PlaymoFriends
General => News => Topic started by: bonniebeth on June 08, 2011, 19:34:16
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Aren't these ugly?
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/060711201126.jpg)
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/060711201206.jpg)
What really makes me mad is that these are on the same aisle, right with the playmobil!!! >:( >:( >:(
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/060711201147.jpg)
Cheap junk. I don't like that it makes playmobil look lumped in with this trash. People here don't know the quality of playmobil, and if they see it alongside this stuff, they're even more likely to just pass it by.
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They look like boxes!
I made a better looking Playmobil figure then that out of cardboard! :o
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Gods, those are HORRID!
It's insulting to have them on the same shelf!
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Yuk!
What are they, exactly. I mean, who manufactures them?
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Yuk!
What are they, exactly. I mean, who manufactures them?
You know, I haven't even looked to see. Next time I'm there I'll look and see. But particularly the western one is just a blatant copy, except hideous!
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Hideous is definetly the right word. Look at the horses they look emaciated.
That pirate ship is so awful. Bleaghhh!
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We've seen these nasty knock-offs before: discussion from a few months ago (http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=7375.msg126106;topicseen#msg126106)
This is the company that makes them: Sun Mate playsets (http://www.sun-mate.com/product_subcategory_3_37_1_play-sets_a.html)
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creepy looking :omg:
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I was pretty sure they'd been mentioned here before, but they made me so mad being right there next to the playmobil!!!!
Thanks for the info on the company, Indianna!
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Those are just horrible. I think they are out there to lure unsuspecting grandparents into buying it for their grandkids when they meant to buy Playmobil :hmm:
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Those are just horrible. I think they are out there to lure unsuspecting grandparents into buying it for their grandkids when they meant to buy Playmobil :hmm:
:hmm: :hmm: intersting statement.... I agree.
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Ugh. I imagine some unknowing soul mistakenly getting one as a gift for a child. And the calls to Playmobile customer service about quality after the box has been tossed in the bin.
Really, the buyer at TRU should be ashamed of putting these on the shelf.
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Yes, it could definitely generate some confusion.
Hello, Peeffer. :wave: Be sure and start a thread in the welcome section introducing yourself so we can all get to know a little about you and give you a proper welcome. :)
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Thank you for the welcome, I will certainly do that!
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YUCK!!! Yes, they don't deserve to be sitting beside Playmobil!!!
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I saw these at TRU not too long ago, and at first glance I was like, "oh, that's new playmo." then a mere second later I realized they were just knock-offs. I don't know how they are in your TRU, but in mine, they are not only next to the playmo, but mixed in!
I would like one knock-off klicky, or klick-off. Just one. And I would have it ravely ripped apart by my Klickies' bare hands then consumed by my playmo vultures!
(runs off to grab red paint, excited about toy massacre, then realize I have no klick-offs. Oh well, there are other days.)
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:lol: :lol: :lol: This is a really great idea for a picture! At $25 for one of these big sets, it might be worth buying one of these cheap sets just for that purpose!
Oh, and yes, it's mixed in with the playmobil at my TRU, too.
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:lol: :lol: :lol: This is a really great idea for a picture! At $25 for one of these big sets, it might be worth buying one of these cheap sets just for that purpose!
Oh, and yes, it's mixed in with the playmobil at my TRU, too.
how much do these junk go for? :hmm:
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The western set is 24.97, on clearance. I don't know about the pirate set.
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The western set is 24.97, on clearance. I don't know about the pirate set.
a cheap present ;)
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:lol: :lol: :lol: This is a really great idea for a picture! At $25 for one of these big sets, it might be worth buying one of these cheap sets just for that purpose!
Oh, and yes, it's mixed in with the playmobil at my TRU, too.
Bonnie Beth, I think I remember when you joined. We may be from the same city now I think about it. New Orleans, yeah?
I'm not one to just spend money willy nilly (who am I kidding?), but I may have to head back there and pick up one of the smallest sets they have and start a massacre! Hopefully there is something for less than $25 though.
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Bonnie Beth, I think I remember when you joined. We may be from the same city now I think about it. New Orleans, yeah?
bonnie is from Louisiana ;)
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Actually, I'm in Baton Rouge, but yes, we are neighbors!
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I've heard that every brand/company pays certain amount to be displayed on whatever store shelf they decide or can afford...i guess this is not the exception - i wonder if this cheap looking knock off paid an specific amount to be craftily placed next to Playmobil or if TRU put those sets there randomly... ??? :hmm:
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Looks like legomobil to me. I frequent two TRU and have not seen these. I know this will stir some up but I like the western buildings. I don't like the figures but the buildings have potential IMO.
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I was kind of thinking the same thing, but didn't want to be the first to say it. :-[ I wonder if the scale is exactly the same. With some paint, the buildings could be good stand-ins... maybe I should buy the set just to check it out, and send a few klick-offs to reimagination so he can murderize them! :lol:
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We do not have these at our TRU but I would be interested in knowing how the western buildings look. I want to do some buildings on fire due to the civil war moving through our town. There is no way I would burn or melt a playmobil building but if these fit the scale I may have to try it with them.
I know Indiana showed them before but have there been more added recently to the stores who have them?
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These are the only two sets I have seen, but they now have alot more of them. They must have a dozen pirate ships, and quite a few of the western sets, which are new. They've just been added in the last few weeks.
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We bought the kids some of the pirate sets, just so they'd have some accessories for their PM sets that we didn't care if they lost.
