Predictions on Discontinuing Sets and their Secondary Market Value

Aanchir

It's hard to tell whether this would affect the LEGO Group's Ghostbusters licensing situation at all. Playmobil is a major competitor of LEGO (or at least, they like to think of themselves that way), but they're not really in the building toy category. So for all we know this is no different than, say, how LEGO makes Batman building sets even though Fisher Price/Imaginext makes Batman playsets.

SumoLego

They're competitors in a greater sense of the children's toy market, but they are definitely in a different segment.

It just strikes me as a odd choice.

Lyichir

Ma1234 said:

Playmobil got a Ghostubsters license. I bet existing LEGO sets are carved out, but I certainly wouldn't expect the theme to expand. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8DNRyPXVEI&feature=youtu.be

I don't think that Playmobil getting the license says anything about the Lego theme's future. Playmobil may be another major player in the European toy market, but it's not even technically a building toy—which means that they could presumably license Ghostbusters even if Lego's license were indeed exclusive for the market of building toys, just like how Mattel can continue to make Ghostbusters action figures, Funko can make Ghostbusters vinyl figurines, and Hasbro can make Ghostbusters Mr. Potato Heads.

Ma1234

Lyichir said:

Ma1234 said:

Playmobil got a Ghostubsters license. I bet existing LEGO sets are carved out, but I certainly wouldn't expect the theme to expand. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8DNRyPXVEI&feature=youtu.be

I don't think that Playmobil getting the license says anything about the Lego theme's future. Playmobil may be another major player in the European toy market, but it's not even technically a building toy—which means that they could presumably license Ghostbusters even if Lego's license were indeed exclusive for the market of building toys, just like how Mattel can continue to make Ghostbusters action figures, Funko can make Ghostbusters vinyl figurines, and Hasbro can make Ghostbusters Mr. Potato Heads.

I am absolutely aware of that. I consider the two to be competing brands. I would say that Playmobil is bar none LEGO's biggest competitor, although for Americans it's harder to see where the toys don't have the popularity they have in Europe. 

AustinPowers

SithLord196 said:

Regarding pricing, I also have to deal with 6% sales tax and I find it obnoxious, but it is what it is.

Obnoxious? 6% is laughable. Over here it is 19%, and some European countries have even far higher rates at 25% (especially, but not exclusively, the Scandinavian countries) or even 27% in Hungary.

AustinPowers

Ma1234 said:

Lyichir said:

I don't think that Playmobil getting the license says anything about the Lego theme's future. Playmobil may be another major player in the European toy market, but it's not even technically a building toy—which means that they could presumably license Ghostbusters even if Lego's license were indeed exclusive for the market of building toys, just like how Mattel can continue to make Ghostbusters action figures, Funko can make Ghostbusters vinyl figurines, and Hasbro can make Ghostbusters Mr. Potato Heads.

I am absolutely aware of that. I consider the two to be competing brands. I would say that Playmobil is bar none LEGO's biggest competitor, although for Americans it's harder to see where the toys don't have the popularity they have in Europe. 

Over here, definitely. Lego and Playmobil both have a very high popularity and are bought by basically the same demographic, for a very similar reason. Even though Playmobil is not a building toy as much as Lego, it is still kind of. Some Playmobil stuff is modular and can be combined or built in different ways using parts from various sets. Of course parts are not as universally interchangeable as with Lego, but still. Also, both Lego and Playmobil are in a similar price range and have the same perceived image of high quality. Versus for example Mattel stuff or other more (to most Europeans) unknown brands that are seen as "yet another cheap chinese plastic crap".

Otoh, Playmobil doesn't offer anything for an AFOL-like market.

brumey

are there AFOP's  ?

catwrangler

Yeah, there are collector websites with a lot of information going back many years, much like what you see for Lego. I'm not as familiar with those, but I had to dig into one recently when I was trying to find out the number for a set (do they call them sets?) I had when I was a kid...

EDIT:

Yep, I'd say they're a lot like us:
http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=15323.0

eggshen

SumoLego said:

^ Hmmm...  I suppose we should assume that the new GB is going to track better Internationally?  I find this incredibly puzzling and a strange bit of marketing for Playmobil.

I heard a theory recently that Hollywood is targeting China and Russia as their main markets now. Those countries have a new emerging middle class with disposable income that didn't grow up with the original ghostbusters (and other pop culture stories). 

I think you can expect a continuation of sequels, reboots, and rehashes for at least the next couple of years until those markets also get sick of the crap movies. I also hear that 3D is HUGE in China so you can expect that to continue as well. I personally hate action scenes in movies that were shot specifically for 3D effects.

