PlaymoFriends
General => News => Topic started by: Klickus Mobilius on March 01, 2009, 10:15:22
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I went to Toys R Us today (it's a big toy retailer in the U.S.). I was in the area and thought I'd see what they have in the way of Playmobil. I rarely go there because it's a very large store, and I get intimidated. However, my neverending quest for Roman Klickies emboldened me to venture into this supermarket of toys.
Upon entering the gates of toydom, I resigned myself to searching through endless aisles for hours on end for my elusive goal. (Being a typical male, asking for directions never entered my mind. Besides, where is the thrill of the hunt if I were to ask for directions?) Near the entrance, I saw dolls, then Legos (bringing hope to my soul, for where there are Legos, surely there are Klickies nearby), then in the next aisle, I saw the familiar blue boxes! Oh, joy of joys! Klickies! :yippee: And unlike at Target, an entire shelf devoted to the little people. :inlove:
The first thing to catch my eye was a Roman catapult. Yes! <:> But wait! Behind it was another Roman catapult! Envisioning a diorama where my legions are laying seige to a hapless city, I grabbed both! Next to them were two boxes of gladiators with tigers! I don't have that one! I grabbed both! Next to that were four boxes of 5 Roman soldiers! I already have two sets...do I need more? What would Martin Milner do? I grabbed two boxes and left the other two, not wanting to be greedy. Now I have 6 boxes of Roman Klickies carefully balanced in my arms. Surely, this is enough. Surely, my appetite must be sated by now.
I looked around me. No one was staring at me.
I perused the shelf some more and saw for the first time some Klickies from the circus series. Clowns. Boxes and boxes of clowns. Very frightening. :0
I also saw some very good looking knights (not the fantasy knights, but the more "realistic" knights. Hm. Interesting. Thoughts of Monty Python and the Holy Grail galloped through my mind. Coconuts. On second thought, let's not go to to Camelot...it's a silly place.
At the end of the aisle were blister packs. More gladiators. I have those already. I don't need more gladiators. But wait! What was this? An opened box of the 5 soldiers? Someone must have returned it. Perhaps the store will allow me to purchase it at a discount.
I need a basket.
Walking purposefully yet nonchalantly to the front of the store with my treasures, I saw some shopping baskets and carts. :hmm: Better get a cart. Just in case. Wheeling the cart back to my Playmo Mother Lode, I breathed a paranoid sigh of relief that no one else had purchased from my trove. I emptied the contents of the opened box into my hand. The bags had been torn open and taped closed. Someone had definitely returned this. There may be missing parts, but I can still use what is in there.
Then I saw on the bottom shelf a familiar large box: the partial arena. There were 4 of them. They were on clearance. But, I already have one and a full arena on order from Direct. I don't need any more partial arenas. Or do I? (Again, what would Martin Milner do?) I suppose I could purchase them and sell them later on eBay at an obscene profit. But, no. I am a collector, not a dealer.
I went up and down the aisle looking behind the boxes in front to make sure that there were not any Romans hiding in the back (Romans hiding! Ha!). There were not. Toys R Us apparently keeps an organized and well-maintained shelf.
Then I saw one more thing: a Playmobil RV (Recreational Vehicle in case you don't know) camper complete with a family, bicycles, a picnic table, chairs, and place settings. I don't really have an interest in modern themes, being more interested in ancient civilizations, but I have lately wanted to buy an RV in actuality. This modern theme appeals to me. No brainer. I bought the RV. (This marks the first non-Roman themed Playmobil I have purchased. Now I want to look for more camping Klickies. Is this a turning point in my collecting?)
At the checkout, I asked the clerk if I can get a discount for the opened box since there might be parts missing. She checked with her superior and told me I can purchase it at a 10% discount which is not that great, but I accepted the offer.
I left Toys R Us poorer but very happy.
Epilogue
It turns out there were no parts missing from that opened box. Score! <:> And the RV is very cool!
Yet, there remains a kernel of doubt in my mind. I left two boxes of 5 soldiers behind. Should I have purchased them? I know what Martin Milner would have done...
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I bought the RV. (This marks the first non-Roman themed Playmobil I have purchased. Now I want to look for more camping Klickies. Is this a turning point in my collecting?)
Yes. ;D
That is how it starts. At the beginning it's easy to say "I'm only going to collect this theme or that one," but the lure of the other themes is very great. It's very hard to resist expanding into other areas - especially once you have made that first "out-of-theme" purchase.