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I've heard that every brand/company pays certain amount to be displayed on whatever store shelf they decide or can afford...i guess this is not the exception - i wonder if this cheap looking knock off paid an specific amount to be craftily placed next to Playmobil or if TRU put those sets there randomly... ??? :hmm:
The term is called "slotting." And you're right, many (but not all) big-box retailers charge slotting fees for shelf placement. Different retailers approach this differently; some want a set cash amount per item, others determine the cost based on the number of stores the product is going into, or by linear inches of space that will be allocated.
Companies can pay these fees directly or other times by shipping free product. There is a fair amount of negotiation that goes into this, and shelf placement could certainly be discussed. It can get expensive, but isn't illegal, and retailers are usually quite up front with their requirements.
That said, I'm not in the toy industry, and don't know how TRU handles slotting (if they do at all).
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Couldn't playmobil negotiate NOT to be placed near these or megablocks? I wonder if they were willing to pay more than these others wer, if they could win out and not be placed by them. It seems they are on the knock-offs aisle, the one everyone interested in quality passes up.
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Couldn't playmobil negotiate NOT to be placed near these or megablocks? I wonder if they were willing to pay more than these others wer, if they could win out and not be placed by them. It seems they are on the knock-offs aisle, the one everyone interested in quality passes up.
Sometimes retailers use competitive products to keep the big guy in line. For example, if you were a buyer, and unhappy with Lego (if they kept raising prices on you, or weren't working with you for ads, or gave your competitor across the street a much better deal for black friday), you could increase the items from Mega Bloks. You probably aren't going to win with additional sales, but are remaining the manufacturer who's boss. You've probably noticed this when your favorite big-brand item disappears, only to return six months later.
And after all is said and done, eventually the focus returns to moving what sells the best- these sorts of things usually work themselves out.
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I took pics of some more knock-offs yesterday, this time at Tuesday Morning.
To me, this motorcycle looks like a blatant copy of PM, and also notce the little face showing it being from the police theme on the package.
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/062911112529.jpg)
Same with this raft:
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/062911112511.jpg)
The klick-offs in this one are in outfits that look a lot like playmobil..
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/062911112651.jpg)
And this one, Chris half thought of getting, for customizing. :lol:
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/062911112554.jpg)
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:0 :0 :0
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I have seen these at a lot of stores. They are decent quality but in my opinion trying to look a bit too realistic. I also really dislike the holes in their heads when you remove the helmets. We had one but have since lost all of it. Good riddance :P
Mighty World (http://www.mightyworld.com/)
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The police one in the first pic advertises that it comes with a hairpiece, wow! :D ::)
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I wouldn't call these knock offs, really..
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I couldn't post what I would call them :lol: :lol:
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I couldn't post what I would call them :lol: :lol:
What I mean is I don't think they're a clear immitation...
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I don't think the "klicky" design is, but some of the other pieces and accessories, as well as general concept, is taken from playmobil.
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they're just junk - period :P :lol:
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Mighty World makes some VERY nice buildings. We have their flower shop and it's top notch and just the right size for Playmobil (like Sylvainian Families/Calico Critters).
The accessories are painted and some (ie flower stems) are made of a softer plastic so they won't break (like the old Britains Detail toy soldiers).
It's hard to find the buildings but if you do buy them - you won't regret it.
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they're just junk - period :P :lol:
Agreed ;)!
Ace :brownhair:
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That 'hair accessory' thing - I think - means that when you remove the hat you can put the 'hair acc' in its place: a bit like PM hat/non-hat hair.
Oh well ... it took PM the best part of 40 years to give us non-hat hair, so ...
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Couldn't playmobil negotiate NOT to be placed near these or megablocks? I wonder if they were willing to pay more than these others wer, if they could win out and not be placed by them. It seems they are on the knock-offs aisle, the one everyone interested in quality passes up.
Would Playmobil want to be away from these products? It's a matter of competition and being in the same aisle as other, similar items allows ubyers to compare one with another as regards quality (where PM scores) and price (where it may lose out). If buyers get to the cheapo aisle first, they may well buy and leave the store without even finding the PM aisle. In mediaeval times the practice was (I think it may even have been a sort of town planning requirement) that shops/stalls of a given sort were all in the same street/row, so all the butchers were together (this also kept all the mess in one street as slaughtering then usually took place on the premises), all bakers together and so on.
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Interesting point. But I guess that's also why it's bad for them to be on the aisle with a bunch of knock-offs, as if they were the also knock-offs.
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Interesting point. But I guess that's also why it's bad for them to be on the aisle with a bunch of knock-offs, as if they were the also knock-offs.
Well, they're not really "knock-offs" which are poor copies of something, fakes if you like, designed to look like the real thing. They are similar products in competition with Playmobil. After all, one Western saloon is very much like another whoever makes it.
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In mediaeval times the practice was (I think it may even have been a sort of town planning requirement) that shops/stalls of a given sort were all in the same street/row,
OT: Yes, we have a bunch of streets like that in the older part of Lisbon.. named for the shops that used to be there.
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Well, they're not really "knock-offs" which are poor copies of something, fakes if you like, designed to look like the real thing. They are similar products in competition with Playmobil. After all, one Western saloon is very much like another whoever makes it.
I was referring mostly to stuff like mega-blocks, which is considered to be a lego knock-off.
But on the bright side, Playmobil is aso located near discovery channel toys, lincoln logs, brios, and the like -- toys that are generally considered to encourage imagination and be sort of "smart kid toys." So I guess that's a really good thing.