Retiring Soon - open speculation

[CNH1974]

No. All the people who procrastinated on buying a GE because they said that it wouldn't retire for at least another year will begin to panic as soon as they realize that the GE may not be coming back in stock and that they don't have any.

 

Which is exactly what happened with the FB. Result, near instant (well 3 months) doubling of the price.

 

If GE follows the FB pattern, ie disappears around the end of November, we could see it hitting

[MartinP]

Which is exactly what happened with the FB. Result, near instant (well 3 months) doubling of the price.

 

If GE follows the FB pattern, ie disappears around the end of November, we could see it hitting

[holleman67]

"Who" only has 495 GE's left? Thanks!

Amazon! Sorry! Pure exhaustion had the best of me

[waddamon]

Amazon has exactly zero!

[CNH1974]

And many people said that it would take a while to see substantial increases in value, but the FB has almost doubled about five months later. This situation could happen again with the GE when it retires.

 

Ssshhh, don't tell them. People might buy and flood the market.

 

You know, like what definitely was going to happen with the FB!!! 

[Hayttees]

Same answers are so good. I just can't stop laughing

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Brickpicker mobile app

[fuzzy_bricks]

Amazon has exactly zero!

In case anyone here doesn't check the daily deals...Amazon appears to be taking pre-orders for these to be delivered the 21st.

[mudcatsfan]

If you see TRU bumped up theyre prices on the SSD and DS.. so maybe they have inside info on both those sets retiring. Now theyre just waiting for the hatchet? Any thoughts?

TRU bumped their prices on all exclusives, so no.

[Ed Mack]

Whether or not more Grand Emporiums are hitting the market in the next couple of weeks, members should realize this is a short term buy on the regular retail market.  In my experience, when any LEGO set, especially ones that have been around this long, start to go in and out and in and out of stock from multiple sources, the writing is on the wall and EOL is knocking on the door.  There are always exceptions, but now is the time to buy them IMO if you haven't already.  One only has to look at the Fire Brigade as an example of people blowing off numerous signs of EOL to buy sets 50 more Batman Funhouse Escapes or Barrel Escapes and regretting it later....

[CNH1974]

Whether or not more Grand Emporiums are hitting the market in the next couple of weeks, members should realize this is a short term buy on the regular retail market.  In my experience, when any LEGO set, especially ones that have been around this long, start to go in and out and in and out of stock from multiple sources, the writing is on the wall and EOL is knocking on the door.  There are always exceptions, but now is the time to buy them IMO if you haven't already.  One only has to look at the Fire Brigade as an example of people blowing off numerous signs of EOL to buy sets 50 more Batman Funhouse Escapes or Barrel Escapes and regretting it later....

 

Ed, you [or Jeff] once said the FB was the most widely held set in people's Brickfolios. Do you know how the GE compares?

[exciter1]

Ed, you [or Jeff] once said the FB was the most widely held set in people's Brickfolios. Do you know how the GE compares?

This might be a cool statistic to track in the Tools section. Top 10 held sets on Brickpicker and maybe other top 10's by theme.

[Ed Mack]

This might be a cool statistic to track in the Tools section. Top 10 held sets on Brickpicker and maybe other top 10's by theme.

Sure would be.  Sounds like premium information.

[Noodlenut]

Sure would be.  Sounds like premium information.

If there will be a premium membership in the future, how much will it cost?

[exciter1]

If there will be a premium membership in the future, how much will it cost?

 

1 billion dollars!

[waddamon]

Sure would be.  Sounds like premium information.

Smart man planting seeds of expectation.  Makes the sale easier when the time comes.

[Noodlenut]

1 billion dollars!

...and Brickpicker lived happily ever after - floating in clouds of 100 dollar bills.

[exciter1]

[Ed Mack]

Ed, you [or Jeff] once said the FB was the most widely held set in people's Brickfolios. Do you know how the GE compares?

