Flieger Posted January 16, 2015 Posted January 16, 2015 Lego and its distributors most likely simply underestimated the popularity of the Hobbit-sets. In earlier December the stores in Berlin had them, but some already did not sell the larger BotFA sets. After Christmas, (after I had seen the movie and wanted more), the stores of the city looked like robbed of Hobbit-sets. And I looked around a lot, in many stores. Even the Lego store only had some Lake Towns left iirc. It seems Lego never produced and/or distributed many sets, which would explain the current situation. A shame Lego apparently had little confidence in this line. Quote
MAB Posted January 16, 2015 Posted January 16, 2015 (edited) An alternative is that stores do not want them, given the past discounting needed to get rid of many of the sets in earlier waves. They may have already had agreements in place to take them, which would explain some stores having them earlier. But then not re-ordered once the small quantities they had were gone. Edited January 16, 2015 by MAB Quote
Hypernova888 Posted January 16, 2015 Posted January 16, 2015 Yes, but who wants to pay full price? I ordered a set for 118 including shipping. I am going to sell off the unwanted parts and just keep Smaug. Anyway, I still cannot understand why there is so little Hobbit Lego on the market here. I wanted to pay full price. It's a little ridiculous being annoyed about how few shops have it where you live, while ignoring the obvious shopping choice. Quote
AFOLguy1970 Posted January 16, 2015 Posted January 16, 2015 Few would want to pay full price for the Lonely Mountain, but I bought it back in October for double VIP points figuring that it might be harder to get during the holidays if the movie was successful. I only ever saw the set in Toys R Us and the Lego Store. $130 is overpriced, yet most of us would hate to be without a Smaug or the iconic location of Erebor. Since it is not in large quantities anywhere I know of, the recommendation would be to not expect it to go on sale and buy it when you can if you desire to have the set. Quote
Wardancer Posted January 16, 2015 Posted January 16, 2015 Well, I don't mind paying full price usually for smaller sets, but 130 is a lot when you actually only want the dragon. Now I paid 118 and hope to get 85 for the set and the figs. Quote
Flieger Posted January 16, 2015 Posted January 16, 2015 An alternative is that stores do not want them, given the past discounting needed to get rid of many of the sets in earlier waves. They may have already had agreements in place to take them, which would explain some stores having them earlier. But then not re-ordered once the small quantities they had were gone. Possible! I just hope the sets stay available at least in the Lego Stores. Once Lego discontinues the sets, their prices are going to be even higher - and I do have some gaps to fill, still. Well, I don't mind paying full price usually for smaller sets, but 130 is a lot when you actually only want the dragon. Now I paid 118 and hope to get 85 for the set and the figs. Funny, I only wanted set and the minifigs, but I did not care for Smaug... Perhaps I will sell him later (when the sets are discontinued ). Quote
LegoThomas Posted January 16, 2015 Posted January 16, 2015 Lucky me. I bought the lonely mountain 20% off at galeria in germany. Quote
Hypernova888 Posted January 17, 2015 Posted January 17, 2015 Well, I just bought The Lonely Mountain three months ago when it came out in October. The only BotFA set I'm missing is WKB. Quote
mrbean Posted January 17, 2015 Posted January 17, 2015 Recently I managed to buy Lonely Mountain and Battle of 5 armies for 20% off at Walmart, in store. Still need to get Lake town and Witch king battle, and then I'll have the full middle earth theme to date. Quote
Vorkosigan Posted January 18, 2015 Posted January 18, 2015 Was surprised to see that that my local Target just put out Hobbit sets for the first time a week or so ago. Seems like quite strange timing. They only have BoFA and Lake Town. I haven't seen any other hobbit sets locally except for TRU. Quote
atreyu2112 Posted January 19, 2015 Posted January 19, 2015 Both my local TRU have all BotFA sets, MEA, WB, PSA, BG & even saw a BE. 3 local Targets have all BotFA sets EXCEPT TLM. My area Walmarts have NOTHING in any of the toy aisles, no joke. Quote
LEGOmania-Workshop Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 The goblin king is too obese and the minifig is just bad. So they need to get their game together! Quote
kevkipo Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 The goblin king is too obese and the minifig is just bad. So they need to get their game together! Isn't he obese in the movie... Quote
legofreak86 Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 Isn't he obese in the movie... He's identical to the figure in the movie. Quote
kevkipo Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 He's identical to the figure in the movie. Correctemundo Quote
TheLegoDr Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 Overall they've done well with figures in this line. The sets are hit/miss. I think the new movies weren't as good as they could/should have been, so that probably hurt sales (if others thought like me). Granted, I still want the sets and genuinely like the sets. Middle Earth LEGO was my favorite theme, but it wasn't handled properly. With that said, it definitely has been difficult seeing the sets available near me. Granted, I don't have a LEGO store near me (~3 hours away). But I've only ever seen the smaller 3 at ONE Target, and the Smaug set at TRU (of which I went there in mid December). I have yet to see any really since then. And of course nothing ever at Wal-Mart. Either they have sold the small amounts the stores purchased, the stores didn't get enough in initially, or they just didn't get any in because of lackluster sales records with the theme. Granted, Chima is constantly discounted and they keep getting new sets of that. Tough to say with these decisions. But I'd love to get Smaug and the figures, but I didn't care much for the set AND it was definitely too expensive for what you get. Yes, large molded figures will take lots of money to make, but if the 10 cents/piece rule applies (which I know it isn't exact for all sets), then basically Smaug is going for $50 just in that set alone...which sadly is still cheaper than what eBay thinks. Quote
