Answers to WTFWTK 2.75!

[JVS3]

Mattel has once again provided answers to your questions.
Thanks again to them for taking the time to answer these!
Check out their answers to your Round 75 questions!

This round of questions were selected by MrBlitzer.
Thanks to those fans for their help!

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1. bamf1980: How about a preorder system for playsets and vehicles like you're doing with the BTTF Hoverboard?
While this seems like a great idea on paper, doing a full size playsets takes a huge amount of design work, even for a preorder. What does the castle look like? 200X? Vintage toy? Filmation? What features does it have? What is the price? Etc..

Customers would want to know all of this for a preorder which would require a huge amount of prelim design work. In comparison, a prop replica is much easier to presale as you know exactly what it will look like based on it existing in a movie.

At the end, playsets whether preordered or not just take too much tooling and too much design work at this time. We really would need new entertainment like a movie to get the amount of resources needed for this big of an execution.

2. MrBlitzer: In 200x, Tuvar and Baddhra merged together to form Two Bad. Are those characters on the table for release in MOTUC?

They are all great ideas for figures but we can't confirm anyone past the releases shown at NYTF right now. But no reason in time we couldn't do Two-Bad and the two bounty hunters that formed him, whether as singles or even a three pack.

3. WDWFreak53: Was part of the reason for the removal of certain accessories (Draego-Man's weapons, Horde Prime's staff, Spector's whip, etc.) due to subscription prices remaining at the 2008 prices because the subs went on sale prior to the price increase? Meaning, if the sub prices had been increased, would we be seeing these accessories?

Yes. To include these accessories we would need to raise prices and we were locked in to the sub sales. To rectify this we will increase prices in 2013 to ensure we do not need to cut accessories. Additionally, we are actively working to find a home for all of the revealed but not released 2012 accessories by releasing with some other figure or sku in the future.

4. slackrguy: Why does MOTUC shipped via USPS start out by going from California to Nevada, then back to California, and then back to Nevada?

We are working with Digital River on this one and hope to resolve ASAP.

5. DamnSmooth: My question is would Matty ever consider doing flat monthly payment instead of a per-item basis. For example: $510 (total fixed cost of the 2012 MOTUC subscription) / 12 (months in the year) = 42.5 equal monthly payments, regardless of figures shipped, + the shipping. It would make it so customers had a fixed amount each month for their budgets, leaving shipping costs as the only variable.

No. This is not something we can offer due to changing schedules. It is something we looked into but in the end we just can't make the line work for every customer's buying habits and/or financial situation. We do lay out how the program will work in advance, but we can't execute this exact scenario.

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And, have fun discussing Mattel's answers to your Round 75 questions!

[Grayskull's Heir]

I'm happy abput the price increase if it menas that no more accessories will be cut and we can get Horde Prime's staff in the end

I'm curious about the shipping issue mentioned here as it seems to indicate that there are more shipping issues than just the fact that international customers are not receiving their stuff

[bango1]

Very exciting to think we could get a Two Bad three pack. Heres hoping they surprise us with a Castle Greyskull soon!

[Jon-O]

Getting Two Bad, Tuvar, and Baddra in a three pack would be pretty awesome. And I can't wait to get Horde Prime's staff.

[vertigoink]

I think it's safe to say at this point that we can probably stop asking about Grayskull- it just realistically isn't going to happen for the time being. I agree with you both about Two-bad being a great use of the 3-pack- and one that will most likely sell far better than...other choices lol.

[Patreek]

I hope we get a Tuvar Badrah two pack and a carded 2-bad.

[he-man121]

I'm happy abput the price increase if it menas that no more accessories will be cut and we can get Horde Prime's staff in the end

I'm curious about the shipping issue mentioned here as it seems to indicate that there are more shipping issues than just the fact that international customers are not receiving their stuff

Yeah,i'm still waiting on February's figures,i'm in the UK anybody else still waiting.......

[Capt_Piett]

"4. slackrguy: Why does MOTUC shipped via USPS start out by going from California to Nevada, then back to California, and then back to Nevada?

We are working with Digital River on this one and hope to resolve ASAP."

They want to know why shipping costs are rising? Newgistics sometimes seems to be the equivalent of Whack-A-Mole with the way packages take a cross country tour and back. A-B seems a lot more logical than A-B-B-A-C-A.

[wayneepoo]

I hope we get a Tuvar Badrah two pack and a carded 2-bad.

I think I would like this better than a three pack of them. I'm sure that Tuvar and Badrah can sell well enough in their own two pack, and I think many fans would not be happy having to buy a three pack just to get Two Bad.

[FAKER II]

I hope we get a Tuvar Badrah two pack and a carded 2-bad.

That's how I hope it is handled. I personally just want the 2 Bad and can live without his separate forms.

[Prahvus]

Another price increase in 2013 !? Great. Just what we needed.

[Toymaker]

Another price increase in 2013 !? Great. Just what we needed.

If I'm reading this correctly, wouldn't that be increasing sub prices to current Day of Sale Prices? Kind of expected that anyway

[Count Marzo]

Yes. To include these accessories we would need to raise prices and we were locked in to the sub sales. To rectify this we will increase prices in 2013 to ensure we do not need to cut accessories. Additionally, we are actively working to find a home for all of the revealed but not released 2012 accessories by releasing with some other figure or sku in the future.

This is great news. Yeah an increase in prices sucks, but whatever, I want accessories for these figures. Sick of seeing cool accessories not make the cut.

[Marvelous0ne]

Mattel has once again provided answers to your questions.
Thanks again to them for taking the time to answer these!
Check out their answers to your Round 75 questions!

This round of questions were selected by MrBlitzer.
Thanks to those fans for their help!

