2012 Figures

[SBell]

I honestly can't figure why Schleich owns so much of the market...those figures are YEARS behind anything other companies are producing..maybe even Bully.

The Velociraptor is basically a knock-off of the Papo (which is itself a JP knock-off). It even has the weird squatting legs, even though there's no need for them.

Papo is a really good original sculpt based on the JP designs..not really a knockoff per se.  These guys are knockoffs of the Papo version though..and poor ones at that. Even their old Rex has a JP styled head.

I'm still not sure why the get so much of the market though..must have really good wholesale prices or something.

They are very aggressive with retailers, that's why--they have many of them convinced that Schleich is the way to go (even though their line keeps changing and prices keep rising).  It also has to do with damage dine by Safari 12 years ago, and they are still paying for that (although the same behaviour isn't affecting Schleich).

What happened with Safari 12 years ago?

First of all, their quality was not anywhere near where it is now. Second, they decided to start selling in the big chains--TRU, department stores, etc (there was not really Walmart or Target to deal with at the time, so it may have been even earlier).  Schleich saw an opportunity, and turned the 'little guys' against Safari for selling through the big corporates. Now, of course, Schleich does the same, but it has become so entrenched that the other companies can't really break in.

[Seijun]

They aren't rumors. Bullyland contacted me directly, and even took specific order quantities. All that could potentially affect it now is their manufacturing plans.

Thanks Dan!

[Horridus]

First of all, [Safari's] quality was not anywhere near where it is now. Second, they decided to start selling in the big chains--TRU, department stores, etc (there was not really Walmart or Target to deal with at the time, so it may have been even earlier).  Schleich saw an opportunity, and turned the 'little guys' against Safari for selling through the big corporates. Now, of course, Schleich does the same, but it has become so entrenched that the other companies can't really break in.

I remember Safari being sold in toy stores and in London's Natural History Museum back in the day (alongside the Invicta line). Now their products are only sold by specialist websites in the UK. Collecta are slowly making inroads, but otherwise it's blanket Schleich domination out there except for the Natural History Museum, which would actually be better off selling Schleich.

[Himmapaan]

...but otherwise it's blanket Schleich domination out there except for the Natural History Museum, which would actually be better off selling Schleich.

And that's saying a vast deal. The NHM gift shop is an unmitigated embarrassment (where the dinosaur toys are concerned). More so for being a museum of natural history, for pity's sake.

Not even the famous Hamleys of London can offer anything other than Schleich and some glorified Chinasaurs. I find it unbearably sad, personally. I want so much to support real shops of brick-and-mortar, but find myself forced to shop online almost exclusively.

[Gryphoceratops]

Thats one thing the US museums have going for them.  The AMNH gift shop is packed with safaris and carnegies.   

[Himmapaan]

Thats one thing the US museums have going for them.  The AMNH gift shop is packed with safaris and carnegies.   

How you must have suffered when you came over and saw what was offered here. Oh, gosh...

[Gryphoceratops]

lol it was pretty disappointing not gonna lie.  Still worth the trip though.   

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

My very first Carnegie/Safari pieces came from Disney World years ago as gifts from my grandmother...after that it was school supply stores where I found them.

[Bokisaurus]

First of all, [Safari's] quality was not anywhere near where it is now. Second, they decided to start selling in the big chains--TRU, department stores, etc (there was not really Walmart or Target to deal with at the time, so it may have been even earlier).  Schleich saw an opportunity, and turned the 'little guys' against Safari for selling through the big corporates. Now, of course, Schleich does the same, but it has become so entrenched that the other companies can't really break in.

I remember Safari being sold in toy stores and in London's Natural History Museum back in the day (alongside the Invicta line). Now their products are only sold by specialist websites in the UK. Collecta are slowly making inroads, but otherwise it's blanket Schleich domination out there except for the Natural History Museum, which would actually be better off selling Schleich.

