10211 - Grand Emporium

[trekgate502]

Releasing small batches would be a very experience and inefficient way of running a business. I think resellers only take a small cut out of the pie; our effect is overstated on sites like

BP since we are all Reese's.

 

I agree completely that our community's effect is vastly over stated when you factor Lego with its sales of $4.6 billion.

If resellers bought 10,000 SSD's that would be $4 million in sales.  If they are sold to retailers at $300 each, then that is Lego sales value not $400 each.

So that would be $3 million in sales.  3 out of 4,600 for the SSD and 10,000 GE's at $149 or $1.49 million, netting to 1 out of 4,600.

Those figures would not keep me awake at night if i was Lego's chairman.

That being said I am not sure I would think the aftermarket has 10,000 SSD's and 10,000 GE's stocked up.

[JRandall]

(personally) I didn't join BP to learn about using liquid capital to earn better than market rates using Lego as a medium, I appreciate some perspectives and certainly tidbits from sources are useful. 

 

But I rely on my own wits and knowledge to grow the capital I have.  

 

But, as with anything, there's a learning curve.  When people can just google "lego investing" and come up with 15 facebook groups, this site and others that say "Get in the game" and have no issue asking (and getting answers to ) Tell me what to buy.

It's actually kind of refreshing, very socialist in fact.  (which is why it really surprises me)

 

When I've seen informercials saying "invest in real estate, I will show you how", the natural thing to wonder is why, if it's a good idea, do you want to further saturate the people doing it, which sort of eats into your earning possibilities.

 

Again, it's cool that people so freely share that info, but if I come across a store with a 50% sale going on (we don't get many of those in Canada), I'm not telling a bunch of friends who do the same thing until I've gotten out.  

 

I had someone who lived down the street from me say he missed the last sale on Maersk trains, would I be willing to TRADE (not even buy, he wanted to trade me for something that he had already inflated) at my cost (sale price)

So, um,.. No.. 

 

 

With the plethora of "what would you buy with $1000" or "this person is asking $200 for this lot, how much should I offer"  These to me aren't guidance questions, they are directions.

 

Having Brickpicker do things like rate of return, the forums, the EOL discussions, it makes it really easy for people to divide the market away from the people with the knowledge/insight.

 

Now, luckily I am not the "oh my gosh, I don't have any of those, I have to buy them" type of person" I buy them sporadically as I free up cash.  

Just it's interesting that that these threads aid in the hoarding and everyone seems to be ok with that.  It's nice, but surprising, especially when a good portion of people seem to be American (capitalism rules more handedly than say in Europe)

I think somewhat outside of the corporate business world the internet resellers in all shapes and forms whether toys, electronics, etc have created social environments that lend more to comraderie and open-ness in many cases than what you would see in the "9-5 world."  I've been on a major deal site for the past 6 years that pops up deals across all ranges and people are constantly giving advice etc. even though all resellers are in "competition" in a way so to speak.  It's refreshing to get so much help on this site and have such great opportunity for everyone who really wants to learn and seek out advice. Many of the main guys on this site like Ed Mack and Emazers have been extremely open and helpful regarding intelligent steps we should take to grow our investment and or just save money through buying.

[mlussardi9614]

I bought 2 GE on monday when they they had a expected shipping date of 7/20 and they shipped out today.

[legodelorean]

I am probably going to be told I am wrong, but I do not believe the Lego LEGO Shop at Home inventory MRP management system can be so off base that unintentionally they keep making 100 available, having them go out of stock and then ordering 100 more from Denmark. It has gone in and out of stock so many times in the last week your head spins.  I think what might be possible is that since the item is near EOL, and they have a limited supply (5,000 10,000 or so) that they keep releasing batches in waves to LEGO Shop at Home for people to order.  That way rather than like on their Star Wars sales where it is all gone in 5 minutes and it is done, they are trying to spread out availability so their key customers the average user can have a chance at ordering them.  If I was them that would make sense.

You make a good point and that seems reasonable.  Why not give everyone a shot at it and spread it out instead of making it one big lump sum.  Never thought of that.

[tipup420]

Bought 1 yesterday with ship date of july 25th but it shipped today.

