Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion

[merman]

yes I was hinting at two Baseplates of 16x32 and 32x32

[talos]

They did the FB with two 16x32 baseplates linked. I have an extra large baseplate, 48x48, so I think they could do a 32x48 if they wanted to...

[Off the wall]

I guess it boils down to what they could do vs what they are willing to do. I don't see a footprint any larger than 32 x 32 for the modular series. I'd love it if they did make it larger, but I can't see TLG thinking anything larger than 32 x 32 is appropriate for this product line.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Does anybody know why the Town Hall was discontinued after 2 years? Low sales? I was very surprised and disappointed I didn't buy one sooner, now I'll take a loss on shipping

[glendo]

Does anybody know why the Town Hall was discontinued after 2 years? Low sales? I was very surprised and disappointed I didn't buy one sooner, now I'll take a loss on shipping

Not in my part of the world. TH still listed as available, and only has the 'Hard to Find' label on it... that's not EOL or discontinued. PS will go before the TH will

[Locutis]

Not in my part of the world. TH still listed as available, and only has the 'Hard to Find' label on it... that's not EOL or discontinued. PS will go before the TH will

On the North American S@H site, Town Hall and Grand Emporium are listed as "SOLD OUT".

Locutis

[rollermonkey]

Here's a theory:

What if both rumors are correct: Grand Emporium is retiring, AND Town Hall is retiring, at roughly the same time?

Could that mean we'd start to see a 2-a-year release schedule, as LEGO Star Wars UCS sets seem to have adopted, or conversely that the line is bloated and how many will be available at one time is being scaled back?

[parksroad]

Except that Pet Shop is older than Town Hall. Very interesting...

[opn2]

Edited October 10, 2014 by opn2

[rollermonkey]

TH supposedly hasn't sold as well as the rest of the line, and more than a few people have been told by LEGO store management that they are not able to order more of TH. That has been mentioned in this thread several times the past few months... But it's still a hypothetical.

That said, I'd stop procrastinating and get it if you want it. The price isn't likely to drop.

[Rick]

It's typically hard to predict which sets will retire at what time, but it seems TLG makes choices on additional production runs depending on inventory and demand. Fire Brigade is an example of a set that was around much longer than the other modulars to date. The only thing that's been constant is that TLG has at least three modulars available at the time a new one is announced so they can have a line-up of three buildings in the instruction manuals. By the time the new modular will be released, Town Hall is no longer among the newest three buildings.

[VintageLegoEra]

It is just an equation:

- More Demand, Late retirement

- Less Demand, Fast retirement

[Big-whoop-Guybrush]

Looks like I'm gonna have to pick up the TH then !!! I'm sure it's lego employees spreading these to drum up demand !!

[VintageLegoEra]

Looks like I'm gonna have to pick up the TH then !!! I'm sure it's lego employees spreading these to drum up demand !!

TH is nice. I built mine few weeks back and just love it. Nice level compartment

[finnbricker]

What do you think, will the detective agency be dark brown? A rare color, well-suited for a dismal detective agency, but perhaps too dismal for TLG?

[VintageLegoEra]

R u all sure it is the Detective Agency?

[mapimi]

I was going to go to the lego shop tomorrow to get one modular (can't afford more), and was going to go for the pet shop, but do you guys feel like I should go with the town hall instead? The earliest I can get another one after this is christmas, do you guys think either will have disappeared by then?

[Off the wall]

As far as a set being retired, haven't we seen the GE in several different status (excluding 'retired') during the past few months? Don't be too quick to reach the conclusion that something is retired just because it is listed as 'sold out'. GE has come back from what many though was retirement on several occasions. Even after having been listed as 'sold out'. It's interesting to watch the status change on the modulars. Sometimes the set comes back and the new opportunity to buy it turns out to be a very small window of opportunity. If you're concerned about TH, just keep checking lego.com for possible availabiltiy. It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings!

[nesquik]

TH supposedly hasn't sold as well as the rest of the line, and more than a few people have been told by LEGO store management that they are not able to order more of TH. That has been mentioned in this thread several times the past few months... But it's still a hypothetical.

That said, I'd stop procrastinating and get it if you want it. The price isn't likely to drop.

LEGO Store managers, like others in brand retail, do not order stock for their store. Shipments are processed by another department in the company that calculates sales figures (via a cycle count) and availability; we have little other control than Pick a Brick elements.

I have no idea where the rumours of the Town Hall's retirement have come from, but they are certainly not true for this year. Grand Emporium's final production run was early May, and since then stores have been receiving what's left over. Exclusive products generally have a minimum three-year lifecycle - and Town Hall has neither been "unpopular" nor popular, not that this would affect the company's decision to continue selling it.

