Subject:
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Re: My first visit to LIC
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Tue, 8 May 2001 21:05:45 GMT
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Viewed:
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1954 times
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Lots of snippage, comments inseted below. I have been to the Orlando LIC a
bunch of times as it is (sort of) on the way from the airport to our office
in Orlando. I haven't been there in a couple of months though.
"Jonathan Lill" <jonathanl@myriadweb.com> wrote in message
news:GD183B.C0u@lugnet.com...
[ ... snipped ... ]
> My negative thoughts (unfortunately more numerous):
>
> -I don't know how long its been opened but the outside sculptures are
> showing serious weathering. Colors have faded and in some cases acquired a
> sort of white film of grime or aging. Chrome pieces have lost a • substantial
> amount of chrome revealing bland ABS underneath. They need to be
> replaced/restored in the near future.
The Florida weather is pretty harsh, I agree with you though. I imagine
that the models at LEGOLand (CA) will suffer the same problems.
>
> -A lack of train sets. The store had the metroliner and two or three sets • of
> tracks. None of the additional sets like railway maintenance or the cargo
> train were available.
This seems to ebb and flow although it does seem that the Orlando LIC train
stock has been de-emphasized to some extent. The last time I was there the
4559 train under the checkout was still there.
>
> I have an idealized version of the Lego store in my head that is perhaps
> unrealistic but possible. It has features that the LIC does not have:
>
> -It would have a slight discount on prices since it is bypassing normal
> distribution paths and thus eliminating third party costs
It would be nice but I think the LIC operates under the same presmis as
S@H - they don't want to alienate their primary distribution channels
(Target, Wal-Mart, TRU, etc.). LEGO does have a couple of outlets
(Virginia, Georgia, one in Canada somewhere) where discounts can be found.
>
> -It would have older merchandise, perhaps on closeout, straight from Lego
> warehouses
From time to time they do. I have been there when there was a pile of Red
Beard Runner sets on the floor. Six months later there was a pile of Dark
Forrest (6079 I think) sets. I personally purchased a whole bunch (like 20)
boxes of late 80's vintage roof bricks. I suspect with the opening of the
outlet stores the odds of older stock getting to the LIC are much lower.
>
> -It would receive merchandise in advance of other outlets
They do. Note your own posting listing all of the Creator sets. The only
ones I have seen are the two that Zany-Brainy has in stock. I have not seen
any of them anywhere else. I was in Orlando when the first Star Wars sets
were released. It was a month before they appeared in Raleigh anywhere.
>
> -It would provide "insider information" on forthcoming product through
> "sneak peek" instore displays or staff communications.
>
> The LIC fails at all of this. The prices are MSRP even on sets that are
> being discounted elsewhere (bits of Star Wars and Technic). There is no
> older merchandise at all even of sets I know Lego has stock in(like the
> insectoids available at S@H or recently discontinued Star Wars). While the
> Orlando LIC is receiving Bionicle Turaga sets next week the employee I • spoke
> to (at least an assistant manager) wasn't even aware of the forthcoming
> Dinosaur sets even though they have been slated for a June or July • release.
> Since Bionicle sets are available in Europe and in advance promotions
> through the magazine why not have some teaser sets available in the stores
> aside from promo T-shirts? Furthermore the employees should be up to date • on
> new product if only to talk it up with customers.
I understand the purpose of the LIC is to build brand awareness. A
marketing thing sort of like an exhibit at a trade show only permanent.
Being on the DownTown Disney boardwalk they are assured of having a very
large number of unique visitors. Visiting the LIC with my son after he got
a bucket of LEGO from my parents for Christmas three years ago was one of
the things that motivated me back into this hobby.
[ ... snipped ... ]
Mike
--
Mike Walsh - mike_walsh at mindspring dot com
http://www.nclug.net - North Carolina LEGO Users Group
http://www.nclug.net/ctb - Carolina Train Builders
http://www.brickbay.com/store.asp?u=mpw - Brick Depot
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | My first visit to LIC
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| I went down to Walt Disney World this past week with my wife's family and didn't even realize until I saw it that the Imagination center was a part of Downtown Disney. I visited the Lego store (is it an Imagination Center?) in downtown Chicago and (...) (23 years ago, 8-May-01, to lugnet.general)
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