41999 - 4x4 Crawler Exclusive Edition

[citymorgue]

Let me know how that worked out on those death stars when their first retiring rumors started.

The difference though, was that 41999 was known from the start of being very limited. So it would not have been that big of a gamble to put it on a CC and then sell the sets some short time later.

Now for sets that even now we know are retiring, I wouldn't suggest doing it, because it's hard to predict how quickly something will go up in price.

[jeff_14]

buying something for investment on borrowed money/credit card is ill advised. Would you take a loan from the bank to invest in stocks? No you use what money you are willing to/able to lose when you invest in toys/stocks/anything

It's not ill advised at all.  It is in fact quite common to get investment loans from banks to invest in stocks. As long as the interest rate you pay is lower than your return it is a great strategy, to be applied prudently. In that vein, consider lego. Unlike stocks, lego sets generally do not fall in value. At worst, you should always be able to sell a set at retail price after EOL. So your potential loss is quite limited while your upside is fairly safe compared to stocks since most sets do not have volatile price swings.

 

Here's an example of something I could do today. My credit card just sent me a balance transfer offer with a 1% interest rate for a year. If I buy a boatload of lego sets at any of the semi regular 50% off deals I see, one could look at it as I really got 49% off to account for the interest. In my experience, you can usually sell any 50% off set for regular retail price after EOL. That's a 100% return, at a cost of 1%. When you consider that your average stock return is 6-8% in a year, I'll take the lego appreciation any day of the week.

[DoNotInsertIntoMouth]

It's not ill advised at all.  It is in fact quite common to get investment loans from banks to invest in stocks. As long as the interest rate you pay is lower than your return it is a great strategy, to be applied prudently. In that vein, consider lego. Unlike stocks, lego sets generally do not fall in value. At worst, you should always be able to sell a set at retail price after EOL. So your potential loss is quite limited while your upside is fairly safe compared to stocks since most sets do not have volatile price swings.

 

Here's an example of something I could do today. My credit card just sent me a balance transfer offer with a 1% interest rate for a year. If I buy a boatload of lego sets at any of the semi regular 50% off deals I see, one could look at it as I really got 49% off to account for the interest. In my experience, you can usually sell any 50% off set for regular retail price after EOL. That's a 100% return, at a cost of 1%. When you consider that your average stock return is 6-8% in a year, I'll take the lego appreciation any day of the week.

 

 

You have to be smart, but I am definitely here.

 

I needed capital to start my Ebay store up (about 5-6K). Rather than take it out of savings, I opened a CC with a 0% offer for 12 months. BAM - initial investment.

 

I have paid it off within 3 months.

[Ed Mack]

The better the deal, the more sense it makes to charge now and pay later.  The Cyber Monday sales were an example of buying now and figuring out how to pay later.  

[Grolim]

buying something for investment on borrowed money/credit card is ill advised. Would you take a loan from the bank to invest in stocks? No you use what money you are willing to/able to lose when you invest in toys/stocks/anything

 

 

Rubbish.  Businesses use debt all the time to fund their operation.  It's called leverage.  Not many businesses have a 0% debt to equity ratio, and if they do their owners are often not using their position to leverage for expansion properly.

 

I run my Lego operation like a business.  Some of it is funded through debt.  As long as returns outstrip the cost of that debt then there is no problem doing so.

[TheOrcKing]

Rubbish.  Businesses use debt all the time to fund their operation.  It's called leverage.

No, this is leverage.

[El Guapo]

Nice post on leverage Grolim. Was going to use that same word It is all individual though. Clearly some people don't want to leverage themselves, and that's okay. If they would lose sleep at night worrying about paying of debt then it's not the best idea for them. Most aggressive companies do however use leverage...in some cases in the form of a public stock offerings. Anyone want to buy some shares of El Guapo?

[toni8284]

Did anyone see this on BL?

 

someone bought 88 of 4199 at $699 each.

 

Is someone crazy or what?

 

Is the buyer or seller from here?

 

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?S=41999-1

[MartinP]

Did anyone see this on BL?

 

someone bought 88 of 4199 at $699 each.

 

Is someone crazy or what?

 

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?S=41999-1

That is very strange. The eBay sold listings do not go as high as $699.

[Mos_Eisley]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that sale will not be completed. The only person who would buy that many at once is a reseller. No reseller could expect to make money on that purchase price for years.

[Sauromosis]

I forgot who posted that TRU had them...thanks, got mine today.

[rcdb1984]

What is it with people using the OBO to give me an offer of MSRP.  Do they seriously think I just need to unload it and got it for discount?  Who offers 200? with free shipping?

[MartinP]

What is it with people using the OBO to give me an offer of MSRP.  Do they seriously think I just need to unload it and got it for discount?  Who offers 200? with free shipping?

Idiots who do not know the value of Lego sets and want to get it at the cheapest possible price.

[stephen_rockefeller]

I am 100% certain that they know the value.

[rcdb1984]

"Thank you for the reply. I understand other options exist and can appreciate wanting to get the most for this item. If 300 with shipping included is possible for one of these, it would make Christmas a little brighter at this home. Your thoughtful consideration is greatly appreciated, thank you."

 

 

no.

[MartinP]

"Thank you for the reply. I understand other options exist and can appreciate wanting to get the most for this item. If 300 with shipping included is possible for one of these, it would make Christmas a little brighter at this home. Your thoughtful consideration is greatly appreciated, thank you."

 

 

no.

Is this the same person who offered you $200 for the set?

[rcdb1984]

yeah, after he said that was all he could afford

[DoNotInsertIntoMouth]

yeah, after he said that was all he could afford

 

Its the old go to the yard sale and tell the guy you only have 5 bucks with you trick. Miraculously it turns into 10.

[Anakinisvader]

The only ship that doesn't float is a Partnership. Dave Ramsey

[lego89]

Just a side note:

 

If you purchased your 41999(s) from TRU recently, you may be able to return / re-buy at a discounted rate (20% off this week).

[cambridge02138]

Just a side note:

 

If you purchased your 41999(s) from TRU recently, you may be able to return / re-buy at a discounted rate (20% off this week).

Is that

* $20% off $239.99 or

* $20% off $199.99?

[lego89]

Is that

* $20% off $239.99 or

* $20% off $199.99?

 

surprisingly, it was 20% off $191.99

[cambridge02138]

surprisingly, it was 20% off $191.99

Great!

Is this 20% off $191.99 good through this Saturday (Dec 28)?

[lego89]

Great!

Is this 20% off $191.99 good through this Saturday (Dec 28)?

 

probably, but I did not look at the sales shelf tag so not 100% sure.

 

i advise going early to avoid the crowd and catching a manager while she or he is in good mood....

[MartinP]

Its the old go to the yard sale and tell the guy you only have 5 bucks with you trick. Miraculously it turns into 10.

That trick always works. I used it a couple times to get some great deals on Lego sets.