im sure there is at least a handful of people here that do as much if not more than 150k/year sales. i was at a third that last year for a one man shop however $15/birds smells like BS or stolen property to me. I may be wrong. 

Edited October 27, 20169 yr by jerryherb

6 minutes ago, jerryherb said:

im sure there is at least a handful of people here that do as much if not more than 150k/year sales. i was at a third that last year for a one man shop however $15/birds smells like BS or stolen property to me. I may be wrong. 

You may not have been around when Ravenb99 posted a pic of 55 or so Batwing Over Gotham's he picked up for $7 each in a salvage lot.  I think it was 6 months or so after retirement too.

3 minutes ago, thegooch49 said:

Well, I'll explain why some of the attitudes that you have found on here were interpreted as 'hostile'. Some of us are just regular dudes and gals with day jobs, that do this to supplement their love for LEGO with some cash. We may have one or two SOH, that were purchased and tucked away, waiting for a decent return. With supply/demand ruling the price we all get for our sets down the road, someone buying 20 of these and selling for a 10% profit makes it a little harder for the rest of us with two, waiting for a higher return. Since you have a seemingly large retail arbitrage business on Amazon, it's probably safe to say that you didn't use the affiliate links from this site for your purchase. That is an assumption, and I very well could be wrong. Apologies if I am. 

So we aren't hostile, maybe calling it jealously is more accurate. To get some love, it would be awesome if you could share how you picked up Birds for $15 each. This site is very give AND take.

Unfortunately a lot of deals just aren't accessible to the general public. I got 104 Birds from Walmart when they were trying to clear space in one of their warehouses, and I was lucky because I happen to know the regional manager for this area and already do a lot of business with Walmart and COKeM (the fulfillment service Walmart uses for their warehouses). Feel free to PM me if you have any questions, though; I don't want to clutter and derail this thread.

1 hour ago, Serejai said:

I run a $1m/year business on Amazon doing retail arbitrage. I've always sold LEGO, and they're one of my top selling product lines (usually about 150k/year in sales), but I just started investing in the for long-term mostly because it's fun and different.

2 hours ago, zskid00 said:

may be for 5->10 qty that price may have been possible but i seriously doubt that bird was that widely stocked in stores for that matter to have been discounted but again i don't know various BB retailers distribution to make that call. 

 

In the current investment climate, you can throw RRP out the window. If you pay anything close to RRP on exclusives anymore, you'll be struggling to break even after retirement. So many units are being bought during these Walmart/Amazon firesales sans sales tax that I feel foolish for buying EV at my local store for 2x VIP and a dinky promo item. Knock at least 20% off for most exclusives and you've got the real RRP. 

2 minutes ago, exciter1 said:

You may not have been around when Ravenb99 posted a pic of 55 or so Batwing Over Gotham's he picked up for $7 each in a salvage lot.  I think it was 6 months or so after retirement too.

LEGO shows up quite often at freight auctions. Truck flips over and it's cheaper for the shipping company to write off everything and sell it as salvage, even if 99% of the products onboard were undamaged. It's a lot harder to purchase lots these days because everyone can just scan the barcode on their phone and figure out a profit margin even if they don't know what LEGO is, though.

3 minutes ago, Serejai said:

LEGO shows up quite often at freight auctions. Truck flips over and it's cheaper for the shipping company to write off everything and sell it as salvage, even if 99% of the products onboard were undamaged. It's a lot harder to purchase lots these days because everyone can just scan the barcode on their phone and figure out a profit margin even if they don't know what LEGO is, though.

so it did fall off the back of the truck  i forgot about those freight cargo sales

3 minutes ago, newbie77 said:

may be for 5->10 qty that price may have been possible but i seriously doubt that bird was that widely stocked in stores for that matter to have been discounted but again i don't know various BB retailers distribution to make that call. 

 

Stores have nothing to do with it, really. Retail companies clear out their distribution warehouses in bulk all the time. One warehouse feeds about 20 stores. I got stock from 9 different warehouses.

2 hours ago, Serejai said:

Also didn't realize so many people on these forums were so hostile to people that have money to spend. Isn't this mostly an AFOL forum? I don't understand why disposable income is triggering so many people.

TheGooch had a good reply, overall its not a bad attitude, there are a lot of people that would love to be doing what you are doing.  Just keep doing what you are doing.  Use a site like this to help you look for deals to continue to keep lower cost inventory in your warehouse. I am sure people can learn from you as well. Don't take anything personally.  This is the internet

Off topic -

I have been mostly reading the forums lately and I find that there are more people here simply taking from the site (or just announcing purchases without any information, ooh look at me!) instead of contributing something positive.  There have been WAY too many negative posts about the future of Lego [your favourite cliché here] and a lot fewer well thought out posts and I miss reading those!

Everyone comes from different backgrounds with different goals but these goals seem to be a lot less compatible with any meaningful discussion in the past few months and that's disappointing.  I encourage everyone to have a nice relaxing weekend and come back fresh and ready to contribute, instead of bicker over who got what and what should I buy and other less-consequential crap.  Buy your Lego, flip it or hold it, or don't buy it.  Put the work in and make it work or don't.  Be positive or at least be constructive and thoughtful in your negative posts.

Thanks to the people that regularly post good, great, or awesome deals or thoughtful posts and that really should be the end goal for everyone, because we all benefit.  

**EDIT HERE** I'm not old, but get off my lawn!

On topic -

Kmart - switch tracks $12, work your magic people. - http://www.kmart.com/lego-switch-tracks/p-004W004602817001P?plpSellerId=Kmart&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

Kmart had the 60052 Cargo Train for $125-127 but it is currently delisted.  I expect this to come back at some point and $127+magic makes this an easy 50% off, if you fancy the set.

