These people are not obligated to do anything just because YOU want them to. You're gonna have to accept that.

Maybe I'm wrong CM, but I just don't think there's that many people in the crowd you describe. The last two years, people didn't know what they were getting either, and yet they subscribed. Last year, the sub barely made it.

This year, yes they raised the prices, but in offering to do the quarterly shipments it works out to about the same price. And, IMO, the figures presented for 2014 are way better than were presented for 2013 (I know, I know, Dr. Kain's going to disagree with that).

So I think it's either:
--less people have the money; or
--they've moved their money elsewhere. DC's kinda dead right now. Superman movie has come and gone; nothing else on the immediate horizon to build interest. Cartoons kinda blah; comics really blah. They've got a few video games I suppose. . .but that would probably hurt action figure sales rather than support them. Transformers fans seem to have money to keep buying $80+ Masterpieces or 3rd party stuff. Then there's Star Wars Black.

It has been good while it lasted. I think I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 110 figures from the line. Great assortment. There's little more I could ask for (ICE!!!).

And besides, I'd bet they'll find a way to get some of it out.

The problem is this line will likely not be back. I don't have the money either but I subbed because I wanted to get the figures not just for me but everyone I felt obligated to buy them. They did make figures for us not them if it was for them they would never appear in the market, I felt subbing was the least I could do. They raised the prices this and last year it happens. I think I am upset because I wanted this line for $20 I have no idea where everyone got this magical $26. What bother me is all these people dancing on this subscription grave. It's a cold hearted nasty thing to do. I don't like going to a store that doesn't carry any figures my area doesn't sell anything but the bull crap you all are in love with. Ok to me Marvel legends are cheap pieces of crap that should be in a dumpster. I'm sorry to some of you that you feel Mattel screwed you by not continuing a line that didn't work but it sure as hell beats paying 300 -500% more on amazon or ebay. Oh yeah some of you out there would go to Ebay and pay $115 for one figure from some jerk off but when it comes to buying direct at $30 you all have a coronary. The sub model worked for me when the stores,ebay, and Amazon do not. I am going to try and petition Mattel to put them out but only to subbers no public release just to keep the line alive.

Big Bad Toy store is still selling preorders for Aquaman and Ice now at 39.95

NOt sure about Mattel, but when I want hope, I'll look for a hooker on Colfax.

People stole from you because they didn't pay money for a product that they didn't feel was worth the price or offered enough of what they want? Statements like that just show what's wrong with America today. Far too many people others to subsidise their choices. No one stole anything from anyone. Mattel decided this was the way they wanted to do it and the market said no thanks. That's life. I suppose you think Mattel should get a bailout so the sub can get made, right? How about you just pull it directly from people's paychecks.

Look, it's one thing to be upset when you can't have things your way but that doesn't mean you get throw blame around to whomever you like. If there is any fault it can only be with the people that are producing the product. They picked the method, set the numbers, etc. I really don't think there is anyone to blame as stuff like this is healthy. Either Mattel will find a way to do this were the consumer doesn't have to take all the risk and overpay or this will be the end of it. The market has spoken and we aren't throwing our money down the drain anymore.

I am not a mattel hater, but I hate how they play innocent in all this and blame the collectors.

These are about the only things in this thread worth reading.

The saddest part is you mention a Risk but I just don't see one. You pay for something and get it.

Give him credit for one thing... he is passionate about this. Misguided, but passionate.

As I mentioned, I subbed anyways (against better financial judgment). My bill after tax and shipping was $120.41 for the quarterly shipment option. So that's basically $35 for Doomsday and $20 each for the three others. So you take that number and divide by 4 -- that's more than $30 each.

Granted, Doomsday makes this a little lopsided. So taking their original estimate of shipping 3 figures for $15, and that Digital River charges tax on shipping:

((($20 each x 3 figures) + $15 shipping) * 1.075)/3 = $26.875 total cost per figure

The 1.075 in the formula representing my tax rate of 7.5%. Everyone would have to change theirs accordingly. So if you have a 9% tax rate like there is in the next county west of me, put 1.09 there. 6% in the next county east -- put 1.06. No sales tax? Just put 1.

The risk is that you could end up being forced to pay for a bunch of figures you don't want. Yeah, you can make the argument "But you can just sell them!" but the secondary market for DCIE ain't that hot (there have been pretty plentiful supplies for day-of-sale), and that's additional work that they buyer has to do because Mattel did not provide a product they wanted.

It's not "other collectors" fault if Mattel did not provide a product they wanted at a price they were willing to pay. We've had a year of DCIE to show us the general idea of what we could look forward to. People weighed the options, and in the grand scheme of things not enough of them bought it.

It's a shame, but them's the breaks. Sometimes the things you love aren't as popular as you think they are. Or in the case of DCIE, the DC fanbase is tremendously fragmented into various niches and apparently there simply aren't that many folks that are willing to buy a bunch of "sight unseen" DC figures not knowing who they're going to get. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I don't understand why Mattel couldn't reveal all the figures that would be in this sub. Why did both Doomsday have to be exclusive to it? Why couldn't they fix all the wrinkles with Digital River? I really did like this line, but after all the changes they did and all the untruths they told; No thanks. To see Star Wars six inch and Marvel Legends, and Transformers masterpieces in retail and continue and Mattel couldn't get DC Classics out there and when they did over price with no accessories; ridiculous. To say they can't sell at retail and other companies can get it done; does not compute. Maybe they'll take a break and relaunch them in a few years like
Hasbro did with Marvel Legends. Or maybe they might actually wake up and listen to the fans....Stranger things have happened.

