PlaymoFriends
General => Brainstorming For Playmobil => Topic started by: AndrewL on May 16, 2010, 15:56:43
-
Dear All,
Bill Blackhurst started a thread called 'What If...' a bit more than a week ago (here: http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=4527.0), exploring some of the possibilities and dreams some of us have regarding an official Playmobil collectors club and what that could mean.
One of the things that came up, as it has in other threads, is how we might strengthen the arguments we, as a collector/enthusiast community, make to Playmobil's management. I made a couple of suggestions (here: http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=4527.msg58842#msg58842). As others have said (on more than one occasion), having some numbers describing the amounts of money spent on Playmobil could be useful. If you read through the whole of that thread, you will see that there was some discussion and debate as to how this might be done, and some very quick-and-dirty statistics.
Well, what I'd like to do in this new thread is present some slightly more detailed figures. These numbers are, in my opinion, still preliminary, but I think they are still interesting and perhaps useful. I also wanted to get this information and discussion out where more people might see it -- I think it's a bit 'buried' where it is at the moment.
What I did was search for 'Playmobil' on EBay UK, but only for completed items (look under 'Advanced Search', and part of the way down the list of options there's a tick box for 'Completed Items'). This search gives all the items that were listed meeting the search criteria, but were completed in the last 3 weeks. I copied and pasted all the rows from the webpages for the period 14 May 23:59 back to 8 May 00:00 (a whole week) into an Excel spreadsheet, did a lot of editing to get rid of all the extraneous blank lines, unnecessary information and so on.
There were a total of 3,995 items listed, of which 2,637 sold (66%). The total value of the items sold was £22,894.54. So the average value per item sold was £8.68; the average value per item for all items listed (both sold and unsold) was £5.73. So far, so good.
I repeated the same exercise for EBay Germany (Ebay.de), but I had to limit myself just to sales yesterday (15th May 2010). There were 3,851 Playmobil items just on one day -- this gives an impression of the difference in volume between just UK and Germany! Of the 3851 items listed, 1745 sold (45%). The total value of all the items sold was €18,871.44 (remember, this is just one day 8}, albeit a Saturday). So the average value per item sold was €10.81; the average value per item for all items listed (both sold and unsold) was €4.90.
So what might this all mean? Well, first off, please don't read too much into the apparent precision of my numbers. The method by which I gathered and manipulated the raw data is not without potential for error. But allowing for that, I think the guesstimate of an average value of €5 that chacalote came up with here (http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=4527.msg58913#msg58913) is probably pretty near the mark for an average value per Playmobil item listed on Ebay (at least in the UK and Germany). Without doing the same thing I did (which is, frankly, a lot of work), we can't tell how many items actually sell on Ebay, or their total value. But that €5 average does give us something we could work with.
So, I think chacalote's suggestion about tracking the number of items listed day by day on each of the regional Ebay sites could give us some rough numbers of the overall volume of second-hand items sold, and then use the €5 multiplier to calculate the value. I don't know what the outcome of that might be, but I'd like to find out ;D.
Of course, what would be best would be if we could easily pick out items that are the sorts of things we collectors/enthusiasts would like to see Playmobil reissue, or otherwise make easier to obtain directly from them. There is, so far as I can see, no easy way to do this. I can try to burrow through the spreadsheets I have now created to try to get some more data out about what types of items sell for the highest prices, but this will probably have to wait. We will be moving house soon, and so most of my time and energy outside work will be directed toward packing and organising, not monitoring Ebay :P. And if anyone would likes copies of the spreadsheets, I'd be more than happy to supply them.
Anyway, I hope this is all of interest to some...
Cheers,
AndrewL
-
Andrew this is very good work you have accomplished! Well done and thank you!!!
I am afraid it is still numbers and statistics to me 8} 8} 8} but if other playmofriends can work more on your model proposal that would be great!!!
-
That is HUGE!
Just think, producing that info to Playmobil,
The fact that they could be making over 40,000 euros in like 1 day from JUST Uk and Germany...
It will blow their minds! :(o):
And all they need to do is make old Playmobil available through the colectors club,
Or some other method!
Thanks for your great, and very hard, work Andrew!
-
That is HUGE!
Just think, producing that info to Playmobil,
The fact that they could be making over 40,000 euros in like 1 day from JUST Uk and Germany...
It will blow their minds! :(o):
And all they need to do is make old Playmobil available through the colectors club,
Or some other method!
Thanks for your great, and very hard, work Andrew!
i don't like that at all >:( >:( to make the old playmobil again because the rarity system won't exist , and they won't be special.
