To think Playmobil is actually crap?

[BeaArthur]

I love the look of Playmobil toys and there’s something appealing about the fact that they’ve been around forever. They are quite a bit more expensive than other plastic toys but I figured they must be well made. We now have several different Playmobil sets, and they all literally fall apart with anything but the gentlest handling. They come with pieces that are so tiny as to be virtually guaranteed to get lost — things like tiny rubber flip-flops that don’t even stay on the size of my little fingernail. The people lose their plastic hair and end up with heads that are just open at the top. I’ve ordered replacement parts but I can’t keep doing this. I really don’t understand who these toys are made for. My DCs are 5 and 8. The 8-year-old is basically beyond playing with things like this, and the 5-year-old is constantly frustrated with the toys shedding pieces constantly. Am I missing the point here? Why do people keep buying these expensive plastic toys when they’re no better than the usual tat?

😮 We love our Playmobil! My daughters have the hospital, ambulance, a beach SUV thingy and a whole load of mine from the early 80s. Yes, there are little bits but I skimmed them out until they're a bit older. We've had great value already and it provides almost daily play

I love it. We’ve got loads. The tiny bits we keep in a Tupperware pot and keep with the set. Also have a cleat plastic hobby box with compartments for the tiny bits. It doesn’t fall apart. Have you made of properly? it should click when attached.

The toothless I think there were issues with. If you call them they have amazing customer service 01268 490184 I’m sure they will advise you. If something is missing or doesn’t work when you build it they’ll send the new part from Germany. Normally without charge.

It sounds like the new Playmobil is not as robust as the older stuff. My sons had Playmobil 20 years ago and nothing fell apart. I even bought some of it second hand as it wa so good.

we love playmobil in our house - better than bloody lego which falls apart if you so much as look at it! - we occasionally have a put back together session. The initial building does take age though but I actually enjoy it. We basically have a small city of playmobil now. Its actually the only thing 5yo DS plays with (suspect hes a megalomaniac enjoying controlling the small people)

Oh we had some happy times! Dinosaur wrangler with a jeep and cage trailer for the dino to go in, and chicken legs to feed it on ((never mind the facts eh!). The camper van and a little leisure boat with cocktails and a slide on it. Got played with endlessly including by me

I think it's less good when it's the really big things that need a lot of constructing. Friend's dd had the pirate ship, it was lovely but a total nightmare to put together and look after.

We did have a lot of bald & brainless people after a while and loads of tiny bits stuck down between the floorboards. I once found a poor swimmer in her cossie and goggles but with no hair, buried in the garden.

Playmobil is a great ideal but I don't know why it needs to come apart. Why does their hair need to come off and leave a gaping hole in the head? My son plays with a zoo set I got when I was a child and it's far more robust that the castle thing we got him at Christmas

My DS5 go5 his first playmobil thing at Christmas which was the police van. Was very fiddly to build and the bloody doors kept coming off ALL THE BLOODY TIME. It's not been touched since. I was really looking forward to him getting into playmobil as the sets looked great. But not going to bother now.

I remember friends complaining about it 20 years ago. Saying that they put the big pieces away when (certain) children came for playdates because it was easily smashable and, as people have said, bits get lost.

Seems a shame to have toys that can't be played with!

Imaginext all the way here. It's amazing. So sturdy, pretty much unbreakable. I already know that years from now when DS has outgrown it that I will be storing it for any future grandchildren and their children and they can put it away for their own. With a little care they will honestly last for hundreds of years. But in the good 'will be loved and valued for hundreds of years' way and not the 'hundreds of years of failing to decompose in our oceans' way that is true of many plastic toys.

In terms of playability, all the sets have cool features like secret compartments and turntables that make each set fun to explore. The figures all stand and articulate more easily than Playmobil. And Fisher Price are finally rectifying the very, very serious flaw in the range and are at last introducing wave after wave of female figures. Though you still have to hunt a lot of them down so I do supplement DS's Imaginext sets with Playmobil figures as I'm not keen for him to develop subconscious ideas about women not being able to do cool stuff.

We have never had a problem with the hair etc coming off, BUT my sister has been known to superglue Playmobil so it doesn't come apart.

The quality now is nothing like what it what. I am 42 and DS played with my old playmobil when we went to visit my parents. That is really robust. We have masses of it - police station, school, vets - it all falls apart so incrdibly quickly. You can't move it around, it has to be static and even them the walls collapse. And yes, I did put it together properly! The good things are the take a longs, which you fold up, we had the pet clinic but I know they do a dolls house too. I think the vehicles are ok too.

My son loves deconstructing play mobil!!

He got loads for their birthday and the police station has been put away. Other stuff is still out but missing roofs doors etc 😭

7 year old has enough to start his own toy shop and it’s indestructible! Yes it’s fiddly but we’ve never had a problem with it.

It's fucking infuriating stuff - none of it stays together so all the pieces end up lost and whenever they play with it they're coming every 2 minutes to get it put back together 😡

I really love playmobil! The key is putting it away in between plays (or an a high up shelf!).

Mine has been banished to the toy cupboard until kids are older. The only time it really works in our house is when my friends 8 year old comes it and sets all up nicely!!

Granted the tiny bugs usually end up in the dog but....

Have you seen the pyramid?! It’s so cool!!!!!!!

I love ours! It's been played with solidly between age 2 and age 4.5 so far. Yes, some of the little fiddly pieces go missing. But the main pieces are just so solid and well made that they stick around, as are the people.

Fairy wings are a sodding nightmare though! Hate the things! Stick with the classic bits :-D

I think it's great. It's a shame that your 8 year old is past playing with Playmobil. I think the tiny things are made with older children (over 8) in mind.

Have to disagree. We love playmobil! Have always found them to be imaginative, great quality, durable, and good value for money.

My boys are playing with old playmobil of my brother's (we are in our 30s & 40s) a coupe of their own bits have broken but not much, we don't have a problem with hair falling off. I do love it as a toy but am wondering whether DS is getting too old at 9. I haven't seen them play with it much lately, but they go in phases with things. The police station and hospital are bulky to store.

Giraffeski Glad to hear your sister superglues Playmobil! Thought I was the only one 😂

Yabvu. Playmobil is just about one of the best toys there is. All my dc loved them and it is with a heavy heart that I waved them off to Freecycle a few months ago.
Luckily for me, one of my dc refused to part with his Wild West sets and every now and then gets them out, lines them up and re-enacts shootouts and whathaveyou. He's 18 😅

I think the problem is that it was designed for 8-14 year olds but now played with by 3-8 year olds.

It was never designed for 8-14 year olds. I have a vast collection of Playmobil bought in Germany in the 70s and 80s and the playmobil boxes always said 4-12.

Agree that the quality isn't what it was. The figures are far more complex now, but some parts don't seem to fit properly and as parts have got smaller and more complex they have become easier to lose. Bought DD a school bus recently and the children had backpacks that came in 2 parts. If the 2 parts become separated, it will be hard to remember what the part is as it's not obviously recognisable. In the old days, any accessories would have come as one instantly recognisable piece.