4999 Vestas Promo - Wind Power Plant

[Dr. Brick]

Despite the latest news, we have not gotten an absolute "No, Never, not ever, in any form" from LEGO, so all this fuss seems a bit unseemly. Come on everyone, just cool your heels a bit and save the outrage until 2009. After all, the 2009 set list did mention a VESTAS set..

I would like to have this set released to the general public as much as anyone (I would buy it for sure), but , what's up with this undeserved sense of entitlement that so many folks seem to have, assuming that they have some kind of right to have this set.

I'll play devil's advocate. 2 possible answers.

1) Contractual. The design of this set may be contractually limited based on an agreement with VESTAS. If VESTAS wants the set to be "special" then they may not want every tom, dick and harry to have a copy of this set that they went to the trouble of arranging especially for thier employees. Yes, brand awarness is a reason for VESTAS to relent, but even though they use LEGO in their displays, I don't think that toy stores are where most energy companies are looking to do their advertising.

2) Market questions. LEGO may have determined that this is not a set that will sell well on the wider market, and has decided not to do so. Not that TLG knows everything, but they do have professionals that work on this kind of thing, and alot of experience to guide their ideas of what will and won't sell. For example: Folks are up in arms about Castle Advent Calendar not being sold in the states, but the number of advent calendars that were on sale at US LEGO stores after Christmas last year clearly indicates that advent calendars don't sell as well as we think they should.

If TLG would release as an S@H exclusive most of the sets would be sold to an AFOL audience, therefore converting a number of adults to green energy. For Vestas this is only publicity, so it doesn't do the company any harm. And I think we have proven allready that it would sell to adults.

If Vestas wan't to keep the rights to themselves, then TLG can still dispose of all the Vestas stickers.

But I repeat, if TLC releases this set on S@H it will sell!!!

So please TLG, just release it and end all this fuss right now, because if you do release it...

...TLC is happy, they get money and a reputation of involvement in green energy.

...Vestas is happy, they get publicity.

...We are happy, we have the most important set of the year!

Dr. Brick

[JopieK]

There will become a Nuon Energy and Eneco version soon ;)

[Eilif]

If TLG would release as an S@H exclusive most of the sets would be sold to an AFOL audience, therefore converting a number of adults to green energy. For Vestas this is only publicity, so it doesn't do the company any harm. And I think we have proven allready that it would sell to adults.

If Vestas wan't to keep the rights to themselves, then TLG can still dispose of all the Vestas stickers.

I don't want to belabor the point -I was playing devil's advocate after all- but if TLG had, hypothetically, agreed that the set design was to be an exclusive for Vestas, then it would be the whole set, not just the stickers, that would be an exclusive.

You might have a point with the advertising. As I mentioned, a VESTAS set was on the leaked set list for 2009, so a Vestas-LEGO combo is not out of the question.

[whung]

Thank you very much for that news, CopMike!

This is really bad news since this is a statement of a high ranked official TLG employee.

Thank you very much for that news, Dr. Brick!

Again really bad news since this comes from an official side of TLG.

So it seems as if Whung's list was wrong.

Klaus-Dieter

I want to clarify some point.

PLEASE don't rely 100% on my any list. The list's item are sets that may probably be released in future, but not exactly in what time.

The information is just some reference or idea.

When I know that 4999 was released a few months ago, I already know that 4999 is not a 2009's product,

so I haven't said that it will be released in 2009 to public by TLG.

Please don't misunderstand anything.

[Klaus-Dieter]

If TLG would release as an S@H exclusive most of the sets would be sold to an AFOL audience, therefore converting a number of adults to green energy. For Vestas this is only publicity, so it doesn't do the company any harm. And I think we have proven allready that it would sell to adults.

If Vestas wan't to keep the rights to themselves, then TLG can still dispose of all the Vestas stickers.

But I repeat, if TLC releases this set on S@H it will sell!!!

So please TLG, just release it and end all this fuss right now, because if you do release it...

...TLC is happy, they get money and a reputation of involvement in green energy.

...Vestas is happy, they get publicity.

...We are happy, we have the most important set of the year!

Dr. Brick

I wouldn't have been aible to express me better than you did it, Dr. Brick!