As soon as you open the "modern" set and notice how detailed the Playmo pieces are and how closely they resemble their real counterparts, you're sunk! :P (That's what happened to me, anyway. ;))
Even Martin branched out from collecting Knights and Romans to get a few clowns. I think he has so far resisted other modern themes though.
Thanks for sharing the story of your shopping expedition, KM. It was very entertaining! :)
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Thanks for the highly entertaining story - it made even my wife smile.
... This marks the first non-Roman themed Playmobil I have purchased. Now I want to look for more camping Klickies. Is this a turning point in my collecting ...
You're definitly a step further away from sanity :lol:. I must admit, I am very open about it (must be as some of my collection is on display in the livingroom). I bought a new special yesterday, and got the immediate remark "so these are the new ones, are they?" ... mmm I didn't know it was that infamous >:D
Bogro
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Even Martin branched out from collecting Knights and Romans to get a few clowns. I think he has so far resisted other modern themes though.
wrong :-[
After seeing Gordon's wonderful photostory about an ambulance crash I got few Firemen (there was a sale on, OK about 20 figures there), and of course you have to have two or three firetrucks for them to drive (off eBay)... and some Policemen and Police cars to blocks the road off (mostly eBay)...and an ambulance or two to take away any casualties (bought new)...oh and some civilians to be the casualties...and a hazmat crew to clear up any chemical spills...and some civilian vehicles to have an RTA for the Firemen to rescue people from...and maybe a Rescue Helicopter...and maybe a TV crew...and a TV Helicopter to report on the traffic jams...and a SWAT team in case it's a terrorist incident...and...and...oh dear.
One thing leads to another, and I have far too much Playmobil, or rather not enough storage space. Note to self: must buy a bigger house :D
My main themes are: Knights, Romans (and Egyptians and Gauls thrown into the ancient history/fantasy melange), and Pirates in that order (though the pirate ships take up the most space). That ought to be enough for any self-respecting non-parent, but unfortunately I've also got all that modern stuff mentioned above...plus some underwater theme stuff...plus those scary clowns (got a bit obsessed there, I think it was cheaper than psychotherapy) and a few other Circus acts that somehow snuck in, and some Halloween stuff and Christmas stuff for seasonal displays. Did I mention the adventure/explorer theme? Oh, I've also got quite a lot of Western theme stuff.
The way I look at it, I did well NOT to get any Animal Clinic, Farm, Zoo or Pony Ranch stuff...yet. I've also mostly avoided the Fairyworld and Magical Kingdom, construction (apart from a handful of figures), trains (nowhere to run them), port or airport (though I'd like that security checkpoint, brilliant!)
Klickius - what you should do with the Romans is decide how big an army you want to build, and then buy the sets to complete that. The 5 solder packs are great as a basis for a unit, but is officer heavy. That's easily fixed with some DS accessory packs, 3 legionnaires in each pack. What is the army going to do (apart from look impressive)? So far mine has stood around and then been packed away, because I have no big play/display area, but I'd like to do a full siege (possibly against the Empire castle, and forget historical accuracy). The RV would make a nice mobile HQ for the Roman General. hmmm...
I have the self-imposed task to re-organise and possibly reduce my collection, so I can actually create some photo stories rather than spend my time brushing klickies off my monitor. Gus has been more successful than me in producing stories, partly because he has a much more focussed collection. My wife and I plan to move to the US in five years, and a lot of stuff is going to have to be containered over to Oregon, including several large boxes of Playmobil.
btw, as you've probably figured out by now, TRU has a much better range but higher prices, so Target, Walmart and other chains (Gepetto goes to Fred Meyer) should get first look, but TRU will occasionally have sales. On Friday I cycled to my local TRU (we have them in the UK too), a mere 12 mile round trip, and bought nothing, of which I am very proud.
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I must agree with Count Bogro, it is a highly entertainable story indeed. It also mirrors some of the thoughs I used to have and still have about buying Playmo. But I'm happy to say that I now feel a proud Playmo collector. Though the idea of collecting houses (the real ones) in order to be able to have enough space for living and Playmo has crossed my mind (not being a millionair has put a stop on that idea :'().
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Hello, Klickus Mobilius ...
Thank you for sharing your wonderful Playmoventure at Toys R Us! ... ;D
You are a very skilled reporter. Thanks for giving many of us an opportunity to laugh at ourselves ... :lol:
All the best,
Richard
Edit: Misspelled "Klickus" ... :-[
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Asking yourself 'What would Martin do?' is a very dangerous path to tread. :lol: :lol:
I ask 'What would Martin do?', then say 'I still don't have as many as Richard, so I am okay!'
Works so far, I think or not. 8}
Gepetto
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A very well written TRU experience . Have you considered making a Playmobil story with that talent .
