Say NO to the MOTUC 2013 Price Hike!!!!!!!!!

[Saved]

MODERATOR NOTE: Please note. This is not a discussion thread on the price hike. That is HERE. This is only for voicing support/non-support for the original posters viewpoint.


Per Scott:

Posted May 09, 2012 04:06 PM Hide Post
Labor and raw material have gone up. Factors we have zero control over.

We are not making any more margin on the figures. Our margins (i.e. profit for non biz majors)are flat. Price increases are 100% because the raw cost to produce the figures has skyrocked since 2008. We could keep prices at 2008 costs, but then we would need to majorly reduce accessories and deco.

Just look at retail lines. 3 3/4 figures at retail are over 10.00 in 2012 and 6" figures are between 16 and 20. We just can't produce these figures for what we could in 2008 when we set prices.

We are choosing to increase prices in 2013 vs cost reduce the figures (like we had to do in 2012 removing deco and accessories). It was a tough call!

Scott,

Didn't the prices already go up THIS year to cover those costs? I undestand cost keep rising but this is strictly a collector driven line. Im sure you are well aware if collectors stop buying them in masse there will be no line. We are paying a premium for these figures (cost+tax+shipping), so its already hard enough to afford this line as it is and with the economy struggling as it is I dont see this improving for many of us. It's a tough call for us as well to decide if we continue investing in this line. There has to be a compromise.

Retail lines: Around here 3 3/4 figures at retail are under $10.00 (Star Wars, Marvel, GI Joe, etc...) and if there is any quality issues we can just return them to the store for our money or an exchange with no hassle other than making the line at the customer service desk. They also go on sale many times during the year so there are various chances to get them for way below retail price, and there are also clearance sales.
As far as 6" figures go Marvel Legends are now produced in very small numbers and their prices range from $15 - $20 on retail and they come with accessories and a BAF piece. Similarly case with DC, but you know that. There is also Thundercats at about that same price range.
The Four Horsemen sell their Gothitropolis line Scarabus figures which include better sculpting, detail, features, paint and tons of accessories and articulation for only $30.00 each. Similar to MOTUC they are repainted weapons & bucks with different faces/heads. And Im sure that line is made in much less numbers than MOTUC, so you can make the argument that they probably don't make a lot of money off that.

I though the whole point of making figures in China is to keep the prices down. We are very grateful for the paint decos and the accessories. Most of this lines weapons and bucks are repaints sand or kitbashes so there is a lot of cost saving there. The quality of most of these figures are acceptable, except for the major issues with Green Goddess, Roboto, King Hisss, Fearless Photog, Snout Spout, Weapons Pack V2 and posibly Cobra Khan & Stinkor; along with the minor ones like Swift Wind's front legs, Windraider's missiles, the various loose ankles and random hickups (My Draego-Man's 2 right shoulders).
There is also the well known issue of Digital River's shipping and customer service issues that are unfortunately the norm after most orders rather than rare episodes. However if you call the REAL Mattel customer service you see a diference.

What more does Mattel want us to pay for? How is there a "flat" profit when this product sells out in a few minutes or in a day and there are significantly smaller overhead costs than if the line was sold at retail? Where will the line be drawn? Can there be a compromise?

I still want to thank you Scott for all the good things you have done for this line, the things we see and those things we probably won't find out about.


Everyone,

I urge all Masters of the Universe Classics fans, collectors and resellers to call Mattel at 800-524-8697 or e-mail http://service.mattel.com/us/EmailContact.aspx or write a letter to

Mattel, Inc.
333 Continental Boulevard
El Segundo, CA 90245-5012

and tell them you want to continue supporting this line but you OPOSE another ("considerable") price increase on this line. I believe if we enough of us do this we can make a diference.

Thank you all and LONG LIVE MOTUC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[He-Boy]

Good Luck with stoping the price hike.

While I'm not keen for it, I'll accept a price hike if it means corners stop getting cut. What I don't understand is why corners are getting cut if the line is doing SO well.

[mjw41]

I disagree as the price hike is needed so we get the best paint appts and no more accessories get cut from the figures shown. Too many people want it all their way. They want cheap prices for the figures but expect all accessories to stay included and complain if the paint apts don't match the Horsemens Prototype. I'm sorry but costs have gone up on everything and at least Scott has said the pirce increase is only to cover the cost of paint appts & figure accessories since tooling has it's own budget. I'm tired of seeing great accessories shown with the figures in my sub at cons only to find that when they go to production the cost is too high to include everything shown for the $20.00 they locked the figures in for.

