VIP Event - What to expect?

[mostlytechnic]

If $1700 in spending got you in, then I'm sure I'm in again at my store. I've got 2000 VIP points right now and I know I've spent way more than that this year. Probably $3k easily for the year. Guess I'll call today...

[Off the wall]

If $1700 in spending got you in, then I'm sure I'm in again at my store. I've got 2000 VIP points right now and I know I've spent way more than that this year. Probably $3k easily for the year. Guess I'll call today...

I just went back to June.....I think, well I know, there was probably another $2k before that.

[Robianco]

I visit my shop a lot... Sometimes it's just £3 or so for 3 minifigs but other times it's Orthanc or Ewok Village so there's a lot of transactions totalling quite a bit.

I'm just glad I got invited and I'm looking to pick up quite a few pieces and hopefully a nice big one if there's any kind of reduction.

[Herky]

Really glad I saw this, called my local store in St Louis and they said they had 35 invites that were sent out but have a few leftovers if they don't RSVP. So I am on the waiting list...I just told her I have spent a lot of money in the store and would love to come. Heck I just popped for the Opera House in October there. If I go I will ask the criteria but I hope I get to go, sounds like a blast and be nice to avoid the crowd that are usually crowding the store. I know how much I have spent, so if there are others that have spent even more than me, dang, I need to win the lottery or get a raise.

Good luck to all those who will attend.

[Off the wall]

Really glad I saw this, called my local store in St Louis and they said they had 35 invites that were sent out but have a few leftovers if they don't RSVP. So I am on the waiting list...I just told her I have spent a lot of money in the store and would love to come. Heck I just popped for the Opera House in October there. If I go I will ask the criteria but I hope I get to go, sounds like a blast and be nice to avoid the crowd that are usually crowding the store. I know how much I have spent, so if there are others that have spent even more than me, dang, I need to win the lottery or get a raise.

Good luck to all those who will attend.

Hope you make it man. If not, fly to the ATL and go as my guest!!!!!!!!!

[Combee]

Anyone get an invite to the Columbus OH (Easton) store?

I got an invite there for the first time this year. Can't say that it was because of my spending - I don't think I spent that much there this year. Is there an easy way to check that?

[deraven]

Hope you make it man. If not, fly to the ATL and go as my guest!!!!!!!!!

That reminds me- i think my +1 may not be able to make it. Anyone in AZ that didn't get an invite want to join me at the Arrowhead mall location if she indeed can't be there? Just let me know if so and maybe that'll work out! :)

[TheLegoDr]

I'm quite amazed at how much some people spend. I get lots of sets every year and I don't think it totals anywhere near some of those totals! Craziness.

Have fun going everyone. I'm sure it would be nice to get some sales without a huge crowd. I can certainly see the appeal.

[Off the wall]

I'm quite amazed at how much some people spend. I get lots of sets every year and I don't think it totals anywhere near some of those totals! Craziness.

Have fun going everyone. I'm sure it would be nice to get some sales without a huge crowd. I can certainly see the appeal.

Well, I don't drink, I don't play golf, I no longer chase women and cars are utilitarian objects to me. Thirty years ago, when it was in a law library at 10 o'clock on a Saturday night, I could only hope for the day when I had disposable income. I've seen more of the road than what's left ahead of me. At the present time, Lego is fun. So, I'll chase after it until it no longer is. Paradigms change over the years. :-)

[TheLegoDr]

Understandable. I wasn't judging

And I added up how much was spent this year and it was a bit higher than expected, so I guess I spend a lot too. Just unexpectedly so. I best keep an eye on my budget next year. It looks like it should be safe for the start of the year.

[Infernum]

Hope you make it man. If not, fly to the ATL and go as my guest!!!!!!!!!

Ha, ha, I'll definitely be at the North Point store.

[Galaxy Explorer]

I guess I didn't qualify this year- no invitation yet. Strange since my spending habits didn't change. I generally buy all my LEGO at one store, and do a little SAH. I visit the store at least once if not twice a month and always spend money. Maybe they're telling me it's time to take a break!

[fred67]

I guess I didn't qualify this year- no invitation yet.

Interesting... Any three-peters? Maybe they thought so many times in a row wasn't fair. I did not get an invite this year after getting the first two years they did it, but I'm not surprised because I cut back a LOT!

[Andy D]

Interesting... Any three-peters? ...( Snip ) I'm not surprised because I cut back a LOT!

This just struck me as funny... I hope I did not offend anyone.

Back to LEGO...

At one time I heard that the top 25 or so spenders per store are invited to the event. My wife is glad each year that I do not get an invite.

To be honest by this time each year I am usually all spent out anyway (I have all the sets I want of the year's releases).

Andy D

Edited November 19, 2013 by Andy D

[Off the wall]

Back to LEGO...

At one time I heard that the top 25 or so spenders per store are invited to the event. My wife is glad each year that I do not get an invite.

To be honest by this time each year I am usually all spent out anyway (I have all the sets I want of the year's releases).

