VIP Program Release info

[CopMike]

Info from Jan Beyer :

Due to a request by Jan the slides has been removed. Something in there wasn´t right - they will get back with the new info soon .

Edited October 22, 2009 by CopMike
Wrong info in slides

[Rick]

Too bad this seems to apply only to Lego stores and not S@H purchases...

[astra]

Too bad this seems to apply only to Lego stores and not S@H purchases...

I do hope that that will be done in the (near) future, since a lot of people (including myself) are not living in the vicinity of a Lego store. I occasionally visit one, but order more stuff online on the S@H. Since it is an online system, I can't imagine that that would take a lot of effort?

Furthermore, I don't really understand why points should expire. Sure, 24 months is a lot, but still...

Now if I only could be able to visit a Lego store in that period...

[WesternOutlaw]

Definately needs to be expanded to LEGO SAH, where many of us who don't have LEGO stores make they're purchases.

[Davey]

Yes, S@H needs to be added into the mix ASAP. Those of us who visit the LEGO Store once or twice a year due to its distance from our place of residence need LEGO love too.

-Dave

[Palms]

i live about 10-20 minutes away from one so i will definitely check this out unfortunatly i had 7 or 8 stamps on my card before my wallet went in the washing machine (with my card in it) and that took all ink out

[Navy Trooper Fenson]

Is this only for the USA or also for Europe? It really has to be connected with S@H, too. Also good to see that LEGO finally stops to kill all that trees for the loyality cards.^^ You got all 16 stamps really fast.

[Joebot]

Sounds pretty similar to the rewards program just about every retail store offers these days. At least it's free, unlike some (Borders, I think, costs $10/year, unless they've changed that).

As for adding S@H, that would be really sweet, but probably won't happen. I don't know of any retail store that combines their rewards program with their online store. Retail and online components are often completely separate business units within a company. That does suck for people who don't live near a Lego retail store, but honestly, you're not missing out on all that much. It basically boils down to a 5% discount ($5 gift card for $100 spent).

[GIR 3691]

It looks like they only expire the points if you don't buy anything for 24 months, which is better than points expire after 24 moths. If I'm reading right, as long as you go to a Lego store every 2 years and buy something, your points are safe.

I'd like to throw my hat into the bucket for expanding this to S@H. It looks like they may do that in the future, since they ask for your e-mail account. If it's the same e-mail as your S@H account, it shouldn't be too hard to link them.

[Cwetqo]

There is one additional problem: in Slovenia we dont have LEGO store, but there is one in Munich, not too far away, and its quite common for us to buy there. With old card there was no problem, it was the same for us as for germans: we got the card, collected the stamps and use the bonus. But with new VIP program that is not possible. To apply for membership you have to be a citizen of the state in which is the shop, so we will not be abel to get VIP club membership. And all our collected bonus stamps will be worth nothing (at the time I need just to more to get 25€ bonus, but there is no way that I could go to LS in the next ten days, before the program will start).

Its yet another way for TLG to show us that some countries are worth less than others (like they care... )

[Davey]

As for adding S@H, that would be really sweet, but probably won't happen. I don't know of any retail store that combines their rewards program with their online store. Retail and online components are often completely separate business units within a company. That does suck for people who don't live near a Lego retail store, but honestly, you're not missing out on all that much. It basically boils down to a 5% discount ($5 gift card for $100 spent).

Joebot:

Actually, I know of a number of stores that offer rewards on both online and in-store purchases.

REI

Best Buy

Toys'R'Us

Barnes & Noble (not really a rewards thing...but a membership that discounts every purchase by 10%)

So it would seem your logic is a little flawed regarding retail stores combining their rewards program with their online store. Let's assume for a minute that your idea of 'separate business units' is true...I buy that as a possibility. At the very least The LEGO Group could add a separate online rewards program just for S@H. It could mimic the in-store VIP program, but still be completely separate. I think what people want here is some reward for being loyal customers regardless of whether they shop in-store or online.

And while a 5% reward may seem small to you, for those of us who spend a significant amount of money on LEGO every year it could add up to hundreds of dollars in savings.

-Dave

[Big Cam]

Still no Shop @ Home, grrrr.

[alienwar9]

This is a really great idea, and yes, I also think it should be expanded to online, but I also noticed that you actually get less of a reward this way than the stamp cards. Because With the second set of $200 you spend on a stamp card you get a reward of $20 instead of $10. The VIP would come out awarding you only $10. I don't know about everyone else, but I was saving for a long time for a really large purchase and I was counting on those extra $10 + $20 to save me.

Oh, and that whole special reward when you buy the grand carousel...how is that exactly special? 250 points for $250 spent. I might be missing the point here (no pun intended)

Edited October 8, 2009 by alienwar9

[Kliq]

It is pretty nice to get rewarded for Master Builder events and get invited to VIP only events, but those are the only two things that make this any better than the regular stamp loyalty card.

It was interesting to me when I tried to use one of my Lego Gift Cards in Legoland California to buy Lego and they said I couldn't because the park is owned by Disney. So I wonder if this card would be any different.

[salty tbone]

This is a really great idea, and yes, I also think it should be expanded to online, but I also noticed that you actually get less of a reward this way than the stamp cards. Because With the second set of $200 you spend on a stamp card you get a reward of $20 instead of $10. The VIP would come out awarding you only $10. I don't know about everyone else, but I was saving for a long time for a really large purchase and I was counting on those extra $10 + $20 to save me.

