Today is the day when the holiday shopping season officially begins (at least in the USA), which of course also means LEGO shopping! Whether you are planning to get LEGO sets for kids, relatives, friends, or yourself, you can take advantage of the myriad of offers, as local retailers and online shops are vying to offer the best deals. Here we will look at some of the best places to shop for LEGO, as well as what to look out for during your LEGO shopping mission. So let’s dive right in! 🙂
➡ LEGO Stores & Online LEGO Shop: LEGO stores carry the full line of currently available LEGO sets, and if you have one near you, I would definitely recommend checking it out. There will be various promotions until Christmas, so keep an eye out for announcements. Right now LEGO is offering free shipping on all orders, you will get the second LEGO Holiday Set for free with orders over $99, and you will also get a free 2015 LEGO Calendar with coupons for next year with orders over $75. The added benefit of shopping at the Online LEGO Shop is the largest selection of items and no need to fight the crowds. Besides the deals mentioned above, sales tend to be moderate, but don’t forget that you also earn VIP points, which definitely makes those deals a lot sweeter! 🙄
➡ Toys’R’Us & Other Toy Shops: Toys’R’Us usually has the best selection of LEGO sets – not counting LEGO stores – and they often carry new releases early, not available anywhere else. The issue with Toys’R’Us and toy-shops in general is that they take advantage of unsuspecting customers by significantly inflating prices. They will advertise all kinds of sales, but with their inflated prices, those so-called sales end up being worse then just shopping at a generic retail store or directly at LEGO. Having said that, the numbers sometimes do work. The key with shopping at Toys’R’Us is knowing the original prices sets should be selling for. Take a calculator and do your math before being swept away in the shopping excitement. Here is an excellent video you might want to watch: The Myth of Toys’R’Us Deals
➡ Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target & Other Retailers: These are the generic big-box retail stores. They have an excellent LEGO selection, their prices are not inflated, and they often have great deals around the holiday season. One tip I would give is that don’t take the shelf-prices for granted. They often have sales going on which are not yet marked on the shelves, especially around this time of the year when stores are so busy. Take items up to a price-checking station to get the most current price. Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and Target often have steep discounts somewhere in the 25-50% off range. Don’t miss them!
➡ Barnes&Noble, Sam’s Club & Other Retailers: These are some places where you might not think of looking for LEGO, but they are in fact great for finding hidden gems and great discounts. Barnes&Noble in particular tend to have great deals on LEGO sets before Christmas (also don’t forget about the excellent LEGO related books). Shopping clubs like Sam’s Club also carries LEGO around the holidays. The selection is usually very small, but you might find some good deals.
➡ Amazon.com: One of my most favorite place to shop for LEGO in general, and definitely around the holidays, is Amazon.com. Their free shipping over $35 and no tax in most states is a significant saving in itself. In addition their prices are excellent, as they like to undercut everyone else. Always look out for the Eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping icon in the item description. These are items shipped directly by Amazon. (Amazon also has affiliates and their shipping may not be free.) Besides Amazon having their own dedicated Amazon LEGO Shop
➡ Other Online Shops: Toys’R’Us, Target, Wal-Mart, Barnes&Noble, etc. all have online shops as well. During the holidays they usually offer free shipping and the same or larger selection then at their retail locations. Sometimes they also have online-only deals. You can sign up for email alerts to get updates on the latest offers.
➡ Shopping for Retired, Used & Bulk LEGO: If you have your eyes on a retired LEGO set, or just want to pick up some used or bulk LEGO, eBay.com and BrickLink.com are the best place to shop. Always check the seller’s feedback and ask questions before making a purchase. One thing to remember when shopping on eBay and BrickLink is that these are usually small hobby sellers who will need to pack and ship your order in their spare time. Place your order at least two weeks before Christmas to make sure the package arrives on time. You can read more at Shopping for LEGO on eBay and Shopping for LEGO on BrickLink.
And that pretty much sums up where to go LEGO shopping. I know it is a lot of places to keep a tab on, but I thought to give you an overall idea of where to look, and depending on your own location and situation, you can narrow down the list to what works best for you. Personally I almost always shop for LEGO at Amazon, not just because they have excellent prices, no shipping and no tax, but I can also pick up other, non-LEGO items in the same order (throw in some books, a couple of DVDs, some vitamins, or whatever else I need). Also, not having to spend gas and fight the traffic and crowds is a nice bonus.
Having said that, it is worth to check a LEGO Store (if you are lucky enough to have one near you) or Toys’R’Us to see LEGO sets displayed. I have found that no matter how many images I see online, there is nothing like seeing a LEGO set in person. It could actually be a really interesting experience! Sometimes you may not be interested in a set you see pictures of, but you fall in love with it after seeing it personally. Other times it is just the opposite. LEGO is full of surprises!
Hope this guide helps you a little in your holiday LEGO shopping. If you would like to add your own LEGO shopping tips feel free to share them in the comment section below, along with any great deals you run across between now and Christmas. Happy huntin’! 😉
And you might also like to check out the following related posts:
- Ultimate LEGO Gifts Holiday Shopping Guide
- Best LEGO Sets 2014 Christmas Shopping Guide
- LEGO Sets Retiring Soon & Sales Updates
- Amazon Holiday Deals & Discounts Begin!
- LEGO Special Offers & Deals for November
- LEGO Santa’s Workshop Available Now!
