PlaymoFriends
General => News => Topic started by: Martin Milner on March 03, 2009, 08:24:46
-
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. :'(
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! ;)
Forgive me for quoting you out of the original thread Indianna, I thought it better to start a new thread than to take KM's too far off track.
I guess a time comes eventually when a collection becomes a burden, and what used to seem wonderfully abundant now seems overwhelming. A review of what one already has is a likely tipping point.
I've been watching my purchases more closely recently, not because I don't want new stuff, but because in about 5 years I'll need to move my entire collection half way round the world (from London UK to Eugene OR) and it's already big enough to be a storage problem in my current house. It likely won't be a problem in my future house (we're planning on a house 2.5 to 3 times the square footage) but the trip from London to Eugene is the potential problem. We'll be renting a sea container (or part of one) to carry what we can't carry on the plane, and I'm trying to ensure that I don't occupy the entire container with Playmo. We're not taking any furniture or electrical stuff, so the container will be filled with clothing, books, DVDs, hobby stuff (like my wife's spinning wheel and my Playmo) and the like.
My purchasing has also naturally eased off, because I only need so much of any theme. I've got all the Police, Fire & Hospital stuff I need to create a good scene, so even if Playmo release new versions of these things, I don't need them. I have two big castles, and enough leftover wall sections to create a ruined castle for bandits or barbarians, so I won't be buying anymore castles, though I will still add individual knights.
The Egyptian theme is giving me difficulties, because some of the sets look bulky, so far I have only figures, and I suspect I would still be able to buy this theme in America in 5 years, so why buy now and have to pay to transport it?
I've set myself the task of reorganising my collection, and potentially getting rid of some of the less-used pieces and themes. Like Indianna, I've got many unopened boxes, partly because I bought so much so fast that I haven't had time to open it, and partly because I don't have the space to have much out at a time.
I don't keep sets in their original boxes, unless it's the easiest way to store them. Generally I sort things into categories and re-box them; for example most of my Knights are kept in groups in zip-lock bags, and taken out only when I want to use that group.
My aim is to get several 84 litre Really Useful Boxes (the biggest size that I can fit through my loft hatch, and still carry when stuffed with Playmo), and divide into themes, one for Pirates, one for Knights, one for Romans, one for modern world (inclusing all Police, Rescue and Hospital) etc.
The zip-lock bag inside a bigger box seems the best way to go, so I can sub-divide themes into manageable portions.
-
I've heard of more people suffering a "Playmo-burnout". IMHO it depends on how one starts off.
Those that start off buying all they can see ;) seem to suffer from it more then those (like me) who just go about buying a few sets at a time. I think I only buy a few sets a month (and mostly small sets as well) and I open them (almost) immediately. Somehow that seems to keep the magic going. I'm always excited to open a new box or lot from E-bay. But perhaps that's me - still too much of a kiddie :-[
Most of the burnouters seem to return, although lessened in drive.
... The zip-lock bag inside a bigger box seems the best way to go, so I can sub-divide themes into manageable portions. ...
That works perfect for me - I've been doing that for years now ;-). I only have to try and find a place where I can store it all together. Wilma's been suggesting the rubbish tip - but she hasn't dared doing that (yet) ;D
Bogro
-
Thanks for starting the new thread, Martin. I appreciate it. :)
I don't keep sets in their original boxes, unless it's the easiest way to store them. Generally I sort things into categories and re-box them; for example most of my Knights are kept in groups in zip-lock bags, and taken out only when I want to use that group.
The zip-lock bag inside a bigger box seems the best way to go, so I can sub-divide themes into manageable portions.
My storage system is like yours except I only have one theme so far. Well, I'm about to start a new theme after purchasing the RV. :P
I've heard of more people suffering a "Playmo-burnout". IMHO it depends on how one starts off.
