PlaymoFriends

Getting Started => Welcome! => Topic started by: Klickus Mobilius on February 17, 2009, 08:59:12

Title: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Klickus Mobilius on February 17, 2009, 08:59:12
I am quite new to Playmobil, although I am quite familiar with the world of Klickies from my friend kaethe who introduced me to it.  She kept sending me links to all the photos of what other collectors had done with their collections.  I was impressed, but wasn't interested in collecting them.

Then came Christmas.  I was shopping at a local Target store for toys, when I saw some Roman Klickies.  I always liked ancient civilizations and thought the Roman series was cool.  I broke down and purchased a few blister packs of soldiers and gladiators.  I also saw a partial arena but did not buy it because that was a Rubicon I did not want to cross.  I reluctantly confessed my purchase to kaethe who told me to buy the partial arena because it is a Target exclusive and won't be available once it's gone.  I went back the next day and bought it.  Now I am committed.  I have spent over $200 so far on Roman Klickies (I know that is a mere pittance compared to all you veteran collectors, but it's a big step for me considering I always thought kaethe was crazy for collecting Playmobil).

I have even gone so far as ordering Roman add ons from Direct Service.   :P  I even go out of my way to various Target stores in search of Target exclusives.  This has gotten bad.   :lol:

I am looking forward to the Egyptian series.

Let me tell you a little bit about myself.  I am 49 years old and live in Sacramento, California, USA.  I live in an apartment which really does not have a whole lot of space for this new obsession.  I may have to rotate my Playmobil scenes.

Anyway, hello everyone!   :wave:
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: playmofire on February 17, 2009, 09:36:03
Welcome from the UK  :wave: and thank you for joining us.  Don't worry, wherever you live, apartment or palace, if you collect Playmobil the place is too small.

Some items in the Roman theme have already been discontinued in mainland Europe, e.g. the big arena, and will be discontinued in the USA next year, so buy while you can!  (If you compare the playmobil.de site with the playmobil.usa site, you can see what's going.)
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Martin Milner on February 17, 2009, 11:39:51
Welcome Klickius!

The Romans are indeed a great and addictive theme, though many of us would have liked more buildings than just the Arena.

I have a small table I use for my displays, and assembled my Roman Army on that:

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Roman%20Layouts/IMGP9813modified.jpg)


In the UK the average price of a single figure is £2, and a horse is £4, so this lot came to a bit more than $200  :-[


cheers,  Martin
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Jimbo on February 17, 2009, 13:30:58
Howdy, Klickius :wave:

Welcome from sunny Arizona. 8-)

Best regards,
Jimbo
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: CountBogro on February 17, 2009, 13:47:42
Hi Klickus!

Welcome to our little nich of the World Wide Web from the Netherlands! And don't worry about the size of your collection; we all started small once  :-[ Besides; it isn't the size that matters but the enjoyment you get from it  0)

This has gotten bad.   :lol:

Alea Jacta Est; you're done for!

Bogro
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on February 17, 2009, 14:32:01
Welcome from the southeastern USA Klickus!
Congratulations on taking the plunge! It sounds like you're hooked, but don't worry...it gets worse :lol:! You will eventually find your self scouring the internet for retired sets, job lots, & I'm afraid to say it,....yes, other themes  :0 there, I said it  :-\! But don't feel alone, because we are all in the same boat here, & you have our undying support  ;D!
Bill
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Gepetto on February 17, 2009, 17:14:14
Welcome Klickus from the Great Pacific Northwest! Bill is right, soon you will become numb to the pain and will feel your wallet heating up in the proximity of Playmobil.

I think those Romans have caused more people to fall into the abyss than any other, oh well don't fight the tide and let it take you where it will, enjoy, you are in good company.



Gepetto
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: cachalote on February 18, 2009, 01:06:20
welcome klickus... or should i say salve ?  :wave:
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Justindo on February 18, 2009, 04:04:44
Welcome Klickus Mobilius!  I'm from the Los Angeles area and primarily collect Romans, although I too am looking forward to the Egyptians.  You'll find a number of Roman enthusiasts on this forum.  (Note Martin's formidable army!)  The Roman theme is, unfortunately, being discontinued next year, so make sure you buy whatever sets you think you might want and finish building your army.
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Little Jo on February 18, 2009, 04:50:54
Be welcome from the South of Germany  :wave:
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Klickus Mobilius on February 18, 2009, 11:06:58
Some items in the Roman theme have already been discontinued in mainland Europe, e.g. the big arena, and will be discontinued in the USA next year, so buy while you can!

