Mattel's response to me

[trekman101]

For what it is worth this is what I will say.....I will not tell you word for word or pass on what I think is BS.....I have always found don't take no for an answer...if you want to know something,talk to some one as in charge as you can...e-mail and letters are fine but tend to be answered by not in the know people and might not get to the people who need to see them....I pushed very hard on the phone until I talked to some one who knew what I was talking about....I stated several times I didn't believe I was being given real answers....after you wear some one down with these tactics you can get better answers....long story short RA is up in the air as far as internal documents say....I made her name what figures might be in production and she named one that has been talked about here...she went on IH and said this is not official and any announcements would be through official means...Matty has figures up and on the board,there may be more(you can make your own take on this).....Mattel has no more inventory of already released figures....2011 has more slots left for more releases......if people want these figures let them know directly (call them at 1-888-628-835....use choice 3 when prompted) and push to talk to some one other than a customer rep (be aggressive not rude)
You guys have to ask these questions for yourselves....I will not spread rumors

[MIB41]

I imagine they probably gave you to a front line supervisor who told you what they thought you wanted to hear so they could get you off the phone. Mattel has already publicly stated the line ends after 2011, so this "up in the air" statement is proof their customer service personnel don't even know what their public relations department has released. Great internal coordination between departments!

[enyawd72]

For what it is worth this is what I will say.....I will not tell you word for word or pass on what I think is BS.....I have always found don't take no for an answer...if you want to know something,talk to some one as in charge as you can...e-mail and letters are fine but tend to be answered by not in the know people and might not get to the people who need to see them....I pushed very hard on the phone until I talked to some one who knew what I was talking about....I stated several times I didn't believe I was being given real answers....after you wear some one down with these tactics you can get better answers....long story short RA is up in the air as far as internal documents say....I made her name what figures might be in production and she named one that has been talked about here...she went on IH and said this is not official and any announcements would be through official means...Matty has figures up and on the board,there may be more(you can make your own take on this).....Mattel has no more inventory of already released figures....2011 has more slots left for more releases......if people want these figures let them know directly (call them at 1-888-628-835....use choice 3 when prompted) and push to talk to some one other than a customer rep (be aggressive not rude)
You guys have to ask these questions for yourselves....I will not spread rumors

I'm surprised you got as far as you did. I simply would have hung up on you, especially after saying you weren't getting "real answers".
Mattel owes you none. Nor do they owe you an explanation. The line didn't sell well enough, or meet sales projections or whatever, and it was cancelled.
Simple as that.
I'm always amazed at the sense of entitlement some collectors have...like they are "owed" something by these companies. Sorry, but calling them up and being (in your own words) pushy and aggressive because you're not gonna get all the toys you want is childish.

Be thankful for what you DO have.

[geoffdude]

I was checking out the tru price thread reignited and saw this prophetic exchange from a year ago. Thought it kind of interesting. Nothing else, other than my perspective towards dealings with Mattel... and how things may go south.

Regards,

Geoff

Posted by trekman101

Jun 20, '10, 9:22 AM
Originally Posted by geoffdude:

This is not actually true.

Couple of things. Doc noted that Mattel was "committed" to the line. And also that there were "plans" for 3 years worth of figures.

Neither of these statements mean there's a 100% certainty that all 24 figures will make it to shelves. Business conditions change fast, and many toy lines have met a quick demise as a result. Mattel's position is that they are doing the line, if it does well, for 3 years, but they probably reserve the right to drop it like a hot potato (now) if sales are flat.

Not saying I don't want 'em all.. just that we may not get them all.

regards,

g.

They are already in the 2011 schedule....by the end of the year they will probably be in the 2012 schedule....Mattel is very experienced.....they will not make any decisions for a while yet....they are planning and making other lines as well(ghost busters for one)....they are in it for all the ups and downs

Thread Link

[megomania]

I'm surprised you got as far as you did. I simply would have hung up on you, especially after saying you weren't getting "real answers".
Mattel owes you none. Nor do they owe you an explanation. The line didn't sell well enough, or meet sales projections or whatever, and it was cancelled.
Simple as that.
I'm always amazed at the sense of entitlement some collectors have...like they are "owed" something by these companies. Sorry, but calling them up and being (in your own words) pushy and aggressive because you're not gonna get all the toys you want is childish.

Be thankful for what you DO have.

He does consider himself a 'Persistent member'

[Wise4671]

I'm surprised you got as far as you did. I simply would have hung up on you, especially after saying you weren't getting "real answers".
Mattel owes you none. Nor do they owe you an explanation. The line didn't sell well enough, or meet sales projections or whatever, and it was cancelled.
Simple as that.
I'm always amazed at the sense of entitlement some collectors have...like they are "owed" something by these companies. Sorry, but calling them up and being (in your own words) pushy and aggressive because you're not gonna get all the toys you want is childish.

