4774 "TAKE-ALONG"

[Justindo]

PS: this "made in" business is a funny thing.  Apparently, it is possible to credit production to the country where "work" was last done on a product.  I heard on the radio this morning that you could, for example, import dead chickens from China, wash them in a saline solution and pack them in a plastic bag and market them as "produce of Great Britain"!  In the case of the Czech plant, it looks as if parts produced in Malta and maybe also Dietenhofen are shipped to the Czech factory where they are then brought together into the finished sets and marked as made in Czech Republic.

This is exactly right and very frightening.  My wife is reading this book called Deluxe:  How Luxury Lost its Luster and it's about how many of the expensive designer clothes, handbags and shoes,  all costing hundreds and in many cases thousands of dollars, are actually mass produced in factories in China and then shipped to Italy or England where they sew a label on it and package it so they can legally put "Made in Italy" or "Made in England" on it.  In certain cases your $5,000 handbag is made right alongside one that will sell for $50, although different materials are used.  The same is true for the Swiss watch industry whose policies have recently been criticized by some of the true Swiss watch manufacturers.  Because of the ridiculous loopholes Switzerland's watch policy, nearly all the parts in a watch can be made in China and the watch can also be fully assembled in China yet still say "Swiss Made" or "Made in Switzerland".  Basically, unless your "Swiss" watch costs thousands of dollars and is from one of a handful of true Swiss manufacturers, it's probably far more Chinese than Swiss.

[Timotheos]

Thanks Richard for the review.  I hadn't planned to buy that set, but think I will give it a shot now.

This is exactly right and very frightening. 

Hi Justin, it's only frightening if you buy $5,000 handbags!

My favorite is the "imported" Guinness I (less frequently) buy at the grocer.  The brewing and packaging is done completely in Canada--and I bet Guinness picked Canada so its beer wouldn't fall under the domestic category on American grocery shelves!  Imported beer, fresh from the Emerald Islands!

On the serious side, I think you guys over-play fears of China.  The main problem is--for quality similar to Europe, which China can produce, manufactures don't want to pay the cost--afterall, it would cost similar to Europe.  So the problem is that the manufacturers are trying to skim the top. 

Yet, on the other hand, I have to admit--we've bought toys for my daughter in China and nearly all of the toys have been dangerous crap.  The quality toys come from Europe, Japan, Korea, and the USA.  But, ironicly, may have been manufactured in China.

China can produce to spec--the problem is that the companies are going cheap to capitalize on the China investment. 

What I'm saying--

Blame the toy company that settled for less.  Don't associate China with inherent incompetence.

-Tim

[Indianna]

China can produce to spec--the problem is that the companies are going cheap to capitalize on the China investment. 

What I'm saying--

Blame the toy company that settled for less.  Don't associate China with inherent incompetence.

Tim, you are so right - well said!

. . . How is everything in the Boston area with Tropical Storm Hannah? Hopefully, you're not having any problems where you are, Anne.

All the best and stay dry,
Richard

We just had a bit of rain - not even as wet or as windy as a few of the nor'easters we have had recently.  We have had little in the way of hurricane/trop storm activity for a few years now and are probably overdue for a real soaking.  Thanks for asking, Richard!     I hope the weather has not been too too bad down your way of late.   

- Anne

[Justindo]

Hi Justin, it's only frightening if you buy $5,000 handbags!

 Tell that to my wife!

I agree that China is capable of producing a great quality range of goods and some of their products are getting better and better all the time.  In time they very well could be the new Japan.  That said, the history and principles of a company, especially one which produces high end products, mean a lot to me.  I respect companies who value their employees and their heritage above their bottom line, even though this recipe may indeed spell disaster for a company in today's age where the vast, vast majority of consumers care only about the status of a brand rather than its actual quality and principles.  Because of greedy company executives and board members and undiscriminating, sheep-like consumers there are many great brands that have either ceased to exist or are simply a shadow of their past selves.  I don't want to see this happen to Playmobil.

