Playmobil Specials Return to Toys "R" Us?

It seems like the single-boxed figure has returned to Toys "R" Us! We spotted a whole rack of 4685 Zulu Warrior figures at $3.49 a pop. There were no other Specials available, but seeing as US TRU stores haven't had these in some time, this might be a good sign for these guys returning to American big box toy stores. Happy hunting!

Target Toys "R" Us Playmobil Sales This Week

At Target: The Knights 5864 Roleplay Shield is on sale for $20, normally $29.99, through Saturday. In addition to this, almost the entire Playmobil section is also about 10% off. The good news is you can save some scratch on new items, the bad news is that 10% off a $2.99 blister is probably not doing anybody any favors.

At Toys "R" Us: Save 20% on select items. Specifically, items from the Nautical Expedition line and the Vet office theme. Good stuff, if you haven't yet got it, we suggest the whale.

Playmobil Divers Sale: 20% Off at Toys "R" Us

Toys "R" Us stores in the USA-- apparently, one of the few places where something is going on with Playmobil these days-- have the Divers range for 20% off. You can get the whale set for $15.99, the Nautical Expedition Boat for $43.99, and others for less than you deserve to pay for them. Lucky you!

As we've picked up the entire range, we give them all high marks. (Particularly the SCUBA set with the swordfish and the whale.)

Toys "R" Us Sale This Week

It seems we have a consistent source of goings-on in American Playmobil collecting, don't we?

This week (through Saturday closing), Toys "R" Us stores are selling Playmobil Castle/Knights and Pirates/Ghost Pirates for buy-one-get-one-half-price. As many new sets were recently released, this may be a great opportunity to get some what skeletons and derelict ships. Happy hunting!

Yet More New Sets at Toys "R" US (USA)

Apparently the reset a few weeks ago with the Egypt series and the Ghost Pirates was just the tip of the iceberg-- more new sets are hitting your local Toys "R" Us stores! Assuming you live in the USA, that is. Here are some of the highlights:

Vet Blister Packs 5821 and 5822 (previously seen on eBay)

Log Cabin 5918 (reissue of 3826, may have slight modifications), $39.99

Fairy Tale Castle 5873, $29.99. A Unicorn Playset ($19.99) and a Carriage ($9.99) were also available.

Other new sets are expected, so happy hunting!

New Playmobil Hits Toys "R" Us... in the USA

USA fans, check your local Toys "R" Us for some new themes. The holiday reset is starting now with a very healthy selection of Ghost Pirate and Ancient Egypt themed sets. You'll find the Whale Skeleton for about $30, the Pyramid, the Sphinx, and other sets starting at about $10. We're still researching what's out there, so if you're out and about this weekend see what you can find!

Toys "R" Us has 25% Off Playmobil This Week

Hey kids! Toys "R" Us stores in the USA have 25% off their existing Playmobil stock. Sounds like a great time to get something if you've been holding off.

Before we were interrupted...

For some reason we've been having an extreme problem updating for many months. Files simply would not go up. And now? Well, it's working. As such, if you're finding us, please take our sincerest apologies for the gap in coverage and expect more news stuffs very shortly.

Since the last time we updated, Toys "R" Us has put the bulk of its Dinosaurs line on clearance, Target has essentially phased out Playmobil almost entirely, Wal-Mart seems to be making up its mind, and Kmart has picked it up and seems to be giving it decent support.

We'll have more fun shortly.

Toys "R" Us Gets Lots of New Playmobil (if you're in the USA)

It seems that all of a sudden, some (but not all) Toys "R" Us stores in the USA are getting a massive push of new product. Some stores have stuff in more than one aisle, with all sorts of sizes and price points to delight and amuse. Even more astonishing, there were loads of sets I haven't seen before, so being my lazy self, I didn't write down all the numbers for your reference. (Sorry.) Here are some of the things we saw in today's runs:

Circus
Small clown, $100 tent, dog act, pony act, tightrope, and what probably amounted to the entire new theme minus one or two sets.

Take Alongs
In addition to the 4774 Barbarian set we reported earlier, a new Knight set (4775) and Pirate set (4776) were available. It didn't seem like there was a spot for a fourth set, so that seems to be that.

Knights
A red dragon-with-barbarian is available for $20. It's the older dragon mold (the one with arms).

Dinosaurs
Seemingly the entire line is being sold at Toys "R" Us for roughly the same prices Playmobil sold it for directly in January. Even the boring little quad is there.

