I went to Toys R Us today (it's a big toy retailer in the U.S.). I was in the area and thought I'd see what they have in the way of Playmobil. I rarely go there because it's a very large store, and I get intimidated. However, my neverending quest for Roman Klickies emboldened me to venture into this supermarket of toys.
Upon entering the gates of toydom, I resigned myself to searching through endless aisles for hours on end for my elusive goal. (Being a typical male, asking for directions never entered my mind. Besides, where is the thrill of the hunt if I were to ask for directions?) Near the entrance, I saw dolls, then Legos (bringing hope to my soul, for where there are Legos, surely there are Klickies nearby), then in the next aisle, I saw the familiar blue boxes! Oh, joy of joys! Klickies!
And unlike at Target, an entire shelf devoted to the little people.
The first thing to catch my eye was a Roman catapult. Yes!
But wait! Behind it was another Roman catapult! Envisioning a diorama where my legions are laying seige to a hapless city, I grabbed both! Next to them were two boxes of gladiators with tigers! I don't have that one! I grabbed both! Next to that were four boxes of 5 Roman soldiers! I already have two sets...do I need more? What would Martin Milner do? I grabbed two boxes and left the other two, not wanting to be greedy. Now I have 6 boxes of Roman Klickies carefully balanced in my arms. Surely, this is enough. Surely, my appetite must be sated by now.
I looked around me. No one was staring at me.
I perused the shelf some more and saw for the first time some Klickies from the circus series. Clowns. Boxes and boxes of clowns. Very frightening.
I also saw some very good looking knights (not the fantasy knights, but the more "realistic" knights. Hm. Interesting. Thoughts of Monty Python and the Holy Grail galloped through my mind. Coconuts. On second thought, let's not go to to Camelot...it's a silly place.
At the end of the aisle were blister packs. More gladiators. I have those already. I don't need more gladiators. But wait! What was this? An opened box of the 5 soldiers? Someone must have returned it. Perhaps the store will allow me to purchase it at a discount.
I need a basket.
Walking purposefully yet nonchalantly to the front of the store with my treasures, I saw some shopping baskets and carts.
Better get a cart. Just in case. Wheeling the cart back to my Playmo Mother Lode, I breathed a paranoid sigh of relief that no one else had purchased from my trove. I emptied the contents of the opened box into my hand. The bags had been torn open and taped closed. Someone had definitely returned this. There may be missing parts, but I can still use what is in there.
Then I saw on the bottom shelf a familiar large box: the partial arena. There were 4 of them. They were on clearance. But, I already have one and a full arena on order from Direct. I don't need any more partial arenas. Or do I? (Again, what would Martin Milner do?) I suppose I could purchase them and sell them later on eBay at an obscene profit. But, no. I am a collector, not a dealer.
I went up and down the aisle looking behind the boxes in front to make sure that there were not any Romans hiding in the back (Romans hiding! Ha!). There were not. Toys R Us apparently keeps an organized and well-maintained shelf.
Then I saw one more thing: a Playmobil RV (Recreational Vehicle in case you don't know) camper complete with a family, bicycles, a picnic table, chairs, and place settings. I don't really have an interest in modern themes, being more interested in ancient civilizations, but I have lately wanted to buy an RV in actuality. This modern theme appeals to me. No brainer. I bought the RV. (This marks the first non-Roman themed Playmobil I have purchased. Now I want to look for more camping Klickies. Is this a turning point in my collecting?)
At the checkout, I asked the clerk if I can get a discount for the opened box since there might be parts missing. She checked with her superior and told me I can purchase it at a 10% discount which is not that great, but I accepted the offer.
I left Toys R Us poorer but very happy.
EpilogueIt turns out there were no parts missing from that opened box. Score!
And the RV is
very cool!
Yet, there remains a kernel of doubt in my mind. I left two boxes of 5 soldiers behind. Should I have purchased them? I know what Martin Milner would have done...