-
i don't like that at all >:( >:( to make the old playmobil again because the rarity system won't exist , and they won't be special.
Ah, well... I think there is a fundamental difference in outlook here...
I accept that many people who collect things do so because of the rarity of the things -- the appeal of having something is that there are very few examples of it, and therefore there are very few other people who also have whatever that 'something' is. From your statement, my guess is that this is your feeling regarding 'vintage' Playmobil. Fair enough.
I have to say that I don't share that sentiment. I like Playmobil because I enjoy playing with it, and there are many pieces, figures and sets I would like to see reissued simply because I would like to be able to play with them without having to pay premium prices on EBay. The satisfaction I derive and the value I place on Playmobil comes from the fun of customising and playing, not from knowing that I own rare pieces, figures or sets.
That being the case, I would like to see one outcome of a collector's club be the reissue of what have become, by now, 'rare' pieces, figures and sets. And it's because of that desire that I am trying to do what I can to help that happen. I don't know whether the research I've done will make any difference, but I think it's worthwhile.
I don't mean any of this as a personal attack -- merely a statement of what I perceive to be a difference of opinion. I hope you won't take any offense, because none is intended.
AndrewL
-
this is true yes i don't say not to reissue some sets but not with the same number not the same box not the same appearanse ,not the same sets , some parts or figures or even buildings ok but mixed with new parts or some old ones mixed together from different sets. not to look like the old ones i think you get what i want to say!!!
-
Congratulations on a massive amount of work Andrew. The figures for Germany are certainly mind-blowing!
I would be interested in knowing how far above or below retail the currently available pieces/sets are selling for, how many of the bigger sellers are discontinued sets/pieces and how much they are selling for...big questions I know.
I also wonder if Playmobil knows how much of their product is listed on ebay.
-
Thanks for the interesting information, AndrewL :wave:
That really is a staggering amount! :(o): :(o): :(o):
-
i don't like that at all >:( >:( to make the old playmobil again because the rarity system won't exist , and they won't be special.
I don't really share this point of view because I believe that, assigning an excessive value to so called 'rare' items increases the prices on E-bay forcing people like me to pay too much money. I play and build with Playmobil which means I need to have access to lots of parts for reasonable prices. To me it would be great to have new releases of old parts and hopefully a collector's club will provide this kind of benefit.
-
I don't really share this point of view because I believe that, assigning an excessive value to so called 'rare' items increases the prices on E-bay forcing people like me to pay too much money. I play and build with Playmobil which means I need to have access to lots of parts for reasonable prices. To me it would be great to have new releases of old parts and hopefully a collector's club will provide this kind of benefit.
I share your sentiment kenc...not to mention that if i pay alot on an item its hard gfor me to enjoy it in playing...its hard for my to bend it, customise it hit it etc...!!!!
-
I think the numbers are by far not only for vintage playmo. There are a lot of people / toy shops merchandising new playmo with good prices and/or for international shipping. So, these are not plain numbers about what would playmo get from a collectors club.
Further I think playmo is very well aware of playmo-sales on ebay. Recently, german collectors had to convince the guys at DS that they do not retail spare parts but use them for their customs.
But still, these are very interesting numbers, thanks for all this effort collecting these, AndrewL... :wow:
best,
socrates
-
There is a simple solution to the issue of providing affordable access to rare parts or sets to those of us who want to "play" while still preserving the value and rarity of old sets for collectors: Playmobil can simply re-issue the rare parts and sets in bags or plain brown boxes through Direct Service. Easy as pie! :)
-
I don't really share this point of view because I believe that, assigning an excessive value to so called 'rare' items increases the prices on E-bay forcing people like me to pay too much money. I play and build with Playmobil which means I need to have access to lots of parts for reasonable prices. To me it would be great to have new releases of old parts and hopefully a collector's club will provide this kind of benefit.
There is a simple solution to the issue of providing affordable access to rare parts or sets to those of us who want to "play" while still preserving the value and rarity of old sets for collectors: Playmobil can simply re-issue the rare parts and sets in bags or plain brown boxes through Direct Service. Easy as pie! :)
well playmobil is changing we can't ask them to remake all the old toys . there are new sets disighned and ,new people to make succesfull toys and show their work !! as indianna said some very wanted old sets can be remaide throught ds in brown boxes or in bags the smaller parts such as the medieval tailor's green house ,the bakery and others wanted
-
i don't like that at all >:( >:( to make the old playmobil again because the rarity system won't exist , and they won't be special.
