DS in the UK, When?

[Sir Gareth]

I recently purchased 6 more UK catalogues from the 90's and finally found the answer to one of my Questions and that was when did DS become available to the UK.

The answer is 1997. 

It was interesting to see Lhaap's German DS catalogue from 1990 and is was thinking that we might of got DS here about 1992.

In the 1997 catalogue I have you didn't get the DS catalogue with it but there was a small flyer in there and a method of sending of for one.

[playmofire]

I think before then there was a sort of unofficial DS.  I've heard of an old lady who was employed in the UK to deal with requests for spare parts.

[Sir Gareth]

I think before then there was a sort of unofficial DS.  I've heard of an old lady who was employed in the UK to deal with requests for spare parts.

 After reading this I suddenly conjured up an image in my head of an old Grey haired lady Knitting in a chair waiting for the phone to ring. 

I'm sure there would of been some sort of system to deal with requests for extra parts before DS was officially launched here in the UK.

[playmofire]

After reading this I suddenly conjured up an image in my head of an old Grey haired lady Knitting in a chair waiting for the phone to ring. 

I'm sure there would of been some sort of system to deal with requests for extra parts before DS was officially launched here in the UK.

Maybe it was not so unofficial as I suggested, but a well-established Playmobil dealer (since retired) told me in the mid-1990s that originally UK Playmobil did employ an old lady whose job was to deal with requests for lost or broken parts.

[Martin Milner]

LOL that sounds so like Playmobil. My impression is there's only two or three ladies there even now to deal with the orders, though they are always very helpful and friendly som maybe it's just ensuring the personal touch.

[playmofire]

LOL that sounds so like Playmobil. My impression is there's only two or three ladies there even now to deal with the orders, though they are always very helpful and friendly som maybe it's just ensuring the personal touch.

I find the same, Martin.  My orders have usually been dealt with by Caroline or Tina, but I think there are another two people at least.  (I had a Christmas card with the names on but it's been packed away now.)

[tiger1983uk]

Only from my own experience, there was definately a Direct Service catalogue available in 1994 because I can remember my parents buying me the lookout tower from the Western fort and the original Robin Hood & Maid Marion from DS in 1994 for when I started secondary school I also remember ordering the dark grey suit of armour like the one from the museum from DS around the same time.