Thanks for the information about the impending discontinuation of the Roman theme, playmofire and Justindo.   :(   I guess I will be placing an order after I get paid this Friday.   ;D  I only need the big arena (although I don't know where I will put it - it's HUGE!), the ship, and the chariot with the four white horses to complete my collection.  I'm not sure if I will collect enough soldiers to make an army, though.  Martin, your legion is truly awe-inspiring!   :wow:

Why is Playmobil discontinuing the Romans?  Are they not popular enough?  Not fair!  I just started!   >:(
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Martin Milner on February 18, 2009, 12:28:18

Why is Playmobil discontinuing the Romans?  Are they not popular enough?  Not fair!  I just started!   >:(

First, that's that they do these days with the many themes, they have them for about 3 years and then withdraw them. The Knights theme doesn't quite count because it's not so historically accurate, and knights are always popular with boys, so that's been around since day 1.

Second, I think they slightly shot themselves in the foot. There were a couple of Roman Specials released (now available as a blister, and 25 of each incorporated in my army) before the main theme, and you can see videos armies of THOUSANDS of these figures being prepared and displayed in Germany (check out Youtube). If people already had all these figures, they may have not bought more when the main theme came out - even fanatics can only spend so much time & energy on the Romans.

I was fortunate not to see the Specials when they came out, and to restart my Playmobil fascination with a few Roman sets in August 2007, so I was able to base my army on the newer figures. The Specials are very nice, but the theme figures are closer to the real thing (see my photos comparing a figure to the original).

Third, while we adults love the Romans, maybe it didn't strike such a chord with children.  I'm guessing here, not being a father myself, but maybe sales were disappointing.
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Kelly on February 18, 2009, 22:02:16
Hi from Mississippi,

I am really a modern theme collector, but buy everything that goes on sale at Target no matter what and therefore, have a little bit of just about everything.  As for the Romans and children, mine didn't care for them at all (we have the small arena, three charriots, and about 20 klickies).  I have a 10 year old boy who is currently too cool for Playmo and a four year old girl who likes the fairies and dollhouse themes, so maybe I don't have kids in the right age/gender range for this theme, but I think Martin is right . . . On the other hand, if the kids don't like them they go to 75% off and we get to buy them cheap.

Kelly
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Sylvia on February 19, 2009, 10:29:14
Hi KM :wave:

Welcome to PlaymoFriends! It's great to have you here.  :)

I even go out of my way to various Target stores in search of Target exclusives.  This has gotten bad.   :lol:

The sign of a true fan! ;D
I think many of us here have done or still do this sort of thing. I remember once making a list of all the toy stores between here and Aberdeen (over 100 miles away) and then planning a route so I could visit them all in one day to check for discontinued or HTF Playmobil sets. I did find one or two things that were worth buying, but I'm not sure that it justified the cost of the journey. Still, it was a lot of fun - a bit like going on a treasure hunt. ;D

Have fun with your klickies and do drop in here often to share pics with us or talk about your Playmo. :)

Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: BlueWizard on February 19, 2009, 20:26:23
Greetings from up the coast... in Victoria, BC.  Yes, buy lots of Romans now before they're gone.  I always figure I have enough but then when they're gone I realize that I don't! Of course there will always be the next theme (and the next and...) that you will want to have lots of too!

David
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on February 20, 2009, 01:02:17
Greetings from up the coast... in Victoria, BC.  Yes, buy lots of Romans now before they're gone.  I always figure I have enough but then when they're gone I realize that I don't! Of course there will always be the next theme (and the next and...) that you will want to have lots of too!
David

Oh so true  ;)! Then comes the over paying for eBay auctions to fill the gap  :-\!
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Gepetto on February 20, 2009, 04:19:39
That is why it is good to have a system! I only buy what they have in stock, when they run out I stop!  :eh?: :eh?:



Gepetto
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Klickus Mobilius on February 20, 2009, 10:15:45
That is why it is good to have a system! I only buy what they have in stock, when they run out I stop!  :eh?: :eh?:



Gepetto

But...but...I've got to have my fix!  I can't go cold turkey!  I can't!   :help:
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: CountBogro on February 20, 2009, 12:09:25
But...but...I've got to have my fix!  I can't go cold turkey!  I can't!   :help:

That means you'll sooner or later succomb to a worse addiction: Ebay !!!  >:D

Bogro
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on February 20, 2009, 13:21:42
But...but...I've got to have my fix!  I can't go cold turkey!  I can't!   :help:

I feel your pain, as the evidence is proven by my eBay feedback rating  :-[!
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Gustavo on February 20, 2009, 14:54:50

I have even gone so far as ordering Roman add ons from Direct Service.   :P  I even go out of my way to various Target stores in search of Target exclusives.  This has gotten bad.   :lol:

I am looking forward to the Egyptian series.


