just to close the loop
I ended up driving the 30min to the store. It was well stocked...pretty much everything I could think of on the shelves. Seeing in-person the Loop coaster was nice...as well as Optimus.
Anyhoo, they had a large Hogwarts available but the box was maybe a 7...so i asked if there was a better one in the back...rep went to check...came out and was about to pull it out of the shipper box and I jump at him to stop..."I'll take it in the box!"
Blew a bunch of VIP pts to get the $100 credit. Got my staircase and the polybag. If these sell for going...that's almost $200 off plus the $50 the price will increase to in August...[in my mind, I'm patting myself on the back; I knew eventually I would get a nice box for "the vault" anyway]
was planning to hit the jamba juice [promised the boy after getting his braces attached today] and then try for another staircase wearing a hat and jacket...but the kid's braces bracket came off so I had to rush back to the ortho.
-back story: so i originally bought a large Hogwarts at RRP for a self-B-day present a few years ago; sold it during Covid for $600. Got another one when rumor of a retirement arose (but had the "sticker" version and a meh box).