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At this rate , it will go somewhere ... South .. Lol .

My Horizons (1 shown) from the Walmart.ca craziness the other day when TH, GE, Sopwith, Horizon all popped back into stock. Looking forward to seeing what other Canadians managed to get

A short time ago in a toy store not too far away . . . I was looking at this set on Force Friday and wondering if this set was worth getting. I haven't seen Star Wars the Force Awakens yet, so I don't know if this is Poe's primary fighter, or if he loses it 20 minutes in, like Obi-Wan and Anakin in Revenge of the Sith. It's $20 more than the previous X-Wing 9493, which I felt portrayed the X-Wing adequately. I knew I was likely to get this eventually when it went on sale, but I fear I fell to the dark side. As a countdown to the Force Awakens, I will be writing at least one Star Wars review each week. REVIEW: SET DETAILS Set #: 75102 Name: Poe's X-Wing Fighter Theme: Star Wars Parts: 717 Price: $79.99 Before we get to the build, let’s talk value. At $79.99 the price per piece works out to a bit over $.11 each. This seems to be on the low average side of pricing for a licensed set. There are 4 minifigures, of which 3 are unique. (I am counting the tiny BB-8 as a minifigure. It is the only reused figure) BOX CONTENTS Some people may wind up picking up a set that is open box or, want to verify the box contents before beginning a build. For this set, there are 5 numbered baggies, a sticker sheet, and an instruction book. The instruction book is nice and thick. It's square bound: The stickers are plentiful and in some cases small, which will make some collectors unhappy. THE BUILD AND EXECUTION There are some new elements in this set. I will focus on the most obvious ones. First are the helmets. The new helmets are nice. They've got plenty of decoration and the pilot helmet has an interior piece that is transparent yellow. Now, your pilots don't need a weird orange stripe on their heads to look like they have a visor. The other new piece that I want to focus on is the cockpit canopy. This canopy has been the focus of a lot of discussion, because a production run of this set had a defective canopy. This caused a recall that created a shortage of this set initially. This part is a beautiful piece. It fits the design aesthetic of the X-Wing better than the part 30372 that has been used since set 7140 back in 1999. Bag 1 creates the utility sled, a movable ladder and the base for the X-Wing. The little cart reminds me of the larger cart that was part of the 7140 build. Neither one is integral to the overall build of the X-Wing, but add a little bit of background details for displays or dioramas. The ladder is very simple, and a great element for displays. Until now, X-Wing pilots had to either stand on other people's heads or force jump to get into their craft. Bag 2 continues to elongate the body, filling it out and developing its shape. So far, there's not a lot of difference from what I recall of the 9493 build. Bag 3 has the most pieces so far. the body is fully developed now. Long and sleek and black and orange. The pins sticking out of the back are for later, attachment points for the wings. Bag 4 we create 2 of the 4 wings. Disappointingly, the wings are not front/back like they appear in the trailers for Star Wars, they are slightly offset top/bottom. A lot has been made about the use of blue bands instead of white. For me, white would be just as jarring, red might blend in better, or black. But, honestly, I don't care about the color of that particular element Bag 5, maybe as many pieces as bag 3. You create 2 more wings, engines for all 4 and laser cannons. The interesting thing is that the 4 wings are built in different orders. In order to not seem too cookie cutter, the designers took pretty much the same pieces and had you arrange them in a different sequence to get pretty much the same result. It's amusing that they put that much effort into it. I know that each of the wings is a unique build, in like previous X-Wings that would have had 2 separate builds for offside wings, but the sections of these wings that are the same read differently. There were a lot of small extra parts, nothing really interesting, just the pieces you would probably expect. REACTION Well, it certainly is X-Wing like. I was happy that my set didn't have the defective canopy. It's a nice set, the detailing is good, and the minifigures look great. This is not an entirely successful representation of the X-Wing from the upcoming movie. Those X-Wings appear to have a truncated, snub nose compared to this much longer one. It seems to me that the designers tried to take a shortcut by starting with the 9493 build and trying to alter it. The wings don't meet in the middle and separate front/back. So, while it was an interesting build and looks good, it is not exactly what I wanted it to be. The places where it succeeds, it really hits the mark, smoother lines and better details than the 3 year old 9493. The Stud shooters on the sides of this one were slightly more successful proton torpedo launchers than the things hooked onto the side of 9493. More hidden studs should appeal to those who don't want their models to look like they are built from LEGO. FINAL THOUGHTS I frequently compared this set to previous offerings, 7140 and 9493, because some of the design aspects were direct call outs to the previous ones. Collectors have already been calling out the differences and appraising the value of this one versus the previous one. The disparity in retail price will give some pause to consumers. a 33% price hike from a similar set that was still available 1 year ago may give them pause. The price per piece is fine and shouldn't give pause. Long term value is a very hazy question. We are standing on a precipice when it comes to Star Wars sets. For 16 years sets have been produced, sometimes to coincide with the release of a film. When each new film was released, the initial offerings were fair to poor representations of the new vehicles. The majority of these sets would later be remade with new techniques and new elements and were generally better sets on subsequent offering. Now, for the foreseeable future, there will be a new Star Wars film every year. Each of those films will call for their own new offerings, whether they are remakes of older sets with different minifigures (the speculation for Rogue One is that there will be Death Star and X-Wing and TIE Fighter sets from the original trilogy time frame) or entirely original designs, there is less space to recreate sets for older movies. The Force Awakens features a variety of X-Wing fighters in a variety of colors, so we are likely to see more of the "new design" X-Wings, and if Poe appears in later episodes, he is likely to continue flying an X-Wing, so we'll probably see updates then. Updates/rehashes/re-releases are the death of long term value. The X-Wing set will probably have a huge demand for holiday 2015 with the release of the film only a week before Christmas, and the initial shortages, I can see a run on this set. I cannot see a long term investment value on this set at retail. You have to get discounts, and possibly significant ones if you want to see acceptable returns. With Episode VIII only 2 years away, the turnaround time to realize significant gains could be incredibly slim. If we assume an 18 month life span, it should retire in March 2017. If they have a Force Friday type release in September of that year, you have something like 6 months before I expect to see a new Sequel trilogy X-Wing. It's a nice, fun set. Jimmy and Johnny and even AFOLs will want it this holiday, so QFLLs might have a field day in the weeks before Christmas. It looks good with 9493 and will be more in demand as the Star Wars hype reaches fever pitch. The new characters Poe and BB-8 will be fairly popular for at least the short term. COMPARISON I decided to take some pictures so that you could see what the 75102 and 9493 look like together. You can see the similarities and the differences. View full blog article

