PlaymoFriends
General => News => Topic started by: Indianna on October 22, 2009, 15:23:19
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I was just checking out Playmobil.de to see what sort of advent calendar themes we might see next year in the US and it looks as though there is a whole new design that eliminates the little individual boxes. Here are some pics from playmobil.de:
4160 Dragonland Advent Calendar (http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Detail?pid=4160&cgid=)
4159 Pony Farm Advent Calendar (http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Detail?pid=4159&cgid=)
I have mixed feelings about this development. ??? One the one hand, those little boxes can be a pain to assemble and they are always falling off the calendar background, but they are charming little individual "gifts." On the other hand, doors are a more traditional advent calendar concept and there may be a big savings in one's own assembly time and holiday-related labor if they are completely assembled in the factory.
Also, I am rather sorry that over the past few years the trend has been away from holiday-related advent calendar themes and more focused on whatever new theme that Playmobil is pushing, such as "Dragonland" which just doesn't say "Christmas" to me the way that Santa's Workshop or the Angel Bakery did. :'(
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I totally agree with you, Anne!
The recent Advent Calendars from Playmobil certainly don't seem to be in the spirit of the Christmas Season ... :(
So, just for you (and the other folks who also love Christmas), I've resurrected the "Old Photos" topic and added the final pictures. The last of the old photos just happen to be about the Christmas Holidays! Click HERE (http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=1428.msg43994#msg43994)!
All the best and Happy Holidays a bit early,
Richard
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Thanks, Richard! Your wonderful photos definitely put me in the Christmas spirit! Though it is a bit early . . . . ;)
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Thanks, Richard! Your wonderful photos definitely put me in the Christmas spirit! Though it is a bit early . . . . ;)
Christmas will be here before we know it, Anne ... ;)
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I agree also . The little boxes were a big hit in our house . The set up time might have been there but the fact that each kid got his revolving turn to open a little surprise was well worth it . I also agree with the loss of Christmas in the whole concept . How Christmas-ee is a thief being chase by the police ?
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You mean you wouldn't be delighted to receive a trash can as a gift?
I agree the non-holiday themes are odd. I don't mind the Fairy ones so much, though those would be better as some sort of Easter/Spring seasonal item.
The pony farm would would be fine, but it could use some more winter or Christmas decoration to it
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The last advent calendar I bought was 4155. I really think they should have kept up the "generic" calendars along with the themes even if they did change the format. Personally, i have no interest in investing in 2 or 3 calendars a year, so I don't buy any of them. Also, I don't associate unicorns and pirates with Christmas. If they still had a generic I would buy it...
I, too, find assembling the boxes, etc. rather time consuming as we have all the calendars starting with [3850] Advent Calendar I. In fact, back in 2005 I suggested they ought to produce a background to incorporate all the sets. My rep and the North American VP thought that was a great idea...
So much for American ingenuity! Ha Ha Ha
Maybe we should flood the head office with emails demanding they bring back our beloved "Christmas" advent calendars!
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I still do get them even though they are a bit off the Holiday Spirit. I must say though since we do not have snow in our area the ones like 4155 "Christmas in the Forest" or 4151 "Animals' Christmas" are quite special. The only thing though is as a collector I am a bit biased and look at the parts that I will be getting and see how well they fit in to what I may be working on at the time. If the set has a bunch of Holiday only stuff I would be less inclined to get it, i certainly do not need any more Christmas sleds . I would love to see one with a whole bunch of Elves just because I want more of them in different colors but it would make for a very boring calendar ( oh look another elf, great that makes 24 wee ).
It is also about time Playmobil changed the 3 wise men they are getting a bit old. Maybe they could put a little life into the theme and cheer people up a bit. The three little kings again, photo w/Santa , the tree decoration sets or maybe a whole new set like Christmas office party :confetti:
One that I like a lot for the parts is 3974
(http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1601/3974back.jpg) (http://img26.imageshack.us/i/3974back.jpg/)
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. . . . a whole bunch of Elves just because I want more of them in different colors but it would make for a very boring calendar ( oh look another elf, great that makes 24 wee ).
This is my problem with Santas - we must have a couple dozen of them but at least there are several different styles - I would love to have more elves, though, especially in different colors/designs!
One that I like a lot for the parts is 3974
(http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1601/3974back.jpg) (http://img26.imageshack.us/i/3974back.jpg/)
This set does have some great parts - that stove, the red grandfather clock, plus Santa in his "work clothes." It is also one of my favorite sets (of all themes) because it was partly responsible for my lengthy love affair with Playmobil. Several years back I found two open and incomplete sets at a local discount/salvage chain here in New England (Building 19 :love: .) One was the 3974 Santa's Workshop and the other was the 3667 Small Castle at a combined cost of about $30. This seemed like a lot of money at the time but that was before I had developed my Steck obsession ::) and before I was aware of the whole Playmobil line (up to that time we only had a few small sets that my kids had received as gifts.) Anyway, the 3974 was missing the calendar and boxes but did have the background and all the pieces so the backdrop went inside the castle and it became Santa's workshop which was found under the tree on Christmas morning. For several years after that, we had two different advent calendars each year until my kids got bored with it. I still keep up the tradition with my young niece and nephew, though, and they seem to enjoy them very much in spite of the non-Christmassy nature of the new ones.
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After reading everyone's comments, it occurred to me that Playmobil may be missing an incredible opportunity.
I hesitate to mention it, for fear that Geobra might just do it. And, if they did, I would be hooked. I would have to buy every one of them. And, I really don't need another "must have" collection!
