winbrant

My understanding that the 22nd has two "VIP" things. First is the VIP Invite, which happens an hour before the store opens. This is usually privy to LEGO swag and the 2nd Holiday Set. Last year there was a scratch card as well. Then there is the VIP event which is during regular hours, as posted on the calender (VIP Invite is never posted). They were quite vague on the details but there may be swag and/or points (2xVIP?). And, yes, I miss how they replaced that free PaB box after $75 with a calender. Those boxes made great stocking stuffers!

From the timeframe (and price threshold) I am thinking the calender (with coupons) replaces the Pick-a-Brick boxes.

Each of the bags have a series of bumps. However, this varies from lot to lot (also printed on the bottome bag seal and the box)...so not really unique to the Series. I've seen 6-7 different lot numbers now in my area and different bump codes for the same figure. In addition, the bumps are sometimes faint depending on the process. And some are indented inward or outward. I usually only use the bump pattern if I've identified what I want in a box and then quickly go through the box looking for that one fig...but verify by feel. I had hear a bright flashlight up the seam could be used for Series 10 (gold packaging) but seemed more trouble than it was worth.

3 : 10 10 : 6 2 : 4 1 : 3 9 : 2 6 :1

Our group held our 2nd show this past weekend in Calgary, Brick Roundup. It went quite well despite the new venue and the weather. Just sharing some pictures from the show.

Knowing the Ellen show she probably got more than what they bought :)

it was one thing to just see the head/dome at Calgary EXPO earlier this year but not that it's completed...wow! Hope to see this at a show next year as it looks too big for a meeting LOL!

19126...1st one from The LEGO Store at Chinook! Special thanks to the staff for the heads up!

I figure there might also be an issue with the Quebec Language Laws as well.

For those in the Calgary area today (February 9th, 2013 Brick Roundup at the Acadia Rec Centre. Our AFOL group (SALUG) has been working on hosting a show and this is our first solo- event!

Went in today to pick up my pre-order and was told that there was a distribution problem and that no TRU in Canada would be receiving these until next week now. Also advised they had more than enough Elrond's to fill these pre-orders. Also just saw on another website that XBOX360 units had demo discs in the case instead...

Nice...they also look inspired by the defunct Hasbro Galactic Heroes line...if only they came out with the TIE! Nice work!

"But close to half of you have a bachelor degree or more"...which might as well also read "less than half"...so...some of this majority didn't complete their degree? Gotta write/pander to the lowest common denominator...

LEGO store here in Calgary has LOTR, Monster Fighters and some summer City and Creator on the shelf...went up on May 16th.

Found 2 Fresh boxes of Series 7 on the shelf today at Airdrie Wal*Mart Supercentre.

This has been released in Europe already? At a LEGO store, I presume. Can't wait until they show up around here!

20 points is $1 so in theory the 250 additional points is $12.50...but it seems, from my experience, for every 100 points they will add $5 to your redemption balance...no incrementals. So If you bought it outside the 2x points and you haven't been carrying a balance you'll only see a redemption balance of $10. If you up that purchase to $300 you'll see a redemption balance of $15. My purchase, with double points, got me 500 points, or $25. Buying LEGO Stateside will always work out in your favour.

I'm not sure if it's the stores up here but there was a while when stores got a large number of boxes for series 4 and 5...and maybe as a knee-jerk reaction of being unprepared for the success of Series 1 and 2. Heck, there are still stores up here with Series 5. Anyhow, I've been to 4 Wal*Marts here now where they would only have 2 boxes of Series 6...as opposed to the 8-12 they had for Series 4 or 5. While I believe there is "over saturation" I also wonder if retailers are getting tired of these and feel their time is done and rather devote shelf space to other items? I'd be all for LEGO reducing this to 2 Series per year...especially in light of all the other offerings this year (i.e. Superheroes and LOTR) and the increasing prices of others (i.e. SW).

Did use the "feeling method" on the initial 16 but when going for the rest of the box for additional ones noticed that the bump codes are now more obscure...more "shallow" and in some cases..."smudged"...also like they went through another heat seal to "flatten them out."

Found 2 boxes on the shelf here at Wal*Mart in Calgary. Did use the "feeling method" on the initial 16 but when going for the rest of the box for additional ones noticed that the bump codes are now more obscure...more "shallow" and in some cases..."smudged"...also like they went through another heat seal to "flatten them out."

They might but a number of Wal*Marts in our area have the new plan-o-grams out so they are just re-setting their toy departments so these holes might stay open for a bit longer. I know Friends were being put on endcaps as there was no set room for these as per yet in their new home (girls section...should be with LEGO ). Did notice that some Wal*Marts are breaking embargo on the new SW Darth Maul packaging in the boys section...having seen new 3-3/4 battlepacks, Lightsabers, and SW Fighter Pods (Squinkies).

No idea how large a lot is...it also depends on how it is distributed from LEGO as well. The 8 lots I came across were from various 3 Wal*Mart Supercentres and 4 Chapters Book locations. One Wal*Mart had 3 different lots (stamped on the bottom of the package seal and the bottom of the box)! I did 34 dwarves for a friend when I made this observation.

As the bump codes are specific to a lot number it's hard to use any published bump codes...when one is initially looking for a particular mini-fig. That being said, once you know what the bump code is for, say, a particular mini-fig, it does make it a lot easier to go through any boxes with the same lot stamp to visually pull out any multiples and then use the feel method to confirm. With Series 5 I came across about 8 lots numbers and for the most part the bump codes differed slightly or entirely from lot to lot.

Found this detail in another forum (SALUG) Clarification from Kevin Hinkle, LEGO North America Community Coordinator: "Good Morning LEGO Fans, Please allow me to provide a bit of information and clarification on the upcoming LEGO Brand Retail “Brick Friday” VIP Preshop event. As some of you are aware, a handful of fans who are in close proximity to our stores have received invitations to attend an exclusive “invitation-only holiday shopping event.” I have reached out to the Brand Retail team here in Enfield in order to obtain and share the following information to help clarify why some received these invitations and others did not: Q: How were the VIP members chosen? A: They were selected on the basis they were in the top 25 VIP members for their local store based on engagement and purchases since joining LEGO VIP and part of the top 5% of VIPs globally. Q: What about VIP members who didn’t get an invite? A: All LEGO VIPs will be allowed early access through Shop.LEGO.com on Saturday, November 19th so even if they did not receive a LEGO Store invite, they will still be able to shop early and receive all of the Black Friday deals and promotions. Q: What type of specials are the LBR Stores offering for “Brick Friday?” A: · 10% off of all purchases over $149. · Free Gift with Purchase Holiday Set 2 (http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=3300002-1) with purchases over $99‐ Limit one per person. · Free Holiday Pick-a-Brick Box with purchases over $75. · Pull Cards (scratch cards) for all guests, increments of 10%, 25% & 50% off entire purchase. · The Holiday Gift with Purchase Set 1 (http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=3300020-1) on sale for $9.99 during the event.

I know of someone that got a VIP invitation to the LEGO store here in Calgary.