playmobil u.s.a. gone mad

[Rasputin]

all those special where available at target not so long ago... target (or any other big chain store including toys r us) dont sell specials anymore, so, they are selling it in playmobil.com there u have it!!!

(and in target they where "pals" nos special)

Hi Amd 

   We like the more sinister story  But there is a way to check your theory, if you order one, will it come in a normal special box with the pink boarder or with out, like they were at Target. The 4517 & 4616 were not called "Pals" at that point. They have plain boxes with nothing on them.

   Rasputin "The Mad Monk"

[elderberry]

Go ask Alice.I think shelle know whats going on at playmobil.

[reylocann]

And if Alice doesn't know, I bet the rabbit does!

[Rasputin]

all those special where available at target not so long ago... target (or any other big chain store including toys r us) dont sell specials anymore, so, they are selling it in playmobil.com there u have it!!!

(and in target they where "pals" nos special)

Hi Amd 

   Your not so exciting story is prbably correct . If you look at the side bar pictures at Playmobil.com the boxes are the ones that were from Target. They have no pink .


 
4517 Royal King ? shouldn't it be Dark Knight ?
4548 Catpain Peg Leg
4581 Pirate and Skull
4616 Blue Knight
4658 Deep Sea Diver
4663 Royal King
4665 Western Cowboy
4666 Courageous Knight
4667 Magician

   Rasputin "The Mad Monk"

[Indianna]

. . . If you look at the side bar pictures at Playmobil.com the boxes are the ones that were from Target. They have no pink .

Nice detective work, Rasputin!     So the Target & TRU Pals are no more . . . does this mean that all those "Pals" that I bought compulsively have suddenly become "rare and valuable?"   

[reylocann]

I don't know how rare they are cause now you can buy em at playmobil.com   But, if you are going to dream, dream big I say!  You may very well be sitting on a veritable treasure trove of klickys!!!!

[Indianna]

I probably have to sit on them for a good long time!    

When did they stop putting the word "pal" on the box?  Now I have to go up to my attic and check on my "investments"   

[Rasputin]

I probably have to sit on them for a good long time!    

When did they stop putting the word "pal" on the box?  Now I have to go up to my attic and check on my "investments"   

Hi Indianna 

   This is when I started collecting so I do not know the specific year but it was a few years back. When Target started carrying Specials they were called "Pals" and had the "Collect all!" logo. Another unique feature of the box was that it said what was in the box. The 4637 said "Surfer". Then the "Pals" and other logos were dropped and we were given the plain box like the one I showed. Now they dropped the specials altogether for the blister packs. Now they only have the large blister packs at Target.

   So in my opinion even though they may not be sought after box designs I see them as more rare than the pink or plain boxes .

   Rasputin "The Mad Monk"

Edit: In the bible is shows that box design came out in 2002 and was still around in 2006, so I am guessing 2007-ish they were phased out

[Indianna]

Hi Rasputin - thanks for looking up all that good info! 

. . . So in my opinion even though they may not be sought after box designs I see them as more rare than the pink or plain boxes . 

That's what I was thinking might happen - that the "pals" boxes might eventually be somewhat rare.  I think a lot of folks used the pals as a relatively cheap opportunity to get multiples of klickys that had become difficult to find otherwise so there might not be a lot of them surviving as MISB if they got used for customizing or building armies, etc.  Almost all the ones I bought are in a box somewhere in the attic - I'll have to see how many of them are actually "pals."  Just another collecting opportunity for the Playmobil "completist."   

[Martin Milner]

Hi Rasputin - thanks for looking up all that good info! 

That's what I was thinking might happen - that the "pals" boxes might eventually be somewhat rare.  I think a lot of folks used the pals as a relatively cheap opportunity to get multiples of klickys that had become difficult to find otherwise so there might not be a lot of them surviving as MISB if they got used for customizing or building armies, etc.  Almost all the ones I bought are in a box somewhere in the attic - I'll have to see how many of them are actually "pals."  Just another collecting opportunity for the Playmobil "completist."   

Maybe if you have a complete set of "Pals" then you can truly say you collected them all!