Playmobil Listed in a Popular McDonalds Happy Meal Toy from the 80s Post

[Rasputin]

Of course America was a bit different back then, anything not American was downplayed.

Now it's just economically, emotionally or physically bombarded. This is the land of quantity not quality. Lego was able to achieve cult status but unfortunately playmobil never was able to get its foot in the door, too wholesome perhaps?

When the lead paint scare hit the Chinese I was sure geobra would capitalize on the situation, get them some well deserved attention and market leverage but it never materialized much.

[GrahamB]

When the original Mad Max came out, they dubbed Mel Gibson's lines with someone speaking with an American accent.

 

Reminds me of the Ken Loach film 'Kes' filmed with Yorkshire actors, which had to be subtitled for audiences in the South of England (Yorkshire is in the north of England).
There was an interesting topic about local dialects (including Sheffield, which is in Yorkshire) back here.

[Klickteryx]

When the lead paint scare hit the Chinese I was sure geobra would capitalize on the situation, get them some well deserved attention and market leverage but it never materialized much.

I don't pretend to understand corporate decisions, but the fi?ures range seems one of the best things they've done in recent years and Super 4 has a lot of potential too.
I think they should expand the fi?ures like lego has. Have separate ranges for themes - sure lego uses a lot of licencing such as The Simpsons, but separate themes for sci-fi, steampunk, horror, sports could do just as well.
I think the best part about blind bags is that they're relatively cheap and small to get first time impulse buyers. Get them to collect enough of them and you have a potential customer for the boxed sets, someone who's slowly built up an emotional investment in the product so having a set that provides a building or vehicle suddenly seems like a great idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT2Tu-qgHDY

[Macruran]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT2Tu-qgHDY

Great find. I don't remember a rocking chair. I did have that Indian though.

[leefert]

Great find. I don't remember a rocking chair. I did have that Indian though.

Apparently we got quite a few Sheriffs since I have several of those rocking chairs and figures 😊

[kaethe]

I never let my children eat at McDonalds because I was sure it was not healthy, but when these came out, I made an exception and we were able to collect most of them.  There is one that is not pictured, a knight with a silver crown and a silver breast plate.  That one was my son's favorite, and in fact I still have it, although the silver is worn off quite a bit.
Playmobil was indeed for the "rich" kids, only a few stores carried it, the sets were very expensive, and I remember going to visit a boutique toy store at the boutique shopping area and we would spend hours looking at all of the sets.
kaethe

[Salamander]

Someone on my local Craigslist has been advertising the Sherrif, Umbrella Girl, and Farmer. They're listed as being New In Package, so I assume in good condition.  They've been listed and relisted for several months now, so I guess there isn't a great demand for them around here, or they're overpriced.

[tahra]

Someone on my local Craigslist has been advertising the Sherrif, Umbrella Girl, and Farmer. They're listed as being New In Package, so I assume in good condition.  They've been listed and relisted for several months now, so I guess there isn't a great demand for them around here, or they're overpriced.

AFAIK, only the booklet would be rare - cause the klickys are quite common...

I never got my hands on a box... The times I tried, they were very expensive, so I didn't. And I really shouldn't.

[hauden_lukas]

Someone on my local Craigslist has been advertising the Sherrif, Umbrella Girl, and Farmer. They're listed as being New In Package, so I assume in good condition.  They've been listed and relisted for several months now, so I guess there isn't a great demand for them around here, or they're overpriced.

I knew a guy in Canada who had dozens if not hundreds of the original ones still at his home. Apparently, he was working at McDonalds when they were forced to stop handing them out with the Happy Meals...so he ended up with lots of them...

I bought a handful...

[Salamander]

Oh! That could explain why they're perpetually listed, if someone had lots of them! Hadn't thought of that.