Today is the official day when the holiday shopping season begins (at least in the USA), which of course means that retailers are all competing for your attention and wallet. From a LEGO fan’s perspective, this is an excellent time to pick up LEGO sets as gifts for kids, relatives, friends, and even yourself. Below, 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. 🙂
➡ 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 the free exclusive LEGO Nutcracker figure with orders of $99 or more, and a free exclusive LEGO Canvas Tote Bag with orders of $199 or more. If you don’t feel like fighting the crowds, or you don’t have a LEGO store near you, the Online LEGO Shop carries an even larger selection, free shipping on all orders this weekend, and lots of items on clearance sale. And of course, if you are a LEGO VIP member you will earn points on all of your purchases, or you can redeem your VIP Points you have been collecting through the year. Below are some important links:
- ONLINE LEGO SHOP HOMEPAGE
- ONLINE LEGO SHOP SALES & DEALS
- ONLINE LEGO SHOP HOLIDAY GIFT SHOP
- NOVEMBER 2017 – NEW LEGO SETS & PROMOTIONS
- LEGO BIG HOLIDAY CATALOG
In addition to all the 2017 LEGO sets already available, there are also two new sets released during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend; the #70922 LEGO Batman Movie The Joker Manor is available today, November 24th under the LEGO Batman Movie section of the Online LEGO Shop, and the #10256 LEGO Creator Taj Mahal is going to be available on Monday, November 27th at the LEGO Creator section of the Online LEGO Shop.
➡ 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 marked up prices, those so-called sales end up being worse than 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 standard retail prices sets should be selling for. Take a calculator and do the math before being swept away in the shopping excitement.
➡ Wal-Mart, Target & Other Retailers: These are the generic big-box retail stores. They usually have a good LEGO selection, their prices aren’t 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 and Target often have steep discounts somewhere in the 25-50% off range.
➡ Amazon.com: One of the best places to shop for LEGO in general, and definitely around the holidays, is Amazon.com. Their prices are excellent, as they like to undercut – or at least match – everyone else. And they also offer free shipping on all orders of $25 or more. Always look for the Eligible for Free Shipping icon in the item description. These are items shipped directly by Amazon. (Amazon also has affiliates and their shipping may not be free.) Amazon has dedicated LEGO store section, with all the currently available sets: VISIT THE AMAZON LEGO STORE
➡ Other Online Shops: Toys’R’Us, Target, Wal-Mart, etc. all have online shops as well. During the holidays they usually offer free shipping and the same or larger selection than 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. Amazon, Toys’R’Us and Target tend to go into a price-war with each other during the holiday season, which is of course good for shoppers.
➡ 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.
And that pretty much sums up where to go LEGO shopping. If you already know what you want to get, shopping online is the usually best and most convenient option. Most retailers will offer free shipping, or a very low shipping threshold, during the holiday season to encourage online orders, and they usually offer the same specials online as in stores. Also, when shopping with online retailers like Amazon, you can pick up other non-LEGO items at the same time. Having said that, it is worth checking out stores with LEGO displays (official LEGO stores, Toys’R’Us, Target, etc.), because even with seeing pictures online, there is nothing like seeing a LEGO set in person. Sometimes you may not be interested in a set you see pictures of, but you fall in love with it after seeing it in person. Other times it is just the opposite, and you decide not to buy a set once seeing it on display. However, it is best to window-shop for LEGO at retail stores during quieter times.
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:
- LEGO Fall & Winter Holiday Sets Available Now!
- LEGO Friends Snow Resort Sets Review
- LEGO Ninjago City Available Now & More!
- LEGO Winter Village Train Station Coming!
- LEGO Friends Heartlake City Playground
- LEGO Ideas Old Fishing Store More Details
- LEGO BOOST Creative Toolbox Review
- LEGO Creator London Bus History & Review
- LEGO Minecraft 2017 Summer Sets Review
- LEGO Nexo Knights Summer Sets Review
- LEGO Super Heroes 2017 Summer Sets Review
- LEGO Architecture Arc de Triomphe Review
- Review LEGO City Jungle, Coast Guard & More!
- LEGO Creator 2017 Summer Sets Review
- LEGO Spider-Man: Homecoming Sets Review
- LEGO Star Wars 2017 Summer Sets Review
- LEGO Star Wars UCS Snowspeeder Review
- LEGO POTC Silent Mary Available Now!
- LEGO Creator Assembly Square Review
UPDATE: Just a quick update that LEGO just put on sale tons of great sets! The LEGO Creator Palace Cinema is on sale, the Batcave, the Kwik-E-Mart, Star Wars sets, Elves, Friends, Technic, City, Creator, Speed Champions, Disney, The Batman Movie, BrickHeadz and more. I’m actually surprised by the extensive clearance. Check it out following the links above. Have fun shoppin’! 🙂
WOw, the elves sets are on sale? We will definitely get some of those! Is elves continuing next year? It is one of our favorites.
