PlaymoFriends
General => News => Topic started by: Timotheos on April 06, 2008, 23:34:05
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Because they're so cheap, I've bought several of the 4650 ghosts from Target (US $2) in case I ever want an undead wedding or something...
http://www.playmodb.org/setpics/4650.jpg
But, it took me a few minutes to realize...
PM swapped out the hair!
(The one on the left is correct, which I bought last year through PM USA's current line. The one on the right is Target's. Both have the same box, depicting the messy, long hair. I cracked open two of my new boxes, purchased a month apart from different targets. And both have the incorrect hair.
Granted, I barely give a ["condemnation"] and I'm definitely not concerned enough to write PM.
I just thought it odd because you know how picky PM used to be about depicting precise contents on the box back.
-Tim
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Hello, Timmy ... :wave:
I just thought it odd because you know how picky PM used to be about depicting precise contents on the box back.
There are more than one thousand Target stores in the United States.
All of the Target stores that I have personally visited across the country, seem to have a limited range of Playmobil sets. The customer demand for the few sets available in Target's narrow range of Playmobil product may put a bit of a strain on Playmobil's production! Therefore, minor "substitutions" may be the only way that Playmobil can deliver their product on time to Target's shelves.
This "imagined" explanation is not suggested here as an excuse for Playmobil ... it's just a guess at what may be happening.
If this supposition is correct, let's hope that Playmobil can meet the growing demand for Klickys everywhere and we'll stop seeing any more of these "switcheroos" !!!
All the best,
Richard
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Hi Richard
That sounds like a reasonable explanation.
-Tim
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Hello, Timmy ... :wave:
I forgot to ask you about the "ghost" looking at the book about Hadrian's wall.
Are you planning a surprise for your Romans? ... :)
All the best,
Richard
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And I thought this part switching began and would end with the Roman arms! This is quite aggravating.
Hello, Timmy ... :wave:
I forgot to ask you about the "ghost" looking at the book about Hadrian's wall.
Are you planning a surprise for your Romans? ... :)
All the best,
Richard
Yes, I was thinking the same thing, Richard. Tim, are you up to something with your forrest elements and book on Hadrian's Wall? Anxious inquiring minds want to know!
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All my 4650 ghosts have the "wrong" hair, though it doesn't bother me in the slightest for this figure.
For the record I cracked one open today after reading this thread and the printed batch reference on the box side is:
349 06 0619
IB20813
003039
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All my 4650 ghosts have the "wrong" hair, though it doesn't bother me in the slightest for this figure.
For the record I cracked one open today after reading this thread and the printed batch reference on the box side is:
349 06 0619
IB20813
003039
Thanks Martin. I'll try to track down my box from last year out of curiosity. I might have bought it before I started saving boxes.
To Richard:
Heh, no, the Hadrian's Wall book was reference for the revised Fortlet / Milecastle I'm working on.
As for Roman ghosts:
(Credulous) Romans may have believed in a sort of vampire, the lamia. Though the source book I got that from didn't specify what region or era.
Romans probably also believed in a ton of undocumented superstitions, imported from the various cultures they absorbed (which doubtlessly were beneath the dignity of the likes of Tacitus to document--any more so than the ridiculous stream of "New Orleans Hauntings" and "Ghost Hunter" fare that crosses our paths.*
* My sister has a friend who is a "ghost hunter." Ghost hunting requires a lot of charisma. Otherwise there is only so many times an adult with a camcorder can walk into an old house, blabbering about the "vibes" he feels, then take fright at his own shadow while some outcast college professor tries to interpret the "visitation" in terms of contemporary physics before the eager television crowd starts feeling deja vu.
-Tim
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Hello, Martin, Timmy and Justindo ... :wave: :wave: :wave:
All my 4650 ghosts have the "wrong" hair, though it doesn't bother me in the slightest for this figure.
The mind plays such great tricks upon us all ... ;)
When I first read Martin's post I was blown away ... he has "four thousand six hundred fifty ghosts with the wrong hair" ... 8}
Fortunately the "rational" part of my brain kicked in and I then remembered that 4650 is the set number ... :lol:
It's no wonder that people believe that they see ghosts and all sorts of other things ... ;D
All the best,
Richard
Edit: Decided to change typo "Al the best" to "All the best"
(I never really thought Al was the best!) ... ;)
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I get confused by European numbers.
Ie:
Brit 303,000,000.56 = Eur 303.000.000,56
Did they do that just to be different? Is it still called a decimal point? Decimal comma?
Indian numbers are at least original:
30,30,00,000.56
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I think that it's necessary for Playmobil to be accurate in what they show on the boxes! It's an important part of the high quality toy that we all expect. This example of what's happening at Target is one of the good reasons they should stop selling at big chain stores. Most of the people that shop at Target aren't looking for a specific toy (like Playmobil) anyways.
It seems like they would be doing better here in the US if they supported the smaller shops that they sell to, and stop with Target and TRU.
Okay, I'll step down from my soap box now...
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Hello, Steve ... :wave:
It seems like they would be doing better here in the US if they supported the smaller shops that they sell to, and stop with Target and TRU.
