Australian General LEGO Update

[gazza]

40 minutes ago, fahadshahid said:

Speaking of kwik e Mart, I still have reservations around that set doing well after retirement. Maybe that's why Myer and Target are clearing their stock through ebay - the sales must not have been that great for that set

i've noticed this too. i'm not sure whether or not it will be worth the investment. time will tell!  

[gazza]

On 1/12/2016 at 10:57 PM, Ryan Junior said:

Yes , we pay tax on it.  But you really have to make a lot of money to pay a LOT of tax. Claim all your expenses . Use an accountant. 

that's what i use my dad for - he's an accountant. that said, i'm new to all of this and haven't sold anything yet haha! 

[gazza]

tumblers are going gang busters in terms of price. B&N only have marketplace seller sets available at upwards of $349+. 

cursing that i didn't get into lego investing earlier hahaha

[JeffProbst]

42 minutes ago, gazza said:

that said, i'm new to all of this and haven't sold anything yet haha! 

If you don't mind me asking, what got you into it?

Was it the articles about LEGO being a better investment than gold, or did a recent set get you back into LEGO?

[gazza]

8 minutes ago, JeffProbst said:

If you don't mind me asking, what got you into it?

Was it the articles about LEGO being a better investment than gold, or did a recent set get you back into LEGO?

Hi Jeff

I'm not too sure what got me into it although I always had an interest in lego when I was younger. 

I was walking through the shops a few months back and came across some lego sets and decided to pull the trigger. 

A friend at work kept having lego parcels delivered so that was probably a factor too haha.

It's a fun hobby seeing as I don't have much else on the cards apart from gym and work. Oh, and planning a wedding haha!

Irrespective of whether or not something comes of it, I'm having fun buying sets and holding onto them. I doubt I'd ever sell them as I just like knowing I have them  

Nice to meet you btw!

Gazza

[gazza]

ps as a novice to buying things from overseas (apart from the lego shop which calculates in AUD), what's it like buying from B&N?

if you have purchased from them before, do you happen to see a considerable price difference in comparison to what you pay at the check out to what appears on your statement (if paying by CC)?

thanks

 

[whoisbiggles]

On Thursday, 11 February 2016 at 8:32 AM, whoisbiggles said:

Yep getting 2 posted to my po box. Free postage and 20% off.

How:

I went to my local Myer (Chermside, QLD), got the usual story, sorry no stock and no idea if they are getting any more in. However I can see if there are any available on my ipad ordering service.

Ten minutes later all ordered. Now fingers crossed no lard arse at Aussie Post sits on the box.

Items received this morning, thankfully no damage. The packaging is awful no bubble wrap. just two sets in a box.

[gazza]

Items received this morning, thankfully no damage. The packaging is awful no bubble wrap. just two sets in a box.

myer are terrible with packaging. i had two star wars sets (kylo/tie) delivered last week in a plastic satchel bag. boxes were beyond damaged. managed to get two replacements but had to drive a fair distance from where I live to pick them up.

glad yours arrived in one piece!

[Ronan.46]

the Slave I I ordered on sale from myer via the ipad ordering system got cancelled today - no stock, disappointed. Hopefully the Tumblers I ordered when Lego found some more in an old warehouse arrive this week and that will make up for it.

[gazza]

6 minutes ago, Ronan.46 said:

the Slave I I ordered on sale from myer via the ipad ordering system got cancelled today - no stock, disappointed. Hopefully the Tumblers I ordered when Lego found some more in an old warehouse arrive this week and that will make up for it.

fingers crossed for you, man!

[whoisbiggles]

Wow $400 for 75098 Assault on Hoth.

If this appeared in the Big W drop zone for $100 maybe.

[Ted]

Wow $400 for 75098 Assault on Hoth.

If this appeared in the Big W drop zone for $100 maybe.

Haha, thats a good thought, i hope your wish comes true. Althought maybe a $250 could be more likely?

[gazza]

3 hours ago, Ted said:

Haha, thats a good thought, i hope your wish comes true. Althought maybe a $250 could be more likely?

$250 would be good!

hopefully target et al get a flood of stock prior to end of financial year then go crazy with sales. 

we can only dream

[Ted]

Anyone over here on the aussie side think or 'foresee' that Big W or any other retailers would have a similar drop zone sale again? Going by how Big W done it last year....they seems to be just clearing a lot of their stock to bring in new stuffs. I do hope they continue this year, although the wallet will have to suffer some pain.

