10305 Lion Knights' Castle 90th anniversary set

[Sir Dano]

20 minutes ago, Roebuck said:

Pirate pack?
Is it the one from the Ideas competition?

No, it's this one: https://brickset.com/sets/40515-1/Pirates-and-Treasure-VIP-Add-On-Pack

[Roebuck]

14 minutes ago, Sir Dano said:

No, it's this one: https://brickset.com/sets/40515-1/Pirates-and-Treasure-VIP-Add-On-Pack

Is it still something to add with VIP points to your order as during the test earlier or is it a normal GWP?

[Sir Dano]

3 minutes ago, Roebuck said:

Is it still something to add with VIP points to your order as during the test earlier or is it a normal GWP?

From what I understand it's free with any purchase of $50 or more made by a VIP account.

[Rjbricks]

10 hours ago, Sir Dano said:

Supposed to be, someone posted this in the forest hideout set thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/legodeal/comments/w711e3/most_regions_legolegocom_august_promos_00/

I'm currently debating with myself if it's worth waiting an extra day for that pirate pack or not.

Hadn’t seen that. Will definitely be waiting for that I think. Nice gift for the kids and extra skeletons for my Skelton army.

[RichardGoring]

6 hours ago, DaleDVM said:

Thanks for the link.  It looks like I will purchase a couple of castles on the first day to support my local LEGO store, plus the forestmen set, and perhaps a third castle online on the 4th to get the pirate pack plus the forestmen set.  Getting those highly desired GWP sets brings the cost down for the castle a bit...

Question.  I do not order online very frequently...  If I was to order another castle online on the 5th could I get two more GWP sets?  Or does the online store limit your GWP to a one time deal?

If you order on the 4th, then you should get both the Forestmen Hideout and the VIP Pirate Pack IF they are both still available. There's a chance that the Hideout is sold out.

If you place a second order on the 5th, you should also get the Forestmen Hideout in that order too, again, as long as it is in stock.

Technically, the Forestmen Hideout is one per household, and online they should be able to easily track this, although it seems incredibly rare that they apply these limits (I've heard stories of being in Europe being denied a second GWP online).

The VIP Pirate Pack looks like it will be done through the VIP centre and so will actually be limited to just one per VIP account.

It's also worth noting that doing an online order opens you up to using cashback sites like Rakuten, Retailmenot, and Honey. They often have anything from 2.5-15% cashback on online orders from lego.com, which can really help offset the cost. Each is different and has different offers at different times, so it's worth checking all three. If you've not used Rakuten before, you'll be able to find a referral code, giving you a bonus of about $40 extra cashback (usually).

Edited July 27, 2022 by RichardGoring

[dimc]

As someone whose primary interests are vintage castle and pirates, that pirate pack is pretty dang excellent! I wish I could get a couple of them though; hopefully they end up being purchasable with VIP at some point. I may try ordering something at the $50 threshold and waiting on the castle for a bigger GWP, as I have two of the Forestmen GWPs already and the castle will be around for a while and my wallet is hurting right now.

I know the general idea is 10 cents per piece for estimating, but that pack has a lot of great larger and fancier parts that I imagine means it would cost a$12-15 if sold at retail. A little weird the barrels are black and the lids brown, but eh.

[Triceron]

I don't really have much interest in Pirates, but there are some real good accessories in there that would work with Castle.

So the 4th it is!  I'll probably pick up Heavenly Realms for this and another Forest Hideout set.

[woodford86]

Folks....one week left. I'm like a kid at Christmas.

[natesroom]

I Have seen the ads for rakuten, but I have no idea how it works or why a person would use it.

[RichardGoring]

56 minutes ago, natesroom said:

I Have seen the ads for rakuten, but I have no idea how it works or why a person would use it.

At it's core, you get cashback for spending through the Rakuten (or similar) website. I don't really understand the business model of the retailer giving Rakuten (or similar) commission on the sale, but then I only ever buy things I intend to buy, and don't use the site to browse/impulse purchase, so maybe that's where the retailer value is.

You sign up for an account (Rakuten has referral codes, so use one of those to get you and the referrer money). And then shop as normal, but start on the Rakuten (or similar) website. Search for the retailer you want, and click through to the retailer site. They use cookies to track things, so you need to make sure that ad blockers are turned off or private browsing isn't being used.

Once you make your purchase, LEGO (or other retailer) confirms it with Rakuten (or similar) and you'll get cashback in your Rakuten (or similar) account. Rakuten sends you a check every three months. Retailmenot has points that you convert to either a PayPal transfer or for gift cards. And I think Honey does the same.

In my experience, Rakuten tends to be the more reliable/steady, in that they always have 2.5% cashback available for lego.com and will sometimes increase it, to as much as 15%. Retailmenot doesn't always have cashback, but feels like it has more of the high cashback bonus times. They also try to promote coupon codes, which rarely work, so it feels a bit spammy. And Honey is a mess, trying to find the right link. Unlike the others, which link to specific stores, Honey links to specific products, and it's harder to tell which store it is. You can filter for just lego.com, but it's not the most intuitive. They usually offer cashback, but often it's bonus 'Honey Gold', which can then be turned into cashback/vouchers.

I usually use Rakuten, because it's seamless and easy. Minimal effort to buy the stuff you actually want, and the automatically send you a check.

I've had really good cashback with them too. I got the UCS Star Destroyer when they were doing a 15% cashback special last year, giving me $105 in cashback (in addition to VIP points). The check arrived two months later. That rate is unusual, but if I'm going to buy from lego.com anyway (to get a specific GWP or Bricks and Pieces order), then you can get 5% in VIP points, 1-2% on a cashback credit card, and 2.5% cashback on Rakuten, as a minimum. People seem to love VIP points, so might as well maximize the effect. These sites also work for other retailers, but for things like Target, they don't offer cashback on toys (they can be specific about what categories trigger cashback).

