Subject:
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Re: Lego Direct (was Re: Georgia LEGO Outlet is Cool!)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.dear-lego
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Date:
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Tue, 28 Mar 2000 01:44:39 GMT
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In lugnet.dear-lego, Todd Lehman writes:
> In lugnet.dear-lego, Richard Franks writes:
> > In lugnet.dear-lego, Craig Livingston writes:
> > > Again, I have no side in this argument. The reason being is no one is
> > > objective at all in this case.
> >
> > Objective rants aren't as much fun to write.
>
> Well, here's hopefully an objective rant...
>
> The fact that LEGO has set up outlet stores means that they are bleeding.
> The outlet stores are a desperate attempt to limit that bleeding.
>
> The outlet stores sell obsolete stock at discounted prices as a last resort
> due to suboptimal ERP and/or overproduction. It should not be the objective
> of the outlet do anything but move that obsolete stock as quickly and
> efficiently as possible -- to bleed the parent company as little as possible.
>
> If this rubs us poor fans the wrong way, tough for us. We don't run the
> company.
>
> Now, on the other hand, if TLC's objective in setting up the outlet stores is
> actually to please consumers rather than to limit how much money they bleed,
> then what they're doing is probably the wrong thing. But I doubt that.
>
> --Todd
At this point I have to concur with Todd. Let's look at this way. In an
article just published with Tom Stangle as the focal, (or was it mindstorms...
anyway,) Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, TLC Pres, remarks that this year has pulled
them out of hot water, because of Mindstorms. They, (TLC,) blame computer
games, and some other such rubbish that we AFOL would actually understand as
just poor design, (especially when we tried to tell them so, about town JR,
but they didn't listen). So now they have about te billion Time Waster's
sets, and the same for UF-Who?'s and close to the same of the Insuctiods,
(this assessment is derrived from my own association with a Lego Outlet store
which seems to have an overabundance of these sets), which they had made and
investment in. If you've spent money on materials, and labor, and you don't
move stock, what you end up doing is either, a) spend more money in keeping it
in storage/wharehousing so that you can sell it at the price you think you
will be able to get a reasonable return on it, or b) you sell it off to
someone who move it for you, and forget the profit, let's just not take a
loss. There is a third alternative here; Outlet store. You control the price,
you reduce the wharehousing, and your overhead goes down. You may not make
the exact amount you thought you were gonna, but you will still end up with a
profit. Well, hopefully.
The question still remains, what happens when really really rare stuff comes
up. If I were the manager, and my goal it to move all that I can, (and trust
me, I get shown all the stuff I want to buy but can't everytime I walk into
that infernally wonderful place in VA.), I would get word to those people I
know will move it quickly out of my store. I'm no bussiness major, but the
principle is sound enough to me. My bonus at the end of the sales year
depends on me moving anything and everything in my store. If my inventory can
be completely replaced within a year, (I'd would have thought that would be
hard to do not that long ago, but my opinion is in flux now,) I'll do it.
I'll get a big fat bonus at the end of the year. Without enen one twitch of
remorse mind you. If I can put S@H practically out of bussiness, I would do
that too if I can. Lego Direct would have nothing on me if I had the same
resouces... Yes, that is what I would do. And so apparently do they, (the
Lego Outlet Store Managers). Hats off to these hard working symbols of
enterprise!
And if you want stuff, make youselves known, and quit telling everyone that
they are for your neice/nephew/son/daughter/grandchild/etc... and not for
yourselves. Call them. Ask when the next shipment comes. Take that sick day
you've been saving, go to the store. Introduce yourself. Take a bussiness
card, leave one of your own, get them to bookmak your web sit on their
computer, (don't quote me, but I've been told that the store in VA. uses
lugnet to look up sets...hhmmm). BUY STUFF. They will come looking for you. I
missed out on 6078's too, but I'm not crying, (though I don't have a single
one). Someday I'll have it. I've got a pretty decent collection now. Not a
Tom Stangl collection, or a Todd Lehman collection, or a Larry P. collection,
but a good one nonetheless.
Rich
--
Have Fun! C-Ya!
Legoman34
*****
Legoman34 (Richard W. Schamus)... (No, I don't work for TLC, but I want
to...)
Card carrying LUGNET MEMBER: #70
Visit http://www.wamalug.org &
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Castle/1334
...(the wait is over...)
..."The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself." ...
*****
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Lego Direct (was Re: Georgia LEGO Outlet is Cool!)
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| (...) keeping it (...) price, (...) make (...) with a (...) You can always sell it yourself at a loss. Although this is not a very practical business model there's no escaping the fact that some products are dogs and you'd do well to get something (...) (25 years ago, 28-Mar-00, to lugnet.dear-lego) !
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Lego Direct (was Re: Georgia LEGO Outlet is Cool!)
|
| (...) Well, here's hopefully an objective rant... The fact that LEGO has set up outlet stores means that they are bleeding. The outlet stores are a desperate attempt to limit that bleeding. The outlet stores sell obsolete stock at discounted prices (...) (25 years ago, 28-Mar-00, to lugnet.dear-lego) !
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