Are there more new US sets in this list?

[Gis]

My wife brought the firetruck home with here after her US trip not knowing about the qualitiy issues. With the huge number of people that have returned it, who knows my MISB one in the attic might be a valuable collectors item in 25 years.

 

[playmofire]

Maybe they've just run out of 4*** numbers!

American exclusives often (always?) begin with 5 I believe.

[playmofire]

I hope making sets in China isn't becoming a trend 

Is there any suggestion that these sets are made in China?

[playmofire]

I think all the Micro sets, the chicken dragon set, the fire truck and now these. Geobra claims under 5%-ish from china

I didn't realise that the Micro sets were made in China.  I have three or four of them and they seem fine for quality.

[tonguello]

My wife brought the firetruck home with here after her US trip not knowing about the qualitiy issues. With the huge number of people that have returned it, who knows my MISB one in the attic might be a valuable collectors item in 25 years.

 

no no no...you should open it and make a review 

[klicky32]

who knowing more about this Items, maybe pics??

regrads Klicky32

[Gis]

no no no...you should open it and make a review 

I can think of many reasons not too including we already have a fire engine that we never use so why have another one (I really DO wonder what prompted my wife to buy the one from the US).

It will stay sealed for the next 25 years I am sure!!

You will not persuade me!!

[playmofire]

I wonder how much more it would have cost to reuse this mould:

http://playmodb.org/setpics/3778.jpg

[Indianna]

Regarding the "China question,"  according to this article on the Playmobil website, Playmobil no longer uses production facilities in China.  Some sets were manufactured in China over a short period ending a few years ago.  Playmobil claims that their standards were just as high for goods made in China as for goods made in Europe, and that seems to hold true based on what some folks have said here (I think so, too.)  One internet source indicates that the following sets were manufactured in China:

3670 - Remote Control Module
4330 - Fairy Tale Castle Mini
4331 - Pirate Mini
4332 - Noah's Ark Mini
4333 - Knights Castle Mini
4397 - Electrical Signal
4450 - Bunny Workshop
4451 - Bunny w/Wheelbarrow
4452 - Bunny
4453 - Bunny w/wagon
4454 - Bunnies with Hiding Place
5803 - Knight's Take Along Castle
5804 - Pirates Take Along Island
7350 - Underwater Motor

. . . Any SKU starting with a 5 is made in China . . .                 

So that would be the barcode on the box, not the set number.   All of us can check any boxes we have to see if this holds true for the items on the list above or if any items should be added to the list.  Is there anything else that barcodes can tell us?

It seems clear that no new items are being produced in China.  Thinner plastic or different types of plastic may just be indicators of newer manufacturing processes rather than an indication of being made in China. 

[bonniebeth]

If it's a matter of poorere quality from their normal factories, then that really is a cause for concern! As to whether it is the sku number or set number, I don't know, I was distracted last night. It seems someone else said sku number, but I think we were speaking of set numbers.