On the fence. ££ cost is comparatively pricey to $$, even by recent standards.

I do understand that but it looks like its going to be a pretty spectacular set.

actually it seems only to work on UK site. US says feb 1

I know, I know, blah blah blah, another price debate, sales taxes, different consumer market, etcetera.
But still, the price of buying this set through Dutch Shop @Home: €219.99 ~ $298: No thanks.

I will buy in $ and send to a friend in the US I think.

It's also available at the German Lego Shop.

The price here (199€ -> about 270$) is also "expensive" compared to the US-price.

And it is bought. £179.99
The grandchildren will love it.....when I'm done!

The Manchester Lego Store has one on display in their window - noticed it this morning. Looks better in the 'flesh', but a wee too expensive for me! :)

No way I'm paying the equivalent of $300 for this here in Belgium. It's not as though I can't afford it, just feel they're taking the piss and the best way to let them know is by voting with your wallet.

The price is ghastly for Australia, but I just can't say no to such a great set!! Ordered 1 now to build straight away, and I might order another in a few months after the initial frenzy is over to keep MIB...

Here is the States it says, "Pre-order this item today, will ship by 1 Feb 2014."

Yes i agree on prices, i wont pay 200 eurs (270+ dollars), because American can get this set for 145 euros!!

Stopped by my local Lego store last night (US - Concord, NC) on the way home from work to pick up Lord Business' Evil Lair and my buddy who works there said they already had them in stock and the store model was built and ready to put out so i'm guessing that while it may say out of stock online, most of the brick and mortar stores will have them by the truckload..

$329 here in AU this one will have to wait a while before its added to my collection

Woo Hoo... Just couldn't help it lol. This is so exciting. I'm getting two of these as soon as my local store opens today.

I have orded mine and just wait till it comes
might have to move something to display it

Mine is on its way! Cheers!

US shop @home now says "Available Now"

Can't buy anything from Lego.com from over here :(

If I can buy, they would have earned at least $20K direct from me from the past 2 years, I had to get at higher price locally, or search through Amazon US and EU to look for better pricing.

Here's what I posted on the LMBs:

Here's why the sets won't sell:

The scene: The LEGO store. A mother has promised to buy her 7 year old son a LEGO set:
Mother: Okay honey, what do you want? Do you like this police station? Or, hey look at this honey, they have Simpsons legos now, do you want the Simpsons house?
7 year old son: Uh uh mommy, I want this cool Starawars spaceship with these guys with the lightsabers and the bad guys with the guns!
Mother: Okay honey, let's go.

I know when I was 7 I would have prefered the "Starawars Spaceship"

MOCDoc - The Simpsons House won't be available at Walmart...it's a Lego Exclusive. So your scenario doesn't work. They are marketing this set to the same market that buys things like Modulars, which sell rather well. The target market isn't 7 year olds.

natro220 - Maybe you're right... I still don't think it will sell well though. Maybe a few AFOLs who like the show, but kids and teens will want to spend their money on more exciting sets.

I think it will sell just fine.. Hell, I ordered one and I am not even into system brick building... But I am a Simpson's fan... :)

I stand corrected. I just received an e-mail promoting "Early access to the new exclusive LEGO® The Simpsons™ House!"

Early access does nothing for me. I'll wait for a sale or double points.

Yep! It is available in The Netherlands, that is at the Dutch Lego shop @home for the insane price of €219,99 which in dollars amounts to $298,67. I like the set a lot, but I am not a Simpsons fan, and did not plan on buying it even though I as a Lego fan was tempted when I first saw the pictures, but even if I was a Simpsons fan, at this price NO WAY!

I don't even think that at this price there is any argument with regard to VAT, differences in consumer markets etcetera that can justify this price.

But even in the UK: 179.99 GBP = $295.84

In a way I am glad, I suppose, I no longer have to ponder over whether or not to get this set. Because I will not.

No, not getting it. Looks good but it isn't £180 good, I might try and pick up the minifigures on eBay to add to the collection and the set itself is a decent build but that's too expensive for what it is. And as others have said the comparable price in the US is so much lower it's very unfair.

