Mattel's response to me

[Werewolf]

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

Because that's all they know. The customer service reps are not informed on any of the inner details of any of the toy lines. They are they to help consumers with warrenty and parts issues.

[trekman101]

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.

Well said...this thread was started to let people know they can do other things besides writing to Mattel....so if some one is not interested in that why don't all of you start a "why I hate Mattel / retro action and I told you so" thread

[Wise4671]

To me this is the key statment in there answer "past the 2011 offerings". It was to my understanding that there was another wave slated for 2011 and with the prototypes already in hand I think there is a very good chance that we will get that last wave before the year is out. We should never just assume cause you now what they say if you assume you may make an A##/out of/U/and/ME

[trekman101]

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.

they connected me to senior Mattel supervisors who had links to internal information...she named already stated facts to me

[MIB41]

To me this is the key statement in there answer "past the 2011 offerings". It was to my understanding that there was another wave slated for 2011 and with the prototypes already in hand I think there is a very good chance that we will get that last wave before the year is out. We should never just assume cause you now what they say if you assume you may make an A##/out of/U/and/ME

I agree. I think when Mattel released this news, it caught Paul and Joe off guard. And no, I think the messenger should not be blamed here. This was Mattel's doing and no one else. That being said, I don't think the internal communication had been finalized with this last wave, so I believe Paul did not know if this would be produced with that announcement. When I asked him if he could verify, he did not respond. So I tend to think that wave will get made and Paul may be saving it as one last surprise in the line. At least, that is my hopes. Would love to see a Teen Robin and Hawkman. Would be a nice way to go out!

[ODBJBG]

To me this is the key statment in there answer "past the 2011 offerings". It was to my understanding that there was another wave slated for 2011 and with the prototypes already in hand I think there is a very good chance that we will get that last wave before the year is out. We should never just assume cause you now what they say if you assume you may make an A##/out of/U/and/ME

I won't begrudge you hope that another wave or so makes it out. However, let's be clear that nothing has been announced beyond Kyle and there is no evidence to suggest there is more RA on the way. Even if Mattel has had the tooling made for another wave, it may still be cheaper to cut their losses than produce figures they believe will not sell. This would not be the first time Mattel abandoned unused tools.

If anything, you're assuming there's a good chance that Mattel might crank out another wave. Right now that's a much bigger assumption than what facts we know.

If I was you guys, I wouldn't be so concerned with a top secret wave that you have no evidence exists. Instead I'd focus my efforts on letting Mattel know that there is fan demand for this line to continue. The best way to do that? Buying John Stewart off of MattyCollector.com and making sure Kyle sells out in a single day.

Every day that John sits up on the website, is less and less of a chance that Mattel will rethink this decision regarding RA. MattyCollector is the last vestige of hope for most toy lines. Contrary to popular belief, sales do not appear to have been extraordinary for the RA offerings there. The best way to "have your voice heard" is by buying the product there. All the wishing, writing and wondering in the world won't make any difference. Sales of exclusives, will.

[Wise4671]

I agree. I think when Mattel released this news, it caught Paul and Joe off guard. And no, I think the messenger should not be blamed here. This was Mattel's doing and no one else. That being said, I don't think the internal communication had been finalized with this last wave, so I believe Paul did not know if this would be produced with that announcement. When I asked him if he could verify, he did not respond. So I tend to think that wave will get made and Paul may be saving it as one last surprise in the line. At least, that is my hopes. Would love to see a Teen Robin and Hawkman. Would be a nice way to go out!

I agree if they are going to be done with this line that last wave would be a good way to go out Getting Robin would at least make the set have seem kind of complete. (Making a Batman and having no Robin hurts)

[Teemu]

End it with Robin,Joker,Hawkman,Bizzaro would be Great!

[samurainoir]

Well here's the positive spin if we go and look back from where we were last year. If Doc did said that there were 24 figures on the drawing boards at that time, and 21 figures have actually made it into our hands within this year, that was still most of them and it seems to me that Matty did follow up on that commitment, even if it was on a more aggressive schedule than three years.

Do I want to see the line continue and the unreleased figures in our hands? Certainly. However, if the glass can be half full, then 21 figures is quite an accomplishment for ANY toyline in this day and age. We're still ahead of where we were 2 years ago with NO new DC Mego action figures other than our imaginations.

If only to have Flash, Green Arrow, Lex Luthor FINALLY joining the line-up in all their squishy head glory.


With that said, I don't think a little activism hurts. Particularly if there are figures that are a ways along in the production process already. The beauty of Mego has been that it's a generic body, so you only have to make the heads and clothes at a lower production cost overall.

[trekman101]

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



Thread Link

There are already 21 figures made so they are close to their commitment...there may? be a few more....they may have only intended to make around 24 figures in the first place....this may have always been their plan only to make more if there was money in it for them.....2 waves plus some Matty exclusives a year would have run for 3 years...maybe they fast tracked it to get it over....it's all speculation for now

[trekman101]

I won't begrudge you hope that another wave or so makes it out. However, let's be clear that nothing has been announced beyond Kyle and there is no evidence to suggest there is more RA on the way. Even if Mattel has had the tooling made for another wave, it may still be cheaper to cut their losses than produce figures they believe will not sell. This would not be the first time Mattel abandoned unused tools.

If anything, you're assuming there's a good chance that Mattel might crank out another wave. Right now that's a much bigger assumption than what facts we know.

If I was you guys, I wouldn't be so concerned with a top secret wave that you have no evidence exists. Instead I'd focus my efforts on letting Mattel know that there is fan demand for this line to continue. The best way to do that? Buying John Stewart off of MattyCollector.com and making sure Kyle sells out in a single day.

Every day that John sits up on the website, is less and less of a chance that Mattel will rethink this decision regarding RA. MattyCollector is the last vestige of hope for most toy lines. Contrary to popular belief, sales do not appear to have been extraordinary for the RA offerings there. The best way to "have your voice heard" is by buying the product there. All the wishing, writing and wondering in the world won't make any difference. Sales of exclusives, will.

I ordered my 4....I agree with this thought

[bizzaro megomauler]

Matty should do a small subscription run to test the waters, that way we are committed to buy them. Why not? they have club ecto 1 and club eternia? make us club justice league...

[trekman101]

Matty should do a small subscription run to test the waters, that way we are committed to buy them. Why not? they have club ecto 1 and club eternia? make us team justice league...

I had this thought as well

[trekman101]

Lets keep this a positive thread and argue later

[MIB41]

Instead I'd focus my efforts on letting Mattel know that there is fan demand for this line to continue. The best way to do that? Buying John Stewart off of MattyCollector.com and making sure Kyle sells out in a single day.

Contrary to popular belief, sales do not appear to have been extraordinary for the RA offerings there. The best way to "have your voice heard" is by buying the product there. All the wishing, writing and wondering in the world won't make any difference. Sales of exclusives, will.

Just to be clear I understand you correctly. When the Matty website states a figure is 'sold out' that may not be necessarily true? I read that in your remarks because the 'popular belief' about the success of Matty exclusives likely comes from that tag we so often see next to these figures after a short period of time on the website.