I have sold many empty boxes for a lot of money, so that is not wrong to do (many buyers want them). To ban a seller for having an item in a category that might not be correct (and could also have been an accident) is crazy (unless there is a pattern of deception). Especially when you are also stating that a buyer shouldn't need to be responsible enough to read a listing to find out exactly what they are buying.

Do you see any other brick pickers? They'll be easy to spot, they'll have mustaches & glasses. Some with fake noses...

Nope, these are not meant as investments. After all I'm not here only as an investor, but also as an AFOL who just came out of his Dark Age, and these purchases are all meant as either personal buys for building and enjoying, or serving as gifts for children's birthdays. When I showed this 30% discount offer to my wife, who hasn't been much interested in LEGO, she really liked the Changing Seasons set and the Heartlake Shopping Mall set. Hope she'll enjoy building them so much that she'll become more of a Lego fan too, and make it easier for me to justify my Lego investment purchases.

The world's most recognizable energy company has constructed a massive industrial facility to store oil and petrochemical products for your energy needs! Add this realistic fuel terminal and storage facility to your train layout for an authentic industrial district. The design consists of easy to source, common parts with economic design to help create a sophisticated, professional, clean construction. The layout borrows real pipework engineering with large storage tanks, buffer tanks, bridging pipes for train and marine setups, underground field units and terminal pipeline to a tanker truck fueling station.

Why would this listing be pulled? They are quite clear about what this is. They state 3 times, including the title, that it's the box only. There is a market for empty boxes so I'm not sure why people are so worked up about it. Is the price high? Sure, but so are a lot of listings for all sorts of things. I throw my empties away and would never sell a box, but people do want them, so why would I hate on this guy?

Chima fire bike was exclusive for a bit

Hmmmm...

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jimdalrympleii/des-monuments-du-monde-entier-ont-ete-illumines-en-bleu-blan

Because we don't have TRU credit cards? I guess if you're a big time TRU shopper it makes good business sense, but as a casual buyer intend to stay with my main cc which has its own rewards/cash back program.

