February 2016 Polybag Availability Update

Original Post:

Sorry if there's a post like this already. I searched but polybag comes up in so many threads its hard to see! I was thinking of getting polybags to sell. I'm not really looking for huge profit, mostly it seemed like a good idea for building up my eBay feedback. So I don't need to be super profitable but of course I don't want to lose money with shipping, etc. How do you know what bags will do well (obviously like anything theres no sure thing but any idea what does decent vs what js pretty much always a flop). They are hard to search for since they are random. How long do they usually last? Is there any general tips you could give?

I went to TRU yesterday, not a single Stormtrooper. Seems like they yanked the signs too. They wouldn't sell me any at any point this week, but I bet someone else found a more accommodating employee.

4 hours ago, Sozial said:

I am not really in this Polybag game, is HULK worth getting?

I'm no expert either, but I'm still picking these up when I find them, and can get a discount. For me, that's usually 7 Hulks + 1 free promo for about $29.00.  I like this set because it's TRU exclusive, it's the Hulk (the Hulk is no "Electro")... and it's an actual "set" - a minifigure and a little car he can ride or SMASH. It's not just to pose in a diorama... it's actually fun to play with.  It'd go great next to a Joker Bumper Car... in fact, I think if Lego would come out with an entire line of Super Hero polys that include a minifigure and his own unique "car" (or motorcycle or whatever).. that would be a big hit... sort of along the lines of microfighters, but smaller.

1 hour ago, thoroakenfelder said:

I went to TRU yesterday, not a single Stormtrooper. Seems like they yanked the signs too. They wouldn't sell me any at any point this week, but I bet someone else found a more accommodating employee.

Re: Stormtrooper... my store ran out a few days ago... then got more in (along with more C-3POs, and more Hulks)... so your store may be getting more soon.

I am not really in this Polybag game, is HULK worth getting?

It gambling. I'm just barely selling tumber/batwing combos for $20+ shipping a year after buying them.

Do you want $100 tied up I'd don't sell? $200? Up to you

To note, I just spotted 30259 Azari's Magic Fire, 30291 Anacondrai Battle Mech, 30305 Spider-Man Super Jumper, 30303 The Joker Bumper Car, 30202 Smoothie Cart, and 30275 TIE Advanced Prototype all at Wal-Mart in one of their middle-of-the-main-aisle cardboard seasonal bin thingies. Each was priced for $3.99 or $3.97.

6 hours ago, TheOrcKing said:

To note, I just spotted 30259 Azari's Magic Fire, 30291 Anacondrai Battle Mech, 30305 Spider-Man Super Jumper, 30303 The Joker Bumper Car, 30202 Smoothie Cart, and 30275 TIE Advanced Prototype all at Wal-Mart in one of their middle-of-the-main-aisle cardboard seasonal bin thingies. Each was priced for $3.99 or $3.97.

I saw those on Tuesday. I for forgot to post it when I got home.

4 hours ago, thoroakenfelder said:

I saw those on Tuesday. I for forgot to post it when I got home.

I know the feeling. I was too pooped to post when I came home that day (passed out on the couch) and it almost slipped my mind the next.

Found this on an endcap at target today. About 15-20 of them. $3.99

Ok well for some reason my pic won't upload right now, I'll try again later. The polybag is Star Wars force awakens Poe's x-wing #30278

Edited December 21, 201510 yr by Clintonjoseph
Added pic

It's posted a few pages back or in daily deal thread. My WM had the same but they only lasted a day or two

Found this on an endcap at target today. About 15-20 of them. $3.99

Ok well for some reason my pic won't upload right now, I'll try again later. The polybag is Star Wars force awakens Poe's x-wing #30278

Do you have the DPCI?

I don't remember it. It was just the general target poly dcpi though. I checked it on the tracker while I was in the store and all the stores around me had 250-500+ , so it must be the same as the space rover, racecar, tie fighters....

Checked the reciept just now... It's 204-00-0291

Edited December 21, 201510 yr by Clintonjoseph

Saw this today at TRU

A new blog entry was posted today, with all of the polybags listed in one place:

Polybag Availability Update (January 2015)

A new blog entry was posted today, with all of the polybags listed in one place:

Polybag Availability Update (January 2015)

Thanks for compiling this list, it's very useful.

I haven't seen it mentioned, but the silver centurion is a being giving as a promo for preordering the LEGO Marvel Avengers game that will be released next month. You get it when you get the game.

Thank you, glad you liked it.  I'm hoping to make it a monthly blog entry update.

Thanks for giving me the info on the Silver Centurion.  I knew it was related to a game, but didn't know anything else.  I'll add that into the next update.