[gazza]

11 hours ago, Ted said:

Anyone over here on the aussie side think or 'foresee' that Big W or any other retailers would have a similar drop zone sale again? Going by how Big W done it last year....they seems to be just clearing a lot of their stock to bring in new stuffs. I do hope they continue this year, although the wallet will have to suffer some pain.

i hope they hold off for a little while...i'm going to japan in 5 weeks and need to save money lol

[gazza]

what does everyone think about the brick bank? i've got that as well the slave 1 and doctor who sitting in my cart but i can't bring myself to purchasing just yet. arghhhhhhh need to save money hahaha

[Out of the Dark Years]

The brick bank will be around for a while yet, and I believe Myer will have it at one of their upcoming sales.

 

could be as soon as April or mid year.

Edited February 20, 2016 by Out of the Dark Years

[gazza]

8 hours ago, Out of the Dark Years said:

The brick bank will be around for a while yet, and I believe Myer will have it at one of their upcoming sales.

could be as soon as April or mid year.

 

your, sir, are a champion

Edited February 21, 2016 by gazza

[Jules_K]

15 hours ago, gazza said:

what does everyone think about the brick bank? i've got that as well the slave 1 and doctor who sitting in my cart but i can't bring myself to purchasing just yet. arghhhhhhh need to save money hahaha

Brick Bank - no need to invest in this for another 3 or so years, and it should be available at Myer / DJ many times in the future for 20% off. Every other modular available is a better investment at this point in time as they are more likely to retire sooner.

Slave 1 - This will be around for probably to at least the end of this year, most likely until the end of 2017. Again should be on sale for 20% off at Myer at some point.

Doctor Who - Most ideas sets don't see more than 12 months of shelf life (the exception being Ecto-1 which is still hanging around), so I would think this would be the set out of all those mentioned to look at buying into first. This will be tough to get on sale from the usual retailers (ideas sets tend to sell out very quickly if on sale) but keep your eyes peeled.

I'd suggest doing some reading around on these forums for the sets people think are worth investing in, as well as when they are most likely to retire. 

[gazza]

2 hours ago, Jules_K said:

Brick Bank - no need to invest in this for another 3 or so years, and it should be available at Myer / DJ many times in the future for 20% off. Every other modular available is a better investment at this point in time as they are more likely to retire sooner.

Slave 1 - This will be around for probably to at least the end of this year, most likely until the end of 2017. Again should be on sale for 20% off at Myer at some point.

Doctor Who - Most ideas sets don't see more than 12 months of shelf life (the exception being Ecto-1 which is still hanging around), so I would think this would be the set out of all those mentioned to look at buying into first. This will be tough to get on sale from the usual retailers (ideas sets tend to sell out very quickly if on sale) but keep your eyes peeled.

I'd suggest doing some reading around on these forums for the sets people think are worth investing in, as well as when they are most likely to retire. 

thanks, jules! superstar!

[Out of the Dark Years]

2 hours ago, Jules_K said:

Brick Bank - no need to invest in this for another 3 or so years, and it should be available at Myer / DJ many times in the future for 20% off. Every other modular available is a better investment at this point in time as they are more likely to retire sooner.

Slave 1 - This will be around for probably to at least the end of this year, most likely until the end of 2017. Again should be on sale for 20% off at Myer at some point.

Doctor Who - Most ideas sets don't see more than 12 months of shelf life (the exception being Ecto-1 which is still hanging around), so I would think this would be the set out of all those mentioned to look at buying into first. This will be tough to get on sale from the usual retailers (ideas sets tend to sell out very quickly if on sale) but keep your eyes peeled.

I'd suggest doing some reading around on these forums for the sets people think are worth investing in, as well as when they are most likely to retire. 

I don't agree with buying things at the eleventh hour in Australia as it's almost certain to end in dissapointment regardless if your in it to collect or invest.

As a collector I buy highly desirable sets when they on discount.  The first and last drops of any particular highly desirable set are the hardest times to get them.

If your in it to invest buying gradually when drops are made in this country (usually at a discount with mid year and end of year sales) is a better way, while you may have your money tied up longer you at least have a good chance of getting the sets, rather than the crazy madness when sets are due to retire after few years.

The competition your up against nowadays is not just local resellers but international resellers as well that ship stuff off for resale overseas only.

[gazza]

thanks for your input again, Out of the Dark Years. i owe you a beer!

i capitulated last night and ended up getting wall-e, doctor who and a couple of scooby-do sets.

i see scooby as retiring at some stage this year and I just couldn't resist haha. no local stores have the mansion or lighthouse and i doubt that they'll get a back order. plenty of mystery plan adventure and mummy museum's going around though. 

[ED-209]

On 21/2/2016 at 1:56 PM, Jules_K said:

Brick Bank - no need to invest in this for another 3 or so years, and it should be available at Myer / DJ many times in the future for 20% off. Every other modular available is a better investment at this point in time as they are more likely to retire sooner.

