This year's employee gift set
Posted by Huw,
As has been customary for the last ten years, LEGO gifts its employees an exclusive set at Christmas. This year's has been given out so we can now reveal that it is 4002017 Nutcracker.
From the box it's hard to tell exactly what it looks like but all is revealed in this article at CandidBricks: it's actually constructed from Technic, which is very fitting in the theme's 40th anniversary year.
Sadly, many recipients appear to be more interested in making a quick buck than enjoying building it over the festive season and there are many listed on eBay already. Prices start at about $200 / £200 and you'll find the listings here: USA | UK | other countries.
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Building mine tonight after my last winter concert at work!
If you work in a LEGO Store you need the $200 more than you need this set. But being that you are in the UK maybe you don't understand just how hard it is to actually live in the USA.
@Huw - why the negative attitude towards employees who are selling their gift set? To many of them, LEGO is nothing more than a job - they are not AFOLs or collectors, and they may prefer to sell the item and use cash on something more needed or desired than a knicknack that would collect dust somewhere.
Many years ago I recall winning hockey tickets at work which I in turn sold to pay my rent. I still feel guilty about doing it but I would feel even worse not having anywhere to live. Sometimes we all need to make unpleasant choices.
In case someone interest, here is the unboxing page (in Chinese though but tons of pictures)....
http://www.sohu.com/a/209625457_716296
Gorgeous model! I always love seeing Technic being used for subject matter outside the narrow category of modern-day vehicles that defines most Technic sets today.
@Sammael, perhaps it's just the way I've been brought up: it doesn't seem right to me selling something you've been gifted, particularly so soon after receipt. It makes you look ungrateful.
Suddenly my 40254 Nutcracker has developed feelings of inadequacy.
To me, there is a world of difference between a personal gift (from one friend or family member to another) and a corporate gift (exact same thing given to every employee).
That thing is MASSIVE. Although its face will haunt my nightmares.
But can it actually crack nuts? That would instantly make it superior to the other nutcracker model! (sarcasm)
I've been at Lego 3 and a half years and got promoted to supervisor about a year in, and this is my fourth holiday gift. I would never even think of flipping them, but I'm also a huge AFOL (there's a reason that's what my second job is) but I also recognize that not everyone who works there necessarily is and certainly don't begrudge anyone an easy couple hundred bucks from flipping it on eBay. Besides, knowing that people do just that hasn't stopped TLG from making them anyway.
I guess to be fair the "you can't sell your Lego gifts/freebies" rule that applies to staff in Lego HQ probably doesn't apply to staff on the ground in Lego stores. However, I would've thought that the recruitment process would generally aim for employees with a strong interest in Lego - not just a retail job alone.
Rancor, it more aims for customer service ability. Granted, knowing the product helps immensely when engaged with customers, but you don't need to live and breathe the product to be able to help customers.
^ That much is true but in my (admittedly low quantity of) experience in Lego stores, the staff I've spoken to always suggest an affinity to the brand in their knowledge and ownership of Lego. I may be speaking to the 'MrJacksons' of the Lego world though so it's probably given me the rose-tinted view of Lego staff as a whole.
Thinking about it another way - if no one ever resold sets like these, there would be no way that non-employees could ever get hold of them. Therein lies the dilemma if you're an interested party. For the size, £200 doesn't seem particularly outrageous for this, interestingly.
That picture reminds me the South Park TV show.
The set is being sold to someone who wants it by someone who does not. So at the end of the day there are now two happy people because of Lego giving something away.
It's also a good method to reward employees without excessive taxes. Present with a small rrp, under whatever tax limits exist. Sell it onwards and yeah! Christmas bonus! Buy presents for your entire family!
@David1985: I haven't got a clue about how hard life must be in the US. From what I gather from friends and family there (including one who works at a Lego store!) it can't be too bad. Not that there aren't enough people who have a hard life, but at least Lego store employees tend to be well paid enough to not need flipping employee gifts.
I agree with Huw on this, I have also been brought up to believe it is highly ungrateful to be flipping a gift right after getting it.
On a more positive note, about the thing itself: my god is it huge. 700+ pieces didn't sound too much, but my, look at the size of the box next to the Saturn V box. Wow. How I would love to be working for Lego right now - not that I wouldn't like that anyway ;-)
"... perhaps it's just the way I've been brought up: it doesn't seem right to me selling something you've been gifted, particularly so soon after receipt. It makes you look ungrateful."
Ungrateful? You know what I view as ungrateful? A company that made over 1 billion in profits last year who refuses to offer any type of meaningful benefits (paid time off, health insurance, etc) to the vast majority of their retail workers.
If LEGO got their feels hurt because some of their underpaid and overworked retail workers decided to sell off the annual employee gift, they can suck it.
It's huge! But does it work?
Seems like a cheaper way for TLG to basically give everyone a Christmas bonus (of £200 if that's what they're selling for) without it costing them £200. Everyone's a winner. I doubt TLG are that bothered about it.
Of course TLG will not care too much whether their employees sell their gifts or not. And of course every employee is free to do what she/he wants with this gift.
Just to an outsider like me it seems incomprehensible that anyone would want to use such a gift to make a quick buck. But to each their own.
@ToddMyers: so much hate? Are you one of those "underpaid and overworked retail workers" for TLG? When I talk to the employees at our local LEGO store I get the impression that they really like their jobs. More the @MrJackson type of employee I guess.
Honestly, I'd get rid of it as well as quickly as possible. What a nightmarish gift. :-D
I agree with @Huw that I’d never sell a gift, no matter what, but I do see why some would. It also gives a chance (a pricey chance) to collectors who wouldn’t be able to get the set otherwise and maybe appreciate more than the original owner would.
@Huw is there going to be a built review on this set?
@ToddMyers I don't consider myself overworked and underpaid. I work my tail off there and at my day job because I wasn't hired at other of them to do anything less. Besides, the employee discount is awesome. And TLG, along with every other employer, is only obligated to provide a benefits package for full-time employees. 20-25 hours a week doesn't quite come close. However, I get to gawk at the Falcon every shift.
I'm disappointed that such a cool model isn't being made available to all consumers. The packaging and fascinating construction really make me want one, despite its creepiness.
I am absolutely baffled that people fail to see, let alone criticize, how people who are making $10/hr, roughly $20k a year, would make the decision to sell something for the equivalent of several days of work. That's huge for someone in this economic situation.
Do you think it would be possible / cheaper to bricklink this?
Would love to see a set of instruction scans.