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I really like your Toys 'R Us story!
Martin is absolutely right: figure out exactly what you want your army to be and what you want it to do and build it from there. It's hard to limit yourself, but it doesn't make sense to buy a bunch of items you don't end up using, as the money could be better spent on other items.
I've limited myself to the Roman, Egyptian, Viking, Medieval, Pirate, and Western themes. (After writing all those, my collection doesn't sound very limited!)
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But wait, there could be more. How about using your new RV for charleton heston's dressing room for the filming of Ben Hur? Just think of all of the accessories you will need: film crew, the construction shack for make-up, costuming, customizing the cameras on to elevated platforms, (sorry, i don't know backlot lingo), and then you could get the snack wagon, oh, and never too many extra actors, and..., and... kaethe
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You're going down a very, very dangerous road, Kaethe!
Before you know it you've collected al - or at least trying to!
Bogro
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But wait, there could be more. How about using your new RV for charleton heston's dressing room for the filming of Ben Hur? Just think of all of the accessories you will need: film crew, the construction shack for make-up, costuming, customizing the cameras on to elevated platforms, (sorry, i don't know backlot lingo), and then you could get the snack wagon, oh, and never too many extra actors, and..., and... kaethe
Great thinking Kaethe - I got the ice cream vendor set with the idea of having him selling ice cream at a big Roman vs Gaul battle, but never got round to doing the story.
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As soon as you open the "modern" set and notice how detailed the Playmo pieces are and how closely they resemble their real counterparts, you're sunk! :P (That's what happened to me, anyway. ;))
Yes! That RV is incredibly detailed! :(o): Wow! I think my favorite part is the toilet with the working lid! I am quite amused that Klickies also need to use the restroom. I'm now thinking of getting the modern house for the family to stay in when they're not travelling in the RV. Then, I have to furnish the house. Then I have to get more modern people for the family to interact with. Then...uh oh...I feel myself sinking. :help:
Have you considered making a Playmobil story with that talent .
Actually, I have considered writing a Playmobil story. I will need to outline a plot and then photograph scenes. I may need to create a storyboard as moviemakers do. Speaking of movies...
But wait, there could be more. How about using your new RV for charleton heston's dressing room for the filming of Ben Hur? Just think of all of the accessories you will need: film crew, the construction shack for make-up, costuming, customizing the cameras on to elevated platforms, (sorry, i don't know backlot lingo), and then you could get the snack wagon, oh, and never too many extra actors, and..., and... kaethe
This is indeed going down a very dangerous road. I will need to learn how to customize before I do anything this complex.
I'm glad you all liked my account of my experience. I'm sure that after some time, all this will be old and I will take a simple purchase for granted, but for now, this is very novel for me. :lol:
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Yes! That RV is incredibly detailed! :(o): Wow! I think my favorite part is the toilet with the working lid! I am quite amused that Klickies also need to use the restroom. I'm now thinking of getting the modern house for the family to stay in when they're not travelling in the RV. Then, I have to furnish the house. Then I have to get more modern people for the family to interact with. Then...uh oh...I feel myself sinking. :help:
Actually, I have considered writing a Playmobil story. I will need to outline a plot and then photograph scenes. I may need to create a storyboard as moviemakers do. Speaking of movies...
This is indeed going down a very dangerous road. I will need to learn how to customize before I do anything this complex.
I'm glad you all liked my account of my experience. I'm sure that after some time, all this will be old and I will take a simple purchase for granted, but for now, this is very novel for me. :lol:
The slippery slope has started! ;D
I have a photostory idea on the boil, and today received some new figures which are going to be integral to the plot. I really need to start writing down my ideas and not just thinking about them!
