How to Get the Figures You Want in Sets?

I really hope this is in the right place! I have had this question for quite a long time and I hope I'm not the only one who struggles with this! I think this is mostly relevant to Schleich figures, but I'm sure others too- how do you get the figures you want from big sets when it is only one figure that you need? An example from this year is that Schleich have released 2 sets- a big horse show with a repaint of their German shepherd puppy, and a horse carriage with a white chihuahua, a repaint from their puppies set- and of course it is only the doggies from these two that I need ! I would love any top tips- I'm not sure whether Schleich would just send me these too if I asked- probably not! But I would really appreciate ay help!

You could buy the whole set and sell the other figures. Other collectors may have a similar problem as you have and just want the horses rather than the dog. If the other figures are quite attractive, you probably won't lose much money.

Sandspielfiguren often sells figures from sets separately: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Thank you so, so much Roger this is really useful! That is such a good idea to sell separately, and I have just looked at Sandspielfiguren and wish I found it before, it has many dogs I'm looking for! Thank you again!

Unlikely the brand will send the figure you want if it belongs to a set. Roger is already giving you the best tips. Sometimes we also get something together. I mean, let's suppose you know someone that is only interested in those horses and not the dogs, dividing the expenses, it may help. However, it is always good to calculate it considering someone has to send some pieces of the set to another person and it may not compensate. It is not always easy to find someone only interested in what we are not but it sometimes happens. I am currently acquiring part of a set with two other members on forum.

Putting up a 'Searching For' thread in the Classifieds may help. As Roger and Crogerio have pointed out, others may have gotten the set not wanting the dogs particularly, or be willing to split the purchase of a set with you for the other parts. (Horses seem to attract more collectors than dogs, you're on the right side of the equation!)

Or, awhile after the set's release, the various components will probably start turning up in lots online or at flea markets etc. In the same vein, keep an eye out on people's sales threads here. Lots of 'extras' from sets pop up.

If you're persistent, you will find the dogs you want. I recently purchased a dog from a Schleich horse set from another member here- it was a great transaction, and I got my dog for a reasonable price!

Ohh, yes !!!
Schleich has become SO darned irritating in that way lately !!!
For  instance the little beagles, which come in TWO enormously expensive sets

I have just ordered the whole set with the border collie in order to get the dog, but in this case I think I can sell the rest and not loose a lot.

But recently I found the little long haired chihuahua at a very reasonable price from the 2017 calender on a second-hand site.

Oh thank you so much Roger, Kelly and Susanne! So many kind people on this forum with so much experience with this!
Roger- splitting the set a very good idea, I had never thought of it so thank you! , and Kelly you are right I'm sure there are more people wanting the horses from this set so I'll have to see, and maybe put it on the 'searching for' thread too! And Susanne I completely understand that, these little dogs in these HUGE sets! And I have also seen the chihuahua quite a lot on Ebay, so hopefully in a few years time these dogs also will appear separately for sale !
Thank you once again everyone!

Don't steal the dogs on Sanspielfiguren that I want

Don't worry, as much as I love them and would get them if I could, I usually can only add to my collection on birthdays and at Christmas, or if I make a bit of money from my business!