Just Take My Money – The Best LEGO Deal October 2017

Every now and then, every retailer seems to have LEGO specials all at once. This week of October 6 – 12, 2017, happens to be one of those weeks. More often than not, these specials tend to coincide with a double VIP points event at the LEGO store. I, for one, have been waiting for this double VIP points event with bated breath. I only buy really large LEGO sets during these events because it gets me so many points that I can get a smaller set for free. The particular set that I have set my sights on this time around is set number 76020, Ninjago City. But, when making my weekly Canadian LEGO Deals post, I have to admit that I was VERY tempted by some of the other offers. So, let’s take a look at where Canadians can get the best LEGO deal this week.

First up, we will look at my planned purchase. Ninjago City costs $349.99 in Canada. It is epic, and will form the first corner of my LEGO City’s China town. I have been waiting (and saving) for this purchase since the set was first announced. With the double VIP points event, I will get 700 points for this set. That means $35.00 towards my next LEGO purchase, which translates into about a 200 piece set for free (including sales taxes and such). Plus, this double points event also coincides with a free “Iconic VIP Set” (40178) when you spend over $125 (which Ninjago City qualifies for). The set has 205 pieces, which would give it a retail value around $30.00 in Canada. So, buying Ninjago City gets me about $60.00 worth of free LEGO, which is not too shabby.

Best Buy is also having a Thanksgiving sale that includes LEGO on their website this weekend. The savings on sets range from 10 – 15%. This is not spectacular. Double VIP points gets you 10% back on your purchase, plus the Iconic VIP Set if you spend enough. So, Best Buy is really not the best buy in this case.

Chapters and Indigo book stores are having sales this week as well. Their sale is not exclusively LEGO, but appears to include all LEGO except for Mindstorms and Boost. With them, spending over $40.00 in store on kids books and toys, will get you 20% savings. So, if you are spending between $40 and $124, and do not qualify for the freebie at the LEGO store, this deal is actually better for you. It saves you more than you would actually back by taking advantage of double VIP points. But, don’t go running to Chapters just yet… Mastermind Toys is also having a 20% off sale on City, Technic, and Friends, with no minimum buy. But, even that is not the end of it…

Toys R Us is in the throws of Bricktober. Every week this month, if you spend over $75.00, you get a free set of four Minifigures, and possibly a Minifigure pod to boot. This week, you get four LEGO Batman Movie Minifigures, and a Nexo Knights pod. The the four Minifigures are being sold in some stores for about $20.00. Toys R Us also has 20% off on LEGO Batman Movie sets, and some Friends sets. So, if you are in the market for sets from those themes, Toys R Us is your best bet because you will save and get Minifigures for free.

Toys R Us becomes even more appealing if you have been waiting to buy the City Volcano Exploration Base (60124) or Service Station (60132). Both of these sets are 50% this weekend only (until Oct. 8). This has caused me a dilemma, because I am a sucker for the science related sets, and I want the Volcano Exploration Base. I have not bought it because I ruled it out for budget reasons. I already have the service station (click here for my review), but this is an amazing deal if you have been eyeing it. The Serive Station will normally set you back $0.21/brick, now you can get it for $0.11/brick. Likewise, the Volcano Exploration base would normally be $0.18/brick, and with this deal it is $0.09/brick, which is really hard to beat. You will need to add a Minifigure to the Exploration Base, and about $25 to the Service Station to qualify for the free Batman Minifigures, but both purchases could get you the Nexo Knights battle pod.

So, what is the best deal? Well, if you are planning on one of the bigger, rarer sets (Ninjago City, a big Creator set, the Millennium Falcon, etc) the LEGO Store is your best bet. Double VIP Points and a small free set are great incentive if you were planning a big buy in the near future anyway. Toys R Us is a better deal if you are aiming for one of the two 50% off sets, or a LEGO Batman Movie or Friends set that doesn’t meet the $125 minimum for the free set at the LEGO Store. It is also great if you just have to have every variation of the LEGO Batman Minifigure out there. It is worth remembering that there are still two more Bricktober Minifigure sets to be released this month. Waiting for those will cost you the 50% off sets though. But, even spending over $30 gets you the Nexo Knights pod, which beats the sales at Chapters/Indigo and Mastermind Toys. Best Buy just doesn’t have much to offer. Remember, double points at the LEGO Store only starts Tuesday, so you have to wait a little longer to get that deal.

I hope that helps you in making your LEGO budgeting decisions. If you are planning to take advantage of one of these deals, I would love to hear about which one and why in the comments below.

Until next time,

-Tom