So, these Disney-Marvel figures...

[SpaceAgent]

So I got a request from DisneyStore dot com asking about my experience. I marked “unsatisfied,” and wrote this:

”My order - and those of many other people - were canceled without explanation or warning. DisneyStore should have anticipated the demand for this item and had enough in stock. Fans like me put in a lot of time and effort to support this product and came away frustrated and disgusted at the way we were treated. The statement issued by the company after the fact was unsatisfactory. The only thing that would resolve this matter is if DisneyStore got more supply and made sure fans were able to get what they order.”

[sprytel]

Yesterday, I had a bit of a crap day (not going to bore you with the details)... but the one bright spot was the fact that I was able to order the Marvel set that morning. Then I came home and saw the cancellation email. My order was completed and confirmed at 11:03 EST.

There are more important things in life than my doll collection... but still... kinda sucks.

I'm not going to reward the scalpers who likely gobbled these up. So I guess my Marvel journey ends here. I'll just try to be happy for those of you who were not cancelled.

[TRAVELING MEGO HULK]

Perhaps I'm just embittered & cynical, but it's hard not to view this as a marketing ploy at this point.

Generate pre-release hype & buzz, three minute sell out, better be Johnny on the spot for the next launch because just look what round one is going for on eBay!

Seems to me that if I'm wrong about that, then any manufacturer would likely press to just re-release and satisfy demand ASAP - and what - Disney will say: "No, we don't wanna sell more of those, onto the next"?

How would that make any sense?

[shaunaconda]

My conspiracy view…
To me this is totally on Disney. They’re not stupid…worth billions! Definitely something fishy, but I’m not sure for what purpose? Some kind of fraud going on though. They know their inventory…how many units they had. Definitely not up front with the number of units to sell. And to keep talking orders after they supposedly ran out! And processing payments after they supposedly ran out! Without any valid explanation. Except opps!
There’s got to be some kind of consumer violation they committed….a U.S. Statute violated? I wonder if there is any legal action that can happen?
…or I’m crazy for thinking like this!!

[TRAVELING MEGO HULK]

I don't think there's any conspiracy or fraud over dollies, just seems to be the typical marketing ploy so prevalent in the modem collectibles industry.

Considering that the online allocation was a pre-order that won't even be fulfilled for over a month, I don't see any reason that they wouldn't have considered an overrun contingency beyond what was contracted for initially if orders exceeded expectation, unless they wanted the first wave production limited in order to drive demand for the line as a whole.

Artificial scarcity manipulating collector perception to increase demand for subsequent waves isn't anything new in this industry.

I could be wrong: in which case I would expect to see another offering to at least satisfy the existing orders which were cancelled, plus whatever sell through based on a 3 minute sell out could be reasonably expected - since none of that is speculative at this point - they actually have unfulfilled orders.

Otherwise what else could be driving a decision not to simply increase production on a hot selling product? Supply chain issues? I'd doubt that.

Like I said, I could be wrong, but this seems like a ploy.

[shaunaconda]

I don't think there's any conspiracy or fraud over dollies, just seems to be the typical marketing ploy so prevalent in the modem collectibles.

You’re probably right, but should still be legally accountable!!
To me…something fishy!

[TRAVELING MEGO HULK]

I mean it could also partly be that Disney is simply more interested in driving traffic to its stores/resorts vs. online sales, but I just can't imagine them expecting a niche manufacturer like Mego to move the needle much in that direction.

If it's all just an innocent, unexpected under-estimation of demand then it shouldn't be logistically prohibitive to make the adjustment and re-offer them at some point.

[TRAVELING MEGO HULK]

Another possibility is that Disney set a production limit so as not to violate existing licensing agreements which may include volume restictions as well as price point.

[toyman]

I’m at a loss as to why they don’t just pull the packs from the store to fill the canceled orders or does that make way to much sense?

[Earth 2 Chris]

But we DID prepare! Many of us ordered as soon as it went live, got confirmation and then had our orders canceled 5 hours later.

it's ridiculous

Sorry, I think you misunderstood me. I meant the fanbase should have been told that online allocations would be limited. The fanbase did nothing wrong. They were actually pretty patient despite being told these would be available online within a few days of the announcement. Then they waited, and when the date and time were announced, they showed up with support. Only to have most of them have a frustrating experience and end up empty handed.

If there are quantity limitations due to the Hasbro exclusive action figure deal, then that should have also been brought up to the fans. Not everyone can get to Disneyland or Disney World at the drop of the hat to find these. Going with a "Disney Shopper" is an avenue, but it seems a bit riduculous to expect a large group of people to do this, or pay after market scalper prices on ebay. I also don't understand why some of these figures can't be pulled from the shelves and sold online, but its probably some red tape "right hand doesn't know what the left is doing" business BS.

[TitansLair]

I’m at a loss as to why they don’t just pull the packs from the store to fill the canceled orders or does that make way to much sense?

This is my biggest gripe.

I understand exclusives and they can be hard to get. But this whole thing just feels like they don't care about the fans / customers at all.

It's on THEM since they accepted orders and the canceled them because of their "glitch." Meanwhile, packs are sitting in stock at stores. They've been there for weeks, no reason they can't divert some of that stock to people who placed orders and had them canceled.

They could also offer to "waitlist" people - the fact they didn't + the fact they pulled the item from their site leads me to believe whatever was allocated for online sales is GONE gone.

I don't think there's any conspiracy here - it's just the whole thing was just handled so poorly

I hope they fix things in future releases

[TRDouble]

People keep blaming this on Mego. If Mego is responsible for anything, it’s getting into these business deals — Topps. Big Lots (now going out of business). Hasbro. Disney (and who would say no to them! Or ANY of them). But once those deals are made, Mego just becomes the manufacturer and provider, not the distributor. Blame these things on those companies, not Mego.

As for pulling the items off the shelf to fulfill online orders, these seem to be more of a driver for the Disney properties than online; a Marvel product to have on the shelves. Unless these really start backing up in the stores, I don’t think these will be pulled to fulfill online orders. They might end up on clearance at a Disney Store first. I hope I’m wrong and I really don’t know what happens to excess product from Disney park stores.

[greenlanternmego89]

Well this was a mess...at least I can still get some awesome DC offerings from MEGO! May be the singular route for me to go if the Marvel releases continue to be this way.

[Oldtoydave]

I really don’t know what happens to excess product from Disney park stores.

99% of it winds up at the Lake Buena Vista Disney store down the road from downtown Disney when they’re phasing it out. Usually ad 1/2 off or less

[wise guy]

I was able to order 2 sets with the discounts but have been checking several times a day for cancellations. My first attempt was at 0802 PT item out of stock . After several tries and cancelling and re ordering at 0840 it charged my gift card . I am not looking forward to next wave