Important Update: 7979 Castle Advent Calendar

[JoshWedin]

Not only is Lego making the calendar available to us at a good price, but they're actually trying to get the news out there and make it available to other AFOLs who might not have seen this thread.

This is exactly my take on this whole situation. I have to say that I have been very disappointed in the attitudes that have burst forth over this set today, both here and elsewhere. Actually, "disappointed" is probably too mild of a word. When the possibility of getting some of these sets was first mentioned, I didn't think think anyone was trying to be exclusive about it. In fact, I am positive that has never been Ben's intention. That is why I took my name off the list, after I was able to get a couple of copies elsewhere. I didn't feel the need to hog a couple of more, though I intend to get at least two more eventually.

If this was supposed to be an exclusive offer for CC members only, then why were people allowed to put their names in when they had just joined? Seems like some of them might have joined just to get a chance at this set. Guess what? That's fine with me. I figure the more people who buy this set, the more Lego will think twice next time about releasing something like this here. If this "special offer" sells out in the first ten minutes, I think that would be awesome. Why? Maybe Lego would realize that we want it.

As for the information being posted on The Brothers Brick, I think it should have been there. One of the purposes of TBB is as a news source. This was news that the Lego Community needed to know. Many people use it as their primary connection to the AFOL community. I don't believe that those people should be excluded. Sure, some non-AFOLs might get their hands on one of these sets. Someone who might not have otherwise. I would regard that as a good thing. I have always been of the opinion that the more, the merrier, in this fine hobby of ours.

Now maybe some people are thinking that I'm biased. I'll freely admit that I might be. After all, I am Andrew's co-Admin on TBB. I have been good friends with Andrew for years, just as I have with many people here. However, I have critiqued him in the past and I'm sure I will again at some point. No one agrees on everything. But I think he was right to post it and I stand behind him.

As for what the Ambassadors were told to say regarding this "special", I don't know. I'm not an Ambassador, I am not privy to all the information they are, and I have no desire to be one. That is something they will have to work out between themselves and we shouldn't even have known that there was disagreement on it. That was information I didn't need to know.

I also find it extremely ironic that this has all taken place over a Christmas set.

Merry Christmas,
Josh

[Donut]

Very well said Josh, I guess greed got to the better of me when I said earlier "it was too bad that this had to happen". This lovely set should be shared for all fans, not just CC members.

[Metatron]

I am unaware of any controversy involving this set except that Lego was originally not making it available in North America. To me it sounds like they decided to take whatever extra steps are necessary to sell it here (some legal disclaimer perhaps? more?) and then to take pre-orders on the set so that they can determine exactly how many Castle Advent Calendars to send across the pond from Europe where it is readily available.

If nothing else, they will thereby easily collect some marketing information about North America for the future.

I don't begrudge anyone else the opportunity to get the set. In fact, if we were limited to only one set per household I could live with that too if it also meant that someone else was going to be included in the opportunity to get a set for himself here in North America.

I would stay focused on the original problem as I see it as a consumer: Lego should have made this set available in North America. I know that there are all kinds of marketing decisions being made by Lego as to where stuff will sell the best, how to maximize profits, etc. I don't care to get into all of that because as an outsider I just don't have the necessary information to make any kind of informed statement about those kinds of issues.

What I, as Lego consumer and brick enthusiast, can say is this: via either Shop@Home, Lego Direct (does this exist still?), or the Lego retail shops I have seen in malls they should be making an effort to connect true brick enthusiasts with the products that they want.

Lego: Do not leave your loyal customers out in the cold to twist in the wind. This relates to "Pareto's Principle" a.k.a. the "Vital Few and Trivial Many Rule." We loyal customers are important to your bottom line in ways that you cannot easily calculate. We are loyal to you and you should be very careful of us as well. I have been buying as much lego as I can afford for almost 40 years. Think what that means.

No set should be exclusive to some part of the world. Even promotional sets like the Maersk stuff should be made available from Lego to the consumer directly also. I shop from lego directly for all the things I can't get from TRU, Wal-mart, Target, etc. I go directly to Lego for "Pick a Brick," "Hard to Find," "Ultimate Collector" sets, or whatever else is on offer that I can't get elsewhere. I don't care if Lego decides that a Castle Advent Calendar won't sell well in North America via TRU or Target stores - what I do care about is that I, a long-standing Lego consumer, am given a chance to get that set and not simply ignored.

As long as Lego has things like Shop@Home and the retail stores they need to work on consolidating their relationship with us, their loyal and enthusiastic customers. Or in our special case, us castle-heads!

Everybody wins.




[P.S. Some of you don't know me, and my post count here is going to make me seem like a Johnny-Come-Lately. But believe me, I've been around a looooong time. I am the dreaded and now banned former Lugnet Member#174. ****ing-A.]

[Munchy]

I think everyone needs to take another deep breath.

Regardless of what many of us may have wanted, this is now public news. I'm on the fence as to whether that is a good thing or not. I want to be guaranteed a set and the only way that happens is to make this a CC "exclusive". After all it's been the hue and cry of fans from this site whom have led the charge to get this limited release.

On the other hand, I'm an AFOL not a MeFOL. If I don't get the set because of the increased demand then I guess someone else in Europe will get my money. I wish everyone good luck and I hope LEGO has enough sets for every fan that wants one.

I want to also add my thanks to Ben for spear-heading this campaign. Thank you Ben. You've given us hope but more importantly you've given my kids hope.

[The Crusader]

SO you have to call them, this code won't work on the website right?

[Tomahawker]

Hi everyone,

Those who have signed up on the list and emailed me should check their inboxes. Thanks. You will still have to call Shop at Home tomorrow. Our orders will not be set aside.

Ben

Ben, the number in the e-mail you sent is not the normal S@H number. Is this a typo, or are we to use this "special" phone number?

I called it, and I got some weird message about a charge for to get a new number.

[The Crusader]

Crap Ben your email was in my spam box, and I haven't been on CC all week, can I still get in on this?

[Username]

Hmm...now I am hoping the set sells out quick so Lego will ship it to the North America store for sale.

[Munchy]

Crap Ben your email was in my spam box, and I haven't been on CC all week, can I still get in on this?

Look for an email today. No worries.

[Username]

So, where exactly do I go to get the code?

[RGDiRocco]

Can someone help me out with the code? I have been a Train AFOL for years and just got into castles do to Dwarves' Mine. Now I have the fever....don't leave me out....please.

[Sir Nelson]

Ben, the number in the e-mail you sent is not the normal S@H number. Is this a typo, or are we to use this "special" phone number?

I called it, and I got some weird message about a charge for to get a new number.

Aye, that be a typo. The SAH number is 1-800-453-4652.

[Athos]

You mean you don't have S@H on speed dial?

Actually I had the same trouble, though now the lines are all busy, so I guess enough people are figuring it out.

Steve

[Munchy]

Ordered mine. Everything went smoothly.

THANKS BEN!!!!

*Does extreme happy dance*


*throws out hip*

[Tomahawker]

Cool!

Order placed for two. With shipping it's $68.93

Thanks again for all your efforts Ben!