Be thankful for what you DO have.

You Work for Mattel?

[enyawd72]

You Work for Mattel?

Nope.

I just think the way some people act is ridiculous...I mean, these are just toys.
Toylines always come to an end sooner or later and don't get to everyone's favorite or most wanted figure. You wanna talk disappointment? ToyBiz only made half the Fantastic Four in the Famous Covers line, but I didn't call them up and grill them about it.

[GoldBlade6]

You Work for Mattel?

Because anyone who's not irrational must work for Mattel...

[Wise4671]

Because anyone who's not irrational must work for Mattel...

No!!! Because there are way to many people with a HUGE negative attitude when some of us are trying to do something positive. If you dont like the line don't post theres no need for it other then to try to stir some s#*t up. If some of us feel like making calls and writing letters or sending e-mails I really dont see where its anyone bussiness to say "man what a waste of time" or "it's not going to do any good". Some of us would like to be informed on where to send our letters and Who to call.

[Werewolf]

The people at the 1-888 number are just customer service. Meant to deal with warrenty and replacement parts issues. That's it. If you guys must call them please be polite.

[ODBJBG]

I made her name what figures might be in production and she named one that has been talked about here...she went on IH and said this is not official and any announcements would be through official means...

With all do respect, this person obviously has no idea what she's talking about. The Q&A with Mattel is official. I didn't speak with some random person on the phone. It's a direct communication with Mattel's brand managers. They didn't just pull that info out of their butt. They have canceled the line. The folks here involved with the line confirmed that.

Could that change? Certainly, stranger things have happened, but that announcement was not phony, faux or unofficial.

[Wise4671]

With all do respect, this person obviously has no idea what she's talking about. The Q&A with Mattel is official. I didn't speak with some random person on the phone. It's a direct communication with Mattel's brand managers. They didn't just pull that info out of their butt. They have canceled the line. The folks here involved with the line confirmed that.

Could that change? Certainly, stranger things have happened, but that announcement was not phony, faux or unofficial.

but if I remember right you did say that the 2011 release would be the end does that mean it is done now or will they release the last wave before the end of the year?

[trekman101]

I'm surprised you got as far as you did. I simply would have hung up on you, especially after saying you weren't getting "real answers".
Mattel owes you none. Nor do they owe you an explanation. The line didn't sell well enough, or meet sales projections or whatever, and it was cancelled.
Simple as that.
I'm always amazed at the sense of entitlement some collectors have...like they are "owed" something by these companies. Sorry, but calling them up and being (in your own words) pushy and aggressive because you're not gonna get all the toys you want is childish.

Be thankful for what you DO have.

First of all I am not childish or feel entitled so back off....when some sales rep tells me generic BS answers I ask for some one who has something to say in respect to my direct questions....which were "is the line ended or are there going to be some more figures"....answer "the line is slated for more figures,if they get made I do not know"...."Matty has at least one more figure not yet put up for sale"
....question "can you tell me what figures were slated to be made"....answer"I have been told that******(which is a figure that was slated to be made as mentioned before by others here.....I'm not going to be the one to state this for now,it is a rumor as far as I'm concerned)was next in line for the next wave"......question "so your saying there is a chance for more waves in 2011"....answer "there are 6 or so months left in 2011,so you could see more"...... there were more questions asked by me but why don't who ever wants to hear it for them self's ask the questions them self's

don't be so eager to say what you feel the answers are from Mattel....there is always more to any story....time will tell

[trekman101]

With all do respect, this person obviously has no idea what she's talking about. The Q&A with Mattel is official. I didn't speak with some random person on the phone. It's a direct communication with Mattel's brand managers. They didn't just pull that info out of their butt. They have canceled the line. The folks here involved with the line confirmed that.

Could that change? Certainly, stranger things have happened, but that announcement was not phony, faux or unofficial.

I agree with you...but Mattel didn't want to confirm it to me.....there is more to this story than is being talked about

[ODBJBG]

but if I remember right you did say that the 2011 release would be the end does that mean it is done now or will they release the last wave before the end of the year?

Mattel says here, pretty clearly that nothing will be offered past the 2011 releases: Infinite Hollywood: Mattel Q&A June 15th, 2011 - Retro Action RIP

I took that to mean that nothing will see release past what is already slated to come out. As far as I know, the only figure left to come out is the Matty GL Kyle figure. However, if there was another wave in the pipeline and done, certainly one would assume it could in theory come out. Mattel did not specify, but typically a statement like that means that they're only going to continue to sell what they've produced already. It would be odd (though not impossible) for them to have another couple of waves planned and not specifically mention them.

Given that nothing else has been announced, it's a fair analysis to say that Kyle is probably it.