[bribri4u]

I disagree as the price hike is needed so we get the best paint appts and no more accessories get cut from the figures shown. Too many people want it all their way. They want cheap prices for the figures but expect all accessories to stay included and complain if the paint apts don't match the Horsemens Prototype. I'm sorry but costs have gone up on everything and at least Scott has said the pirce increase is only to cover the cost of paint appts & figure accessories since tooling has it's own budget. I'm tired of seeing great accessories shown with the figures in my sub at cons only to find that when they go to production the cost is too high to include everything shown for the $20.00 they locked the figures in for.

Absolutely agreed.

[Larry Waters]

Based on the market, economy and cost of production, prices are going to rise.

[Darkspecter]

I would prefer to lose minor paint decoes on 2 figures and 5 accessories per year. This price hike WILL cause fewer sales of subs and individual day-of sales. These all add up. If too many people back out of buying, this line will end. 2011 to 2012 saw a MASSIVE drop in sub sales. This was mainly due to the total cost of the sub. I did a lot of research on it and total cost was THE highest reason.

Now, we know 2013's sub will see some changes (probably less beast and variant skus/slots), but the overall cost of the sub might be the same or higher because of this price hike.

Losing customers = less profit. I really think raising the price is going to end up costing Mattel more money from lost revenue, in the end...which is very bad for the line.

One thing people need to keep in mind, is that (according to Toyguru), the price increase is ONLY for paint decos and accessories. Raising the prices does NOT increase their tooling budget:

Toyguru: Higher prices pay for more accessories and paint ops. Not more tooling. Toling is a fixed cost based on sales. We have had to cut accessories and deco this year due to rising costs. We will raise prices next year to account for these rising costs in raw material and labor. Tooling is a seperate budget and not affected by raising prices.

http://forums.mattycollector.com/eve...657#5391084657

I also remember when we got to vote at SDCC for extra heads or mini-comics...and extra heads won...and then we didn't see very many heads. I feel the same will happen with accessories next year. How many "more accessories and paint ops" will we see? We probably won't even notice a difference. *shakes head*

Anyway, yes, the prices just went up this year to $22 for non-subscribers. Everyone should pay $22 next year, in my opinion. The only other thing I could think of would be to make figures that come with a TON of accessories, a higher cost. Like, if we get a Filmation Hordak with all those attachments. Instead of $22, make him $25 or something (like they do with SDCC figures...because they have more parts).

[SSj3 Derek]

You are welcome to your point of view, but good luck with it. Plastic is a petroleum based product. The price of petroleum has skyrocketed in the last three years, therefore the price of the figures will as well. Mattel has to cover all their costs and make at least some profit. The only alternative would be to stop buying the figures, and that literally would kill the line. For once, that's not melodrama.

[Darkspecter]

I guess everyone will be laughing themselves into a fit when Mattel prices this line to death, which it might just do this year. It's kind of strange. Every MOTU/PoP/NA toy line has died because of bad case ratios or over production (straight from Mattel's mouth from different interviews/magazines). This line doesn't have case ratios to worry about (awesome) and they seem to have a handle on production levels now (also awesome)...but the over pricing is going to kill them (like it killed DCUC at retail).

Mattel sure are good about screwing things up that are guaranteed success. Weird. *shrugs*

[Bonehead]

I remember buying Star Wars figures in the late 70's for $2 when I was a child. GIJOE:RAH figures were $2.50 in the 80's. Neither of those lines are even close to that price. Everything has gone up over the years. Every toy line has increased their prices over the last 4 years. You can't expect prices to stay the same. I'm actually quite surprised that Mattel has been able to hold the price for so long.

I disagree as the price hike is needed so we get the best paint appts and no more accessories get cut from the figures shown. Too many people want it all their way. They want cheap prices for the figures but expect all accessories to stay included and complain if the paint apts don't match the Horsemens Prototype. I'm sorry but costs have gone up on everything and at least Scott has said the pirce increase is only to cover the cost of paint appts & figure accessories since tooling has it's own budget. I'm tired of seeing great accessories shown with the figures in my sub at cons only to find that when they go to production the cost is too high to include everything shown for the $20.00 they locked the figures in for.

Agreed.

I guess everyone will be laughing themselves into a fit when Mattel prices this line to death, which it might just do this year. It's kind of strange. Every MOTU/PoP/NA toy line has died because of bad case ratios or over production (straight from Mattel's mouth from different interviews/magazines). This line doesn't have case ratios to worry about (awesome) and they seem to have a handle on production levels now (also awesome)...but the over pricing is going to kill them (like it killed DCUC at retail).

