Ideas to make subscription more attractive!

[bianchi5]

This is a thread that I hope Scott reads. The objective here is to give ideas for mattel to make the subscrpition more attractive than the exclusive, the map and avoid the WSOD, which IMO is nice but not enough at this point of the road!

Here is mines:

Discount for non-sub items like vehicles,stands, dioramas, extra-large itens and etc..

Access to an exclusive part of mattycollectors site with interviews, productions sneak peaks, extra photos, videos, vintage art, old ads, and other nice MOTU stuff.

A bimonthly or quarter give-away of a special item (a four horseman autographed figure, or a Earl Norem autographed windraider, or a poster and etc..) drawn to one of the subscribers.

Some fan demand limited editions of Deluxe versions of figures like battle damaged Faker (alla Terminator), with premium (and profitables) prices, available ONLY to subscribers with low limit per sub!

Expansion packs like, extra heads and weapons for the army builders , extras snakes for king Hiss, green falcon for the Goddess.



And the list can go, I don't know what is possible or not, but I'm sure if everybody help some good ideas will appear and Tg can pick up some to help our beloved MOTUC line!!

[Larry Waters]

Wasn't shipping prior to sale day supposed to be a Sub perk?

Perks are GREAT when they're delivered...

[bianchi5]

Yes, it is, Big C.
I probably forgot that because figures take a month to arrive to me, but I guess for the U.S. residents it is a nice perk!

[Crawful]

they tried giving us a discount for Battle Cat but it didn't work out too well. it was too difficult to enter in the discount code and beat the WSOD at the same time.



all they have to do is make Castle Grayskull a sub exclusive. if that doesn't increase sub sales, i don't know what will.

[Rdominiack]

I would buy 2-3 subs if i could get 1 all in sub and 2 vintage only subs...Im sorry just hate the pop/na stuff...i have to trade more and more stuff off as the line cont....So if they could build diff. sub options wouldn't that work and sell more subs...I think so!

[He-Man Pab]

I would buy 2-3 subs if i could get 1 all in sub and 2 vintage only subs...Im sorry just hate the pop/na stuff...i have to trade more and more stuff off as the line cont....So if they could build diff. sub options wouldn't that work and sell more subs...I think so!

All vintage sub would be great.

Also if they could figure out a way were shipping wasnt 50% of the price of the item we are purchasing

[CocoaSmooth]

Believe it or not Logistics is no joke. So many moving parts and so many hands involved in a project that often times the weak link can make an entire mission or project go to poop. Logistics is what wins wars. So far MOTU is still winning. I hope it continues to win but it does require our financial support despite the crap that comes our way. We shall overcome as long as we are patient and supportive.

[bcrduke]

My suggestion is one I offered months ago.

Make CG a four-part, quarterly collect-and-connect playset, exclusive to the subscription.

This would:

- cause people to buy the subscription
- prevent people from cancelling
- help customers save on shipping/tax on shipping


They could put these in place of the BEAST items, and offer maybe 2 beasts outside the sub for that year... maybe.

[CocoaSmooth]

My suggestion is one I offered months ago.

Make CG a four-part, quarterly collect-and-connect playset, exclusive to the subscription.

This would:

- cause people to buy the subscription
- prevent people from cancelling
- help customers save on shipping/tax on shipping


They could put these in place of the BEAST items, and offer maybe 2 beasts outside the sub for that year... maybe.

Toybiz did a similar thing with Marvel legends and I believe that it worked. Something like this was suggested when the line first came out but it looks like they want to take a different direction...=(

[AnthonyHall666]

This is easy:
1. More attention on quality control
2. Stop using cheap gummy plastic (especially on limbs)
3. Fix that crappy Mattycollector website
4. Pay the 4HM a bonus when they nail it and I mean nail it as in the way Beastman and Merman has everyone happy as apposed to Clawful and Leech (more heads, more detail less goofyness).

[Arkangel]

since the buyer is committing to buy everything, the least they could do would be either offer the sub exclusive or make a discount on each monthly figure.