Balbo Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 (edited) Reading all those Toy Fair Reports about the new sets from other themes makes me as Middle Earth fan really sad. In the last years we always heard descriptions about the upcoming Hobbit/LotR waves.... but now there's just silence and I start realizing more and more that the long journey, which began in 2012, is over now. Like Sam said in RotK: "Yes Mr. Frodo... It's over now" :( Edited January 20, 2015 by Balbo Quote
legofreak86 Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Bad news....Bain is the blu ray figure, along with a repack bard: http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Hobbit-Battle-of-Five-Armies-Blu-ray/123078/ Quote
Blakstone Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Why is that bad news though? I thought we expected Bain that way. A reissue of Bard is unexpected though. That way it is two minifigs for that price instead of one. Quote
Faefrost Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 With that said, it definitely has been difficult seeing the sets available near me. Granted, I don't have a LEGO store near me (~3 hours away). But I've only ever seen the smaller 3 at ONE Target, and the Smaug set at TRU (of which I went there in mid December). I have yet to see any really since then. And of course nothing ever at Wal-Mart. Either they have sold the small amounts the stores purchased, the stores didn't get enough in initially, or they just didn't get any in because of lackluster sales records with the theme. Granted, Chima is constantly discounted and they keep getting new sets of that. Tough to say with these decisions. I think what it is is Target and Walmart are getting very leery of stocking sets above the $99 price point unless they come from certain proven lines. Mainly City and Star Wars. Notice how careful Lego has been to keep certain other lines flagship sets below that price point? Friends, Chima, super Heroes. If you also look the Ninjago Battle for Ninjago City set is also fairly unseen at Target and Walmart. Quote
legofreak86 Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) Why is that bad news though? I thought we expected Bain that way. A reissue of Bard is unexpected though. That way it is two minifigs for that price instead of one. Cause its a boring useless figure not based on Battle Of The Five armies that we already have one of and a Bolg or Old Bilbo or even Thorin in chainmail would've been more fitting for the final ever middle earth film home video release. Bain is hardly even in the movie, thorin is its central character, bolg is one of the central antagonists, kids will probably barely remember Bain, they'll buy it for bard as you can only get him in the £60 set.It is a nifty, cheap way to get Bard though I have to admit which is good for those who missed the main set. Maybe if they'd differentiated him from the one we got, maybe given him the burnt face from laketown as later in the battle he looks like that, that would've been a nice variant but oh well, i'll just stick with the standard blu ray. Do you know what woulv'e been cool, they could've included two figures with each variant cover, standard could have the thorin and Bilbo poster and have Chainmail Thorin and mithril Bilbo, 3D could be Thranduil and Legolas and have Thranduil (armour) and Legolas (casual gear from BO5A), then retail exclusive is bard and bain. That would have been cool. Edited January 21, 2015 by legofreak86 Quote
MAB Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Why is that bad news though? I thought we expected Bain that way. A reissue of Bard is unexpected though. That way it is two minifigs for that price instead of one. Well the set is Blu-ray plus DVD plus Digitial, so it is likely to be expensice - two minifigs for the price of five :-) Quote
SMC Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 ^ And wont be available in Europe so 2 figures for the price of ten. Quote
Elrond Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) Getting Bard with Bain makes a little more sense at least but yeah, it still is a lame exclusive minifig. Edited January 21, 2015 by Elrond Quote
Blakstone Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 Cause its a boring useless figure not based on Battle Of The Five armies that we already have one of and a Bolg or Old Bilbo or even Thorin in chainmail would've been more fitting for the final ever middle earth film home video release. Bain is hardly even in the movie, thorin is its central character, bolg is one of the central antagonists, kids will probably barely remember Bain, they'll buy it for bard as you can only get him in the £60 set.It is a nifty, cheap way to get Bard though I have to admit which is good for those who missed the main set. Maybe if they'd differentiated him from the one we got, maybe given him the burnt face from laketown as later in the battle he looks like that, that would've been a nice variant but oh well, i'll just stick with the standard blu ray. Do you know what woulv'e been cool, they could've included two figures with each variant cover, standard could have the thorin and Bilbo poster and have Chainmail Thorin and mithril Bilbo, 3D could be Thranduil and Legolas and have Thranduil (armour) and Legolas (casual gear from BO5A), then retail exclusive is bard and bain. That would have been cool. I only meant we knew that we were going to get that Bain for a while now. So the revelation that it was combined with Bard doesn't make it any worse... to me at any rate. I would rather they put it with the Extended Edition instead. But this was expected. Quote
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