You can't please everyone all of the time :hissyfit:! I'm all for replacement parts becoming available once again, for the die hard collectors among us trying to improve their non complete acquisitions! I would also like to see reissue of sets as requested by collectors as limited editions :love:! Thank you AndrewL, for these interesting figures :)9! Hopefully your efforts will spark some real evaluation by Playmobil in this market area :prays:!
-
You can't please everyone all of the time :hissyfit:! I'm all for replacement parts becoming available once again, for the die hard collectors among us trying to improve their non complete acquisitions! I would also like to see reissue of sets as requested by collectors as limited editions :love:! Thank you AndrewL, for these interesting figures :)9! Hopefully your efforts will spark some real evaluation by Playmobil in this market area :prays:!
is this going to happen or we are just talking about it?
-
is this going to happen or we are just talking about it?
Don't know, but actually it's partially happening at least. A lot of previously thought parts are being re-released again. For instance, the old throne model was a rather rare part until it started to re-appear in 4339 (multiset knight) in blue and in the new 4865 big castle.
But it's not enough 8-) , I'm still a big fan of classic edition releases like Lego does.
-
i didn't knew it came in blue !!!! looks modern :P but this is only a part many parts have been realesed again in all years of playmobil such as hats ,accesories ,chairs and even the 3750 ship see here http://www.dunnstoyandhobby.com/v/vspfiles/photos/PLA5778-2.jpg
-
That throne is fantastic in blue!!!! The ship is also awesome in this colour!!!! If only it had different sails....
-
That throne is fantastic in blue!!!! The ship is also awesome in this colour!!!! If only it had different sails....
i bought it :doh: :doh: :doh: :doh: when i was on the playmobil here in athens with the thought i could change it sails and all others (i liked the coulor of the ship ) but the front stick broke and i cant use it any more :( :( :( :( :( :( :( 30-40-50 euros gone waisted around there i don't remember exactly :-\
-
I like Playmobil because I enjoy playing with it, and there are many pieces, figures and sets I would like to see reissued simply because I would like to be able to play with them without having to pay premium prices on EBay. The satisfaction I derive and the value I place on Playmobil comes from the fun of customising and playing, not from knowing that I own rare pieces, figures or sets.
:clap: :clap: :clap:
-
Agree also , thast why i dont keen stes unopened, i love buying playmobil and settting them all up as i see fit !!! Best toys ever made ... ;D
-
Hi All,
I've been away for work the past couple of days with no chance to get to the Internet. I'm glad to see that folks have found the numbers of interest.
I'm under no illusions that all of what's traded on EBay would count as 'collectible,' i.e., genuinely rare or vintage or otherwise desired by the likes of collectors/enthusiasts like those on this forum. But as I said, and others have echoed (thanks!), the numbers so far are interesting nonetheless.
I also agree that Playmobil must have some idea what's going on with EBay, as was pointed out. But the question is: how much of an idea?
I haven't had a chance to do anything more, either in analysing the stuff I've got so far or collecting any new data, but when I get a chance I will try. Given work pressures and the fact that we're moving house soon (weekend after next :(o):), I don't know when that will be...
Anybody else interested in just keeping track of the number of Playmobil items for sale on a day-to-day basis?
Cheers,
AndrewL
-
Sorry, I could never keep track of numbers like that! :o 8}
Playmo1989,
Perhaps you don't like the idea of there no longer being a collectobil Playmobil item because we can all buy them from Playmobil itsself...
But think of it this way:
Other people may have the set, but only you have the *original* set...
One that was actually produced in the 80's or whenever.
Perhaps playmobil should make a mark on their new "old" sets
(if they ever make them)
Telling collectors like Playmo1989 that the sets are not the original ones.
Maybe a brand on the foot or something like that, they already do it.
-
sorry wot i missed something what do you mean on this phrase i don't understand : "Playmo1989,
Perhaps you don't like the idea of there no longer being a collectobil Playmobil item because we can all buy them from Playmobil itsself..."
you say that they won't be collective playmobil
-
sorry wot i missed something what do you mean on this phrase i don't understand : "Playmo1989,
Perhaps you don't like the idea of there no longer being a collectobil Playmobil item because we can all buy them from Playmobil itsself..."
you say that they won't be collective playmobil
No, I am saying that you seemed distressed before
because the really old sets would not be collectobil anymore if Playmobil started reproducing them.
-
Don't worry alex. I am sure that even if the older sets are reproduced, you will still have more colectable items since yours will be the first that playmobil produced and the newer ones, well, they will be just newer ones...
Kinda like books and comic books: first editions are always more collectable that the newer ones...
-
Don't worry alex. I am sure that even if the older sets are reproduced, you will still have more colectable items since yours will be the first that playmobil produced and the newer ones, well, they will be just newer ones...
