Limited Edition Bat-Pod Competition

OK so I have posted this in a few places but why are Lego making sets that will "hold an enormous value in online markets" rather selling them to those that want it.

I plan to enter the contest, but realize it's highly unlikely that I'll win. I'm fine with that if someone posts the instructions online for the rest of us "losers." I would love to part one of these out and build it myself...it would be just as much fun as winning.

And what's up with Quebec?

I don't understand why a global company would run a limited reward competition which is only available to those living in just one market.

Farmer_John,

It's because the province of Quebec has fairly strict laws and regulations (and additional taxes paid by company to province) for contest prizes.. it's simply easier for companies to exclude residents of Quebec from their contests unfortunately.

Here's a link from a few years back describing the reasons better than I can :P
http://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/why-many-contests-exclude-quebec-residents

Seems a silly idea from Lego to limit the potential audience for this set and make it a limited edition release. The batpod being highly sort after by most DC fans... even if I personally feel this design isn't the best they could have come up with.

Why not just sell this as a £29.99 set with an exclusive Dark Knight Rises Catwoman (Avengers Black Widow outfit, Pepper Potts hair recolor, new face print), throw in Batman and this set would be perfect.

I suspect the format of this competition is a result of the VIP member surveys that LEGO have been sending out for the last 18 months or more, asking what additional benefits could be offered to members. Probably testing the waters to see if limited run items are worthwhile to them - they'll probably use the metrics of the entries for this (along with other factors) to estimate what the level of engagement of VIP members is, or if we're all mouth.

Why is this only a north America/Canada exclusive?

Hopefully someone who wins one will be generous enough to produce it in Lego Digital Designer and post it freely so everyone can have one.

I've never seen those movies so I'll probably win! Hahaha. Even so, I like the looks of that thing. But shouldn't a proper Super Hero be able to fly? Especially one named after a bat? Trying to understand....

The box and instructions will only be exclusive. It would be a bummer if they had an exclusive Catwoman or Bane!

Hm, definitely going to enter this. I'd totally sell it, don't really need something like that. :-P

Hopefully you are correct that only certain things will be exclusive. Thankfully no unique figures are in this set.

Although it would be nice to have one on display and it sounds like MOCing it is out of the question based on prices for the wheels.

I think that thing is ugly - but I'll enter anyway.

I did not want to see this news.... *facepalm*

No idea what this thing is. If I win one, I hope to sell it for an exorbitant amount.

COOL

If you're planning on entering just so you can re-sell it, please reconsider entering. Please let someone win who actually wants it and will enjoy it, rather than trying to get one just to sell it to the highest bidder.

Why are people so selfish!

Wow, LEGO... your contests are getting stranger by the minute.

Not a VIP, so I can't really bother... but I don't like the vehicle design at all, so I think it's a stupid thing to eBay for several hundred dollars.

Methinks this is going to end up being another Mr. Gold fiasco.

So my hatred for TLG grows...if only I didn't love their products.

Things like this make it harder and harder to justify the fortune I spend on their products. Forgetting the extra markup for Australia, since every country does it, and our lack of official Lego stores, restrictive competitions does nothing to favor goodwill nor reputation. It's also making the argument from wife, parents, friends, etc harder to win.

@Maerskblue
"To all of those complaining about the limited edition nature of this set, start thinking more like the 1 toy company in the world and less like an angry consumer and you may just understand why LEGO runs these type of promotions."

LEGO's perspective;
We have a popular item we could potentially sell and make billions from with a massive fanbase and we are going to make it a limited edition and only give away 750 sets. This means we lose money on production as rather than mass producing tons of pieces we have to create only enough for 750 sets. We also are going to give it away for free so we earn nothing other than a little publicity, dampened by the fact many of our potential consumers will be annoyed if they do not win the competition. We are also going to limit the locations so most the world cant enter making the amount of publicity we receive even less.

- Massively less Profit
- Less Publicity

Fans perspective;
I want to give Lego money and buy this item I am interested in, however the only chance I have to get the item is if I live in a specific location. The limited release means that the only other choice I have is if it sells on an alternative market such as Ebay or Bricklink and chances are it'll be insanely expensive due to being a limited edition release of only a set number of sets.

- Forced to find alternative markets (less profits go to Lego)

---

From either way you view it, this is a really silly situation Lego have put themselves in. It doesn't give Lego any benefits, it actually limits the amount of benefits they could be gaining if this was a fully released set. As for fans, it only serves to annoy them as this comment section and your comment stating everyone is annoyed has proved. I don't see why you are asking people to 'start thinking more like the 1 toy company in the world' when from a business perspective this is a really stupid decision.

