Condensation? Oil? Something inside plastic window of Retro-Heroes

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

^ Great stuff, I am sure you will keep us posted ... thanks Paul.

[drmego]

I just got off the phone with our Mattel guy and he has a Sinestro there with the
oily residue. I sent him the high-res jpgs posted here. He will look into it and
let me know.

[geoffdude]

I just got a set that shows some of the residue inside the blister.
We are addressing it with Mattel this week and will let everyone
know what they come back with.

Geoffdude - if you have figures with more than the clear residue
that I've seen, send me those figures and I will pay you for them.

It's hard to explain in photos and words what is going on, so I
would like to send Mattel a "bad" example so their people can
examine it.

Thanks for the offer Doc, but I'm in the same boat as everyone else. All mine have it to some degree.. and I really do want to keep them.. but find out what we need to do to keep 'em safe PDQ.

(And prevent this from happening on Assortment #2).

Regards,

g.

[geoffdude]

OK. Off the phone.

No big surprise here, as they (CS agents) didn't know what I was talking about. However, they were very, very nice, which I appreciate. I gave them the numbers (thanks Doc) and then she offered to refund me my money (again nice service), but I noted the refund was not needed, only answers to what the goo is, what it will/could do long-term and some solutions to resolve this problem QUICKLY was desired.

She noted, and I agreed, that this was not possible over the phone.. so basically I asked her to log the call, the complaint, and to please try and have Mattel provide some answers (if possible) sooner rather than later so these items would not continue to be damaged from being sealed while we wait upon some resolution. She said "she understood".

So there you have it.. I made a Mattel call, now I'll try TRU. I fear though the most practical solutions will be to get refunds.. or take the figures off the cards, because getting this resolved with new, no-goo, packaging seems unlikely at this point.

Regards,

g.

[AAAAA]

Mattel is a experienced Toy maker with a Great R&D branch
there should be no learning curve in this area when comes to Plastics.
Not like the unforseen stupidity of kids during 78-79 battlestar galactica missile firing
fiasco.
Unless china been cutting corners ...again!

[drmego]

Yes please - and thanks for the high-res jpgs. I am e-mailing them to
our guy at Mattel today. Hopefully he can shed some light on this.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

Anyone have the numbers they can post from the back of the TRU cards above the UPC bar code? I'm on the phone w/Mattel.

Number is like R3533 etc.

Good luck and good on you for taking action!

[drmego]

superman R5933
green lantern R3534
sinestro R5936
lex R5934

[noelani72]

well, add my figs to the list too.
I went to look after seeing multiple posts about this issue...

There is enough building up inside the blister that it is running down the inner wall on both my Sinestro and Green Arrow. Hasn't dripped onto the suits as far as I can see.

This almost seems like the blister is breaking down. It seems like it is starting to plasticize and return to oil form.

I have no quams busting open Sinestro to save him...but Green Arrow was bought at a Premium price and I do NOT want to open him unless I can get a replacement at MSRP of $19.99.

Here's pics:

http://www.decaturvader.com/mattel/mattel001.jpg

http://www.decaturvader.com/mattel/mattel002.jpg

http://www.decaturvader.com/mattel/mattel003.jpg

I did try calling Mattel's Consumer Hotline as Paul suggested; alas, they were closed for the evening.

I just got a set that shows some of the residue inside the blister.
We are addressing it with Mattel this week and will let everyone
know what they come back with.

Geoffdude - if you have figures with more than the clear residue
that I've seen, send me those figures and I will pay you for them.

It's hard to explain in photos and words what is going on, so I
would like to send Mattel a "bad" example so their people can
examine it.

Paul, I can send ya my Sinestro if it helps ya. The liquid is severe enough that since my figs are stored vertically, it has rolled downwards. Ya wouldn't need to pay me for it if ya have a chance of just hooking me up at MegoMeet with a replacement.

[geoffdude]

0040hr

Thanks.. I'll update w/what they say. Hang on.

[drmego]

0040hr

[geoffdude]

Anyone have the numbers they can post from the back of the TRU cards above the UPC bar code? I'm on the phone w/Mattel.

Number is like R3533 etc.

[drmego]

I just got a set that shows some of the residue inside the blister.
We are addressing it with Mattel this week and will let everyone
know what they come back with.

Geoffdude - if you have figures with more than the clear residue
that I've seen, send me those figures and I will pay you for them.

It's hard to explain in photos and words what is going on, so I
would like to send Mattel a "bad" example so their people can
examine it.

[geoffdude]

Also contact Mattel customer service at the 800 number on the back of
the card or go to Mattel Consumer Relations - Products, Parts, Service, Instructions, and FAQs.

If the factory did something wrong or carded the figures before they
were properly dried, Mattel would want to know about it.

I can't find any place at the link you provided above to contact them via email with the details of this goo problem. I love (not really) sites that "try" to hide their contact info, makes me feel confident (not really) the problem will be resolved. Only being able to make a phone call for CS in today's world? Good grief.

[geoffdude]

Given that these are being sold in TRU, theoretically for children, I wonder how long Mattel has until a news organization picks up on this issue. It would just take one parent already holding a grudge over the lead problems to concoct a good story:

Getting TRU involved in this might not be a bad idea. Writing them a detailed letter, and explaining that this chemical goo could end up on customers, who would not be too happy about it, might just be the way to get this issue noticed.

I may start drafting a letter now.

g.