This cropped up on FaceBook a week or so back from a post by Carcassonne Central (shared from Hans Im Gluck), I'm assuming that comes out of here? It was suggesting that people with Winter Carcassonne should buy the Gingerbread Man expansion. So me being me waded in with all all guns blazing and the following conversation ensued:
ME: Not exactly a lot of point as this expansion is supplied inside Carcassone Winter Edition sets.... Well, it was when I got mine.
CarcassonneCentral: It's not intended to be included inside the Winter Edition set, but some retailers were giving it away with purchase when it came out originally.
Me: So how come it's printed about it's inclusion directly on my box and the rules for it are on the same sheet as the main rules?
CarcassonneCentral: Hmm... must be a North America thing. Some of us were impatient and bought the German version.
Me: Nope, bought in a basic toy shop in Devon. UK. Z-man ZMG78610.
At that point the conversation stopped. So here it is again for all to discuss!
As stated above, mine was purchased in a private toyshop (franchised with Toymaster) in Plymouth, Devon, UK not that long after it's original release. The shop sells mostly kids toys with a few shelves of reasonable games at the back. He usually has a few copies of Carcassonne games and the odd expansion.
My box has it printed on the front lid that it includes the Gingerbread expansion... Not a sticker. On the back it's included within the contents list and the expansion rules printed on the back page of the main rules sheet.
Linkback: https://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=2280.0