TLG are a huge company though, they'll have done their market research and set the price based on what they think people will pay. I just hope people in the UK do vote with their wallets and it isn't that successful. Maybe then in the future TLG will look at the pricing structure and the prices will be reduced over here.

AS been said, Australia is getting shafted yet again. I'd like to get it, but not at $100USD more than the US price. Maybe I'll pick it up when I go to California later this year, or see a decent eBay listing.

Size-wise will this look good next to the rest of the modulars? I can only imagine putting the iconic Simpson's house at the end of the block - next to my Haunted House (a.k.a. the Munsters House).

I'm not liking the minfigures. The normal Lego minifigures are cute, but those giant Simpson heads look grotesque in Lego form.

Just ordered my copy - now just hoping the Simpsons will offset just some of the £179.99 I just paid for me.

Maybe then the price will be less of a shock. Plus the house is very nice, I look forward to populating it with non-Simpsons minifigs! :-)

Ordered it the minute I got the mail. Very much looking forward to it.

I wouldn't be surprised if the collector value of this set will double in a few years. Buy two, sell one in a couple of years and you might even make some money. That being said, these price differences are most definitely irritating...

I'm surprised at the disparity in pricing for this set. I did some conversions and noticed that my fellow European Lego friends would be paying $295 (Pounds) and $271 (Euros) compared to the $199 I would be paying in the United States. That's almost $100 dollars more! I'm confused as to how Lego justifies the price especially when transport of these items is much shorter in Europe. That in my opinion is simply not fair to my European Lego friends.

I totally agree that the price differences are very irritating. The Swedish price is SEK 2199, which converts to a whopping $339.92. Luckily I travel a lot for my work so I can pick it up in the US in a few months, but Sweden is not a good place for LEGO fans (we don't have a brand store either).

^I suppose the cost may be partially based on the amount of income that people make in these different countries... Minimum wage here in the U.S. is $7.25 compared to almost $10 in the U.K.

I know sets in Australia are always the highest, but they also have the highest minimum wage in the world...

Well done Lego. You have finally priced a set well and truly out of the market for many Europeans, Australians and others.

I am certainly not paying a vastly overpriced £180 for a Simpsons house. My wallet votes NO.

I hope in the future you reconsider your prices for those of us that don't use US$, as we repeatedly get hammered on price for large and/or licensed sets. It is time to cut us some slack and stop treating us like a bottomless pit of money.

Rant over.

I guess this is the answer...

"Our selling costs in Europe and Asia are higher than in the US because of the size of US market and retailers (economies of scale). Furthermore, the US market is by far the most price competitive in the world. These factors combined mean that we have for years priced our products higher in eg Europe than the US. In recent years, the difference has been increased due to the weakening US dollar – but we have consciously decided not to let this (hopefully short term) weakening of the dollar hurt the US consumer. And in order to stay profitable as a company, we cannot decrease our European prices – especially seen in the light of increasing cost pressure on oil, labor etc. Finally, final pricing in the market place is obviously determined by retailers, which is something we cannot and will not influence."

$399.99 for NZ I have just ordered mine. Considering i have just received the Parisian restaurant that's my lego budget well overspent for the year. Cant wait for it to arrive.Yes its pricey particularly in NZ but i want it and if one wants one has to pay the price.

^^^ £14k? really - the average UK wage in 2012 was £26,500 source BBC - "The average annual earnings of full-time workers in the UK rose by 1.4% to £26,500 in the year to April 2012".

@mocdoc

Really? I'm 11 in one week, and I'm getting this, and I know AT LEAST one of my friends is.

Hey just2good, how many bags and instructions are in the house? Sorry, I just like to know that info before I get a set :)

I'm going to be in the US in early Feb, so contemplating picking it up while I'm there, but trying to weigh up the conversion and cost to get it back home.

Being a collector of the boxes, not just the bricks, I want to be able to bring the whole thing home, so does anyone know what the dimensions of the box are so I can work out if I can fit it in a suitcase?