Everybody would get what he/she/it wants, Vestas the publicity, TLG (and Vestas - fopr the licenses) the money and we our beloved set!

I don't want to belabor the point -I was playing devil's advocate after all- but if TLG had, hypothetically, agreed that the set design was to be an exclusive for Vestas, then it would be the whole set, not just the stickers, that would be an exclusive.

You might have a point with the advertising. As I mentioned, a VESTAS set was on the leaked set list for 2009, so a Vestas-LEGO combo is not out of the question.

Of course you're right, Eilif, since Vestas surely did not only license the stickers but the whole set since sticker printing isn't very difficult and expensive.

But if Lego and Vestas don't decide to put this set into mass production they are - please forgive me - really pigheaded since they would loose a lot of their popularity and they would miss to get a lot of money.

There were so many topics, comments, polls and petition in the web all over the world that they really would be stupid and blind to not sell this set to the general public since they must have noticed that there is a huge mass of AFOLs which want this set so much.

In my opinion it's simply absurd and unfair that Vestas gives their customers and employees this set (which the most of them don't even want this set - which you can see on the many ebay auctions) - and we AFOLs don't have the possibility to get it (for an affordable price).

I want to clarify some point.

PLEASE don't rely 100% on my any list. The list's item are sets that may probably be released in future, but not exactly in what time.

The information is just some reference or idea.

When I know that 4999 was released a few months ago, I already know that 4999 is not a 2009's product,

so I haven't said that it will be released in 2009 to public by TLG.

Please don't misunderstand anything.

Thank you for clarifying this, whung!

So again some news which speaks again the public release of this awesome set.

There will become a Nuon Energy and Eneco version soon ;)

Thank you very much for that news, JopieK!

So you mean that there'll be two very similar sets to this brilliant one in the near future, too? - That sounds a bit unreaslitic to me.

Klaus-Dieter

Edited September 26, 2008 by Klaus-Dieter

[Jeff S]

Wishful thinking here, but I'll play the optimist part. Lego has pretty much said NO that they won't be releasing them from what I see. However if we go by the 2009 "to be" sets, this was one. With that............If you ask Lego if they are going to produce a Farm Combine, they will probably tell us NO to that as well. It could just be a so called cover up to keep the 09 releases hidden from the public until they release. The sets already released to Vestas could be in a "limited edition" box or something that will off set them from ones that could be made public. Again this is wishful thinking. I wrote a letter to Lego, I figured I would help the cause so to speak. Hotmail is down, but I noticed I had a reply. When I get the email I will paste it.

Jeff

[Jeff S]

And................ Here is the email I recieved 9-25 from Lego.

"The Vestas promotional item was created specifically for that company. There may be a possibility that it could be released to the public but there is no guarantee. We do not have stock of the item to sell. The set number is 4999 and the building instructions are available on our website."

Take it as you may.

Jeff

[Gouns]

Thanks for the copy of this mail !

Between this mail and my french mail, it's very probably the vestas set 4999 will be release in future .

But the question is : WHEN ?

[Dr. Brick]

Wishful thinking here, but I'll play the optimist part. Lego has pretty much said NO that they won't be releasing them from what I see. However if we go by the 2009 "to be" sets, this was one. With that............If you ask Lego if they are going to produce a Farm Combine, they will probably tell us NO to that as well. It could just be a so called cover up to keep the 09 releases hidden from the public until they release. The sets already released to Vestas could be in a "limited edition" box or something that will off set them from ones that could be made public. Again this is wishful thinking. I wrote a letter to Lego, I figured I would help the cause so to speak. Hotmail is down, but I noticed I had a reply. When I get the email I will paste it.

Jeff

This is an interesting theory, so i worte a mail to LEGO asking if they will ever release a farm...

I'll post the reply when I get it.

Dr. Brick

Edited September 27, 2008 by Dr. Brick

[Klaus-Dieter]

And................ Here is the email I recieved 9-25 from Lego.

"The Vestas promotional item was created specifically for that company. There may be a possibility that it could be released to the public but there is no guarantee. We do not have stock of the item to sell. The set number is 4999 and the building instructions are available on our website."

Take it as you may.

Jeff

Thank you very much for that information, Jeff!