[Ed Mack]

(personally) I didn't join BP to learn about using liquid capital to earn better than market rates using Lego as a medium, I appreciate some perspectives and certainly tidbits from sources are useful. 

 

But I rely on my own wits and knowledge to grow the capital I have.  

 

But, as with anything, there's a learning curve.  When people can just google "lego investing" and come up with 15 facebook groups, this site and others that say "Get in the game" and have no issue asking (and getting answers to ) Tell me what to buy.

It's actually kind of refreshing, very socialist in fact.  (which is why it really surprises me)

 

When I've seen informercials saying "invest in real estate, I will show you how", the natural thing to wonder is why, if it's a good idea, do you want to further saturate the people doing it, which sort of eats into your earning possibilities.

 

Again, it's cool that people so freely share that info, but if I come across a store with a 50% sale going on (we don't get many of those in Canada), I'm not telling a bunch of friends who do the same thing until I've gotten out.  

 

I had someone who lived down the street from me say he missed the last sale on Maersk trains, would I be willing to TRADE (not even buy, he wanted to trade me for something that he had already inflated) at my cost (sale price)

So, um,.. No.. 

 

 

With the plethora of "what would you buy with $1000" or "this person is asking $200 for this lot, how much should I offer"  These to me aren't guidance questions, they are directions.

 

Having Brickpicker do things like rate of return, the forums, the EOL discussions, it makes it really easy for people to divide the market away from the people with the knowledge/insight.

 

Now, luckily I am not the "oh my gosh, I don't have any of those, I have to buy them" type of person" I buy them sporadically as I free up cash.  

Just it's interesting that that these threads aid in the hoarding and everyone seems to be ok with that.  It's nice, but surprising, especially when a good portion of people seem to be American (capitalism rules more handedly than say in Europe)

Thanks for your post.  We try to keep the site and forum very friendly and congenial...after all it is about LEGO bricks.  That being said, it is also about money and I understand some people don't like to share information with others.  As a matter of fact, some people hate this site and what we do and promote, but yet they still lurk anyway.  I like how the community comes together and shares information, sales and deals.  This is information that most would never obtain by themselves.  

 

Jeff and I hope to build a stronger community with the recent Trader option and the new Classifieds(we are waiting on a few German fellas to correct a few glitches).  I think people can work together for a common goal...making money, even though they are competitors in many circumstances.  I guess that is very "socialistic."  The President would be proud...LOL.

[No More Monkeys]

We do need some sort of incentive for posting deals... i think... motivation and all..

[sroster]

I agree, I know I owe a great deal to NMM and Pseudoty (hope I'm spelling that right) for all they have posted on the daily deals.  Never would have put together the TRU coupon stacking.  Maybe we should have a fundraiser for these guys, generate some tribute heh.

[Ciglione]

Thanks for your post.  We try to keep the site and forum very friendly and congenial...after all it is about LEGO bricks.  That being said, it is also about money and I understand some people don't like to share information with others.  As a matter of fact, some people hate this site and what we do and promote, but yet they still lurk anyway.  I like how the community comes together and shares information, sales and deals.  This is information that most would never obtain by themselves.  

 

Jeff and I hope to build a stronger community with the recent Trader option and the new Classifieds(we are waiting on a few German fellas to correct a few glitches).  I think people can work together for a common goal...making money, even though they are competitors in many circumstances.  I guess that is very "socialistic."  The President would be proud...LOL.

 

Ed, 

 

Are you talking to me?

[Darth_Raichu]

Thanks for your post.  We try to keep the site and forum very friendly and congenial...after all it is about LEGO bricks.  That being said, it is also about money and I understand some people don't like to share information with others.  As a matter of fact, some people hate this site and what we do and promote, but yet they still lurk anyway.  I like how the community comes together and shares information, sales and deals.  This is information that most would never obtain by themselves.  

 

Jeff and I hope to build a stronger community with the recent Trader option and the new Classifieds(we are waiting on a few German fellas to correct a few glitches).  I think people can work together for a common goal...making money, even though they are competitors in many circumstances.  I guess that is very "socialistic."  The President would be proud...LOL.