The only two reasons to buy the subscription so far are, getting the sub exclusive much cheaper than in the second market and not having to deal with sale day issues. Not good enough imo.

[mick4metal]

AWWW COMEON!!!! A sticker sheet coming with Snout Spout is not enough incentive for you people?

[Skystalker]

Agreed! Discount everything 5 to 10 percent. That would encourage people to get the sub!

since the buyer is committing to buy everything, the least they could do would be either offer the sub exclusive or make a discount on each monthly figure.

The only two reasons to buy the subscription so far are, getting the sub exclusive much cheaper than in the second market and not having to deal with sale day issues. Not good enough imo.

[Invicta]

I still think simple two different type of subscription would have done the deal, as increased cost of the subscription seemed to be an issue according to the forums at least.

So simply offer two types:
a) Just 12 figures (plus bonus figure).
b) Everything (plus bonus figure).

[MoViEfReAk]

1. an ongoing series of mini-comics, each with a cliffhanger and one issue with every figure...based on the bios...

2. collect and connect Modulok and Multibot... with extra new parts and filmation parts... spread out over three years

3. Must-have figures as sub exclusive

4. sub figures shipping ONE WEEK early... the two days prior to sale doesn't really work

5. extra heads or weapons only for subscribers

6. include the SDCC exclusive in the sub

[cbomb23]

Discounting the sub is the ultimate and most logical reason to subscribe, paying less over the course of a year than just buying day would be the biggest incentive for a sub purchase. Combining shipping in the US for all sub and extra non sub items (purchased on day of sale items) would be nice too.

Plus people keep bringing up "tiered" subscriptions, this won't work as the large scale beasts/multipacks would be eliminated as this sub wouldn't see enough purchased.

[Morningstar]

My suggestion is one I offered months ago.

Make CG a four-part, quarterly collect-and-connect playset, exclusive to the subscription.

This would:

- cause people to buy the subscription
- prevent people from cancelling
- help customers save on shipping/tax on shipping


They could put these in place of the BEAST items, and offer maybe 2 beasts outside the sub for that year... maybe.

Amen. Or maybe replace the 4 quaterly variants with the 4 parts of CG

Also:

• 5% of discount in every figure or a free Exclusive figure.
• Enhance QC.

[Larry Waters]

they tried giving us a discount for Battle Cat but it didn't work out too well. it was too difficult to enter in the discount code and beat the WSOD at the same time.



all they have to do is make Castle Grayskull a sub exclusive. if that doesn't increase sub sales, i don't know what will.

No.

I don't care HOW badly I want Grayskull, I will NOT buy a (couple?) hundred dollars on crap I don't want just to get the "opportunity" to spend another $200-$300 on the Castle.

Sorry. This would fail.

Yes, it is, Big C.
I probably forgot that because figures take a month to arrive to me, but I guess for the U.S. residents it is a nice perk!

Bro, I live in the US and my sub has NEVER shipped any sooner that the day AFTER the sale day, and usually it's several days.

[TechTrek]

I still think simple two different type of subscription would have done the deal, as increased cost of the subscription seemed to be an issue according to the forums at least.

So simply offer two types:
a) Just 12 figures (plus bonus figure).
b) Everything (plus bonus figure).

the third type would be: option A, with the ability to upgrade the months you wanted to (click for large figure) or something like that.


but yeah. even with just your two options, i would have bought a sub this year.

[Merman79]

Its VERY easy ! Sell more what people want.

Here the list for the year 2013.


Jan.: Tung Lashor
Q1.: Classic Clours single carded Prince Adam


Feb.: Multibot
Large Scale.: Horde Tropper 2pack


March.: Extendar
Addionaly Snake Mountain or Castle Grayskull in 3 parts each part around 40-50$ Part1

Apri: Spikor
Q2: Filmation blue Hordak

May: Squeeze
Large Scale: Stridor

June: Ninjor
Addionaly Snake Mountain or Castle Grayskull in 3 parts each part around 40-50$ Part1

July: Eldor
SDCC Exlclusive: King Grayskulls wife and his Battle Lion

August: Dragstor
Q3: Alcala Beastman

Sept.: Stondar
Large Scale: Roton

Oct.: Evil Seed
Q4: Alcala He-man

Nov.: Modulok
Addionaly Snake Mountain or Castle Grayskull in 3 parts each part around 40-50$ Part1

Dec.: Madame Razz her Broom and this little flying thing
Large Scale: the three Filmation trolans (Uncle Mortok etc.)