I noticed that, too, although now it's a simpler dollar-to-point conversion where you don't have to spend in multiples of $25 to get a stamp. The only thing I usually get at Lego stores are Pick-a-brick cups, so now I don't have to think about "Well if I spend another $10 I'll get a stamp."

[God Iron]

Sounds good, if they actually had a LEGO Store near me... 3 in England, they need more!

[Eskallon]

Hi

I am really happy with this news and will use it a lot. Can you tell me if it is limited to America or if it will be available here in the U.K.

[alienwar9]

I noticed that, too, although now it's a simpler dollar-to-point conversion where you don't have to spend in multiples of $25 to get a stamp. The only thing I usually get at Lego stores are Pick-a-brick cups, so now I don't have to think about "Well if I spend another $10 I'll get a stamp."

I see that as a good thing It always gets me to buy just another little set to make it.

[The Green Brick Giant]

Sounds pretty similar to the rewards program just about every retail store offers these days. At least it's free, unlike some (Borders, I think, costs $10/year, unless they've changed that).

Border's is free, and useless, you are thinking of B&N which is $20 a year, but you save 20-25% on all your purchases.

I'm just happy they didn't screw me out of my old stamps. 15 stamps is 300 points which is $15, and that's pretty good. I never really go to the store anyways, too far away and nothing is ever on sale (it's very busy).

[Eilif]

Joint account Family cards!

Anyone else notice this? You can have family cards linked to the same account. I'm going to get one for my wife. She occasionally brings home LEGO surprises for me, and it'd be nice to have her surprises add up to rewards for me also!

This is a really great idea, and yes, I also think it should be expanded to online, but I also noticed that you actually get less of a reward this way than the stamp cards. Because With the second set of $200 you spend on a stamp card you get a reward of $20 instead of $10.

Yep, That's the rub. With the stamp card, assuming you buy exctly in $25 increments (a big assumption) a full stamp card gets you a 7.5% reward, whereas the new system is pretty much a strait 5%, with a few additions.

I noticed that, too, although now it's a simpler dollar-to-point conversion where you don't have to spend in multiples of $25 to get a stamp. The only thing I usually get at Lego stores are Pick-a-brick cups, so now I don't have to think about "Well if I spend another $10 I'll get a stamp."

This is why I think this new program will end up being a better one. I've often made small purchases and not gotten any points, and with the stamps, a $36 purchase only gets you $25 worth of rewards. In the long run I think this will get me more rewards, and make me more willing to make little impulse purchases.

I wouldn't be surprised if this program gets expanded into shop-at-home as well, eventually. Since it's already registered online, it wouldn't be that difficult.

Border's is free, and useless,

A bit off-topic, but I like my Borders Rewards, I don't spend alot there, but it adds up and about every other month, I get a $5 gift card. That's a free book! I also frequently get $40% off coupons in my email, and that's nothing to scoff at!

[Modulex Guy]

I like the idea of getting points for every purchase, I've often left the store with only an Impulse set or a small set and not getting a stamp, this now allows me to get my small set, and get a few points out of it to the total. Sounds good to me!

[drdavewatford]

I don't see why we're getting all these "what a great idea" messages on here - people, it's hardly different to the current scheme, except that the rewards have been reduced !! Great.

This was a great opportunity to at least combine the scheme with Lego S@H purchases, but this hasn't been done, so really this is just rebranding the current scheme and giving us less. I need to check whether the 'conversion rate' for existing points is also less than before, and if so spend my points ASAP.

Disappointed.

Dr. D.

[Davey]

I don't see why we're getting all these "what a great idea" messages on here - people, it's hardly different to the current scheme, except that the rewards have been reduced !! Great.

This was a great opportunity to at least combine the scheme with Lego S@H purchases, but this hasn't been done, so really this is just rebranding the current scheme and giving us less. I need to check whether the 'conversion rate' for existing points is also less than before, and if so spend my points ASAP.

Disappointed.

Dr. D.

So are you telling us that every time you went into the LEGO Store, you managed to buy stuff in $25 increments every time? If you can't say that, you can't guarantee that this system is worse. I know I have had many times when I have spent $15 or $30 or $240 or some other increment that isn't divisible by $25 and walked away losing the difference. If you do that enough, you will likely make up for the lower level of rewards. Just another way to look at it.

-Dave

[Mesonak]

Wow.

Lego, this is a wonderful idea, and apparently it has been in effect for quite some time, but some people, like myself, don't have Lego stores in their state.

This should be expanded to S@H ASAP.

-Mesonak

[Piranha]

Thanks for the info!

This has provided me with all the answers I had.

You get saved stamps on cards converted to points which is good.

Every $1 you spend you gain, now I don't worry about taxes and having to have precise amounts

Last time I needed something for $2 to get another stamp and the cheapest thing (of which i did not like/need) was $5

I am going October 19th to the LEGO store in Honolulu again so I can qualify for the 50 free points for joining

These incentives are awesome

However this is a bummer for people who do not live by a Lego store or even have one in their country!

This program really needs to be expanded to online use too. However I bet LEGO is afraid that people will build up points fast and be getting gift cards frequently.

The way they have it set up is to make you want to get the gift card while you are there and spend the amount of money to get it.

Oh well, I like this way much better than the stamps