Outside of sells, I really wonder what Lego's motive is for having this set go on it's 7th year of retail life.  That is such a ridiculously long time.  Seriously, I don't truly understand the long shelf life.

Outside of sells, I really wonder what Lego's motive is for having this set go on it's 7th year of retail life.  That is such a ridiculously long time.  Seriously, I don't truly understand the long shelf life.

Aside from sales, (which is a pretty important factor to be setting aside) I think it comes down to one question: What could they possibly replace it with? There isn't really any other massive Star Wars flagship playset better than a Death Star where so many of the OT's most significant scenes can be recreated. So in that sense, as long as people are buying it, there's no reason to attempt to replace it with something else.

They could do a lego Senate chamber where most of the scenes in the pt take place lol

I went to the Legoland Calfornia for the Star Wars Days two weekends ago, they had a new display of the Death Star in Miniland with tons and tons of Lego Death Stars for sale in the park.  Maybe now, they can officially retire it

^I'm interested in going to Legoland, CA to shop. Is it worth it? How's their selection? Would I be able to park for free and just shop there? 

Even still with the significance of the DS, this is the one greatest anomaly I've noticed with Lego.  They could easily find another set to replace it with, and 'replacing' items isn't exactly their only motive to retire sets.  They've had many other wildly successful sets that get retired early for no apparent reason.

 

As much as I love the set, it's really showing it's age.  Some of the techniques and minifigs especially are really dated compared to sets of the last few years.

Is us shop at home not doing the retired tag any more?

 

If you want proof that US LEGO Shop at Home site is just chaos, look at the series 1 mixels.  some marked as retired, a few of which have retiring soon tags, others are just sold out, some of which have a sale prices.

 

it appears they just stopped bothering half way through series 1 retirements...

^I'm interested in going to Legoland, CA to shop. Is it worth it? How's their selection? Would I be able to park for free and just shop there? 

If you have a yearly membership, you get 10% off any lego item.  But, they may or may not have the time you are looking for.  Two weekends ago, they had the Simpsons house and Death Stars but no Red 5, EV, TOO, PS, PC, Slave Ship, Tumbler, etc.  However, I have seen all those there before at varous times this year.   

Aside from sales, (which is a pretty important factor to be setting aside) I think it comes down to one question: What could they possibly replace it with? There isn't really any other massive Star Wars flagship playset better than a Death Star where so many of the OT's most significant scenes can be recreated. So in that sense, as long as people are buying it, there's no reason to attempt to replace it with something else.

 

UCS Hoth Echo Base

Back in the game with a DS for 350 euros which was too good to refuse. That one is definitely the most interesting in terms of knowing the EOL simply because of the capital it ties up.

 

Even if it has been around for years, those that miss it will miss it and because the rrp is so high anyway, the select few that could afford to pay 400 would also pay 800 as seen with SSD.

Is it safe to assume that in the Architecture series that Empire State Building, Fallingwater, and the Sydney Opera House are either retired, or near EOL since they are no longer being sold at most online retailers, including lego.com?

Also, from the looks of things it's seeming like the UN building, and the Space Needle are heading that way too.  Personally, I think everything in this list, except for perhaps Sydney Opera House are great investments.  The only reason I knock down the Sydney Opera House is because that giant modular version is much much better, and only completists for the Architecture line would get this one.

Is it safe to assume that in the Architecture series that Empire State Building, Fallingwater, and the Sydney Opera House are either retired, or near EOL since they are no longer being sold at most online retailers, including lego.com?

Also, from the looks of things it's seeming like the UN building, and the Space Needle are heading that way too. Personally, I think everything in this list, except for perhaps Sydney Opera House are great investments. The only reason I knock down the Sydney Opera House is because that giant modular version is much much better, and only completists for the Architecture line would get this one.

I agree with everything except SOH mini. I think some people won't buy the $300 set no matter what. They can however pay 2+ x for the small set.

I agree with everything except SOH mini. I think some people won't buy the $300 set no matter what. They can however pay 2+ x for the small set.

You're probably right.  I collect the Architecture series, as it's by far my favorite line, and there's only a few I haven't built and have sitting in a box in a closet.  This is one of them.  This one hasn't appealed to me for some reason, but maybe i should bust it open to "test the waters".  When I look at all the architecture sets out there, and which ones to put my money into, this one I always put on the bottom of the list.   But, that's personal taste, and that's not always a good strategy for what it could potentially do after it's EOL.

