Ethnic balance among klickies.

[Macruran]

Hi

The church theme with the Wedding didn't sell well in Germany
It was a Flop

Take your conclusions

My read of that is that it was too deracinated. There wasn't even a cross in it anywhere. I think cultural sets should be more accurate, not less.

[cachalote]

but what about other countries? can the average indian afford an imported quality toy for his children, for example? the average egyptian?

no need to have higher prices.
http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=14781.0

stage 1 - build a factory somewhere on E asia.
if not in a country that really understands what human rights are, at least with a control over the factory that makes it a model of good wages, no child labour, "normal" working hours, etc..

stage 2 - start selling in the countries where income is as high as the european union (prices should not be higher).

stage 3 - make money.

stage 4 - wait a few years until indonesia, india, the phillipines, etc., have higher incomes.
(meanwhile, keep trying these markets with smaller sets).

stage 5 - sell everywhere and make more money.

stage 6 - with all this money, hire a decent office of designers instead of keeping the same "regional" ones (too amateur to deal with such a big market).

stage 7 - launch a gigantic open internet design platform so that everyone can propose a new set (hire sir pleamo for this).

stage 8 - world domination.

[Macruran]

That's the conquistador in you talking.

[Bolingbroke]

1) er ... that's not how toy companies work. why do you think playmobil opened a factory in malta in the 70s? and why is lego moving to china with some of its stuff? hasbro, mattel? they already have factories in east asia, and yet their toys are still expensive (he man action figures, made in china ... 28 bucks!).

2) playmobil has been doing that for almost 50 years

3) i presume they did

4) what happens is once wages start increasing (and with that, costs), the company moves elsewhere. mattel used to produce he man figures in portugal, spain etc in the 80s ...

5) dont you think someone at hasbro etc has thought about that already? see above

6 etc) no, no and no ...

[tahra]

Please keep in mind you are talking about a company that doesn't even SHIP to most countries in the world. A company that has a glitch for YEARS preventing online purchases on the iberian site, and doesn't give a darn.

I know it sounds like a joke, but they really don't want money. Especially foreign money.

[Ismene]

My read of that is that it was too deracinated. There wasn't even a cross in it anywhere. I think cultural sets should be more accurate, not less.

I think it would have sold better if it were an old style church. It was a bland modern wedding chapel.

[cachalote]

yes they do tahra, believe me they do.
maybe they have som trouble asking for it in other lamguages.

... and bollingbroke, i have to admire your assertiveness - it's not often we get to meet a playmofriend so sure of his opinions, regardless of 1 or 2 major gaffes (like the spanish / guilt subject).
... and the way your analysis can go so deep - "no, no and no" is so beautiful in its simplicity - makes me very much envy you.


p.s. a quick reading of the member guidelines sometimes helps me to relax, socialize and enjoy - http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=12832.0 and

[tahra]

yes they do tahra, believe me they do.

No, they don't.

[Bolingbroke]

at least iberia has pm official sites. malta doesn't.

re your points, cachalote, im backing my claims from experience collecting toys in general. but not only toys ... i mean, im typing this on a 500 euro made in china ipad! since when has a company lowered its prices for the consumers due to a move to a third world country  Can you cite at least one example?

the only one profiting from such moves is the company itself, in most cases. (and i say most because i don't want you to think im being so categorical all the time  )

now, if you have examples, share them with us 

[Macruran]

I think it would have sold better if it were an old style church. It was a bland modern wedding chapel.

Excellent point. In fact why haven't they done a medieval church? Next to the castle the church was the most important building in medieval towns. We have a bakery but no church!

On the Spanish guilt thing, speaking as a native speaker of English, it looked to me like both of you were saying exactly the same thing: that Spaniards don't feel guilty about things. So you agree on that.