When I read a remark on the Playmobil Facebook page about another broken Diver (4658), I realized that although this is a small, inexpensive set, it could mean a huge loss for Playmobil. This set was available as a regular special as well as a Pal at Target. This set might have been someone's first Playmobil set ever and if it broke while putting on the diving shoes, then people would get the impression Playmobil is a cheap toy. You know the age old saying "first impressions are lasting impressions" applies here. I know that most Target stores no longer carry PM, but I'm sure that many new fans and collectors were created over the last few years when it was available at Target. Not everyone frequents mom and pop toy stores, so it's very likely that this could have been a bad first impression for many shoppers. Shoppers who could have grown in to full-blown, diehard collectors like many of us here on Playmofriends! Instead, they threw the broken item in the trash and never looked back!
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that items with frequent defects should be recalled and pulled from store shelves to avoid this kind of situation.