Let me guess, you are going to wait a bit longer no matter what happens on Sunday ;)

[Ed Mack]

Ed, 

 

Are you talking to me?

No...Jeff has to hire some outside contractors at times to expedite some of the new features.  The guys that are helping us with the Classifieds are Germans.  Either they are worried about the Russians coming and are preparing for war or they are watching reruns of the World Cup, because we have been waiting for weeks.  LOL

[Ciglione]

No...Jeff has to hire some outside contractors at times to expedite some of the new features.  The guys that are helping us with the Classifieds are Germans.  Either they are worried about the Russians coming and are preparing for war or they are watching reruns of the World Cup, because we have been waiting for weeks.  LOL

 

Ok... 

 

off the record... I am not a German.

[Ed Mack]

Ok... 

 

off the record... I am not a German.

With your name, I wouldn't think so...

[ChristopherJB]

Funny how I read here that someone doesn't want to buy this at retail? There seems to be a lot of assumptions about the GE and it's afterlife.

I also feel that there are a lot of upset people who don't want to show it but indirectly or subtly trash the GE saying its heavily hoarded, or it's performance expectations are too high. It's just an indirect way of saying "the GE won't grow in value" while hiding behind the computer saying to oneself "I didn't buy one so I need to say something to devalue this."

Lets wait and see when it goes EOL. My postings on craigslist so far is netting me $325-$330 a piece on the FB, so over 100% gains.

I expect the GE to go up in value but I won't put expectations on this. If it is $250 in Xmas, I'm cool with it. If it goes to $330, we can safely say the GE has done better than the FB in a shorter period.

Sent from my iPhone using Brickpicker

[jaisonline]

Funny how I read here that someone doesn't want to buy this at retail? There seems to be a lot of assumptions about the GE and it's afterlife.

I also feel that there are a lot of upset people who don't want to show it but indirectly or subtly trash the GE saying its heavily hoarded, or it's performance expectations are too high. It's just an indirect way of saying "the GE won't grow in value" while hiding behind the computer saying to oneself "I didn't buy one so I need to say something to devalue this."

Lets wait and see when it goes EOL. My postings on craigslist so far is netting me $325-$330 a piece on the FB, so over 100% gains.

I expect the GE to go up in value but I won't put expectations on this. If it is $250 in Xmas, I'm cool with it. If it goes to $330, we can safely say the GE has done better than the FB in a shorter period.

Sent from my iPhone using Brickpicker

My friend, you sound like you're taking this too seriously. It's a Lego set. Enjoy it. No

Need to lobby for this set . It will do fine on it's own.

It's a nice set and will appreciate steadily after the initial "pop". Everyone who posts on the site knows this. Like many sets, it is just being compared to other set in the same theme. Honestly, with the popularity and EOL performance of the modular building theme, it's a compliment to 10211.

Sent from an iPhone using the Brickpicker app

[grackleflint]

IMO, the fact that all the current trades/offers about the GE are from people who want GE's says all that needs to be said about what the majority of people believe its financial potential to be. I'd only offer a GE right now for something I really really want.

[jaisonline]

IMO, the fact that all the current trades/offers about the GE are from people who want GE's says all that needs to be said about what the majority of people believe its financial potential to be. I'd only offer a GE right now for something I really really want.

Everyone wants this set now so me we all think it's about to retire and not widely available at stores / online. This is no diff than the FB, Winter Village Cottage and Helm's Deep last yr plus 10221 this yr. This behavior happens every yr. It doesn't always reflect on the EOL ROI though. It's mainly people who didn't buy enough or any. Wouldn't you want a set so close to retirement? All the benefits of owning the set without storing it since 2010.

Sent from an iPhone using the Brickpicker app

[legodelorean]

 

Thanks for your post.  We try to keep the site and forum very friendly and congenial...after all it is about LEGO bricks.  That being said, it is also about money and I understand some people don't like to share information with others.  As a matter of fact, some people hate this site and what we do and promote, but yet they still lurk anyway.  I like how the community comes together and shares information, sales and deals.  This is information that most would never obtain by themselves.  

