PlaymoFriends
General => News => Topic started by: sysliana on August 10, 2014, 23:07:56
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Can anyone tell me about how long after a set is released in Europe is it released in the US? And how do you know if a set that comes out in Europe WOULD be released in the US? I have my eyes on a BUNCH of new stuff, and I hate waiting :P
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Roughly 12 months later, i.e. in the following year. Exclusive sets, e.g. those produced for stores, won't usually be released outside the country of the store they were produced for.
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Typically the items come out in Europe one year and the US the next. However, Toys R Us has been buying the rights to sell some of the sets early (same as European release).
I believe the Funpark gets the items a little earlier than the regular US release.
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The above is generally true for all regular sets - those you would see on the Playmobil.de website. Exception is the Figures series that are released in the US about 2 months after the European release. As mentioned Toys R Us gets some sets early. They also get some sets exclusive to the US. A few of the European exclusive sets become available to Playmobil Collectors Club members through the club. We have to arrange shipping through club members though as they haven't worked out logistics for offering the club items through PlaymoUSA.
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then there are those sets that are normal releases in Europe but never, or really late to the party, make it to the US. Many US members have been using Amazon's international shipping with great success
Playmobil USA has no idea what they are going to get so its useless to ask. The PCC was to be our link to the company but they only answer simple questions, as in, "what color is that part?", "is that a new ------?", type of things. Asking them if the re-released Green Victorian Car is ever going to make it to the US, no response. It finally came years later :-\
As a collector your can imagine how frustrating that would be, not knowing if the toy you collect is even going to be available and if they would at least say yes or no we could plan on different sources.
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then there are those sets that are normal releases in Europe but never, or really late to the party, make it to the US. Many US members have been using Amazon's international shipping with great success
Playmobil USA has no idea what they are going to get so its useless to ask. The PCC was to be our link to the company but they only answer simple questions, as in, "what color is that part?", "is that a new ------?", type of things. Asking them if the re-released Green Victorian Car is ever going to make it to the US, no response. It finally came years later :-\
As a collector your can imagine how frustrating that would be, not knowing if the toy you collect is even going to be available and if they would at least say yes or no we could plan on different sources.
Yes, that is very frustrating. There really should be a way to know more for toys like these.
My son is starting to really get into the Knight sets lately and I have the Castle 3666 but it was used and its old and some parts of it are broken and the walls are a bit discolored. I was looking into getting the Lion Castle for him before its discontinued, but then I saw the new castle that is supposed to be released in September and it looks really fun too. And Im wondering do I get the Lion Castle before its discontinued, or just wait until (possibly) next year for the new one. Or hell! GET THEM BOTH! LOL. I also really love the little knight bag sets that come with the knight and the horse. But again, waiting a year.. ugh.
I actually have a really good friend that lives in Sweden who is willing to ship me any playmobil I want.. but as a single mother, the prices for the product, on top of the shipping costs (The castle would be like almost 300 bucks, and for 4 bags it would be about 80) just seems ridiculous. Im not a collector, only a mother of a child who loves Playmobil over Lego so for me, waiting isnt a big deal. But it is a little disappointing. Thanks for all the responses. :)
Sysliana
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My son is starting to really get into the Knight sets lately and I have the Castle 3666 but it was used and its old and some parts of it are broken and the walls are a bit discolored. I was looking into getting the Lion Castle for him before its discontinued, but then I saw the new castle that is supposed to be released in September and it looks really fun too. And Im wondering do I get the Lion Castle before its discontinued, or just wait until (possibly) next year for the new one. Or hell! GET THEM BOTH! LOL. I also really love the little knight bag sets that come with the knight and the horse. But again, waiting a year.. ugh.
I believe all these recent castles are system WHY (meant to stand on their own), so I'm not sure your son will be thrilled with them. I think if you get both you will have two castles.
IMO, you'd be better off hunting a bunch of steck parts you could use in a gazillion different ways to expand your 3666. Make a huge fortress. Make two castles. Make a town. Make a wall. Make whatever the Tartarus you want.
I actually have a really good friend that lives in Sweden who is willing to ship me any playmobil I want.. but as a single mother, the prices for the product, on top of the shipping costs (The castle would be like almost 300 bucks, and for 4 bags it would be about 80) just seems ridiculous.
At least like... 16 years ago or so, Sweden had quite expensive playmobil. Can't remember the shipping costs, but I doubt they can beat Germany.
