Vikings - Europe only?

[sam89]

Oh and it was all fair when it seemed the USA wasn't getting the Viking sets that are 100 times better?

Yeah, but then it seemed that Europe wouldn't get the DINOs and the US wouldn't get the Vikings, so it's more fair. But now we know that the US get both and we only get the Vikings.

[David85]

So it's fair that the US would get shit sets that I know will not sell, (No parent will buy a $60 helicopter when Megablocks has a $20 one.) and that Europe would get a now desent series of Viking sets? Yeah that seemed fair. :|

[Akkhraziel]

Whether its fair or not is really beside the point. Me, I'll probably order Viking via s@h like everyone esle, and I'll make sure that if someone in Europe wants the Dino Attack sets and I'm in a place that I can help, I do so and make sure they get a good deal out of it. Because you never know when the shoe is going to be on the other foot, and toy karma is a strange thing.

Akkh

[David85]

Whether its fair or not is really beside the point. Me, I'll probably order Viking via s@h like everyone esle, and I'll make sure that if someone in Europe wants the Dino Attack sets and I'm in a place that I can help, I do so and make sure they get a good deal out of it. Because you never know when the shoe is going to be on the other foot, and toy karma is a strange thing.

Akkh

Hi

That's the problem through, when it looked like the USA wasn't getting the Viking sets at all the Europens went "Oh good, we can now screw over the USA by selling things for huge profit on eBay", so I think the Toy Karma did hit, it hit the Europeans right in the face.

So all I have to say is if someone wants a DINO set they can trade it from Europe or buy it from me on eBay for a nice price. :)

[Akkhraziel]

I may be incorrect, but I think a good number of those comments were tongue in cheek, or at least more indicative of "I'll be fine with making a bit of profit off e-bay." I think that if sincerely asked for assitance by other lego fans, a number of the denizens of this board would be happy to help, and would keep the strings attatched minimal. I may be overly optimistic, but thats the impression that I have gotten from the site.

Akkh

[erikutt]

id rather have the vikeings than the dinos and scinse im Norvegian :-D

Erik

[David85]

I may be incorrect, but I think a good number of those comments were tongue in cheek, or at least more indicative of "I'll be fine with making a bit of profit off e-bay." I think that if sincerely asked for assitance by other lego fans, a number of the denizens of this board would be happy to help, and would keep the strings attatched minimal. I may be overly optimistic, but thats the impression that I have gotten from the site.

Akkh

I don't think so, I think a lot of them really wanted to make money from it because they are megablocks.

If I had a good friend that I trusted and they wanted a set I would sent it to them, it still would be cheaper than the rates for Legos over there anyways. :)

But in a year when the DINO sets are on sale for 75% off I will buy all of them and they will be on eBay for anyone to buy for cheap.

[jindroush]

LEGO knows MOST of the sales come from NA because that's where a lot of people buy LEGO and by not selling the Vkings line, they LOSE a lot of good reputation and money.

eh? From when?

In the last annual report (2003), there is the table named Net Sales.

For 2003 it's:

Americas: 3000

Europe: 5000

other: 500

millions DKK (approximate, as there is only a graph, not numbers)

And let's wait for the 2004's report. I could bet it'll be even worse.

[The Middleman]

I'd be happy to ship DINO sets if anyone wants them. I know I don't.

David85 does have a point, though - you guys seemed fine with us not getting Vikings (which are INFINITELY better). Let's not hold grudges, though, eh?

[David85]

I'd be happy to ship DINO sets if anyone wants them. I know I don't.

David85 does have a point, though - you guys seemed fine with us not getting Vikings (which are INFINITELY better). Let's not hold grudges, though, eh?

I wasn't being mean, just proving a point.

I won't ship DINO sets unless they are on clearence because I don't want to make Lego think that someone buys the sets.

[WesternOutlaw]

As I'm reading some of these messages, I find them really silly.

It's only fair that both themes be released in both countries.

May be a bad marketing decision on the part of Lego, but I really don't think Lego would intentionally pick one country over another (unless they have some sort of logical rational) for the decision.

In any case, maybe SAH will offer both themes to both countries in the end. Many get carried away with speculation.

[Jipay]

Well marketing has its own reasonning. I was really bad at marketing, but as time goes, I must say that even if it looks silly, most of the time, real marketers are almost always right. And I must say I totaly second their decision on that particular subject :)

[David85]

real marketers are almost always right.

Except when you are the Lego Company, then all logic is out the window.

