Review - 41999 4x4 Crawler Exclusive Edition

[DrFrankenstein]

I am not shy about opening my sets and assembling the models to study them. Still, I am careful about preserving everything (boxes, booklets, parts) in as close to new condition as possible. This includes storing everything in dark, dry, low-dust environment with load-bearing elements (tires, springs, etc) detached from the models. I keep the models wrapped in plastic bags so as to make sure they remain dust-free.

Normally, I apply the stickers, but for the 41999, I think I will put the sticker sheet in a ziplock bag and preserve it. I think this model will look great even without the stickers.

[Kronos]

Anyone found the PDF instructions? I want to build it with my existing parts.

[legotechnicblue]

I think it will take several months, if not longer to sell out. I could be wrong, but I don't think there are even 1000 Technic nuts like us that are chomping at the bits to get this. My guess is that there are several hundred fans that read the various forums and know this set is coming. Otherwise, I think the rest of the 20,000 sets will sell from people browsing the LEGO stores or website. Maybe I'm totally underestimating the number of fans that read the forums, but I really don't think the set will sell out on the first day.....or week.....or month.

I will be stopping by the store on the 4th for my set, if they are in stock by then.

So much for that!

[Siegfried]

I'm an idiot. I didn't buy any last night at midnight from S@H when they were available because I figured I would save myself the shipping and just pick one up at my local LEGO Store this morning. I went there as soon as they opened and they say they didn't get any of them.

Well darn...

I'm still "In Process".

Order shipped from S@H USA with hot dog stand freebee. Got a FedEx tracking number at hand. Mission complete. Glad I managed to place my order shortly before midnight (approximately 2350GMT-5)

My order number is Y45175194x (last digit replaced with x). Would be interesting to get a few other data points to estimate the rate of order accumulation between the time they released 41999 and when it went out of stock (approximately 0200GMT-5, I guess).

Edit: Just pulled my entire order history with S@H USA. If these numbers are anything to go by, it seems like the sales volume is trending up. Anyone else want to share? We could make an interesting graph out of it with a few more datapoints and see how it correlates with promotions, etc:

2013-08-01 Y4517519xx

2012-10-17 Y2782395xx

2012-10-01 Y1985779xx

2012-03-20 Y1938557xx

2012-03-02 Y1439193xx

2011-10-08 Y1307204xx

2011-08-24 Y1170573xx

Interesting idea!

1 Aug 2013 Y4204933xx In Process

1 Jun 2013 Y3652784xx Shipped

19 Feb 2013 Y3600720xx Shipped

1 Jan 2013 Y3355499xx Shipped

8 Dec 2012 Y2878248xx Shipped

22 Oct 2012 Y2533594xx Shipped

5 Aug 2012 Y2161675xx Shipped

4 May 2012 Y2131413xx Shipped

3 May 2012 Y2107074xx Shipped

27 Apr 2012 Y2103156xx Shipped

25 Apr 2012 Y2094869xx Shipped

25 Apr 2012 Y2094841xx Shipped

23 Apr 2012 Y2087358xx Shipped

6 Apr 2012 Y2026725xx Shipped

19 Dec 2011 30008463xx

8 Dec 2011 Y1401144xx Shipped

30 Aug 2011 30006723xx

13 Aug 2011 Y1179049xx Shipped

21 Apr 2011 30005819xx Shipped

26 Dec 2010 W28599xx Shipped

3 May 2010 W15475xx Shipped

6 Mar 2010 W13831xx Shipped

1 Jan 2010 W11295xx Shipped

So much for that!

Time will tell.

[legotechnicblue]

My order number is Y45199295X (x is last number)

[750ACE]

My order number is Y45199295X (x is last number)

Well why post this... someone could call and guess your order number 9 times till they get it right and say they entered the wrong address in online.... lol

[Paul Boratko]

I have ordered a TON of stuff from Lego Shop at home over the years and this is the fastest that I will have ever gotten an order...

Edited August 2, 2013 by Paul Boratko

[750ACE]

@paul: what is your thought. Will they release a watered down version? Do you think these 20k will hold their value. I am debating buying a second tomorrow local lego shop.

Edited August 2, 2013 by 750ACE

[legotechnicblue]

You're lucky! I ordered when it was out of stock so I have to wait a month before it even ships

Edited August 2, 2013 by legotechnicblue

[Paul Boratko]

@paul: what is your thought. Will they release a watered down version? Do you think these 20k will hold their value. I am debating buying a second tomorrow local lego shop.

I honestly don't see how they can sell the 9398 and the 41999 set at the same time for the same price.. I mean who is going to buy the 9398 with less parts..?

I would like to see Lego continue to release the 41999 set in a cheaper box without numbering them... It seems to me that there was much labor invloved in the entire packaging of the 41999(not to mention extra parts) to sell them for the same price as the 9398... Or maybe a body upgrade kit for people that already have the 9398...

