Sylvanian families - veterans over here please

[onedayatatime73]

Dd wants some sylvanian things for Christmas and birthday which is 2 days later. She's got a couple of rabbits etc but wants a couple of houses. Just wept at the prices and seem to be the same on eBay.

Do I wait for Amazon drops?
Does Black Friday do offers?

Essentially is there any other way around this other than spending more money than my own house on a small cottage for some rabbits and Hedgehogs?

The car, the school/nursery, the windmill house and one small cottage have had loads of play value over the last 6 years or so (dd is 11yo now and still plays with them) she def isn't ready to let them go anywhere yet!!

She had one family for a bday and Christmas gift for years.

We have beechwood hall and the camper van and it is well played with. I got the school on amazon reduced to £25 on Friday and it looks great. They quite often have things reduced if you keep an eye on it. I also got her the sylvanian supermarket for around £20 in the ASDA toy sale.

Look out for houses with extras like figures and furniture. Often the ones which will be discontinued next season or recoloured.

I've just picked up the hedgehog family 64% off on Amazon

Just watch the discounts they advertise on amazon. The average price for the hedgehog family is £14 according to camelcamelcamel and it hasn't been above £15 since March. The current price of £11.59 is good but it's nowhere near 64% off.

The Entertainer often has houses at 50%

American's call it "Calico Critters" - exactly the same though so worth searching that brand as well

I agree that Sylvs are £££ BUT the stuff does seem pretty robust, and it holds their interest for a good few years. DC1 has been playing with them from the age of 3, and still plays with them at nearly 11. So if you can get over the initial outlay the value for money is not at all bad.

I think the best value are the things like the caravan and the doctor's surgery, where you get the house/business plus all the accessories. I think we started with those at the houses cost loads to furnish.

I believe Sylvanian families and furniture fit nicely in other dolls houses. One from ASDA my SIL mentioned yesterday for expample. Have a look around. I grew up with one proper house and some handmade ones by my dad but loved using them all.

We have a few houses and a drawer full of furniture and it all mix and matches.

Beachwood hall is lovely

We got the regent hotel 50% off one year, reduced from 100 to 50, excellent value. Has loads of rooms, although you obviously then need to fill the rooms too. Has been used loads with no problems.
The canal boat however looks nice but is flimsy and bits kept snapping off.

I would say no, the little buggers get evewhere. We recently had a major clear out is DDs room ( she moved out nearly 6 years ago) and there were loads under every piece of furniture

eBay have always been my best deals, i ended up with the grand hotel, cars and a caravan with LOADS of pieces for £25!

Amazon sometimes have price drops too so worth checking out HDUK

Got some from tesco direct last week in the 3 for 2

There are some sets on Amazon today as part of their black Friday deals, seem pretty good value, 25% off

My DD also has a large village set, I honk she has 10 buildings in all including Beechwood hall, she absolutely loves them and has asked for more this Christmas but we don't have the room 😬. I will get her the boat I think.

They are worth it for the amount she has played with them.