All 3 above architecture sets are confirmed retired in Europe.

Edited March 18, 201510 yr by valenciaeric

All 3 are confirmed retired in Europe.

Which 3?

Regarding the Lego B&M in-store sale:

 

20% off at LEGO B&M

 

The Hobbit: Lonely Mountain

SH: X-Men vs. Sentinel

SH: Hulk Lab Smash

SH: Spider-Trike vs. Electro

Architecture: UN Headquarters

Creator: Bike Shop

Mixels: Series 3

Friends: Dolphin Cruiser

Lego Movie: Benny's Spaceship

Lego Movie: Super Secret Police Dropship

 

Some say that lego discount = retiring soon. For the most part that's valid and backed up by history. For several of these sets i think it makes sense, and is true. Lego Movie sets are likely leaving, Mixels of course are gone, SH sets have been replaced, Hobbit line is wearing down etc. 

 

However i would propose that this sale is NOT a retiring soon sale because its not also ONLINE.

 

I think this is a store shelf space sale. These sets need to be gone for new sets to be on shelf in stores. I suspect most of these sets will remain instock online if not actually IN PRODUCTION, for months to come. Date stamps over the next few months will help prove or disprove this theory.

 

Note that many of these sets are BIG, why arent the little Lego Movie sets on sale? Only the two biggest (non exclusive) ones. Same with Hobbit, Same with Creator.

 

This is a get it out of lego store shelves sale, not a pre-retirement sale.

Discuss.

However i would propose that this sale is NOT a retiring soon sale because its not also ONLINE.

Discuss.

I have no real opinion on whether or not this sale means a "retiring soon" sale, but i would like to point out that the three Iron Man 3 sets were put on sale at my local B&M store (and likely others), yet only 1 of them was put on sale online at LEGO Shop at Home, i believe it was the Sea Port one, while the other 2 remained full price (if i recall correctly).

 

However all 3 of these are "sold out" online and look to be done.

 

Making shelf space does seem to make sense as many of those are bigger sets, but you'd think they would have done this sale prior to all the March 1st releases which i know caused the stores some grief trying to fit it all on the shelves. Some of these sets do seem a bit early for retirement too, so could be a good assumption.

LEGO sales are usually an indicator of sets that are on the chopping block.

I can't say that's always the case.  About 4 months back at least, the Imperial Hotel was on sale at my local store for like 20% off, and then shortly went back to full retail.  It's still widely available.  It could be that the set wasn't the biggest seller at this particular store and were just trying to move some inventory.

I tend to think the UN building is on it's way out.  If not late this year, it will more than likely be gone next year. There is only so much space the B&******, and BAM have to display these, and so these slow retirement phase outs seem common now that they are producing at least 3 new sets per year.  Usually, there's anywhere from 9 to 10 of these avaiable at any store.  It seems that everything from pre-2012 is now history, with only Big Ben, White House, and Brandenburg Gate still left from that era, and of those, I wouldn't be suprised to see one of those go away this year (my guess is more than likely Brandenberg).  And now they seemingly are starting to chop at some of the 2013 sets.  I wouldn't be surpised to see Big Ben and the White House stay a little longer, since they are very iconic structures.  But I wouldn't be shocked to see UN building start to be phased out.

 

Bike shop has to have horrible sales. My Lego store had two full shelf columns of these, plus a good 20 stacked up on the very top shelf. When xmas was going on and walmart was emptied out, there were still tons of bike shops. Even now, I have never seen a walmart or target without 4+ Bike shops. I don't think anyone wants these and I think Lego made way to many.

I can't say that's always the case.  About 4 months back at least, the Imperial Hotel was on sale at my local store for like 20% off, and then shortly went back to full retail.  It's still widely available.  It could be that the set wasn't the biggest seller at this particular store and were just trying to move some inventory.

On the whole, sets that are discounted by LEGO, especially online, are closer to retirement than not.  Store to store discounts may vary, but any set that is discountred probably is a poor seller or near retirement.  The sets mentioned above are potential candidates due to either reason.  There are always exceptions, but if any of you are interested in these sets, now is the time to stock up IMO.

It's funny how the LEGO spies on the BrickPicker forums are working with LEGO to toy with the retirement status of the most recent wave, just to mess with us.

It's funny how the LEGO spies on the BrickPicker forums are working with LEGO to toy with the retirement status of the most recent wave, just to mess with us.

 

They are among us!

Wonder if the SD mole has met the Lego mole.