[trebleshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMIII

Hulk Hogan (though the Hulksters name is Terry Borilla)

It's Bollea, not Borilla.

And I'm well-aware of how licensing and actor likenesses work in the toy world - especially when it comes to wrestlers. Regarding Ric Flair specifically, I already said it could be a likeness rights issue and baddasspk confirmed that suspicion.

[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddasspk

so, basically this Q&A is solely for MattyCollect properties now? They used to answer retail questions too.

Yes this is just for MattyCollector lines now.

[Shin Densetsu]

MattyCollector 2014 Q&A Answers - February 13 - The Toyark - News

[Shin-Gouki]

I LOVE how they keep taking shots at the DC Fans

[trebleshot]

I don't see it that way at all. The first answer's not a dig at DC fans; he's not trying to rub salt in the wound or any other cartoon-villain nonsense. At this point, he's simply repeating the facts of the situation, not twirling his moustache and cackling.

I have a question for Matty, though:

The MOTUC Mini figures look adorable - especially Castle Grayskull. Is this line only going to consist of that one wave of six 2-packs, or will this be an ongoing line (with say, Snake Mountain as the next "theme" build)?

[Nerdibles]

So does anyone know if Matty is doing anything to improve the way their con exclusives are being distributed? Every year I have to fight re-sellers (Who are buying 9 Monster High Dolls at one time) just so I can get my 6 yr old daughter 1 so she can play with it. IS Matty planning on doing anything about the amount people can buy so their core fans can have the excitement of picking up one of the dolls at con.

[RKillian]

I like how they won't tell us what else was planned for 2014 DCIE. Might confirm that they led with the 4 weakest figures or had nothing at all planned beyond those 4, which would make them look foolish, so they "can't" do it.

[trebleshot]

There's no ulterior motives behind that. Several companies I've seen have policies about not revealing information regarding products/ideas in development (past, present and especially future).

For example, when Hasbro was running their Q&A, that was one of the questions we were never allowed to ask them.

[Lody666]

Either way, much like the Hasbro Q&A, these are pretty useless because you get a cookie cutter answer even with a legitimate and good question.

[Ebonyleopard]

Was there ever a plan to release a Vixen DCC figure? The old package art showed characters who all managed to get toys, except for her. Was she planned and if so, why didn't she make the final cut

[CMIII]

Honestly, Why should the DC Fans support Mattel? It's quit clear they do not care or want the customers. Theres a saying "You do not need ploys when your customers are Happy" Right now most of Mattels DC customers are, for lack of a better term, pissed off. They fell like they've been dumped on by some innept marketing ploy.

[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMIII

Honestly, Why should the DC Fans support Mattel? It's quit clear they do not care or want the customers. Theres a saying "You do not need ploys when your customers are Happy" Right now most of Mattels DC customers are, for lack of a better term, pissed off. They fell like they've been dumped on by some innept marketing ploy.

I've been doing some "reading between the lines" so to speak. I don't know if the following is true, but my theory is this:

Mattel says there aren't enough of us to support the DC Infinite Earths line online because:

1-DCUC was turned online only due to...
2-...lack of retailer support in turn...
3-...there are probably more collectors willing to buy these figures in store at brick & mortar stores instead of ordering online(I myself find online ordering easy/convenient yet sometimes a hassle) but what IF retailers like Walmart gave up support for DCUC/All Stars/Unlimited? Which concludes with...
4-...due to lack of mass market retailer support, the line would be too costly to continue online(add onto this, the 4H also get paid because they are the ones sculpting these figures for Mattel, this isn't a Mattel-only venture).

I think Neitlich is referring mainly to the number of us not being enough, not actually insulting us for not doing our part. For example whether I would've paid for online figures or not, would you, or any other fans? Not all of us were going to be onboard and not all of us agreed with how the line was turning out.

Ultimately from what I've seen, DCUC wasn't a stellar seller in 2012 and last year Unlimited moved possibly due to stores ordering less as a precautionary measure, which may give us a false sense of high demand once said shipments sell out. DCUC certainly wasn't on the level of Ninja Turtles since 2012 when TMNT returned to stores.

So if anything I think lack of retailer support was the catalyst for the line to end. Blame the bean counters at Walmart, et al, the guys who think multiple Supermans and Batmans are the way to go despite several Dark Knight Rises figures still being at TRU and TJ Maxx even before Christmas 2012 ended(and to some extent, even now). At the same time I think Mattel could've picked better characters for DCUC/Unlimited

HOWEVER

For as many fans know of certain fan-favorites, there are several more kids and collectors alike who may not even realize the importance of a specific figure. For example I wanted Superman Prime for my figures to beat the $%^& out of because I hate that guy. However to a casual collector and child it may just be another Superman figure.

