"Special Edition" Sets

Si_Dorking_Surrey_UK

I noticed today that 3678 has 'special edition' written up the side of the box. What does this mean?

bor2112

Oh, I had the same thought...I hope someone is able to address.

bluemoose

I think it just means that it's a retailer exclusive, only available from TRU or somebody else (and from Lego vis their Direct-2-Customer channels). Sometimes it'll only be a temporary thing, or it will only apply to a few countries, so there will versions without the "special edition" branding in circulation.

Steve Witt posted about this somewhere ages ago when he was still with the Community team in Lego, explaining the difference between 'limited edition', 'special edition', 'exclusive', etc.

EDIT - this might be a Walmart exclusive in the US? Not sure ...

Yellowcastle

Walmart in this case...

Matthew

But it still has the branding in the UK. I've seen it in Tesco, JL and TRU though, so it isn't very exclusive here.

vynsane

Not worth the extra expense of printing a marginally different box, I suppose.

drdavewatford

I think it just means that it's a retailer exclusive

That's always been my assumption also.

From a UK perspective, outside of S@H and the LEGO brand stores I've only ever seen Set 3678 at John Lewis which would seem to support the theory.

But it still has the branding in the UK. I've seen it in Tesco, JL and TRU though, so it isn't very exclusive here.

Are you absolutely sure about this ? I've never seen it at Tesco or TRU, and the set isn't listed on either of their websites........

Dad

As far as I am aware it is JL only outside of S@H and Lego brand stores....

Matthew

Definitely Tesco. They had it 2 days ago. I can take a photo if you like :-)
Toys R Us I'm not so sure about, I thought I'd seen it, but maybe I dreamed it up...!

collect_that

I've seen this set at a Toys R Us store back in November!

roxio

In uk 7877 naboo has the SE box and I've got them from Toysrus and wilkos

Supersympa

@roxio also amazon ;)
bought 1 there a few weeks ago

LegoFanTexas

Everything can be bought @ Amazon, the question is can it be brought FROM Amazon.com Retail, or is it a third party seller?

Coolsplash

Its mainly store exclusive or you can say country exclusive.

Someone in Korea is able to sell this set for price of under 30 USD. But the same set is available for a price of 70 USD from a big Lego dealer in Denmark.

But, is there something like, a set is released in December 2011 and goes out of production in say 6 months, does something like this happens?

Chompers

Same "Special Edition" markings on the #8081 set exclusive to TRU & S@H

Waterjedi17

As everyone said, it means retailer exclusive in the US. Here's last years special edition sets
http://www.brickset.com/brickLists/?3116