WGSH Versus DC Retro-Action: Rate of Inflation

[EMCEtoys]

I mean this statement says it all. " we will string them along as long as we can"

So really if you don't like what the product is now, don't count on it changing, ever.

Just managing expectations. Don't twist my words. Wanna talk directly? call me at 516.931.1483, as I've invited anyone who thinks we're not adequately communicating on this forum.

[EMCEtoys]

There is no way these were made for mass market to kids. Kids today don't even know who half these characters are. It's niche market that they will make a few bucks on, good for them for doing it. I personally think the price should be about 15.00, but what do I know. Like some else said, kids are paying 9.99 for a lump of metal or plastic.

I do believe niche or not, at 20 bucks they should work out the basic problems, lighting fast. That's just poor business and leaves a bad taste in peoples mouths.

They absolutely were not made for mass market to kids, you're right. I think that's been pretty clear. We're hoping collectors open them up and let their kids play with them.

Your feeling on pricing is spot on as well. However, I'm not entirely sure you're reading all the posting I've done the last week or so, so please look at all my posts and you'll see that efforts are being made.

Thanx

[EMCEtoys]

>Mego sold more than one million Action Jacksons in 1972, one could conjecture that Superman would fair even better.

It’s interesting that they sold so many AJs, considering he was kind of a blip on the toy radar. I don’t remember him being around all that long, and I remember him being cleared out pretty early on. ‘Course THAT’S interesting considering AJ himself was the progenitor for so much toy-ness. I guess he was a success (since a toy that lasted more than a year at the time was considered pretty good) but I’m betting he got overshadowed by later tie-in lines; like the apes, or super heroes.

The new retro toys are in a weird spot: they’re not quite real toys for kids, not quite collectors items. (Toys would be cheaper and more stripped down, like molded outfits and fewer joints; collectibles would probably go the hyper-detail route, since they wouldn’t be intended for a lot of manhandling.) The PRIMARY audience seems to be older collector types.... but older, collector types interested in toys for the kids. It’s like Mattel wants to see what wins out.

$20 is a weird price point: it’s a NOTICEABLE amount, precluding impulse buys; but it’s low enough that someone wouldn’t mind shelling it out every month or so. I could see it going either way, depending on who Mattel decides the audience is: coming down as runs increase if they’re considered toys; going up as detail and tooling is increased if they’re considered collectibles.

Don C.

For the record, an excellent observation and an accurate description.

[Zemo]

They absolutely were not made for mass market to kids, you're right. I think that's been pretty clear. We're hoping collectors open them up and let their kids play with them.

Your feeling on pricing is spot on as well. However, I'm not entirely sure you're reading all the posting I've done the last week or so, so please look at all my posts and you'll see that efforts are being made.

Thanx

My man, I give you big accolades for asking what can be done and that you will pass it along. I have all the wave one figs including the GA. I have supported the line all along, I'm just at this point (wave three coming out) that these easy to fix basic problems, like standing , should be finished) I will continue to buy them, but if I was the CEO of Mattel and saw this inferior workmanship, people would be losing jobs faster than I fill my laundry hamper. If not they just don't give a crap.

[EMCEtoys]

My man, I give you big accolades for asking what can be done and that you will pass it along. I have all the wave one figs including the GA. I have supported the line all along, I'm just at this point (wave three coming out) that these easy to fix basic problems, like standing , should be finished) I will continue to buy them, but if I was the CEO of Mattel and saw this inferior workmanship, people would be losing jobs faster than I fill my laundry hamper. If not they just don't give a crap.

Fair enough and well put and thanx for supporting the line; I wasn't aware of that and it's really appreciated.

All of these things are heard and I really hope we can prove over time that the advantage of all these communication lines is the ability to have an impact.

[EMCEtoys]

people would be losing jobs faster than I fill my laundry hamper

one more thing: can i use this line? i love it. seriously.

[Zemo]

one more thing: can i use this line? i love it. seriously.

lol, you bet!

