LEGO Certified Store now open in Italy
Posted by Huw,
In February we reported that a LEGO certified store was to open near Milan. The shop is now open and Mattonito.com has published a short report on the ceremony.
Certified stores are franchised operations that open in countries where LEGO has no intention of operating stores itself. As well as in Italy, they can be found in Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Greece, Croatia, Hungary and probably other countries too: in fact I've found it hard to research exactly where they can be found as there doesn't seem to be any published information. Perhaps between us we can come up with a definitive list..
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I went yesterday to attend the opening of the LEGO Store in Arese. Respect to the LEGO official stores in Germany, I have to say I was REALLY DISAPPOINTED. Small shop, quickly exhausted exclusive sets and expertise zero of young workers. I grew up with LEGO, those young people seemed they saw them for the first time ... At least I have gained two boxes LEGO 40145 for free!
i live in Turin, 130km from the shop.. afraid for your experience, seems in italy all are f****d up.. Pick a brick selection are good?
Definitely they had to rely on Brickset to make personnel selection :D
A dozen LEGO style transparent boxes on the back of the shop, right sides behind the coffers to pay (so in total confusion) and nothing else. They bulk selling only the 2x4 bricks of some color and nothing more.
Maybe they had to make use of the experience of Brickset. They hired people much more qualified !!!
In Hungary they are quite good and have amazing builds.
I visited one (solidex.ba) such store when I was in Sarajevo last year. I was hoping that it might be cheaper than in western Europe but prices were more or less the same than in other parts of Europe. I still got another Exo Suit and a stormtrooper pack that were on sales.
we have certified stores in Guatemala and Panamá...
In Italy we can do is cry. :-P
Cool, thanks.
The location of Lego Certified Stores (LCS) in Malaysia:-
1) The Curve, Mutiara Damansara, Selangor
2) Empire Subang, Subang Jaya, Selangor
3) Bangsar Village 2, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
4) Setia Alam Mall, Setia Alam, Shah Alam, Selangor
5) Queensbay Mall, Bayan Lepas, Penang
My personal opinion and experience about these LCS is extremely disappointing. In fact alot of AFOLs, parents and collectors alike are very frustrated with the way Lego Trading Malaysia is running the show here. Some issues with the LCS:-
1) No VIP points
2) Weird polybag promotions. Like the most recent Mr. Freeze polybag where you can it for USD 75 with any purchase in a Lego Store. The way Lego trading does it here is that you can only get it if you spend RM 300 on selected Lego City and Lego Fire sets ONLY. Of course everyone was wondering why oh why did they do this.
3) Extremely chronic shortage of Lego exclusive sets like Brick bank, GB HQ, modulars etc. Where else in the world do one need to RESERVE a set like a modular and wait for MONTHS for it to arrive? Furthermore I heard one will need to follow up with the LCS or you will not get your reserved set. Bad enough no VIP points and pay a high price but need to put up with such stupidity. Lego Trading open FIVE LCS and they cannot even order enough stock to supply to all 5? It's like Apple open 5 Apple stores but cannot even supply their stores with Iphones.
4) 100% increase in PAB price. At one time they even disallowed the re-use of the PAB cups!! Also the PAB selection is rubbish.
Shopping at our local LCS is a frustrating experience and this has made me stop buying any 2016 Lego till today. If this goes on I'm tempted to try out an upcoming modular building series by Lego's competitor since Lego obviously isn't interested to do my business.
I agree 100% with paanjang16 by Malaysia.
The new Italian store has the same shortcomings: no VIP points, exclusive sets at unsustainably polybag absent or otherwise not granted free of charge under the same conditions of the online shop.
Total disappointment.
Lego store in Abu Dhabi at Yas Island Mall and at Dubai Mall,Dubai both very Expensive .
@LuvKernow No not one like this in Exeter, it's Thomas Moore Toymaster which has a wider selection of Lego than usual, but it's still very obviously just an independent toy shop and not a Lego certified store.
Just got back from Japan earlier this week. The LEGO Certified Stores there are called ClickBrick and they have several locations: http://clickbrick.info/ - I visited the one in Tokyo Station and it was very small but had a good amount of sets, and a build-a-mini bar. No PAB at that location. Prices were comparable to US RRP prices but that could be due to the relatively weak Yen rate right now.
In Greece, in our only LEGO certified shop, sadly, we don't have PaB and that inherently detracts A LOT from the real LEGO experience. Maybe it is because the shop is tiny. Apart from that, the guys working there are very helpful (i don't expect them to know as much as we AFOLS know although they should), prices are OK-ish and there is also an OK-ish variety that doesn't really matters a lot because you can order whatever you want and have it in a couple of days.
I wish we had a PaB and a minifig creation bar though... sigh...
For those worried about the PaB wall at certified store, in my experience, the PaB wall at official stores is generally underwhelming. Unless you want to build Emmet's City Car.
I've only bought from a PaB wall once during all my store visits. I have enough wheels and windscreens.
I was there, I'm the first customer to walk in and the bill number 13...
Obviosly is not an OFFICIAL LEGO shop and something left, but for us, italian, is a 1st step towards a better future. I was little disappointed for the PaB but proprieties grant that soon will be doubled with a lot of more parts.
Both LEGO Italy, and Percassi was really unaware of the "hungry" of italian afols for an event like this but the "grant" me (I'm held the greatest italian AFOLs community) that some fixing come:
1) SOON they will have a SHOP CARD that will work exactly like the LEGO.com vip card, but for now not connected with LEGO VIP points.
2) DOUBlE PaB Wall
3) More assortment
Damiano, I hope so. I was also among the first to enter in the store last 14 th and the first impression was daunting. I really hope that soon Percassi adopt a loyalty card and increases their willingness to spare... Also because I do not think I'll leave it to you many others. I will literally travel with the van!
Lego certified in Panama:
Lego Store Multiplaza Pacific
Lego Store Altaplaza Mall