We also do Playmobil in my family so this will be cool for us.

catwrangler

Hated theme? Check. (Super 4)
The dilemma of greater sophistication versus a back-to-basics approach? Check. 
Demand that the company cater more to adult fans? Check. 
Special nickname for the figures? Check. (Klickies!)
Unease over themes that feel strongly gendered in their marketing? Check.

My god, it's like looking into a parallel universe... and that's just the first page of the thread! Truly, beneath the plastic, we are all siblings...

Damn it. Now I want to collect Playmobil more seriously. I have been fending off the purchase of that discounted medieval hay cart on Argos for MONTHS...

brumey

that asian fortress with the samurai and dragons can be had at a discount currently!

speaking of playmobil

Farmer_John

AustinPowers said:

SithLord196 said:

Regarding pricing, I also have to deal with 6% sales tax and I find it obnoxious, but it is what it is.

Obnoxious? 6% is laughable. Over here it is 19%, and some European countries have even far higher rates at 25% (especially, but not exclusively, the Scandinavian countries) or even 27% in Hungary.

Of course the irony of this is that the sheeple keep electing those that continue putting these burdens on their back. It's like living in Kevin Bacon world..."Thank you sir...may I have another?"

Bricklover18

Plus that 6% is only on unnecessary items.  Food and clothes in PA are tax exempt.  That's why we tend to get a lot of Canadians and out of state people at our outlet malls. 

SumoLego

Also - not to turn this into a discussion of taxation - but I would presume that spots where there are use/sales tax rates of 25%, the income tax is probably (?) significantly lower.  

In the US, most sales/use taxes are lower (10% or lower) but the income tax rate is around 33%.  

SithLord196

I wouldn't find the sales tax as obnoxious if I thought the state government was actually efficiently using those funds, however that is an argument for a different place than here. I am well aware it could be worse. 

I used to be interested in Playmobil as a kid but never had any. Near me you can only find them at TRU usually. Sometimes the little toy stores that pop up near Christmas will have some too.

TigerMoth

SumoLego said:

Also - not to turn this into a discussion of taxation - but I would presume that spots where there are use/sales tax rates of 25%, the income tax is probably (?) significantly lower. 

Not necessarily. What tends to be different are the benefits - European "sales tax" (VAT) might be higher, but something like UHC is fairly standard in most countries.

Bumblepants

You know it is a slow Lego news month when we resort to discussing taxes. Wake me up when something retires or the Winter train leaks.

Farmer_John

^Wow...you got me thinking about Lego again bringing up the Winter Train set. I'm really pumped up for that one!

prevere

I think the winter train could ignite a lot of new interest into the winter village theme. Maybe enough for LEGO to keep 3 sets active at the same time. Santa's workshop could be out for awhile longer.

SumoLego

Bumblepants said:

You know it is a slow Lego news month when we resort to discussing taxes. Wake me up when something retires or the Winter train leaks.

I can't quite find a Tina Turner song to make taxes sound as sexy as Brexit.

(Maybe 'Proud Mary', but I just don't have the energy, or patience.)

Also, you said: 'Winter train leaks'.

Bumblepants

SumoLego said:

Bumblepants said:

You know it is a slow Lego news month when we resort to discussing taxes. Wake me up when something retires or the Winter train leaks.

I can't quite find a Tina Turner song to make taxes sound as sexy as Brexit.

(Maybe 'Proud Mary', but I just don't have the energy, or patience.)

Also, you said: 'Winter train leaks'.

Correction. I said "The winter train leaks". That matters.

brumey

tax is dependent on how much you profit

ryjay

brickupdate said:

Wow -- isn't that bold new territory for Playmobil -- licensing?! And of all brands to start with, why Ghostbusters? 

Playmobile also picked up a NHL license.  This past year they released some Toronto Mable Leaf figures and goalies.

eggshen

#70751 Temple of Airjitzu is available at S@H with a bonus of 500 VIP points. Any thoughts on this being the beginning of the end for this set? That's a pretty good deal with a limit of 5.

VorpalRyu

catwrangler said:

Hated theme? Check. (Super 4)
The dilemma of greater sophistication versus a back-to-basics approach? Check. 
Demand that the company cater more to adult fans? Check. 
Special nickname for the figures? Check. (Klickies!)
Unease over themes that feel strongly gendered in their marketing? Check.

