Gift with purchase

60850 Blacktron Cruiser [Hands-On Review]

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Blacktron to the Future?

It was 1987, and for the first time ever, a collection of LEGO characters that could be defined as ‘the bad guys‘ was released. They were’nt part of Town, they weren’t in any Castle; but they were in Space. And their name was Blacktron. Gone was the Classic Space logo from their torsos: this was a functional black printed torso, with white lines providing the detail, while the helmet was no longer the traditional shape, but rather a motor cycle helmet. Now with a visor. But for extra menace, the visors were an opaque black. The opportunity for incognito was remarkable.

This band of intergalactic secret-stealing rapscallions were the pinnacle of villainy for a couple of years, only to be succeeded by their more fluorescent sequel: Blacktron II (Electric Boogaloo??).

But Now they Are Back! And I think, for the better! Set 6894 Known in the USA as the BLACKTRON INVADER, it was also referred to as the BLACKTRON CRUISER in the UK/Europe – although the European catalogue in 1988 confused the labels for 6894 and 6941 (Blacktron Battrax or Blacktron Prowler).

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Blacktron Is Back

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Well, back for a limited time, and not as a general retail release…

The LEGO Group has released official images of an upcoming gift with purchase: 40580 Blacktron Cruiser. I might have just wept a little. The new set is expected to come as a gift with purchase in the new year.

This set follows in the footsteps of the 40567 Forest Hideout, seen earlier in the 2022, rereleasing a popular set from days long past, using contemporary building techniques.

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Sydney News: Limited Tile and New Shop Announced.

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A couple of bits of news for Sydney-siders this week from the Certified Stores.

For Visitors to the BONDI store on Saturday 12th November, if you purchase the ‘LEGO Brand Store’ set you will also receive a limited edition ‘Sydney’ Tile to go above the door. These tiles have had limited release for a number of flagship stores around the world, and brings us in line with other flagship stores around the world, including London, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris and more.

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40562 Creator 3 in 1: Mystic Witch: Gift With Purchase 14-31st October

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It’s a funny time of the year: the Christmas/Holiday season sets have been announced, but the Gifts with Purchase are a bit unpredictable until we enter November: We went with early October purchases to secure the Gift with Purchase Ideas Set ‘Ray the Castaway’ and then out of nowhere… This Happens.

The 40562 Mystic Witch set is a Creator 3-in-1 set that will be available as a gift with purchase in the second half of October 2022 (there might even be a day or two of overlap with double GWP Points if you are really clever). In Australia, the purchase threshold is $165 AUD (or $USD100/€100/£100 ROTW): Perfect if you are looking at 10308 – The Holiday Main Street in time for the holidays- or another copy of 10497 Galaxy Explorer because it is an awesome set!

I was fortunate to be sent a copy to look at: will it be enough to trigger purchases during the latter half of October, before the Christmas GWPs start to appear, and indeed before Black Friday in November? Let’s take a look!

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40530 Jane Goodall Tribute – Gift With Purchase [Hands-On Review]

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March is Women’s History Month, and this year the LEGO Group pay tribute to Jane Goodall, the ethologist who spent decades studying primate interations in Tanzania. The set, a small vignette depicting Jane Goodall in the jungle with a 3 chimpanzees, is the Gift with Purchase from LEGO.com from March 3rd to 15,2022. You will need to spend $120USD; €120 euro or £120. I am unsure of the price in other markets at this time. [UPDATE FOR AUSTRALIANS: I have heard from LEGO Australia that stock will not be available until after the 8th of March, so we can expect the promotion to runn a little later in the month. The set will be available across the Certified stores, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and LEGO.com] I am grateful to the AFOL Engagement team at the LEGO Group for sending me a pre-release copy for review. All opinions are my own.

This is the second set honoring women’s History month, the previous being Amelia Earheart, the pioneering aviatrix, released last year. Join me as we take a look at the life of this remarkable woman, as well as this Tribute set.

