Author Topic: Official Playmobil Customizing Rules !!  (Read 17084 times)

Offline Richard

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Re: Official Playmobil Customizing Rules !!
« Reply #20 on: May 29, 2009, 11:58:49 »



Taking a wider view, the "threat" by Playmobil doesn't seem too draconic when compared with some other laws.  For example, the US embargo laws applied against Cuba meant that, for example, the owner of a British firm who dealt quite legally under British law with Cuba could be arrested if he or she later visited the USA and be charged and prosecuted.




Which was probably somewhat similar, Gordon, to the British embargo laws applied against the Axis Powers (Germany, Occupied France and Austria, Italy, etc.) during WWII which meant that the owner of an Irish firm who dealt quite legally under Irish law (Ireland being neutral during WWII) with Germany could be arrested if he or she later visited the UK and be charged and prosecuted ... ;)

Edit: Added a missing word ... ;D
« Last Edit: May 29, 2009, 12:14:09 by Richard »

Offline Bill Blackhurst

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Re: Official Playmobil Customizing Rules !!
« Reply #21 on: May 29, 2009, 14:11:48 »
Which was probably somewhat similar, Gordon, to the British embargo laws applied against the Axis Powers (Germany, Occupied France and Austria, Italy, etc.) during WWII which meant that the owner of an Irish firm who dealt quite legally under Irish law (Ireland being neutral during WWII) with Germany could be arrested if he or she later visited the UK and be charged and prosecuted ... ;)
Edit: Added a missing word ... ;D

To attempt to choke an entire country from receiving a product can't be done in today's global shipping trade if a person wants buy a harmless product bad enough, especially a toy! It's like Cuban cigars here, they're forbidden, but you can get 'em  ;)! The costs, & efforts of intercepting a Playmobil fire engine from an outside source because of a boycott would be stupid! It's difficult enough to try to stop intercontinental drug smuggling into countries  P), let alone trying to intercept a plane dropped waterproof package of Playmobil blue boxes  :P! BTW, do they even have dogs that can sniff out blue boxes in customs? Brings to mind the 80's song smugglers blues  8-)! Besides, I think that even Playmobil wouldn't be stupid enough to sever another profit generating source of income, even if it did come down to the nitty gritty of customization, & modifications  :no:!
« Last Edit: May 29, 2009, 14:22:41 by Bill Blackhurst »
  Forget about all of the other stuff,....all we need is the reintroduction of the 3526 Fire Engine!

Offline Richard

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Re: Official Playmobil Customizing Rules !!
« Reply #22 on: May 29, 2009, 14:42:27 »



To attempt to choke an entire country from receiving a product can't be done in today's global shipping trade ...



Unless you happen to be the country of Canada!

Canadian customs made us pay $11,000. to bring our Playmobil into Canada!

We appealed all the way to the Canadian Prime Minister. The reply, "Too bad, your shipper entered the country, and once they're here, you pay the customs duty. And, no you can't take your Playmobil back to the USA, without first paying the $11,000. duty. And, we don't care what any Canadian customs official told you about a one-time free move of goods into Canada."

"And, no ... you can't toss them all in the trash without first paying the $11,000 duty!"

And, yes ... we wasted another $1,000. on a Canadian attorney who got the same answer from Revenue Canada!

So, what's fair? There is nothing fair about any government. All you can ever do is try to protect yourself, your family and your friends!


Offline Indianna

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Re: Official Playmobil Customizing Rules !!
« Reply #23 on: May 29, 2009, 15:35:57 »
Hello, Anne ...

Over the years I've collected a number of "taboo" Playmobil images. These pictures range from mildly objectionable to extremely objectionable.

If you have a website and would like to thumb your nose at Zirndorf, I would be only too happy to email you a set of images guaranteed to get you in trouble with the Playmobil censors ...  ;D

All the best,
Richard

 :lol:  Thanks for the offer, Richard, but I don't think I'll take you up on that.   0)

Seriously, though, what sort of "trouble" might that be?   What actions has Geobra actually taken against "offenders?"  In your case, Richard, we know you have a long-standing relationship with Geobra as a Playmobil fan and webmaster and you are also a nice person who probably wishes, very sensibly, to please the company that produces the beloved object, but what would have happened to you if you had defied their wishes?  Do you know or can you take a guess?  Has anyone else had this type of experience with Geobra? 