I agree with Sbell, evil Schleich is very aggressive in going after chain and small stores! They want to be exclusive, pushing all the other brands out.
I think it will only be a matter of time before it backfires on them, just like it did when Safari tried that tactic in the 90's.
You know, being part British company, CollectA should partner up with the NHM and produce their dino figures

[Dan]

Received an update from Bullyland today: Production of the mammals is ahead of schedule, and may be arriving in stores in just a few more weeks.

[SBell]

Received an update from Bullyland today: Production of the mammals is ahead of schedule, and may be arriving in stores in just a few more weeks.

If only they had a supplier in Canada...

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Received an update from Bullyland today: Production of the mammals is ahead of schedule, and may be arriving in stores in just a few more weeks.

If only they had a supplier in Canada...

Dan can ship there..

[CityRaptor]

If only the rereleased some of their other prehistoric creatures instead. You know, like their Apatosaurus, or the good old Frog Slicer! Or their Mastodonsaurus...

And wow, Schleich's Raptor looks derpy in real life.

[SBell]

Received an update from Bullyland today: Production of the mammals is ahead of schedule, and may be arriving in stores in just a few more weeks.

If only they had a supplier in Canada...

Dan can ship there..

I don't want to buy them (I have all of them). I want to sell them in our gift shop.

[Roselaar]

...but otherwise it's blanket Schleich domination out there except for the Natural History Museum, which would actually be better off selling Schleich.

And that's saying a vast deal. The NHM gift shop is an unmitigated embarrassment (where the dinosaur toys are concerned). More so for being a museum of natural history, for pity's sake.

Not even the famous Hamleys of London can offer anything other than Schleich and some glorified Chinasaurs. I find it unbearably sad, personally. I want so much to support real shops of brick-and-mortar, but find myself forced to shop online almost exclusively.

All too true. I was very disappointed with the NHM in London last year. Not only was the dinosaur hall closed, the shop was selling mostly trash! I did get the few Toyway NHM series dinosaurs that are worthwhile, but I didn't find any other quality dinosaur toys anywhere else in the city. Which is too bad, considering the UK's dinosaur history...

I much prefer to find dinosaur toys in regular stores, but all there's left is Schleich and (fortunately) Papo here. Really sad...

[Horridus]

There's some Collecta in the Netherlands too. I bought the Collecta Hatzegopteryx from Dierenpark Amersfoort, and spotted some in the Naturalis museum in Leiden.

Of course, these aren't exactly regular shops... But I highly recommend a visit to either!

[Roselaar]

There's some Collecta in the Netherlands too. I bought the Collecta Hatzegopteryx from Dierenpark Amersfoort, and spotted some in the Naturalis museum in Leiden.

Of course, these aren't exactly regular shops... But I highly recommend a visit to either!

Those are more like grand exceptions. You'll be hard pressed indeed to find Collecta anywhere else. They're definitely not regularly available.

Oh well, at least I got Naturalis' last remaining Collecta 1:15 scale T-Rex with a 20% discount.

[Brontozaurus]

In Australia, Schleich used to have a monopoly on animal toys. In some places, they still do, but Collecta has made huge inroads. A small toy and game shop near uni started stocking Collectas last year, and over the past few years they've invaded the Australian Museum shop. Interestingly, Safari has begun to make a comeback in the AM shop, though I don't know if it'll get any Carnegie figures in-I saw the Oviraptor there once, but otherwise there haven't been any of them.

This discussion is quite interesting.

[DinoFan45]

Thats one thing the US museums have going for them.  The AMNH gift shop is packed with safaris and carnegies.   

Same for the two museums in Indy. The state has mostly WS, and the children's museum has both well in stock. Unfortunately, the latter is the only one with dinosaurs in the exhibits.

Personally can't wait to get my hands on the running Rex from papo, they look amazing.

[Roselaar]

What went wrong with the 2012 Collecta Mapusaurus? The more I look at it, the more disappointing it gets. It has a decent size, an adequate paint job and a cool head sculpt, but those damn silly legs ruin it, like they weren't made for this figures. It doesn't look that way on Collecta's stock pictures... :-/