Why some sets retire faster but some do not?

[ks6349]

In my area, Ferris Wheel (which was one of my target on list) is recently out of stock

and the price has risen quite a lot, I checked and found that it was only released in mid 2015 while there are still plenty of stock for 10243 (PR) and the price even drops but it was first released in early 2014.

I also found on Google that different Expert sets last different length of time (the fastest could be only 2 years). Why was that?

[splatman]

Probably due to popularity. Less popular sets will get retired after only 1 or 2 production runs, while more popular sets will get more production runs, keeping them on the market longer. Just my theory.

[jdubbs]

Well, you're comparing Creator Expert Modulars to Creator Expert Fairground sets, which despite both being in the same line, don't appeal to the same number of buyers. Fairground sets are more sporadic — I think there are only 5 so far, over a 10 year span, versus 1 modular a year for 11+ years running. There are typically only 1-2 fairground sets available at any given time, versus 4 (or even 5, in a few recent years) for the modulars. Simply put, modulars are kept around longer because they continue to sell. Each new modular helps bring more modular collectors into the fold, and to effectively build a modular city, you need a critical mass of buildings. If there were only 1-2 available at once, they probably wouldn't sell nearly as well overall, since new buyers would see them in isolation, rather than as one part of a more expansive whole. Fairground is more of a niche segment of the Expert line. I tend to think of it as a subset of the modular collectors... people with the room/money to expand their city to include an amusement park as well. 

Some sets retire more quickly because of lack of demand. Parisian Restaurant should have retired last year (or the year before it?) but instead Brick Bank and Detective's Office did, out of order (in terms of release date). One can reasonably infer that PR is still a popular set that sells consistently, and that BB, on the other hand, did not. We can't know for sure of course, but there has been anecdotal evidence supporting this over the years.

I'm not aware of the PR price dropping worldwide... that might be a regional thing based on currency conversion or some other factor. 

And, looking at more than just the Expert line... sets tend to retire faster/slower based on size. The smallest sets ($10-15) often only last 6-9 months. The largest regular retail sets ($100+) typically remain on shelves for 18+ months. D2C (Direct to Consumer) sets like the modulars (increasingly $150+) usually go for 2 years or more. But there are exceptions, which seem to be demand-driven. The original UCS Death Star playset lasted 7 years.... and then the most recent UCS Snowspeeder only made it ±15 months. One sold really, really well for a sustained period of time; the other didn't. 

Edited July 16, 2019 by jdubbs

[ks6349]

On 7/16/2019 at 9:01 AM, splatman said:

Probably due to popularity. Less popular sets will get retired after only 1 or 2 production runs, while more popular sets will get more production runs, keeping them on the market longer. Just my theory.

Otherwise than PR 10243

What is the second popular Expert building set do youthink ?

[charlesp1138]

Sales.

I can't confirm but I have a feeling it all comes down to sales.

[ks6349]

46 minutes ago, charlesp1138 said:

Sales.

I can't confirm but I have a feeling it all comes down to sales.

Then I think the new Corner Garbage will retire so quickly , hahahah

[KotZ]

22 minutes ago, ks6349 said:

Then I think the new Corner Garbage will retire so quickly , hahahah

It's an odd building, but it really grew on me as I built it. It really goes well on the bakery side of Assembly Square with the color scheme. I just wish there was a bit more greebling on the first floor of the mechanic.