A new way of ordering LEGO - "LUGBULK"

LEGO is making a bulk order...specifically for LUG members!
Source

LEGO User Group Bulk Order Program
Dear Community Leader,
The “LEGO User Group Bulk Order Program” (LUGBULK) will be offered to LEGO User Groups as a pilot/test program from August 2009 and possibly going into 2010. Due to new legislation in the USA, we will unfortunately not be able to offer the program to USA based LEGO User Groups until we implement some additional processes. We expect to open up the program to US LEGO User Groups at a later date.
This document explains to you how to get access to and use the program to order smaller amounts of LEGO bricks from the whole LEGO assortment directly at the LEGO Group.
Please notice again that this is a pilot project and it may be terminated on short notice at any time.
Who will be able to order?

LUGBULK will only be accessible for registered LUGs. A LUG need to meet the following requirements and submit the following information to the LEGO Community Team to become a registered LUG – the LEGO Community team will follow up on the requirements every time a LUG places an order:
• The LUG need to consist of minimum 10 members
• The LUG need to feature at least 2 public smaller or bigger displays each year
• The LUG need to exist for at least 1 year
• The LUG need to have an official website
• The LUG need to have at least a 1 page description of the LUG and the goals of the LUG on the website
• The LUG need to take part in possible surveys issued by the LEGO Group to the LUG
• The LUG is responsible for securing the needed written accept from their membership according to the local legislation to submit legally the following basic information about the LUG and the members to the LEGO Community Team:
-Number of members
-Name of members
-Address of members
-Email of member s
-LEGO ID of members if applicable

Only the personal data of the members who accept the terms can be submitted and also only these members count for the order amount.
The data will be used only by LEGO System A/S and its affiliated entities and never issued to 3rd parties.

Rules for LUGBULK:

- Only active elements (no restricted elements and no licensed elements) can be purchased
- The minimum order for one LUG is 2000 DKK
- The average amount per member to purchase is max. 200 DKK
- The minimum order qty per element is 50 pcs. and increase in 50 pcs. steps until 500 and from then in 100 piece steps (except building plates)
- The maximum amount of different elements per order is 100
- Every registered LUG can order 2 times a year
- The orders will be taken in between February and September each year – every LUG will get 2 dates
- The lead time per order which means from order is accepted until it is shipped can be up to 3 month
- It is not allowed to resell the bought elements – there will be a penalty for the LUG if a member is reselling the elements.
- The shipping costs and possible taxes/custom clearings are not included in the element price so they will get on top of the price.
- Only one single defined member of each LUG can place the order and will get the order shipped
- The order need to be submitted in an Excel file containing as much information about the elements as possible (Bricklink number or LEGO Brick ID (4 or 7 digit code)are preferred)

How is the process?

1. The head/founder of the LUG that wants to become a registered LUG to participate in the LUGBULK program contact Jan Beyer at Jan@LEGO.com and submit all above requested information and fulfills all needed requirements.
2. After Jan Beyer has checked that all requirements are fulfilled and how many of the members have submitted their data, the final max. amount for the purchase is defined.
3. One by the LUG defined member of the registered LUG will submit the wish list, the shipping address and his/her contact details to Jan Beyer – this person is now responsible for the order and the complete payment in the timeframe for this specific LUG
4. The wish list can containing max. 150 different elements in prioritized order and will be send in an excel file to Jan Beyer. Among these, up to 100 will be selected based on LUG priority and TLG availability
5. Jan Beyer will proceed the list.
6. Jan Beyer agrees with the contact person of the registered LUG the final order list of max. 100 different Elements – based on availability, element cost (not to exceed the average max. amount per member of 200 DKK) and the costs and amount per element.
7. After having an agreed list, the LEGO warehouse will check the list and determine an expected delivery date, which Jan Beyer will communicate to the LUG in question.
8. After that the LEGO Group will send an Invoice to the defined LUG member who is responsible for the order.
9. The order will not be shipped before the money is on the LEGO Company account (payment can be made in DKK/EUR/USD)
10. The order gets shipped to the LUG member who ordered.