And of course, being off the EU, you will still need to contend with those LOVELY people from customs (may the Others take them!)
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Thank you Sysliana for your question and everyone's responses. It's a great discussion. It's helpful to know that the PCC doesn't have information about upcoming releases. Rasputin, I completely agree with you that it's very frustrating not to know if an item will make it to the US. I also called Playmobil USA multiple times about the green Victorian car. ???
Does anyone know if there is a way to find out which sets Toys R Us will get early (other than just waiting to see what is on their website)? My girls really want the babies with the new hands from the Kindergarten sets. I know that they are just being released to Europe. I'm hoping they will make it to the USA before August 2015.
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the pcc does have all the info they just choose to not share it, as though telling us that the green car is going to be delayed for a few years is going to kill the market or something? Not telling us only leads us/me to speculations. my speculations was that the green car was delayed due to TRU's FAO set containing the same car and TRU wanting collectors to buy the overpriced Victorian hut set. TRU seems to have lots of influence over at Geobra as was seen with the recent "made in China" sets only for the US market. TRU has a low price point target with its typical low quality toys. Money talks and BS walks.
Finding out what TRU sets will be on the US early release has not been figured out yet, YET. Geobra knows months, if not a year in advance. They have to overproduce those sets for the added demand. Some one at the factory knows what is going on. Some one at TRU knows also, they have to preorder them. People talk.
If there is a set you really want early, I suggest amazon. It was mentioned that even the prices are not bad, shipping and all.
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I was actually planning on completely getting rid of the 3666 (I know, GASP!).. My son really has no interest in building it himself, or making it different or bigger, he just wants it built so he can play with it. And being as its old and kind of broken and discolored and just scruffy looking, I was thinking a whole new castle set would be nice.. Thats why I was thinking either getting the Lion Castle before its discontinued, or putting up with the scrappy 3666 one more year until this new one is released here in the US.
When you mention buying off amazon, do you mean buying off amazon.de? Or checking US amazon and hoping someone puts it on there? I tried doing amazon.de once, when I was considering getting the hospital, but the problem of being unable to read it, even with the translator on there, was just a PITA.
The tournament knights I want on Ebay, theres all 4 of them for 73, plus 5 shipping.. thats like 20 a piece, which seems so high for them, arent the bags usually sold in US for like 13 bucks? Thats like an extra 30 bucks for all 4. Id rather wait a year lol..
SIGH!
Sysli
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I wait or other collectors send us stuff and have never used amazons international service. There is a tread with many good reviews. We collect every single theme so we get quite overloaded with " I need that set" list.
An unwanted 3666, please keep us in mind when you decide to retire it. There are about 4 dozen collectors in here who will use it no matter it's condition.
With the one castle being your kids memories I understand wanting a newer one. We only have stecks castles so I have no opinion one the "lion" and the new one.
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If you are undecided about getting the lion castle, I wrote a review about it here on the site with many pictures.
http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=13594.0
It might help you decide wether to get this one or wait for the new one.
Personly I like the look of both castles, though I personly dislike the look of the soldiers for the upcomeing medieval theme. They look like clowns while these yellow lions look quite nice. They just have too much knights compared to the amount of soldiers, but a DS order can fix that.
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TRU seems to have lots of influence over at Geobra as was seen with the recent "made in China" sets only for the US market.
Wait, what? PM made in China??
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my speculations was that the green car was delayed due to TRU's FAO set containing the same car and TRU wanting collectors to buy the overpriced Victorian hut set. TRU seems to have lots of influence over at Geobra as was seen with the recent "made in China" sets only for the US market.
I also questioned if the green Victorian car was delayed in the US due to TRU's Victorian set. But I didn't realize some Playmobil sets are made in China.
Thank you for the recommendations of trying to get Playmobil early. I don't know anything about the new castle, but I will be watching the Kindergarten and the new Modern House sets.
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Wait, what? PM made in China??
The Costco sets, and apparently some of the TRU sets, though I don't go to TRU. Last I heard, they were sending the molds back to Europe. I hope that's the end of that.
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A couple of the vehicles produced two or so years ago were made in China and it was a big disaster for the company. They wont be doing it again.
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A couple of the vehicles produced two or so years ago were made in China and it was a big disaster for the company. They wont be doing it again.
We could have told them that before the mistake :P I bet someday they will try again 8}