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Collecting Lemax Villages

sissynscooter

Are you just starting out with collecting Lemax Villages? If that's the case, continue reading...  We aim to assist you on your collecting journey.  You'll discover some common mistakes to steer clear of and some simple tips to ensure a smooth Lemax collecting experience.




The crucial initial step is choosing which Lemax village pieces to collect. My top recommendation is to select a theme first. Do you prefer Carnival, a North Pole theme, a Winter Village theme, or perhaps a Halloween theme with just Haunted Houses? The possibilities are limitless, so consider what you want to concentrate on; this will assist you when shopping in-store or online for your village display.




Once you've chosen a theme, consider where to make your purchase. What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying from a mom-and-pop shop versus a big box retailer? Mom-and-pop shops often provide excellent care from the moment they receive their products until they reach you, as their business is their livelihood. In contrast, employees at big box stores are generally not as invested in the products. A mom-and-pop retailer (like us) will likely inspect products thoroughly and ensure they are delivered to you with care. Many big box retailers lack the time and resources to inspect products and may not pack village pieces properly for shipping. It's disappointing to receive a Lemax Village order damaged due to insufficient cushioning in the box, causing the merchandise to endure a rough journey across the country. We recommend shopping in person at these stores, selecting village pieces with boxes in the best condition, and checking for any rattling sounds. Inspect your purchase as soon as you get home, and if you find any damage or malfunctions, return it to the retailer immediately. There are benefits to shopping at big box retailers. They have greater purchasing power, often stocking larger quantities of desired items, and at the end of the season, they significantly reduce prices to clear out their inventory. However, be aware that by this time, many pieces may be damaged from handling and shelf wear. Don't expect these retailers to carry over previous stock from year to year, whereas a mom-and-pop retailer is more likely to have new-old stock from past years.

Looking for a rare Lemax piece that has been out of production for a while? My top recommendation is to check eBay, Mercari, and other online auction sites. However, proceed with caution! Lemax village houses are fragile and can stop working or have small parts break over time. Research the retired item thoroughly. Learn what typically breaks and make sure to ask the seller all your questions before purchasing. It's also crucial to inquire about their packaging and shipping methods. Don't assume they will pack it correctly. There's nothing worse than spending a lot of money on that rare piece only for it to arrive damaged because it wasn't shipped in a larger box with extra cushioning. INSURE INSURE INSURE. I can't stress enough the importance of insuring all retired items during shipping. I also highly recommend checking the seller's feedback. See what other buyers have to say about them. If you notice negative feedback about item quality or packing/shipping issues, seriously consider choosing another seller. Some extremely rare pieces only appear once in a great while. Instead of checking listings daily, set up an auto-watch to get notified when a new listing appears. It will save you time. I know eBay offers this service. I personally wanted the Spooky Town "Chuckle's Fun House," an extremely rare piece. I set up an auto notification, and when one became available, I was able to add this very, very rare house to my Spooky Town collection.

Lemax rare retired Chuckle's Funhouse
Lemax Retired Chuckle's Funhouse

Interested in discovering which Lemax Village houses were produced in previous years to compile your wish list?  Lemax's website offers PDFs of all new products from 2013 to the present.  Visit this link to access all the PDFs.  Additionally, they provide a database on their website featuring over 4000 retired pieces.  Although not entirely comprehensive, it serves as a fantastic resource to explore past productions. Each year, Michael's releases a color pamphlet of the items they currently stock, a tradition since the early 2000s.  You can find past years' pamphlets on eBay. 

Michael's Lemax Product Pamphlets
Michael's Lemax Product Pamphlets

With the basics covered, let's explore the various types of Lemax Village houses that might catch your interest. You can start with a simple porcelain house illuminated by a light bulb or new LED Moonlander, or opt for a fully animated village house with sights and sounds, complete with a soundtrack and numerous moving parts. Basic houses are typically porcelain with a small hole at the back for inserting a Lemax corded LED Moonlander light bulb that plugs into a wall outlet. These houses sometimes feature a lighted scene inside and always have cut-outs (like window panes) for illumination. The next type is a resin house with an interior LED light and an on/off switch on the back. These houses often have an interior scene to enjoy. A step up from this includes houses like the previous ones but with additional exterior LED lights in various colors (e.g., green, purple, pink, blue, yellow). As the price of the village pieces increases, you can move on to fully animated sights and sounds. These typically feature synchronized animations and may include a smoking chimney effect, constant LED lighting, and timed lighting that matches specific moments in the soundtrack. Each house has a professionally crafted soundtrack, unique to that style of Lemax Village piece. Another distinction is that the more features a village house has, the larger it will be, and it is usually made of resin instead of porcelain. Below, you can see the different styles of Lemax Village houses. Also, note that the box will indicate what the village piece does.



As illustrated above, the boxes are labeled with details regarding their illumination and functions. Note that the LED houses can be powered by either batteries or a power adapter, which you can purchase to avoid using batteries. If you choose to use a power adapter, ensure it is an authorized Lemax power cord. The image on the right depicts a complete "Sights and Sounds" village piece. The circle signifies animation, the 4.5v indicates that a power cord is included, and the notes show it has a soundtrack. The soundtrack may consist of either music only or voice overs with music.


The village house "Tiny Tim's Toffee Makers," located on the far left, exemplifies a basic village house with a hole in the back for a "moonlander" bulb on a cord to connect to an outlet. These houses are typically crafted from porcelain or resin. The central village house, "Elwood's Elf Lodge," is an example of a resin village house featuring interior and exterior LED lighting with an on/off switch at the back. These pieces generally require batteries and do not include a power cord but can be adapted with a separate Lemax power adapter. "Kringle's Courier," on the far right, is a complete Sights & Sounds village piece. It is made of resin, features rotating parts, and includes a unique soundtrack.



We hope you enjoy many years of collecting Lemax and that our advice proves helpful to you!



Sissy & Scooter (Karla & Dan)

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