So this seems to be the first bit positive news althought the statement is very neutral .

This is an interesting theory, so i worte a mail to LEGO asking if they will ever release a farm...

I'll post the reply when I get it.

Dr. Brick

Good idea, Dr. Brick.

I'm very interested in what'll be the result.

Klaus-Dieter

[legotrainfan]

Afer emailing them, I got the following reply from an employee of TLC on Sept. 27:

Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich bei uns gemeldet haben. Das Set 4999 wurde von uns als Spezial Anfertigung für die Firma Vestas produziert, die es als Geschenk an ihre eigenen Mitarbeiter weiter geben wollte. Auf Grund des Abkommens mit der Firma Vestas, haben wir leider nicht das Recht, dass Set für den freien Markt zu produzieren, daher wird es höchstwahrscheinlich bei der limitierten Anzahl von Sets bleiben.

Rough translation:

Thanks for contacting us. Set 4999 is a custom product for the Vestas enterprise, which is giving it to its own employees as a present. Due to an agreement with Vestas, we are not allowed to produce this set for the general public. That is why the number of sets will almost certainly remain limited.

Does not sound so good...

[metalandi]

Why don't they change the agreement? I don't get it, they really are only cutting their own flesh with that.

[Mirandir]

Why don't they change the agreement? I don't get it, they really are only cutting their own flesh with that.

I don't think it's that easy. Vestas has most likely paid a lot of cash for this exklusive so I don't think that they're so keen on letting LEGO make a public release of it just like that. So I guess it's time we start mass-mailing Vestas instead of LEGO.

[Klaus-Dieter]

Thank you very much for that information, legotrainfan!

That's regrettably again a bad news.

Why don't they change the agreement? I don't get it, they really are only cutting their own flesh with that.

I really don't understand that, too.

I don't think it's that easy. Vestas has most likely paid a lot of cash for this exklusive so I don't think that they're so keen on letting LEGO make a public release of it just like that. So I guess it's time we start mass-mailing Vestas instead of LEGO.

It's right that they surely had to pay a lot of money for this set since it is a custom product only for Vestas, Mirandir.

But - like mentioned a lot of times ago - do only think about that they could get a lot of money back from TLG for the licenses of this set if TLG sells it to the general public.

Btw: While browsing through BS I found following picture in Whung's gallery:

I can't remember having seen a picture like this with a stereoscopic outlook of this awesome set before.

I took the picture with the stereoscopic outlook of the Taj Mahal (which is in WHung's gallery, too) and compared it to the stereoscopic Taj Mahal pic on Lego S@H: They are exactly the same.

So perhaps this is a good sign that this brilliant 4999 Vestas Wind Power Plan will be sold to the general public in the near future (I really, really hope so) - but I stay still pessimistic before we won't have any official confirmation (this picture could be even a picture which TLG sent to Vestas for any reasons) .

Klaus-Dieter

Edited September 30, 2008 by Klaus-Dieter

[Derek]

Bright idea: How bout if Lego doesn't intend on releasing it, they at least do something similar to what they did in NA with the Castle Advent calendar?

[CopMike]

Picture taken by ambassador Stephan Sander at the Skaerbaek event.

"The answer my friend is blowing in the wind ......"

CopMike

[Mirandir]

It's right that they surely had to pay a lot of money for this set since it is a custom product only for Vestas, Mirandir.

But - like mentioned a lot of times ago - do only think about that they could get a lot of money back from TLG for the licenses of this set if TLG sells it to the general public.

Yes, I realize that. What I meant was that we should enlighten Vestas on the fact that there is indeed a potential market for their product in a LEGO-version and that they can make money on a public release. Sure they have a former LEGO employee as a CEO but I believe he's unaware about the buzz this set has caused.

[Klaus-Dieter]

Picture taken by ambassador Stephan Sander at the Skaerbaek event.

"The answer my friend is blowing in the wind ......"

CopMike

Thank you very much for that information, CopMike!

On that pic you now can see for the first time how big this awesome wind power plant is.

Btw: Is more like or more like ?

Klaus-Dieter

[AgentRick]

We could see this coming in the US some time soon, as I've been seeing adds for Vestas in Time magazine recently. Expections raised 12%!

[Eilif]

Expections raised 12%!