Who said DCUC was "killed" by "over pricing?"

Distribution and QC were a much bigger problem.

I've said this before but it bears repeating: Mattel's DC 6in line was always cheaper than Hasbro Marvel line. Hasbro raised prices on ML and Mattel slowly matched them. At one time Hasbro was charging $15.00 for ML while Mattel had DCUC still at $10 - $11. The current price of DCUC is standard in this day and age. ML is the same price and even more if you buy it at TRU (19.99). Ouch! Right now ML fly off the shelves at their current price.

[Firefly]

Remember to show respect to your fellow forum members and to stay on topic. I don't want things getting out of control.

[Wulff]

If Mattel says prices need to go up, they need to go up. Nobody likes it including Mattel, but that's the way it is if we want to keep getting these great figures.

[Stinkor's Gas]

If the extra money is going to improved QC, more detail to paint apps, and improved customer service, I'm fine with it. If its going to be more of the same, especially in regards to customer service, then I'll have to think hard about 2013.

[Tribal Spaceman]

I disagree as the price hike is needed so we get the best paint appts and no more accessories get cut from the figures shown. Too many people want it all their way. They want cheap prices for the figures but expect all accessories to stay included and complain if the paint apps don't match the Horsemen's prototypes. I'm sorry but costs have gone up on everything and at least Scott has said the pirce increase is only to cover the cost of paint apps & figure accessories since tooling has it's own budget. I'm tired of seeing great accessories shown with the figures in my sub at cons only to find that when they go to production the cost is too high to include everything shown for the $20.00 they locked the figures in for.

At present these figures cost me an average of £21 each. Twenty one pounds!!! That's twice the price of your average action figure, and if I lived in America the equivalent price wouldn't be much less. They are NOT "cheap prices" by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm not complaining. I choose to buy them because I love them. : Hmgrin:

Looking ahead to 2013, there is one simple solution, and I hope Mattel reads this: Deluxe figures.

Characters that are on the larger side, require more intricate paintwork or tooling or come with a significant amount of accessories should cost a bit more. Keep the regular figures at $22 and make the others $25-$28. Other toy lines do it all the time. It is madness that (for example) Battleground Teela and Draego Man cost the same price. He's twice as big as she is!

If Draego Man had been released as a deluxe figure, he could have come in a package similar to the one Marlena and Cringer came in, complete with his shield, flaming whip, etc. The whole shebang. Horde Prime could have benefited from this sort of treatment too.

Having a set amount of deluxe figures per year (perhaps 4?) included in the subscription as part of the monthly 12 would be a promise to the fans that they will be getting something special on those months. Which is a great incentive to carry on collecting.

I would also class a multipack (a standard figure packaged with a companion, such as Kowl, a Twigget, Imp etc) as a deluxe figure.

[fball13z]

I disagree as the price hike is needed so we get the best paint appts and no more accessories get cut from the figures shown. Too many people want it all their way. They want cheap prices for the figures but expect all accessories to stay included and complain if the paint apts don't match the Horsemens Prototype. I'm sorry but costs have gone up on everything and at least Scott has said the pirce increase is only to cover the cost of paint appts & figure accessories since tooling has it's own budget. I'm tired of seeing great accessories shown with the figures in my sub at cons only to find that when they go to production the cost is too high to include everything shown for the $20.00 they locked the figures in for.

Agree 100%, if price increase = keeping weapons and better paint apps, Im behind it all the way.

Based on the market, economy and cost of production, prices are going to rise.

God tell me about it, my cost have gone up at least 30% in the past few years of manufacturing over in China

[Darkspecter]

Who said DCUC was "killed" by "over pricing?"

Distribution and QC were a much bigger problem.

I've said this before but it bears repeating: Mattel's DC 6in line was always cheaper than Hasbro Marvel line. Hasbro raised prices on ML and Mattel slowly matched them. At one time Hasbro was charging $15.00 for ML while Mattel had DCUC still at $10 - $11. The current price of DCUC is standard in this day and age. ML is the same price and even more if you buy it at TRU (19.99). Ouch! Right now ML fly off the shelves at their current price.

Well...I don't know. I only ever heard and read about people refusing to buy DCUC stuff because of the price increases. I'm not sure how they took place in the U.S., but in Canada they were initially $9.99 then $12.99 and then I think they jumped to $19.99. I know they were $19.99 for a LONG time while they were much, much cheaper in the U.S. But, yeah...they've all been on clearance in ToysRUs and Winners for about $7 for the last few years (in my areas). My local ToysRUs stopped carrying DCUC for quite a long while because it wasn't selling. QC was bad on some stuff, for sure though.