HELLO, EVERYONE IN ZIRNDORF. PLEASE DON'T READ THIS!
Playmobil's missed opportunity is Advent Calendars depicting Christmas in each and every country. One from Denmark, one from Russia, one from England, one from France, one from Italy, one from Austria, one from Brazil, One from Mexico, one from the Caribbean, and the list goes on and and on and on ...
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I am glad to see that I'm not the only one disappointed in the direction the Advent Calendars have gone.
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After reading everyone's comments, it occurred to me that Playmobil may be missing an incredible opportunity.
I hesitate to mention it, for fear that Geobra might just do it. And, if they did, I would be hooked. I would have to buy every one of them. And, I really don't need another "must have" collection!
HELLO, EVERYONE IN ZIRNDORF. PLEASE DON'T READ THIS!
Playmobil's missed opportunity is Advent Calendars depicting Christmas in each and every country. One from Denmark, one from Russia, one from England, one from France, one from Italy, one from Austria, one from Brazil, One from Mexico, one from the Caribbean, and the list goes on and and on and on ...
Hi Richard! :wave:
I'm glad you put that "warning" in big red letters so that every one at Geobra will be sure to stop reading before they get to your suggestion! ;)
I think your idea is brilliant and they should get on with it immediately!
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I think your idea is brilliant ...
Aw, shucks, Anne ... :-[
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Yes Playmobil please take note of the Big Red Letters
I do not need to start a collection of 200-ish sets of fun filled education ;)
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Playmobil's missed opportunity is Advent Calendars depicting Christmas in each and every country. One from Denmark, one from Russia, one from England, one from France, one from Italy, one from Austria, one from Brazil, One from Mexico, one from the Caribbean, and the list goes on and and on and on ...
That is indeed a great idea! :yup:
Geobra, pay no attention to this man's idea!
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On the other hand, doors are a more traditional advent calendar concept and there may be a big savings in one's own assembly time and holiday-related labor if they are completely assembled in the factory.
I purchased advent calendar 4155 Christmas in the Forest at my local Fred Meyer store simply because it had the new system of doors instead of the little boxes. I wanted to see how it was put together and see if it was easier than the "old" method. You still must put the cardboard dividers in the advent calendar "body" and place each of the toys in the appropriate space. It comes with an instruction booklet (as in the past) but it also has a little picture of which piece goes in each space printed in that space. I'm not really sure that it's any faster to put together and I have some doubts about how easy it is going to be to open the door and get the toy out without taking the calendar off the wall. (Assuming that you do hang it up and not just lean it against a convenient pile of blue boxes that sit around my house on all horizontal surfaces.)
I wish now that I'd taken some photos of the set up before I got it all together. I didn't put the tape on it yet to hold it closed so if anyone would like a photo of what it looks like inside with all the cardboard dividers in place just let me know and I'll see if I can get it to pose for me.
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That is most interesting, Rona! So they still make us do the work, then. :hmm:
It would be lovely to have a photo or two, if you have the time. :love:
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Hello :wave:
Just put my calendar together and thought I would take a picture for anybody who might not be getting one this year. The new system is comprised of dividers . When you get the set the box has a sleeve on it that is the box you see at the store . You slip it off and you have the calendar you hang on the wall . Inside you build these cardboard dividers and you simply put in the parts. When you close the lid each compartment has a little door that you open to retrieve its surprise. It was quick and easy once I figured out what I was looking at . I prefer the old method even with the little extra time building all the individual presents . I really liked watching each kid cherish the little box and shake out its contents . Now with this system it will be like the game operator where you try to fish out the little parts out of a confined space . My favorite part is the villain who looks like the masked rider . I really do not know what a robber and two cops chasing him has to do with Christmas but I guess the boys will like it
(http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9468/p1010040ow.jpg) (http://img248.imageshack.us/i/p1010040ow.jpg/)
(http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/8712/p1010042ix.jpg)
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
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My favorite part is the villain who looks like the masked rider . I really do not know what a robber and two cops chasing him has to do with Christmas but I guess the boys will like it
"The Mad Monk"
Shoplifter @ TRU :P?
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Thanks for the photos Rasputin, I think I prefer the older version myself ( I just like the little boxes).
That robber figure would make a good start on a 'Lone Ranger' custom or better yet 'The Phantom' since he already has the purple pants.
Gepetto
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It seems several of the advent calendars have been issued in both versions - the 24-box type and the 1-box-with-doors type. I ordered 4155 Forest Animals and 4158 Fairies from Playmobil Canada and they arrived last week; 4155 came with 24 boxes, and 4158 had 1 box with doors. Until the middle of November, these two, as well as 4157 Police, were showing as 24-box type on the German website, but now show as 1-box. 4156 Pirates is no longer on the German site, but still shows as 24-boxes on the international sites. 4159 Ponies and 4160 Dragons have only ever shown as 1-box, so I guess that's the plan for the future.
I have instructions for the 24-box versions of 4155, 4157, and 4158, and for the 1-box version of 4158 (my own!). So I'm looking for plans for the 1-box version of 4155 and 4157, as well as 4159 for which I have nothing. I'll add pictures for both versions of the boxes to the set-pages shortly.
PlaymoDB List - Recent Advent Calendars (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/your_set_list.pl?setlist=4155,4156,4157,4158,4159,4160;title=Recent%20Advent%20Calendars)
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The 4156 currently available at the discount stores has 24 boxes.