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Original poster

Sylvanian Family Virgin - tell me where to start please !

23 replies

BlueBeetle · 22/09/2006 11:55

DD is 6 in two weeks - she has this morning declared that she wants Sylvanian Family for her present ! I had never heard of it and after 2 hours surfing I am little clearer !!

Can anyone tell me what to start with, recommend me a set or something - and tell me - is this going to cost me an arm and a leg as that is how it's looking !

Thanks !

OP posts:
cupcakes · 22/09/2006 11:58

They are expensive. We started off with one rabbit family and went from there. Get friends and family to buy a few pieces of furniture as birthday/ Christmas presents.
Luckily for us my sil has just given dd her old sf house and furniture.
Look on ebay perhaps.

cupcakes · 22/09/2006 11:59

Also, don't set your heart on anything you may see online - the stock in shops often varies and you usually have to go to a bigger toy shop to find them. (we have 3 toy shops/depts in our town and none of them stock it).

cupcakes · 22/09/2006 12:04

and check what you get in the box - I almost bought a small wedding set for dd before I realised that the bride and groom weren't included and you had to buy the large chapel set to get them.

Original poster
BlueBeetle · 22/09/2006 12:05

Crumbs - it sounds like a minefield - and an expensive one at that !! Thanks for the tips !

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marialuisa · 22/09/2006 12:34

Can I suggest you get a "set" and one family to start? DD started with the caravan and badger family last Christmas-it comes with lots of "bits" so she could play easily and the family+caravan was about £50, if you start with one of the empty houses and then need room sets etc. as well as a family it gets pricey.

Polgara2 · 22/09/2006 12:46

I would definitely agree - get the caravan and a family to start with, lots of little bits with it. You probably won't find them in many of the 'obvious' toy shops, not even toys r us stock many of them except at christmas. Independant toy shops are your best bet I find. Very rarely find them much cheaper anywhere unless you can get a good deal on the internet and/or get free postage. I got some good ones off Amazon because I bought enough to get free postage. There's another site (which I can't remember but will go and look for) which often has good deals - you might be pushing it for 2 weeks though!

tamum · 22/09/2006 13:06

The Sylvanian Families website is great actually- no cheaper, but good fast service and they have loads of sets from Japan that aren't available in shops here. P+P is included in the price too. The website is here . Agree about the caravan, it's a good set.

happyhippy · 22/09/2006 13:15

my dd decided she wanted to collect all the families so we brought loads some from ebay and some from toy shops she has houses and boats and caravans and about 100 or so figures and has not even mentioned them for ages the little madam but when i mentioned getting rid of them cos she didnt paly with them she said no cos they look good on her wardrobe !!!!!

Original poster
BlueBeetle · 22/09/2006 16:57

OOhhh thanks everyone !! I am now watching several items in ebay !

Like the caravan - but you still have to buy the family so that's almost £60 for a starter set ! Blimey ! I think she would like the little school - I might go for that plus a set of "schoolchildren on trip" with teacher !

This is a whole new world - I feel myself being sucked right in !

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Original poster
BlueBeetle · 22/09/2006 18:52

What do you reckon to a nearly new St John's school house full of furniture for £30 or also a Brambles department store with all it's bits for £35 ?? Found them on Aamzon - shall I ??

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Glassofwine · 22/09/2006 19:05

Be carefull, I got sucked into this one, DD now 7 said all her friends had them and she felt left out. I bought a windmill with furniture and family on ebay, obviously a lot cheaper then new, now only three months later she says their babyish and cluttering up her room! Am tempted to sell back on ebay.

FillyjonktheBananaEater · 22/09/2006 19:09

ROFL at thread title, thats a classic...

tamum · 22/09/2006 19:14

I kow Fillyjonk, I was just thinking hmmm, that's one dd hasn't got yet

FWIW, dd is 8.5 and has friends coming up to 9 and they are all still mad keen on SF, much more so than a lot of dolls really.

Original poster
BlueBeetle · 22/09/2006 19:17

Hmmmm - I had thought that at 6 my dd was getting a bit old for it - but my god-daughter is almost 8 and has only just really got into it - so maybe if they keep the interest it works out as a good investment ?? Am I kidding myself ?

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tamum · 22/09/2006 19:19

Well, you'll have seen the prices they go for on eBay- if they stay in good nick I'm sure you would get a fair bit back if she does grow out of them quickly

Original poster
BlueBeetle · 22/09/2006 19:34

Oh God - am so confused now ! Overwhelmed !

There's the caravan set - as recommended here for £39.95 with free P&P on Amazon - would have to buy the blinking badgers separately though - think they are another £14 - so that'd be £54 for a starter set ! OR there's a nearly new Brambles department store for £30 - would have to buy some animals to go with it as well, OR for £39.95 again (& free P&P) there's the St John's school house - and I'd have to buy some animals !!!

She loves playing schools - so I am veering towards the school set I think - but is the department store better value - is it more for less money ?

This is so sad - and there is no wine in my house ! I need vino to help me with this !

Argh !

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tamum · 22/09/2006 19:50

Dd has many, many sets and I would say that she plays with the caravan and boat much more than the shops or nursery (she doesn't have the school). The caravan is a little house, so you can use it like that, they can camp outside it, and you can move them round the room. So she tells me. You can often pick up job lots of second hand animals on eBay, so you could try that, maybe?

Original poster
BlueBeetle · 22/09/2006 20:14

Oh thanks for that tamum - I do like the caravan set - and have now found a bunch on ebay - so I think I might go with that and see if I can get a job lot of animals too ! Then IF she does play with it - maybe I'll get her the school at Xmas !

This so reminds me of when she just had to have the PlayMobil Zoo - which cost £65 and has been played with twice ! Admittedly it isn't very accessible in it's box in a cupboard - maybe the key is to keep the stuff out so they can play with it !!

I really respect those mums who cycle toys round - putting stuff away and getting old stuff out !

OP posts:
Orinoco · 22/09/2006 21:00

Message withdrawn

Original poster
BlueBeetle · 22/09/2006 21:34

Thanks for the tip - will avoid that then ! I have just bought 21 animals for £24 on ebay - free P&P so not bad I don't think ! Am feeling like the school house might be good for my dd - she loves playing schools - so ideal !

OP posts:
Orinoco · 22/09/2006 21:41

Message withdrawn

NotAnOtter · 22/09/2006 21:43

we hve a house and caravan

best families are - moles/owls and of course the beautiful otters

Original poster
BlueBeetle · 29/09/2006 12:33

So - have bought the school house new from Amazon and some second hand animals from ebay !

Think I am on verge of obsession myself now - these things are so cute ! I can't stop ebaying for more - but I must not spend anymore !!

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