U.S.A.      Massachusetts

Offline Bill Blackhurst

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Re: Official Playmobil Customizing Rules !!
« Reply #24 on: May 29, 2009, 15:53:55 »
Unless you happen to be the country of Canada!
Canadian customs made us pay $11,000. to bring our Playmobil into Canada!
We appealed all the way to the Canadian Prime Minister. The reply, "Too bad, your shipper entered the country, and once they're here, you pay the customs duty. And, no you can't take your Playmobil back to the USA, without first paying the $11,000. duty. And, we don't care what any Canadian customs official told you about a one-time free move of goods into Canada."
"And, no ... you can't toss them all in the trash without first paying the $11,000 duty!"
And, yes ... we wasted another $1,000. on a Canadian attorney who got the same answer from Revenue Canada!
So, what's fair? There is nothing fair about any government. All you can ever do is try to protect yourself, your family and your friends!

Richard, Just how much Playmobil were you trying to move into Canada, a whole shipping container full  8}? Maybe they thought you were trying to corner the second hand market  :lol:! It sounds a slight bit extreme  :hmm:! The authorities there must not have had a happy child hood with Playmobil in it  :'(! BTW, you did pay the duties didn't you  ???!

  Forget about all of the other stuff,....all we need is the reintroduction of the 3526 Fire Engine!

Offline Indianna

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Re: Official Playmobil Customizing Rules !!
« Reply #25 on: May 29, 2009, 16:00:44 »
. . .  Maybe they thought you were trying to corner the second hand market  . . . .

Bill, have you seen the photos of Richard's secret storage facilities?  I think it was the quantity of MISB stuff that caused the problem.   ;)
U.S.A.      Massachusetts

Offline Bill Blackhurst

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Re: Official Playmobil Customizing Rules !!
« Reply #26 on: May 29, 2009, 16:09:46 »
Bill, have you seen the photos of Richard's secret storage facilities?  I think it was the quantity of MISB stuff that caused the problem.   ;)

OMG  :o! NO WONDER! It looks like he's a PM dealer! But, I don't have room to talk! (no pun intended,.....don't have room.....I did a funny!  :lol:)
  Forget about all of the other stuff,....all we need is the reintroduction of the 3526 Fire Engine!

Offline Gepetto

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Re: Official Playmobil Customizing Rules !!
« Reply #27 on: May 29, 2009, 17:23:30 »
Although it does seem that we in the U.S. are beyond Playmobil's grasp in this matter, to give it a context we can relate to we need only change 'Playmobil' to 'Disney' to appreciate the legal and financial quagmire that could ensue if they chose to enforce their vision of what is acceptable or not. I think it just boils down to those qualities that seem to be in such short supply anymore ; personal responsibility.



Gepetto

Offline macgayver

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Re: Official Playmobil Customizing Rules !!
« Reply #28 on: May 29, 2009, 18:29:46 »

Hello, Anne ...

Over the years I've collected a number of "taboo" Playmobil images. These pictures range from mildly objectionable to extremely objectionable.

If you have a website and would like to thumb your nose at Zirndorf, I would be only too happy to email you a set of images then all images you have please  guaranteed to get you in trouble with the Playmobil censors ...  ;D

All the best,
Richard



Hmm

Tempting  ;)
One picture say's more then a thousand words ;)

Offline Richard

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Re: Official Playmobil Customizing Rules !!
« Reply #29 on: May 29, 2009, 19:23:52 »



... but what would have happened to you if you had defied their wishes?  Do you know or can you take a guess?



I'm quite sure that nothing serious would have happened, Anne.

They would have probably asked a few more times and some newly graduated young attorney might have written a "firm" (and somewhat demanding) email. Which I would have ignored. (Unless I was having a really bad day and feeling a bit hostile. I would have then blistered his reading glasses with my reply.) And, that would have been the end of it.

However, my name would have no doubt been deleted from Geobra's Christmas card list ... ;)

All the best,
Richard