Mattel loves making money, and also cheap IMO.
The more SKUs they produce and sell, the less cost they'll have to deal with, so if they scale back, it will cost them even more money per figure/sku, which also means we might have to cover for that loss by paying more per figure...
At least that's my theory...
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I'm with Neutro on this. The issues we face are not solely caused by this, but remember how things were at the end of 2011 start of 2012. IMO that was the result of too much going on.
If the factory has to make 5 items instead of 2, of course there is more pressue and more room for error. And having more items hits every point in the process; from the 4HM being able to sculpt, to Toy Guru diligently looking out for QC issues, to the factory producing the item.
Last edited by He-Boy; April 26, 2012 at 02:52am.
Imagine how horrible the QC must be on Barbie, Monster High, and Hot Wheels. Assuming they make more than 12 a year.
That could be true when it comes to hand paint applications, but with machine production and assembly, probably it won't make much difference...Originally Posted by He-Boy
If the factory has to make 5 items instead of 2, of course there is more pressue and more room for error. And having more items hits every point in the process; from the 4HM being able to sculpt, to Toy Guru diligently looking out for QC issues
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I agree with this topic, all of the delays are caused because the Four Horsemen have way too much on their plate. I wouldn't be surprised if this is one of the leading reasons for the DCU cancellation. Next year the line should be back to just 12 + 4 + 4 (I would rather it be 2 oversized figures instead of 4 though).
The 30th is done next year, there is no more need to do another sub line. Plus, with the garbage that has come out in the 30th line, and will be coming out (seriously, 1 out of 4 figures being good is bad), I would hate to see how the laziness ensues.
While I understand this line has gotten really expensive for some people, scaling back seems like it would really decelerate the francise.
You guys are basically saying no, we don't want a Castle Grayskull and REALLY don't want Snake Mountain and more vehicles
4HM have NOTHING to do with QC.
also, didn't like the very first figure have QC issues? and the first he-man had reversed shoulders right? and that's when the line was going to be like a handful of figs.
Keep it as is. Heck, pump more out before the line ends for some unexpected reason. There are soooo many figures still to be made. Make them now....& stop wasting skues w/ awful looking figures(TMS,SLL....) Delays are going to happen whether we get 1 figure or 3 figures a month. It just happens & expect it to continue. As for QC it's luck of the draw. Fortunately I haven't been hit w/ this yet....fingers crossed for this to continue.
They will scale back automatically the line, if 2013 subs sell worse than last year and if Wind Raider and Granamyr fail sale-wise this year.
Overall quality issues with assembling and materials in combination with the increased prices and expanded items will cause customers to cherry pick more in the future.
Then Mattel will do something with the number of items.
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If they scaled back to one figure per year, there would still be quality control issues on certain figures. Then you guys would say we should scale back to one figure every two years.
Maybe scale back to 3 Horsemen per year.
Last edited by SCB; April 26, 2012 at 12:29pm. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
There is absolutley nothing to indicate this is the problem. The Fab Four have said they've done quite a few figures already done that have yet to be scheduled. The DCU cancellation was mostly due to DC dropping the DCNU bomb on Mattel as an overbearing licensor, basically making the production of anything but recent characters a major problem, from all indications. THe delays are likely a mixture of Mattel's usual problems actually making product plus the big push for Dark Knight Rises stuff (though most of what I've seen coming from Mattel for DKR looks like a flashback to Toy Biz's DC line). There's nothing new in Mattel being unable to deliver product; it's been their standard for the last decade. I'm actually surprised it took this long for Mattel's normal modus operandi to affect MOTUC to this extent.
I know this was meant as sarcasm, but considering that the first waves of Monster High apparently fell apart within a day or so of being bought, the sarcasm falls a little flat in this case...SCB- magine how horrible the QC must be on Barbie, Monster High, and Hot Wheels. Assuming they make more than 12 a year.
"I will use this power for all the good that can be done, to work for peace, to encourage virtue, and above all, to preserve life in all its forms..." Superman
How is Monster High doing now? What about Barbie and Hot Wheels first waves? I imagine all 3 are mass producing at a larger level since then.
