My contact is able to get me the Sidney Opera House for $270 tonight. I am getting some other sets from him and I asked him to bring it down in case I want to make the buy. Is $50 off retail worth the buy?

Anything less than retail for a set like this is a good deal. 

Probably a good deal if you want to build it. If it's for investment then if you can have your contact get you that same deal in a years time I would wait.

I don't intend on building it. Do you think large exclusive set such as these will go on sale during it shelf life? I'm not so sure if he will able to secure more in the future. Help me decide, he is coming in 2 hours time.

The set will probably go on sale at some point, but maybe not that low or for long as we are slowly seeing a possible new trend of scarce discounting of these big exclusive sets.

 

So you can't see him in a year and get the same deal?  It just means your capital will be tied up for a long time.  Or you could do a quick flip and make $50 less fees or a little more if initial demand outstrips what is on the shelves or an international buyer wants it at a premium.

I think $50 off is a good deal. I do not see sales on these high priced sets very often. There probably will be a sale, but I think that it would be a small amount off.

I am afraid that he might not be able to get more of the same item and if the demand for it rise so will his asking price. Initially when we spoke he asked $300 for it but then recant and said $270.

I am afraid that he might not be able to get more of the same item and if the demand for it rise so will his asking price. Initially when we spoke he asked $300 for it but then recant and said $270.

In this situation where you are not sure, I would go and buy it.

I don't think you'll lose money at all, so go ahead and do it if you don't mind having your cash tied up for a while.  If you ever need it you can always bail on it and sell it for retail.

Thanks guys for your input. Will upload picture of it in the "what Lego set did you buy today" forum.

Yeah I can't imagine you ever finding a better deal on one unless other retailers crazy discount it for some reason. Money is gonna be tied up for 4-5 years at least though.