"Other companies can get it done" because their properties are considerably more popular with the general public than DC comics as a whole.

That's not saying DC comics isn't popular with the general public, but once you get outside the "big 6" (You can't even really count Martian Manhunter), DC's profile drops sharply. Even among the "Big 6" it's basically "Superman, Batman, and those other guys (and one girl)."

Marvel is basically divided into two major segments: Avengers and X-Men (with Fantastic Four on the side). Both segments have successful movie series ongoing which keeps the characters fresh in the public's minds.

Star Wars is a multimedia marketing juggernaut the likes of which the world has never seen. It's in a waning period right now but that will change when the new movies hit.

Transformers has had several successful media incarnations including a major movie franchise to keep it going (as well as one of the most fanatical collector fanbases out there).

So basically: Big-time multimedia success = Retailer interest. Outside of Superman and Batman, DC doesn't have much luck in that regard recently (maybe "Arrow" would count), so retailers lost interest.

"Listen to the fans" is often a death sentence. If Mattel listened to the fans we'd have entire waves of obscure niche characters that no one outside of hardcore comic fans are going to recognize, much less care about.

If you want to get technical the Blame really goes on everyone.
1) DC why would you submarket a line and continue one DC jams pages of DC Collectables garbage in comic books but still signs a contract with MAttel these figures by DC should have been backed off and Mattel given full billing. Getting comic book ads and better showing in stores at times even replacing DC Collectables.
2) Mattel they need to stop pandering to one set group. In their case you don't fail if you don't try. They took a chance on doing something and failed at it.
3) Collectors This is the most fickle group of all they stick with nothing want instant gratification and can't keep faith if one thing goes the way you don't want it to. I am sorry your precious failing store line didn't stay.
4) Stores Mattel never would have gone the route of a Sub line if the stores had been more capable of providing consumers with what they wanted


Now for a solution for Mattel I have one to finish the line. September release Huntress and Ocean Master, October release Ra's and Batzarro with Prison Doomsday, November Release Aquaman and Ice, December Superboy and Damien with Unleashed Doomsday. Both Doomsday's become club only figures release the last 4 to those who signed up that weren't current club members then cancel the store line for 2014 and tell DC if they want to continue to produce DC Collectables that you can no longer produce the figures and drop control.

No one will ever be able to produce a line if the company you are working for is making the same thing

I love how not only does Mattel blame the fans for things, other fans blame fans as well. At the very least please tell me you don't blame those of use who can't afford the sub. Doesn't help that I've had no interest in the vast majority of the figures they've put into the sub, but it's still mostly a money thing for me. Honestly, the only figure they announced for this next year that I had any interest in, was Batzarro.

As for DCC, I don't see how they in any way, shape, or form, hinder Mattel from doing what they want with their DC licensing. DCC doing a figure of a character/design doesn't stop Mattel from doing a figure of their own based on the same character/design. Just look at the upcoming Arkham Origins figures. Both Mattel and DCC are doing figures based on the game designs for Batman and Deathstroke.

You know, I looked all over the Mattel website and couldn't find a place to register as a wholesaler. If I could've gotten DCIE for the price I was paying for DC/Batman Unlimited, I might've taken a chance on 3-4 subscriptions instead of just 1. As it is, between Duhgital Retard's shipping and 75% of the lineup being a mystery, resale is really difficult.

Mattel gets these toys for pennies on the dollar, proceeds to bungle every aspect of their distribution, and then throws a tantrum. That's why they fail, not because of anything fans do or don't do.

Actually, I can see how and why DCC would/could hender DCUC.

DCC has been around much longer, has it's own collector base, and fills the same niche in the collector market that DCUC does. They're even close enough in scale (And usually even style) that the two lines do not look out of place on the same shelf.
This is a good thing when they hit up different characters, but both can really hurt the other when they're doing the same thing.
I could easily see if DCC didn't exist, then DCUC would have small flood of new collectors looking for their DC fix.

I'm not saying that all this is reality... because I don't know for certain. But I could easily see this as being a factor. I certainly know without DCUC, my interest in DCC will certainly pick up.

No political discussion or commentary allowed.

See Rule #4.

Uh... check out my photos in the DCU thread.

In fact, here is the slideshow from my page (the first few are no longer Direct figure pics though):

http://s1366.photobucket.com/user/Dr.../DC/Comparison

So... my only question now (since my period of mourning was quick): when do they start issuing the refunds?

That's a good question. I would imagine Mattel will make some sort of an announcement soon on the time frame. As soon as we know, we'll pass it along.

"Club Infinite Earths customers, look for refunds early next week. Ecto-1 customers, no refunds as cards were only pre-auth, not charged." -Mattycollector via Facebook.

I want my money back I want to go buy their DC figures on Amazon before the price goes up again I have a few C&C's to complete.

CMIII is the best troll I've seen in a long time.