Retiring Soon - open speculation

[feed]

So I’ve been doing a little analysis on Marvel /DC, just for fun.  Results if anyone is interested, observations are my opinion, does not constitute financial advice and do your own research etc… All of the data is from brickset and is UK based RRP, so YMMV on retirement dates.  Prices/ Price Points are all GBP. 

So:
Lower price points (PP) sets are firmly established, small gifts, the £19.99 sets always abundant.  

The mid PP sets interest me the most, as it’s clear something in the marketing strategy changed 2013/2014 moving away from the £34.99/£39.99 sets, splitting them into more around the £44.99/£49.99 PP, with a more options in the £24.99/£29.99 area, probably the intent to stretch the £19.99 up a little. Given the dominance of the £19.99 the £24.99/£29.99 PP looks a little light, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some expansion in this category from below..  
£44.99/£49.99 is firmly in the Birthday / Christmas gift territory, so it’s no surprise there is an abundance here.  However, it looks somewhat overweight to me, with the total number of sets currently available at that price point, with 76013 being the most likely candidate for removal. Particularly if we see more DC sets at the £44.99 PP.

The £69.99 PP also looks interesting, as it appears to show a similar split to the £39.99 PP, but earlier in the cycle.  I.e. With the emergence of a new £59.99 and £89.99 PP.  Short run on 76021 and the creation of these new PPs may signal a short life for 76032, particularly given the movie tie-in.  

Higher end sets are probably too low volume to form any real conclusion.

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[Frank Brickowski]

Got a severe feeling that Imperial Hotel is about to close its doors soon... like forever...

[TLKC]

40153 birthday set gone in europe??

now retired product in europe?!?!?!

[wceagles]

could be similar to Turg and Spugg (Mixels Series 5) which are also marked retired but most probably are just out of stock -> as unlikely there are retired after less than a month after release

[jay4e]

now retired product in europe?!?!?!

Just listed as sold out, not retired.  lot of smaller set get a sold out tag when out of stock, unlike larger sets which can still be ordered when OOS

[TLKC]

Ok now sold ou

Was sold out -> available 7. aug, sold out -> 7.august -> sold out  - retired product and now sold out again

[trekgate502]

Just looked at UK and it says retired.

this is like ping pong

Edited July 7, 2015 by trekgate502

[redcell]

Has anyone noticed that Hulk Buster Smash has gone to sold out status in Europe?  Seems pretty early for it to go, but it always struck me as an odd set at that price point and one that could easily disappear early.  Will be interesting to watch.

[Wildemar]

Has anyone noticed that Hulk Buster Smash has gone to sold out status in Europe?  Seems pretty early for it to go, but it always struck me as an odd set at that price point and one that could easily disappear early.  Will be interesting to watch.

I wrote an e-mail to LEGO Shop at Home EU CS and they told me that set is only temporary out of stock. The next batch is in production right now and the set will be in their product range for quite some time. At the moment they are just unable to predict an accurate date of availability.

[Dkc]

Heads says it's the cornerstone of a Simpsons line, it's Death Star if you will and it's around for years, tails says it needs to go away to make shelf space for the Kwik-E-Mart.

Flip away.

According to Brickset it hasn't been restocked in the three months they've been recording, might indicate it's on the way out. Very steady regular sales too, pretty straight line graph.

can you show me how to use brickset.com to research and find that this set has not been restocked in 3 months?

[Foxhound]

http://brickset.com/sets/71006-1/The-Simpsons-Hous

Take a look at the right side. You will find it below "Availability at Lego.com". There's a little number, which stands for the actual number of units. Click on the number and a graph will open. But keep in mind, that you have to be a registered member and signed in to use this tool.

Edited July 7, 2015 by Foxhound

[Brickson]

can you show me how to use brickset.com to research and find that this set has not been restocked in 3 months?

You also have to have your country in UK in settings.

[Mrbigz8657]

I was at Lego store in water tower Chicago and I know it's just the words of a worker but he said he was shocked to receive a batch of pc's as he and other workers were told that they were coming to an end on the item in mention. 

[thoroakenfelder]

Has anyone noticed that Hulk Buster Smash has gone to sold out status in Europe?  Seems pretty early for it to go, but it always struck me as an odd set at that price point and one that could easily disappear early.  Will be interesting to watch.

These were selling really fast here. I doubt they would even contemplate EOL after less than 6 months.

[Brickbuilder.g]

If the pet shop and PC both go this year what will replace them??

[lawnboy1001]

If the pet shop and PC both go this year what will replace them??

How many modulars does Lego need at any one time?  They already have PR, DO, Ferris Wheel and Fairground Mixer, right?  Please refute this argument as I'm new, but I wouldn't think they always need 6 large modulars.

[Mos_Eisley]

How many modulars does Lego need at any one time?  They already have PR, DO, Ferris Wheel and Fairground Mixer, right?  Please refute this argument as I'm new, but I wouldn't think they always need 6 large modulars.

The Ferris Wheel and Mixer are not modulars.

[lawnboy1001]

The Ferris Wheel and Mixer are not modulars.

My bad, you're right.  Anyways, I would think they could still retire PC and/or PS without necessarily having replacements hit shelves in 2015.

[tacsniper]

My bad, you're right.  Anyways, I would think they could still retire PC and/or PS without necessarily having replacements hit shelves in 2015.

PS is currently "Temp. OOS" with no option to Add to Cart... so no backorders to fill... hope PS will be gone for good after being "Available" for 1.5 weeks

Now the question is, will PC go at the same time as PS. PC is now pretty much only available at LEGO Shop at Home. PC is doing the dance and limit has been drop to 2, which is showing the signs of retirement.

If Lego is depleting supplies for PS and PC, then it should be all dry up by fall of 2015. Then introduce a new set in Jan that should still leave 3 modulars on the shelve for 2016.

Edited July 8, 2015 by tacsniper

[wceagles]

still 1400+ of PS in stock at Lego LEGO Shop at Home Europe - enough to last a few more months although limit is 5 so it could disappear quicker once horde gets going

[cobrakai]

A lot of Vader box art sets are starting to go OOS on Amazon.  Snowspeeder, Grievous Wheel Bike, etc. The TRU sale next week is a good time to start stocking up.  This time last year you could easily find A-wing, Mandalorian Speeder, etc and now they are long gone.

[exciter1]

A lot of Vader box art sets are starting to go OOS on Amazon.  Snowspeeder, Grievous Wheel Bike, etc. The TRU sale next week is a good time to start stocking up.  This time last year you could easily find A-wing, Mandalorian Speeder, etc and now they are long gone.

Not much left at my TRU.

[wceagles]

Ok now sold ou

Was sold out -> available 7. aug, sold out -> 7.august -> sold out  - retired product and now sold out again

and now Temporarily out of stock! (talking about 40163 birthday cake btw)

[fossilrock]

Not much left at my TRU.

Same here.  These are going fast.  Considering many of the 2013 yoda boxes hung around until early this year, I think SW mania is having an effect.

[Ed Mack]

Same here.  These are going fast.  Considering many of the 2013 yoda boxes hung around until early this year, I think SW mania is having an effect.

I think it is more the stores are not restocking, than interest in the current sets.  LEGO is going to clean house and replace almost all of the current regular STAR WARS sets (with the exception of Rebels/UCS).  Because of the new movie(s), the typical production runs for STAR WARS sets may not apply.  Some of the current STAR WARS sets might be gone after a year or so there might be some opportunities to make some quick money on flipping short run sets.  I can't see LEGO or retailers keeping old, unrelated sets on the shelves.