Went to the local Lego Store today, first time since COVID-19 hit (about 9 months).  Store has entrance that is outdoors...not part of a mall or other indoor stores.  It is in a strip mall, bunch of stores all next to each other.  They would only allow 2 customers in the store at a time, they had two cash registers set up.  Store was about 1/2 stocked.  I went to get the Ideas tree house...left with the Ideas pirate ship.  Store was busy, had to wait outside maybe 10 mins.  Employees look somewhat stressed, could tell changes were difficult for everyone.  Pick a brick wall was very limited....this was odd as usually my store has some good items to pick from.  Thought I would share my experience.

For those wondering, the tree house was out of stock.  Always wanted a Lego pirate ship (only been in the hobby a few years).  Was holding off on getting this set as bit expensive and a lot of the parts are for the island build that I'm not very interested in.  Expecting as usually to fall in love with this set once build and keep it in the wrecked form.  Seams like this happens to me a lot.  As an example, have the old haunted house (monster fighters).  When purchased planned on rebuilding into a non run down building.....once build kinda liked the run down look and has stayed this way ever since.

Lines. Half stocked. Two in the store at a time.

Eh, can just wait for Shop@Home to ship and that ChAdOx1 AZD1222. Stick me now!

Just a few days ago I went to the LEGO store in King of Prussia mall.

Pick a Brick wall was done by asking an employee to get the bricks. 

I was most surprised to find the NES in stock and I was very tempted to get one, given that it is on backorder on lego.com and hard to find. Quite a few large sets like Hogwarts, Lamborghini Sion, Statue of Liberty, Liebherr Dozer were in stock. I think I saw the Barracuda Bay set in stock too but it might've been a different pirate ship (bad memory)

Edited August 25, 20204 yr by jxu

Yes, S@H is always an option.  For me, I like to look at the sets/boxes in person to get a better feel on what I might light.  Sometimes hard to tell by looking at a picture on the computer.  Also like to purchase at my local store to help with their revenue.  Buying from S@H goes into the general sales.

I like my local store.  Try to support it keep it around.

11 hours ago, LegoDW said:

Yes, S@H is always an option.  For me, I like to look at the sets/boxes in person to get a better feel on what I might light.  Sometimes hard to tell by looking at a picture on the computer.  Also like to purchase at my local store to help with their revenue.  Buying from S@H goes into the general sales.

I like my local store.  Try to support it keep it around.

Ditto. I just wish I had one closer. Round trip is about 4 hours(but so worth it). I mainly like going there, other than the PaB & BaM, is because I hate waiting for shipping. I become so impatient it’s embarrassing. Constantly refreshing get tracking page & perking up whenever a FedEx truck drives by...

Most of stores are closed now. Unfortunatelly...

Stores in Cleveland and Columbus (Ohio, USA) are both open.  The Cleveland store was much more inviting.  You could go in, shop around as usual.  If you wanted a PAB cup, the clerk would use a large spoon to scoop the pieces in the cup for you.  They put an extra scoop of whatever you want in the bag (after the cup was full) to account for the fact that you cannot stack or efficiently pack the cup.  I bought a cup because they currently have 1x6 sand green bricks (yay!).  

In Columbus, the store was much more restrictive.  They had a table set up at the door, and only allow a few people in at a time.  You get put on a list and they will text you when it's your turn to enter.  This particular mall also has a Legoland Discover Center with a store.  So I just shopped there and bought the Ideas Treehouse (sorry Lego brand store, you didn't get my business that day).  I never did enter the Lego brand store because I didn't feel like waiting, so I don't know how they handle the PAB wall.  

Both stores seemed well-stocked.

I went to the Glendale, CA one a few months ago after things started to open up. They know me there haha. Bought my Treehouse set. This was months after quarantine started (we can discuss effectiveness elsewhere), but I was very happy with how the store did everything regarding sales for the time. And then evbeything had to shut down again for California. We finally opened up (partly) a few months ago and I went to the Topanga location for the Pirates of Barracuda Bay set since they had it in stock. Curbside handoff went very well.

I normally go to Glendale for my purchases as it is slightly closer and I'm more familiar with it, but Topanga had the CMFs divided into what minifigures they thought they were, and they nailed it on the ones I bought.

Of course it's not the same as feeling my way through, but LEGO has done a very good job of adapting to this compared to other stores/brands, in my opinion.