@Maerskblue
In addition, also find it intriguing how you are seemingly fine with it... perhaps its because you live in a location that you can actually enter the competition? :L

So our name, VIP number, and the word 'Bat-Pod' ALL go in the subject line? Or does it mean the email should include your name and VIP number, and only the word 'Bat-Pod' goes in the subject line? It's a bit unclear.

@mike_fifer
I'm assuming all 3 in the subject line...though if it were the other way around, listing "Bat-Pod in the subject line" before the other two items would be way clearer.

I'm going to be that guy and say that the set doesn't even look all that great (key word: THAT) . Seems more like LEGO wants people in North America to buy a Super Heroes set every single day of June.

I think people need to calm down a bit. I'm sure there will be a corresponding promotion in Europe at some point in the future as well.
And if not, so what? The instructions will probably be made available somewhere online and you can build it yourself.

Shattered and excited at the same time. Oh Lego Group how you love to screw over the DC Fans.
Here's to buying it off douchebag on ebay.

Seems counter-productive to ask VIPs in a survey if they want more exclusive items available just for VIPS and then do some lame contest where only 750 VIPS will get one. If it's for VIPs then make it available to all VIPs. I hope they choke on them.

I love how this goes from 'cool contest' to 'LEGO is a horrible company' in about 2 minutes, really has to be the fastest jump to it that I have seen.

I think @LostIntranslation put it best. People need to stop flying off of the handle as LEGO will likely do another promotion in other parts of the world, and people can just bricklink it (as everyone other than 750 people - yes including those in the US who do not get one, are likely to do anyway).
If something different then I guess the folks in the US can complain endlessly about how 'unfair' LEGO is by only releasing it outside of US/Canada.

As for unfairness in the offers.. I dunno. US is the biggest market in the world, next to maybe China (more likely tied), or at least we are the biggest market not buying knockoffs of everything. So I would presume LEGO want to exploit this and get many Americans to buy buy buy as we often do. Heck we do not even need a reason or cash, just use a credit card to impulsively buy buy buy.

Don't worry though. Keep complaining about it and I'm sure LEGO will take it away, like they do with many other things.

The more I look at it, the more it grows on me. If I somehow manage to win, I'll post the instructions.

Wait, didn't the rest of the world get the multiple Shell Oil promotions while the US folks didn't? Saying that, I can understand the frustration, but I can only imagine that ya'll will get something again that we don't. Keeps things exciting...

By Maerskblue in United States, 28 Apr 2015 01:44
To all of those complaining about the limited edition nature of this set, start thinking more like the 1 toy company in the world and less like an angry consumer and you may just understand why LEGO runs these type of promotions.

What the F are you talking about. We are the consumers. Why the F would we think like TLG and then reason it's all good? Let's do that for all the bad things that happen in the world, 9/11 - don't get angry, follow your advice and start thinking like a terrorist and then it'll be fine. I realise Lego and Terrorism don't equate but I find extreme examples show just how ridiculous a statement yours was.

Meanwhile, in the land of the perpetually excluded from every single contest on the internet...

Can we have a promotion too?

I completely understand the frustration of people excluded from this promotion, but I think Maerskblue just means LEGO must have a good reason for keeping this promotion restricted to the US/Canada. If literally the only outcome was a bunch of angry consumers, they wouldn't do it. I certainly don't understand the thinking behind such a high-profile company, as I'm sure many of us don't. I know, another pro-LEGO comment from the country included in the promotion, but i'm just giving my honest opinion. I have about a .0001 percent chance of winning anyway. :) I'll just bricklink it.

@LostInTranslation

This is part of what the notice to Ambassador's said:

The sets will be awarded to registered VIP Members exclusively via two separate, concurrent sweepstakes to be run during June of this year, one for North America and one for Europe/Rest of World Shop at Home Countries exc. South Korea.

In order to secure an entry to the sweepstake, registered VIP Members will need to make a DC Super Heroes purchase during the sweepstake entry period of June 1-30. In North America ONLY, we will also permit a free email entry option for members. There is a limit of one entry per member, per day.

Thank you for the update Russell. I thought there'd be an option for the rest of the world.
It's a shame there's no email entry option for us but hey at least we get a chance, infinitesimal though it is!

Let's hope some new DC sets come out in June then otherwise DC theme collectors are screwed again if they've already bought the existing releases.

Joker's Funhouse is due in June!! :)