MCNwakeboard

I remembered seeing this picture from a toy fair showing a 35% profit margin. Though I am sure that some retailers (like TRU) get additional discounts because I couldn't see them doing BOGO 50% off sales all the time with free shipping and still earn a profit. Perhaps the TRU markup during the rest of the year makes up for the sales every other week. flickr

Was there an announcement that the MSRP in the US would be $80? I may have missed it, but I though it was going to be $100.

I think he was referring to the Imperial Flagship 10210 which was the last of the Pirates II sets. Sort of a swan song, if you will, of the theme before the POTC sets.

Here are my votes: Yatkuu - Encounter at the blacksmith workshop - 1 point Hammelgeier - Attack of the Kraken - 2 points (I love how the whole ship has the feeling of being split in two and the long tentacles add to for the effect) Cecilie - The Fountain of youth - 1 point Matn - Tia Dalma's Shack - 1 point

I'd be interested to see MOC's that people have with RC functions. I've never built any RC MOC so I can't say I'd frequent the site any more than I look through flickr or MOCpages for ideas and to see what people are building.

Looks like a great addition! Thanks for the notice about the picture. Can't wait to see better details.

I'm also a little disappointed about the non-minifigure scale as I am always trying to expand my female Lego population. I agree that the non-minifigure scale makes current Lego fans less likely to collect because it is not compatible with the current system. I fear that that non-minifigure scale will mean we have less enclosed buildings/walls and more of the sets that have open shops, furniture and accessories. One less theme to collect, but I'll wait to see the pictures.

I agree with Fred's comments on the price change in the US as it started at $1.99 with series 1 and started going up with series 2. I didn't mind buying a full box at $1.99 per figure, but with the price now at RRP at $2.99 I mainly purchase one of each and a few multiples of my favorites. ToysRus as well as other stores (Borders) priced as high as $4.99 to my knowledge and must have decided that the market equilibrium was $2.99. The new euro equivalent price of 2.49 translates to about $3.60 so you are paying a bit more, but that RRP probably includes VAT etc, so the difference is negligible. I agree, that the best way to show your disappointment with the new price is by buying less. In the U.S. most of the stores that carry them still have series 3 around and TRU has been having them available on sale (B1G1 50% off) multiple times or giving them away with a minimum purchase...looks like over supply for the given price. Perhaps part of the price change is due to the increase in new/unique parts which require new molds etc. Although I stand to be corrected, I count around 11 new parts in series 1, 10 in series 2, 13 in series 3, 17 in series 4, and 18 in series 5. So LTG is producing more unique pieces. I think it was mentioned previously in this thread that some of these have and will continue to be seen in system sets.

Great looking MOC! I like all the foliage around the castle as it makes it look like it is on the very outskirts of the Kingdom. It isn't much taller than the Outpost attack (Link) but seems much for secure and authentic. I think it would have been nice for TLG to make one like this at a $30-$35 price point.

I agree that it isn't the most detailed pirate ship, but TLG had to work within a price range and this is the result. Yes, it would be nice if it came with enough cannons to fill all the ports, but most kids can't shoot more than two at a time. In comparing the Black Peark to the QAR, they have the same amount of sails and masts and QAR has one more figure. I like the color scheme of the QAR, but I think the Black Pearl looks good and will probably be more impressive as high resolution pictures come out. My guess is that the Black Pearl will still sell. The QAR has been doing well since it came out as it is on back order at S@H in the US, and walmart has had a hard time keeping it in stock even though they are charging $140 like TRU.

Just the Maersk Train and the Emerald Night, but those are my favorites

While I would gladly purchase an expanded/UCS castle, I think TLG did a decent job on the current Kingdoms castle by making a castle that can be expanded fairly easily. I purchased two castles from a TRU BOGO deal and pretty much stacked one on top of another to create something like this. Flickr After a while I've tired of the cookie-cutter castle, so I'm working on my own version of a UCS castle. So while a UCS Castle is possible, I don't mind the focus on peasant life with MMV, MVR and a possible jousting set for some great designs, accessories and minifigures.