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New Gift With Purchase: 40532 Vintage Taxi[Hands on Review]

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Did you hold off buying the Boutique Hotel on January 1 because there was no interesting gift with purchase, beyond a couple of City and Friends polybags? Were you able to hold off through January, because you didn’t weren’t sure about collecting the Chinese Zodiac Animals sets? Well, wait no longer! Starting with the 28th of January, and extending until February 13th (or the ubiquitous ‘While Stocks Last’) the LEGO Group is pleased to bring you the 183 piece Vintage Taxi, set 40532. [This set is also available through the Australian Certified stores, with a 279.99 AUD buy in)

According to the LEGO.com website, this is ” a classic version of the 1930s Citroën Traction Avant.”

Available with a purchase of $200USD, £200, €200 or $279AUD this set has 183 pieces and one Minifigure who appears a little bit familiar…

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Vintage Taxi Gift With Purchase Is Now Live at LEGO.COM (Australia)

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The clock has just ticked past midnight, and there is a new gift with purchase to be found on LEGO.com: the Vintage Taxi. The set requires a purchase of over 279AUD. Given the 10297 Boutique Hotel retails for 319.99AUD, that shouldn’t be too hard! It is rumoured to require a $200UDS/Euro/GBP purchase in those markets: we will see as the earth turns, and the promotions go live!

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40491 Year of The Tiger [Hands-On Review]

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The Lunar New Year is approaching, and as such, the annual Chinese Zodiac Animal Gift with Purchase is now live. These animal models embrace a certain kawaii look, with big eyes, and cartoonish expressions. This is the 8th model in the series, which began with the Year of the Sheep in 2015. I might have missed that one, but I have managed to secure each animal since then. It is currently available through LEGO.com as a Gift With Purchase, with a price threshold of $AUD169; £88; €88, $USD88. It is also available in Australia, through Myer Stores as well as LEGO Certified Stores – possibly others – where the purchase threshold is $AUD88. The set has 183 pieces, and the promotion is due to finish on 27th January at LEGO.com, and 31st January at Myer Stores. Or while stocks last!

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GWP: 40528 LEGO Retail Store [Hands On Review]

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January 1 is just around the corner, and with it come over 100 new LEGO sets. Now, you might be happy to wait and see how they get discounted at your local retailers, but the LEGO Group seem to make a point of adding in a new gift with purchase for 1st of January to tempt you either directly into their retail stores (if you have LEGO Brand retail, and not just certified stores) or to place your order at LEGO.com.

This year they have released a new version of the LEGO brand retail store – 40528. It will be launched as a gift with purchase in the new year – with a $USD125;123€;£125 purchase. I am not certain of the exact timings of the offer, or the threshold in other markets at this time.

most importantly, the information received is unclear with regard to whether this will be a GWP on January 1, or just with future store openings! All will become clear soon, I am sure.

I believe it will be available from 1st January as a GWP, and quite probably at future LEGO Brand retail openings. Read on for my review.

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40488 Coffee Cart Gift With Purchase now Live [Hands On Review]

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The start of November is a funny time for shopping for LEGO: many AFOLs are waiting to see if there will be great value around Black Brick Friday, with all its associated offers, after the United States celebrates Thanksgiving. Others are holding out to see if there will be an extra special Christmas Gift With Purchase available. Of course, we only have a limited budget for buying LEGO sets, so people want to take advantage of the most relevant offers. When the offers are running in a different direction to local Certified LEGO Stores and more general Toy Shops – I’m looking at you Bricktober! – it can be downright confusing.

And so, on the 8th of November 2021, the LEGO Group has released a new Gift With Purchase, 40488 Coffee Cart. It is available from the 8th November until the 14th, with purchases from LEGO.com or LEGO Brand Retail stores over $140 AUD (just $9 short of the free shipping threshold); / £65 / $65 USD / $90 CAD/ 65€.

So… Is it worth spending something now, or waiting a few weeks, on the off chance that the next GWP will make it worth your while? Let’s take a look.

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