My prayers to all affected by such senseless violence. This site is the closest I have to friends in the European continent. I always look at the flags of those who have posted before and I after and a site like this makes the world a smaller place. Tragedies like this bring us closer together as a community as we realize and are continually reminded that there are people who want to jeopardize our freedoms as human beings, citizens, families and friends. Well, I'm not going to stop enjoying my personal freedoms of travel, free speech, religious freedom, working, gathering in public spaces, raising a family, and having an opinion different than someone else's. And I embrace the facts that others have different opinions and are entitled to them as well. My beliefs are one of tolerance and acceptance. I am in an interracial marriage. I have cousins who are in committed same sex relationships, My family includes native Americans, African Americans, Caucasian Americans, and who knows what else makes up the pedigree of mutts that we are. I have had lunch with folks from South Africa and Canada in the last two weeks. I embrace the differences that makes the population of the world from Russia to Argentina but I really wish I could understand what makes those that commit these acts justified in a way that makes any sense to the rest of the world and to the families of those who died in another senseless act of terrorism and brutality. Until then, my prayers are with all of Paris and Europe on this sad day and to everyone who has ever been impacted by a senseless act of terrorism.

A couple of months ago we had a local department store that had a pricing error. These retail for $90AUD and we could pick them up for $55AUD a week after their release. Think I grabbed about 6 or 7 for Xmas

Bought today on discount for €35. :-)

"I know that the forum is more about having fun than about serious stuff (other than business) but I wanted to bring this to everybodys attention:" Folks, my heart is with people of Paris and those impacted. However, there are other web sites out there more suited for this subject. Additionally, this is front page news everywhere already. Does it really need to be discussed here? (I'm not asking for a reply) So the mods will allow this topic for now but unlike 99% of the existing forums!, this will be "closely" moderated. If it gets out of hand, the entire thread will prob get deleted.

This post should be moved to "you know you are a LEGO investor if...." you need to justify the reason for your purchase with if I don't buy it surely someone else would have.

I hardly ever see flat rate as savings for LEGO sets. 1 of these sets should ship first class for sure. I just shipped a turkey (40091) in an 8x6x4" box for $2.74 and that'd be the same anywhere in the US. My 4 Bricktobers in a set from CA to KY was $8.99 Priority Mail, so in most cases, that should save over the medium flat-rate if you bundle the seasonals.

they have been jumping now but peak prices will be around BF to Dec 12th or so. Get a little lull from 13-20th from my experience and then the last minute panic buyers after that. I try to have the bulk of my sales done by the Mid December though. Nothing good comes from last minute shoppers when UPS and USPS don't make it on time. You take the brunt of the backlash. Just to put in perspective sold 1812 items on my LEGO account in October and through today am at 1185 sold items in 13 days (on pace for 2734) and the last 5 days will be even more of a pace so wouldn't hurt to get your listings up now, can always adjust prices as you get closer to the end of peak time.

You are probably referring to something called a "monobrand" store. These are only in countries that don't have a LBR (Lego Brand Retail) store, and are sort of a franchise. Some countries have restrictive rules about foreign companies opening businesses, so local businesses are partnered with. Or challenges with product import that a native business can overcome. Or a market just too small to be worthwhile for Lego to support directly. There are none in the US, nor will there ever be any.

Sellers like that should be banned from ebay. This has been my problem with my ebay for a while. It makes it like browsing a junk store filled with scam artist, and lowlifes. Removing things like this will make ebay a better place for those that don't scam and don't pull slimeballish tactics like that. Ebay continues to slide down hill, and its because of things like that. While, the buyer should have read the description, they probably thought they were getting a fire brigade for 150.00. Still… thats a slimeballish move by the seller. Pure sucker bait.

I am very happy with 75111. Looks great and is on display at my office. Had some good comments about it. The general is next to build. The others like thoroakenfelder posted in his review look a bit cheap. Dutch review here

no, but I ordered 5 & the 4 I sell will pay for the one I plan to keep for my winter village. I ordered these along with 5 Winter Fun sets so I also got a train (and double points). So I saw these more as an easy way to get some freebies for myself rather than a way to make some money. In the end I spent $100 & will have netted 3 free sets & 200 VIP points.

Lana....Lana....Lana....LANA!!!!!! WHAT?! Danger Zone!

