I recently ordered a catalog from Lego and I have no idea what to expect from it price wise. I really want to get the 7965 Millennium Falcon. Its on sale at Target for 10% off the regular price, but I'm wondering if I could be cheaper in the catalog. So I wanted to ask other members on the forum, Is it cheaper/better to buy sets from the catalog?

The catalog has the same prices listed online on Shop@Home. If you really want the Falcon, you should probably buy it at Target. Not only will you get a discount, but you don't have to pay shipping costs either.

Hope this helped.

The only real benefit from buying from Lego directly is(if you're signed up) getting VIP points. Target doesn't have a mark up like TRU does either, IIRC, so that's a plus for them, but that makes price about the same, minus shipping. But, there's always the little extra goodies that Lego will sometimes give.

I've found in my experience that Lego rarely gives discounts. Usually they will throw in a freebie before they clearance something. But even when they do clearance an item it's usually not by much. As Legocrazy81 said, the real benefit from buying from Lego are the VIP points. Target usually has really good Lego sales and really low clearance prices. I usually buy from Lego when I can't get the set I want from a local retailer.

I've found in my experience that Lego rarely gives discounts. Usually they will throw in a freebie before they clearance something. But even when they do clearance an item it's usually not by much. As Legocrazy81 said, the real benefit from buying from Lego are the VIP points. Target usually has really good Lego sales and really low clearance prices. I usually buy from Lego when I can't get the set I want from a local retailer.

LEGO does occasionally give discounts on certain sets on their website, but rarely discounts of the same magnitude that retailers offer. Check their Sales and Deals page to see what's for sale currently. However, note that sale items on the website tend to be retired sets or sets from retired themes, whereas retailers tend to offer sales on most of the LEGO sets they have in stock-- even current ones. The LEGO Shop website's sales tend to be more of a "clearance" than a regular sale.

LEGO offers occasional sales in LEGO brand stores. Recently, they've had one at three LEGO stores in the Virginia-Maryland-D.C. area to coincide with Brickfair, available only to registered event attendees. It was a fairly deep discount (30% off an order totaling $250 or more), and my family ended up buying a lot of sets. These sorts of things may not be marked on store calendars, since they only matter to registered attendees, but if you're attending any LEGO fan events like Brickfair keep your eyes peeled.

Overall, though, unless you are part of the LEGO VIP program, then there's no special reason to put off a purchase in hopes of a better deal from the LEGO catalog or website. Offers of 30% off are about the highest you're likely to find for larger sets, so when an offer like that emerges it's best to snatch it!

Its on sale at Target for 10% off the regular price, but I'm wondering if I could be cheaper in the catalog.

The only real benefit from buying from Lego directly is(if you're signed up) getting VIP points.

So you have 10% at Target's versus VIP points, which make 5%.

Questions?

The only reason to buy off the catalog are the sets that are S@H exclusives (like the pet shop, etc.)

If you do so watch out for double VIP points and something like that, normally offered around 2-4x/year.

And one more point: Always consider shipping costs! They always ( ) come on top of the S@H costs in contrast to other big internet shopping sites. You know what/whom I'm talking about...

So you have 10% at Target's versus VIP points, which make 5%.

Questions?

The only reason to buy off the catalog are the sets that are S@H exclusives (like the pet shop, etc.)

If you do so watch out for double VIP points and something like that, normally offered around 2-4x/year.

And one more point: Always consider shipping costs! They always ( ) come on top of the S@H costs in contrast to other big internet shopping sites. You know what/whom I'm talking about...

Agreed, in general for sets in normal availability it's usually cheaper to find them on sale at a multi-brand retailer rather than the LEGO store or Shop @ Home. You tend to see sales far more often from them.

For sets that are Exclusive or Hard to Find it's a WHOLE different ballgame, your choices are so much more limited to begin with. I tend to buy only the sets or parts that I cannot get or are a pain to find at the local LIC, the Exclusives, Hard to Find, PaB wall and you can occasionally find good deals (or great deals) on sets that LEGO has decided are no longer to be carried. The LEGO stores usually carry the full line or as close as they can to it, other retailers pick and choose to fit into predetermined spaces.

So if you are ordering form the LEGO catalog aka Shop @ Home, no matter if it's via phone, the website or thru the mail service, you generally have access to the full line of product, but you will also be paying MSRP and shipping unless they are running a promotion AND you qualify for it (often a $75 order, but it varies). In some states you'll pay sales tax as well, IF LEGO has a retail presence or you are in one of a few states they are otherwise required to collect it.

S@H is still a valuable resource for those not living near a LEGO store, or in an area where the retailers do not carry a good selection (or are marked-up noticeably above MSRP). It also is a good choice if someone doesn't have a lot of time to physically just GO shopping, delivery is great :)

Some retailers have bonus programs going as well that are not LEGO specific, TRU has their Rewards R US program, Target now has a 5% discount if you use one their Credit or Check Cards to pay for the purchase. Those are the two I recall off the top of my head, there are likely other programs out there as well.

Here in france the prices at the lego site are high. Amazon generally has the most interesting prices and they have free shipping, which is also a big plus. So I don't see myself ordering from lego anytime soon.