Enjoy the Weapons you DO have! Mattel Q&A September 15th

[drmego]

EMCE Trek and Apes

The Trek and Apes we made retailed for $18.00

OK so the first EMCE figures .. most had assessories Trek had the utility belt phasers,communicators,tricorders. Our soldier ape had gloves and a M 16. (OK sure he was the only ape with assesories). AND they seemed to be put together much better and they had the resealable clam shell box all that at a $15 price point.....For $5 more you get a Distressed looking card due to be really distressed because its warming pegs. cut corners...No gloves colored hands.. And a body that flops like a rag doll. Whats wrong with this picture?

[AAAAA]

I would rather see back of the card fold out as Back drops for the figures.

[Sandman9580]

I don't read the Sideshow Q&A (or Mattel either for that matter) but are you saying Sideshow talks about product that hasn't been announced yet? If that's the case, I find it suprising they would.

Yes, Sideshow does indeed talk about product before it's officially announced. I happen to know that a 1/6 scale Max Rebo band is in the works, and that their development team told Lucasfilm they'd only be interested in doing it if it was based on the original, non-Special Edition trilogy; they're devoting more development time to their Chewbacca figure, because they want him to have real fur; also, there are more 1/6 Vaders in the works -- their next one is probably going to be an Episode 6 ROTJ version, and they've implied that they'll try really hard to get the dome shape correct this time. A little bird told me none of this. All of that info comes from Sideshow's Q&As, publicly available on their website, and none of those products have been announced or have a release date. They also routinely share work-in-progress photos of their Star Wars, Disney, and Marvel stuff, and they do an annual series of videos discussing future projects and the direction their licenses will take in the year ahead.

So in your opinion, how did they drop the ball? Were you hoping for inside info? I'm just trying to understand your perspective.

When you're with a company -- whether it's a large corporation or you own or co-own a small business -- there's a way to deal with the public and your customers. Traditionally, I don't think Mattel has had much compulsion to talk about their product beyond official announcements (though EMCE does, as they can). I don't think they resist this because they're a "big bad corporation", but because for about 50 of the 65 years they've been in operation, they've gotten used to doing customer relations a certain way: interactions were comparatively sparse, they weren't disseminated en masse, and they consisted mostly of parental and retail concerns. Like their competitor Hasbro, they have to keep refining their marketing strategy because they're selling to both collectors, and to parents of children. The way they square this circle is to put products into separate categories, designed for purchase by separate consumers. (In the case of Barbie, this happens within a single brand.)

The only way that a parent who is buying exclusively for a child is going to actively seek out Mattel or participate in a Q&A is if it's about a "must-have" toy that's sold out a week before Christmas, or there's a product safety issue and there's been a recall, etc. They get their question answered, and they go away. I don't know that Mattel has devoted as much time and resources to building a good relationship with adult collectors -- at least as it concerns boys toys. I think they're trying. But whatever effort has been applied, all the anecdotal evidence seems to be that that fledgling relationship isn't a great one. (And yes, I know there's some very bright, dedicated people at Mattel. If there weren't, there'd be no Retro Heroes. And we really have no idea what's discussed behind closed doors -- though, in a way, that's kind of the "issue" here, isn't it? In any case, I'm speaking generally about Mattel as a cohesive, "monolithic" brand.)

Sideshow, by contrast, has a great, very direct relationship with its fans. They bend over backwards to listen to them and keep them happy. Their customer service department is world class, and they have a mostly bug-free website. They have to be good at these things because their entire company is built on direct distribution; being close to their customers is critical.

As for the way Mattel answered that question, I thought they took advantage of the way it was phrased and then gave a super-short answer, to boot (that's what I mean by not answering it "in good faith"). I also don't think it's that big a deal. I'm just saying that if people feel a bit frustrated by their short answers, I completely empathize and understand the reason -- especially when you have examples of other companies who do it really, really well.

[Doc]

The Trek and Apes we made retailed for $18.00

Comic book stores by me (4) retailed them for $15. Several other places went for $16. The only place I saw them go for $18 was here DocMego site. And well very overpriced at FYE $20. I bought the majority of mine for $15 each the last 2 apes released I paid $16 each.

[CrimsonGhost]

Yes, Sideshow does indeed talk about product before it's officially announced. I happen to know that a 1/6 scale Max Rebo band is in the works, and that their development team told Lucasfilm they'd only be interested in doing it if it was based on the original, non-Special Edition trilogy; they're devoting more development time to their Chewbacca figure, because they want him to have real fur; also, there are more 1/6 Vaders in the works -- their next one is probably going to be an Episode 6 ROTJ version, and they've implied that they'll try really hard to get the dome shape correct this time. A little bird told me none of this. All of that info comes from Sideshow's Q&As, publicly available on their website, and none of those products have been announced or have a release date. They also routinely share work-in-progress photos of their Star Wars, Disney, and Marvel stuff, and they do an annual series of videos discussing future projects and the direction their licenses will take in the year ahead.