-Each Figure comes with Minicomic
- NO PROBLEM with 2,5$ price increase per figure!

THIS would be a shedule where MATTEL WOULD SELL thousands And THOUSANDS subscriptions

Subscription exclusive > Movie He-man or Skeltor . And one year later the other one

[Squidish Tex]

Plus people keep bringing up "tiered" subscriptions, this won't work as the large scale beasts/multipacks would be eliminated as this sub wouldn't see enough purchased.

So your claim is the following: not enough people want large scale beasts/ multipacks to make them profitable. First, I doubt that this is true, given that many things outside the subscriptions sell decently well. Second, if it is true, shouldn't it follow that things no-one wants to buy should not be produced? I mean, if the majority of fans do not want beasts or multipacks or whatever, and they do not want them to such a degree that those things aren't profitable, why are they being made?

Imagine for a second that Mattel decides to make 50% of the subscription characters meteorbs. And imagine that *no one* wants them. Then imagine there are tiered subscriptions: all-in and everything-but-meteorbs, only the latter of which will anyone buy. Is that a reason to produce only the all-in subscription, so that everyone will be forced to buy 6 figures they don't want out of 12 figures? One would hope not!

Mattel should make things people want. They should not make things that people don't want. And if they do make things that *most* people don't want, then it should be the few people who do want them that shoulder the burden for them, not the rest of us.

I always feel like a hostage-- from Mattel and from the boards-- "you must buy everything, even what neither you nor almost anyone else wants (10 figures a month, POP D-listers, Songster), or else you can't get what everyone wants and would pay for if we didn't produce the other crap". That's no knock against POP D-lister fans, or whoever, but I just fail to see the argument that MOTUC collectors in general should be subsidizing collectors with peculiar, non-popular, and largely non-profitable tastes.

[bcrduke]

That's what you want

I want those but also Angella, Castaspella, Glimmer, Frosta, Double Trouble, Mermista, Sweet Bee, Peekablue, Entrapta, Netossa, Spinnerella, Perfuma, Flogg, Slish Head, Quakke, Lizarr, Hydron, Darius, Mara, Master Sebrian, Tuskador, Sagittar, Spinwit, Critta, Icer, Sea Hawk, Scorpia, Octavia, Shokoti, Kothos, Lord Masque, Kittrina, Dark Dream, Magestra (heck they have her head via BG Evil-Lyn; just paint it differently), etc.

I wouldn't buy a sub next year if the line were laid out the way you say.

Its VERY easy ! Sell more what people want.

Here the list for the year 2013.


Jan.: Tung Lashor
Q1.: Classic Clours single carded Prince Adam


Feb.: Multibot
Large Scale.: Horde Tropper 2pack


March.: Extendar
Addionaly Snake Mountain or Castle Grayskull in 3 parts each part around 40-50$ Part1

Apri: Spikor
Q2: Filmation blue Hordak

May: Squeeze
Large Scale: Stridor

June: Ninjor
Addionaly Snake Mountain or Castle Grayskull in 3 parts each part around 40-50$ Part1

July: Eldor
SDCC Exlclusive: King Grayskulls wife and his Battle Lion

August: Dragstor
Q3: Alcala Beastman

Sept.: Stondar
Large Scale: Roton

Oct.: Evil Seed
Q4: Alcala He-man

Nov.: Modulok
Addionaly Snake Mountain or Castle Grayskull in 3 parts each part around 40-50$ Part1

Dec.: Madame Razz her Broom and this little flying thing
Large Scale: the three Filmation trolans (Uncle Mortok etc.)