Also, does anyone know if you can use an Australian VIP membership to earn points at an international bricks and mortar LEGO Brand Store? If not, I might be better off waiting for another double points promotion, rather than dealing with the hassle and excess baggage to try to bring it home in good condition...

The Simpsons box is 58x48x12 cm and it is 2/3 full of bricks.

3 instruction books and 20 bags of bricks

By comparism 10243 is 58x37x10cm

@Paul Boratko
I am not buying that answer! In other words, it comes across to me as a bogus answer. The EU, of which Denmark is a member, is a huge open and free consumer market, and it is a highly competitive market too. So much for the 'economy of scale' argument which does not hold.

The US Dollar has been weak for many years now. USA banking crisis, and housing market, and mortgage crisis in 2008, which went global, and is still impacting today's global economy. The fact that the FED keeps printing dollars in large quantities every day, and the enormous debt of US government will keep the dollar week. So that is not a temporary thing! (not that everything is budgetary, and financially so fantastic within the EU, however that is not the main point, and another subject altogether)

Anyway, basically it seems that all the other customers around the word are picking up the 'tab' so that the US consumers can keep spending money on (in this case) Lego, which would otherwise be much more expensive for them. In other words, in order for TLG to remain profitable, consumers in Europe, Asia, Australia etcetera will be charged more/extra. How ludicrous! How will this not in the long run affect TLG, when consumers from these huge markets will turn their back on this company, and spend their money on other products and less or even not altogether on Lego? Brand loyalty in NOT unconditional, and can waver.

The argument that pricing is determined be retailers is not entirely true. First this Simpsons Lego set is a Lego exclusive. It is not being sold through third party retailers. Plus TLG gives third party retailers (from what I understood) guidelines on recommended retail prices. TLG only wants so much competition from third party retailers, given the fact that the are in the retail business themselves too. (Or am I wrong assuming this?)

So I guess this statement/quote from a PR department(?!) is not the real answer....

ps.
@Paul Boratko
do you perhaps have a source for that quote, you could post?

According to some data I found on Wikipedia for reverence with regard to the argument of US market vs. other markets:
USA had in 2013 an estimated population of 317,486,000
(also note that if you follow the news 47,4 million USA citizens because of the financial crisis are living in dire poverty, on food stamps etc. those people definitely have no money to buy Lego)

The 27 member states of the EU in 2012 had a population of 507,890,191. Of course, there is quite some disparity between the wealth, debts, labour market etc. of the various countries with in the EU.
B.t.w. not all countries in Europe are member of the EU, such as Norway; Russia etc. so this is not the population of the entire continent.

Just got back from the LEGO store, have 2 sets in my possession!

To anybody who has it and opened it, how many bags and instructions are there?

@ popo123 Maybe I'm totally wrong then... all I know is that I don't know a single person who wants this. I will be getting some of the CMFs though, If they have short sleeves.

The set is gone from the US site...

I do not live near a Lego Store, but today on the way back from a Baltimore business trip, I stopped in at the Lego store at Palisades Park near the Tappan Zee bridge to fill up my free PAB Christmas box ( it was stashed in my car) and maybe get some small items. They had one in the window display and a Maersk ship also. The Triple E looks like a small single e.

I left with a Simpsons House :)

It seems the answer @PaulBoratko has provided us from Lego is the typical business answer. It is vastly unfair for customers in Britain, Europe and elsewhere to get stuffed on high prices whilst those across the pond have their prices lowered. It may make perfect business sense to them, but does not encourage loyalty over here if we feel we are being overcharged.

As @The Big Legoski rightly pointed out, the European Union is in itself a vast market, with a far greater population. The main factory is here, as well as those in Hungary and the Czech Republic (all 3 appear on, I would imagine, the vast majority of Lego sets made recently). The greater economies of scale should be here, in Lego's home market. I suspect that Lego is taking advantage of the stronger Euro and Pound to charge for the roof for some sets, even the smaller ones have jumped considerably from even a few years ago.

I do not mind paying a fair price for a quality product, but I do object to being treated as an open wallet with unlimited money for their products.

