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Are Play Mobil sets good value for money?

44 replies

aderyn · 08/12/2006 15:15

I'm looking at stuff for DD1 (4) for Christmas.

Cringe as I say this but a lot of the sets appear to be geared towards typical boy interests, forts, knights, pirates. And I want to be able to play with it

But I equally don't want to get a set that is too girl-orientated. We already have a dolls house and pink Duplo Lego which makes into a house. I'm thinking of getting a family campervan. I feel that is something she'll get some play value out of and then I can easily get add ons for it like the dad BBQing, the ice cream cart, shops, pets, beach set, boat etc... - without it all being orientated around a house.

I'm looking at these things online and the price of the larger sets are staggering. It's not clear how many little bits you get in these sets.

Is everything shown in the picture all I'll really get for £30? Or will I buy it, open up the box and find it is, well, a box of delights?

Also, is vintage playmobil compatable with the new stuff?

OP posts:
MerryPiffmas · 08/12/2006 15:17

DS had all the mergency vehicles and the rubbish truck, they were SUPER to play with Girl or boy.
I'm toying with one for dd as well

southeastastra · 08/12/2006 15:22

playmobile is fab and will last for years, are you looking on their website? the shopping/town stuff is brilliant. old stuff is compatible with new stuff. it's great my sons loved it and they still play with the old sets i had.

i'm thinking of getting my son the ark for christmas

Pinkchampagne · 08/12/2006 15:28

It's ok if you have children who look after their toys, as all the Playmobil we have ever had has ended up in as many pieces as it started!
DS1 got the airport last Christmas & it was all pulled apart (probably by his 3 year old brother) & the tiny pieces were all over his room, so I decided it was best to put it all back in it's box, and that's where it has stayed!
Most people seem to love it though, so it must just be my children!

Pinkchampagne · 08/12/2006 15:29

I didn't put it away soon after building it btw - I am not that much of a mean mummy! It was put away months later, as I was sick of all the bits everywhere!

NOELallie · 08/12/2006 16:08

Definitely good value! I know it seems expensive but it's worth it. We have a big wooden trunk in the front room and it's now used for DS#2's playmobil - all the kids play with it.

realjolly · 08/12/2006 22:34

Oh, glad Playmobil got such good ratings...just got the Pirate ship for ms, as I could not think of anything for him, sigh....terrible innit...so, hopefully he will enjoy it...I did also look into Lego stuff, but thought there might be even more lil pieces...so, shall see!

GoodKingWestCountryLass · 09/12/2006 22:09

I like Playmobil, my kids love it

You can get dolls houses for girls, I really like their take along dolls house , and there is the zoo and such like which are not boyish.

LIZS · 09/12/2006 22:11

good value and on some sites you can see the reverse of the box which shows all the bits included.

TooTickyDoves · 09/12/2006 22:13

It's great fun but the bits DO get everywhere. Be wary of the buildings as they don't stay together unless your children are as gentle as fairy mice.
I like the look of the Noah's Ark....

wrappingpaperBOwZZAndribbons · 09/12/2006 22:20

DS has had a fair amoutnt of enjoyment out of his. He has a fair amount including:

airport
plane
tour bus
petrol tanker
bin lorry
road sweeper
Artic expedition
dinasour's egg
etc

Yes you do only get what is illustrated. Yes it is expensive for whta you get. The theme you want to go down sounds a good one given what you already have.

singsalot · 09/12/2006 22:35

we haven't got loads of playmobil, supermarket set, with little board tht you write the days special offers on

but my favourite, totally loved set is an advent calendar, £6 in toymaster (half price), it has a snowy(cardboard) scene for putting all the figures from the calendar e.g snowman, children, crow(?), dog etc. santa and reindeer come at the end, my dd plays with it for the whole of december, and then it goes away with the decorations, I think they change the scene every year maybe, but it is really good value for money, so far, we have lost a few cuffs that go on the figures arms

snowydelight · 10/12/2006 10:54

We bought a lot of playmobil for DS1 (now 13) and over the years it has been passed down to his younger brother (now 8). I must say that in terms of "play value" I think nothing beats playmobil. It is fantastic for imaginative play, and really well made. It does come in lots of little bits though so you really do need to help your child keep it together (we have different crates for different themes). Do check carefully on the back of the box to see exactly what is included in the set, but in general I find playmobil a lot less misleading than some other toys.

StarrmumofRoyalBeautyBright · 10/12/2006 13:27

We had Playmobil for years (oldest son had a mad passion for pirates!) - I think it was played with every day for at least 3 or 4 years, so it was definitely good value for money.

In fact it's still up in the loft as I'm not allowed to get rid of it!

Lots of little pieces, but that's because of the incredible detail - especially on the pirate ship.

twickersmum · 10/12/2006 14:18

where is good to buy playmobil? and deliver in time for christmas??

MerryMegandSnowySoph · 10/12/2006 14:23

I had playmobil when I was little and it was the most played with toy I ever had, played with for years not sure if the new stuff is compatible though. Have bought both dd's a set each so I hope they will enjoy it. I does show all the bits you get with it on the box and seems a fair bit.

charliecat · 10/12/2006 14:25

mailorderexpress.com delivered mine in 2 days
Heard of quidco.com?
Go through that and you get 10 or 15% off your first order.

Pinkchampagne · 10/12/2006 14:27

The Entertainer have quite a bit of Playmobil. They have the treehouse half price atm (£25 rather than £50) & they will deliver before Christmas.

TwoIfBySanta · 10/12/2006 22:52

I bought the pirate ship and older version of the space station for dts last year and they are still played with loads and amazingly still intact.

Managed to get a whole bag of Playmobil people in a charity shop so they all live in the IKEA dolls house (not to girly or dh would have vetoed it!) In all, apart from the Lego, dts play with their Playmobil constantly. They are getting Star Wars things as well this Christmas but their main presents are the cargo ship for dts2 and the football game for dts1.

twickersmum · 11/12/2006 08:29

excellent
now dd's wooden kitchen isn't going to come (blooming marvellous now suddenly out of stock) think i may go for playmobil instead. Thanks!

gingermonkey · 11/12/2006 08:45

still got the playmobil i had as a kid, it's still perfect! DD loved it when she was younger and now ds has started to play with it. They do an advent calender too, just a thought for next year, it's cool!!!! playmobil is the BEST!!!

BudaBauble · 11/12/2006 08:49

Have the PLaymobil advent calander which I find stressful as DS insists on putting bits where he wants not where they should go!!! (Am learning to relax about it!!!)

Must admit to not being too keen on Playmobile. DS was car mad and we have lots of the vehicle ones but he can't manage to put people in the cars and we end up with me putting in all the time. Drives me mad. And all the little bits!

Loved the idea but not the reality.

gingermonkey · 11/12/2006 08:53

there are lots of little bits, but i always 'lose' those, be it with barbie, bratz, or polly pocket orwhatever!!!! keep the little bits seperate and just give them the bigger bits. I loved the advent calender (for me!!!). Do you have tidy issues, budabauble? Breathe deeply and relax!!

Loshad · 11/12/2006 09:31

did you know that if you remove the hair from a playmobil person, and shove it convex side first upthe hot water tap that it can make a real seal, and stop the water coming out and then make it all go pop - Ds4 does

gingermonkey · 11/12/2006 09:34

oooh, might try that! sounds great fun. Did mummy get very very cross?!

Loshad · 11/12/2006 09:45

mummmy was remarkably cool, considering ....