TRU for $299.99 when buying two. Now many of you might have had coupons from TRU or whatever to make it lower, but I paid $299.99 for many of mine.

[jaisonline]

Lowest price I know of for 10188 was a true BOGO from TRU for $299.99 when buying two. Nw many of you might have had coupons from TRU or whatever

Remember when that was? Very nice price. The lowest I remember was $335 (or so) from Amazon back when I started in 2012. I didn't pull the trigger then but got lucky picking up 2 via trades.

[Ed Mack]

Remember when that was? Very nice price. The lowest I remember was $335 (or so) from Amazon back when I started in 2012. I didn't pull the trigger then but got lucky picking up 2 via trades.

Don't remember, but I know I got a few SSDs for a similar price.  I didn't buy more at the time because I was waiting for the pre-EOL deals.  Boy, how things changed.

[rich79]

The lowest over here i bought is

[Ed Mack]

Is that a cryptic hint to buy EEE???

 

Oh wait, wrong Ed

Be careful about the EEE.  It's a great set.  I have one built and it is the best of the Maersk sets, but many people don't care about it or don't want to build it with 50 stickers.  Also, Maersk sets don't inspire me when it comes to looking at past performance of the sets.  I used to be a lot more pro EEE, but don't buy 40 of this set.  Money could be better spent elsewhere. 

[stephen_rockefeller]

Be careful about the EEE.  It's a great set.  I have one built and it is the best of the Maersk sets, but many http://www.brickpicker.com/bpms/set.cfm?set=1650-1 people don't care about it or don't want to build it with 50 stickers.  Also, Maersk sets don't inspire me when it comes to looking at past performance of the sets.  I used to be a lot more pro EEE, but don't buy 40 of this set.  Money could be better spent elsewhere.

How much inspiration do you need? http://www.brickpicker.com/bpms/set.cfm?set=1650-1

I agree with you on the EEE I only have a few.

[Ed Mack]

Look at the recent releases of the Maersk line of sets and I would have thought that they would have performed better. Enough off topic conversation. The Mods will delete all of my posts now.

[KShine]

Look at the recent releases of the Maersk line of sets and I would have thought that they would have performed better. Enough off topic conversation. The Mods will delete all of my posts now.

 

Regarding the moving of posts. Would there be a way that posts could be scheduled to be moved (maybe scheduled to merge in 24 hrs, etc), instead of an immediate movement.

 

I have had posts (and read others posts), that would certainly have been actively discussed - but once it is thrown into the ocean, it is just gone.

 

The "something in the water" seems to be a big move to destination. Many of these are "what should I do/can I do" posts, and unless you are a user that always read everything posted, you can be sent back to page 1 (and very likely never notice the recent issue).

 

Certainly there are offensive, or nonsense posts that need immediate removal - but some seem to be worth remaining active, at least for a while.

Edited February 10, 2015 by KShine

[Ed Mack]

Regarding the moving of posts. Would there be a way that posts could be scheduled to be moved (maybe scheduled to merge in 24 hrs, etc), instead of an immediate movement.

I have had posts (and read others posts), that would certainly have been actively discussed - but once it is thrown into the ocean, it is just gone.

The "something in the water" seems to be a big move to destination. Many of these are "what should I do/can I do" posts, and unless you are a user that always read everything posted, you can be sent back to page 1 (and very likely never notice the recent issue).

Certainly there are offensive, or nonsense posts that need immediate removal - but some seem to be worth remaining active, at least for a while.

There is a new version of the forum that is in Beta stage right now and Jeff tells me it is quite advanced. I think we will address the entire community when the new forum goes live with some simple and common sense rules for all to follow...such as repeat content, moving threads, spam, new member post approval and similar issues.

[Sauromosis]

Haha, even Ed is sick of these obsessive mods.  Sorry...DEATH STAR!

[stephen_rockefeller]

Haha, even Ed is sick of these obsessive mods.  Sorry...DEATH STAR!

Change the batteries in your sarcasm detector, they are dead.

[SpaceFan9]

Remember when that was? ...

The TRU BOGO50 with DS included was July 2011. 3.5 year hold is long time.

[Ed Mack]

Haha, even Ed is sick of these obsessive mods.  Sorry...DEATH STAR!

There is no need for this.  They do the best they can for free.  Everyone wants to take shots at the Mods, but until you walk in someone's shoes, it is easy to talk.  It is difficult keeping the threads in order.  Many people post threads that can be added to an existing thread.  They take pride in their efforts and try to keep the forum clear of spam and obscene discussions.  This forum is pretty lenient.  Other LEGO forums just remove your post and you disappear from the site.