Bad News Retro-Action Fans (Matty Q&A)

[Werewolf]

To me that answer don't make sense

The Matty Q&A answers don't make sense, never made sense and are not supposed to make sense. They are pointless corporate PR. Free advertising to get people to talk about their products. They are not intend to inform.

[ODBJBG]

The Matty Q&A answers don't make sense, never made sense and are not supposed to make sense. They are pointless corporate PR. Free advertising to get people to talk about their products. They are not intend to inform.

Again this is completely wrong, as is the other post you made. The Q&As are the ONLY place where you can get direct answers from the people in charge with these toy lines. You obviously haven't participated in them, because you don't go through corporate PR. Because of these Q&As, many new figures have been made, figures have been fixed, release dates and information made available that wasn't before. This batch of questions I actually got several great answers, so did numerous other sites. While not always the case, you can learn a lot from them.

You speak directly with a the lead boys brand manager, in addition to many other people if the question warrants it. Including but not limited to designer Bill Benecke, PJ Lewis, Danielle Mclachlan from DCU brand and others.

While yes, at times it can be a problem trying to get answers because Mattel can't share certain information before they announce it, the idea that all these answers are made up of corporate mumbo jumbo is nonsense.

This is a pretty cut and dry, definative answer. There are no Retro-Action body changes coming anytime soon. At least so far as anything they currently have in the pipeline.

I didn't find the answer to be flippant, (as some apparently did) but I can tell you for certain that it wasn't just a fluff PR answer. It was a straight answer to a straight question. These are the exact kinds of questions that the Matty Q&As CAN answer. Which is why you get answers on them, instead of the usual "we can't speak on that" answers.

[starsky]

i think there will be no changes to the body because the majority of the people/kids buying these are not complaining about it so there's no need to change.

[Mikey]

Short and simple.

They should fire the people who designed the bodies and the people who approved them

It amazing a piece of junk like those bodies could go threw so much red tape and still make it to production.

[Werewolf]

Again this is completely wrong, as is the other post you made.

I'm not posting anything that hasn't been known for a very long time. Toynewsi has been doing this from day one and they know what they are talking about.

[ODBJBG]

Obviously they don't. If they were as pointless as that rant indicates, no answers would have ever come from them. Which isn't true.

Anyway, Jay's rant over at TNI was about people complaining about which questions are asked. If TNI didn't ask those redundant questions that Mattel has said they can't answer, they wouldn't get those sorts of responses. Intelligent questions that are within Mattel's legal standing to be answered, almost always are. Such as the question about Retro-Action.

You're entitled to your opinion that they're pointless corporate PR, that I won't argue. But there has been enough tangible information to come from them that they obviously are intended to inform. You just have to know what to ask and how to ask it.

[megomania]

yea...it's safe to say that was a cocky answer.
He is right in saying so though - look at the customizing fodder and stuff we get to do.
Does that give excuse to the problems, no.
Do they justify a $20 price tag, no.
If these retailed for $12.99, 99% of the gripes on these boards would probably disappear.

Hmmm...so if they price them at a lower retail you're OK with the problems? It's just when you have to pay a little more than you are comfortable with THAT'S when you take issue with the problems?

And why should they be selling them at $12.99? As far as I know, and I could be wrong, Mattel is in the business of making money for their shareholders. I'm sure they have many customers who DO feel they justify a $20 price tag.

Instead of having an attitude of "we're Mego collectors - we demand these new figures live up to our exacting standards.", just enjoy them for what they are: A cool way to reminisce with friends or kids about how things were back in the day. Walking in to a store and seeing action figures hanging on the peg. Searching through the packages trying to find one that isn't damaged. Walking in and seeing a new figure you've heard was coming out but not sure when. These are the things we should be talking about. If you don't want to buy Wave 2, Wave 3, etc etc - Don't.

[The Toyroom]

just enjoy them for what they are: A cool way to reminisce with friends or kids about how things were back in the day.

Funny....I don't remember my Megos all looking like they just got sucker-punched in the abdomen

[Boywonder0]

It sucks that thye bodies have issues , but looking at the whole picture I am just glad these are even available and produced. Years ago we wished for something like these to come in to play , yeah they have their flaws but if we keep complaining , they may take that as we will not buy and cancel the line at some point. I have to wonder if that is part of the reason that things are so hush hush on wave 2 and even wave 3. Personally I don't buy these to play with , rather collect . My son has a few he is playing with and he just plays with them with no worries. Its so exciting to be a mego fan these days , so much out , and still lots coming.

Couldn't say it better myself!

[geoffdude]

Mattel's Q&A postings are for PR and viral marketing/advertising straight up. Mattel also sends out free toys to select toy collecting web sites making those sites a bit slanted in their objectivity towards covering Mattel, and befriending Mattel's wordsmiths.

Be that as it may though, Mattel does give out some useful (honest) nuggets of news in those Q&As. As noted above, Mattel can only answer certain things, at certain times, due to legal and contractual barriers. Personally, I find the Q&As a joke at best, insulting at worst and a total waste of time mostly. But the multitude of toy sites love to feel that they're "part" of the inside world of toy development, so they continue to perpetuate this giant "news" fiasco.

Now, with that said, Mattel was pretty straight up with their answer to the retro-bodies being "fixed". I think many here just didn't like the answer, or the tone of "it is what it is".. which is typical Mattel style (as a few here know having read these over the years.). I've seen much worse from them on flippant replies, and some down right snarky retorts.

Keep in mind too, Mattel thinks of the DC-Retro line (aka MEGOs) like they think of the JLU line, or a 3" widget. It's a product, nothing more. They are not collectors, or "fans" of any toy. They're a toy manufacturer, a business, if a toy sells.. great, make more, if not.. it's gone. The warm-fuzzies that we have for MEGOs are not, and will never be, possessed by a "Company".

regards,

g.

[drmego]

Let me ask you this - was Green Arrow's body done right?

Aside from wanting him to have swivel arms, and the pelvis not
being larger - does Green Arrow stand without slumping?

If so, then the body does not have to be re-tooled. It has
to be assembled better. This is what I have found in taking
the bodies apart and re-stringing them.

[Werewolf]

If so, then the body does not have to be re-tooled. It has
to be assembled better. This is what I have found in taking
the bodies apart and re-stringing them.

I think the actual design of the body is fine. They just need to be strung tighter.

[Mister Kennedy]

I'm sure they will get them perfect during the next revival in thirty years.

[The Bat]

Let me ask you this - was Green Arrow's body done right?

Aside from wanting him to have swivel arms, and the pelvis not
being larger - does Green Arrow stand without slumping?

If so, then the body does not have to be re-tooled. It has
to be assembled better. This is what I have found in taking
the bodies apart and re-stringing them.

Ok Paul...you got me curious. So I checked out my 2nd GA, the one I haven't altered. He is strung so loosely that he will not stand on his own(I have to lean him against something) and he does slump. You may be right...but I'm wondering if stringing these Bodies tighter will solve the slumping problem?

[jimsmegos]

Mine stands fine but I can see how play wear would come quickly