US Availability - 2010 City Advent Calendar

  • US Availability - 2010 City Advent Calendar

    Posted by bluemoose, 20 Aug 2010 18:45. Filed under Shopping (USA).

    2824: City Advent Calendar
    City/Seasonal, 2010
    More details...
    ©2010 LEGO Group

    Several people have reported the availability of the 2010 City Advent Calendar in the US. Chris "Reasonably Clever" Doyle has acquired one and is busy documenting the contents on his Flickr account; click the link to see details.

    It seems a little early for this year's Advent Calendars to be available, it being over 3 months (thats 1/4 of a year) until you're supposed to start opening them, but they tend to sell out quickly in the US, so I wouldn't hang around too long if you want to get hold of one of these lovely sets!


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Comments

Posted by ShatteredGnome in United States, 20 Aug 2010 18:58

That is early, usually it's not out until the Holidays...

Posted by joedapoboy in United States, 20 Aug 2010 19:41

Indeed, I saw it just today at the Baton Rouge Toys R Us (went looking for minifigures)

Posted by starfire2 in United States, 20 Aug 2010 20:08

I noticed TRU has been putting out their Lego sets very early this year. They had the Star Wars Lego sets 2 weeks before lego.com and they also did it with the Disney Cars Duplos.

Posted by legoisawesome in Canada, 20 Aug 2010 20:24

cool two santas

Posted by refriedbeans in United States, 20 Aug 2010 20:37

Whats with that santa?? He's like half naked!!!

Posted by sweener in United States, 20 Aug 2010 21:23

Anyone know the US retail price?

Posted by fadetoone in United States, 20 Aug 2010 22:22

I saw it for $35 at TRU tonight. I'm pretty sure that's a TRU mark-up though.

Posted by legoDad42 in United States, 20 Aug 2010 22:28

Yay! Naked Santa!
Not too crazy about the mini-figs but the micro-toys are so cute!
@fadetoone: Ouchy....$35bucks? I remember getting the Advent last year from Target for like $25.00. It was either $29.99 and I had a $5 dollar coupon or it was on the shelf for $24.99. Either way, it's too much for a set with no real rare pieces (except maybe the loaf of bread?).

Does anyone know if the U.S. will get the Kingdom's Advent?

Posted by legowomen1980p in United States, 21 Aug 2010 02:19

I highly doubt it about the kingdom advent calender. They had a Pirates one last year that was only available to Europe..

For some reason they don't treat us equally..

Mod- please don't delete this post. People in the U.S.A. need to know that some things are only available to Europe and not us.. We want to know why.. Do you Know?? Bluemoose??? or Huw??? Why Europe always seem to get the good stuff and the U.S.A market doesn't get it??

Posted by starfire2 in United States, 21 Aug 2010 02:28

Cause Lego is a European company. It's called favortism.

Posted by tedward in Canada, 21 Aug 2010 02:48

Actually it's because something like 90% of Americans have no idea what an Advent Calendar is. We have them up here in Canada only because of lots of British immigrants. I understand it's very difficult to find Christmas Crackers down there as well. Just different culture but it does suck because I'd rather have the alternate one as well and since the Yanks don't get it neither do we.

Posted by Griff13 in United States, 21 Aug 2010 03:04

What? We don't get the Kingdom Advent Calender? Oh man, I want the blue wizard to go with my midevil village. Wonder what it's going to cost me to get one now?

Posted by bluemoose in United Kingdom, 21 Aug 2010 03:19

You're right - Lego doesn't treat the various markets equally ... the US gets loads of stuff that Europe & the rest of the world doesn't, so it works both ways. If anything, the bias overall is probably in favour of the US ... but obviously US buyers aren't aware of all the 'good stuff' that they get that the rest of the world is excluded from (other than via eBay, with the resultant price hikes). It's the folk in Australia, New Zealand & other markets that I feel genuinely sorry for, as they get a pretty raw deal overall.

