Lego Questions by newbies and Not-So newbies

[Hursticon]

Hey guys, I've just looked through 5 pages of this sub-forum and couldn't find anything with a heading akin to this but if one already exists, please feel free to merge this with it.


I've had lego as a kid and loved the creative building aspect of it, though I favoured action figures and hence my interest waned.
I was recently going through Big W's 2011 Mid-Year Toy Sale catalogue however and came across these:

As a noted Ancient Egypt fan, I squealed with delight at the sight of these sets but then I also shrieked with horror at their prices!

So I have a couple of questions:

1. Why was I not informed of this? , kidding - Are these sets indeed exclusive to Big W and are they available at any online retailers?
2. Are these prices what one would consider acceptable to a Lego Collector?
3. Is this the only Egyptian themed set Lego has produced? - If not, what other sets have been released?

Any info would be greatly appreciated as would pics and links.

[Sky Shadow]

I have the Flying Mummy Attack and Scorpion Pyramid. I paid $119.70 shipped for the Pyramid off eBay about six months ago, so you might be better off online or waiting for a retail sale. With Lego, it can be random - for the cheaper items (i.e. up to $50) you're sometimes better off buying locally, but then as the items get bigger I find I can usually get better deals online.

But then again: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LEGO-PHAR...item35b2f3015b

[Hursticon]

Ooh... Some intriguing info there dude, thanks for your input.
I'm considering whacking the lot on a huge Layby, but I've got to get a NAS up and running soon otherwise it's going to be pointless having a download quota.
(Stupid priorities and lack of finances )

[Lint]

As a noted Ancient Egypt fan, I squealed with delight at the sight of these sets but then I also shrieked with horror at their prices!

So I have a couple of questions:

1. Why was I not informed of this? , kidding - Are these sets indeed exclusive to Big W and are they available at any online retailers?
2. Are these prices what one would consider acceptable to a Lego Collector?
3. Is this the only Egyptian themed set Lego has produced? - If not, what other sets have been released?

Any info would be greatly appreciated as would pics and links.

1. Should be available online, but once you factor in shipping it may turn out roughly the same.

2. Well I've been disappointed with lego pricing for about the last 2 years. But there are plenty of others who are quite happy to pay. Since you're such an Ancient Egypt nut I think the premium would be acceptable? If these stay a Big W exclusive (i.e Kmart doesn't get them) my advice would be to just buy them. Big W's toy sales/discounts are few and far between and a lot of stuff just disappears off the shelves once the season is over instead of making it to sales time. If you really want them, the risk in waiting may not be worth it.

3. If I recall correctly Lego Adventurers about a decade back started with Egyptian themed sets. Nothing as awesome/extravagant as what we're seeing now though

http://www.brickset.com/browse/theme...ubtheme=Desert

[JuzMel]

Yeah as the guys said, the Big W prices a tad cheaper than prices on the LEGO shop and if you factor in the shipping then it's definitely cheaper at Big W.

I was rather disappointed that Big W didn't have any sales on these new Pharoah's Quest sets as well. I'm totally into ancient Egyptian stuff as well and these 6 sets are also on my WANTS list.

I'm planning to just put the whole lot on lay-by on a separate receipt and then if there are any sales further on on these sets and they are available, then I'll just cancel the lay-by. It's sort of a safeguard that you have them rather than risk not being able to find them in future or at inflated prices.

[i_amtrunks]

If you want them, buy them now.

The Space Police sets from last years toy sales flew off the shelves, and I cant speak for all areas, but Western Sydney (from Liverpool to Penrith, to the Hills, Parramatta and Hornsby) did not restock after the sale, and all tha5t remained were the few unsold items (often in damaged boxes).

[STL]

If you want them, buy them now.

The Space Police sets from last years toy sales flew off the shelves, and I cant speak for all areas, but Western Sydney (from Liverpool to Penrith, to the Hills, Parramatta and Hornsby) did not restock after the sale, and all tha5t remained were the few unsold items (often in damaged boxes).

fairly valid point from Trunksy. Other places like Target tend to have stock but always higher prices.

That said, Target has more 20% off sales which means its quite cheaper than both K-Mart and Big W during sales as well as LegoShop.