On ‎12‎/‎23‎/‎2015 at 5:26 PM, Alpinemaps said:

Saw this today at TRU

This is now available online:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=55543316&cp=2255956.2273442.2255962.3696486.3686928&parentPage=family

 

Thanks for compiling the list of polybags.

Yes, this thread is a big help to poly collectors like myself.  Much appreciated

I was wondering if the FN-2187 was going to be the may 4 Poly

18 minutes ago, thoroakenfelder said:

I was wondering if the FN-2187 was going to be the may 4 Poly

Not sure.  It has a game code on the outside of the bag, much like Silver Centurion does.  Looks like it might go with a game.  Wonder if there's a Lego Star Wars Episode 7 game in the works?

A user over on Reddit mentioned they say the 30304 Avengers Quinjet at a TRU in PA in the last couple of days.  

On 12/28/2015 at 0:57 AM, Alpinemaps said:

A new blog entry was posted today, with all of the polybags listed in one place:

Polybag Availability Update (January 2015)

Again, thanks for the update!

 

FWIW, I have a number of Imperial Shuttles, more Go-Kart Racers, and a metric crap ton of Ice Bear Mech's lingering around several local Targets. Can't imagine this is the only area it's true... fairly available, for certain.

 

 

I also found 3 Poe X-Wings I snatched up over the weekend but so far these seem rare.

Upcoming Star Wars Polybag 5004406 - First Order General:

On 12/29/2015 at 2:16 PM, Grynn said:

FWIW, I have a number of Imperial Shuttles, more Go-Kart Racers, and a metric crap ton of Ice Bear Mech's lingering around several local Targets. Can't imagine this is the only area it's true... fairly available, for certain.

Thanks for mentioning it.  I think it's important that people know that these are still out there in some areas, so they can be on the lookout for them. 

Hi guys,

I am fairly new to LEGO investing in general, but especially polybags. I started buying up boxed sets earlier this year because I had some extra income and would rather have a little fun gambling with it than investing in stocks or a savings account. Those seem fairly simple to me... figure out which sets are going EOL soon, grab what I can, and wait. But polybags seem to be a completely different beast.

For starters, it seems difficult to determine stock levels and availability. Most stores seem to use a generic SKU for all of them. The low price also concerns me a bit, as a 10% ROI on a $150 set after a year is fine with me... but a 10% return on a $4 set after a year is hardly worth the effort. Volume would make up for this, but I don't know the market yet.

My question is... should I bother putting in the effort to figure this stuff out? Would it be worthwhile, or should I just continue to focus on box sets? I would be willing to buy hundreds of these per month, but I feel like finding that many in the first place would be a challenge... and even with my retail connections I'm not entirely sure the local stores would let me buy that many, anyway (they usually want me to leave about half of any given product for regular customers).

Is buying 300-500 polybags a month realistic? Is selling that many realistic? Where can I go to start doing research? I see a few links in the beginning of this thread that sounded interesting but they all go to 404 pages.

Some polys can make you some decent money but the draw for me is that you can move a bunch of product with minimal effort so yeah the profit margin isn't great on most polys but it isn't hard to pack and ship them. Always keep an eye out for stores just dumping polys on a shelf or end cap. Just the other day there was hundreds of stormtrooper sergeant polys just laid on an empty shelf in the lego isle. 2.99 each............easy money!!

18 minutes ago, stephen_rockefeller said:

Some polys can make you some decent money but the draw for me is that you can move a bunch of product with minimal effort so yeah the profit margin isn't great on most polys but it isn't hard to pack and ship them. Always keep an eye out for stores just dumping polys on a shelf or end cap. Just the other day there was hundreds of stormtrooper sergeant polys just laid on an empty shelf in the lego isle. 2.99 each............easy money!!

I guess that was one of my main concerns; volume. The appeal of polybags to me is exactly what you say; they are small and cheap, so it's easy to store them and easy to ship them. As someone who enjoys collecting things like LEGO, Pokemon cards, etc... I absolutely love things that I can have multiples of, and that there are many varieties.

I would be more than happy with a low profit margin on these as long as it's actually possible to move them in volume, and from your post it seems plausible. From previous research, it seems like seasonal polybags are always a good thing to pick up... as well as any with unique pieces, or figures that are only found in expensive sets. And then polybags that can be turned into an army (ie Stormtroopers). I guess I will shop around this week and see if I can get about a hundred just to play around with, then maybe dive in completely in a few months if I like the prospects.

Also, I'm guessing it's probably safe to stay away from generic ones? Like that tiger that Toys R Us has right now... ordering 1,000 of them (which they will actually let me do; already got the OK from corporate, lol) would likely be an absolutely terrible idea  I'll try to focus in licensed sets, seasonal sets, and anything that people on here talk about for now.