The issue is a recent thing, so far covering the 2008 'Castle' and 2009 'Pirates' advent calendars. It has been stated that LEGO's US/NA team (based in Enfield, CT) make the decision not to offer the 2nd Advent Calendar set to US/NA retailers or stock it through their direct outlets; this isn't a decision made in Europe, and it isn't a 'European conspiracy'. The usual reason given is that 'the use of Advent Calendars isn't a strong tradition in the US, and an offering of one Advent Calendar is sufficient for this Market'. I'm sure there are plenty of folk who would disagree with that view. Heck, I don't agree with it. Even if they don't think it will sell well through TRU/Target/WalMart/etal., there doesn't seem to be a good reason not to sell it through the Brand Stores and Lego Shop Online, and offering a choice is a good thing.

We don't know for sure that the 2010 'Kingdoms' advent calendar won't be available in the US or Canada yet - there has been a lot of fuss from the US & Canadian AFOL communities about this over the last couple of years, and the community liaison team in Lego have promised to look into it, but with no guarantee of success in convincing the team in Enfield to change their mind. The community team were able to help a little with the 2008 Castle Advent calendar, and a small number of sets were made available to US buyers. Fundamentally it's LEGO US's decision, not ours here at Brickset, so if you want to make your views known, talk to them.

Now, please, back on topic!

Posted by mattdiss in United States, 21 Aug 2010 10:31

FBTB has an old flickr post from a 2010 toy fair that gives $34.99 as the list price:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fbtbnet/4357446019/

Toywiz lists the Kingdoms advent calendar as a UK exclusive. I don't know how reliable their information is, as it is to their advantage to list it as an exclusive so that their mark-up seems more reasonable.

http://www.toywiz.com/lego7952.html

Posted by Crt2 in United States, 21 Aug 2010 13:18

NICE! I May Have to Get This One!

Posted by izziebitt in United States, 21 Aug 2010 14:48

i do believe that the kingdoms one will be available this year for north america.

Posted by julialego in Australia, 21 Aug 2010 18:00

i got a coupon from in my lego club mail to get this for 29.99, so i sent away for 2 :)

Posted by legoDad42 in United States, 21 Aug 2010 18:08

Great rundown on this calendar....
http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=45430

Posted by Sword2211 in United States, 22 Aug 2010 10:38

@julialego where did you get that coupon do you know if that coupon is avalible in the us

Posted by MisterFubar in United States, 23 Aug 2010 11:35

Picked up the last one at the Overland Park, KS TRU for 34.99. Checked the Olathe, KS store and they didn't have it and didn't think they were going to be getting it in.

Posted by legogirl19 in United States, 23 Aug 2010 19:02

Just stopped in my local Lego store today and found both the CITY advent Calendar and KINGDOMS Advent calendar, I believe both were $34.99!

Posted by MisterB in United States, 24 Aug 2010 08:11

YES!! Lego stores in the US carry the Kingdoms Advent Calender. At the Lego store in Concord, NC last night they had both the city & kingdoms advent calenders for 34.99 each.

Posted by blobpet in United States, 24 Aug 2010 12:23

I can also confirm the availability of both advent calendars in the US. I grabbed one of each at the Lego store in Burlington, MA.

Posted by izziebitt in United States, 24 Aug 2010 15:33

we have both at the northbrook LEGO store.

Posted by madforLEGO in United States, 24 Aug 2010 17:31

I doubt the Advent calendar's (at least the City ones) will sell out in the US this year, the price is WAY too much for what is included.. I hate to say this, but I kinda hope they do not sell out only because maybe that will make Lego realize that they should not skimp on the calendars.
If anything, the last years was way better, which was lesser quality, imo, then the one 2 years ago.. It just seems like the amount of what you get seems to be going down in relation to the price.

Also, imagine if they ever did a Star Wars Advent calendar? (I think I may have made some people pass out at that idea)

Posted by Crt2 in United States, 26 Aug 2010 20:02

Reasonably Clever is my Favorite Comic By The way. :D

Posted by Legosmama in United States, 26 Aug 2010 20:11

Bought one of each at the Lego Store in Oregon today.

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