DrWeevil

Yup. Bought series 1 Mixels and an Evil Business Lair from them at 20%-off as I had missed easy access in store specials on those sets. Lair is still on backorder but my Mixels arrived in a couple of days via courier (left at my PO as I wasn't home). Shipping was about $7 I think - covering the two deliveries. No hassles so far, so long as my Lair turns up this week as projected. Theyre based in outer eastern burbs of Melbs. And yes, I thought the rescue set was a TRU exclusive? Could be wrong.

Thanks for the replies about the construct o mech pricing.

Do we know what the Aus RRP of the Constructo-Mech is going to be?

Apparently they were there on display at the launch at Coles but my person didn't know what the deal was with that set (he only went along to look and wait in the line because I'd asked him to!)...

No provs :) Hmm my person works in corporate there so didn't have any idea... My guess would be no, perhaps get chummy with your local CE franchisee/owner/manager!

For OzBen and those who were interested... link to some photos my 'insider' took at the Coles Express Launch... (didn't think it worthy to create a new thread seeings everyone who was talking about it is in this thread anyway, and it's evidence of a 'deal' ) http://www.flickr.com/photos/94113151@N08/

Btw have a photo of the F1 if anyone is interested I can post when I get home...

Yes, my reliable family member told me one of the polys he saw has three minifigs in it, so hopefully that'll be that one? He also confirmed all those other details as written above . Also, he was lucky enough to have his photo taken in the car! Which I have to say looked pretty impressive! He thought the car sets weren't very impressive though....

[quote name=TanTile' timestamp=' 1363076348' post='1540466] A little info I have Just found out from a friend who works at a Coles express store... Tomorrow at their head office there will be a fullsize F1 race Car made from Lego to promote something to do with the Grand Prix here in Melbourne, apparently Coles express will have some sort of Lego Promo going... more details as I get them... As I've a family member who works at head office I'll be able to find out if that's true today!

I'm intruiged! What does that actually entail? We don't have those here in Aus...

No TMNTat Doncaster Myer, though their selection usually stinks

Given the Emerald Night and other trains have been Myer exclusives, along with the other 'adult' exclusives like sculptures. Given that, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet it'll be a Myer exclusive!

Myer - until Monday its Buy 2 get 1 free on toys. Go! Spend!

Agree! If they put up some of the others I'll buy from there! If you do want to do a pooled order at some stage, drop me a PM. I've done group buys with a couple of Melb folks before...

I could be interested, but I'm thinking I might wait and see for a bit to see if they list some of the other sets as well, for if they do and they're at US retaion, I might pick up a couple. They've put up all the LoTR ones, but I don't know what the timeline was for them adding those sets to the store to then predict what will happen with the Hobbit sets... Actually you could add in some of the new DC sets to that list too... Still kicking myself that I ummed and aahed too long when this set was 25% off at Amazon UK :-/

On the off chance anybody was still interested, I ended up accepting a $20 store credit from Mighty Ape in consideration of the box damage on my Haunted House. This was in lieu of me sending it back to them for a replacement. I wasn't particularly impressed (I would have preferred money not credit when my issue was their poor service in the first place), but I didn't have much choice. I did make it clear that I thought they need to re-evaluate their packing methods and was told they are looking into improving it (whatever that means, I wouldn't have thought selecting appropriately sized cardboard boxes was rocket science, but what do I know!).

Thanks Shawn foe posting that info! I'll wait and see what they say. I work around 80 hours every week (sad but true) and I am never free when the APO is open so don't want to have to send it back. Add my time and hassle onto that and there goes any saving I thought I'd found! I'm not sure how they'd be able to sell it to anyone else, especially if I send it back in the same packaging I received it in!

Sorry I'm not quoting posts but it won't work on my Win8 Mobile IE for some reason. I have indeed sent a strongly worded letter to their customer service department - I received the usual generated receipt and a statement that they're understaffed so I'm yet to receive a reply. I will keep you updated on what they're like to deal with!

Re: Mighty Ape - yes, you are correct, they are a New Zealand company, however, my parcel itself was postmarked as being sent from Queensland, so I presume they distributed it from there and it was between Qld and Melb that the damage occurred. If given the choice I'd have paid a bit more than their $5 shipping if it meant they used industry standard packaging materials.

Someone was asking about Mighty Ape: I just received my Haunted House set - supposedly sent on 31st December. The box has significant flattening damage - no holes but almost as bad - there's no way I could give it as a gift (as was my intention). Severely disappointed - for a $200 purchase sent only from Qld it was disgusting. The box was wrapped only in thin flimsy corrugated cardboard that offered no protection whatsoever.

I'd have a look around at the various Aussie online retailers if the overseas ones aren't a valid option. Finding one in store might be tricky now its run is close to an end with the new sets coming out. Shopforme have it for 15% off at the moment, not sure about OuterRim etc. Still not a great price though, I'll admit.

Re: Haunted House. I picked one up from Mighty Ape this morning for $188 + $5 delivery. This made it approx 30% off Aussie retail and about the same as US retail not including tax if you bought it over there in person. I was satisfied with that price, as I can't see how I'd be able to get it too much cheaper down the track (famous last words)...

I used to have that same train of thought - I bought the Town Hall that way and then followed it up with R2D2, mistakenly believing it wouldn't be out here for ages like all of the other "Exclusives" - when less than a month later to my dismay Target had it for $50 less. I felt so ripped off by that I swore I wouldn't get 'sucked in' by TLG and S@H again! Hence, I wait with ever decreasing patience! That said, I did manage to get the Town Hall before the price increase and with double VIP points so I suppose that was something...

Has anybody heard anything about a local release for the Monster Fighters Haunted House set? I keep waiting and waiting and waiting....

I would be too :) - I bought mine from Shopforme with 15% off and free shipping. Didn't know Myer would be stocking them, but it was probably worth the 5% in convenience!