Production runs are scheduled well in advanced for Creator-Exclusive, a good example of this is the Landmark series, Tower Bridge. Before this product was released a store could receive as many as 50 units, but for my store it would take over one a half years for that stock to deplete. By the time a handful or so were left a new batch would be received, and in this product's case, the artwork and piece inventory were updated for the second run. This happens because it's the most cost effective way to sell a cost effective product.

Modular buildings tend to come in smaller-but-more-frequent batches, but the point is that you simply cannot gauge a product's lifespan based upon a perceived notion of how popular something is.

I can also confirm the Detective Agency rumours - alleyway down the middle and a bar.

[Off the wall]

I can also confirm the Detective Agency rumours - alleyway down the middle and a bar.

Thanks for the clarification on store inventory management and retiring sets.

As far as the Detective Agency is concerned, do you know what base plate(s) will be used? I'm having trouble visualizing how this would be set up on a standard 32 x 32 plate.

Again, thanks!

Edited October 5, 2014 by Off the wall

[finnbricker]

I can also confirm the Detective Agency rumours - alleyway down the middle and a bar.

Thanks for all the info you gave us! Most appreciated!

As far as the Detective Agency is concerned, do you know what base plate(s) will be used? I'm having trouble visualizing how this would be set up on a standard 32 x 32 plate.

My guess would be a 32 x 32 baseplate and two separate buildings, maybe 12-14 wide each, with a 6-wide alley in the middle.

[scottwb2010]

As far as the Detective Agency is concerned, do you know what base plate(s) will be used? I'm having trouble visualizing how this would be set up on a standard 32 x 32 plate.

Again, thanks!

Try imagining it like Looking at the Fire Brigade and where the engine bay door is, this is your alley way. But probably not 8 wide but more likely 6 wide. 4 wide might be to narrow. Could be open fronted or a new gate created!

Edited October 5, 2014 by scottwb2010

[Big-whoop-Guybrush]

All very interesting. Hopefully we'll hear something very soon

[rahservizi]

It seems the kind of building i was hoping forma.

[Wodanis]

As far as a set being retired, haven't we seen the GE in several different status (excluding 'retired') during the past few months? Don't be too quick to reach the conclusion that something is retired just because it is listed as 'sold out'. GE has come back from what many though was retirement on several occasions. Even after having been listed as 'sold out'. It's interesting to watch the status change on the modulars. Sometimes the set comes back and the new opportunity to buy it turns out to be a very small window of opportunity. If you're concerned about TH, just keep checking lego.com for possible availabiltiy. It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings!

I know that when a set retires if vendors have any stock left they will ship it back to Lego (assuming it wasn't a great seller for a particular vendor/shop). That is why you will see a 'retired' set become stocked again at Lego S@H. I was able to get the fire helicopter (60010) from last years line in this way. Selling the set through Lego S@H is the most efficient way of reducing the stock.

LEGO Store managers, like others in brand retail, do not order stock for their store. Shipments are processed by another department in the company that calculates sales figures (via a cycle count) and availability; we have little other control than Pick a Brick elements.

I have no idea where the rumours of the Town Hall's retirement have come from, but they are certainly not true for this year. Grand Emporium's final production run was early May, and since then stores have been receiving what's left over. Exclusive products generally have a minimum three-year lifecycle - and Town Hall has neither been "unpopular" nor popular, not that this would affect the company's decision to continue selling it.

Production runs are scheduled well in advanced for Creator-Exclusive, a good example of this is the Landmark series, Tower Bridge. Before this product was released a store could receive as many as 50 units, but for my store it would take over one a half years for that stock to deplete. By the time a handful or so were left a new batch would be received, and in this product's case, the artwork and piece inventory were updated for the second run. This happens because it's the most cost effective way to sell a cost effective product.

Modular buildings tend to come in smaller-but-more-frequent batches, but the point is that you simply cannot gauge a product's lifespan based upon a perceived notion of how popular something is.

I can also confirm the Detective Agency rumours - alleyway down the middle and a bar.

If that is the case for Town Hall then it should be expected to retire March of 2015 as the end of its three year cycle. Personally I never thought it was a bad seller, or a bad set. I am really happy with mine. Perhaps they just won't be running another batch to produce hence the sold out status?

Thanks for the clarification on store inventory management and retiring sets.

As far as the Detective Agency is concerned, do you know what base plate(s) will be used? I'm having trouble visualizing how this would be set up on a standard 32 x 32 plate.

My guess would be a 32 x 32 baseplate and two separate buildings, maybe 12-14 wide each, with a 6-wide alley in the middle.

I believe you would be correct Finnbricker. Each building at the base would likely be 13 studs wide with a 6 stud alleyway in-between. I doubt they would go beyond a 32x32 baseplate since that is the standard dimensions for all modular buildings. Perhaps with stairwells going up on each half? Really excited to see what the final product will be.

I have yet to buy the Palace Cinema. That is the only modular I'm missing and I hope it doesn't get retired yet.