My understanding is that Elves is over, as there has been no information on any 2018 LEGO elves sets. So, if you are still missing some of the sets, this is a great time to get them. LEGO will likely release some other sub-theme based on the mini-dolls in the future. But for now, Elves seems to have run its natural course. Of course, LEGO may surprise us with an Ultimate Collector Series Elves set. 🙂
That is actually not true. Elves sets are continuing in 2018 (even if the show isn’t), as there are at least 5 sets being released. There are leaked images of two of these (both are preliminary), and I have read that Elves is reintroducing teal (Bright Bluish Green), a color last used extensively in the old Rock Raiders theme. Brickset has names for four of the sets: https://brickset.com/sets/year-2018/theme-Elves The reason we have heard nothing official about the sets is because they likely won’t be released until March. 🙂
Oh, that’s very cool to hear! Thanks for sharing! I was looking at the 2018 sets the other day, and I didn’t see any Elves. Also, Huw mentioned that he doesn’t think Elves or Speed Champions will continue, but it looks like he was wrong on both counts. It is actually the LEGO Modular Diner that will be reintroducing teal. 😉
You didn’t see any Elves sets because there are no official pictures of them in the Brickset database. I don’t recall Huw saying anything about Elves not continuing; those five sets have been listed in the database for a few weeks. He did say he was wrong about Speed Champions, however, which is good for me, as I just got my third set, the McLaren 720s, and would like to have an even number of cars.
Technically, the Elves sets were the first leaks people saw that contained teal parts, even though the Modular and that Disney Frozen set (#41155) will be the first 2018 sets to release with teal pieces. 🙂
So, it looks like Mark Stafford was not able to permanently kill teal. I’m really looking forward to that color! 😀
You can’t keep a good teal down! I hope for more glammish colors, like deep blue violet, and reddish orange!
What I would really like is sand-red to come back. I would LOVE a sand-red Modular! 😀
I can see what you mean, though. Appears to be a pretty rare and expensive color…
It really is a beautiful color. 🙂
I tried to look it up. I’m not sure if I own a single sand red part, myself.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/126975831@N07/14927153577/in/album-72157649729890049/
Yeah, they are rare. They were rare even in their own time. I think I only have one 2×2 brick. It looks really good in building thought. Like this Modular façade: https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/153143-moc-noppe-co-brick-store-facade/
Or this one: https://www.brothers-brick.com/2011/07/23/slope-brick-wall-texture/
*Looks up Lego Modular Diner pics on Google* Er… um… Maybe when I see it in person I might like it. More… ish. Trying to stay positive here! 😉
Rob, you don’t like it? I actually have some doubts about it myself, as it is so different from the other buildings. Buildings like this are quite common in South Florida, but I never really liked the style. Once we see the rest thought, we will likely enjoy it more. Jamie Berard has a way of capturing LEGO fans with his models. 😀
All of these different faces. It’s uncanny!
To be honest, I’m on the fence with it. But then I had my doubts about the Grand Emporium until I saw that one in person, so I’m going to wait until then. You do make a good point, it is rather different from the other modular buildings but I wonder with the passing of the tenth anniversary Lego might be considering going a bit of a different direction, especially if you consider the newer minifig faces. Maybe with this new building I just need some time in getting used to it. 😉
I think it will be just fine with the other Modulars, even if it is a different style. On the picture, they put it next to Assembly Square, and it looks okay. In Miami, building like this are next to regular buildings. You may look up Miami retro architecture. You will see some interesting stuff. The new Modular even got the colors right. 😀
It’s sort of like how the Palace Cinema has a somewhat Asian vibe, but it fits right in with the rest of the buildings. Any big city that has been around long enough will have different architectural styles.
Some people don’t like that the minifig faces were changed from classic smiley to more expressive, but then I also heard people complaining that they don’t like the classic smileys. You just can’t please everyone… 🙄
Yeah, I can’t say I’ve seen anything like this new Cafe building around here, but I’m rather far-flung from Florida, (Utah) 😀 On the other hand I’ve been to southern California where Graumans’ Chinese Theater is and I’ve been rather fond of that one so I was quite happy to get the Palace Cinema.
Yeah, I don’t doubt about complaints about the new faces. I’m cool with these new faces. I also hang out with other fandoms and know /very/ well how picky some people can be (read extremists!) 🙂
Speaking of California, what I would really like in the Modular line are the “Painted Ladies” from San Francisco. They are so lovely, and we actually have buildings like that here in Florida too. We call them “Gingerbread Houses”. 😀
I wonder if there was an agreement to never reduce the price of the Porsche (42056). Otherwise there is a very good deal on the Aroc (42043) on Amazon. Probably one of the best Technic set ever in terms of functionalites and parts.