[Jipay]

Well I didn't say they had real marketers :)

[David85]

Well I didn't say they had real marketers :)

|-D

[snefroe]

what about the lego stores in the us? will they be selling the vikings? if so, i can find some reasoning about their decision... they might simply think: "we'll increase the profits of our own chain because they're the only shop in the us with this product. people will have to buy them with us." if that's their argument, then I'd strongly support it. TLC needs to boost up the profits of this chain by creating what economics call "a competitive advantage". It's either this or go down... after all, they can't compete with TRU and their discount policy...

i know this doesn't have anything to do with lego or fans or even marketing. it's about TLC trying to survive. I'd probably do the same...

[MattZitron]

Thing is by having them only at shop at home the prices won't get better for a while.

Lego are being stupid over this. Whether European kids (or EU kids for those who need everything explained to them) or North American kids (NA kids, get it?) children love guns.

DINO attack will be a hit, I'm sure of it and the EU kids would have lapped it up.

Well, if in the unfortunate event the US does end up getting screw, I'd help anyone out in plain swaps.

[yoda601]

US gets oth. We get vikings...

[David85]

what about the lego stores in the us? will they be selling the vikings? if so, i can find some reasoning about their decision... they might simply think: "we'll increase the profits of our own chain because they're the only shop in the us with this product. people will have to buy them with us." if that's their argument, then I'd strongly support it. TLC needs to boost up the profits of this chain by creating what economics call "a competitive advantage". It's either this or go down... after all, they can't compete with TRU and their discount policy...

i know this doesn't have anything to do with lego or fans or even marketing. it's about TLC trying to survive. I'd probably do the same...

They aren't even sure about that, and only 90% sure they will make it to the US S@H.

But it dounds like Europe is getting screwed, but I bet within the next year or so all the lines will be released worldwide making this completely pointless.

[CopMike]

The thought behind it was of course to build an armada of Vikingships and sail over and invade/explore America a second time - in good old Vikingstyle. ;) The "Star Wars"-missile defense system wouldn

[The Middleman]

what about the lego stores in the us? will they be selling the vikings? if so, i can find some reasoning about their decision... they might simply think: "we'll increase the profits of our own chain because they're the only shop in the us with this product. people will have to buy them with us." if that's their argument, then I'd strongly support it. TLC needs to boost up the profits of this chain by creating what economics call "a competitive advantage". It's either this or go down... after all, they can't compete with TRU and their discount policy...

i know this doesn't have anything to do with lego or fans or even marketing. it's about TLC trying to survive. I'd probably do the same...

They aren't even sure about that, and only 90% sure they will make it to the US S@H.

But it dounds like Europe is getting screwed, but I bet within the next year or so all the lines will be released worldwide making this completely pointless.

Now just pack up your half-empty glass and you'll be ready for pessimist school.

[snefroe]

trust me, they will ship this viking set to the US. it would be suicidal for TLC to make all these costs to build this theme, to do research, to produce the necessary machines, software,... only for HALF the market. where would they get the funds to pull a stunt like that? they've never split up their production like this!

and can anybody explain me why Americans and Europeans would be divided over this theme? why would Americans hate this, contrary to Europeans? we've been talking about this theme on this forum... Can you see any real difference between the Europeans and the Americans, based on their messages only?

I'll stick to my theory ...and hope i'm right about this... >-|

[mahjqa]

OR what they do, is measure the amount of success on each market, and next year one of the themes will be out of the window.

[MattZitron]

Ahhhh.

Who cares, Everyone here knows someone else in each of the 2 continents.

We're a community, and we'll help each other out.

So it doesn't matter.

(On that, if anyone needs a ARC-170, I'd do a swap (make me an off) or straight cash over Paypal.)

[David85]

what about the lego stores in the us? will they be selling the vikings? if so, i can find some reasoning about their decision... they might simply think: "we'll increase the profits of our own chain because they're the only shop in the us with this product. people will have to buy them with us." if that's their argument, then I'd strongly support it. TLC needs to boost up the profits of this chain by creating what economics call "a competitive advantage". It's either this or go down... after all, they can't compete with TRU and their discount policy...

i know this doesn't have anything to do with lego or fans or even marketing. it's about TLC trying to survive. I'd probably do the same...

They aren't even sure about that, and only 90% sure they will make it to the US S@H.

But it dounds like Europe is getting screwed, but I bet within the next year or so all the lines will be released worldwide making this completely pointless.

Now just pack up your half-empty glass and you'll be ready for pessimist school.

The glass is half emety if you drink half of it and half full if you only filled it up halfway. Any megablock knows that.

And just looks at the comments people made in the 5 hours that it looked like the US wouldn't get the Vikings at all. They are most of "Hahaha, now you will get screwed with prices" and people being bitches. it's not me being pessimistic, it's about the realality of it.