Another thread on Collectobil

[Gustavo]

HELLO, PLAYMOFRIENDS!

According to what cachalote first noted and brought to us here, Collectobil is "under new management".

The note at the homepage says "Post all questions at Playmofriends.com". So, it is up to us, according to them.

It means two things:
1. they gave us voice to speak;
and 2. (BEING THIS ONE VERY IMPORTANT) if they did so, it means that they trust us.

So, we can speak, we can help, we can add, or we can blow our chance to help. (Overcriticism usually doesn't help much. Honest criticism may help, though. In general, however most of us agree -- I believe -- that one of the things Collectobil needs to change is to put more pictures available, at the same time, most of us possibly agree that we have, in general, no serious complaints about their service.)

I'd like that we could use this thread keeping in mind what could be interesting for Collectobil to maintain, and what could be interesting for Collectobil to change (making the best efforts so as not to make a trip to the moon with this what-I'd-like-them-to-change part), so that we, collectors (and users) of Collectobil, will not feel damaged, and so that the new administration can continue the good things the site has been providing us throughout the last years. (Specially to some of you, because I'm back in playmobil world for less than a year ...)

I have a few things to say, ideas to give, but I will wait a bit, and let some of you speak before.

Anyway, I believe Collectobil is expecting us to talk about it, freely and sensibly, so ... it's our hobby, and we certainly have things to say.

Up to us!
Any thoughts will be welcome!

Gus

Rio de J.


Ps. I put the date of closing this poll automatically to three months from now. I think it's reasonable time.

[Gustavo]

(I voted for "another answer", because I'm enthusiastic & afraid, at the same time ...)

One more thing: I'll give my opinions until next saturday, even if noone gives theirs ... I can't wait to speak!

 

Gus

[Martin Milner]

I'm very happy that someone's taken it over again and will start updating it, and am waiting to see the updates.

My only problem is that Playmofriends is a limited access site, so most people won't be able to post questions - I'd have chosed a free site like Playmoboard to ask for questions.

When I restarted my collection Collectobil was a favoured resource for checking stuff I'd missed from previous years. It'll take a mammoth effort to get the last 3 years of releases into the database, but it is not yet hopeless.

However Heather's playmodb soon became more useful to me than Collectobil because it shows not just the outside of a set but the contents and part numbers, and has remained up to date as much as possible, even showing sets which do not appear in Playmobil's own catalogues.

[Indianna]

I am the (so far) lone "Happy" vote.  I am so glad that a wonderful site like collectobil will not just fade into obscurity after all of the tremendous work and heart and soul that Bart put into it over the years.  Plus, if "our Richard" is really involved, I am confident that the renewal of collectobil.com will be first class all the way!   

[Rasputin]

One thing i would love to see revitalized is the "Annual Customizing Contest" especially if Playmobil donates those big sets  to the winners .

It is quite interesting to see how playmobil was a part of the judging and if you look at the date of the contest ( 2001 ) some of those sets were made years later  This could be a very good thing 

I did like this part of the Rules "Collectobil.com does not encourage you to take apart and destroy PLAYMOBIL® figures for cruel reasons or insane rituals"

and how on #9. COPYRIGHT & COMPENSATION: it is in a different language and all the other rules were in english 

[CountBogro]

I am the (so far) lone "Happy" vote.  ...

not anymore 

[playmofire]

not anymore 

Got there before you!  (I just forgot to post a reply!)

[cachalote]

dear gustavo,
don't you think it would be wiser to wait untill richard decides to say something about this subject? 
if he is the new owner, maybe he already decided what to do with the site and will surprise us all in the near future, completing all the missing sets before anyone has a chance to help... 
nevertheless i voted "in expectations". 

[Timotheos]

Yeah, where's the James Bond response:

"Do I look like the type who gives a d***?"

But, seriously, happy?  enthusiastic?  afraid???

So long as Richard doesn't shut it down or turn it into a p0rno site, I'll do OK.

[Gustavo]

In general, ---- most of us agree -- I believe -- that one of the things Collectobil needs to change is to put more pictures available, at the same time, most of us possibly agree that we have, in general, no serious complaints about their service.)

I'd like that we could use this thread keeping in mind what could be interesting for Collectobil to maintain, and what could be interesting for Collectobil to change ----, so that we, collectors (and users) of Collectobil, will not feel damaged, and so that the new administration can continue the good things the site has been providing us throughout the last years.

Right, here it goes

1. I'm sorry to Collectobil's managers: I was reading again, and they didn't ask opinions from us, but questions. It's a bit different.

Even so, I'll say a few things I think might add to the site

So, 2. my thoughts.

First of all, I think they're thinking about it (once it's Richard we've heard to be ahead of it), it's very important not to change the links adresses, because of previously linked messages, not only here at Playmofriends, probably.

Second. I don't know if they'll agree with it, but I think it's very important for Collectobil to allow their images to be copied, and -- well, it's my non professional opinion on the matter, I'm no lawyer, and have no thoughts on rights of property, value of images, or whatsoever kind of rights concerning this, so, I'll be glad to be taught about it -- I think there's no harm in it, as well as it motivates people to use the site more, and eventually to go (or return ) to collecting playmobil.

So, maybe I could put it as a question: are there any problems, advantages, or interests for collectors (specially those who give their boxes pictures to the site) to allow them to be free for being copied?

I ask so because maybe there will be some sort of artistic/collectible value, in the future (or there is already!), and it's supposed to be protected to those who own these things.

(There's a book on this, I coundn't find the chance to get to it yet, but I'll possibly need to soon, for work reason: De Gutemberg à internet -- Direitos autorais das origens à Era Digital GANDEIMAN, Henrique | Record. It's in Portuguese, though.)

I also think of it because there are sections in Collectobil, possibly the most recently updated, that don't allow images to be copied, and I always got sad about it

Anyway, it's for the best to make it uniform as soon as possible, so that someone can or cannot copy some and not copy others.

(If it's possible to let the images free to be copied, I'm of service to give an idea, because I thought on a possible solution for this tricky problem Let me know, then.)

These are my main suggestions.

My main question is this, to Collectobil new management team ... (They could answer through pm, if it's possible to be so ...) : who is(/are) actually ahead of Collectobil, from now on? (Because, in general, there's been only gossip, up till now     )


If I think of anything else, I'll post.

A big thanks for the new Collectobil management to give us in Playmofriends the chance to say anything.

And sorry for any mess I may have caused


Gus