That would be an interesting development for Lego to move away from PF. PF's seem to be somewhat successful, as I was unable to get the Maersk train for a few weeks at the local LEGO store because it was so popular and the Passenger train in the US has recently been on back order. The newest PF train motor is also on back order until September. I can't remember the last time there were 6 trains available at the same time and there is also the new Cargo/Repair train coming out in the near future. I also enjoy the PF system, as I don't have to worry about wires and regulators.

I'm guessing McDonald's, one of the European ones where you can eat upstairs.

That is a very nice use of the three sets. I actually think this set is a good value because it comes with some great minifigures and useful pieces. I have combined two of them to make a city gate. Sorry if this is your second time viewing this as I posted it as a reply in my review of the set. flickr

Here is a small modification I did with a second Escape from Dragon Prison Set. It is now, the Dragon City Gates set. All of it was built using pieces from the two sets.

You could always ask them what would be best for them and let them know you have a location number, enclosure number or the name. I would think the enclosure number would be best to start with.

After receiving the old style gold and talking to them a second time, I finally received the gold bars. The identifying information on the letter I got from Lego is; Location 100-0203-21-06, Enclos. 4631481, Description- Prepack Coins which matches what Darth Yogi shared with me from his metallic bricks, so if you reference that over the phone they will be able to find it.

I think everyone here would be excited about a jousting set, though I have a hard time imagining it as a Direct to consumer set like MMV since there would be only so much you could put in a jousting set...maybe if it had tents, etc. Probably won't see pictures for a while, but it is nice to hear rumors from the pipeline.

I don't know that this information will benefit you as I have only been in contact with the US Lego Customer Service. But for what it's worth... I received the old style coins with the sprue. The identifying info on my letter from TLG: location # 100-0217-44-03, Enclos. 70501, Description Gold Coin (4 pieces)m metall. Based on information that I received from a fellow US-based forum member (Darth Yogi) who received the gold bars: his identifying information was: Location 100-0203-21-06, Enclos. 4631481, Description- Prepack Coins Prior to finding this out, I had called customer service to verify they didn't have any gold bars, so I didn't feel like calling a third time to see if that information will help, but if anyone wants to try using it as a reference point, please report back any success or failure.

Thanks for posting. Looks like it will be a fun project. I don't know if I would do much more than a second floor as the price will keep increasing, but it depends on the style you are creating. I don't see room for stairs and you might consider having a lobby with a ceiling that goes to the second floor. (I'm thinking the mansion in POTC) Good luck with the rest of it.

That is interesting, but at the price of $1.42/piece that would translate to $180 for an ounce of plastic gold based on the weight of .22 grams/piece and about 28 grams per ounce. The US rep that I talked to (Kathy) indicated that a co-worker had opened an POTC set from the store in Connecticut and it had the metallic gold, but she didn't know if the change was being made to all the sets or how long it would take to clear out the sets with the warm gold.

McGonagalls dress from Hogwarts The castle has changed to something a bit more triangular now I posted some extra pictures on flickr Flickr

@sidersdd I'm not sure as to the reason why some people are receiving the metallic gold ingots and new style coins while others are receiving the older version on the sprue. Anyway, I'm going to wait for a while before picking up some of the sets when I hear the metallic versions are being produced.

For any of you with Barnes and Noble gift cards; they have a coupon code that offers 30% off one toy item which includes Lego. They have POTC sets online with estimated shipping of 3-5 weeks if you want to give them another shot after they cancelled all the pre-orders. I just ordered QAR, so hopefully I'll get it at some point. Technically, 30% is better than 10% and only 2 months later than expected. Coupon code is V7T4Y4X Code found via Toysnbricks.com Link to B&N http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=lego+pirates+of+the+caribbean&box=lego%20pirates&pos=2&ugrp=2