- 2014 LEGO Advent Calendars & More!
- Small & Fun LEGO Sets for the Holidays!
- LEGO Modulars – Get Them While You Can!
The hunt is on! Good luck to everyone!
Yeah, guys, may the Force be with you! Don’t get trampled! Shop online! Most retailers offer the same or better deals online with free shipping. 😉
I shopped online at Lego.com this morning. I ended up ordering the Fairground MIxer. I woke up at 3am and was about to buy it but the hesitated and went back to sleep. Then I had a dream that it sold out and was discontinued and when I woke up from the dream I decided I needed to order it. So I got that and the special skating set. Disappointed that I did not get a calendar but that’s ok. I’ll just get one from Silly Brick Pics.
LOL! That’s interesting! Nothing like a good LEGO dream! Silly Brick Pics offers the LEGO calendars? Or you are talking about their own?
Their own.
For Lego game players and Wii U owners, Lego Marvel Super Heroes is only $9.99 in the eShop until December 1st! Totes picking that one up.
Looks like the 3DS is one is $9.99 as well
Thanks for sharing that. And yeah, if you guys find any awesome deals, post them here to help others. It is greatly appreciated. 🙂
Check Ross. They have a limited amount of stuff but it’s below LEGO suggested price.
really, Ross? I didn’t know they where sold there. I’m going to have to check that out. Great idea Chris!
If your my sister do not look at this comment. (sorry, had to warn her.) Yeah, I tried to go shopping at Wal-Mart (not smart) today, I was looking for the Ariel’s magical kiss, (for my sister, not me! ) the smallest of the guardians of the galaxy sets, and the X-1 Ninja charger. of course those where the ONLY one’s sold out. My luck at Wal-Mart, not good. But fortunately I got more from the minifigure line: Wizard (Awesome!) life guard, dino tracker, jester, and the Hun warrior. I say I hit the jackpot on that! 😀 Do you guys think for the ariels magic kiss set (again, not for me! 🙄 ) is it a popular set and should I buy it online?
LOL! Yeah, I hope your sister doesn’t see this! As far as Ariel’s set, it is available at my WM. Maybe yours just sold out during the holiday rush. Perhaps try again in a week? Also Target and TRU carries it, so you might want to check as well. 🙂
yeah, My grandma work at walmart so on the 4th she gets a 25% discount on everything! so i’ll have to check again.
Plus I have one more question. (off subject) Does anyone know or know a source I can look at for the release date of the new ninjago episodes? I’m guessing (well, hoping.) that its in Jan, Feb, or March.
Hm… can’t help you with that. Hopefully someone else can. Maybe post your question in the last Ninjago discussion, so some of the other Ninjago fans see it there: http://thebrickblogger.com/2014/11/lego-ninjago-episode-33-34-tonight/
Okay, thanks Admin! 😀
Sorry for the trouble Admin, I clicked the link you gave me and it didn’t work so I tried to go back to the page the other way but that didn’t work either. It might just be my internet right now.
Link works fine. I just checked. You can also just go to the main Ninjago section (available from the side-bar and it is the first post there. And you can also access it from the homepage. It is the third post down. 😉
just finished building Santas workshop! now I’m in the holiday spirit! 😉
LOL! That’s a sweet set, isn’t it? I really like the reindeer! Enjoy your Christmas set! 😛
thx 🙂 and yes i really like the reindeer and the awesome sleigh!
Hello from my hotel in Florida! 🙂
Anyways, one place I don’t recommend shopping at Christmas time is an official LEGO Store. Besides the promotional sets, they never seem to have the set you want above all others. Well, at least at the store I went to today. I’ve been planning for weeks to buy the Unexpected Gathering, and the one set they didn’t have when I went there today was the Unexpected Gathering. 😡 However, there were a few Exo-suits there, so I got one, and that’s a score. 😀 No holiday set or calendar, though. No, instead, each of my brothers got a Holiday set, and two got calendars. Well, the moment I get home I’m ordering 79003 off of Lego.com/shop. So that’s settled, I hope. 😕
Nice to have you in the Sunshine State! Yeah, around the holidays, shopping is a hit or miss everywhere. 😕
Well, my brothers got what they wanted. 😐
Also, I wanted to say that the PAB wall had the poorest selection there in memory. I mean, there were a lot of great plates (in purple and pink as well), but not a single wheel, in fact nothing related to cars at all. I have to wonder what the “theme” of the wall was, maybe houses? Not at all the best theme for me. 🙁
BTW, the LEGO 2015 calendar says that Han Solo “Hoth” is the exclusive in February, but hasn’t he been a promo before? 😕
Yeah, the calendar promos are really not that special. But free LEGO is always a good thing. 😉
At official LEGO stores if a currently produced set is not available you can just request it from one of the store employees and they will special order it for you and deliver it to your address with no extra charge. 😉
Hm… I did not know that. I had been thinking of asking if they had the set, just not on the shelves, but I never got around to it. 😕 But at least I got the Exo-suit! 🙂
Always ask! They are super nice people and will help you out. And I’m glad you got the Exo-Suit. It is one of my all-time favorites. In fact I got two more! 😀
I got the lego calender. I haven’t unwrapped it yet but I can see 3 coupons. Each coupon is valid in a different month. I don’t live near a lego store so of course the only one that I will be near a lego store during my planned purchases won’t qualify for.