Lego vs playmobil...

[wolfwing]

Heh last Christmas while I was in a small store looking at Lego for my nephew I was checking out the lego stuff, but on the opposite wall, was a huge display of playmobil, probably bigger then the lego, far more detailed and such, and got me wondering how many people like it or like both. I prefer lego since you can make any set into something else and combine, while playmobil you tend to be least from how I see it limited to the theme of the sets you buy. Yet looking online and such they seem to be as popular, and lasted just as long.

So how does it work? Are they as popular with the older kids and adults as Lego is, or are they popular more for the ease of setting up scenes or such?

[kostasm13]

Definitely LEGO are better in so many ways.

No doubts about this.

Anyway, as for the popularity, speaking for Greece,

in the most small local toy stores, Playmobil have larger collections,

and have larger space on displays.

But only LEGO has official stores.

I think Playmobil are "easier" for smaller kids. 5 minutes of construction

and it's playable. Whereas LEGO needs more focusing, and this might be confusing

for small kids.

Anyway, LEGO rocks!

Playmobil sucks!

[Zorbas]

But only LEGO has official stores.

Not only LEGO. Click.

In fact, there is only one official Exclusive LEGO Shop to my knowledge. I must agree on the other points though. All the facts you provide are true. Playmobil has a HUGE presence in almost every toy store here.

[Munkay]

Well, your really comparing apples to oranges. There both toys aimed at children, but thats where the simularites stop. Lego is a complete building toy, as where paymobile is mostly fully contructed right out of the box. This doesn't mean that LEGO is better or vise-versa. It all depends on what the end user is looking to do. Lego is a complete building toy that can be taken apart and built into other things. were as Pay Mobil can not. BUt this also makes for a sturdier toy whitch can take more abuse.

So in all, one might preffer one over the other, but i don't believe either is nessasarly better than the other.

[wolfwing]

I was just comparing them since they have themes, really old, still popular and such. Plus my nephew got a playmbil pirate boat it had two figures some weapons and a chest of gold, interesting but doesn't seem to have as much replaybility as lego, especially since it really only works with a few other sets simular to it oh well :> Just curious peoples thoughts.

[Marckeyh]

When I was young, my best friend had loads of playmobil. I quite liked it, everything is ready straight out of the box, the vehicles are quite big, but the figures look a bit odd. I remember he had a fire truck with loads of accessories, much more than LEGO had at the time.

[lightningtiger]

For me they both have their place in childrens lives, but Lego I believe lets their minds expand for the norm and then the flood gates open on their wild and fantastic creativity !

Also Lego is cheaper in Oz than Playmobil for what you get in a Playmobil set.

I'm a conformist! everyone !

[ThePurpleLegoBrick]

I have played with playmobi when i was little and i remember having a ton of fun. but i don't think grownups and teenagers are really in to playmobil. I get made fun of enough with lego, but imagine PLAYMOBIL.

Edited September 13, 2010 by ThePurpleLegoBrick

[rriggs]

I also don't think you can really compare them. They are too different.

I have used Playmobil sets and concepts for inspiration for MOCs in the past!

Cheers

Rog

[Fugazi]

Am I wrong in thinking that the various 4+/4 Juniors lines (Pirates, City) of the early 2000s may have been aimed at the Playmobil market share? The bigger minifigs looked somewhat like the Playmobil ones, and the simplified construction was a sort of compromise between serious Lego and Playmobil.

(from Peeron)

[noname]

Both LEGO and Playmoblil are suitable for children (and many children like both), but only LEGO is good for AFOLs and TFOLs.

Anyway, as for the popularity, speaking for Greece,

in the most small local toy stores, Playmobil have larger collections,

and have larger space on displays.

Same in Israel, and in every toy store. (Because LEGO sets cost double the price in Israel)

[WhiteFang]

Someone needs to find TheBrickster to get him involved in this discussion! He is the right person to offer his insights since he owns both of considerable large amount.

[WesternOutlaw]

Interesting discussion, especially since I like both LEGO and Playmobil. Both have always been part of my interest in toys, but as a few others have mentioned previously, they are completely different "types of toys" as LEGO is a construction toy and Playmobil is more pre-assembled. Playmobil does have a construction element, their System X method for building larger walled structures like castles, forts, and houses. It doesn't compare to building with bricks, but it does require construction (at least to a limited degree) and offers an opportunity to make custom designs with multiple sets or Playmobil Add-Ons.

I may have shared part of this story before, but as a child, I remember visiting expensive European-style toy stores long before TRU and department stores ran out these little "Mom & Pop" toy shops. A few toys these stores always carried that seem to be burned in the back of my mind is LEGO, Playmobil, a glass display case of Toy Soldiers and Vehicles, and LGB Trains (to name a few). I always associated these toys with Europe and quality. Often times, there would be awesome window displays with Playmobil themes like Pirates and Castle. I would stare at them and envision imaginary play hoping to get a set for Christmas.

I was in a large toy store last year and they had a window display showing off the newer Playmobil Roman theme. The same feeling came over me as I stared at the Roman Colosseum and soldiers. I'm not sure if it's the size or the style of the Playmobil sets, or perhaps even the old-time charm of their sets, but I continue to admire Playmobil.

A number of years ago, I started buying their Western theme sets, the older sets from Ebay. MISB sets bring a hefty price as the Western theme was discontinued. While I still don't have all the sets I wanted (missing just a few), I appreciate the sets that I have. Playmobil has a high quality that makes them last for a long time. They also offer Add-Ons to discontinued themes (like Western) and anniversary sets from past themes as well. You can order a set of figs from many of the themes as an Add-On.

While the Playmobil aisle in my local Toys R Us is rather large, I rarely see adults looking at the sets (at least compared with LEGO). My normal routine when visiting is to check out LEGO then the Playmobil aisle. The most recent Playmobil sets I purchased are part of their new Ghost Pirates theme. I also like their Romans and Egyptian themes.

In any case, my interest with Playmobil is setting up a single theme in a diorama fashion, much like I do with a LEGO City once all the buildings, cars, and trains are built. It's not a whole lot different aside from not spending a lot of time building the sets.

Two great toys - LEGO and Playmobil, but they both offer different appeal.

[Aanchir]

I was a fan of both in my childhood. But while both are fairly costly as far as toys are concerned, LEGO ended up being the better investment. No matter how big your collection of Playmobil is, you can't really do much more with it than you could do with the individual sets. The figures and parts are specialized to each "theme", so you can't easily mix-and-match the sets or figures. In LEGO, there's a lot more versatility-- naturally so, since it is a building toy, something Playmobil really doesn't even try to be.

[OneSnowTrooper]

I loved Playmobil! I had loads, it was the nr 1 toy I played with (besides my match box cars). Talking about the Western sets, the Black Smith was my favorite set ( think I still have it somewhere). The figures where called "klicky's" in the 70's and 80's

Edited September 15, 2010 by OneSnowTrooper

[Sam Vimes]

Well I have both Lego and Playmobil, I like both of them, I have been bless with a good bit of the castle stuff which is nice.

[kostasm13]

Not only LEGO. Click.

In fact, there is only one official Exclusive LEGO Shop to my knowledge. I must agree on the other points though. All the facts you provide are true. Playmobil has a HUGE presence in almost every toy store here.

Ok, I haven't seen the Playmobil Fun Park.

If only LEGO had one in Greece.

Anyway, there are two official LEGO stores, the first in Ermou steet, and the other

in Golden Hall.

[Zorbas]

Anyway, there are two official LEGO stores, the first in Ermou steet, and the other

in Golden Hall.

Oh yes, I totally forgot the Golden Hall one. You are right.