DrFrankenstein

I wouldn't buy the ones on Bricklink since they have been sitting for a long time and are likely dead at this point. Replacing the battery inside is a viable solution. Here is a helpful video from someone who did it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SAEcVq4oJY

Ok, you are right... I just checked my order history where I used VIP points and found that in 2012 I got $60 discount for using 1200 VIP points. So it's $1 to 20 points. So, everything's normal... I got confused I guess.

I was looking into my VIP Points balance on S@H (USA) and found to my great surprise that my 562 points are now worth $25 (instead of $56). I have always thought that VIP points were converted to USD at 10:1 exchange rate, but now they are 20:1. Has LEGO reduced recently the USD value of VIP points or I am missing something? I am very confused...

Collecting 26 sets for scalping is simply sick. I can only feel sorry for these lowly scalpers.

Just got word that the 41999 replacement for my polybaggilated 41999-17104 has arrived. Now I have 2 sets, which is sweet. Will have to figure out what to do with the second set when I return from my travels in November.

I would have liked to tell you to go to hell, but I won't tell you to go to hell, because I could get banned from this forum.

Just received the space polybag. Looks like S@H have learned a lesson and are shipping it in a padded envelope now. I think they could still do better and use a DVD-size envelope with the same result, but, hey, this is already a huge improvement over the sueprsized air-filled shipping boxes folks reported receiving they separately shipped polybags in.

Curiously enough, the second 41999 that I ordered on 6 August, just after I received the damaged 41999-17104, got shipped from S@H today. Yeah, baby!... Too bad I am leaving on an extended business trip and won't be around to see it until November, but heck. As for the replacement set for 41999-17104 that I returned, it is still in "Customer Service" status. But since they shipped a set to me already, I won't bug them about this one. We will just see how it will play out. Happy day, once again!

Sadly, a boycot from a handful of Eurobrick readers won't make much of a difference. BL order history shows that the set is selling like hot cakes and the average sale price is climbing (currently $383 avg with the maximum price reaching $498). Apparently, the perceived value of this set is currently at about 2x retail price, and there isn't much we can do to change this. I can't believe it that people are paying such money for it, but it's a fact. Also shocking to see a handful of sellers asking $1000-3722 http://www.bricklink...G.asp?S=41999-1 Edit: Yikes! There is one guy sitting on 5 copies of the set and asking 1400 EUR for each. Oh, the humanity! http://www.bricklink...itemID=46908690

That's exactly the thought that occurred to me when she said that I'd have to wait until Aug 22 to find out whether I will be getting a replacement or a refund. I immediately asked her if it happens that all they can do is a refund, can they at least send me the damaged set back? She said "no, once the set is damaged, we won't sell it to anyone" (whatever it could mean). I protested that this will be terrible if someone would not get a set after going through all this. She agreed and reiterated that she wasn't saying that I won't get a set, just that they don't know if they will be able to. I will give them a week worth of breathing room, and get back on the phone with them about this, since I can't accept ending up with 0 sets without any push back. Yes, I too have faith that LEGO will do what's right, even if they are hesitant to say they will. All the S@H/CS people I talked to have been very nice, so I don't have a reason to think that they will screw this one up so bad. LEGO have worked hard on building and maintaining their great reputation. It will make no sense for them to risk this negative publicity. I think LEGO know full well that a big part of what makes them great is that they are in touch with their fan base and listening to them (over the last decade, at least). I don't see Megablocks having any loyal fan sites, markets, and clubs, which make a big part of the LEGO appeal and brand value. They took a lot or risk with this set and could not have possibly anticipated what would happen. I am sure they are doing their best to manage the situation. Even with all this repackaging and what not, I think this 41999 stunt will pay off beautifully for Technic, since the (mostly positive) publicity they are getting is priceless. Never have I seen so much excitement for a LEGO set before. This is history in the making! I am glad to hear that they are looking for a way to address this problem. Please do share any new info that you get.

It's no longer on S@H for the US, so presumably all sold out. Now, I just had a chat with a lady from CS and she told me, horror of horrors, that she cannot tell me for sure whether S@H will be able to ship me a replacement for my damaged set at all. I would have to wait until 22 August, when they receive the second batch of sets, to find out whether I would be getting a set or a refund!!! When I called in yesterday to report my damaged set, the lady on the phone assured me they will send me a replacement and encouraged me to get my set back to S@H. Now the story is changing... So, there is a chance that I may end up with 0 sets at the end. What an outrage! Now I am sorry that I sent my original set back to S@H for replacement. Well, for these of you who may have one of the polybaggilated sets and are contemplating getting a replacement from LEGO... DON'T do it - you may end up with a refund at the end.

I talked to a nice lady from S@H CS. She sent me a FedEx shipping label to get the damaged set back to them for replacement. So much for this 41999-17104. I am back to zero 41999 sets. At least it's nice to know that LEGO stand behind their products and will take care of you when they screw up. I am confident that the friendly scalpers from eBay and BL are ready to help, for a "small" premium. Ok, bad joke... Which country are you in? If I end up with two sets after the dust settles (which for me could mean late November, since I am going on an extended business trip), I may be able to send you one. However, given all the uncertainties surrounding this set, you probably will be better off trying to find a friend of a friend in the USA before the backordered sets sell out. Congratulations on your 41999! I very much hope that S@H are aware by now of the unintended side effects of throwing the hot dog stand and the 41999 in the same shipping box and will do something to prevent the issue with your order.

Sorry to hear it. I have the same problem. Could I ask a few questions... Did you get the hot dog stand polybag (it has a bicycle part that is protruding no matter what)? Was the polybag placed at the bottom of the shipping box with the set box directly inverted on top of it with the lid down? Are you in the USA? Are you thinking of reporting this back to S@H? I didn't manage to call them today about my damaged box, but have it on my "to do" list for tomorrow...

I will give them a call to report the polybag damage on the box and see if they are willing to swap it. I don't want to send them the whole set since it will cost a small fortune in shipping, the seals have been broken (which may turn out to be an issue for them even if everything inside the box is intact), and I don't want to go through the whole process of getting a copy of the set with the requisite uncertainty again. I've already hedged my bets by getting in line for the backordered copies of the set. To TLG's credit, I've ordered a number of times from them before and every order arrived perfectly packaged and without damage. This is the first time I run into such issue and sadly it had to be with the one box that I truly care about having in near perfect condition - thanks, Murphy. My order must have been packed by a tired careless employee rushing to do his quota for the day and go home.

Gripes about my damaged 41999 box from poor S@H packaging technique aside, I must say that the box on this set is truly exemplary. Gives me a flashback to the 90s when the Technic boxes used to be smaller, sturdier, more luxurious looking, and dark blue colored. The current generation supersized "destroy me" air-filled Technic boxes are designed to maximize perceived value on store shelves at the expense of being practical and sturdy. For the 41999 the Technic design team managed to dodge the marketing cowboys and give us a glimpse of an alternate reality where Technic sets scream quality.