In regards to this set, I envisage quite a few people would agree with me that the price of this should have been closer to Town Hall (£150 or equivalent). You would get less per unit, but would sell a greater amount of units and we (the paying customer) would not be left with the perception of being treated unfairly, and would quite happily return again.

MOCDoc Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it wont sell. I wouldn't be surprised if it sold OUT. If you don't like it don't get it. The people bashing this theme really have no good points in their argument.

Noticed there is also a limit of 1 per customer on the CDN website. Will be picking this up with my hand Feb. 1st!

@CM4Sci: it still shows for me. Are you sure you are logged into your VIP account?

I'll be waiting for double VIP before buying the Simpson's house or Parisian Restaurant.

Here here yuffie, I completely agree, I don't understand all the negativity. I was poised to buy it today, but then realised there were a few sets I need first before they disappear altogether (damn you Lone Ranger and your awesome western sets). Simpsons house can wait until a time when there are polybag freebies and/or double points to sweeten the deal, as much as I really really want to have it sitting in front of me right now. :)

@Star

It was there even when I wasn't logged into my VIP account... I'm still logged in, but I can't find my VIP card! :(

ordered this morning! can't wait to get this and build it! :)

Toyco NZ have it for $359.99 on pre order but delivery isnt until May.
http://www.toyco.co.nz/product/LEGO-The-Simpsons-71006-The-Simpsons-House?i=5702015115810

Going to pick up tonight at my local Lego Store. They have it on hold :) They also told me just being open 1/2 hour they had already sold quite a few, so I don't believe it will be a bad seller.

@suckerpunch83
I'm not bashing it, I just don't think they will sell. A kid may like it, but I can't imagine a lot of kids would want it more than a Ninjago, Chima, City, or Star Wars set. I just don't think kids will be interested.

Just checked Bricklink and 2 have sold for $250.00.

I'm confused, doesn't the price for most countries include a VAT or some other sort of tax? Because the USA price does not include any tax, which depending on the state can range from an additional 6%-10% of the price listed for the USA. It looks like the standard VAT hovers around 20% in most markets for general items, but I don't know what toys fall under.

After all that, ya there is still a price difference, which is not great (unless you're in America on this issue), but it's not as wide as the sticker prices suggest.

I can't even find it on the Dutch or German website...this sucks.

@popo123: as posted above, 20 bags and 3 books.

@ Isabella and lego liker

Thanks! They're numbered, right?

@molrak

Sales tax n the United States is as low as 0% in many places, especially on internet purchases.

People complaining about LEGO prices here shouldn't bother looking how cheap European-imported cars are in the States.

I want to order this right now, but convinced myself to wait for a better free item with purchase. I'll order on the 1st when it will qualify for the Lego Movie polybag instead of a poster.

Sigh! The huge differences between US prices and European or Australian ultimately come down to energy costs. Which build up at every level doing business. Transport costs, real estate costs etc. Not to mention most non US locations bundle their VAT into the listed price. Whereas in the US sales taxes are local and will vary by town to town, so do not get added until time of purchase. Energy prices in the US are roughly half that of Europe. The impact of this builds up quickly.

I picked one up at the LEGO Store it MOA in Minnesota... There was one left on the shelf after I left but I haven't a clue what they have in their stock room... I'd that I now have plans tomorrow!

Just got back from the LEGO store, where I returned several hundred dollars worth of smaller sets, so that I could get the Simpsons right away. Over the past year, I am focusing my collection towards Modulars and large custom buildings, so I was able to return a whole bunch of architecture sets, friends, superheroes, etc. I'm know the proud owner of two of the Simpsons House + Parisian Restaurant + Architecture Eiffel Towers, 4 LEGO movie posters, 2 Xmas PAB boxes, and a Police ATV. Whooo Hooo!