[ScottA]

I appreciate the effort on these. I have 2 sets of Wave 1 and GA and as soon as they show up at my TRU I will purchase Wave 2. I hope we make it to Wave 20 someday. I have no doubt Mattel will figure out the body problems.

[MIB41]

I think when Paul approached Mattel, their book keepers examined the recent market history of this idea and saw what amounted to a luke-warm reception regardless of character line or price point differences - Those lines included Famous Covers, Silver Age DC characters, and Marvel's Signature Series. All were met with mixed reviews and ultimately died off early in their run. I think when they took a hard look at the numbers, they discovered there was little crossover with new generations. So, basically the collectors were buying these up and few others. This was further confirmed when they examined companies like EMCE and Castaway that had made a meaningful niche in this market while producing considerably smaller numbers.

When the cost/risk assessment was examined, it became apparent the only way to maximize profit was to price them on the high-end, by selling them in limited volumes through fewer vendors. Since EMCE and Castaway had already demonstrated a successful track record at the $20.00 price point, this allowed Mattel to slide in and charge the same amount (even though their production run is much higher and cost per figure considerably less than what EMCE and Castway had to pay). Translation: EMCE and Castaway are charging a retail cost that correctly reflects what they can produce and sell. Mattel is making a considerably bigger profit per figure because their costs are much lower. So it all comes down to greed (NOT market costs). This line will die off, NOT when Mattel starts losing money, but when the profit margin begins to slide. That's the reality of it. It's all about money folks, not what you want. Mattel is just having fun picking the pockets of collectors, because the demand currently says they can do this at little risk to their short term investment.

[mightyquinn]

Very well stated.

[renegade]

I posted this another thread and thought it might apply here as well....

I gave up on buying them in Nashville about a month ago. I went every Tuesday and Friday for about a month. Talked to employees that didn't even know what I was talking about. Ordered them online from Amazon, Then yesterday I go in just to see if they ever got them and they had at least a few cases on the pegs. I still needed the Superman because I originally wasn't going to buy any figure that Mego orginally made. I found 2 supermans, one had an S that was cracked and the other his nose was missing the tip (how Mego) LOL. I broke down and bought the cracked S superman. I know everyone is complaing about the price and I'd like to not pay that much either but let's break it down shall we...............7.00 Doc Mego Body, 15.00 Theresa/Brian suit, 8.00 Custom Head, 5.00 custom boots, 10.00 Toyroom/Mego 73 package. Thats 45.00 to KITBASH the figures if you could get the parts and had the skills to make them look right. Am I wrong on these projected numbers?

Oh and lets not forget the paints and tools and the individual shipping from each of these MM vendors. It's a hobby kids you gotta pay to play.

[Doc]

Everything costs more when you piece it out. Try building a car from all the individual parts. It would probably cost you $100,000. Poor comparison and I shake my head every time someone uses that logic for their defense.
Not only that but you have perpetuated the fleecing by purchasing a knowingly defective unit. At least you could have waited and bought one that wasn't damaged and let the low quality stuff rot on the pegs.
Rich

Well put....

[renegade]

Ouch....I feel like Clark on Smallville when Jor-el tears him a new one LOL...Ok let's try this Logic...I aint broke and can afford 20.00 a figure.

[Doc]

I just think its a stupid waste everyone buying $20 figures that they need to fix right out of the package.....

[EMCEtoys]

I think it's safe to assume that when Mego first manufactured and brought WGSH to market in the early 70's, its production run was not 10 times the amount of Mattel's.

When a company first manufactures an item, a new item, it obviously cannot make the big margins on the item until later runs. After a year or two and seven ba-jillion of the items have rolled off the line, the cogs go down. THAT'S when the company makes up for the initial slim or zero margin. That's how I understand it.

I'm afraid you're wrong here, on a colossal scale. It's mentioned in several places, particularly the Tomart series on the line that, at their peak, Mego was cranking out about half a million Batmans alone every year for several years.