My god, it's like looking into a parallel universe... and that's just the first page of the thread! Truly, beneath the plastic, we are all siblings...

Scary stuff... Felt like I should have heard the Twilight Zone theme as I read...

MattsWhat

Is that 'the' meant to be there?  Anyone? ;)

SumoLego

Lego wants to ensure no confusion.



(This is a non-'the' Big Ben.)

SumoLego

And this is a Lego Ben 10.



Thankfully, there is no Lego Big Ben 10, or 'the' Big Ben 10.  To my knowledge, there is only a Ben Folds Five.  They are not Big, nor Lego, nor worthy of 'the'.

Only Thor is worthy.  Meow meow!

Good day!

cloaked7

You all crack me up . So witty!  :-)

Aanchir

SumoLego said:

And this is a Lego Ben 10.

Thankfully, there is no Lego Big Ben 10, or 'the' Big Ben 10.

I dunno, the LEGO Ben 10 figures were fairly big — compared to minifigures, at least.

Legopassion8

When I'm depressed, I watch unedited 2 Live Crew videos on YouTube.

....then I'm not so depressed anymore. Proceed to the next post.

CCC

I wonder if the long term value of the DFB series was hit last night with Germany going out. I imagine that more people would want them in future if they were the eventual winners of Euro 2016.

Yodalicious

^ Agreed, but limited is limited. They probably took a hit, but should be alright long term. 

goshe7

CCC said:

I wonder if the long term value of the DFB series was hit last night with Germany going out. I imagine that more people would want them in future if they were the eventual winners of Euro 2016.

They are probably close to worthless now...  anybody want to sell me a set?  :)

CCC

I'm sure they'll be worth more than RRP. What I really hope is that lego saw how quickly they sold out and act on it for WC 2018.

SumoLego

Team GB didn't see a decrease in value based on their Olympic performance.

CCC

^ It was the most successful Olympics for Great Britain since 1908. I know of a few people that have sets of the minifigs that aren't into lego, bought because of the Olympics, not as they are lego.

ryjay

CCC said:

I wonder if the long term value of the DFB series was hit last night with Germany going out. I imagine that more people would want them in future if they were the eventual winners of Euro 2016.

It will be interesting to see how they are valued in the future.  With most professional sports figures they only seem to hold their value when relevant and current.  We'll see if Lego CMF can buck that trend.

Farmer_John

I think the Olympic CMF minifigs have a lot of appeal to non-UK residents. First, they tie in to the Olympics making them more universal. Second, the series represents a variety of sports; not just one. Third, there are only nine minifigs making them cheaper and easier to acquire (at least when they were available).

The DFB series is less universal, ties in to a specific sport, and includes a total of sixteen minifigs. I think the aftermarket appreciation of the DFB series will be more dependent on their rarity than it will on their desirability. I do admit picking up a few DFB minifigs on BL for my minifig display case, but do not intend to acquire any more.

SumoLego

^^ Are you suggesting my Antoine Walker NBA minifigure isn't going to hold its value?

ryjay

SumoLego said:

^^ Are you suggesting my Antoine Walker NBA minifigure isn't going to hold its value?

Depends....do you still have the card with it? :)

SumoLego

But, of course.  Gem Mint 10!

pharmjod

SumoLego said:

^^ Are you suggesting my Antoine Walker NBA minifigure isn't going to hold its value?

Probably more to a Kentucky fan like me =)

ReesesPieces

SumoLego said:

^^ Are you suggesting my Antoine Walker NBA minifigure isn't going to hold its value?

Probably be worth as much as the real Antoine walker.

SumoLego

^ Sadly, that is probably true.

crnk

Was flying through Sao Paulo last week and picked up a number of 40225 the Rio Olympic Mascots.  Anybody have thoughts on the market for those?
Info/considerations: 197 pcs, about $40 USD, only sold in Brazil, only sold at olympics stores.
My thoughts: it isn't a great set, high price per piece with common elements, but it is hard to get a hold of, and there should be a niche market for it.  I assume production will be pretty low and should be a short availability (available from May/June until ??? [November?]).

prevere

I think if I wait long enough the Doc Brown Dimensions pack will eventually be free. I've never seen a set on Amazon drop 2-3 cents every day for about 2 weeks straight before.

brumey

think i ll get some SCOOBY DOO for milking ...

how do you think they will perform on the aftermarket?

Pitfall69

brumey said:

think i ll get some SCOOBY DOO for milking ...

how do you think they will perform on the aftermarket?

Can you milk a dog? 

TheOriginalSimonB

Only the lady ones.