PlaymoFriends

General => Direct Service/Parts Queries => Topic started by: lavandiere on May 20, 2011, 21:27:35

Title: Can someone explain something...
Post by: lavandiere on May 20, 2011, 21:27:35
How can they say they don't have some parts available when you know that sets currently on the market do have those needed parts? How is that possible? For example, I need some white and orange flowers as well as the green flower boxes. A bunch of sets currently available have those and yet I cannot order them!

Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: Playmofool on May 20, 2011, 21:39:39
If this is the answer you get in can mean two things:

a) The item is temporarily out of DS-stock. Probably needs reproducing. Then just put it on the list again with your next order.

b) Some parts are NOT sold individually EVEN IF they have a number in the instructions. When asking you often get the answer that the item is an "essential part of a set" and you don't get them via DS. This is rare, but it happened to some - usually large - items from certain sets.

Of course it could also mean that the item is really "sold out", but as there's a usually a span of 3-6 years after the set has left the shelves when you can still get parts.

As you mention flowers, I would think that the correct answer should be a) and I would put it into the next order again.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: bonniebeth on May 20, 2011, 21:44:08
So with option B, you mean something like a unique baseplate from a superset or something might not be sold separately?
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: lavandiere on May 20, 2011, 21:48:16
I guess I'm going to call them back on Monday to find out what is simply out of stock and what is not available at all, ever.
It's so frustrating. I had found the victorian 5305 brand new but the seller had warned a few little pieces might be missing. Yeah right. Every single flower box, flower box fitter, flower stem and flowers were missing. A part of the roof is also missing but surprisingly I can order it. Some railing connectors are also gone. Worst, all dormer window frames and window mullions as well as the window frames( from the inside) are missing.  :'(

Now I understand why people are willing to pay a lot for a new SEALED box.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: Hadoque on May 20, 2011, 21:59:51
Also, when a set is just released, it takes some weeks/months before you can order the parts from DS.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: Playmofool on May 20, 2011, 22:04:20
So with option B, you mean something like a unique baseplate from a superset or something might not be sold separately?

Here I'm not talking from personal experience, but I remember for sure that some people mentioned this reply in their DS orders. I think it was the dinosaurs from the 2006 sets. You couldn't get them individually at DS, later one or two of them at higher prices than if bought in a set at a shop. Strange policy, I know. Same thing for some ship's hulls as far as I remember.

Talking about flowers again. You must make sure that the ETN hasn't changed since the 5305 if it's flowers from that set. ETN change sometimes even if the item looks the same, maybe because of a different plastic or new color ingredients - even if they look exactly the same. Are you sure that this isn't the case with your flowers? Maybe look at the ETNs in the new sets again.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: Playmofool on May 20, 2011, 22:06:12
A part of the roof is also missing but surprisingly I can order it. Some railing connectors are also gone.

Not so surprising because the wedding pavillon has the same roof as does the 5301 which quit the shelf only last year.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: bonniebeth on May 20, 2011, 22:10:20
That's interesting what you say about the dinosaurs, because I know a few years ago, I inquired about the price of an elephant, and it cost more to buy it that way than the add-on with a mother and a baby together.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on May 20, 2011, 22:46:19
They were trying to stop the possibility of a herd of dinosaurs appearing! :lol:
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: lavandiere on May 20, 2011, 23:41:24
.

Talking about flowers again. You must make sure that the ETN hasn't changed since the 5305 if it's flowers from that set. ETN change sometimes even if the item looks the same, maybe because of a different plastic or new color ingredients - even if they look exactly the same. Are you sure that this isn't the case with your flowers? Maybe look at the ETNs in the new sets again.

I gave several part numbers for the flowers because some identical colors do have different part number...
What does ENT stand for?
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: lavandiere on May 20, 2011, 23:41:49
Not so surprising because the wedding pavillon has the same roof as does the 5301 which quit the shelf only last year.

ah yes! makes sense now! ;)
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on May 20, 2011, 23:57:49
The three different colored flower blossoms are used in some recent sets so they may be still available, but presently out of stock. The green flower stems were used in current sets like the 4857 Summer House also. The brown flower box fillers were only used in older sets. If they are discontinued, the part equal to it is the green filler 30249790 & may be used as a substitute, but is not a color match, but will work. The flower boxes 30057520 were also used in the recent 5301 Grande Mansion & may be still available also.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: lavandiere on May 21, 2011, 01:19:39
Yes, I kind of expected the brown flower boxes to be unavailable but the flowers...I can't believe everything is out of stock. I did ask for some green flower boxes for the Grande Mansion we have and these too were unavailable.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on May 21, 2011, 01:28:26
Yes, I kind of expected the brown flower boxes to be unavailable but the flowers...I can't believe everything is out of stock. I did ask for some green flower boxes for the Grande Mansion we have and these too were unavailable.

You may need to contact some members in the UK or Germany to get these items. USA DS will not probably get restocked for quite a while. With Pay Pal the transaction can be done quite smoothly.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: lavandiere on May 21, 2011, 01:39:31
I'm waiting Monday to talk to DS and depending on what they tell me, I might post my list here and see if anyone can help.

Why would different DS take longer that others to get particular items back in stock? Does Playmobil only produce these extras on specific demand?
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: bonniebeth on May 21, 2011, 01:40:39
I guess it just depends on if they have sold out or not. If one DS is sold out, the next may have it.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on May 21, 2011, 03:01:37
I'm waiting Monday to talk to DS and depending on what they tell me, I might post my list here and see if anyone can help.

Why would different DS take longer that others to get particular items back in stock? Does Playmobil only produce these extras on specific demand?

German DS supplies Europe & the UK direct from the Playmobil factory. USA DS must resupply periodically & may run out or not have enough demand for something causing repeated out of stock status. From USA DS it may take up to a year to complete an order.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: lavandiere on May 25, 2011, 13:23:46
I called them on Monday and they said they are getting a new shipment in 2 weeks so I'll try to place a second order then.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on May 25, 2011, 14:58:55
I called them on Monday and they said they are getting a new shipment in 2 weeks so I'll try to place a second order then.

 :crossed: :crossed: :crossed: I hope your dreams come true!
Word of advise, call every day near the order arrival date so they don't sell out before you get a chance.
Title: Re: Can someone explain something...
Post by: lavandiere on May 25, 2011, 15:13:37
:crossed: :crossed: :crossed: I hope your dreams come true!
Word of advise, call every day near the order arrival date so they don't sell out before you get a chance.

Will do!  :)9