Slave 1 - This will be around for probably to at least the end of this year, most likely until the end of 2017. Again should be on sale for 20% off at Myer at some point.

Doctor Who - Most ideas sets don't see more than 12 months of shelf life (the exception being Ecto-1 which is still hanging around), so I would think this would be the set out of all those mentioned to look at buying into first. This will be tough to get on sale from the usual retailers (ideas sets tend to sell out very quickly if on sale) but keep your eyes peeled.

I'd suggest doing some reading around on these forums for the sets people think are worth investing in, as well as when they are most likely to retire. 

 

On 21/2/2016 at 4:45 PM, Out of the Dark Years said:

I don't agree with buying things at the eleventh hour in Australia as it's almost certain to end in dissapointment regardless if your in it to collect or invest.

As a collector I buy highly desirable sets when they on discount.  The first and last drops of any particular highly desirable set are the hardest times to get them.

If your in it to invest buying gradually when drops are made in this country (usually at a discount with mid year and end of year sales) is a better way, while you may have your money tied up longer you at least have a good chance of getting the sets, rather than the crazy madness when sets are due to retire after few years.

The competition your up against nowadays is not just local resellers but international resellers as well that ship stuff off for resale overseas only.

 

Some interesting info and no doubt some useful advice for Gazza. I've only been doing this for a year now and I'm pretty small fry but I am fairly business savvy (in addition to loving lego) and in my short experience Ive learned some lessons which I'd like to share.

I did get some Dr Who sets from Myer during the sale and I was shocked at the speed at which they were gobbled up. Furthermore, on Facebook I see more and more (ad nauseum) lego fans posting "to build or store away?" (insert Iron Man eye roll here). I feel like to my mind sometimes I'm going from bull to bear in the course of one day. It's strange times indeed. A race to the bottom perhaps?

Ideas and modulars are way too hoarded, and, while I believe that money will be made on them, I don't believe that 100% ROI will be achievable. Alucard has addressed this topic a few months ago and, while initially skeptical with beer-goggles on, now I believe him to be right. The days of doubling in value will not apply to these IMO. 12 month cycle? You can maybe tell that to my one Birds set, but not my 11 Ectos (which used to be a higher number before I liquidated a few at Xmas).  Dr Who is almost literally flying off the shelves, so why would TLG pull the plug on it? Perhaps they got a 4 year licence for it? I've never ever known of a company that makes such strange business decisions as TLG so WTF knows. Maybe the Delorian has tripled in value, but what about the Exo suit or Research institute? They've made money, but they are really small sets and you would have to sell a few to make any decent coin.

At the beginning of last year, my targets were Palace Cinema, Pet Shop and Ecto. All are still collecting dust. There's a lesson to be learned there.

Dark Years has a point about international resellers. It is a real phenomenon that's a perverse form of globalisation as well as being a massive waste of fossil fuels. However, 11th hour purchases at retail price for just-retired sets has worked well for me. You need to do some legwork though. Even those sets haven't doubled in price yet but we'll see how they go. New listings seem to appear frequently even for highly-prized sets that were retired after less than a year. I can see many sets plateauing indefinitely.

My biggest wins have been smaller sets which have flown under the radar and most of which do not have their own thread on this forum. I won't say what they are because at this stage in the investing game I reckon it's better to use the info you have and keep your cards close to your chest. I can tell you, however, that over the last year my return on investment (after expenses incl fuel) has been anywhere from 15-100% but no more than 2x RRP, with an average of 40% and a lot of time put in hunting, stalking forums/blogs, packaging, listing items and kindly telling GT lowballers that my price was specifically stated as non-negotiable etc...

 

 

Edited February 23, 2016 by ED-209

[JeffProbst]

If you have the patience, I don't think that there is any harm in stashing a few modulars away. They are hoarded more than other sets but the demand for them is also higher than most sets. 

At some point this year the Pet Shop will go which puts a cap on the amount of BNIB sets that are in circulation. There is however no limit to the amount of prospective buyers as people are rediscovering LEGO everyday, it might just take some time for the balance to shift. 

[Ryan Junior]

On 1/18/2016 at 9:53 PM, josh_676 said:

 

Has anyone noticed Paypal holding their money for up to 3 weeks from sales , and asking you to supply tracking . they say they will release the money to you when they have confirmation that the sale went well . I have had it happen from 3 different buyers in the last 2 days . Paypal ask for tracking details ,and only give you a few days to supply tracking details . Some of the purchases are for $2 postage (minifigure) , which doesn't come with tracking .