Never give up! ;D
Do get the chances you have, because maybe Romans will be discontinued, next year :'(

(Unfortunately we have to .. er, handle with this.)

But the playmo world is vast, and there's eBay, after all, so, Romans will be around for a long time still, and Egyptians are coming all right ... And lets dream for Astecs, and for an acient Chinese collection! :yup: haha!

Anyway, WELCOME, "Titus" Klickus Mobilius! Pauperes sed gratii morituri -- playmobilis gratia -- te salutant! (Those who will die poor but happy -- because of playmobil -- salute you!) ::)

I hope you enjoy our company. Playmofriends is the best place I know in the internet! It's certainly where I most feel at home, as a community.

I was warmly welcomed here, and I hope you will feel the same!



Let me tell you a little bit about myself.  I am 49 years old and live in Sacramento, California, USA.  I live in an apartment which really does not have a whole lot of space for this new obsession.  I may have to rotate my Playmobil scenes.

Anyway, hello everyone!   :wave:

Thanks for speaking of yourself! I'm Gustavo, from Brasil :wave: See you around!


Gus
:blackhair:
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Gepetto on February 20, 2009, 16:21:24
That is why it is good to have a system! I only buy what they have in stock, when they run out I stop!  :eh?: :eh?:

Perhaps I should clarify myself, I stop buying there and go somewhere else that still has stock! :yup: :yup:


Gepetto
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Klickus Mobilius on February 21, 2009, 07:37:15
That means you'll sooner or later succomb to a worse addiction: Ebay !!!  >:D

Bogro

I hadn't even considered eBay!  Now you've put a dangerous idea into my head.  I fear I am done for.   Woe is me!  :help:

I've never used eBay before.  Is it safe?  Are the sellers trustworthy?
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: CountBogro on February 23, 2009, 08:30:30
I've never used eBay before.  Is it safe?  Are the sellers trustworthy?

To be really honest: it isn't safe as not all sellers are trustworthy. It's really a case of "buyer beware".
But sometimes it's the best way to get certain items. But perhaps you should ask in the right forum who isn't and isn't trustworthy on Ebay ...

Bogro
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: playmofire on February 23, 2009, 09:09:00
I've bought and sold on eBay for some time with no major problems.  The only one I can remember was a Playmobil racing car which was incomplete and not described as such.  I politely raised it with the seller and he was very keen to make amends and refunded part of the price.  As the racing car was only part of the lot and the stuff I really wanted was the other part, I was quite happy.  I usually only buy from sellers who will accept payment through PayPal as that's safer, and I always have a look at the seller's feedback, both as a seller and a buyer if they do both on eBay.  But in the end it comes down to what Bogro says, let the buyer beware.
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Martin Milner on February 23, 2009, 12:57:27
I doubt you'll find much Roman Playmobil being sold secondhand on eBay yet, it's so recent in the UK that the kids shouldn't have grown out of it yet. You will probably find plenty of new stuff, but not usually at prices that better ordering it direct from Playmobil.

One eBay seller I highly recommend - Play 1-2-3 is based in Malta, and she lists figure groupings that are as cheap or cheaper than buying the sets.  Very useful for building up larger army units - almost all my archers came from Play 1-2-3 as Playmobil don't sell these guys as accessories.

The best bricks-and-morter shop I've found for prices is John Lewis, though I regularly check TK Maxx for possible bargains. Nothing Roman yet that I recall, but they have had a few good Knights sets that I couldn't have got cheaper elsewhere.
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on February 23, 2009, 14:05:24
I hadn't even considered eBay!  Now you've put a dangerous idea into my head.  I fear I am done for.   Woe is me!  :help:
I've never used eBay before.  Is it safe?  Are the sellers trustworthy?

OH NO!.... Another lost soul to the addiction of eBay  ;D! It's hopeless  :0! When you type in Playmobil on to the search section, & thousands of items appear before you,.......you'll end up having to forward your mail to your new home,......eBay  :lol:, where you find yourself sitting for hours, even days, staring at your computer screen at all of the treasures with new ones being added constantly  :yippee:!
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Gepetto on February 24, 2009, 05:02:32
One eBay seller I highly recommend - Play 1-2-3 is based in Malta, and she lists figure groupings that are as cheap or cheaper than buying the sets.  Very useful for building up larger army units - almost all my archers came from Play 1-2-3 as Playmobil don't sell these guys as accessories.