Those that start off buying all they can see ;) seem to suffer from it more then those (like me) who just go about buying a few sets at a time. I think I only buy a few sets a month (and mostly small sets as well) and I open them (almost) immediately. Somehow that seems to keep the magic going. I'm always excited to open a new box or lot from E-bay. But perhaps that's me - still too much of a kiddie :-[
Since I don't buy everything I can see, hopefully, the magic will keep going for me. I'm still very excited.
-
Martin,
I tend to wax and wane - as you have probably noticed, until the last few days, I haven't made a post for several months. . . I will get my fill of playmo and put it all in a closet(or two) for a while so that I can have a grown-up living room. Something always seems to drag me back, though and out it comes again, along with trips to the toystore and endless hours on ebay.
Don't be too hasty in getting rid of your collection, please, because the cost of the shipping container will pale in comparison to the remorse you will have if you do. I still pine for the playmo I garage-saled when my son was younger and I thought we'd "grown out of it".
Pack it away for a while and it will be like Christmas again when you open it back up.
By the way, Oregon is a fabulous place for Playmo lovers! My sister lives in Portland and they have several toystores up there that stock full lines as well as Target and Fred Meyer. Their craigslist is always packed with Playmo too.
Kelly
-
Hi Martin , A short shipping container is what 8 feet X 8 feet X 20 feet long and then they are 40 footers and 54 footers . If 1/2 the shortest one is used that is still 640sqf . How much Playmobil do you have ? Seeing as playmobil is a light weight plastic no matter how tight you pack it could you really go over any weight limits ? Reading that ever common sob story of how people got rid of their old playmobil i would imagine getting sadder over disposing of part of your collection and finding it difficult to re-obtain them latter . Playmobil is a bit harder to get here in the US . Perhaps you could use your stronger currency to begin purchasing here ahead of time, have one of our Oregon members store it for you and then you will have a whole welcoming crowd awaiting your arrival . Obviously I am not in a burn-out mode :lol:
I guess becoming a burn-out is so individual it would be hard to take a census on the matter . Some start collecting for children and when they grow up they move on to other teenage subjects . I for one have always collected things and even though we plan to move someday I see no problem taking it all with me. I guess I just want to play with my future Grandkids as those are the golden years of having children .
-
Hey martin!
If you decide to liquidate anything in your modern theme, make sure you let me make an offer first :yup:! I promise to give them a loving home :love:! Plus you can come & see it anytime 'cause I live in the South Eastern USA, & you'll have unlimited visitation rights ;)!
Bill
-
Forgive me for quoting you out of the original thread Indianna, I thought it better to start a new thread than to take KM's too far off track.
I am very glad you did, Martin - I was starting to feel like a hijacker! :-[
I guess a time comes eventually when a collection becomes a burden, and what used to seem wonderfully abundant now seems overwhelming. A review of what one already has is a likely tipping point.
A tipping point - exactly! Though I never thought of myself as a "collector" per se. I started buying the stuff for my kids and I just got really carried away because it's just such a great toy and there are so many wonderful different themes. You guys know what I mean! ::)
I've been watching my purchases more closely recently, not because I don't want new stuff, but because in about 5 years I'll need to move my entire collection half way round the world (from London UK to Eugene OR) . .
I hope you enjoy your time in Oregon - it's very beautiful there! (I grew up in Portland.) :)
-
. . . I guess becoming a burn-out is so individual it would be hard to take a census on the matter . Some start collecting for children and when they grow up they move on to other teenage subjects . I for one have always collected things and even though we plan to move someday I see no problem taking it all with me. I guess I just want to play with my future Grandkids as those are the golden years of having children .