Let's put things in perspective.  The Fire Brigade was the most widely owned set by members.  Many people thought the market would be flooded when it retired or there would be little interest.  If you look at the recent sold listings, you will see the most recent sales are around $275, give or take.  That is almost double the value of the original MSRP and more than double for what many of us paid for these sets.  I don't see interest in the Fire Brigade waning or the Grand Emporium acting any different upon EOL.

[Noodlenut]

 

I guess that's who will be paying for the premium membership.

[Ed Mack]

Smart man planting seeds of expectation.  Makes the sale easier when the time comes.

Just trying to give heads up there will be better data options in the future...especially for people who sell on eBay.  

[jaisonline]

Let's put things in perspective.  The Fire Brigade was the most widely owned set by members.  Many people thought the market would be flooded when it retired or there would be little interest.  If you look at the recent sold listings, you will see the most recent sales are around $275, give or take.  That is almost double the value of the original MSRP and more than double for what many of us paid for these sets.  I don't see interest in the Fire Brigade waning or the Grand Emporium acting any different upon EOL.

 

yep. it is also one of the nicer modulars and will stay in-demand since it's part of a specific theme for collectors (like the Winter Holiday sets).   the FB was a lesson learned for me.

 

let's hope the advanced sets like Tower Bridge, Sopwith Camel, and VW 1 have similar demand after retirement regardless of the longer retail life.

[emazers]

Looks Like Ed Mack and a few others are starting to realize you can't wait to the last minute to stock up on the Hard to Find Exclusives, and a fact about the Town Hall its not a great seller but when it does retire anybody thats buying and building the Moduals will find out that they need the Town Hall to complete the set, and for the Death Star and SSD anybody who thinks that these prizes with skyrocket will be miss one of the best bets to make huge money. So even if you can only afford 1-2 a month get them, So get those GE,SSD,Volkswagen Camper,Etc.  Ed

[Jeff Mack]

Looks Like Ed Mack and a few others are starting to realize you can't wait to the last minute to stock up on the Hard to Find Exclusives

 

 

Greatest thing I have read.  Ed Mack, I am sure glad you are getting with the program...  

[jaisonline]

Looks Like Ed Mack and a few others are starting to realize you can't wait to the last minute to stock up on the Hard to Find Exclusives, and a fact about the Town Hall its not a great seller but when it does retire anybody thats buying and building the Moduals will find out that they need the Town Hall to complete the set, and for the Death Star and SSD anybody who thinks that these prizes with skyrocket will be miss one of the best bets to make huge money. So even if you can only afford 1-2 a month get them, So get those GE,SSD,Volkswagen Camper,Etc.  Ed

 

regarding what i put in bold.  maybe... probably to an extent. 

 

the modulars and winter sets are 'unique' as more sets are added annually and people think of them as collections (not so much as individual sets).  there is a diff here.  i own the eiffel tower and tower bridge sets but that isn't making me want to buy the sidney opera house.  on the flip side, i just bought a winter market set along with a winter bakery to keep my winter collection complete (and i'm not a fan of the market set).  

 

in summary, most people are now learning just how special the modulars are.

 

note: it isn't always about budget.  many people simply do not have the storage space to buy 1-2 per month of multiple large boxed sets.  that is why some people wait until the end.

[inversion]

Looks Like Ed Mack and a few others are starting to realize you can't wait to the last minute to stock up on the Hard to Find Exclusives, and a fact about the Town Hall its not a great seller but when it does retire anybody thats buying and building the Moduals will find out that they need the Town Hall to complete the set, and for the Death Star and SSD anybody who thinks that these prizes with skyrocket will be miss one of the best bets to make huge money. So even if you can only afford 1-2 a month get them, So get those GE,SSD,Volkswagen Camper,Etc.  Ed

Certainly. I spend nearly all of my scholarship on these sets (yeah, I am a good student...). All the more it turned out my girlfriend likes LEGO more than partying or any other activity. She didn't use to, she got addicted because of me. It is like a disease. I swear I am going to marry her.