Donmobil recently said higher visibility is one reason that Playmobil is more popular than Lego. I how ever would say this is the end result of its popularity. It sells more than Playmobil and thus gets more shelf space.
I should Introduce myself. I'm joe and an avid collector of both playmobil and Lego (or freak of nature for collecting both). Yes believe it or not some of us do collect both. Though I collect both when I decided to build a town despite the appealing draw of system x I built it with Lego. Why?
I can tell you it isn't the visibility of the toy. When I started collect these toys Playmobil had much bigger section than Lego. Thus it was much more visible than the Lego. It wasn't parts, from my perspective at least. Playmobil came with saddles, guns, hats, fire hoses that actually worked. I viewed playmobil to have the greater variety of parts. I have felt drawn to Lego though, because of the creativity inherent in the system. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that playmobil doesn't inspire creativity, just not in the same way as lego. Again playmobil is creative, the hazmat crew, vending machine, and various direct service items, with their ability to vend a soda or squirt water showcase the creative minds the toy and encourage creative play.
What I do mean is this: When you say,"Gee wish Playmobil would come out with a(n) x (delivery van, building, etc)." What do you then do? Perhaps shoot off a letter to playmobil? Start an on line petition? or perhaps you just wait. However when a lego enthusiast says that, I can guarantee you ten minutes later they have their first version of that built. Lego gives you a power to hammer out what ever you wish to your specifications. Want a bar? No problem. Want a car? Yeah they have wheels too, not just bricks. With the same bricks you can travel to mars, have an apartment building, or build a tank. Almost anything we want from this single seemingly magical box full of bricks. It stirs something visceral, something ancient inside of us. When Lego enthusiasts build something and we see this creation go from our minds eye to reality, is it a thrill, it is a drug to us. We know all we did was arrange bricks in a certain pattern, but it's our pattern, our vision.
We are drawn to the brick because we can express ourselves through a unique medium. When it is built it doesn't just sit there as so much art does, we get to play with it.
That is just ONE reason enthusiasts are drawn to it.
Others like the engrossing story lines (bionicle, agents, etc) I know some will say by providing any structure to the play it somehow limits creativity. However I would say it encourages creativity. It gives a shared universe from everyone to draw from. It provides a plot line and a rich story from which to draw inspiration.
Still others like the licensed lines (starwars, indiana jones, batman). Some like this because they will buy anything from these lines, from night lite to washcloths. Others are spurred on by the creativity aspect (You mean I can build Batman's car how I LIKE it?).
So no it is not the higher visibility or larger selection of parts, nor is it the ease through which parts are obtained. It is the malleability of the system, the ability to make dreams solid, that attracts the enthusiasts.
Gustavo asked several questions. I can't tell you how eerily familiar this is coming from the Lego side. Not too long ago (1999 / 2000) many lego enthusiasts were asking themselves the same questions. I hate to say it, however, it took the almost crash (bankruptcy) of lego to get them to pay attention to fans. They said, "Hey wait what are we doing wrong?" If this man is to be believed - It also took some one inside the company to face the corporate juggernaut, and change their way of thinking. I must say things recently (past 2 years or so) have greatly improved. We were given cafe corner - very sexy. Also fans were allowed to design models like market street, star justice and space skulls Fan input was asked for the transition from the 9v/RC trains to the new power functions trains. There were multiple communications between the lego group and the fans concerning that switch. They actually took at least some of our feedback into consideration. They sponsor multiple conventions now (there are many more than 4).
This transformation didn't happen overnight and it took the almost complete destruction of the company to wake up.
So my suggestions are:
1) Email / mail the company. Give them suggestions, not necessarily for sets but for improvements in general.
2) Suggest a program similar to the ambassadors that lego has.
3) Let them know you want an ordering system whereby you can order any currently produced parts. Show them there is interest in it. Perhaps through a petition (supposedly a similar push got the current lego ordering system online.)
4) Invite them to look at the message boards. Again supposedly this encouraged the growth of the ambassador program.
5) Invite them to conventions. I can say I don't ever remember a rep a con.
6) Tell your local dealers what you want. It may get back to the company.
7) When you call for DS parts tell the operator this is a pain get an online ordering system.
That being said lego isn't perfect. The DHL service is horrid in the US. I can tell you everyone I know when they order over the phone or web makes sure to mention to lego that dhl sucks. In the past few months its gone from Really? to Yes you aren't the first to say that, to Yes we are aware of the problem and are trying to fix it. My point being is we the fans learned we must consistently and in a nice way constantly remind lego what we are dissatisfied with at the company.