In a way I think DCUC was a line where I enjoyed not paying a crapload of money for but one that just wasn't suited well to mass retail.

[CMIII]

Shin the problem is when his answers are insulting. I just wish he would Admit he doesn't know the DC Fans and thats why they failed. I do not see where this is going to work in Mattels Favor. They couldn't get the collectors to buy the 4H style figures that Most of us would have bought without the club, How can they think that the T/H line will sell at the same price when the same customers do not want them. I'm not a Marketing genius but even I can see this is going to go Horrible.

I also want to say that as long as 4H is sculpting MOTU and Movie Master this is a huge slap in the face.

[CMIII]

What will the Production values be on the 6 figures Planned for Sept and Oct? By that I mean is it possible that they will sell out before DC Fans can get the like the CIE figures?

[trebleshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMIII

I also want to say that as long as 4H is sculpting MOTU and Movie Master this is a huge slap in the face.

No. Just...no.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMIII

What will the Production values be on the 6 figures Planned for Sept and Oct?

Again, that is not something Mattel will answer.

[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMIII

Shin the problem is when his answers are insulting. I just wish he would Admit he doesn't know the DC Fans and thats why they failed. I do not see where this is going to work in Mattels Favor. They couldn't get the collectors to buy the 4H style figures that Most of us would have bought without the club, How can they think that the T/H line will sell at the same price when the same customers do not want them. I'm not a Marketing genius but even I can see this is going to go Horrible.

I also want to say that as long as 4H is sculpting MOTU and Movie Master this is a huge slap in the face.

I don't think 1 party/individual is solely to blame but I think it's multiple parties. Retail buyers ultimately are the ones that greenlight what Mattel will produce and ship to their stores. Sometimes these retail buyers and the corporate guys they work for only care about sales. Unfortunately for us, the fans who mainly buy this stuff, sometimes it's not financially viable to produce what we want if noone but us will buy them. I'm not blaming us, the fans. There are several DC characters I would've instantly bought had they made it to retail. I'm happy that some were finally made(Azbats).

However there is a very big difference between what we see and what retail buyers see. Walmart's retail buyers may just see that Batman and Superman sell. We obviously know this isn't always true otherwise Batman Begins/Dark Knight/Dark Knight Rises stuff wouldn't have made it to the discount bins by the bucketfull.

To a guy like me, there's no reason AT ALL why Ras Al Ghul couldn't have been made as far back as the DCSH line. He didn't even show up in DCUC, DC All Stars or even Batman Unlimited which would've been perfect for him. Instead he was an online exclusive.

Where are the Movie Masters Chris Reed Superman, Michael Keaton Batman? Where are my League OF Assassin's ninjas and ninja training Christian Bale Bruce Wayne?

To me the Mattel/4H DC experience has been one of great but unused potential. It could've been so much more. In a way I also think that what it became, was a mass produced line that tried to cater to us but couldn't fit the mass market retail environment. Maybe there simply just aren't enough of us to foot the bill. For example, there is no way in hell I am going to pay $30+ shipping for the Super Powers Batman and Superman. As much as I like the deco and card art, I already have the DCSH/DCUC molds of both and I paid way less. I don't think this makes me, nor any other fan who feels the same, a cheap ass but I think it just goes to show, maybe this toyline just doesn't fit the current financial climate either.

I think we have it right by declaring what we want. That's where demand comes from. No kids know DC as much as us older fans and the 6" 4H DC lines are what catered to us. Also it would help is retail buyers saw eye to eye with us.

Otherwise we are just going to continue to see the stuff we want made as expensive online exclusives.

[CMIII]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebleshot

Again, that is not something Mattel will answer.

You didn't read fully what I asked... I am not asking something they cannot answer. Is there going to be thousands produced or Just a couple hundred? Scott has simply give an Answer on the CIE figures that read like a Hussle "We will post them for Early Access then at our Retail if they don't sell out, and they are no way only going to be for MOTU Fans." he says one thing then says another in the same breath but if they sell out in Early Access then by extension they are only going to for the MOTU Fans.

Really those of us who bought the Sub may not get them and this is something Mattel refuses to address and it has been posted at their questions and the Moderators hide it from Scott. And it has been posted on their Facebook Page but Mattel only logs in there to post updates and that's it.