Ewok Village ------ 1990 pieces AUD$359.99 (18.089c PPP) £199.99 (10.050p PPP) , US$249.99 (12.562c PPP)
Tower of Orthanc - 2359 pieces AUD$279.99 (11.869c PPP) £169.99 (7.206p PPP) , US$199.99 (8.478c PPP)
Simpsons House -- 2523 pieces AUD$329.99 (13.079 PPP) £179.99 (7.134p PPP) , US$199.99 (7.927c PPP)

Why is is there so much complaining about the price? I didn't see this much complaining about the Ewok Village...
The prices are fair for both UK and US in terms of past pricing of sets. Aust and NZ get a small kick in the junk, comparing it to the Tower of Orthanc...
Best case scenario wait for it to hit a B&M store and get it on a sale.

I am certainly not happy with the price and range (lack of 2014 release stock) in Australia but love OldNewLegoFan's 'get a small kick in the junk' comment... With the amount I spend on Lego, I get a small kick from the Lego Group and an even bigger one from my wife... I feel the swelling constantly. :D

I agree that the price is high and even if the cost is approx. $250 in Czech Republic, so a bit lower than in UK or other countries mentioned here, the price is way too much for my taste. When you consider that an average monthly gross wage is approx $1250 here. But as I know myself I would spend such money if I would know that the set is usable for me somehow. Glad I'm not as big simpsons fan to consider an order. :) I would rather spend such money for really big modular house 3500+ pcs which I believe have a greater "value" in the long term.

Many thanks for the info @Calv & @chiana24 :-)

I don't have a VIP membership *card*, as we don't have bricks and mortar Brand Stores here in Aus, so hopefully the US stores have the ability to look up my account in their POS?

Not that it's a deal breaker, but just wondering if anyone who has already opened it may be able to confirm how many of the posters/comic books/wheelbarrow/piano sheet music/skateboard ramp, etc. are printed and how many rely on stickers?

Thanks again :-)

I ordered one in Germany for €30 less (€170 in sum) because of the VIP-points I had left. So I am courious about it.

I noticed everyone HATED the idea of LEGO Simpsons, but then they LOVE the Simpsons house set.

@yuffie
good point. Maybe I'm wrong. all I know is that I don't think kids and teens won't be interested. And the price may scare who's left.

In Uk someone selling the set already for £250. Picture look genuine

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/the-simpsons-lego-house-71006/1045385765photo-content

The Brick Show has the review on there youtube channel now, takes about half an hour.

Ordered. I think any collector would be mad to pass up this set, certain to be highly desirable in years to come, surely a worthwhile investment.

It was a thought decision for my son, who will turn 10 next week, but finally he asked for The Simpsons House over the Ewok Village! I paid over $120 after using all my Saved VIP points.

I wanted to buy but 219 euro's!!?? come on! this is hysterical!
219 euro's is 296.53 dollar or 199dollar is 146.96 euro.

Sorry but no thanks!
If this continues i am thinking of a new hobby.

@bigmike

NNONONONONONON

The MOA store is about 20 mins away from me, and I'm on vacation until Tuesday! I just hope I'll be able to go this week and they'll have it!

The sets already sold out, expected ship date of Feb 6th :(

Although the restock date is the 6th/4th/3rd or WHATEVER, I think that lego has a certain number of sets for the VIPs, so when the official release date comes, and people go out to a lego store to buy it, there will be sets for them to buy.

Plus, I think that just because it's out of stock online, doesn't mean it's out of stock in ALL lego stores. Besides, the one I go to, is in the jersey garden outlets (soon I'll be going to the Staten Island mall one, I live 5 minutes from there!), and I don't think it's the most popular lego store ever......;)

@ Nikaliptus - last time i bought in the US (Chicago) i just showed them a screen shot on my phone from the LEGO website showing my VIP number and name, they logged it on the computer manually, no issues at all.

I am still debating whether or not I should get this set because there are so many other great sets to choose from this year.

Thanks for the tip @ Cmdr_Roy, much appreciated :-)

The Simpsons House set was on general sale today (20 January) in the Lego Store in Leeds, UK. There was also a built house in display in the window.

Picked mine up yesterday. The box is huge!

$200 is a little expensive, I LOVE the Simpsons, but I hope lego makes some smaller Simpsons sets.

People saying this is a set that no-one can buy because of its price, what about sets like the SSD, or the UCS MF? I didn't see many complaints about those..