That sounds about right.

If nothing else, it's cool have a better idea of how the size of these things compares to a standard LEGO layout. Now that I see it, it almost looks a bit too big for a standard LEGO layout. I'm tempted to build one about 2/3 that size out of bricks that I already have. Right after I finish my train tunnel, mountain, passenger train, car ferry, Challet, church...

Edited September 30, 2008 by Eilif

[Klaus-Dieter]

Perhaps my last question was unclear. So here I want to clear it:

Since I'm really not a very good English speaker I don't know what CopMike wants to say with his sentence

"The answer my friend is blowing in the wind ......"

I mean: His post must have had a sense - he surely didn't only post it to show us that pic. But (because of my bad English) I don't know in which direction I should interpret this sentence. Can you tell me what he meant, please?

We could see this coming in the US some time soon, as I've been seeing adds for Vestas in Time magazine recently. Expections raised 12%!

Do you mean that there was a picture of this brilliant set in Time magazine?

Klaus-Dieter

[Eilif]

... I don't know what CopMike wants to say with his sentence

... But (because of my bad English) I don't know in which direction I should interpret this sentence. Can you tell me what he meant, please?

I hate to try to spell out innuendo, but I'll do my best.

He's quoting a Bob Dylan song. It's meant to be cryptic and mysterious and it is a bit clever since we are dealing with a "wind" related set. I read it as saying that he thinks that because the sets showed up on a layout, that is a strong hint that we may see them released. As I said, it's meant to be cryptic, and I wouldn't try to get too much out of that statement, unless CopMike himself clarifies.

Do you mean that there was a picture of this brilliant set in Time magazine?

I could be wrong, but I believe the ads are for the Vestas company without pictures of the LEGO set.

[eeyore]

Hi guys I work for vestas and have been given one of these 4999 limited edition sets. I'm not sure what to do with it I haven't opened it and am not into lego really thinking might save it for future children just wondered how much these might sell for? Like I said not sure what I'm doing yet! Also Vestas do not want employees to sell these and I quite like my job! Would be good if someone could get back to me on this many thanks

[Dr. Brick]

Hi guys I work for vestas and have been given one of these 4999 limited edition sets. I'm not sure what to do with it I haven't opened it and am not into lego really thinking might save it for future children just wondered how much these might sell for? Like I said not sure what I'm doing yet! Also Vestas do not want employees to sell these and I quite like my job! Would be good if someone could get back to me on this many thanks

Vestas actually asked you not to sell it?

That's a bit, well...

If you put this set on ebay, it can be sold for at least $300.

Dr. Brick

[Klaus-Dieter]

I hate to try to spell out innuendo, but I'll do my best.

He's quoting a Bob Dylan song. It's meant to be cryptic and mysterious and it is a bit clever since we are dealing with a "wind" related set. I read it as saying that he thinks that because the sets showed up on a layout, that is a strong hint that we may see them released. As I said, it's meant to be cryptic, and I wouldn't try to get too much out of that statement, unless CopMike himself clarifies.

I could be wrong, but I believe the ads are for the Vestas company without pictures of the LEGO set.

Thank you very much for translating, Eilif!

I imagined something like that but I really wasn't sure.

Hi guys I work for vestas and have been given one of these 4999 limited edition sets. I'm not sure what to do with it I haven't opened it and am not into lego really thinking might save it for future children just wondered how much these might sell for? Like I said not sure what I'm doing yet! Also Vestas do not want employees to sell these and I quite like my job! Would be good if someone could get back to me on this many thanks

Vestas actually asked you not to sell it?

That's a bit, well...

If you put this set on ebay, it can be sold for at least $300.

Dr. Brick

Welcome to EB, eeyore!

On the one hand Dr. Brick is right: You could get really a lot of money for this set.

On the other hand - if you plan to have children in the future - I wouldn't sell it. It's a very special and amazing set and your children surely would have a lot of fun to build it and then to play with it. Plus - if you change your mind - you can sell it at any point in the future, too. Often that's even better since prices of very exclusive sets rise the older they get (and when then the set is yet in the original box and not opened - you can really make more money with it than today).

Klaus-Dieter

Edited October 1, 2008 by Klaus-Dieter