We were on vacation in Denmark recently - on the island Fanoe, this is what we do since about 45 years. You need to take a ferry to get there (only 12 minutes one-way, but it makes a very big difference, traffic wise).

Fanoe is about 60 km away from Billund ... in contrast to Germany, masks are not mandatory in Denmark (but I do like to protect others and wear them anyway, who the hell knows what I am carrying around without knowing!), only number of people restrictions (i.e., you have to wait when it comes near to park closure - during the day you can go in and out as you wish). The store is fully stocked, PaB is almost at full speed as well (gloves required etc.).

Denmark is very low on Covid19 cases, takes serious measures at its borders - but most importantly: People do behave. It was so nice to see care and respect.

All the best
Thorsten

21 hours ago, KotZ said:

Curbside handoff went very well.

The Glendale store is also my 'home' store, greetings from the valley. But how did that curbside setup work at Topanga? Like how did you find out what was in stock and do the transaction? Was it entirely from your car/not going into the mall?

Also very cool they sorted the blind bags out.

3 hours ago, koalayummies said:

The Glendale store is also my 'home' store, greetings from the valley. But how did that curbside setup work at Topanga? Like how did you find out what was in stock and do the transaction? Was it entirely from your car/not going into the mall?

Also very cool they sorted the blind bags out.

Yay another fellow Californian!

Curbside worked fantastically. Topanga has two or three zones set up with a specific location for each store in the mall. Since you couldn't even walk into the mall, I just called the LEGO store to ask what was in stock, found out what they had, and then went to pick it up same day. They took payment over the phone. And yeah, entirely through the car. I parked in a designated area and gave a description of my car, met the clerk and they put the set in my backseat. Really nice as I prefer Gelndale but Topanga was great for this.

Topanga store went and sorted out the bags, but not Glendale, interestingly.

17 hours ago, KotZ said:

Yay another fellow Californian!

Curbside worked fantastically. Topanga has two or three zones set up with a specific location for each store in the mall. Since you couldn't even walk into the mall, I just called the LEGO store to ask what was in stock, found out what they had, and then went to pick it up same day. They took payment over the phone. And yeah, entirely through the car. I parked in a designated area and gave a description of my car, met the clerk and they put the set in my backseat. Really nice as I prefer Gelndale but Topanga was great for this.

Topanga store went and sorted out the bags, but not Glendale, interestingly.

That's really great info I had no idea they were doing that. Thanks! What about Cinnabon; then it'll be like a normal Lego store trip for me.

And yeah I thought there had to be some Angelenos on EB. Its good to know!

1 hour ago, koalayummies said:

That's really great info I had no idea they were doing that. Thanks! What about Cinnabon; then it'll be like a normal Lego store trip for me.

And yeah I thought there had to be some Angelenos on EB. Its good to know!

Mmmmmmmm, that sounds like the perfect LEGO trip. I’ll have to check if the malls I frequent have one! 

11 hours ago, Vindicare said:

Mmmmmmmm, that sounds like the perfect LEGO trip. I’ll have to check if the malls I frequent have one! 

Lol it really is! The store I usually go to has a Cinnabon/Auntie Anne's combo in-between the parking garage and Lego. I don't think I've had either since 2019.

1 hour ago, koalayummies said:

Lol it really is! The store I usually go to has a Cinnabon/Auntie Anne's combo in-between the parking garage and Lego. I don't think I've had either since 2019.

Ah, that’ll do it. My LEGO-less store mall here has a Cinnabon & I swear, that smell hits you a mile away. Passing by one en route to the LEGO store...how could you not stop? 

17 hours ago, Vindicare said:

Ah, that’ll do it. My LEGO-less store mall here has a Cinnabon & I swear, that smell hits you a mile away. Passing by one en route to the LEGO store...how could you not stop? 

Exactly. Even better if you just got bummed out seeing sets you can't get to get a consolation cinnamon roll or pretzel.

I popped in to the Tysons Corner shop in Virginia in July to get a birthday present for a family member. There were 4 staff or so, one of whom maintained a queue out the front door so only 5 or so people could shop at once. A number of sets were EU exports with stickers on the box to comply with US labeling standards. Interesting experience. Professional and helpful staff.

I kind of like the way they have the restrictions set up in a store that caters to so many children. touching things is a big NO. Oh but how I wish the pick a brick wall was open.