Hello, yesterday I received a pleasant surprise, informed by a friend with the new about an official Lego Store in Guatemala, I went to it and here are my impressions and some doubts I would like to clarify. The clerks, understandably, were to busy as for me to go and ask such much questions, I just made them a few.

Here are some pics:

As can be seen the variety of themes & sets is good. Even some exclusive sets for stores could be spotted. Unfortunately my main objective theme wasn´t on the shelves, (LOTR), so I returned to home with the pockets of my pants with some series 7 CMF.

These are some of the things noticed:

1. The pick a brick wall wasn´t available at the store, there is one but is only as decoration. I wonder if that happens in other stores?

2. I could not find anywhere poly bags-impulse sets. I believe reading about they should be available on a store. But it seems that is not the case on this one.

3. The price on the sets were just as expensive as in other Guatemala toy stores, for example, the Death Star is labeled with a 875 dollars.

Kingdoms joust costs 287.5 dollars

This happens on other countries too? I know that retail price on the U.S. is the best one of them all and Europe follows it, but I would like to know if the Lego Store would regulate their prices on the future?

4. I visited on its second day of opening, yet no gift set was given at the purchase of product.

Nonetheless I am very happy with the Lego Store, as many other people here in Guatemala.

By the way they just opened on friday 13th

Greetings.

To answer your last question, in the US the LEGO stores have a 'soft opening' first, in which they open for a few weeks to let the staff get familiar with the store, the products, and the procedures. Then, about 3-4 weeks later is the 'grand opening' and that is when they give stuff away. If your store just opened for business a few days ago, perhaps the grand opening is coming up?

I can't believe the pick-a-brick wall is decorative only, that's the best reason (in my opinion) to visit a LEGO store. Perhaps they are having some logistical issues importing the parts to fill the wall? I'd write to LEGO and express your concerns. I know that in the past I regularly replied to LEGO surveys telling them my disappointment with the build-a-minifig section, and eventually they totally revamped that part of the store with a new method of displaying the parts. It never hurts to offer your opinion, maybe they'll tell you why or maybe they'll work harder to change it. LEGO has great customer service.

2. I could not find anywhere poly bags-impulse sets. I believe reading about they should be available on a store. But it seems that is not the case on this one.

3. The price on the sets were just as expensive as in other Guatemala toy stores, for example, the Death Star is labeled with a 875 dollars.

Kingdoms joust costs 287.5 dollars

Lego stores usually don't carry polybag sets. Those are usually found at other retail stores like Toys R Us.

The prices are supposed to be the same. Those are the MSRP set by Lego in your country.

Why isn't it listed in stores.lego.com anyway? It seems really strange there's one in Guatemala and not even a "fake" LEGO store in Mexico

I have a feeling this store is licensed out and isn't owned or operated by LEGO Brand Retail. The PaB wall as decoration only, different store fixtures and stylings, different front window layout and what seems to be a lack of adherence to LBR visual standards (having sets up high, having multiple faces of individual sets, etc.) point to this.

^^I'm not sure what kind of fake Lego store you are looking for in Mexico. I found this place in Cancun when I was down there last summer.

Prices were about 2x US RRP but they had a number of discontinued sets on display (Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal)which I probably should have tried to buy.

They also had a number of Playmobile sets for sale and lacked the Lego Set display Ribbon that is standard in official Lego store.

Sorry for getting off topic.

Edited July 16, 201212 yr by MCNwakeboard

Thank you for your answers.

I am not completely sure if this one is an official store, after some opinions on this thread, I have investigated a little on the internet and here on EB.

Opening a store seems a thing complicated, I just hope it is.

I will try to inform you about the developing of this situation on the future.

Greetings.

I have a feeling this store is licensed out and isn't owned or operated by LEGO Brand Retail. The PaB wall as decoration only, different store fixtures and stylings, different front window layout and what seems to be a lack of adherence to LBR visual standards (having sets up high, having multiple faces of individual sets, etc.) point to this.

You are right that there are differences, but some of those are minor and could be explained by lack of training. There are quite a few things that point to this being a company store. The brand ribbon, the brick light fixtures on the ceiling, the display cylinders in the front window (not sure if there is an official name for them), the fact that there is a pick-a-brick wall (albeit fake).

I hope LEGO opens a store in Mexico, that way we could get some of the exclusive sets.

:classic:

The LEGO Store in Oakland Mall Guatemala is real,is not a fake... as you know for Latin América exist many restriction regarding licenses for example, LOTR in coming in October in that region.

Also the pick a brick wall is only a decoration because in latinamerica we dont have an "advanced brand knowledge" and if you are a child and your father gives 20 yellow blocks is not as fun if you get a play set... is a brand regulation.

The poly bags and the architecture license are not allowed to be sell in emergent markets yet.

About the price we hope that soon the taxes for european goods in the region could be decreased, all Guatemala can be proud to have the first LEGO Store in Central América! Congratulations, enjoy!

You can follow the store at:

http://www.facebook.com/legoguatemala

:classic:

The LEGO Store in Oakland Mall Guatemala is real,is not a fake... as you know for Latin América exist many restriction regarding licenses for example, LOTR in coming in October in that region.

Also the pick a brick wall is only a decoration because in latinamerica we dont have an "advanced brand knowledge" and if you are a child and your father gives 20 yellow blocks is not as fun if you get a play set... is a brand regulation.

The poly bags and the architecture license are not allowed to be sell in emergent markets yet.

About the price we hope that soon the taxes for european goods in the region could be decreased, all Guatemala can be proud to have the first LEGO Store in Central América! Congratulations, enjoy!

You can follow the store at:

http://www.facebook.com/legoguatemala

Hi F-Martini, I guess you are directly related to the Lego Store in Guatemala, about some things you mentioned I am happy aboout the confirmation that it is an official Lego Store.

About the PAB wall I think is a basic and very appealing characteristic about a Lego Store, you should not discard it so lightly.

On the other hand poly bags sets are a great impulse buy attraction to kids and adults, as I said before, I went the next day after you opened and given that at the moment I could not find any of the sets I wished to buy, I acquired a few series 7 CMF polybags, just in the 15 min I spent searching for the minifigs I desired, about 4 or 5 kids approached and grabbed a few of these bags, (I point this out, because it is probably for a kid to buy a small-medium set rather than lets say... a Death Star :) so in the meantime while saving money for the big set, kids could expand their collections with the inexpensive sets )the same results could be expected with the impulse poly bags sets, so don not discard them either.

And finally I am happy knowing you will regulate prices to a more affordable scale.

Greetings.

Ps. More pictures.