Omegablue Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 Hi people, This is my first post, so I'm going to try to make a very important one. I live in South Africa and restarted collecting Lego since 2007. My main concern is that here it feels like we're getting severely ripped off with the prices. And my maths is concluded from the years I've collected and imported other mediums of entertainment. I would to give an example with the general StarWars battle pack. In 2008 it cost around R120.00 in our currency (Rand). At that time the exchange rate was lingering around R8 to R10 to the Dollar, and R10 to R12 to the Euro. So we were paying $13.00 a battle pack, or around 12.OO Euros. Our exchange rate strengthens by 20% to 30% from May to October each year, then drops by the same amount for whatever reason. Never once have the prices of Lego reflected when the rate hits R6 to the Dollar. At the moment the Starwars battle packs are at R200.00! That's an 80% sudden increase. Our rates are at R8 to R9 to the Dollar, and R10 to R11 to the Euro. We're actually doing better. That's now $22.00 per pack, or 20 Euros for one. Yes, there have been expense hikes due to the present decaying economy, mainly on shipping and customs. However when I look at the other items I'm importing, like Japanese Anime figures, model kits, Bandai and Hotwheel diecast collectables, the total increase of shipping, customs, has been around 10% to 30%. Which is within the issued rates. However with Lego it's 80% and more??? Another example are the licenced box sized sets like the Batboat or the Penguin Sub, which at their release time was R200 to R250. Now these middle-small sets (Licensed) are R380 to R400! Now most of the shops that sell Lego here, either get it directly from Denmark, or from the local licensed wholeseller. And the retail prices marginally differ around 5%. No issue there. And that seems to point that Lego issues them with recommended prices? If not then the recommended prices are probably in affect by the local wholeseller? Either way when comparing our prices to other international prices, and being able to assess the costs of importing and retailing, something is not adding up? In the past I've raised this matter to Lego. No reply. And I've also for years asked Lego.com why doesn't it sell to South Africa directly online. We actually cannot get loose pieces, or replacements from them. And still they've ignored me. A small market we are not. We actually have three of the world's largest and fanciest shopping malls worldwide. My local ToyRus moves 300 units and more of lego sets on a average month. And that's just one toyshop. Starwars lego is repacked in every store every month, that's how fast it sells. Really do not know what more to add, aside to share this with you, and perhaps get feedback or exchange similar tales on the international front. Quote
lightningtiger Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 22 bucks is close to the Aussie price too....perhaps Lego likes making money in rugby or cricket playing nations eh ? For years now Lego seem to vary their prices claiming freight costs, etc., but who really knows ? Quote
brickie Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 Join the club! In Australia, we have the same problem. A number of AFOLs never buy Lego at RRP but wait until it is on clearance. At present in Australia, K Mart has Kingdom sets at 50% of the marked price. Now is the time to buy. The other method is to buy from shop at home in USA and then get 'Shop USA' or similar forwarding agents to forward it on to you. Quote
Yatkuu Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 I sympathize... as an AFOL I have always found that getting Lego at a fair price is always making me feel better. Fictional example (no too far from the truth): "I'm having such a crappy day, my boss is a pain, I need to work on this dam report and we're going to eat at my mother in law's... BUT I scored a Lego City #8404 at 40€ on sale so it is still a good day!" Just curious, don't you have Bricklink resellers that have better prices than the Toy Shops in ZA? And how about Amazon? - - perhaps shipping prices are too high to make it worth it? Quote
def Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 Join the list here: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=63575 See if you're actually getting ripped off Quote
Omegablue Posted January 4, 2012 Author Posted January 4, 2012 Thanks for the feedback guys. :) Interesting read all round. A number of AFOLs never buy Lego at RRP but wait until it is on clearance. At present in Australia, K Mart has Kingdom sets at 50% of the marked price. Now is the time to buy. License sets never reach clearance. Actually the most Lego here goes on sale is at %10! Just curious, don't you have Bricklink resellers that have better prices than the Toy Shops in ZA? And how about Amazon? - - perhaps shipping prices are too high to make it worth it? Most international sellers, including Amazon, said they're not allowed to ship Lego to South Africa, due to the restrictions imposed by our local wholeseller and Lego in Denmark. Join the list here: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=63575 Thanks and done. Guess it's conclusive that the rest of the world (outside the USA) is paying for the licenses? So what can we do? This is wrong that since 2008 we in Europe, Australia and South Africa have gotten a 80% increase. Quote
Yatkuu Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 Most international sellers, including Amazon, said they're not allowed to ship Lego to South Africa, due to the restrictions imposed by our local wholeseller and Lego in Denmark. ouch! I'm going to start a Lego smuggling business to South Africa... hehehe Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.