It's obvious price point is a major factor.

[MIB41]

The only way you will see these figures reduced down to maybe $14.95 is if Target or Walmart hops on board. That's the only way to generate enough volume to warrant those prices. Their not mass produced on a level that can justify $9.99.

[jimsmegos]

Perhaps the TJ Maxx move is actually a very brilliant marketing strategy. Sure this particular cache of loosey - goosey figures are the final run of the pre fixed bodies but think about it... what better way to re-jump start the line than to offer these figures as "introductory" ones. Get the kids into 'em and wanting more. From there Mom, Dad, Grandma etc, will have to shell out the full retail to keep filling the need.

Makes since to me in a "lemons to lemonade" scenario.

I too would love to see them stay at a $9.99 price point but odds are really not in our favor for that wishful thinking. Still I am still glowing over my $9.99 Batman and Superman I was able to pick up at TJ Maxx. And even though cash is tight I will most likely pick up a couple more after Christmas if they happen to still be on the shelves.

[trekman101]

This is all speculation but......lets put things in perspective.....retro green arrow didn't have body and costume problems like wave one.....wave one had body issues...wave two had worse body and emblem problems beyond wave one....wave three seems to be much better than its predecessors...green arrow sold out both times...wave one at TRU sold through the heroes quickly,time after time.....wave two at TRU is stocked very briefly at only some TRU's and then disappears only then to turn up at TJ Max.....wave three is going out to regular retailers(hobby).....if you don't like the line and Mattel you say the line is dead...if you like the line, you try and figure out whats going on....so all this being said doesn't it make some sense that Mattel F***** up,put the brakes one the line...is clearing out all the bad product (either directly or through TRU to TJ Max)....getting a revamped wave three out to retailers and moving on with the line(hopefully wave two will be revisited and put out again fully corrected)...if this is really the case,lets hope they also see the line also needs a better price point($14.99) after seeing TJ Max,s success with a discounted price(problems and all)

[enyawd72]

When I see threads like this I get a sense of reassurance regarding my position on this subject. I agree with every single word written by the OP. I said the same thing months ago: these figures - while I love 'em and love the people responsible for making them - are priced too steep for high volume sales. Sadly this means no Mego-style renaissance. Not gonna happen, no way, no how.

I'm like that dude who ran for mayor, only my slogan is "The price of ReMegos is too d@mn high!!"

Mego-style renaissance not gonna happen?

Dude...it's HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. There are more Mego type figures out now than when Mego was still in business.

Monsters, retro DC, Twilight Zone, Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Venture Brothers, Ghostbusters, Cast-a-way stuff, Star Trek...

...yeah, it's a big flop.

[Astronut]

Mego-style renaissance not gonna happen?

Dude...it's HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. There are more Mego type figures out now than when Mego was still in business.

Monsters, retro DC, Twilight Zone, Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Venture Brothers, Ghostbusters, Cast-a-way stuff, Star Trek...

...yeah, it's a big flop.

I probably should have worded it differently. When I say that, I mean full comeback as in "we see these on pegs at all sorts of retailers," not just trickles of one assortment at select TRU stores. As in "kids can walk into Walmart and pick one out because their moms and dads can AFFORD them." THAT is a true Mego resurgence. Not this $20 a pop Easter egg hunt BS.

[BATMAN89]

Not this $20 a pop Easter egg hunt BS.

Very well said!
When I was a kid, you went it to any store and bought any Mego that you wanted, and there was no hunting them down.
Also, I could afford to buy them with the few bucks that I got from my allowance.
Once in awhile we replaced the ones we broke, with a new figure, because you could afford it!!!

[jimsmegos]

In fairness to all I can't help but chime in. The possibility of a complete re-saturation of new Mego's in the marketplace would be wonderful I just don't think it's gonna happen. The reason being that the toy world is an entirely different place than it was 30 years ago when Mego's ruled the roost. Let's be honest shall we, kids today are much more interested in video games and electronics. That's the bottom line IMO. Unless the grid blows I don't see simple plastic toys making a resurgence. the market simply doesn't it want it enough.

With all that said I too wish the price points were lower and getting the new stuff was easier at the retail level but honestly it doesn't get any easier than online shopping. While you have to wait for the items to arrive, they do arrive. And all though the price makes the buying process more of a commitment due to the crappy economy you can still get new factory made Mego's.

