With Matty's absymal ordering... it it time to arrange a "strike" one month?

[SolarYellow]

Lets all remember with whom we are dealing. I can safely say these are the two worst companies I've had the displeasure of dealing with when it comes to online shopping. As much as I enjoy this line, I will not get angry over not getting a particular figure nor will I allow the follies and blunders of DR/Mattel to strong arm me into a subscription.

If a problematic website prohibits me from ordering a particular figure on the ONE day a month when available, I'll just give that $28.70 to another company. I won't get stressed out over a company who doesn't care about its customers. Simple as that.

You would think a company like Mattel could finally get their act in order. Think about it for a moment. You can order MOTUC figures one day a month (under most circumstances) for a very brief period of time and then you end up playing the lottery when it comes to the condition of the figure.

I did get my order submitted and confirmed today 50 minutes after the sale began but it is clear as day there are some major issues with the process.

[optibotimus]

No one will have the balls to actually "strike" matty for anything. People will cry about how "it'll just hurt the line". Or people will be like "sweet...less people to worry about on ordering day"...

[jibernish]

I think if enough people boycotted for it to hurt them financially, they would turn it around on us. Either by reducing the number of figures they produce, producing fewer extra figures, not producing vehicles, Castle Grayskull etc.

You could argue that this wouldn't happen because they'd be leaving money on the table, but they're already leaving a lot of our money on the table by not producing other things that we'd buy (comics for example). Their actions show that their first priority with He-man isn't making as much money as possible. I think they're afraid of losing money, and if we strike, it would confirm their fears and they'd withdraw resources from the line.

[Mr_Yuck]

I have to say, this my worst experience to boot, too. I had my check card info comprimised for the 2nd time in 6 months (I can't help but suspect this to be a DR issue, but I can't prove that for certain) and I didn't have a card to use for my sub or my purchase today. So I bought a Visa Gift Card to use for both items. My sub transaction went through fine, but when I tried to use another one online today, it kept saying "Payment Auth failed"

I called the company that issued the card, and they told me it's DR who is trying to put it through as a recurring transaction. WTH????? Why did my sub go through on the exact same type of card, issued by the same company, but when I try to by something online today it doesn't work???? That makes NO sense for me

Luckily, I had a friend who picked up what I wanted today, but I'm still really irritated. As I suspected, the issue with WSOD hasn't been resolved in the least. Yet, I'm sure before the day is out Toyguru will be out hear telling us how they are still working on these issues and it's a very complex process.

To that I say: RUBBISH

The simple fact is that they have had two + years to charge DR to get it together. Yet here we are, the exact same issues time and again. I think many celebrated prematurely last month with Roboto's sale. To me, actions speak volumes in this case. The message is loud and clear. Mattel does not care about this issue. Period.

Unfortunately, I think a "strike" would do little to force their hand. I think they would more likely pull the plug on this niche "adult collectors line" if it started to sell badly one month as opposed to allocating resources to address the problem.

[optibotimus]

I think if enough people boycotted for it to hurt them financially, they would turn it around on us. Either by reducing the number of figures they produce, producing fewer extra figures, not producing vehicles, Castle Grayskull etc.

You could argue that this wouldn't happen because they'd be leaving money on the table, but they're already leaving a lot of our money on the table by not producing other things that we'd buy (comics for example). Their actions show that their first priority with He-man isn't making as much money as possible. I think they're afraid of losing money, and if we strike, it would confirm their fears and they'd withdraw resources from the line.

that's the type of logic i expect to hear and why i don't think the consumers will ever stand up to matty.

[Tuukka]

GOD DAMMIT !!!

So no after 30 mins of crap Matty don't accept my credit card !!!

I have ordered all of my figures with this card including last months Roboto.

[Uki]

Count me out. Honestly, I am having so much fun collecting this line, I don't mind the occassional hassles. Sorry, I'm a Matty Lapdog, I guess. Woof!

[Wulff]

Well, since I was able to order my figures (took about 20 minutes), I am totally satisfied. The system works, there's just a little wait, so no biggie.

And if I'm not mistaken, all figures are still in stock right now, and you can easily get to the site? So where's the problem.

So no, definitely no boycott from me.

[optibotimus]

Well, since I was able to order my figures (took about 20 minutes), I am totally satisfied. The system works, there's just a little wait, so no biggie.

And if I'm not mistaken, all figures are still in stock right now, and you can easily get to the site? So where's the problem.

So no, definitely no boycott from me.

Correction: The system works..."when it wants to"

People waiting in the queue longer than others that came to the site later. That's not a "system" if you ask me.

[SCB]

Yeah you guys should all protest in January. That way I can order the Palace Guards with ease.

[MegaGearMax]

Well, since I was able to order my figures (took about 20 minutes), I am totally satisfied. The system works, there's just a little wait, so no biggie.

And if I'm not mistaken, all figures are still in stock right now, and you can easily get to the site? So where's the problem.

So no, definitely no boycott from me.

You can't easily go to the site. Alot of fans are still stuck on the WSOD and cursing Matty over on Facebook. Every toy site is complaining about hour long waits and WSOD's throughout the entire process.

[jibernish]

that's the type of logic i expect to hear and why i don't think the consumers will ever stand up to matty.