Did you know Alan Hess the former president of Playmobil USA?
Those were almost Alan's exact words to Horst Brandstätter!
I, for one, agree with both you and Alan!
However, we are not the owners of Playmobil. And, the owner of Playmobil is now a billionaire, so he must be doing something right ... ;)
All the best,
Richard
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I know, I know. They need to sell toys to make a profit. The thing is, the small toy shop here in town can't even get their Playmobil Rep. on the phone to place an order. She gets two shipments a year, and they are partial amounts of what she asks for. A similar story exists for the shop in the next town over!
I'm seeing a market that exists, but is not supplied. It doesn't make sense to me. I'm willing to pay for quality, and want to buy locally...
As long as I can order direct I can get the sets I want, but it would be great if I could support a local business at the same time. Playmobil used to say that you should see the toys in person, now it's harder to do than ever before.
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Just to clarify, gloobey, this change of hair is nothing whatsoever to do with Target as a retailer. None of my ghosts were bought at Target, and the boxes are sealed, the retailer has no control over what's actually inside.
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Hello, Timmy ... :wave:
Just to clarify, gloobey, this change of hair is nothing whatsoever to do with Target as a retailer. None of my ghosts were bought at Target, and the boxes are sealed, the retailer has no control over what's actually inside.
I'm a bit confused. You have just written that none of your ghosts were bought at Target. But, you had previously written that you had, "bought several of the 4650 ghosts from Target ... "
Because they're so cheap, I've bought several of the 4650 ghosts from Target (US $2) in case I ever want an undead wedding or something...
I'm not trying ti build a "case" here, Timmy. However, as I said, "I am a bit confused" ... 8}
All the best,
Richard
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Hello, Timmy ... :wave:
I'm a bit confused. You have just written that none of your ghosts were bought at Target. But, you had previously written that you had, "bought several of the 4650 ghosts from Target ... "
I'm not trying to build a "case" here, Timmy. However, as I said, "I am a bit confused" ... 8}
All the best,
Richard
Yes you are confused 8} Richard, because I am not Timmy, I am Martin. Does that clear up the confusion?
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Good morning, Martin ... :wave:
Yes you are confused 8} Richard, because I am not Timmy, I am Martin. Does that clear up the confusion?
Perhaps I should NEVER respond to posts first thing in the morning ... :-[
(Especially before that first cup of coffee) ... :lol:
Thank you very much for un-confusing me. Hopefully, your "cure" will last all day ... :lol:
All the best,
Richard
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Hi Martin, I'm not all faulting Target, they sell what they get off the truck that week. I think Playmobil needs to answer for their decision to sell to Target, along with substituting parts to meet demand.
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I think that it's necessary for Playmobil to be accurate in what they show on the boxes! It's an important part of the high quality toy that we all expect. This example of what's happening at Target is one of the good reasons they should stop selling at big chain stores. Most of the people that shop at Target aren't looking for a specific toy (like Playmobil) anyways.
It seems like they would be doing better here in the US if they supported the smaller shops that they sell to, and stop with Target and TRU.
Okay, I'll step down from my soap box now...
When I was a kid, we bought Playmobil from Kmart and I believe Sears. My recent story: I quit collecting as a kid; in 2000, I bought Victorian themed sets for my Mum from a bookshop near my office; after I moved, I went back into hibernation until my mom started buying Christmas sets from Target.
It's a little snooty to call distributing to Target and (especially) Toys R Us as an image gaffe.
TRU is a bonafide toy store. And, in the US, Target is considered an upmarket alternative to Wal-Mart--so you could argue that PM is looking out for its image. And, if you don't distribute to toy stores, who do you distribute to?
A small minority of you guys, bless your hearts, get wrapped up in that 1990s morality that asserts that any shop with a staff larger than two (mom + pop = 2) is an evil institution.
To Mom and Pop: we love you guys, but if your store does too well, expands too much, we'll turn our noses up at you. It's about image. It's about my self-esteem. I'm better than the rabble. Do you understand??? (PS. And I'm not a snob. I champion the masses, provided we aren't seen together in public (It's cool to champion the masses, just not cool to be the masses).
But I digress...
In short: like I said, I bought PM as a kid from Kmart and Sears. PM has a history in the states of selling mass market.
I tell you what: 95% of those eclectic toys that sell only through speciality toy shops would love to find themselves on a shelf at Target.
They don't target tiny shops as an act of morality, but because they can't demonstrate the market penetration to woo the bigger stores.
Toy manufacturers are more pragmatic than we shoppers are.
"I would NEVER sell to anyone who shopped at <sniff> TARGET. Not that I have anything against <sniff> FACTORY WORKERS and vagrants. I just <ah ha ha ha> prefer that my products find homes devoid of FLEAS and HEAD LICE. No offense. Not that the hoi polloi has any business taking offense from their betters. <Ah ha ha ha>"
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A small minority of you guys, bless your hearts, get wrapped up in that 1990s morality that asserts that any shop with a staff larger than two (mom + pop = 2) is an evil institution.
