Couple misc Lego Club questions

[Zeya]

I want to ask a few questions of our community to get some perspective on some of the Lego club/store perks. Sometimes it's a little obscure trying to read the "marketing speak" on official Lego literature. A lot of their wording seems to be intentionally mysterious and exciting to get you to come into the store or visit the website, know what I mean?

1. Is there more than the Lego club magazine? I opened a Pirates impulse last night and there was an insert that confused me a little. It said something like "free for two years" and had a photo of a magazine cover with Indiana Jones that is probably from 3 years ago. But that seems to imply that there's some fee, when in my understanding there is just the free Lego club magazine that comes once a month. Am I missing something here? Or is there perhaps some sort of premium paid magazine?

2. Have you done one of the monthly mini model builds at the Lego store? I saw a photo that looked kind of underwhelming. But hey free bricks I guess. Is it worth it for an AFOL? I'm guessing this type of thing is more for kids anyway, right?

3. I see mention of prepackaged PAB things in boxes or something. What exactly is that all about? Is it worth it?

4. Well I think I read up on Brickmaster and the new Master Builder's Club, which sounds intriguing to me. That's supposed to start later this year around September, correct? The idea of getting a little set every other month sounds really cool to me, especially if they're exclusive sets for existing themes and have any sort of special pieces/figs at all. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of information on it yet, if I'm not mistaken.

5. Club codes. Any I should know about other than the one for $5 off a $20 purchase (USA)? The rest are kind of just gimmicky, right?

6. Do you know of any other Lego/club style features of interest to an AFOL that I may not be aware of?

[Brickdoctor]

1. Is there more than the Lego club magazine? I opened a Pirates impulse last night and there was an insert that confused me a little. It said something like "free for two years" and had a photo of a magazine cover with Indiana Jones that is probably from 3 years ago. But that seems to imply that there's some fee, when in my understanding there is just the free Lego club magazine that comes once a month. Am I missing something here? Or is there perhaps some sort of premium paid magazine?

I've noticed that, and no, there was never any fee. They don't use that advertisement very much anymore, though.

2. Have you done one of the monthly mini model builds at the Lego store? I saw a photo that looked kind of underwhelming. But hey free bricks I guess. Is it worth it for an AFOL? I'm guessing this type of thing is more for kids anyway, right?

It's more for kids, and depending on which store you go to they might only let kids 14 and under participate. But I've done it, and it's worth it for the parts, usually. The Leprechaun netted me a cauldron and a gold 2 x 2; The groundhog a bunch of light bley cheese; and 1 x 1s with studs on their sides (various types) are all fairly common.

3. I see mention of prepackaged PAB things in boxes or something. What exactly is that all about? Is it worth it?

The brick grab bags? I think they're like leftovers from PaB or other stuff on display. Sometimes the sets they have on display are built in-store, and when they're done anything that isn't licensed or damaged usually ends up in those bags. You just have to take a good look at what you're getting and hope there's nothing bad in the center where you can't see it.