2009 Impulse sets

[Derek]

I was going to post this in an old impulse thread, but it was about the availibilty about the summer ones, so this was kind of unrelated.

Anyway, I find it strange that we have so few of the impulse sets for the Jan. 2009 lineup. We have the two pirate ones, and the City BBQ stand. All are great, but I would figure we would at least get a couple more. The City one isn't even availible in the US yet. I'm hoping its not another "Good Wizard" becasue it looks like a useful little set.

I guess the main question is, do you think they are selling well? I know they are scarce in the US market, which could be a factor to low sales. A couple of them are on clearance on S@H, so maybe this holds true.

I would think they would be making at least one or two for the Power Miners line, but I guess not. I know the rumored summer lineup lists a few impulses, but who knows.

Does anyone have ideas? Comments? I really think the re-introduction of cheap sets under $5 is one of Lego's smartest moves in a while, I would hate for it to go to waste.

-darthperson

[Wout]

I thought they would sell quite good here in the Netherlands, but they have still quite some sets from the last januari line. I was hoping for a dwarf impulse. and I would have that lady with black agent Trace hair in another impulse.

[Brickthing]

I think that some of them sell really well, like the Good Wizard promo, but others don't. Right now, after Christmas, Impulse sets make up the majority of the sets that are left on shelf in shops near me.

I like them quite a lot, and recently picked up 4 of them for my new bedtown, but judging from the amount left in stores, I don't think they sold as well as they should've.

[VBBN]

For army builders they are great. In fact, I am happy that they have the castle ones, becuase I need them greatly.

But the city ones are a little odd. Not sure you need an army of workers. The chef is nice though.

The downside? The price. If they were $2, they would sell by the bucketfulls.

I hope they continue to release them, especially castle and Pirates.

[posades]

For army builders they are great. In fact, I am happy that they have the castle ones, becuase I need them greatly.

But the city ones are a little odd. Not sure you need an army of workers. The chef is nice though.

The downside? The price. If they were $2, they would sell by the bucketfulls.

I hope they continue to release them, especially castle and Pirates.

Agreed, and especially when the stores mark up the prices even more than the MSRP *coughTRUcough*. During the holiday season I saw the impulse sets pop up at stores like Walmart and Target, but before that I had rarely seen them in stores. They are useful, but me personally I never buy more than 1 or 2 of the same one.

[Peppermint_M]

You just don't find impulse sets in shops these days. Not one supermarket stocks any at all. They are still selling the small city sets from 2006...

Impulse sets like these need to be in shops to be bought on an impulse, it's not worth it to buy online. So they mustn't sell very well on S@H. Therefor Lego won't make many.

[Pencoin]

I agree, I haven't seen a impulse in shops in the UK, not even in a LEGO store.

[Dennimator]

All stores have them in Sweden. They are quite cheap too, around $3.50 each.

Most of them sell very well here, the only impulses that the shops have at the time is the Knight and 5610 Builder.

All impulse sets except the Good Wizard are on sale on SaH now for around $2.50 each.(In Sweden, that is.)

[mrchris]

I agree, I haven't seen a impulse in shops in the UK, not even in a LEGO store.

same here, in fact i dont even know many stores that sell lego now woolworths is closed. just argos and toys r us but their selection locally is awful.

[CopMike]

Anyway, I find it strange that we have so few of the impulse sets for the Jan. 2009 lineup. We have the two pirate ones, and the City BBQ stand. All are great, but I would figure we would at least get a couple more.

I guess there will be more, maybe two in some new theme.

All impulse sets except the Good Wizard are on sale on SaH now for around $2.50 each.(In Sweden, that is.)

Yeah, that´s great. A good price for them!

CopMike

[Joey Lock]

I think the reason for low sales is that Lego have overly priced, In my opinion the Impulse set, so we turn to the big sets to get the figures, And lego have higered those prices so we cant really do anything right now. So Lego are to uptight to lower their prices that they try to release these Impulses but It doesnt work. I understand the cheap price for the Imperial Guard but your paying the same price for a pirate with a fish on a stick. I would prefer if it was a Impulse set for £1 where you just get a figure and accesories rather than paying a extra say 90p for a Weapon stand... Its around £19 for 10 Imperial Guard impulses. It should be around £10-12.