Be careful to note that not everything qualifies for cashback. Often 'Exclusive' items will give you a lower rate (maybe 1%). There is sometimes a limit on the total amount of cashback you can get too. Retailmenot limits it to $50 per transaction, for example (on lego.com). And, without wishing to be patronizing, remember the critical thing of only use it to buy stuff you would do normally, not buy stuff just to get cashback, and all that similar credit card related advice.

[eldiano]

4 hours ago, woodford86 said:

Folks....one week left. I'm like a kid at Christmas.

Crossing my fingers it doesn't get delayed like the Star Wars AT-TE, Common LEGO we have 1 week left please

Edited July 27, 2022 by eldiano

[Lyichir]

While the Rakuten talk is interesting and I certainly won't fault anyone for wanting to save as much money as they can, I feel like it's worth mentioning that many Lego fansites (including Brickset and New Elementary off the top of my head, and probably others) also have referral links to Lego.com that, while not giving you money back personally, can help useful sites like that to stay afloat without having to rely as heavily on more user-unfriendly forms of advertising or fundraising. Personally I try to remember to buy through those sorts of links when I can—I feel like the extra 5-15% that I might have otherwise saved on Lego is worth it to keep those kinds of image-heavy resources I rely upon as a fan free and reliable.

[SirBlake]

I just got off the phone with my local used lego store (shout out to Rogue Brick, truly wonderful folks there) https://www.roguebrick.com/

They're ordering the new Lion Knight's Castle for me. I've sold them enough stuff and got enough store credit built up that I'm only having to pay $100 out of pocket. Not a bad deal. 

 

[natesroom]

Is that a bricklink store or an actual used lego store? secondly do these exist in florida lol?

[SirBlake]

1 hour ago, natesroom said:

Is that a bricklink store or an actual used lego store? secondly do these exist in florida lol?

It’s a physical store. I’m sure they do exist in Florida. If you feel like a road trip, I believe Atlanta Brick Co. is the largest physical non-TLG Lego store in the country. One of the winners of Lego Master season 2, Mark Erickson works there. 

https://atlbrick.com/

I don’t know where in Florida you are, but here’s one in Port Charlotte. 
 

https://bricksandminifigs.com/port-charlotte-fl/

Edited July 28, 2022 by SirBlake
More spelling

[RichardGoring]

3 hours ago, Lyichir said:

While the Rakuten talk is interesting and I certainly won't fault anyone for wanting to save as much money as they can, I feel like it's worth mentioning that many Lego fansites (including Brickset and New Elementary off the top of my head, and probably others) also have referral links to Lego.com that, while not giving you money back personally, can help useful sites like that to stay afloat without having to rely as heavily on more user-unfriendly forms of advertising or fundraising. Personally I try to remember to buy through those sorts of links when I can—I feel like the extra 5-15% that I might have otherwise saved on Lego is worth it to keep those kinds of image-heavy resources I rely upon as a fan free and reliable.

A very valid point and well worth doing instead.

[eldiano]

Is this Lego 40515 add on pack coming to the US site?  All references on lego.com are European 

[Lion King]

19 hours ago, eldiano said:

Is this Lego 40515 add on pack coming to the US site?  All references on lego.com are European 

Huh?

EDIT: Never mind, I got what you mean now. 

[Something_Awesome]

I'l be waiting for the pirate pack before buying anything. I am extremely confident the Forest Hideout will still be available. It didn't sell out in four days last time, then it won't this time. The castle may sell out, but the GWP won't. Not in a rush to get the castle. Just happy it's available. I'll probably be getting the Orchid set and one Viking ship and call it a day. If the Republic Fighter tank comes back in stock, then I'll place a second order with another viking ship and the tank to double up on the promos (I want two Viking ships anyway).

No way I'm spending $400 USD on a set that does not yield double VIP, especially when the price point to stack two great gifts is only $150. I am extremely calculated on LEGO purchases. LEGO is expensive enough as it is.

My 2 cents.

Edited July 29, 2022 by Something_Awesome

[natesroom]

i didnt think about double VIP... I'm using all my points to get about 100 off

[SirBlake]

There’s not enough new product I want to justify nursing VIP points for me. I just want this thing in my hands as soon as humanly possible. 

[woodford86]

^^ Word. I've got just about half the price covered with VIP points so I'll get it day one. Knowing me I'll buy at least one more but that'll be a double VIP day for sure.

[Mr. Cube]

4 hours ago, Something_Awesome said:

I'l be waiting for the pirate pack before buying anything. I am extremely confident the Forest Hideout will still be available. It didn't sell out in four days last time, then it won't this time.

Well, it depends on the country. It was sold out on the first day there.

[dimc]

8 hours ago, SirBlake said:

There’s not enough new product I want to justify nursing VIP points for me. I just want this thing in my hands as soon as humanly possible. 

I have the Blacksmith and 3-in-1 Castle still to build, plus the hideout (though I have an original built right now) so I'm definitely in the camp of "dVIP or great GWP."

[eldiano]

7 hours ago, dimc said:

I have the Blacksmith and 3-in-1 Castle still to build, plus the hideout (though I have an original built right now) so I'm definitely in the camp of "dVIP or great GWP."

Once I got the Forest Hideout I couldn't let it sit there not being built, the curiosity got the best of me and I had to finally build it.  Weird building techniques and all but worth it!!! The only regret was not having this castle set next to it!