Romans
There's a Roman camp, 5838 Gladiators with tiger, and some larger sets you have no doubt seen elsewhere.

Christmas
The return of the Nativity Scene, and a new advent calendar packed with little woodland creatures. In other words, zzzzz.

Now if I wasn't so cheap to not have a camera phone, I could probably share pictures. Since so many new items were there today, it seems unlikely there would be too much more-- but it's nice to see the biggest toy retailer in the US picking up some serious slack for the brand. It's as close as we've ever seen to a full year's line outside of a specialty toy retailer.

Sadly, there were no new Specials (or Pals) to be seen, and there were no sign of the new blister packs we're told are being sold at select larger Wal-Mart stores. There were, however, a large number of older sets which have been at the stores for ages or have been restocked.

Toys "R" Us Gets Playmobil Dinosaurs

In the USA, national toy store chain Toys "R" Us is starting to receive the Dinosaur sets. Specifically, 4170 Triceratops with Volcano. It's apparently in the same box as the international/specialty release, and costs $49.99. If for some reason you didn't already buy it direct or at a Playmobil-specific venue, now's your chance!

3611 Submarine Hits USA

I keep forgetting to post this.

The fancy yellow submarine (which, presumably, we all live in) has hit stores. Toys "R" Us has it for about $19.99, and specialty stores have it as well-- although we didn't write down the price. Happy hunting!

Reader Q&A: 5775 Pirate's Attack

Reader Scott asked: Have you ever heard of set 5775? This set has a pirate ship and a fort (awesome)! I saw this set in a coupon when I received a recent order, but the only other place I have seen it is on the Toys'r'us website. Do you know if this set is upcoming or discontinued?

First, when in doubt, be sure to consult the tools you have at your disposal. Checking TOys "R" Us is most useful, but you can also check Google and my personal favorite, eBay. Seeing closed auctions can show you who's selling what, and where.

As far as I can tell it has not yet been discontinued. This particular Pirate's Attack Ship has indeed been out for a while, and in the 5775 configuration appears to be a US mass market exclusive-- which means you probably will only see it at Toys "R" Us or on closeout down the road. I've seen this set come and go at a few Toys "R" Us stores around Los Angeles, but it comes and goes. I'd suggest you hit the road for a good old fashioned toy run-- check your local stores (or call them) to see if the set is available. Due to the fact employees generally have a number of duties to perform, I tend to prefer to just make the drive and stick my head in the store(s) in question.

Happy hunting, Scott! If you have a question, feel free to leave a comment or email me, if I can't find the answer I'll at least leave you with a believable lie. Or the truth. One of those.

Playmobil Toys "R" Us Sale

There's a sale going on now at most/all USA Toys "R" Us stores. A number of sets are marked down $2-$5 off, including those new pull-back racers and the newly reshipped Skate Park. Selection varies by store, so if you've been putting a few purchases off, now may be a good time to see if there's something of value for you at the toy store with the freakish cartoon giraffe.

5833 Speedboat with Underwater Motor in USA

A new set is showing up in US stores. The 5833 Speedboat with Underwater Motor can be found at several retail Toys "R" Us stores for a mere $9.99 a pop. You get a boat, a motor for said boat, and a figure in a box. If you consider that the motor itself sells for $5.99 direct (or through stores that sell the add-ons line), it's a pretty sweet deal overall. Happy hunting!

4414 Skate Park Returns to US Retail

While rumors are flying to the contrary, we're happy to report that the Toys "R" Us chain is getting in 4414 Playmobil Skate Park sets once more. They're $29.99 each and seem to be in non-mass-market packaging, which means the sets we saw were not specifically named on the box. Since a number of sellers on eBay are claiming this one is long gone, you might want to hit up your local stores before paying a premium on the secondary market.

New Sea Themed Sets at Toys "R" Us, Fry's Marketplace, Fred Meyer

After weeks of waiting, we're glad to say that the 5834 Shark Cage and 5835 Sea Life Show have shown up in the USA at Toys "R" Us, which means it should see decent distribution. We spotted these at the Porter Ranch Toys "R" Us in Los Angeles, and the items are also available from the Toys "R" Us web site as reported previously.

What's more, the forum users out there (see links to the right) have reported seeing some of these at Fred Meyer and Fry's Marketplace grocery stores. These are owned by the Kroger company, as many grocers are, so check your local Kroger-variant for more. (Fry's Marketplace is not related to Fry's Electronics, nor is it identical to Fry's Food & Drug-- Fry's Marketplace actually has a significant toy and general merchandise selection, and is found in Phoenix, Arizona.)

