Can we talk about Playmobil toys ?

[sparkle1977]

What is the deal with these ? Why are they so expensive for what they appear to be on the packet ?

My DSs (2.5 and 4) haven't got any at the moment but they anxiously pore over the playmobil brochure stating what they would like.

I am tempted to get some bits from the construction range for them for Christmas.

Anyone got any and what do you think of them ?

I'm always up for chat about Playmobil! My ds had his first Playmobil set when he was 5. He is now 9, nearly 10 and has loads of the stuff. It is quite expensive (although you can get some second hand bargains on eBay), but it's the one toy he plays with nearly every day.

I would recommend that you buy several items from one theme to start with, as they will then all go with each other.

My ds has particularly enjoyed the construction, police, fire and airport sets.

he he, I quite like it when different sets collide. Mary didn't give birth in a stable in our house - she was airlifted to hospital in a rescue helicopter!

some of the sets are mega-expensive but there's lots that's not - it depends what you get. They're quite good at having something for every price bracket IME.

Ahh I am so glad to hear this. I had thought that perhaps its one of those toys that you are tricked into buying only to find its not popular with the DCs.

I plan on buying a few bits from the construction range, the road roller and road construction set, perhaps the road sweeper too. See how they like it before getting anything more.

I have been googling it today and have come across a website called "buyonlineforless.co.uk", is that a good website to buy from do you know ? Some of the bits are slightly cheaper on there but that sometimes makes me wary ?

Playmobil is fabulous!!

My two are 6 and 10 and still play with it loads. We also have the crossover between sets eg. the castle makes an excellent holiday home for the family who fly in by (emergency rescue) helicopter and go out on the sea in their (emergency rescue) dinghy. The helicopter has also been known to whisk away poor unsuspecting builders in their Portaloo

It seems really sturdy too. We have had some pieces given to us that are dated from the 1980s and its still going strong!

Look out for special offers at the Entertainer and Toys R Us, particularly on big sets. We got the crane/portacabin/construction set half price 2 years ago -absolute bargain!

Our sets also collide a lot. Norman the Foreman and his mates often go to see Bossy Ross in his modern living house lifeboat station at Lowbeach-On-Sea. And Michael the Beach Police Man is always hanging around with the builders.

Norbert! I will have to try that scenario out on ds! We will get Norman to go into the Portaloo and the rescue helicopter can come along and take him for a ride......

It's cleverly designed so that bits will come apart rather than break and you can just click them together again.

I agree, it is very sturdy, and the detail in it is very good too.

We also have Norman the Foreman since that infamous Playmobil thread. His name really stuck

My DD1 has an old Playmobil pirate ship which has had extensive and thorough usage (and finally looks it!) Even though it is rather broken and old, and she is now 9, it still gets laden down with little toys of every permutation and sets sail across the carpet.

And if you buy the buildings, you can take them apart and add bits (either the real extension sets you can buy for some of them, or you can use your imagination - we have a lifeguard hut made of various bits of fire stations....)

I nearly forgot to mention our latest acquisition........the camper van.

I love it the DC love it.

I think I bought that from Kiddicare which have some offers on Playmobil sometimes

The camper van is great - although ds recently turned it into a Police support unit (he covered it with paper on which he had drawn several police logos, and filled it with police accessories....)

Tell him to beware of low-flying helicopters

I must be the only person whose kid doesn't get it. I keep buying bits but it hasn't quite taken off. Maybe he'll get into it later? he's 5 now. I do find the bits drive me crazy and it is so prescriptive, though I like the sound of all these mixed up scenarios. Someone gave us the ancient Egypt pack which is insane, and provides a great venue for timetravelling pirate adventures.

I like playmobil, my dd loves all the animals, she is 9 and has an extensive list of new animals she would like to add to her collection.

Ds is six, he has played lots with the crane and cargo ship, not so much with his pirate ship and hardly at all with the pyramid, I also wish I hadn't bought the zoo, just the animals. Dd played a lot with the farm and a tiny log cabin thing affirms collected for her.

It is good quality, I have some really old stuff I picked up cheaply too that is still in great condition. It is worth the expense. The advent calendars are worth the money too imho.

Love playmobil. Well made, lasts forever and kids love it!

Playmobil is fabulous. Ds has been playing with it since he was about 5 - he's now 10. his friends enjoy playing with it when they come round, too.

He prefers it to Lego as he's a lazyarse player rather than a builder, iykwim. Lego trucks and so on are great but come apart (obviously) so can be frustrating.

The level of detail and general fiddliness of Playmobil is spot on, and the quality is great. And I love that the animal-themed stuff (such as the forest ranger's lodge) isn't gendered - unlike a lot of wildlife/pet themed toys which are aimed at girls.

We don't have the Playmobil camper van, but do have a cheapo version, which is great.

I find it odd that Toys R Us and Argos seem to categorise it as being a younger children's range - this is crap. Playmobil is wasted on the under-fives.

yy OrangePips - I love ds loves the calendars!

Ds had the police calendar last year, and it was great!

By the way, sparkle, I forgot to mention that once you get into Playmobil, it's not just the children who like it. Some of us adults love the stuff too, and end up on any thread on MN which mentions Playmobil

I have seen the camper van and thought that looked good too, suspect my DS's will love that.

Hmm seems that you all love it then which is good, thought I would get a mixed reaction.

My two already like to "role play" with the various toys they have so I think they will love Playmobil.

My Dd was given some and I've found that it breaks easily.

Really? We have loads, and hardly any of it has broken. Except Bossy Ross's leg when Grandad stood on him, but I have glued it back on, and he only has a slight limp.