[Peppermint_M]

All stores have them in Sweden. They are quite cheap too, around $3.50 each.

Most of them sell very well here, the only impulses that the shops have at the time is the Knight and 5610 Builder.

All impulse sets except the Good Wizard are on sale on SaH now for around $2.50 each.(In Sweden, that is.)

Too true. Tesco (Extra) only sells the Star Wars and Indy lego, plus a few creator sets and Bionicle, Local ones only ever have a few of the smaller sets. ASDA only ever has Bionicle. My nearest Toys 'r' Us is in Cardiff, on the bay... So a normal trip to Cardiff means I can't get to it. The Entertainer has at least a £3 markup on the prices, so any impulse sets there get too high a price. Sainsbury's near me sells the 2006 sets at christmas only... With Woolworths gone I have nowhere to buy Lego, let alone impulse sets. The only places I have seen impulse sets are: A Newsagents/Toyshop in Dartmouth and a similar shop in Newcastle Emlyn. Both far to far away...

[Captain REX]

I have never seen an impulse in the UK I was disapointed because i really wanted a good wizard

[The Cobra]

Here in Italy, the first wave of 8 sets sold good; the Knight was the best seller, but most every set including that one was available until November. The second wave of 4 sets was never sold in Italian shops.

In late November, with Christmas offers, all little set disappeared from the shelves. But I have to say, I've been to a toy store chain shop and to 2 local malls; there is really few Lego left, and that mostly means Bionicle. Everything els, large, medium or small, is gone.

Yet, I can hardly imagine those little sets usually priced 3 Euros not selling (fewest price I've seen was 2,75; highest was 3,50).

[Svelte]

I think TLG realised they overpriced them in some regions, like Australia, and have changed strategy for 09.

The 2008 ones were priced at $AUD5.99 but the 2009 new ones are listed at $AUD4.99. One dollar doesn't seem like much but the psychological difference between the two price points was probably enough to discourage buyers. I know I didn't pick up many as they seemed too close in price to the smaller sets of 'proper' lines but without value. Have any other regions had a price drop?

I agree though that a couple of Pirates and one City one seems like an odd combination.

[VBBN]

The only time I have ever seen an impulse set in the store was during easter, I saw a few in the "basket stuffers" section at target.

The only place I can find them now is on S@H, but even then they nail you with shipping.

[KimT]

Perhaps they intend to produce the same impulse sets for more than a year?

The ones already in production could be intended for 2-3 years?

Just a thought

[The Cobra]

I hope they aren't, but you might be right.

And, I checked S@H.

Out of 12 sets, 8 are sold out, 4 (on the "first wave") are under "check availability".

[mania3]

You know, the only time I actually see impulse sets is when I go to Legoland or if I drive up to the Lego Stores. But even then, it's hit or miss (at least at the Lego Retail Stores). For example, the only place I've seen the two Pirate impulse sets is TRU. Except there, they charge 6.99 USD for a set that, were I to find it at the Lego Store, would retail for 3.50 USD. While generally I compulsively buy every set TLG releases in a year, I never pay more than MSRP when I can absolutely avoid it. Typically, I'll go out of my way to buy it directly from TLG be it at Legoland or at a Lego Retail Store. Honestly, I think 3.50 USD is a great price for the impulse sets, provided they have a good array of accessories to go with the figure. The Knight was a good example of what I expect of an impulse. Impulse sets like the Good Wizard seemed really odd to me, as it doesn't serve well as an army builder. This leads me to believe that army building isn't the primary intent of marketing the impulse set as even the most voracious consumer is likely to contend with the impulsiveness of gift givers knowing a casual Lego consumer. Even as I type this, I'm compelled to purchase and create the impulse sets needed to facilitate a Chef army MOC both to prove myself wrong and to do something that just needs to be done.