I'd recommend you get on board. I saw them and was kinda keen but decided against it. Given the current Lego track record, I expect a Pyramid at some point as one of their mega sets. Got Tower bridge and spewing I lost my Taj Mahal and Eiffel Tower. Loved those.

[Golden Phoenix]

Got Tower bridge and spewing I lost my Taj Mahal and Eiffel Tower. Loved those.

You lost them??

[Hursticon]

1. Should be available online, but once you factor in shipping it may turn out roughly the same.

2. Well I've been disappointed with lego pricing for about the last 2 years. But there are plenty of others who are quite happy to pay. Since you're such an Ancient Egypt nut I think the premium would be acceptable? If these stay a Big W exclusive (i.e Kmart doesn't get them) my advice would be to just buy them. Big W's toy sales/discounts are few and far between and a lot of stuff just disappears off the shelves once the season is over instead of making it to sales time. If you really want them, the risk in waiting may not be worth it.

3. If I recall correctly Lego Adventurers about a decade back started with Egyptian themed sets. Nothing as awesome/extravagant as what we're seeing now though

http://www.brickset.com/browse/theme...ubtheme=Desert

Yeah as the guys said, the Big W prices a tad cheaper than prices on the LEGO shop and if you factor in the shipping then it's definitely cheaper at Big W.

I was rather disappointed that Big W didn't have any sales on these new Pharoah's Quest sets as well. I'm totally into ancient Egyptian stuff as well and these 6 sets are also on my WANTS list.

I'm planning to just put the whole lot on lay-by on a separate receipt and then if there are any sales further on on these sets and they are available, then I'll just cancel the lay-by. It's sort of a safeguard that you have them rather than risk not being able to find them in future or at inflated prices.

If you want them, buy them now.

The Space Police sets from last years toy sales flew off the shelves, and I cant speak for all areas, but Western Sydney (from Liverpool to Penrith, to the Hills, Parramatta and Hornsby) did not restock after the sale, and all tha5t remained were the few unsold items (often in damaged boxes).

fairly valid point from Trunksy. Other places like Target tend to have stock but always higher prices.

That said, Target has more 20% off sales which means its quite cheaper than both K-Mart and Big W during sales as well as LegoShop.

I'd recommend you get on board. I saw them and was kinda keen but decided against it. Given the current Lego track record, I expect a Pyramid at some point as one of their mega sets. Got Tower bridge and spewing I lost my Taj Mahal and Eiffel Tower. Loved those.

Thanks for all the info and tips guys as it is very much appreciated, if I end up with any money left after picking up the TFs I want - I'll be putting all of these on Layby as I really don't want to miss out but priorities are priorities.

@Lint: As I'm unlikely to buy any Lego apart from these Egyptian themed sets, I'm ok with paying the overall amount but I've got to say that they're certainly not cheap by any stretch of the imagination.
I've had a look at those sets you mentioned from the 'Adventures' line, I agree that whilst cool they're not quite as cool as these new sets.

@JuzMel: Glad to hear that there is another Egyptian fan amongst the board.
I too think postage on these things would be a bit of a killer as their boxes are quite large really and would likely get banged up in the post.
I also was a little annoyed that they weren't put on some sort of an introductory special for the Toy Sale, it really annoys me when they do that but I suppose what are you going to do? - That's an excellent tip with the Layby approach too!

@i_amtrunks: A sound suggestion as I know how thoroughly the Toy Isles were destroyed at my local store during last year's sale and it was near impossible to find anything due to crap literally being thrown everywhere so even if they had what one was looking for - You'd have no idea if it was there or not, not to mention I would be really annoyed if I wasn't able to get all 6 sets as that is the whole deal behind them.

@STL: I too very much hope that they go for a huge Pyramid set eventually, as I watched a vid review about the current pyramid set and apart from it not being a true pyramid, I was disappointed to learn that half the set is 1 plastic base that you build 'around' and 'over the top of' - I suppose you can't get everything you want initially but my imagination could run wild with the possibilities of replicating Queen Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple out of Lego...

I'm also sorry to hear about the situation surrounding your loss of the Taj Mahal and Eiffel Tower sets, not only would that be heart breaking for the reason you've specified and, as Jaydisc points out, expensive but it would really feel like you've lost whole days of your life - like a blackout or something.
I hope you're able to reacquire those sets down the track mate.