DS ACW (US civil war) soldiers worldwide removed from Online Shops & Funstores

[Hadoque]

Today, I and some other collectors noticed the following:

The Direct Service (DS) American Civil War (ACW) Add-On sets Northern and Southern (Confederate) soldiers have suddenly been removed from all Playmobil online-shops;

6273 "Northern General", 6274 "3 Nothern soldiers", 6275 "Southern General" and 6276 "3 Southern soldiers".

According to reliable information from multiple sources on Klickywelt, these sets have also been removed from the German Funstores where DS-sets are sold in addition to general range products.


The sets in question have been around since several years and are still shown in the German DS-catalogue 2017-2018 and should therefore normally be available for purchase to at least May 2018 in Germany, and even longer in other countries (which get DS sets later but also can keep them longer).

So, what is going on?? 

Have recent political/racial events in Charlottesville (US) potentially caused people in Zirndorf to have a "we-should-be-super-politically-correct" fit?
(imho they previously also had some "we-should-avoid-any-product-that-possibly-may-upset-that-other-religion" fits by discontinuing worldwide the Christmas Theme, and the Saint-Nicolas Theme in the Benelux-countries, and before that the deletion of a mountain-cross after release of pre-production pictures of a certain set...)






notification: this post is remade on request by moderator Tongello - orignal post moved to moderation-hub due to a technical issue

[The_Mad_Hadder]

Sounds about right, I also noticed on ebay yesterday that these sets were being sold for 50.00CAD a piece so I feel that some had insider information that these toys where being pulled. My contact at Playmobil says that you can still buy these sets by going through the parts order department and that the price has remained unchanged (for Canada anyways).


What is odd though is they are still selling 5249 Horse-Drawn Carriage with Cavalry Rider on Playmobil Canada but this may be because it is a actual retail box set
http://www.playmobil.ca/en/horse-drawn-carriage-with-cavalry-rider/5249.html

[Hadoque]

What is odd though is they are still selling 5249 Horse-Drawn Carriage with Cavalry Rider on Playmobil Canada but this may be because it is a actual retail box set
http://www.playmobil.ca/en/horse-drawn-carriage-with-cavalry-rider/5249.html

Yes, I noticed it too about that one, it is also still available on Playmobil´s other countries webshops.

Meanwhile on Klickywelt forum, I read that also in the Funshop in Vienna (Austria) the DS soldiers have been pulled. According to KW-member Playmolook, the shoplady told that all DS- Western soldiers had been recalled "for unknown reasons".

[playmofire]

But 5249 is not an ACW set - they are the US Cavalry, you know the ones that  fight the North American Indians.

[tahra]

How silly.

That is.. terrible.

I find it a breach of contract. People (I assume) plan things according to availability...

I wasn't planning to get more - actually didn't get any of the US ones - but could not (OBVIOUSLY) resist the pretty confederates - grey + yellow.. well.  Though I think I didn't get the commander.. not sure.

Anyways, now that they are not available.. I want them.


I was also wondering if the (old) sets will be erased from the playmohistory. You know, there was a <GASP> confederate flag, on a very handy set with two cavalrymen... Nope, there.

[The_Mad_Hadder]

I can get one of each set for you if you like Tarha

[tahra]

I can get one of each set for you if you like Tarha

Thank you  , but I don't really need them. Bought some of the south 3 pack some years ago, and in truth.. I probably have too many of those (too.) .. 

[Hadoque]

But 5249 is not an ACW set - they are the US Cavalry, you know the ones that  fight the North American Indians.

The Indians (sorry, Native Americans? American Aboriginals?  I think Graham knows...) may have less "influence" in Zirndorf...

[tahra]

The Indians (sorry, Native Americans? American Aboriginals?  I think Graham knows...) may have less "influence" in Zirndorf...

Right. 

To me, they will always be indians. As opposed to cowboys.

[StJohn]

Today, I and some other collectors noticed the following (...)

Thanks for this, Hadoque. I am quite sure your interpretation is correct - ACW has suddenly been pulled and will not return for reasons of political correctness. There is much to say about this (hopefully later), but now I just want to emphasise the web searches and legwork underlying this hypothesis, as displayed on KW and here: Geobra simply does not communicate with us! Hence we act like the Kremlin watchers of the past (and present?). Sad, actually ... 

I find it a breach of contract.

(...)

Anyways, now that they are not available.. I want them.

I agree - twice! 

Best wishes
StJohn