Remember it won't happen overnight. You must repeatedly do these things. Don't give up. Again if half of what he says in the video is true, it took multiple attempts from many sources to change the company.
Thank you for your time.
Joe
That LEGO has representatives attending the conventions has something to do with the fact that LEGO IS more popular all around the world and that we are talking about a significantly older company :lens:
Therefore, we should probably consider ourselves quite fortunate. Playmobil tolerates us and indeed even somewhat caters to our wants. We probably should stop whining and complaining and instead send a few thank you emails to show our appreciation.
... I might be the longest-running parts orderer in the USA!
If every accomodation they make for us leads to vocal outrage, the company will either:
1) keep striving like a footsore boyfriend to make us happy
2) write us off as a bunch of cranks and do the minimum to keep us hanging on
In fact, are Playmobil and Lego revolutionaries in the industry considering the extent they let us order parts piecemail? Does Hasbro accommodate this for Star Wars figures and GI Joe?
-Tim
Older? Heh, Geobra has been around since the 1930s and produced appliances; later hula hoops and big toy trucks kids could ride on.
So, Geobra is actually older than Lego.
Actually not. LEGO started producing tree toys in 1934 with the name LEGO. So the companies are around the same age.
LEGO has produced plastic toys since 1947.
I'm sorry that I didn't have in mind that Playmobil's mother company was around already in the 1930's 8}
You're quite right, Tim, and option 2 is always a possibility. I suspect that there are few people who think of thanking DS (in any country) for their work and help, and fewer still who think of thanking them and then do so. I always let UK DS know when an order arrives and thank them for their work in ordering it etc, and send them a card at Christmas. Yes, they do make mistakes, but certainly in the UK I've always found them quick to correct them. And ordering DS parts must be difficult for them as the parts are often described in German and there don't seem to pictures of the parts available to them.
Overall, the spare parts supply must be a pretty massive operation in terms of stock held and labour intensive and, on both counts costly, so it must often be tempting in these days to look at it as a possible source of cost cutting, so I say:THANK YOU PLAYMOBIL FOR DS!
I'm sorry that I didn't have in mind that Playmobil's mother company was around already in the 1930's 8}
Once upon a time in 1876, there was a locksmith named Andreas Brandstätter. Mr. Brandstätter planted a magical seed that would eventually blossom into PLAYMOBIL® by founding an eponymous lock and metal fitting company in Fürth, Germany. His son, Georg Brandstätter, took over the company in 1908, changed its name to Metallwarenfabrik Georg Brandstätter, and in 1921 moved the headquarters to Zirndorf, Germany, where it remains to the present day. By the 1930s, the company had again been redefined, manufacturing telephones, cash registers, and various items for toy shops using sheet metal, and going through another name change, to geobra (short for Georg Brandstätter).
Metallwarenfabrik Georg Brandstätterrolls right off the tongue...
Is Playmobil a "company" or a trademark? Geobra's only other product are those funky flower pots, right?
Brandstätter Group (Geobra Brandstätter GmbH & Co KG) is a German company, headquartered in Zirndorf. The group is comprised of toy company Playmobil, Playmobil 1.2.3 Ltd, Inmold Ltd, Hob Electronics Ltd, Hob Components Ltd, HOB Inc., HOB GmbH & Co KG, and Hob Software Ltd.
Thanks for all the facts, Richard - Mr. Facts :)
I noticed that you wrote Playmobil 1.2.3. Ltd.. Isn't this department based in Germany?
So what's the story with the flower pots? I get a catalog sometimes with my Playmobil orders.
The question is, is it worth it to these companies to invest more effort and time in improving this area of their business (spare part & replacement part sales), and both seem to have answered "not at present".
HELLO, PLAYMOFRIENDS ...
MOST OF US KNOW THAT HORST BRANDSTATTER IS THE SOLE OWNER OF PLAYMOBIL.
HIS 75TH BIRTHDAY WAS JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
SO FAR, ONLY SYLVIA AND I HAVE WISHED HORST A HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERE AT PLAYMOFRIENDS.
DON'T YOU THINK THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TOLD MR. BRANDSTATTER IF THERE WERE FIFTY OR MORE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS OVER AT "SPECIAL GREETINGS" ... ?
LET'S SEE, WE ALL WANT MORE FROM PLAYMOBIL ... AND, YET ...
Those pots that self water or wick the water up are a favorite over here . I must admit i can not afford the Playmobil ones but some day i will be sure to get some .
Richard how and where do we wish him a happy B-DAY ? email or ?