-Each Figure comes with Minicomic
- NO PROBLEM with 2,5$ price increase per figure!

THIS would be a shedule where MATTEL WOULD SELL thousands And THOUSANDS subscriptions

Subscription exclusive > Movie He-man or Skeltor . And one year later the other one

[Kero]

1. More discounts/incentives would definately be a step in the right direction.
2. Cutting back on SKUs would help too. I used to have 2 subs in 2010 because there would be months I wanted to get multiples of the same figure, but even though I like Sorceress, Fisto, KK, if I want multiples of these 3, I need to buy twice the stuff I don't want so I don't get charged double shipping. Star Sisters x1 is doable, but don't need more than one set. That goes for whatever beasts, quarterly variant, etc. Battlecat, Panthor, Swiftwind all make sense, but at some point, Mattel's just going to be pushing out obscure stuff just for the sake of it.
3. Combine SKUs? Can Mattel make some of their SKUs interchangeable? 2 quarterly variants=1 beast, 2 beasts=1 CG part?
4. Variable rate shipping. States like CA have taxes, so add in the $8-9 shipping, No way I'm paying $32 to order 1 figure a month, especially living only a few hours away. Any figure I resell, I'm losing money. Ebay has been the better alternative lately. I'm not about to throw away money just to keep this line afloat.


Here's an idea: How about biannual 6 month subs? 2009 was essentially a partial sub wasn't it? Reveals are already broken up to two main events anyway, SDCC and Toyfair. This would potentially attract those fans who would consider but want to know what they're paying for. SDCC reveals run about Oct-Mar, so the sub could start there. The next sub could be after Toyfair or whenever Mattel makes another big reveal and run from Apr-Aug. There could be an exclusive to each one, maybe not a big-hitter like SW, but interesting quarterly variant or whatever, maybe even a beast (hey, why not?), and would provide another excuse to create another figure slot. I'd think the lower price point of a 6 month sub might be easier to swallow than an entire year. Sure there would be more to manage, but if it could create more sales?

[Frogster]

Its VERY easy ! Sell more what people want.

Here the list for the year 2013.


Jan.: Tung Lashor
Q1.: Classic Clours single carded Prince Adam


Feb.: Multibot
Large Scale.: Horde Tropper 2pack


March.: Extendar
Addionaly Snake Mountain or Castle Grayskull in 3 parts each part around 40-50$ Part1

Apri: Spikor
Q2: Filmation blue Hordak

May: Squeeze
Large Scale: Stridor

June: Ninjor
Addionaly Snake Mountain or Castle Grayskull in 3 parts each part around 40-50$ Part1

July: Eldor
SDCC Exlclusive: King Grayskulls wife and his Battle Lion

August: Dragstor
Q3: Alcala Beastman

Sept.: Stondar
Large Scale: Roton

Oct.: Evil Seed
Q4: Alcala He-man

Nov.: Modulok
Addionaly Snake Mountain or Castle Grayskull in 3 parts each part around 40-50$ Part1

Dec.: Madame Razz her Broom and this little flying thing
Large Scale: the three Filmation trolans (Uncle Mortok etc.)

-Each Figure comes with Minicomic
- NO PROBLEM with 2,5$ price increase per figure!

THIS would be a shedule where MATTEL WOULD SELL thousands And THOUSANDS subscriptions

Subscription exclusive > Movie He-man or Skeltor . And one year later the other one

Good list. I would buy a sub on that, but not liking spending $20+ on a whole figure when all I need is an Alcala head. Sorry no Madam Razz either. Trollans and Gwildor is about the extent of my humor and whimsy in MOTUC Otherwise that list speaks to my vintage sensibilities. Woot!

[Merman79]

@bcrduke , i argue that.
The what you wrote WILL NEVER happen, and the more Mattel would go that way the more would the fans disapointed.

Me and the MOST other fans would prefer YET - those figures.

Whitch sub would most fans prefer and buy?

I say if the lineup goes similar as mine. Nothing else.