I know that the forum is more about having fun than about serious stuff (other than business) but I wanted to bring this to everybodys attention: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34814203 For most here this might be far far away but for me it's my neighbourcountry. I've been to Paris several times (the city not people with stupid names) and thinking of how out of nowhere these attacks have been it's just shocking and frightening. There is not better reason than luck that I haven't been there. I'm sure after 9/11 U.S.Americans are (over)sensitive to that matter as well and having had the Boston attacks (and others) that's a topic that might be of interest to everyone. In Germany we didn't have that many attacks till now and I'm really hoping that it stays that way. On the other hand the fear is growing. I'm probably moving to Berlin soon and being the capital of Germany that's a likely target. Other than the many unnecessary deaths we have to mourn right now these actions will also affect how people see refugees and other people of foreign origin, especially muslims, thus increasing the xenophobia. I hate how helpless and powerless we are in this situation. And I am sure I'm not the only one here who is struggling with emotions when it comes to that topic. I'm sad for the loss of so many lives. I'm sad for so much hatred and misunderstanding. Hope we'll find some solution someday and that the people in power will actually do something other than building higher boarders.

For all of you in south central NJ and the Philly suburbs, a new LEGO store will be opening in the Cherry Hill Mall. Finally I get a LEGO store 20 minutes from my house. Might look to get a job there!

Isd for 71$. Tru

I will be pushing an update to the price guide page within the next two days that will add back some of the missing features that were ther before. I will checkover the design on smaller ipads to look for spacing issues.

Sure, some boxes do sell for big money and I have bought them in the past, but the FB box is not one of them.

18 minifigs for the Disney Series ! Seems regular minifigs, yes ! According to a catalog : "In May, guarantee nostalgic effect with a new set under licenses that will delight young and old" translated from the French by google... http://www.brickpirate.net/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=18228&start=20

Free polys stacked for me this week, so it was decent with TRUTH, TRUST, and coupons.

With a current ~$100 buy-in, easy availability, and the set marked "sold out" in the US and "retired" in the EU, this is pretty much a no-brainer. I'd guess you're looking at a 50-60% bump as soon as stock is depleted in the US. It's rare we get a decent-sized SW set like this as retired/sold out and still see substantial discounts from MSRP and easy acquisition. This kind of opportunity is not an every-month occurrence in our little hobby.* Figure this as a $200 set by next summer, especially if the movie is a big hit and not a dog (see: Ep I-II-III). *even a few slow-selling dogs bought at 50%+ off MSRP early this year have appreciated nicely in the last 6 months for a healthy return. A few good examples are Mechdragon (bought for $17 at TRU and now selling for $40+) and 4204 The Mine (bought for $50 at TRU, and clearing $100 today). Even the Jedi Cruiser - bought at $57 from TRU back in February, is starting to clear $90+ on eBay, with some very recent BIN sales at $99. All good stuff.

My wife was there with my son and they just left and said forget it. They were looking for something to do, so I told them to check it out. The line is hundreds of people long, most of it is filled with "loser" resellers with no kids. Get a life people! On a more serious note, LEGO needs to come up with a better solution for these grand openings. Make it an all day event with some sort of voucher for a free set later. Having a line all the way through the mall is great publicity, but it will piss off more customers than it will make happy.

***Congratulations on 7000 posts. Seems to be fine now; I just printed my weekend labels with no delays.

Sit back and watch closely...

I go to home bargains and B&M. They sell a huge amount of toys so have loads of various size strong boxes for free

I just spent nearly €180 in the Kruidvat webshop and that is after more than €75 discount, ha ha ha.

The takeaway from this topic....even the original trilogy was flawed.

I think there was another thread, but not sure where it is so I will post here since it is still relevant. Got the book today and it is honestly it was beyond my expectations. This thing is a real book with awesome sets. I haven't read everything, but I find myself skimming and reading, skimming and reading. So many sets I never thought about or totally missed. Great job guys, if you didn't pick it up, you should. I would of thought that hundreds if not thousands of Brickpickers would have purchased this and been talking about it.

I think that's the one Terry bought with his Lego $$$.

That´s a very valid reason for selling it. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

So when will TRU realize that resellers are the the ones keeping them afloat (barely) 10 months out of the year ?

happy with 4 bucks per set, x200 min of each one x 6 sets a year. 1200x4 = 4800 still selling last years as well. put up all of them and all in bulk, be surprised how many buy 2,4 or more. Thats where you knock that $4 margin up not sure what people would expect out of $9-10 set while its available, and possibly coming back later down the road...

Possibly a good excuse to re-make the ISD in 10030 UCS style, I'd love to see that over another playset version.

If I had to guess, I would say that TLG misjudged demand for these sets and had production tied up with other items when the level of demand became apparent. Now, they're catching up to demand. This makes a lot more sense than them trying to screw resellers or retiring a wildly popular line after only a few months.