Kinda like books and comic books: first editions are always more collectable that the newer ones...
Collectable or not, value being opened or boxed etc etc personally I dont really care about these, i care about enjoying my collection to the full, looking after them and set them all upon. Otherwiese its like these people who have very expensice exotic cars and keep them in a garage , they are such losers !!! you only live once i say and the things we are fortunate to have should enjoy the most otherwise regrets come only too late ( 3 ft under ... etc etc ) . enjoy your klickies people !!!!! They are meant to be played with and not kept in their boxes !!!!!!!! :wave: :wave: :wave:
-
Collectable or not, value being opened or boxed etc etc personally I dont really care about these, i care about enjoying my collection to the full, looking after them and set them all upon. Otherwiese its like these people who have very expensice exotic cars and keep them in a garage , they are such losers !!! you only live once i say and the things we are fortunate to have should enjoy the most otherwise regrets come only too late ( 3 ft under ... etc etc ) . enjoy your klickies people !!!!! They are meant to be played with and not kept in their boxes !!!!!!!! :wave: :wave: :wave:
HEAR HEAR!!!!! Viva la (klicky) liberte!!!!!
-
To comment on this discussion, lets face it, there are very few really old retired sets in existence that are MIB, or in perfect assembled condition complete with instructions, decals properly installed, with all parts present down to the parts sprees, yes, when I assemble a MIB set I keep everything even down to the parts holder sprees, & they're stored in the original box ;D! In the 10 years that I have been searching, bidding, buying, 3526 fire engine's, which is my all time favorite retired fire department set, it is extremely rare to ever find one 100% complete, with out any damage, with the decals in exact correct position, & their grey parts not discolored! That is why I would enjoy seeing this set reissued using the vast improved plastic quality so I would be able to assemble them myself to my strict standards, & not trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear!
-
To comment on this discussion, lets face it, there are very few really old retired sets in existence that are MIB, or in perfect assembled condition complete with instructions, decals properly installed, with all parts present down to the parts sprees, yes, when I assemble a MIB set I keep everything even down to the parts holder sprees, & they're stored in the original box ;D! In the 10 years that I have been searching, bidding, buying, 3526 fire engine's, which is my all time favorite retired fire department set, it is extremely rare to ever find one 100% complete, with out any damage, with the decals in exact correct position, & their grey parts not discolored! That is why I would enjoy seeing this set reissued using the vast improved plastic quality so I would be able to assemble them myself to my strict standards, & not trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear!
True Bill, i share your sentiment!!! 3258 camper van was one of my favoutire sets as a child...I'd like to see it again and buy it at a reasonable price so that i can play with it. Not, haviing payed 60 euros for it, being afraid if i'd damage it in any way and avoid all contact with it! The same applies for a 3750 pirate ship. At them moment i still have one in box, never opened...i am looking for an opportunity to see it next to my other playmobil ships...i lack the space not..but who knows in a couple of years time...
-
.. bring back nuremberg guards also .. i need 500 of them to guard my mediaval city. Please !!!! :P :P :P :P :P
.. and bring back steck , everything else is weird , cheapish and nothing like good old steck .
PS: Today i was in a meeting and as i was removing mu mobile from my pocket to put on sielnt and then on table a little steck toaster appeared , a colleague next to me asked ' what is this' , i sayd i dont know, she was about to take it but i took it as i waw quicker and i said , i' i think its a part of something i bought ' and left it there ... steck is in me office now also ... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
PS: Today i was in a meeting and as i was removing mu mobile from my pocket to put on sielnt and then on table a little steck toaster appeared , a colleague next to me asked ' what is this' , i sayd i dont know, she was about to take it but i took it as i waw quicker and i said , i' i think its a part of something i bought ' and left it there ... steck is in me office now also ... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Aw! a true collector has been born ;)!
-
No, I am saying that you seemed distressed before
because the really old sets would not be collectobil anymore if Playmobil started reproducing them.
if 8-) it is difficult to reproduce all the old sets playmobil has 35 years history how they will make them again all ? perhaps some of the wanted older sets will come on the ds katalogue pages in broun boxes not in the regular catalogue
-
Collectable or not, value being opened or boxed etc etc personally I dont really care about these, i care about enjoying my collection to the full, looking after them and set them all upon. Otherwiese its like these people who have very expensice exotic cars and keep them in a garage , they are such losers !!! you only live once i say and the things we are fortunate to have should enjoy the most otherwise regrets come only too late ( 3 ft under ... etc etc ) . enjoy your klickies people !!!!! They are meant to be played with and not kept in their boxes !!!!!!!! :wave: :wave: :wave:
depends how someone sees the use of the things to talk for me i don't like playing i love to see them on display the toys and the mib boxes as you tell if all the cars were used we woulden't have the first cars from the biggining of the century so playmobil if all the boxes were opened and thrown to the garbige there would be no playmo history!!