In the end this debate will never be resolved. Not so long as we all have opinions and we are all equally passionate about our own points of view. I just hate to see folks get so whipped up over this wonderful resurgence that in the end is the greatest thing to happen to Mego collectors since ebay.

[ScottA]

For me I think it's more about finding them then the price. I mean, I'm paying $14.99 for the 6" DCUC figures. The prices on those are not coming down. In fact they have gone up since the line was first introduced. I don't really have a problem paying $19.99 for the ReMego figures. I'd pay that much for just about any original Mego. The head, outfit, belt and boots are worth that much. I'd just like the opportunity to buy them at retail. Wave 2 still has not shown up at my TRU.

The issues with the bodies and emblems are being addressed and for that I'm grateful to EMCE and Mattel. I personally hope this lines continues for years to come.

[argent007]

I agree. I don't collect customs, but I certainly have been tempted. And a nice quality Mego-type head has been about what a Retro Action figure costs.

[Astronut]

It's apples and oranges, guys. I get what you're referring to (cost of customizing) but that has nothing to do with pricing of a figure at regular retailers (ie TRU.) Maybe I'm just crazy for wanting this to go big. For those who don't care whether it does or not, I don't expect you to agree. At all. But for the rest of us - and I know there are many out there like me - we have a dream, and that is for the Mego format to become accessible and popular again - for the masses. And I'm not ashamed to say I will not give up that dream.

[Audiorij]

It all comes down to idealism vs realism. Of course the ideal would be megos just like we had in the 70s at a small price, reality can be very different. The market may dictate the price tag, the more they can manufacture the lower the price can be, but the line has to make money for them to invest in manufacturing more. You can't put the cart in front of the horse, heck the original megos didn't. The original megos started out with Action Jackson if I remember correctly and a pretty lame body. The original head sculpts and quality were not that great, they had to become popular before more money was invested in new bodies and accessories. Mattel will do the same thing, its a balancing act; if they manufacture small quantities, which may cause the price to be higher than everyone wants, they get to test the water and see if they take off. If they do, they can always manufacture to meet demand and start making improvements. If they dump enough money into them to manufacture a billion of them and price them real low, before knowing if they will even sell... that could end the line altogether.

[Hotfoot]

I found 3 of Wave 2 today at TJ. No Batman but did pick the others up. $9.99 was acceptable but at the TRUS price I left them all on the pegs. Almost bought Frankenstein the other day at TRUS but thought about it and didn't! The Monsters looked great compared to these guys.

[The Bat]

At $9.99 at TJ Maxx...I think they're a great deal. I pay $10.00 for a Custom Resin Head alone. I bought Aquaman and get a Head for my Johnny Storm Custom, a Aquaman Suit to make another more realistic Aquman, plus the green Hands...GREAT deal!

[geoffdude]

I agree, that these showing up at TJ Maxx is concerning.. but time will tell what it all means. Wave 3 is shipping now, but who knows if they'll end up in TRU or other discount locations.

BTW TJ Maxx buys wholesale from Retail stores and Manufactures direct, not just retail stores.

These, in my opinion, came from Mattel not TRU, due to the fact that the holiday season would have warrented TRU trying to sell them BEFORE getting rid of them. And TRU typically does not sell overstock to discount stores this quickly (historically), if at all.

Regards,

Geoff

TJ Maxx getting these figures isn't a good sign for the line in my opinion. Maxx purchases items at a discount from retailer which overbought items. Maxx is buying from TRU not Mattel. That means TRU is cutting their losses after over purchasing. This could mean that TRU won't be ordering as many or won't order them at all from Mattel in the future.

Maybe the line will become a specialty store and mattycollector.com exclusive.

[geoffdude]

I guess that's the $64,000 question. I can only hope the fact that we've seen pics of at least a few more figures means Mattel is still behind this as strongly as they were before.

We can hope, but "as strongly" may not be the case, especially "if" orders are being reduced.

Not everything they sell is an overstock. They have a bunch of first run stuff. Especially right now during the holidays. I'm not saying the Retro Heroes are or aren't but it's not 100% guaranteed these didn't come straight from Mattel.

The retail price TJ Maxx sells these for doesn't determine "where" these came from. Mattel sells product at clear-out prices all the time to discount stores.


Regards,

Geoff