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I'm glad you all liked my account of my experience. I'm sure that after some time, all this will be old and I will take a simple purchase for granted, but for now, this is very novel for me. :lol:
I for one can tell you i have slipped down , way down the slippery slope and to this day i get so excited about the simplest purchase . Just the other day i went with the kids to get some Legos :-\ and i just could not resist getting another Asian blister pack :woohoo:
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Klickus, the account of your TRU adventure made me laugh out loud. It also made me feel a bit nostalgic for the early days of my Playmo-love when I had similar experiences. Just as with any love affair, the time may come when that thrill is gone so enjoy it and experience it fully while you still can! :yup:
Sorry to add a rather depressing note to the conversation but I have recently reached that point myself. How did I know the love affair was really over? I just returned two clearance priced 4444 sets and 3 5849 Ninja/Mandarin blister packs to Target with no remorse. Just a little sadness. :'(
P.S. to Kaethe: I like the way you think! :wow:
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How did I know the love affair was really over? I just returned two clearance priced 4444 sets and 3 5849 Ninja/Mandarin blister packs to Target with no remorse. Just a little sadness. :'(
Well, Anne ... The time had to come sooner or later ... :'(
Remember those beautiful Steck castles and houses that we all loved so much? They're almost all gone now. Everything seems to have its time and then it's gone ... :(
But, then there was a new day. The beautiful Egyptian theme that gave us hope for the future ... :)
Soon they'll be gone too. And, all we'll have are a few tired old recycled figures stuffed into blister packs stuck on the toy lane wall in Target ... :(
But, then another new day will come. We don't know for sure when or what it will be yet. But, it will get us all excited and we'll be back again ... :)
See you then, Anne ... :wave: We'll be here waiting ... Or, maybe you'd like to hang around a bit longer and wait with us. That would be very nice ... :love:
Here's to the future,
Richard
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:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
great story - this would be a great short movie and propably would win the oscar if collectors would be the jury :yup:
(I'd suggest Tom Hanks [as in Forest Gump] or Jim Carey [just imagine his face(s) while he's thinking about all the possibilities] as the main actor)
(...) I got few Firemen (there was a sale on, OK about 20 figures there), and of course you have to have two or three firetrucks for them to drive (off eBay)... and some Policemen and Police cars to blocks the road off (mostly eBay)...and an ambulance or two to take away any casualties (bought new)...oh and some civilians to be the casualties...and a hazmat crew to clear up any chemical spills...and some civilian vehicles to have an RTA for the Firemen to rescue people from...and maybe a Rescue Helicopter...and maybe a TV crew...and a TV Helicopter to report on the traffic jams...and a SWAT team in case it's a terrorist incident...and...and...oh dear.
One thing leads to another, and I have far too much Playmobil, or rather not enough storage space. Note to self: must buy a bigger house :D
hihihi ... roflmao ... and this sounds soooo familiar (http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=885.0) :lol: :lol:
it seems we all know this slippery slope damn well :lol: :yup: :-[
Well, Anne ... (...) ... Or, maybe you'd like to hang around a bit longer and wait with us. That would be very nice ... :love:
I'd second that ...
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See you then, Anne ... :wave: We'll be here waiting ... Or, maybe you'd like to hang around a bit longer and wait with us. That would be very nice ... :love:
Hey, you won't get rid of me that easily! :hmm: :lol: I will definitely be hanging around for awhile. :yup:
I just finally stopped compulsively buying more Playmobil. That was a huge step. I recently did some organizing in my attic and realized that I had become an MISB collector by default because of all the unopened boxes that I have acquired over the years from clearance tables, ebay, plus the occasional find of a rare discontinued item at a small toy store (I will probably continue to give in to that particular urge - Playmobil has proven to be a better investment than a lot of other things! ;) ) Then there are all the sets that I bought when they came out just because they were cool: the treasure room, the butcher shop, the safecrackers, beavers, skunks, raccoons, merpeople, silver knight, golden knight, misc. pals, the big roman colliseum, the red & blue houses (5 of each - why??? but I did love to receive those big boxes direct from Playmobil USA!) and on and on and on.
Not too long ago, I was planning to buy all the Egyptian sets plus the jewel thieves, some fairies, those wonderful new African animals, plus even more. Now I no longer feel the urge. I am content to see all the fabulous ways that other folks play with them. We'll see how long I last! ;)
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See you then, Anne ... :wave: We'll be here waiting ... Or, maybe you'd like to hang around a bit longer and wait with us. That would be very nice ... :love:
I'd second that ...
Seriously, it is because of old friends like the two of you, not to mention all the great newer folks here, that I will continue to enjoy participating at Playmofriends. :yup: Thanks for the kind words. :-*
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Not too long ago, I was planning to buy all the Egyptian sets plus the jewel thieves, some fairies, those wonderful new African animals, plus even more.
funny - this sounds like MY shopping list :lol:
:hmm: :hmm: how did it make it's way to Boston? :hmm: :hmm: :P
Seriously, it is because of old friends like the two of you, not to mention all the great newer folks here, that I will continue to enjoy participating at Playmofriends. :yup: Thanks for the kind words. :-*
:-[
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funny - this sounds like MY shopping list :lol:
:hmm: :hmm: how did it make it's way to Boston? :hmm: :hmm: :P
You know the old saying: "Great minds think alike!" :yup: ;D
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Hey, you won't get rid of me that easily! :hmm: :lol: I will definitely be hanging around for awhile. :yup:
Hooray !!! :clap: :yippee: :woohoo: :confetti: :cheerlead:
Not too long ago, I was planning to buy all the Egyptian sets plus the jewel thieves, some fairies, those wonderful new African animals, plus even more.
