7979 Castle Adventcalender

Heir of Black Falcon · Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:03 pm

Perhaps something can be worked out like was done with the Good Wizard?

I'd send letters to TLC telling them how disappointing it is that they do not release sets like these in North America while they do elsewhere. Seems somewhat silly they do this.

R

Tedward · Post by **Tedward** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:08 pm

Too bad they couldn't send a couple of pallet loads to BrickCon as a goodwill gesture to AFOLs in N. America.

Morgan19 · Post by **Morgan19** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:10 pm

They have got to be kidding...

m19

timber_wolf899 · Post by **timber_wolf899** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:38 pm

I suggest a mass complaint. Let us overload them with calls/emails. Depending on the sophistication of the computer systems TLG should notice that the complainers are also big spenders, and put two and two together.

We should not have to set up special arrangments such as with TGW. The company should provide its customers with what they want, no?

Voran_the_Scholar · Post by **Voran_the_Scholar** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:42 pm

That is absolutely ridiculous! What incentive could they have for not releasing it in the US? Do they think we want another Town advent calendar? I mean, come on!

God bless.

Tom

Gomur · Post by **Gomur** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:54 pm

You know, I wouldn't have a problem so much if Lego just decided not to stock the store shelves with hundreds of copies of The Good Wizard and the Advent Calendar if they're indeed nervous that it won't be a big seller. In fact, from a business standpoint I completely understand this. There's just no point is making something that will only sell a couple of hundred copies.

That said, why on earth would they refuse to SHIP it to the US from wherever it's made? This makes no sense at all. Legos are not heavy unweildy items. They can be shipped in mylar envelopes quite safely. There's nothing perishible, breakable, or difficult to ship about them whatsoever. Even if it took three weeks to snail ship it to me, I'd still buy it, and so would most of us. If they're not concerned about losing revenue from the N. American markets, then the least they could do is throw us a bone and agree to ship it to us from overseas on their website, or whatnot.

We should have some sort of petition, it just makes no sense at all. They're a great company to deal with. When I ordered a $40 order of several sets for my son and I, it was delayed a week. When I called them, they apologized, admitted a shipping/warehouse error, and initiated a second shipment to replace the first sent overnight Fedex (which probably cost them more than I paid for the order) and it arrived the following day. If they'd do that to keep us happy, they'd ship us crate of Advent calendars, I'm sure.

Munchy · Post by **Munchy** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:01 pm

There is no reason some sort of limited pre-order couldn't be setup through S@H to accomodate fans in the US and Canada. That way they would satisfy their fan base and still not have massive overstock.

I myself was planning on buying at least 4 of these sets.

Please reconsider!

*gets on knees and begs*

KDog · Post by **KDog** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:29 pm

I'm just dumbfounded as to why Lego would do this. As said before, it's one thing if they don't want to have it on North American shelves, but why not make it available at S@H?

Lego has in the past eventually made sets available to North America on S@H that at first were not, like the recent Mars Mission MT-201 Ultra-Drill Walker. I hope that is the case in this situation, too.

I'm really bummed out. I was very much looking forward to this set and was likely going to buy two of them because I liked the minifigs it came with so much.

RichardAM · Post by **RichardAM** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:03 pm

Wow, this was pretty unexpected.

I was surprised earlier this year when it was revealed the Good Wizard wouldn't be US released, but this seems an even sillier move. I'm glad the UK has been confirmed for release though- sometimes we get thrown into the same release bracket as the US, but thankfully this isn't the case here.

wunztwice · Post by **wunztwice** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:33 pm

I'm not trying to sound whiny, but I just don't understand why. Surely there are enough US buyers? I was hoping to purchase at least 2, and I'm on a strict LEGO budget. Just think of all the other buyers out there. In fact I'm sure Bricklinkers would snag tons for the figs alone!!!

This is one move that just doesn't make sense.

speaknspell · Post by **speaknspell** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:40 pm

I can confirm for you guys that this product was never even developed for the US market, meaning that the packaging was never designed to be released in the US and therefore the S@H people didn't pick it up for that reason (having to redevelop the entire packaging is quite expensive actually).

I'm not saying I'm not unhappy with the decision (it bums me the heck out truth be told), but thats just the reality of the situation

Steve

KDog · Post by **KDog** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:44 pm

Why would they have to redesign the packaging for sale on their Web site? I'm sure stores are another matter.

Post by **SavaTheAggie** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:48 pm

It probably has something to do with US-Specific warning labels, language requirements, etc. All that fine print we don't ever look at.

--Tony

speaknspell · Post by **speaknspell** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:51 pm

also, we do crossover with the brand retail stores on anything sold online.

Steve

Munchy · Post by **Munchy** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:56 pm

speaknspell wrote:I can confirm for you guys that this product was never even developed for the US market, meaning that the packaging was never designed to be released in the US and therefore the S@H people didn't pick it up for that reason (having to redevelop the entire packaging is quite expensive actually).

I'm not saying I'm not unhappy with the decision (it bums me the heck out truth be told), but thats just the reality of the situation

Steve

Ok. I can buy that arguement but one has to wonder at the decision not to sell to the US market. Are LEGO's not selling here or is it just the Castle line?

I can tell you this, after three years of City Advent, we weren't going to be buying this years calendar. We were happy about the change to Castle.

Ah well. I guess I'll have to get them on BL.