New 2-Packs at Target, Toys "R" Us

As reported previously, there were expected to be four new 2-packs sold at Toys "R" Us and Target stores. Well, now we can say that they're definitely showing up to both. Toys "R" Us typically charges $3.99 per set, while Target is asking $2.99. As these are shipping in assortments, if your store is drowning in old product, it might be a while before you see them. It appears the merfolk are shipping with the Romans and the Knights are shipping with the pirates.

These sets are:
5818 Knights (Sir Polka Dot & Sentry specials)
5819 Pirates (Pirate with Skull [sans skull] and purple pirate)
5823 Mermaids (Mermaid & Sea King specials)
5824 Roman Gladiators (from the Arena)

So if you live in the USA, it might be worth your while to watch for these at retail before paying on eBay. If you live outside the USA, it's probably a good time to call in a favor with your American trading buddies. Happy hunting!

New US Mass Market Pirate Ship 5810

Well, it's new-ish. Set 5810, the latest Pirate Corsair, is hitting Toys "R" Us stores around the USA for about $29.99. It's similar to another ship in another set, but it has white flags, different figures, and a totally different crew-- made of figures you might recognize from elsewhere.

Mass Market Skate Set (plus box error)

Last night we went over to Toys "R" Us and spotted some new mass market sets right here in Los Angeles. One of the ones we hadn't seen previously was the Skate Park, seen in the thumbnail here. What's interesting, though, is the top of the box-- it showcases a female skater that doesn't appear in the set. Interesting, no? Perhaps she'll appear in another configuration shortly, but hey, there's an oddity. The set is $9.99, or so says the shelf.

Still no sign of the diver sets that are supposedly showing up in my neck of the woods but some are showing up on eBay. Happy hunting!

Third New Blister 2-Pack Spotted

Over on the Playmofriends forums, user playmogirl has posted a shot of a previously unseen set she found at Toys "R" Us. Set 5818 contains two previously released specials: Sir Polka Dot and Sentry, both of which are slightly older and slightly harder to find sets these days. This may mean even more await you in the wilds of retail, and we'll keep you posted as we see more if we see more.

It's also worth noting that "Sir Polka Dot" was issued in Pals packaging in the USA a few years ago, but under the name "Battle Knight." Both sets were numbered 4567, although the Pals set has the distinction of actually having had the name "Battle Knight" written on its box.

New USA Playmobil 2-Packs for 2008?

Good news! Apparently the (mostly) exclusive to Target and Toys "R" Us Playmobil figure two-packs did well enough to warrant additional items to be released in the assortments. So far, Playmobil has released a Policeman & Criminal set, a Roman Gladiator set, a Pirates set, and a Knights set. Each one costs about $2.99 for two figures with accessories and you can find these first four at Targets everywhere with little problem.

The news is that two more have started to pop up on eBay. I personally have yet to find these (not for any lack of searching), but here's the scoop: at least two sets are on the way. Currently, these ship in two assortments (the Gladiators & Police are in one case, the Knights & Pirates are in the other) so this looks like it could be a third assortment. Set 5824 contains two more gladiators, from the look of things these are repackaged figures from the 4270 Roman Arena. Set 5823 repackages two older, hard-to-find specials: 4545 Sea King (or Neptune), and 4557 Mermaid. It seems that for this release, the Mermaid's animal sidekicks were dropped.

Please click either image to see the completed auctions from Roger75093.

Of course, we'll post more about these as we find them in the wilds of retail. Neither is confirmed to be an exclusive, although it seems there's a very good chance they won't show up too many places other than Toys "R" Us and/or Target in the USA. As far as I know, neither of these have been announced in any official capacity and few if any sightings have been confirmed outside these appearing on eBay.

US 2009/Germany 2008 Diver Sets Out in USA?

A number of the still-not-released-in-Germany diver sets are on the US Toys "R" Us Web site and are being listed for sale, and in stock too. What's more, one of the sets listed has yet to appear in any German, American, or other catalog. Of note in this new set are some newly colored rockies, a small white seal (previously released in grey), and a nifty hat on the trainer. A new yellow submarine, presumably one we could all live in, is also shown as well as the 4500 Shark Cage Diver.

As of yet we haven't seen any of these in the wilds of retail.