Last edited by SCB; April 26, 2012 at 01:01pm.
I'm not sure if Classics gets the 'good' factories that Barbie and crew get.
If we posted at a Barbie and Hot Wheels forum, we'd probably see the same kind of posts about those products.
Sorry SCB but you do not consider that the MotUC line may not got enough budget compared to its growth. Barbie and Hotweels surely have a big budget .
Toyguru himself confirmed that they didnīt even had the budget for an US based customer service till recently.
I bet Mattel increased the production rate bit by bit, without providing the proportional needed budget.
Maybe its better to keep MotUC small, as long as its not at retail.
Only one of anybody.
Personally, no. I haven't had many QC issues, no more than with any other product I buy 100s of items from.
Kind of missing the point; it has nothing to do with "first waves" (and comparing the first runs of Barbie or Hot Wheels to the sorry standard of today's toys isn't even remotely relevant, given the decades in between) The Monster High dolls are nothing particularly new design-wise, and certainly nothing unlike anything Mattel has done before in the Barbie line (and one would think logically they would pay MORE attention to the QC on a first wave than later waves to establish the brand). The problems with the DC properties like JLU actually started well into the line as production most likely increased. The size of the run has nothing to do with it; Mattel is basically using crappy materials and lower standards across their brands, whether it's the first wave or the tenth. It has to do with the vaunted "vendor changes," which most likely is Mattel for "finding a cheaper factory." Last year was a quiet year when Mattel had a lack of major movie related properties on the pegs, meaning production overall was likely down, and we still had an increase in problems of QC and such.
The size of the run doesn't make much difference if Mattel is using inferior materials and cutting corners wherever they can, and that definitely appears to be the case.
"I will use this power for all the good that can be done, to work for peace, to encourage virtue, and above all, to preserve life in all its forms..." Superman
I don't think they should scale back (my wallet thinks so, but I do not). THey ahve to cut some corners as a business obviously to make the most profit, but they are letting the wheel spin so to speak and just taking where they land and running with it. They seem to be quite unlucky in doing that however.
That's what I think, too. MotUC shouldn't be scaled back!
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Leave the line as it is. Its great. I have a cabinet full of awesome figures that i look forward to every month. I love the excitement of the announcements and having a figure in my hand when it finally arrives (4 weeks to get to Australia)
Apart from some 'hard to notice' QC issues, this line is the best by far.
Scott has been running this line as a 'one man band' from day one and as a result of the SUCCESS OF THE MOTUC LINE he has told us that he will have more Mattel resources available to assist in making this line even better.
Mattel.Keep giving us these AWESOME figures!
I don't know... Stinkor, Snout Spout, King Hiss/Roboto... I Agree completely. That was a problem before the factory ever got involved.
Things like loose ankles/joints, poor paint, and Swift Winds legs... not to mention the other 'random switched limbs' that weren't all encompassing like KH and Roboto... That MAY be an overworking of the factory or rush jobs...
On a seperate note... I saw a response to a question somewhere about 'extra' stuff... where Toyguru said something about 'That'd be awesome... but the 4H can only sculpt so much in any given day...'
That leads me to wonder how overworked THEY are?
Draegoman was awesome... but a LOT of the figures are more shared parts, and more direct vintange copies without the obvious thought and care and enthusiasm that we had on the 2008-9 figures...
Going from 12 figures a year... to 25 figures (12 +4 quarterly, +6 30th anniver + 3 star sisters) 4 beasts, a vehicle and/or GRANAMYR... HAS to hurt the amount of time they can give each individual project...
I'm not referring to QC issues. I'm referring to the delays like no Aug figure because it wasn't done in time.
we don't know that they are the cause of delays. it seems like they are getting the figs to mattel in time to be debuted at whatever con.
I'd just be interested to know how many people are mixing QC issues, with decisions made that they don't agree with (Stinkor's forearms).
i think there's ample reason to suspect matty isn't being quite truthful this time.
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