 

Jeff and I hope to build a stronger community with the recent Trader option and the new Classifieds(we are waiting on a few German fellas to correct a few glitches).  I think people can work together for a common goal...making money, even though they are competitors in many circumstances.  I guess that is very "socialistic."  The President would be proud...LOL.

 

I think people don't mind sharing info because we are all spread out all over the world. If we were all in one centralized location then it would be a different story. We also don't have the same deals going on in our locations. Members here are talking about 30%-50% off at Targets in their area and mine doesn't have jack on sale. Also, we won't all be selling and buying at the same time. I know that I will be holding onto a lot of the sets that I have purchased for 2-3 years.

I'm glad I found this site and many members have helped me. Thank you all and continue doing the great work you do!

[tonysbricks]

To whoever said 7 billion people means you have a huge market to sell to, how does this affect your reasoning?

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/15/income-distribution-visualizing-economics_n_3044892.html

 

Actually damnit, I googled world income infographic. The world one is so, so much worse. Let me go find it.

 

http://www.one.org/us/2014/05/20/12-data-visualizations-that-illustrate-povertys-biggest-challenges/

 

Still not what I was looking for, but some interesting info in there. Africa is by far the fastest growing population. How many GE customers do you expect it to produce in the future?

 

And look at one of the last ... if the world was 100 people, 48 would live on less than $2 USD / day. The first article I posted above shows 90% of american households are 30k or less per year.

[TheOrcKing]

All I am going to say is there is a reason why this Emporium is a Grand one. :king:

[stephen_rockefeller]

There is also a reason is has sold for above MSRP on ebay from day one.

[@rtisan]

To whoever said 7 billion people means you have a huge market to sell to, how does this affect your reasoning?

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/15/income-distribution-visualizing-economics_n_3044892.html

Haven`t seen the exact chart before, but I`m a sucker for statistics. It`s truth on a page, fact, easy to read, understand, then adjust/implement a change accordingly. 

 

Regardless, the fact that GE and sets of the like is a money maker is undisputable. If you don`t invest in sets like this for some reason, that`s perfectly ok, but it`s ridiculous when people come back and say things that are contradictory when the evidence is clearly available. Same goes for everything. 

 

Wonder if they`de wait and retire at the end of the year? Surely Lego would want Christmas sales from a set this gorgeous? 

[33Lego]

All I am going to say is there is a reason why this Emporium is a Grand one.

It is not exactly Grand.

 

Since I recall I saw a MOC of GE and that thing is indeed Grand.

[asksol]

generally european stock has different boxes(no piece count on the box for example) and different upcs so i highly doubt they are getting european stock

Pretty sure European boxes for modulara have the piece count, but I'm too lazy too check atm as that would involve opening a shipping box or go into the ... empty box storage closet *dun dun duuun*

[trekgate502]

To whoever said 7 billion people means you have a huge market to sell to, how does this affect your reasoning?

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/15/income-distribution-visualizing-economics_n_3044892.html

 

Actually damnit, I googled world income infographic. The world one is so, so much worse. Let me go find it.

 

It was me actually.  I do not believe the majority of the 7 billion will buy lego's.

That was not my intent.  I was trying to show a potential purchasing base.

I work with marketing, print and fulfillment all the time.

A 2-3% on purchasing something from direct mail is a great success rate.

I do not have illusions on the average US or Global person's individual wealth.

Especially even more so in the last few years.

I personally do not like the developing wealth disconnect in this country. For many reasons.

But I know we are supposed to keep politics off of brick picker so I will not go into this topic in depth.

 

If you read my original post here is one of the main points I was trying to state:

 

To sell 100,000 GE's out of private reseller inventory in the USA you would have to sell to 1 out of every 3,130 people even if our target audience was 313 million and not 7 billion to sell out the full inventory.

 

I doubt there is 10,000 GE's in private reseller inventory.

1 out of 3,130 is an even far less amount than the "1%" many people like to pick on.

It is actually saying only the ".00031 %" of the US population would need to buy one.

 

That all being said I was just trying to show potential distribution.  Not start a wealth distribution discussion.

 

The fact is the majority of Lego sets that I sell are $50-$300 sets and most times I do not believe they are bought by the wealthy.

 

Families of all income levels do something that many people in the US used to do, save up for something and then purchase it.