When you're with a company -- whether it's a large corporation or you own or co-own a small business -- there's a way to deal with the public and your customers. Traditionally, I don't think Mattel has had much compulsion to talk about their product beyond official announcements (though EMCE does, as they can). I don't think they resist this because they're a "big bad corporation", but because for about 50 of the 65 years they've been in operation, they've gotten used to doing customer relations a certain way: interactions were comparatively sparse, they weren't disseminated en masse, and they consisted mostly of parental and retail concerns. Like their competitor Hasbro, they have to keep refining their marketing strategy because they're selling to both collectors, and to parents of children. The way they square this circle is to put products into separate categories, designed for purchase by separate consumers. (In the case of Barbie, this happens within a single brand.)

The only way that a parent who is buying exclusively for a child is going to actively seek out Mattel or participate in a Q&A is if it's about a "must-have" toy that's sold out a week before Christmas, or there's a product safety issue and there's been a recall, etc. They get their question answered, and they go away. I don't know that Mattel has devoted as much time and resources to building a good relationship with adult collectors -- at least as it concerns boys toys. I think they're trying. But whatever effort has been applied, all the anecdotal evidence seems to be that that fledgling relationship isn't a great one. (And yes, I know there's some very bright, dedicated people at Mattel. If there weren't, there'd be no Retro Heroes. And we really have no idea what's discussed behind closed doors -- though, in a way, that's kind of the "issue" here, isn't it? In any case, I'm speaking generally about Mattel as a cohesive, "monolithic" brand.)

Sideshow, by contrast, has a great, very direct relationship with its fans. They bend over backwards to listen to them and keep them happy. Their customer service department is world class, and they have a mostly bug-free website. They have to be good at these things because their entire company is built on direct distribution; being close to their customers is critical.

As for the way Mattel answered that question, I thought they took advantage of the way it was phrased and then gave a super-short answer, to boot (that's what I mean by not answering it "in good faith"). I also don't think it's that big a deal. I'm just saying that if people feel a bit frustrated by their short answers, I completely empathize and understand the reason -- especially when you have examples of other companies who do it really, really well.

Interesting. Fair enough, sir.

[johnmiic]

Then what happened?

"awesomesauce."*I like that word !

The donkey got fed up and decided to be stubborn so it stood on a bridge in Italy and wouldn't move. It blocked the US Army which really angered Gen. George S. Patton. So Patton took his gun and shot the donkey dead and they threw it over the side of the bridge so the US Army could liberate Italy from the Nazi's.

[PNGwynne]

I am supporting these figures, "warts & all, " because I basically like them. I'm glad to have them.

But, per the price point & acknowledging them as a boutique item, adding accessories consistantly seems a good (& comparatively inexpensive) idea.

To brand suggestions of thoughtfully re-purposing JLU accessories as "lame" seems both inconsiderate & childish.

To give Supergirl Kandor, or Superman some Kryptonite or a Phantom Zone projector while Lex gets a raygun, would've been nice.

I realize that every aspect of production $$ is analyzed by Mattel--Batman got a cowl & Two-Face's suit is fairly complex. But no batarang or .45 is disappointing.

[MIB41]

Comic book stores by me (4) retailed them for $15. Several other places went for $16. The only place I saw them go for $18 was here DocMego site. And well very overpriced at FYE $20. I bought the majority of mine for $15 each the last 2 apes released I paid $16 each.

I recently picked up a EMCE, MOC, soldier ape for $5.00 at an antique toy store. If the apes can go for that kind of money, I have no doubts the heroes will as well. If they look silly in the card, then secondary markets will suffer. That is just the truth of the product. That is why I am not getting wrapped up in buying these hot off the shelf for that inflated price. They WILL drop drastically in the secondary market. Now I will pick up the Flash when he comes out for the standard $20.00 tag, but after the Green Arrow and wave one that will be the only exception.

[Astronut]

To brand suggestions of thoughtfully re-purposing JLU accessories as "lame" seems both inconsiderate & childish.

I never called anyone names or acted immature about it. Just stated my opinion. If you can't tolerate opinions that you don't agree with, maybe you should go live in a bubble. I'm entitled to an opinion just like anyone else. Since when is that inconsiderate or childish?

[Doc]

I recently picked up a EMCE, MOC, soldier ape for $5.00 at an antique toy store. If the apes can go for that kind of money, I have no doubts the heroes will as well. If they look silly in the card, then secondary markets will suffer. That is just the truth of the product. That is why I am not getting wrapped up in buying these hot off the shelf for that inflated price. They WILL drop drastically in the secondary market. Now I will pick up the Flash when he comes out for the standard $20.00 tag, but after the Green Arrow and wave one that will be the only exception.

The prices I paid were new when they first came out.

[PNGwynne]

Certainly you're entitled to your opinion--everyone here is, in a civil way.

And I don't think that anyone should stay in a bubble, anymore than action figures should...

It seemed to me that labelling accessory suggestions as "lame" was harsh & dismissive--or would it have been more acceptable to you if I had characterized your post as lame rather than inconsiderate?

The accessory suggestions were based on existing (cost-effective) Mattel molds that might have collector appeal & also add play value. Both these things can only help encourage the continuation of Retro-Action.

[Astronut]

I *was* being civil. You're too sensitive. Chill, man.