[Hellingly]

I'm lucky. The Lego store in Brighton is just a half hour train journey for me, and they always seem to have the impulse sets.

[Brickthing]

You know, the only time I actually see impulse sets is when I go to Legoland or if I drive up to the Lego Stores. But even then, it's hit or miss (at least at the Lego Retail Stores). For example, the only place I've seen the two Pirate impulse sets is TRU. Except there, they charge 6.99 USD for a set that, were I to find it at the Lego Store, would retail for 3.50 USD. While generally I compulsively buy every set TLG releases in a year, I never pay more than MSRP when I can absolutely avoid it. Typically, I'll go out of my way to buy it directly from TLG be it at Legoland or at a Lego Retail Store. Honestly, I think 3.50 USD is a great price for the impulse sets, provided they have a good array of accessories to go with the figure. The Knight was a good example of what I expect of an impulse. Impulse sets like the Good Wizard seemed really odd to me, as it doesn't serve well as an army builder. This leads me to believe that army building isn't the primary intent of marketing the impulse set as even the most voracious consumer is likely to contend with the impulsiveness of gift givers knowing a casual Lego consumer. Even as I type this, I'm compelled to purchase and create the impulse sets needed to facilitate a Chef army MOC both to prove myself wrong and to do something that just needs to be done.

The purpose of impulse sets is a cheap little LEGO toy that a child can convince a parent to get for them while they're shopping. It also serves as an advertisement for the larger and more pricey sets of the theme. It just so happens that the Pirate and Castle impulses are good army builders, but I doubt they where meant for that.

[Derek]

I really am puzzled as to why Lego won't release the Good Wizard set in the US, if it sells so well in the rest of the world. Some of these descions of theirs just baffle me, like with the Castle Advent Calendar.

[I Scream Clone]

I really am puzzled as to why Lego won't release the Good Wizard set in the US, if it sells so well in the rest of the world. Some of these descions of theirs just baffle me, like with the Castle Advent Calendar.

Maybe it all comes down to market research on what they feel will sell well in each country, or perhaps they like to create exclusive markets for certain sets. I have helped a number of US members out with Good wizard and Castle Advents myself, so in this regard it has helped me build up friends in the wider Lego community.

You may also wish to listen to this interview with Steve Witt on LAML as it explains the Castle Advent scenario.

Edited January 7, 2009 by I Scream Clone

[CopMike]

I really am puzzled as to why Lego won't release the Good Wizard set in the US, if it sells so well in the rest of the world. Some of these descions of theirs just baffle me, like with the Castle Advent Calendar.

Maybe it all comes down to market research on what they feel will sell well in each country, or perhaps they like to create exclusive markets for certain sets. I have helped a number of US members out with Good wizard and Castle Advents myself, so in this regard it has helped me build up friends in the wider Lego community.

You may also wish to listen to this interview with Steve Witt on LAML as it explains the Castle Advent scenario.

Without knowing everything and these sets in detail, the difference in different markets is often due to the fact that the retailers want/doesn´t want a line/set. TLG often checks with the retailers if a line, like the Vikings, is something they want to sell, and therefore order from TLG. If they don´t, it´s probably a no-go.

CopMike

[Draykov]

The City one isn't even availible in the US yet. I'm hoping its not another "Good Wizard" becasue it looks like a useful little set.

The LEGO site has .pdf instructions for 8398 NA (North America) so I wouldn't worry...it's just a matter of time.

Perhaps they intend to produce the same impulse sets for more than a year?

The ones already in production could be intended for 2-3 years?

Just a thought

I'm going to agree, at least in the context of the City sets. City in general seems to have a longer life-span (at least on retail shelves) than a lot of other themes. It could also be that their smaller size makes them ideal for stocking stuffers, so you won't see the next "big" batch of impulse releases until Summer 2009 (i.e. leading up to next Christmas).

Edited January 8, 2009 by Draykov