So true, Rasputin! While a lot of us may end up in a similar place, each of us has taken a different path to Playmobil. I am one of of the group that started by buying Playmobil for the kids but then didn't (couldn't) stop buying even though they had moved on to other things. Like you, I look forward to playing with future grandchildren and I definitely plan to keep a lot of Playmobil for that purpose, but I will probably just keep the sets that my kids actually played with plus a few items that round out the main themes (lots of Steck castle, jungle & animals, small Victorian house and furnishings.) This "collection," however, is probably only about 20% to 25% of the total Playmobil that I actually have stored in my attic. 8} I am currently working on thinning things out a bit (a lot?) Even though this may not be the best time to be putting stuff on ebay I simply must get rid of some of this stuff and free up some space (the money would be nice, too, of course! ;) )
-
. . . I definitely plan to keep a lot of Playmobil for that purpose, but I will probably just keep the sets that my kids actually played with plus a few items that round out the main themes (lots of Steck castle, jungle & animals, small Victorian house and furnishings.)
Forgot to mention ships and pirates! :-[
-
Even though this may not be the best time to be putting stuff on ebay I simply must get rid of some of this stuff and free up some space (the money would be nice, too, of course! ;) )
Do tell when you start listing things! I, for one, cannot imagine letting any of my (er, "our") Playmo find a new home! The girls already know who will "inherit" it when they outgrow it! But, from what I've been reading, maybe our collection isn't as huge as my husband thinks it is! :D I'll echo Bill--there's a home for stray Playmo here in Florida! :yup:
-
A short shipping container is what 8 feet X 8 feet X 20 feet long and then they are 40 footers and 54 footers. If 1/2 the shortest one is used that is still 640sqf . How much Playmobil do you have?
To be honest, I'm not exactly sure yet. To make room in my study I had to put stuff in the loft, and only when that was full did I get boxed into a corner in the study. I'm hoping it's about 6 to 8 84 litre boxes, but I haven't confirmed that yet. The container has to hold more than just Playmobil of course. 8x8x10 is 640 cubic foot, not square foot. I don't imagine we can pack everything to the top. I've got 4 of the 84 litre boxes, and my first task is to fill those and see what's left. I'm planning to re-start some knightly photostories, and to do them I need space. I gues my problem is not that I don't enjoy the Playmo, but that I don't enjoy it filling every spare inch in my room, and that's my fault for not being tidier.
I realised after I posted that my post was a trifle misleading, I wasn't referring to my burnout but Indiana's. I'm not burnt out just yet, but I am putting my purchasing on a pilot light out of necessity. I'm pickign up figures because they take no space, but anything like a building is probably not on the cards, especially now Playmobil are designing them out of big hunks of plastic that can't be stored small.
I'd love to start purchasing Playmobil in the US in advance, but don't want to impose on any friends to have to store stuff for me for 5 years, yet, but it's a possibility. Gepetto lives in Portland and might be able to keep a storage box or two in his garage or shed or something, but we haven't discussed it.
-
When I first started with Playmobil it was the fire and rescue theme, but of course other items were needed, e.g. police, ambulance, buildings, "civilian" vehicles, domestic and farm animals etc. Then, about seven years ago, I also got into the sailing ships and related sets and more extensive police and hospital, but especially the ships etc, even to planning a big photo story around the sailing ships and armies. The end result was that I got more and more away from my reason for collecting Playmobil (fire and rescue) and more and more stuff to store. In addition, I was also doing more and more custom fire engines and so overall less and less fun out of PM. So a few years ago I started a clear out which is now almost complete, just some modern stuff which is surplus to needs. and is going to a church playgroup is now on the to go list. At the same time, I made a decision to limit my buys and concentrate on the PM sets, notably vehicles, more suited to the era of my fire brigade, the 70s and 80s. As a result, the modern vehicles are not usually on my buying list, although I have bought the new ambulance and ambulance car. As regards the new fire engines, I will buy parts from them such as the new rescue gear to upgrade my custom fire engines, but not the whole vehicle. Similarly, I am upgrading my other non-fire vehicles. I have two of the orange Unimog construction vehicles and I am buying the snow plough parts from the new 4046 construction truck to fit to one of these. Looking at this year's UK releases, the only ones I'm definitely planning to buy are the 4049 builder's trailer and one (maybe two) of the new police motorcycles with the working lights. When DS re-issue old sets which fit in with my time period or smaller sets such as furniture come out in the main catalogue which attract me, I'll buy those, but otherwise it's more a matter of consolidating what I've got and playing with it more.