Andy D

That's a good point. Now that I've bought what I want, I can't see another invite in the future. All I'm interested in are the modular buildings, architecture and large piece count creator sets. I spent a lot this year playing catch up. If there are a few arch sets each year, one modular building and a couple of large creator sets.....probably not enough to merit an invite.

[AFOL SF]

...I didn't get the invite this year, although I had been the past two years... last year was the best as the luck of the draw got me a 50% discount on my total purchase...

...as the saying goes, you win some, you lose some... good luck to all of you folks who're going this Saturday...

[Paperballpark]

I'm in the UK, and much to my surprise I got an invite. To the store that is 3rd closest to me. Which I've only ever visited once. At which I spent approximately £65 (about $100).

However, that one time was on the Saturday of the Grand Opening event, and I was the first person served that day. I think that must have had something to do with it.

My point is I don't think it's just about how much you spend, it must take into account other factors too.

[Legoman of War]

I would like to chime in and say collectively you all that got invites completely stink. I don't have a store close to me to even go to let alone get invited to. I am so very jealous as I have only been to two stores ever (Disney and Philly) and they were awesome! Enjoy your event.

LMW

[Lance]

My son received an invite to the Cardiff store event, but it's impossible for us to go since we live in France. We just so happened to have spent a lot of money in the store earlier this year, so that's probably why. Couldn't bear to see my son upset, so I ordered him the Constitution Train Chase from Amazon instead. That was the se the wanted to get of he were to go to the event, so it's it's fine. And it was £58, so we got a discount.

[shaggysanchez]

I spend quite a bit and am usually at my local store at least every other week if not more it seems. I did not get an invite but also wonder if my distance from my store played a part as it is about 30 miles from my house. I called the store and spoke with the manager and he seemed surprised I had not RSVP'd yet and was surprised when I said that I had not gotten an invitation. Luckily I got an invite from him so I will get to go but it would be nice to know what the exact criteria is. I would think I spent more than enough through the year and always fill out the surveys as well as pop in and out of the store quite often for little purchases like minifigs or take the kids to club meetings.

Now to just hope that we get some good deals and it is all worth it. As others have said the one bad thing about getting an invite means that I have pretty much purchased all of the big sets that are available. I have my eye on a few things and some sets I would like to have a duplicate or three of but it will just depend on the deals available especially with some of the deals that amazon has been having of late.

[Off the wall]

My son received an invite to the Cardiff store event, but it's impossible for us to go since we live in France. We just so happened to have spent a lot of money in the store earlier this year, so that's probably why. Couldn't bear to see my son upset, so I ordered him the Constitution Train Chase from Amazon instead. That was the se the wanted to get of he were to go to the event, so it's it's fine. And it was £58, so we got a discount.

Your son is fortunate to have such a good father! Cheers to you!

[Herky]

one quick possibly dumb question...if you didn't get the VIP invite...are these deals going to be available any other time or just at that event?

[ShaydDeGrai]

I "expect" that I'm going to be spending large sums of money and leaving with an SUV full of LEGO goodness (I still haven't finished building all the stuff I got _last_ year (but then this has been a hell of a year for me).

Last year I found the staff incredibly friendly and helpful (I walked in with a shopping list and the sales guy assigned to wait on me played "concierge shopper," loading everything on my list onto a flat bed dolly and even went out to the parking lot to help me load my car - now that's service). There were freebies and discounts ( I seem to recall I got 20% my entire purchase) as well as as a chance to catch up with like-minded AFOLs .

I'm told things will be "different" this year but my contacts didn't go into specifics. It would be really cool if the new Hobbit sets and the Parisian Cafe modular were made available early but I'm not holding my breath on that one - I asked about last year's Hobbit sets at last year's event and was told that they were actually in the back room (sealed up) but they couldn't sell them until the official release date.

[Off the wall]

I'm told things will be "different" this year but my contacts didn't go into specifics. It would be really cool if the new Hobbit sets and the Parisian Cafe modular were made available early but I'm not holding my breath on that one - I asked about last year's Hobbit sets at last year's event and was told that they were actually in the back room (sealed up) but they couldn't sell them until the official release date.

IF the new sets were available, now that would be really cool. If they aren't, I'm probably out of there with zero spent because I have all that I want at this point in time. I might get another GE modular for future MOC projects, but that's it. Since I'm not a speculator/reseller, I don't need anymore copies of what I already have. It would be tempting to get one of the large SW offerings if the discount was big enough but, then, I catch myself and ask 'where would I put it ?' The Taj Mahal, Eiffel tower, Tower Bridge and Sydney Opera House take up a lot of room as is. Besides, I lost interest in Star Wars back in about 1983. That might be before many of you were even born. :-)

[jaysapathy]

Just got this link in my email:

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Black-Friday-VIP

Apparently, they're doing everything online as well, which kind of nullifies the reason of going in-store...

Don't mind saying that irks me quite a bit.