After Martin recommended this seller I looked up her site and bought a Maltese Grand Master and Queen (?) figure, I had always wanted one but had never bought internationally before, her prices were good and I was very pleased in my dealings with her, I am sure I will buy from her again. :2c:



Gepetto

Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Miguel on February 25, 2009, 09:09:08
Hi Klickus!

When it gets to Ebay, I guess the real danger is...yourself  >:D

It's such a vast world of offers and dreams, painted with thousand of different photos, that you must fight yourself from the start to avoid wanting to have it all  :D and believe me, that's the REAL Rubicon!!!

But if you define some rules for yourself is safe  ;) ah, and about the sellers, as long as you are cautious and are able to define for yourself some requirements, like buying things from total positive feedback sellers, with more than "x" feedback, having the refund possibility, and as long as you are polite and maintain things calm and polite even if you feel you are not happy with the transaction, everything will be fine  ;)

Anyway...if you submit yourself to the stores enchanted voice, beware of Ebay....  8-)

And any help you need, I guess that there's always someone who can give you tips about Ebay :)

A sunny greeting from Portugal, where Roman vestiges are still strong  :wave:
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Gepetto on February 25, 2009, 15:52:16
Hi Klickus!

When it gets to Ebay, I guess the real danger is...yourself  >:D

It's such a vast world of offers and dreams, painted with thousand of different photos, that you must fight yourself from the start to avoid wanting to have it all  :D and believe me, that's the REAL Rubicon!!!

But if you define some rules for yourself is safe  ;) ah, and about the sellers, as long as you are cautious and are able to define for yourself some requirements, like buying things from total positive feedback sellers, with more than "x" feedback, having the refund possibility, and as long as you are polite and maintain things calm and polite even if you feel you are not happy with the transaction, everything will be fine  ;)

Anyway...if you submit yourself to the stores enchanted voice, beware of Ebay....  8-)


Very well put Miguel!



Gepetto
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: wonderland5 on February 26, 2009, 03:41:34
But...but...I've got to have my fix!  I can't go cold turkey!  I can't!   :help:

oh, you are hooked now! 8}

but it is a great passion to have!

welcome Klickus from the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Glad to have you with us.

Betsy
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Richard on March 01, 2009, 15:17:03


Hello, Klikus Mobilius ... :wave:

A BIG welcome from Fort Lauderdale, Florida!

Don't worry. You're only "mildly" addicted ... ;)

Can you imagine having a Playmobil Roman army this big?
see attachment
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Rasputin on March 01, 2009, 19:29:33
Hello Mobilius, welcome from California .
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Klickus Mobilius on March 02, 2009, 08:49:16


Can you imagine having a Playmobil Roman army this big?
see attachment

 :wow: :wow:
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Rasputin on March 02, 2009, 16:54:44
I noticed you stated you are in Northern California , what part ? We are in Sonoma County
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Klickus Mobilius on March 03, 2009, 11:50:43
I noticed you stated you are in Northern California , what part ? We are in Sonoma County

You are not that far from me.  I am in Sacramento.

I am a good friend of kaethe.  I believe you helped her with her avatar.  She was the one who introduced me to Playmobil.  I resisted for many months but finally gave in.  Now I am becoming addicted.    8}  It's all her fault!   :P
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Rasputin on March 03, 2009, 13:57:43
You are not that far from me.  I am in Sacramento.

I am a good friend of kaethe.  I believe you helped her with her avatar.  She was the one who introduced me to Playmobil.  I resisted for many months but finally gave in.  Now I am becoming addicted.    8}  It's all her fault!   :P

Oh yes i do recall you writing that somewhere . We make up a kind of Playmobil Triangle where anything that enters will be lost to our collections forever  :lol:

Well at least you can blame an adult I have to use the kids as the blame  :lol:
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: nicki72 on March 03, 2009, 15:22:50

Hello, Klikus Mobilius ... :wave:

A BIG welcome from Fort Lauderdale, Florida!

Don't worry. You're only "mildly" addicted ... ;)

Can you imagine having a Playmobil Roman army this big?
see attachment

HOLY COW!  That's HUGE!  I take it back...I'm not an addict after all! lol!  Very cool army!
Title: Re: Hello Everyone!
Post by: Gepetto on March 03, 2009, 16:35:58
HOLY COW!  That's HUGE!  I take it back...I'm not an addict after all! lol!  Very cool army!

Richard always has a way of keeping things in perspective :lol: :lol:



Gepetto