Phew! that's a long post. Sorry folks!
-
I'd love to start purchasing Playmobil in the US in advance, but don't want to impose on any friends to have to store stuff for me for 5 years, yet, but it's a possibility. Gepetto lives in Portland and might be able to keep a storage box or two in his garage or shed or something, but we haven't discussed it.
Not a problem Martin, just let me know. :)
Gepetto
-
well i had a very log post that got deleted because i was looking for a word... and now i just what to express my frustation :omg: :omg: :omg: :doh: :doh: :doh: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :no: :no: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :omg: , not enough $%#@^$&#$# #@%$$# **** @#$#$^$^#
well the main idea was the diference between collector and who are more easily burnout...
i try to keep things out of house, i dont like my girl or visitors see how sick i may look... i got in my balcony like half of my stuff... the other half at the storage, my ships with my mom and my cathedral with my brother
do you think this id burnout??
-
For all of you who think they may have too much Playmo . . .
Have you seen the pictures of Richard's storage units???
-
well i had a very log post that got deleted because i was looking for a word... and now i just what to express my frustation :omg: :omg: :omg: :doh: :doh: :doh: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :no: :no: :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :omg: , not enough $%#@^$&#$# #@%$$# **** @#$#$^$^#
well the main idea was the diference between collector and who are more easily burnout...
i try to keep things out of house, i dont like my girl or visitors see how sick i may look... i got in my balcony like half of my stuff... the other half at the storage, my ships with my mom and my cathedral with my brother
do you think this id burnout??
I feel your pain Amd :yup:! I wonder sometimes if I'll ever be able to completely stop! Just when I think, oh I finally have enough, BLAST Playmobil comes out with a whole new list of items for a theme I like to collect, & BOOM the got to have bug strikes again :doh:!
Bill
-
I just bought another storage container to house my expanding collection. I’ve got some Massai Warriors on the way and I plan on purchasing all the Egyptian sets and having an Egyptian army.
I’ve only been back into Playmobil for a couple years now so I’m not burnt out, but that’s perhaps for a few reasons. First, I’m trying to limit myself to just a few themes. Second, I’ve spent most of my time buying, customizing, and organizing my collection. I’ve been working toward various Playmobil goals, so perhaps once I achieve them I’ll get “burnt out” although I think I’ll mostly be excited to finally be able to “play” with my collection.
One thing I’ve learned is that it’s okay to have smaller armies. While it’s impressive to have hundreds of klickies, I’ve found it’s a lot easier to store, set up, and move smaller armies.
I can certainly see how a large collection could seem like a burden, but I think one might regret selling it.
-
i try to keep things out of house, i dont like my girl or visitors see how sick i may look... i got in my balcony like half of my stuff... the other half at the storage, my ships with my mom and my cathedral with my brother
do you think this id burnout??
:(o): You certainly have a lot.
I wonder if I will amass that much. I can't imagine it. I promise to be good. 0)
-
:(o): You certainly have a lot.
I wonder if I will amass that much. I can't imagine it. I promise to be good. 0)
:lol: :lol: So young! So naive! :lol: :lol:
Gepetto
-
stick to the pirates, you have to stick to the pirates! 8}
(this is waht i am saying to myself repeatedly after reading this thread) :yup:
-
I think cachalote has something there! Once you lose your focus you are doomed, doomed I say! I only wanted some Romans, a few knights maybe a Viking or two, then the Pirates w/ships, then a port city, then Victorian. I am expecting my 2nd biplane this week to go with my motorcycles. 8} 8} Worse part is, I am enjoying every minute! :love:
Gepetto