To Mom and Pop: we love you guys, but if your store does too well, expands too much, we'll turn our noses up at you. It's about image. It's about my self-esteem. I'm better than the rabble. Do you understand??? (PS. And I'm not a snob. I champion the masses, provided we aren't seen together in public (It's cool to champion the masses, just not cool to be the masses).
:hmm:
Personally, I love Target :heart: - I shop there frequently for many different things and I wish that they would sell as much variety of Playmobil as a typical high-end toy store might. Further, I wish that Toys-R-Us, Walmart, Sears, Costco, BJ's, Fred Meyer, etc., etc. would do it too. The more Playmobil the better!!! The reality is that this type of store has a specific retail strategy of turning over inventory in one season and then putting new and different items on the shelf for next season. They typically do not hold inventory for more than one year which is why so many of us have been able to get some great clearance deals on Playmo items. This is true in all departments, not just toys - try buying a set of dishes or sheets or outdoor furniture and then go back a year later to get more of the same - it won't be there.
Small toy stores are having a hard time staying in business for all kinds of reasons. Playmobil USA has a reputation of not supporting them, so these small businesses stop selling Playmobil. Sad to see these small businesses suffer, but the truth is it probably has more to do with the general economy, changing trends, and Walmart than it has to do with Playmobil USA.
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Good point Indianna! I shop at Target on a regular basis too but the fact that they don't carry the full line of Playmobil, and they turn things over so quickly tells us that they really don't care about the toys, just what they can sell.
The exclusive Target sets concentrate on good guy vs. bad guy play with an emphasis on fighting. These exclusive sets sit right next to G.I. Joe at the Target near me. The Playmobil catalog has much more to offer than that i.e creative role play in a variety of settings with the option to mix them together to form completely unique worlds for each individual child.
This isn't about being a toy snob, I genuinely think that there is more to playing than fighting and killing and blowing things up. A majority of the toys at Target appeal to that lower form of play. If Target and Playmobil get together and decide to offer their entier line nationally then the better for all of us who want healthy, creative play.
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Hello, Steve ... :wave:
The exclusive Target sets concentrate on good guy vs. bad guy play with an emphasis on fighting. These exclusive sets sit right next to G.I. Joe at the Target near me
I hadn't thought about it before, but after reading your comments it does appear that Target looks at Playmobil as solely a boy's toy! hmmm ... ^-^
Do you head on down to the Target in Seattle to do some of your Playmobil shopping?
(As you probably know, there's a great SuperTarget store at Northgate.)
All the best,
Richard
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Actually Richard, I Target shop in Silverdale. It's the closest one to me. Northgate is a good 3 hour drive (or a ferry ride). That Puget Sound thingy has a tendency to get in the way :-)
It would be great to see the Grande Mansion or the new Fairyland sets at Target wouldn't it?
Have you ever shopped at Magic Mouse Toys in Seattle? They have an excellent Playmobil selsction. They currently stock all of the new sets that are available (it's in Pioneer Square, just a few blocks from the Seattle ferry terminal in case you haven't been there).
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Hello, Steve ... :wave:
Actually Richard, I Target shop in Silverdale
Have you ever shopped at Magic Mouse Toys in Seattle? They have an excellent Playmobil selection.
Thanks for the info on the Silverdale Target!
I've never been to the Magic Mouse.
There used to be a great toy store in Port Angeles. They carried the full line of Playmobil. They also had a lot of discontinued sets. I was really sorry to see them close up
We have a very nice store in Victoria called Foxglove Toys. They carry a decent selection of Playmobil.
The best, in my opinion, is the Granville Island Toy Company (http://www.toycompany.ca/) in Vancouver. They seem to have the best selection of Playmobil on Canada's West Coast.
I'm sure that there must be some other Playmobil retailers! There are a few that carry a very limited number of sets. Like the Bay for instance.
You sound like you've done a very good job of researching the area since you've been there.
All the best,
Richard
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Hi Richard, I was heartbroken when the Port Angeles store closed. They had an amazing array of blue boxes there. The last time I went was during their clearance/retirement sale. I still think about it everytime we drive over. Now, the only reason I go there is to visit the Pacific Rim Hobby Shop by the ferry terminal.
The Granville Island Toy Company sounds great. Is there also a toy train museum on Granville Island? I seem to recall reading about it somewhere...
You sound like you've done a very good job of researching the area since you've been there.
There are two more that you might want to check out if your ever on Whidbey island. One is in Freeland, the other in Langley. Both are owned by the same person, they are officially Hallmark shops but have a big toy section with extensive Playmobil on hand. Freeland is basically an intersection on the main road. The shop is in the only plaza. Langley is small, the shop there is up at the "top" of town.
The last one I know of is in Winslow (the ferry terminal town) on Bainbridge Island. That's the terminal that takes you over to Seattle. It sounds like you might know that one. The shop is called Calico Cat. Very small, but they have a decent amount of Playmobil and have been known to have older, discontinued sets in stock.
Sometimes my wife thinks that I'm a little too knowledgable about wher the toy shops are :-)