I'm not saying no one should strike, I'm just saying that I don't have enough faith in Matty to do the right thing. Their actions don't make any sense to me.

Unfortunately, I think as long as we want figures, Matty has all the power, they know it, and they aren't acting in good faith. They are secretive, their actions don't line up with their words, and what makes the least amount of sense: they leave lots of money on the table.

I would love for someone else to get the rights to this line. If it weren't for Scott and the 4H, I don't think we'd have anything at all, and all the money we've spent on this line would still be in our pockets and Matty wouldn't care.

[Rosicrucian]

If you organize a strike, I get the feeling the scalpers will just buy up the stock and reap a profit.

[Wulff]

You can't easily go to the site. Alot of fans are still stuck on the WSOD and cursing Matty over on Facebook. Every toy site is complaining about hour long waits and WSOD's throughout the entire process.

I can get on pretty easily on both my laptop and phone. I'd guess that individual user's browser issues may factor into it? That may also play into some people getting through ahead of others. They also probably have multiple queues(I doubt if it's just one long line for 10,000 customers)

And what's wrong with an hourlong wait if you get your toys in the end? MOTUC is popular.

[Skeletortilla]

Aside from all the poor schmucks who never get their orders to go through, the biggest complaint I have is the time it takes to place an order.

1 hour and 15 minutes for me today.

It's okay though...it's not like I have a job or a life or anything, and my time is valuable.

Oh, and staring at that smugly grinning prick of a mascot they have created for 75 minutes doesn't do anything to improve my mood either.

[Mern-Ra]

However if everyone wants to join in my personal boycott of Bow, feel free to join me!

Now there's a cause I'll support!

[nightcraw]

Sometimes things gets worse before they get better. This is part of growing pain. I like to provide a little perspective.
I think Mattel did tweak the ordering system and I believe for the better but it will take time to change "people's" behavior. All of you notice that once you are at checkout the system goes much smoother. Few lucky people didn't even see the WSOD.
I believe Mattel finally had someone who understanding the ordering system to set a requests limit to something the database can handle. This mean less database error and order error for them. But by doing so it will increase average WSOD because the number of requests/second is greatly reduced. Figures are lasting longer not because they are less in demand but because the system throttle the number of orders going through. In the long run this is good.
1. people will be more relax about ordering because they know the figures won't be sold out in minutes.
2. Scalper won't be as interested because they will proceed the slower sell out time as the line not as popular.

Item 1 is how the WSOD will be resolved. When people actually be more relax about having to make the order right at 9:00 AM PST.

Of course Mattel can always beef up the database to handle more requests but it really don't warrant the investment to handle traffic for just 1 days of month. Plus do you want to go back the the time the scalper can wipe out the sale in the matter of minutes.

I don't work for Mattel, I am just offering my perspective as an IT expert.

Oh but Mattel need to increase the number produced. If the figures don't last more than 24 hours, how is people ever get relaxed about ordering.

[starbasetoys]

Oh, and staring at that smugly grinning prick of a mascot they have created for 75 minutes doesn't do anything to improve my mood either.

AMEN to that, brotha'! I completely and totally LOATHE having to stare at Matty's ugly, smug, smirking, snotty, face! As if dealing with the WSOD isn't bad enough, we have to have something like that looking back at us making us want to punch Matty in the face...but if we did that, we'd destroy our screens...UGH!

[MegaGearMax]

And what's wrong with an hourlong wait if you get your toys in the end? MOTUC is popular.

Some people didn't get Grizzlor before he sold out.

[Darkkosis]

Yeah you guys should all protest in January. That way I can order the Palace Guards with ease.

Now that's the attitude...

[Skeletortilla]

AMEN to that, brotha'! I completely and totally LOATHE having to stare at Matty's ugly, smug, smirking, snotty, face! As if dealing with the WSOD isn't bad enough, we have to have something like that looking back at us making us want to punch Matty in the face...but if we did that, we'd destroy our screens...UGH!

LOL! Tell me about it...I hope I never see somebody out in public that looks like Matty. I'd probably beat him senseless.

Then, he's on the six o'clock news...his family beside him as he tearily recounts how some crazy man attacked him, yelling stuff about robots with backwards shoulders and flocked panthers.

[Horde Lord]

Protest to your heart's content, but you're just opening it up for others to place their orders. The ORG'ers here aren't the only people buying these up.

[synthalus]

I don't think a strike will work.
The resellers will find out about it and buy up all the stock.
They know we still want that particular figure later on,
so the resellers will drive up the price, making it a "rare" figure.
It's really difficult to find a good way to protest against something like this :/

[SolarYellow]

And what's wrong with an hourlong wait if you get your toys in the end? MOTUC is popular.

Is there any guarantee that you will get your desired figure after waiting that long? If we look at previous instances as any sort of example, the longer you have to wait the less your chances are of getting the figure.

Many people do not have an hour or longer to wait on the WSOD especially on a Monday afternoon.

[Kevenn]

I just wish Mattel would stop lying about their improvements. It's only gotten worse and worse for me. I wish they'd just be honest and say they're too cheap to make any actual upgrades to the system, and as long as product keeps selling out, they don't care. That would suck, but I'd at least respect them more than their current lying ways.