These Brazilian prices (1) do seem extraordinarily inflated, Gus.
...
This doesn't seem the case with Brazil, so what is it? Is there high import customs duty in Brazil? (2) Is it that toys generally are considered a luxury? Or that Playmobil is so well thought of, that it can genuinely command thse high prices?
(3) Is Lego simialrly available, and similarly expensive?
1
They are inflated, Martin.
2
Playmobil is well thought, but it isn't a popular toy, never were. Only, back in the '80s, when I was a child and my parents bought them, they had a better economical situation than I nowadays, as well as there was no internet, so, very few people would know that in the States, it costed less than the third part. But they are a bit exagerately inflated, all right, and it may affect geobra Brandstätter's market in Brasil, so, maybe because of Brasilian commercial sector's (foolish) ambition, they will loose again, in little time, the chance of allowing Playmobil to become a common toy in Brasil. To collectors it isn't so bad. To children, and culture, it is. This makes me sad. Playmobil is a bit like teaching a child to read ... It makes the future citizen a better person. (As well as Lego ... as long as there are both Lego and Playmobil -- a theory of mine ...)
3
Lego is very popular in Brasil. It is in the market for a long time, I consider (since 1986 or 87, that I can remember). Maybe it isn't that more cheap, but it IS cheaper, and, in a way, it is much easier to reach children than Playmobil, for the reasons you wrote (air versus plastic in a box of the same size). I'll make research on Lego prices, although it's been difficult to remember so: when I go into a toystore, I get a bit hypnotized by blue boxes ... Odd feeling! I kinda like it ... Too bad maybe it doesn't last long, but, well, last week, bought two little boxes, and for buying little boxes, although very (very) expensive, it's possible. (143,oo Reais is impossible to me, for moral reasons, but a little box is possible.) So, I hope I'll remember researching Legos' prices, so as to think about reasons for this absurd phenomenon.
Thanks for asking. Your questions did make me think good things, and now I think I'll go to Playmoboard to try to calm things down, over there, after my ... Expressed fury there, as well. (There's at least two other Brasilian guys there, from Rio. This is something odd to me, about Playmoboard, that big town (...).)
I honestly like this yellow forum better ... Everything is so dark, in Playmoboard. And there's no emotiklickys over there.
I'm a bit off-topic in this again.
Gus