Hm… that’s possible. Also, as long as the set sells well, so there is really no reason for them to reduce the price. 🙂
Sorry to reply on my own comment. I mixed things up. Deal on Aroc is at the Lego Store. The very good deal on Amazon.ca is on 42070 (30%off).
Hobbes, thanks for sharing! Feel free to list other deals you find! 🙂
Is Detective’s Office on sale? Ifso, BL or official lego store?
I don’t think BL sellers do regular sales that often. Probably nothing where you could plan purchases in advance, anyway.
Yes, and they also have to charge for shipping, and often tax.
It’s not on sale, but if you have VIP Points you can use them up for your purchase to lower the price. BL is really not meant for holiday shopping. Their focus in different. You might still find some individual sellers who are willing to lower the price a bit. Keep in mind though that BL sellers charge for shipping, so in general the Online LEGO Shop or Amazon is a better place to buy new sets. 🙂
Ok! I will find out…
Woke up early in the morning to buy the Joker Manor. I debated yet once again the Palace Cinema. I even put it in my cart. But in the end I just can’t pull the trigger. So I removed it from my cart. I have so many package of the disco and clown batman. I haven’t open any of them yet. LOL
Hm… the Palace Cinema is a set that I skipped as well. I don’t like that it has stickers, and I also don’t like the back of the roof on the center tower. I don’t think I will regret it. It’s perfectly fine to skip some of the Modulars that you don’t like. There is no rule that we have to buy them all. 😉
I think you will really enjoy the Joker Manor. It is a very fun set, and the new rollercoaster system seems to be very fun.
I heard that Lego is going to up the price on Star Wars battle packs . Has anyone heard anything about that ? If it’s true , I my just stick with city themes and stay away from Star Wars and other over expensive themes next year. I mean even the city sets are getting more expensive .
Really? I haven’t heard that, but it’s not impossible. Unless they add something substantial to the battle packs to justify a higher price, I don’t think raising the price will end well. LEGO is already pretty expensive, especially Star Wars. We should be seeing prices and other details of the 2018 sets soon.
I am seriously considering cutting back on my collecting next year . It’s to the point where I am happy where I am in my collecting and this time it’s not space that is the problem (I have plenty of space) but , not in my mind . It’s starts to be a bit overwhelming on how many things a person owns when it gets to be a bit much . Now I may change my mind later on . That darn Temptation. LOL!
Thinning out your LEGO collection is actually something that’s worth doing once in a while. The holiday season is perfect for getting rid of some sets you don’t need. Or, you can also give some of the sets/parts/minifigs to charity. I don’t like clutter either – not in my physical space, and not in my mental space.
Dag, clutter. Always a problem in urban areas.
Although the clutter itself is less of a problem than others’ opinions about it, I really need to work on it. It tends to take a lot of time and space and energy to go through it all, however…
I know the feeling. Sometimes, the best and fastest is to just get rid of stuff. Donate the nicer ones to charity, then just throw away the rest. But if you do have time, and it is not so out of hand, you can also sell stuff through a garage sale or online. I tend to do it this time of the year. Some stuff I list on Craigslist, some I give to the neighbor who regularly runs garage sales, and some I just take over to Goodwill. It feels good to have an uncluttered home. 🙂
Yeah. I’ll keep that in mind!
There’s actually a free shop being arranged at a local campus once a week.
So far, they’ve been polite enough to accept almost everything I’ve brought them… (ALthough perhaps they’d thrown away some, while I wasn’t looking. Still, it’d feel better if it has come to use…)
I think meant more like use what I have and enjoy the satisfaction of just that. Also the Lego sets are getting more and more expensive that I have to learn to be happy with what I have . Maybe I’ll stay away from big sets. I think I am have a ” almost end of the year blues” . Will see what happens in the new year .
I see what you mean. Yes, a bit of blues can happen as well. It is natural to have an ebb and flow to how you participate in the hobby. Sometimes building that big set brings satisfaction, and sometimes doodling with small sets is what’s the most fun. Also, building official LEGO sets, vs. free-building is also something you can rotate. Just change it up a bit one in a while, and you will continue to have fun. 🙂
I think that’s part the problem. It’s a good thing and a bad thing at the same time . One you create something ( like I created a post office ) and it was fun to do but it adds up over time . Instead of having alittle town it be come a big city. I basically make things that Lego hasn’t come up with yet. My next idea is a sanitation department . It’s needed in a city or there will be trash every where. I just have to figure out the color scheme of the building . The post office is yellow and has red trim( to match the postal vehicles). So, thats my mind set right now.