-
I believe that there is plenty of space in the Playmobil world for the folks who want to use their Playmobil for play as well as the folks who just want to collect and display MISB sets, not to mention all the other folks in between.
If Playmobil re-issues the old rare sets that are in high demand (whether in colorful set boxes or plain wrappers) the MISB originals will still have a high value to serious collectors and, most importantly, those unopened originals will be able to stay unopened! :)
-
.. bring back nuremberg guards also .. i need 500 of them to guard my mediaval city. Please !!!! :P :P :P :P :P
.. and bring back steck , everything else is weird , cheapish and nothing like good old steck .
PS: Today i was in a meeting and as i was removing mu mobile from my pocket to put on sielnt and then on table a little steck toaster appeared , a colleague next to me asked ' what is this' , i sayd i dont know, she was about to take it but i took it as i waw quicker and i said , i' i think its a part of something i bought ' and left it there ... steck is in me office now also ... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: You should see the face of my colleagues when the parcels arrive at work, or when the post office manager calls me to notify me that something big has arrived!!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
-
I believe that there is plenty of space in the Playmobil world for the folks who want to use their Playmobil for play as well as the folks who just want to collect and display MISB sets, not to mention all the other folks in between.
If Playmobil re-issues the old rare sets that are in high demand (whether in colorful set boxes or plain wrappers) the MISB originals will still have a high value to serious collectors and, most importantly, those unopened originals will be able to stay unopened! :)
I am totaly with you there Indiana!!! I love to see my playmobil on display...i love to customise them....i love to play with them...and i love to see them in their boxes...sometimes i might get a set two or three times... (not talikng about my obsession with specific themes, rather about set that i like for some reason) one is for playing, one is for customising, the third is to just to look at the box...
-
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: You should see the face of my colleagues when the parcels arrive at work, or when the post office manager calls me to notify me that something big has arrived!!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
what do they say??
-
I believe that there is plenty of space in the Playmobil world for the folks who want to use their Playmobil for play as well as the folks who just want to collect and display MISB sets, not to mention all the other folks in between.
If Playmobil re-issues the old rare sets that are in high demand (whether in colorful set boxes or plain wrappers) the MISB originals will still have a high value to serious collectors and, most importantly, those unopened originals will be able to stay unopened! :)
100% totally agree with you Indiana!
And I hope everyone has a great time enjoying their Playmo the way they like enjoying it! :)
-
what do they say??
Nohing really... they just stare silly for a few moments and then they gather around me asking anxiously...oh goody!!! What did you get today?
-
Nohing really... they just stare silly for a few moments and then they gather around me asking anxiously...oh goody!!! What did you get today?
well usually after going to the post office i pass from my grandmothers house which is close to take a rest and after go to my house ,always argues with me and screams that i'am waisting the money on toys !!! one day i accidently pressed the bell of the nighbours house as well my grandmother opened her appartment door the neighbour also she screamed WHAT HAVE YOU BOUGHT AGAIN DOLLS!!!!!! and the neighbour shutted his door on my face so i prefer silly looking !!!!!!!
-
.... is extremely rare to ever find one 100% complete, with out any damage, with the decals in exact correct position, & their grey parts not discolored! That is why I would enjoy seeing this set reissued using the vast improved plastic quality so I would be able to assemble them myself to my strict standards, & not trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear!
I agree with Bill as well, the main reason I'd buy a MISB is so I can put everything on straight or not glue down wallpapers so I can wash parts as they get dusty. Although looking at the prices some sets go it wouldn't be a bad investment putting away a few sealed boxes to sell later on in a few years. I wonder what will happen to the price of the Victorian Fence when it's reissued later this year?
I think I spent about £80 on a fence a few years ago, and I had to think twice about spending that much even then. Now the prices have shot up to £200-£300 which is way more than I could afford, So I'm glad the old sets are being reissued so I can get my hands on things I'd love to have but have always worried about the cost.
Like alot of us here I like to rebuild things and make new stuff and some times the parts are so expensive, I'm working on a Tudor Manor house and I've used 10 of the plain walls so far which have cost me between £5-£9 each. At a quick count so far its cost me over £200 to buy the parts I've needed mostly from ebay, so I cant wait for Pm to reissue chimneys, walls etc. I'd build a whole Town :love: without worrying about ruining a rare piece.