So it finally happened – right as VIP early access ends, the 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell has gone on backorder globally from LEGO.com.
When sets go on backorder, it typically means that the first allotment of stock sells out, but more are usually in transit (via container, or are currently in LEGO warehouses).
At US$500, in spite of being one of LEGO’s most critically-acclaimed sets (it’s already one of my favourites of all time), I was wondering how it would perform with fans given the hefty pricetag.
At 6,167 pieces, it’s also the 8th biggest LEGO set by piece count, and quite a formidable set to build and own.
Turns out, LEGO’s best on reviving Lord of the Rings has paid off somewhat, with Rivendell going on backorder just 2 days after launch, which is even more impressive when you realise that there isn’t a big GWP (well, you got Frodo/Gollum Brickheadz and Houses of the World 1) or double points to lure people in.
Here’s a screenshot for posterity, where Rivendell is on backorder in the UK/Europe, and in Australia, along with an indication of when these backorders will begin to ship out.
In Australia at least, it seems that LEGO have prioritised sending Rivendell stock to our network of LEGO Certified Stores, where they’re still readily available for purchase. That would explain Australia being the first country where Rivendell went on backorder on the 6th of March.
Really interesting to me, and I think a huge vote of confidence that when LEGO listens to their fans (who have been clamouring for LOTR to return), and deliver such an exceptionally-designed set, fans will show up and vote with their wallets.
All in all, this bodes well for more LEGO Lord of the Rings, and I really do hope LEGO produce more sets from the theme, especially at more affordable and accessible price-points.
Are you surprised that Rivendell sold out its initial stock online?
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Readily available again the U.K- sold out for 1 day only and still in most shops to physically purchase anyway.
I do think we will see a discount on this at some point from lego.com so I’m holding off on it
Once the LOTR fans have all bought it I think it will struggle.
I think we won’t see it discounted, as popular expensive sets like Lion Knights’ Castle and Titanic rarely do, but they’ll be quick to sell during Double VIP events.
I really enjoy and support the concept of positive feedback when Lego do something good.
It just blows my mind how they continue with the trend of a few themes.. really expensive, really small, well designed using many 1×1 and 1×2 pieces… i wish we could slap them with a wet fish when they do things we don’t like as well.
I think the people in various countries who line up outside lego stores on the 1st of the month like apple stores are doing more harm than good.
Having said, i don’t think any of those sets are well praised or sell well. They haven’t stopped trying though, see the crappy new mandalorian fighter.
There are probably people like me who love LOTR but were in a dark age when the original LOTR Lego sets came out. Because of that and all the rave reviews the set has gotten, I wasn’t scared away by the price tag on this. However, I delayed buying a lot of other sets I’d like (Lion Knights, Great Wave, A frame, TIE bomber, clone helmets) because I knew this was coming and I’d prefer not to blow my annual Lego budget before April. Even with the US$500 price tag, I thought it would sell out sooner and I was surprised Lego was doing an 8 March non-VIP release because I figured the set would be out of stock fast.
In my opinion we need more sets like Rivendell. It has something for everybody and I would rather buy one large D2C set instead of several play-sets which cost the same price. I’m surprised Indiana Jones didn’t return in a similar fashion. If the Temple of the Golden Idol was five times the size and came with more minifigures I’m sure that it would be a sell-out.
I’m of the opposite mind set in that I’d like to see smaller sets. Not just because of price, but because I don’t necessarily need a set to have over 1000 pieces to enjoy building it. I have loads of Star Wars sets, but have never even considered buying a UCS set. I enjoy building the regular size Star Wars ships and my kids’ Elves and Friends sets. However, having said all that, I still bought Rivendell 10 minutes after midnight on 5 March, so I’m not letting size or price get in the way there.
Not surprised in the least that it sold out so quickly. In fact, I’m surprised it lasted 2 days, what with the subject matter and all the pre-release hype. Somehow I don’t think that either the (IMHO) lackluster GWP or the lack of double points was at all a factor. Another case of marketing not talking to production?