Looking back at the value of previous Technic flagship models(and the number of sets made), there is no doubt this may very well be not only one of the most wanted Technic models ever, but one of the most sought after sets ever due to the number of new things that were introduced in this set, plus there are only 20,000 of them...

Edited August 2, 2013 by Paul Boratko

[Doc_Brown]

My order says "back ordered" I ordered at 15 mins to midnight (GMT)

[750ACE]

Back ordered doesn't even make sense. If it is a limited edition that means 20k. Will they honor 20001+ sales???

[Doc_Brown]

Back ordered doesn't even make sense. If it is a limited edition that means 20k. Will they honor 20001+ sales???

Unless like others have said here, they are going through the orders manually and "removing" multiple orders to the same house hold.

[gmshades]

Unless like others have said here, they are going through the orders manually and "removing" multiple orders to the same house hold.

That would be more than fair if they did.

[madjelly]

obviously it is a costly enterprise on their end for it only to be 20k units. but then it is a good marketing campaign from which they are getting some money back. lexus lfa is a good example of such strategy. plus it is a good trial platform for the future user-designed products

Edited August 2, 2013 by madjelly

[DrFrankenstein]

@Sinner, thank you for the data. Here is the merged dataset:

2013-08-01 451751900

2013-06-01 365278400

2013-02-19 360072000

2013-01-01 335549900

2012-12-08 287824800

2012-10-22 253359400

2012-10-17 278239500

2012-10-01 198577900

2012-08-05 216167500

2012-05-04 213141300

2012-05-03 210707400

2012-04-27 210315600

2012-04-25 209486900

2012-04-25 209484100

2012-04-23 208735800

2012-04-06 202672500

2012-03-20 193855700

2012-03-02 143919300

2011-12-08 140114400

2011-10-08 130720400

2011-08-24 117057300

2011-08-13 117904900

Now, here is what a plot of the order number values over time looks like (approximately 24 months range):

To be honest, now that I see the plot, I don't see anything interesting in terms of a pattern. I was hoping of something to correlate to seasons, promotions, etc. Yes, the numbers are trending up in general, but there are some red flags such as occasional decreases in the time series (shouldn't happen in theory - it's anachronism). The only thing I can deduce from this is that over the past 12 months the numbers have been growing at almost twice the rate of the preceding 12 months as a whole. I also suspect that if more data becomes available (say, we increase the resolution by 5x), we will see an even less smooth line (perhaps it will be even more staircase "jumpy").

Edited August 2, 2013 by DrFrankenstein

[Fatteh]

My order says "back ordered" I ordered at 15 mins to midnight (GMT)

Same here and I got my order in minutes after it went live. I sincerely hope they're not going to cancel all orders to far off lands like Aus and NZ in favour of those in Europe and the US, but that backordered status doesn't bode well.

[Doc_Brown]

Same here and I got my order in minutes after it went live. I sincerely hope they're not going to cancel all orders to far off lands like Aus and NZ in favour of those in Europe and the US, but that backordered status doesn't bode well.

Really? Doesn't look good then, but it is still early days. Fingers crossed!

[GDomino]

My status now shows "Partial shipment balance on backorder". The freebie mini mech shipped but the Crawler is still on back order. I hope this means I'm at least guaranteed a set.

[peter_m]

My status now shows "Partial shipment balance on backorder". The freebie mini mech shipped but the Crawler is still on back order. I hope this means I'm at least guaranteed a set.

Woah! I also have "backordered" even though I have ordered as one of the first around (so has stated message from Customer Support) :/

[Fatteh]

Woah! I also have "backordered" even though I have ordered as one of the first around (so has stated message from Customer Support) :/

Hopefully it's just part of the process then. I'd given up hope of seeing this set, but if this is happening to lots of early buyers then maybe all is still well.

[peter_m]

Hopefully it's just part of the process then. I'd given up hope of seeing this set, but if this is happening to lots of early buyers then maybe all is still well.

I have just emailed them with a question how should this "Backordered" be interpreted.

[snot]

I was able to put one in my cart just now on shop@home U.S.

I didn't order since I already got one, I was just curious to see.

Curiously the orange "add to bag" button only works when I click on the far right side of it.

Edited August 2, 2013 by snot

[peter_m]

I was able to put one in my cart just now on shop@home U.S.

I didn't order since I already got one, I was just curious to see.

Thanks for getting in touch with us.

At the moment users are able to sort of 'reserve' the set on an off chance that they will get it.

Even though I can encourage you to place another order, I cannot guarantee it will be accepted.

[Alternator]

Same here and I got my order in minutes after it went live. I sincerely hope they're not going to cancel all orders to far off lands like Aus and NZ in favour of those in Europe and the US, but that backordered status doesn't bode well.

Hmm I placed my order during lunchtime yesterday - my order appears as an "In Process". I ordered when the indicator said it was in stock.