60104 Airport Terminal - 20% off - http://www.kmart.com/lego-city-airport-passenger-terminal-60104/p-004W001228588001P?plpSellerId=Kmart&prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

I have been receiving a lot of $20 on 60 coupons lately and that makes the terminal 40% off, if you like planes

 

 

Edited October 27, 20169 yr by redghostx

New Listings on Amazon USA

Classic

LEGO Classic Creative Bright Supplement $14.39 [28% off]

Duplo

LEGO Education DUPLO Family Builders Pack 992032 (144 Bricks Plus Figures) $68.54 [23% off]

Friends

LEGO Friends Storage Brick 2, Lilac $14.67 [33% off]

Kids

LEGO Kids' 8020295 Star Wars Yoda Plastic Watch With Link Bracelet and Minifigure $17.49 [30% off]

Lego Storage

LEGO Storage Brick 2, Dark Green $14.24 [43% off]

Star Wars

LEGO Star Wars 75108 Clone Commander Cody Building Kit $10.97 [45% off]
LEGO Star Wars Finn 75116 $17.49 [30% off]
LEGO Star Wars 75109 Obi-Wan Kenobi Building Kit $17.49 [30% off]
LEGO Star Wars 75110 Luke Skywalker Building Kit $15.79 [21% off]

Prices that Dropped on Amazon USA

All other LEGO

LEGO Marvel's Avengers - PlayStation 4 $30.15 [25% off] [ 2%]

City

Lego City to The Rescue Microraschel Throw, 46 by 60-Inch $15.99 [20% off] [ 20%]

Creator

LEGO Creator 31052 Vacation Getaways Building Kit (792 Piece) $55.99 [20% off] [ 9%]

Dimensions

LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack - Xbox 360 $49.99 [38% off] [ 38%]

Disney

LEGO Disney Princess Pumpkin's Royal Carriage 41141 $7.99 [20% off] [ 20%]

Friends

LEGO Friends 41105 Pop Star Show Stage Building Kit $27.49 [31% off] [ 2%]

Ideas

LEGO Ideas The Big Bang Theory 21302 Building Kit $47.23 [21% off] [ 21%]

Nexo Knights

LEGO Nexo Knights 70319 Macy's Thunder Mace Building Kit (202 Piece) $14.99 [25% off] [ 6%]

 

12 minutes ago, redghostx said:

Off topic -

I have been mostly reading the forums lately and I find that there are more people here simply taking from the site (or just announcing purchases without any information, ooh look at me!) instead of contributing something positive.  There have been WAY too many negative posts about the future of Lego [your favourite cliché here] and a lot fewer well thought out posts and I miss reading those!

Everyone comes from different backgrounds with different goals but these goals seem to be a lot less compatible with any meaningful discussion in the past few months and that's disappointing.  I encourage everyone to have a nice relaxing weekend and come back fresh and ready to contribute, instead of bicker over who got what and what should I buy and other less-consequential crap.  Buy your Lego, flip it or hold it, or don't buy it.  Put the work in and make it work or don't.  Be positive or at least be constructive and thoughtful in your negative posts.

Thanks to the people that regularly post good, great, or awesome deals or thoughtful posts and that really should be the end goal for everyone, because we all benefit.  

**EDIT HERE** I'm not old, but get off my lawn!

 

CM is coming.. u know what that means : TRIVIA TIME ... everything is awesome 

the only issue i have is with people posting deals that are really only accessible for you, the poster...$15 birds is like me saying yeah those $25 ghostbusters i just had to get all 150...and then people ask how you got them and it's basically the good ole' 'oh i know a guy' answer...whether the birds story is true or not (i happen to believe the guy), it does no one here any good.

4 minutes ago, Brickbuilder.g said:

the only issue i have is with people posting deals that are really only accessible for you

It definitely doesn't belong in the DD threads, but I appreciate the info about how the big AMZ sellers get their product and then seemingly sell for retail.

8 minutes ago, Brickbuilder.g said:

the only issue i have is with people posting deals that are really only accessible for you, the poster...$15 birds is like me saying yeah those $25 ghostbusters i just had to get all 150...and then people ask how you got them and it's basically the good ole' 'oh i know a guy' answer...whether the birds story is true or not (i happen to believe the guy), it does no one here any good.

on the contrary. i think we all learned something today. for most it wont apply as its not as easy as going to the store and bicker with a cashier. For few its helpful. if you dont know a guy, get a guy, or guys. speaking from experience some of the BM dailys here are my last weeks or two weeks ago deals. @Serejai, thanks for sharing. 

Edited October 27, 20169 yr by jerryherb

SOH ordered and received today! It's nice!

SOH ordered and received today! It's nice! [emoji3]

Must have been a huge Amazon drone!

21302 is down to $47 on Amazon. I don't think I saw that listed earlier.

LEGO Ideas The Big Bang Theory 21302 Building Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZSJMQ6E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_YiOeybJWJ0C15

I think you shouldn't post this here.

Ok, my bad. What post should this go under?

2 minutes ago, Nowhereman1 said:

Ok, my bad. What post should this go under?

In the What set did I buy today thread or here 

 

 

Can we please take it back on topic.  I'm not looking forward to clean up duty tonight.

1 hour ago, SageFly said:

21302 is down to $47 on Amazon. I don't think I saw that listed earlier.

LEGO Ideas The Big Bang Theory 21302 Building Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZSJMQ6E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_YiOeybJWJ0C15

Was at $43 earlier this week

Can we please take it back on topic.  I'm not looking forward to clean up duty tonight.

Not to burden you, but I'm looking forward to clean up either way.

Can we please take it back on topic.  I'm not looking forward to clean up duty tonight.

Sorry, it was a fun day.

Sorry, it was a fun day.