As we have discussed at the beginning of the month, there is a Double LEGO VIP Points promotion going on for the entire month (see: LEGO Promotions & Double VIP Points!). The Double VIP Points period is the best time to pick up large exclusive LEGO sets, as they are usually only available directly from LEGO, and they almost never go on sale. So earning Double VIP Points is the best way to get some savings on these sets. 🙂
There are large exclusive LEGO sets in various categories, and you can find them under the LEGO Exclusives and LEGO Hard to Find categories at the Online LEGO Shop. If the set you are eyeing is close to getting retired (usually indicated by the fact that they have been around for a couple of years), now is probably your last chance to pick them up, as many other LEGO fans are also taking advantage of the Double VIP Points period.
Some of those sets that are getting retired are in the LEGO Creator Modular Buildings series. We have discussed the sets many times (see the LEGO Modular Houses section) as they are very popular with teen and adult LEGO fans. The #10197 LEGO Creator Fire Brigade set was retired last year, and the #10211 LEGO Creator Grand Emporium is also now considered retired. You may still be able to find this set at official LEGO stores, however online it is shown as sold out.
Interestingly the #10224 LEGO Creator Town Hall is also shown as sold out. I have bought this set a few days ago when it was shown as backordered, as well as the #10243 LEGO Creator Parisian Restaurant – there was a few days of delay, but I have received both sets with no problems. At the time I placed the order I was told that the #10224 LEGO Creator Town Hall will be back in stock on the 16th, so I’m curious why it’s showing as sold out right now. There has been rumors that this set will retire early, so this may in fact be the end. If you are interested in this set I would highly suggest that you call LEGO’s customer service right now before it is too late.
At the same time #10218 LEGO Creator Pet Shop is shown as backordered with an expected ship date on the 20th. This set you can actually order online, and it will be shipped to you once it becomes available (in my experience usually much before the expected ship date). This set is not yet close to being retired, however if you want it for Christmas, I would suggest you get it now. A lot of LEGO fans shop for the LEGO Modular Buildings around this time of the year (both because of the Double VIP Points Period and also because people tend to buy larger sets for the holidays), causing the most desirable sets to be perpetually out of stock.
The newest LEGO Modular Buildings – the #10232 LEGO Creator Palace Cinema, and the #10243 LEGO Creator Parisian Restaurant – are shown as available. I just finished building the #10243 LEGO Creator Parisian Restaurant, and I will say this; if you only buy one LEGO Modular set, get this one. I enjoyed every step of the building process and the final model is just so lovely. Building adult-oriented sets is so different from building regular LEGO sets; they are so much denser, there is so much more detail, and the techniques used are so interesting. I don’t know how many times I said to myself during building “Wow! It’s so cool how they did that!”
Anyhow, I just wanted to alert you that the LEGO Modular Buildings are selling like hotcakes, and if you want one (or more) for the holidays you better get it now – especially the retiring ones. You can find them all in the LEGO Exclusives or LEGO Hard to Find (sort by price to easily locate them) section at the Online LEGO Shop.
So what do you think? How do you like the LEGO Modular Buildings? Do you own any of them? Which one is your favorite? And which one are you planning to get next? Feel free to share in the comment section below! 😉
And you might also like to check out the LEGO Modular Houses section for more news, reviews and discussions, or select from the following posts:
I began purchasing modulars after the Green Grocer as by that time it was apparent that LEGO would be releasing more modulars in the future.
It’s a really great investment as Cafe Corner and Green Grocer go for at least $600. The Fire Brigade itself has already doubled in price.
The prices may be steep, but if LEGO City is your thing, these building may very well be a perfect substitute as opposed to the entire City genre. And if you’ve got some real $$$, it’ll probably be wise to buy multiple of the same modulars – one for yourself, and the other to sell later at 2x $ so to “pay for” your first building through those profits.
That’s actually a really good strategy. While the modulars are some of the more expensive LEGO sets, you could technically all own the sets in the series free just by getting extra sets that you later resell.
I would also like to add to this that the Modulars are actually really cheap compared to other LEGO sets. The price per piece ratio is much smaller, and also it is amazing how large, detailed and substantial the buildings are! After I put together mine I was thinking that there is no way I could build a MOC of comparable size for the same price by BrickLink-ing the parts.
So yes, they are beautiful display pieces, and great intestments at the same time! Also, the parts-selection for rare colors is excellent! Many people buy extra sets just for those! 😉
This is exactly what I did. I waited for double VIP and the free holiday set to pick up my Palace Cinema. Hoping to get the Parisian Cafe on Black Friday to get the second holiday set.
Nice! Have fun bulding your Palace Cinema! I forgot to mention that since the Town Hall was on backorder when I called in, I ended up placing two separate orders (so the Parisian gets shipped right away). They actually got shipped out just one day apart, but this way I got two holiday sets. Love those little elves! 😛
Sss-sss, precious! It’s bad, my precious! 2 elves setses, it got! Nasty! 😀 Can I have one, please? 🙂
LOL! We should have a Gollum day when we all speak like him. Or make a rule that on LOTR/Hobbit articles we can only speak like Gollum. Preciousssssss!
I didn’t know Grand Emporium was on its way out. Oh no! Just not sure when I’ll have the money to even get one modular though if had to pick I”d choose Parisian Restaurant.
Personally I don’t care for the Emporium. It is big, and looks fine on the outside, but it is too empty inside. The more recent modulars are a lot more interesting. Plus, the Emporium is a corner building, so unless you get at least one other one with it, it wouldn’t look right. If you can only get one modular, get the Parisian. It is a very sweet set both inside and out, looks good from three sides, and is perfectly fine as a display piece all by itself. And you will have several more years to buy it. 😉
Oh good to know. Emptiness doesn’t bother me that much because that gives me a chance to practice furniture MOCs, however, I don’t know if I can get the others so I’ll definitely gun for the Parisian first and then see I ever really need a corner building.
I really want the Parisian Restaurant, and then the Palace Cinema. Now would really be a good time to get one (or both). But, alas! I have no money to spare for them, because the Unexpected Gathering is at the top of my list. I’ll be getting that in November/December, maybe I could snag one of the second holiday sets. 😕
You just have to be super good and Santa may bring you a modular? 😉
Love the blog, and have almost this entire series (missing the original two). Any idea on what the second exclusive set will be? I’ve got the toy set, and just want to know when the second comes out, so I can place another order!
Doug, the second holiday set will be available November 28th to December 1st, while supplies last. 😉