[Thugnificent]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMIII

You didn't read fully what I asked... I am not asking something they cannot answer. Is there going to be thousands produced or Just a couple hundred? Scott has simply give an Answer on the CIE figures that read like a Hussle "We will post them for Early Access then at our Retail if they don't sell out, and they are no way only going to be for MOTU Fans." he says one thing then says another in the same breath but if they sell out in Early Access then by extension they are only going to for the MOTU Fans.

Really those of us who bought the Sub may not get them and this is something Mattel refuses to address and it has been posted at their questions and the Moderators hide it from Scott. And it has been posted on their Facebook Page but Mattel only logs in there to post updates and that's it.

If you're looking for hard numbers, I doubt you'll receive a response. This is a guy who goes to work everyday, likely doesn't live in a castle, probably still gets stuck in traffic, and has a variety of bosses & people to answer to. What I'm trying to say is he is likely much like the average guy. Any office job, despite heading up any sort of department or group & thus "having influence", have inherent responsibilities and one of those is adhering to corporate policies. While you might not consider it a big deal for this info to be dropped, it might also be information employees at Mattel either don't know or don't talk about based on confidentiality agreements signed during their employment. Whether this is worth a cover-up I don't know, but I do know that a much of the internal workings of a corporation are a private affair. While Scott is the guy infront of a camera often, I am sure most decisions are not entirely up to him. While many answers I read are pretty generic that come from MattyCollector, it's cool as it is that he is allowed to do that (I am sure it took convincing to allow) and I bet his answers & videos have to be sent up the corporate chain a bit to ensure they are "PR" friendly. He answers to someone, and at the end of the day is employed & has his pay cheque provided by Mattel; when speaking as part of MattyCollector, for all intents and purposes he is Mattel.

[trebleshot]

^ Nicely put.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMIII

You didn't read fully what I asked... I am not asking something they cannot answer.

Yes I did read your question, and yes you are asking something that Mattel cannot answer. You are asking for production numbers on an upcoming product. That is not information Mattel will tell you. They will not even give you an estimated range. No toy company (that I am aware of) will do that - not just Mattel.

Quote:

Really those of us who bought the Sub may not get them and this is something Mattel refuses to address and it has been posted at their questions and the Moderators hide it from Scott. And it has been posted on their Facebook Page but Mattel only logs in there to post updates and that's it.

The CIE Sub does not exist anymore, so it doesn't matter whether you bought the sub or not. You don't get any special treatment because you were part of that 60 percent. It sucks, but that's the truth.

Could those toys sell out before everyone in the 60% has a chance to buy one? Yes, but all toys - especially online exclusives - have the potential to sell out.

One reason Mattel hasn't addressed your concern could be because they don't have an answer to give at the moment. Maybe even they don't know what they're going to do if those figures sell out. And even if Mattel does have a couple of options in mind, it's all still information about toys that are currently in-production which Mattel has explicitly said they cannot discuss publicly.

[Super Joe]

Your way cool Super Powers 30th Anniversary surprise brings to mind another 30th Anniversary = Masters of the Universe. You pulled the near-impossible by giving fans a huge new Grayskull. Mattel accomplished it, in the face of the post Great Recession. You did it seemingly with the nifty help of the Pre-Meter. Like Grayskull, can you put a Super Powers 30th Anniversary Pre-Meter, for a equally huge Hall of Justice? Perhaps join forces with Total Heroes the retail line, to advertise it as something like a mail-away, available only at MattyCollector.com?

[CMIII]

You think I want a Hard number, I DON'T.......

I am asking is it going to be Low Production like the CIE figures This Month, June, September, and December? Or will it be Many. A Simple question I am asking is are they going to produced in the Lower Quota? the Answer is either Yes or No not some hard number.

[trebleshot]

That is not what you originally asked. But it doesn't matter whether you want hard numbers or some vague comparative. Mattel will not discuss products that are currently "in-development".

On a side note, a low production run could be 10K units or it could be just 10 units. Without some basis for comparison (i.e. Mattel's average size for a production run of this type), any answer that Mattel might have given would be practically meaningless anyway.

[CMIII]

I would compare asking Mattel some questions as to talking to a Brick Wall, just some of the answers are just a total lack of any commitment. Which in the end is why people stopped buying in.

Check your PMs - Toyark Staff.

[Shin Densetsu]

MattyCollector 2014 Q&A Answers For Early March - The Toyark - News

[TimothyR]

really man.. how is a 6 figure limit helping anyone?.. that is a ridiculous answer to that question.

they basically stated the problem as the answer.