[Gepetto]

I see this happening with sporting goods brands like Winchester and Remington whose product line now includes tents and ice chests which have nothing to do with their original products but  the brand recognition. Along the same line I recently read an interview with a manufacturer's rep from China who said they love doing business with western businesses because they are so naive in the way they spec products. A company had ordered 10,000 boxes of nails and supplied the diameter, length and coating and a price was struck. When delivery was made it turned out they had not said they wanted heads on their nails! They are now trying to unload 10,000 boxes of headless nails (sorry for the digression).



Gepetto   

[Justindo]

I see this happening with sporting goods brands like Winchester and Remington whose product line now includes tents and ice chests which have nothing to do with their original products but  the brand recognition. Along the same line I recently read an interview with a manufacturer's rep from China who said they love doing business with western businesses because they are so naive in the way they spec products. A company had ordered 10,000 boxes of nails and supplied the diameter, length and coating and a price was struck. When delivery was made it turned out they had not said they wanted heads on their nails! They are now trying to unload 10,000 boxes of headless nails (sorry for the digression).



Gepetto   

You're absolutely right, Gepetto!  It's truly sad to see a formerly great company like Winchester put their name on a bunch of unrelated junk from China while their New Haven plant, which produced quality rifles and shotguns for almost 150 years, is closed down and its skilled workers put out of a job because Winchester's arms were too good and too expensive to make for what the average American shooter and/or hunter, now used to cheap, poor quality firearms from other countries or lesser quality American brands, was willing to pay.  The same thing happened to Colt, another American icon.  I also think that, if not for their relatively high-profit polymer pistols, which are nothing to write home about in the quality department, Smith and Wesson would also be in the same boat.  I just wonder how long that line will be able to float the revolver line, which costs much, much more to produce and where the margins are much, much thinner.  Will Playmobil, in time, go the same way as Winchester and Colt?

[Gustavo]

Once we're waaay off-topic here ...

It happens with European soccer as well ... Say ... 30% (?) of it isn't "made in Europe", and I dare say, 15 to 20% (?) of is South American and, I dare farther, 10% (?) Brasilian.

For this I don't blame my com- "patriots" ( !? ) ... Europe does give them the money (& much more) that Brasil doesn't give them. Unfortunately.

I decided to live in Brasil, and not to run away trying "easier" (or "richer", inclusively culturally) life abroad, as is a dream to many (possibly most) "middle class" Brasilian, because I wish to help building a country which has many needs, and I have myself a background that gave me at least a bit of understanding of the difference. (Having lived in Portugal for almost three years, in youth was QUITE an experience ...)

Anyway, coming back to European soccer, not to talk about the percentage of African players (...).

 

Gus

[Richard]

No apologies necessary, Gordon.

I had actually forgotten to include the Scorpion with the original article ... 

So thank you, Richard, for the review (and apologies for the earlier "interruption").  I wonder who will be first either to (a) disassemble it or (b) incorporate it in a larger custom or (c) do both?

And, Rasputin had already disassembled a couple of the new Take-Alongs and was kind enough to show us how he did it. Click HERE to see Rasputin's excellent instructions..

The 4774 Take-Along Medieval Watchtower/Guardhouse was as easy to disassemble as Rasputin said. It also combines rather nicely with the new 5841 Roman Fort. Click HERE.

All the best,
Richard

[Rasputin]

Isn't the reason the Malta plant is around was do to the fact that Playmobil needed a cheeper manufacturing site ? What is the reason for the Czech and other plants ( is it cheeper also )? If that is true this is just the next step in a old philosophy . When China labor get realistic wages i would imagine Playmobil and others will be looking elsewhere for production . It just globalization . When it gets down to it i really do not have a problem with "Made in China" as long as the company holds them responsible to the high standards we expect. I have not seen this yet with any Playmobil produced in China . So until Playmobil quality control gets it act together in regards to China i do not want to support low quality Playmobil.

[playmofire]

Isn't the reason the Malta plant is around was do to the fact that Playmobil needed a cheeper manufacturing site ? What is the reason for the Czech and other plants ( is it cheeper also )?

It is cheaper, but Playmobil doesn't just go where there are cheap labour costs - they also like to invest in up-to-date technology.  There is a new plant in Malta with the newest assembly equipment, for example.  The key is not so much low labour costs as low labour costs per unit of output, a stable political system, and the availability of a well-educated and flexible workforce.