Mattel Explains Retro-Action in Discount Chains

[ODBJBG]

Straight from the horse's mouth: Infinite Hollywood: First Mattel Q&A of 2011

[jimsmegos]

Smells like a lie to me. I think it is still the body quailty isues that landed them in the discount stores.

[The Bat]

Strange that they say it was due to "over stock" on Wave 2...when I never saw a single one of these Figures at Toys R' Us.

[bobbait]

Strange that they say it was due to "over stock" on Wave 2...when I never saw a single one of these Figures at Toys R' Us.

I agree, didnt see a one in my TRU

[MIB41]

Smells like a lie to me. I think it is still the body quailty isues that landed them in the discount stores.

Exactly. Mattel offered a stock answer to a question they really couldn't answer. Quality control issues are typically not loosely spoken about in a public forum. And offering a direct answer to that question would reveal internal strategies which companies do not like to promote. You have to keep in mind this is a publicly traded company as well. Quality issues on any line is not something they will advertise if they don't have to.

[Nostalgiabuff]

yeah I was thinking the saem thing about TRU. I found 1 and only 1 of wave 2 in TRU. the resto I got at TJ maxx but am still on the hunt for Batman.
If what they are saying is true, I guess we can forget about finding wave 3 or 4 at the discount store and price

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

I got the impression that it was up to individual store managers as to how many they ordered and I guess some didn't expect them to be as popular as they were. Still, I am grateful that we were able to get some at that discount price.

[MegoNutt]

bummer, $10 is a good price.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I hit the TJMaxx in Lexington, KY last weekend, and they didn't have any. But you guys said they had dried up. I guess we won't see them for that price again.

Chris

[ODBJBG]

Smells like a lie to me. I think it is still the body quailty isues that landed them in the discount stores.

There's no reason for them to lie about this. Having overstock is much more embarassing than QC issues.

[MIB41]

I hit the TJMaxx in Lexington, KY last weekend, and they didn't have any. But you guys said they had dried up. I guess we won't see them for that price again.

Chris

I think what Chris said is an absolute fact. If Mattel is adjusting production to meet with demand, then what we saw...or didn't see... at TRU stores from Wave 2 may become the norm. This could very well be something more commonly found online, than in stores.

[Audiorij]

They could sell even more if they priced them at a dollar.

If they unloaded them at $10, they may not of made much or anything on them at that price. Could of taken that as a loss. My bet would be that they unloaded the ones that couldn't stand up like which was speculated. If that is the case, then they probably can't afford to sell them that low normally.

[MIB41]

The sad fact that they just don't seem to get is these sell like hotcakes at $10. They clog the pegs at $20.
They could DOUBLE or TRIPLE production if they sold them through more retailers at $10.

EXACTLY. Even if they came down to $14.95, I think the sales would soar. But I understand that is less likely to happen, unless they can get wide distribution from Walmart or Target.

[MeerkatMego]

I was in a ToysRus today in Richmond,VA and there were a large number of wave 1 and 2peg warmers. But at the other TSU across town they are sold out.

[MeWantMegos]

"Adjusting" means making less. Means that they sold less than they wanted to. :( I was hoping (like you all are too) that the line was an unqualified success. The fact that we've already made it to wave 4 is pretty good though.

Are there any interviews with Mattel that explain how the line started in the first place or there thoughts about it. I haven't found one yet.