-------------------

1. bamf1980: How about a preorder system for playsets and vehicles like you're doing with the BTTF Hoverboard?
While this seems like a great idea on paper, doing a full size playsets takes a huge amount of design work, even for a preorder. What does the castle look like? 200X? Vintage toy? Filmation? What features does it have? What is the price? Etc..

Customers would want to know all of this for a preorder which would require a huge amount of prelim design work. In comparison, a prop replica is much easier to presale as you know exactly what it will look like based on it existing in a movie.

At the end, playsets whether preordered or not just take too much tooling and too much design work at this time. We really would need new entertainment like a movie to get the amount of resources needed for this big of an execution.

I find this funny cause we already have the design for Castle Grayskull. The design used for the reliquary from Scareglow! Seriously, these excuses on why you can and can't make the playset is old! People have made numerous ways that it could be done. but you keep nixing the idea of it. Why not just say "NO! We will not be making Grayskull for the MOTUC line cause we don't want to! Yes people will be upset, but it will be done and over with! Instead of jerking us around about it like you do! Unless of course you do plan on making it and just saying the above so then you can turn it around and say that I fought long and hard for you on it and we just finally got it!

[skeletorous]

I find this funny cause we already have the design for Castle Grayskull. The design used for the reliquary from Scareglow! Seriously, these excuses on why you can and can't make the playset is old! People have made numerous ways that it could be done. but you keep nixing the idea of it. Why not just say "NO! We will not be making Grayskull for the MOTUC line cause we don't want to! Yes people will be upset, but it will be done and over with! Instead of jerking us around about it like you do! Unless of course you do plan on making it and just saying the above so then you can turn it around and say that I fought long and hard for you on it and we just finally got it!

I totally agree with you on this. It seems we all are wasting our time asking anything about getting a Castle Greyskull, its just noy gonna happen. But like you say I wish it would be made clear to us once and for all with a big fat NO! Its not gonna happen! Then we can all get on and make our own.

[Tuukka]

To JVS3: When you do that poll about prices remember to remind people about shipping costs!
We would get a better data and no mishaps by fans.

[WDWFreak53]

They want to know why shipping costs are rising? Newgistics sometimes seems to be the equivalent of Whack-A-Mole with the way packages take a cross country tour and back. A-B seems a lot more logical than A-B-B-A-C-A.

Newgistics are fans of vintage Nintendo and that's why they ship the way they do...

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right A B Select Start

[General Hawk 7]

To rectify this we will increase prices in 2013 to ensure we do not need to cut accessories.

They already charge too much for figures we would pay $15-$17 for in the store. Cherry picking time for me next year.
They are just shooting themselves in the foot because you know the number of subscribers are dropping already .

[beastor]

They already charge too much for figures we would pay $15-$17 for in the store. Cherry picking time for me next year.
They are just shooting themselves in the foot because you know the number of subscribers are dropping already .

100% agreed. This is the first and last sub year for me. Next year it is back to my cherry picking ways. After shipping these figures are $30+ and I can get them on eBay for less than that if I have patience. Too bad because I really do want to support this line.

[Tribal Spaceman]

100% agreed. This is the first and last sub year for me. Next year it is back to my cherry picking ways. After shipping these figures are $30+ and I can get them on eBay for less than that if I have patience. Too bad because I really do want to support this line.

I subscribed for the first time this year, but I tend to find myself on the site on sale day anyway buying reissues, so I wouldn't really gain anything if they put the price up. Unless they start to give us the sub-exclusive figure free or something. Now that would be an incentive...

[dorrmann]

They already charge too much for figures we would pay $15-$17 for in the store. Cherry picking time for me next year.
They are just shooting themselves in the foot because you know the number of subscribers are dropping already .

See...that's the thing. These aren't at retail. These aren't made in mass quantities. These are made in limited quantities, and therefore the price goes up. Small runs of items almost always cost more.

If they were in retail, they probably would be in the price range you mentioned. It's only $3-$5 from where they are now.

[General Hawk 7]

100% agreed. This is the first and last sub year for me. Next year it is back to my cherry picking ways. After shipping these figures are $30+ and I can get them on eBay for less than that if I have patience. Too bad because I really do want to support this line.

Yes, This is how I feel. I really WANT to support this line. But I also need to think realistically and for me, the sub is barely worth it now. This is my first sub. (Ive cherry picked up until this year) So far its a good year, but there are some figures I dont want and/or would not have purchased otherwise. Im thinking it would just be cheaper for me to "cherry pick" next year. As much as I hate to do that and not give my full support to the line, I just dont see myself subscribing next year.

And so far...other than Dreagoman (sp) I really regret buying the stupid 30th Bonus Sub.

I subscribed for the first time this year, but I tend to find myself on the site on sale day anyway buying reissues, so I wouldn't really gain anything if they put the price up. Unless they start to give us the sub-exclusive figure free or something. Now that would be an incentive...

That would definitely help. But it wont happen.

See...that's the thing. These aren't at retail. These aren't made in mass quantities. These are made in limited quantities, and therefore the price goes up. Small runs of items almost always cost more.

If they were in retail, they probably would be in the price range you mentioned. It's only $3-$5 from where they are now.

I totally understand. Its the nature of the beast. I just cant afford the extra for every figure I dont really want. If we have a year like this year (not including the craptacular 30th figures) it probably wouldnt be so bad...but STILL more than what I want to pay. As much as I like these figures, I still have a hard time knowing I am paying $30 per $16 figure. And if we have another year like the pickings from 2011 (SO glad I didnt have a sub last year)... it DEFINITELY wouldnt be worth it. (this based on my opinions of the figures last year and this year of course)

But I do get that these arent mass produced and so they are more expensive as a specialty item.

Here is hoping for a movie year... for many reasons!