Recent Posts

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News / Re: THE PLAYMOBIL FACTORY IN DIENTENHOFEN IS CLOSING

« Last post by Ismene on Today at 08:37:41 »

They're doing so well at stocking the stores that now they are closing factories?! Will we see Playmobil this side of the Atlantic in the future?

My bet is on Chinese manufacturing . Low cost stable energy, huge unwilling child work force and distribution logistics worldwide. What would be more awesome than kids building kids toys to spread the smile . Maybe then we could get a proper Asian theme with distinct diversity through all the variants in Asian cultures

China does not want to show the diversity of Asian cultures. The government is working hard to suppress several of the cultures within their borders, let alone outside their borders.

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News / Re: THE PLAYMOBIL FACTORY IN DIENTENHOFEN IS CLOSING

« Last post by Rasputin on February 09, 2026, 15:59:28 »

They tried China once for their 25th anniversary if I remembe rightly and it was an embarrassing flop, so maybe "once bitten, twice shy".

The Chinese manufacturing quality is typically the problem of the one who is ordering the product and at what level of production quality…. you get what you pay for

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News / Re: THE PLAYMOBIL FACTORY IN DIENTENHOFEN IS CLOSING

« Last post by Oliver on February 09, 2026, 15:28:22 »

They tried China once for their 25th anniversary if I remembe rightly and it was an embarrassing flop, so maybe "once bitten, twice shy".

Given the way that they push the 'Made in Europe' tag in Thailand, S. Korea and in China it would be surprising to me if they would out-source manufacturing out of the EU.

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Report & Review / Re: Monster High

« Last post by Klickteryx on February 08, 2026, 21:00:36 »

What are you a collector that “plays” with his beloved treasures….i mean toys

I kind of like the oddity of the ears and hair extensions

I do too but the core market is surely younger children in terms of sales volume. These bits will get lost quickly and unlike a necklace or hat they're a core part of the figure - the ears at least.
It seems the ears should have been moulded onto the hair. I don't understand why hair and accessories have to be completely modular while larger buildings and landscape pieces are not.

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News / Re: THE PLAYMOBIL FACTORY IN DIENTENHOFEN IS CLOSING

« Last post by playmofire on February 08, 2026, 19:59:10 »

As long as the secretary doesn’t listen to some nutty brit leader and “just fight” I think the Horst Brandsatter Company can pull through with sound long term decisions.

My bet is on Chinese manufacturing . Low cost stable energy, huge unwilling child work force and distribution logistics worldwide. What would be more awesome than kids building kids toys to spread the smile . Maybe then we could get a proper Asian theme with distinct diversity through all the variants in Asian cultures

They tried China once for their 25th anniversary if I remembe rightly and it was an embarrassing flop, so maybe "once bitten, twice shy".

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News / Re: THE PLAYMOBIL FACTORY IN DIENTENHOFEN IS CLOSING

« Last post by Oliver on February 08, 2026, 16:31:58 »

I thought they had recently closed that one!

Edit: yes, in late 2023

Malta it is then ! I suspect this is another sign of 'focusing on the core markets' but maybe I'm wrong.

Perhaps this is more unsurprising news w/a political  undertone

“ Germany has lost more than $1 trillion in GDP output over the past six years as successive crises pushed the economy into prolonged stagnation, according to the German Economic Institute”

For clarification, this is a think-tank hypothesising what would have happened if there hadn't been a series of international crisis. So if there had been no Covid, and no war in Ukraine, and no tariffs from America. This feels very much in the 'if my Grandmother had wheels she'd be a bicycle' realm of thinking.

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News / Re: THE PLAYMOBIL FACTORY IN DIENTENHOFEN IS CLOSING

« Last post by Rasputin on February 08, 2026, 15:51:35 »

I thought they had recently closed that one!

As long as the secretary doesn’t listen to some nutty brit leader and “just fight” I think the Horst Brandsatter Company can pull through with sound long term decisions.

My bet is on Chinese manufacturing . Low cost stable energy, huge unwilling child work force and distribution logistics worldwide. What would be more awesome than kids building kids toys to spread the smile . Maybe then we could get a proper Asian theme with distinct diversity through all the variants in Asian cultures

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News / Re: THE PLAYMOBIL FACTORY IN DIENTENHOFEN IS CLOSING

« Last post by Rasputin on February 08, 2026, 15:40:10 »

No, I'm not saying it's not happening, I'm just pointing out that in the article there is a political element overall into which the facts are put.

Ok , I understand more now , thanks for the clarification

Perhaps this is more unsurprising news w/a political  undertone

“ Germany has lost more than $1 trillion in GDP output over the past six years as successive crises pushed the economy into prolonged stagnation, according to the German Economic Institute”

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News / Re: THE PLAYMOBIL FACTORY IN DIENTENHOFEN IS CLOSING

« Last post by GrahamB on February 08, 2026, 15:37:26 »

... in Spain where they already have a plant...

I thought they had recently closed that one!

Edit: yes, in late 2023

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News / Re: THE PLAYMOBIL FACTORY IN DIENTENHOFEN IS CLOSING

« Last post by playmofire on February 08, 2026, 09:39:38 »

So….its not happening then ?

Is your news saying factories are doing great, new production is opening up, more jobs are being created, economy is expanding ?

I’m confused

No, I'm not saying it's not happening, I'm just pointing out that in the article there is a political element overall into which the facts are put.