funny - this sounds like MY shopping list :lol:
:hmm: :hmm: how did it make it's way to Boston? :hmm: :hmm: :P
:-[
That's funny, Sven - It sounds like MY shopping list ... :lol:
Wonder how it made it's way to Ludwigsburg? ... :P
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I went to Toys R Us today (it's a big toy retailer in the U.S.). I bought the RV. (This marks the first non-Roman themed Playmobil I have purchased. Now I want to look for more camping Klickies. Is this a turning point in my collecting?)
Turning point?? You're done in, friend!! LOL!
And I've been debating that RV for a long time now...hm....might be time for a trip to TRU!
Thanks for sharing your story--know that you are not alone! ;D
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I just finally stopped compulsively buying more Playmobil. That was a huge step. I recently did some organizing in my attic and realized that I had become an MISB collector by default because of all the unopened boxes that I have acquired over the years from clearance tables, ebay, plus the occasional find of a rare discontinued item at a small toy store (I will probably continue to give in to that particular urge - Playmobil has proven to be a better investment than a lot of other things! ;) ) Then there are all the sets that I bought when they came out just because they were cool: the treasure room, the butcher shop, the safecrackers, beavers, skunks, raccoons, merpeople, silver knight, golden knight, misc. pals, the big roman colliseum, the red & blue houses (5 of each - why??? but I did love to receive those big boxes direct from Playmobil USA!) and on and on and on.
sound a bit like my story, from time to tiem i do have the urge for playmobil, and im happy when i dont bid on everything i like and i dont buy anything at stores just because is cute, or i may need it...
i recently sold some of my stuff on ebay, was hard to get rid of 3 victorian houses, tons of accesories, victorian trucks, a lot of union soldieres (more than 150) some old western boxes and most of my NISB 3600's medieval sets... now that i write it down i reallize was a big mistake ( :-[)... :lol: :lol:, I still want to keep what i cant quit (when you drop 3600's sets what's left??) like the old houses and my beloved steck and medieval sets... but when i reallize i got 6 4300's, 10 big beer keg's and 12 black monks, I feel the love that i got for the 3627 is not a true love ( ???) i keep dreaming of a huge diorama, create a mini world based on the europe of 1250, a medieval soldier that you can put in especific time in history... well... crazy and wierd stuff that defines us as freaks...
And then... when you may see (you choose) a ligth at the end of a tunnel or a death of a beloved friend, something miracoulos (?) happens... you got your first train... meaning... you cant stop with one... and in 3 months i got 4 electric engines 3 RC ones and around 20 carts... :o :oso, as nicki72 says...
Turning point?? You're done in, friend!! LOL!
Thanks for sharing your story--know that you are not alone! ;D
:yup: :yup:
But, then another new day will come. We don't know for sure when or what it will be yet. But, it will get us all excited and we'll be back again ... :)
Here's to the future,
Richard
Youre rigth Richard, and i guess that defines our relation with our beloved toys of our childhood
:wow: :wow:
Not too long ago, I was planning to buy all the Egyptian sets plus the jewel thieves, some fairies, those wonderful new African animals, plus even more. Now I no longer feel the urge. I am content to see all the fabulous ways that other folks play with them. We'll see how long I last! ;)
just remember... if you fall dont be afraind, theres a lot of us to soft you...
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. . . sound a bit like my story, from time to tiem i do have the urge for playmobil, and im happy when i dont bid on everything i like and i dont buy anything at stores just because is cute, or i may need it...
i recently sold some of my stuff on ebay . . .
I also recently sold some things on ebay and it was hard to let them go! :-[
i keep dreaming of a huge diorama, create a mini world based on the europe of 1250, a medieval soldier that you can put in especific time in history... well... crazy and wierd stuff that defines us as freaks...
That sounds like a wonderful idea! I used to have a similar dream of a huge diorama, except mine was of a European village combining Steck houses, castle walls, trains, etc. If I ever actually do anything like this, it will be in the future when I have some grandchildren. I have finally realized that I am not interested in doing it just for myself - there have to be children involved.
just remember... if you fall dont be afraind, theres a lot of us to soft you...
Thanks, Amd! I will count on my (playmo)friends to catch me if I fall! :)
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:lol:
Thanks, Klickus Mobilius, for this really amazing story. And actually that's how it happens: you went out for something and came back with something additional (for sure).