I don't recall the most expensive Marvel Legends got before it died. It may have been $12.99. I can't recall. The new Hasbro two-packs are $25 each (the ones with Black Widow, Elektra, etc.). The DCUC two-packs by Mattel are $35 in Canada (Clayface vs Batman, etc.).

[Zodach]

Alright everybody, let's have a ban on gasoline tomorrow. We'll really show those evil oil tycoons who's boss

[Gemus203]

For me its all about keeping this line alive. If a price increase is necessary, then I'm all for it. I do agree that we should see improved QC and customer service though.

[Sentinelgrayskull]

Price increases is a fact of life, like it or not. Has anyone been to Tru lately? A 6 inch figure is getting more expensive to make and as it happens the 3 3/4 figures are becoming more profitable. I don't see any complains when people pay for $10 tiny figures.

I hope people face reality and support the line. Problems or not it's better than some junk out there. Look at Play Arts price point of $50, hot toy at $150+. If $25 is too much maybe it's not meant to be for those who can't afford it. I recently cut my collections but MoTu is the last thing I would cut.

[Darkspecter]

Price increases is a fact of life, like it or not. Has anyone been to Tru lately? A 6 inch figure is getting more expensive to make and as it happens the 3 3/4 figures are becoming more profitable. I don't see any complains when people pay for $10 tiny figures.

The G.I. Joe and Star Wars figures have LOTS of articulation, more unique sculpts/pieces and a TRUCK load of accessories at that $10 though. DCUC at retail is lucky to come with ONE accessory and a build-a-figure part...and they re-use bodies a lot. *shakes head* I think it's more a "Mattel wants more profit than other toy companies" thing, to be perfectly honest.

[mjw41]

For me its all about keeping this line alive. If a price increase is necessary, then I'm all for it. I do agree that we should see improved QC and customer service though.

Yes the Price increase is nesessary only because when the Horsemen sculpt a character like say Draego-Man with all those cool accessories Mattel has no clue how much Draego-Man is going to cost to tool and turn into a plastic figure at the time. By the time they figure out he's going to cost way over the $20.00 he was locked in at for the Subscription they had to cut all but one of his cool accessories. I also happen to know that the Horsemen sculpted a lot more accessories for Shadow Weaver too, but due to the tooling cost they could only give us two accessories.

I'm friends with Horsemen Cornboy on Facebook and I asked him about Shadow Weavers accessories and he confirmed there were a lot more sculpted but mattel couldn't afford to tool them all. Makes me wonder what we missed out on like smoke comming from her hands or other cool effects that we could have had if mattel had the money to tool everything.

[Darkspecter]

Yes the Price increase is nesessary only because when the Horsemen sculpt a character like say Draego-Man with all those cool accessories Mattel has no clue how much Draego-Man is going to cost to tool and turn into a plastic figure at the time. By the time they figure out he's going to cost way over the $20.00 he was locked in at for the Subscription they had to cut all but one of his cool accessories. I also happen to know that the Horsemen sculpted a lot more accessories for Shadow Weaver too, but due to the tooling cost they could only give us two accessories.

I'm friends with Horsemen Cornboy on Facebook and I asked him about Shadow Weavers accessories and he confirmed there were a lot more sculpted but mattel couldn't afford to tool them all. Makes me wonder what we missed out on like smoke comming from her hands or other cool effects that we could have had if mattel had the money to tool everything.

I wonder if they sculpted Styrax (her bird) and stand?

[Dr Kain]

I'm against the price hike.

We can only afford so much per month. This year has been brutal. I guess if they cut back on figures next year, it will even out, but if it is like this year, then no, just no.

However, I understand where they are coming from, but when you have figures with faces that break and are not able to be replaced, backwards shoulders, switched forearms, raising the prices is going to do nothing to fix that issue. And that is my main beef. If they guaranteed us that the figures will never have any issues again, then I would have less or a problem with the price how. And I mean realistic issues, because sometimes, you do get a defective product, that is to be expected, but to get a product that intentionally has the wrong parts, that is not defective, that is poor quality control.

[Zodach]

What about the GI Joe subscription service? I would say that's a better comparison to MOTUC. It's an online exclusive line with heavy parts reuse. They are going to charge $20-25 plus shipping for each 3 3/4" action figure. How does that compare to MOTUC?

[Darkspecter]

What about the GI Joe subscription service? I would say that's a better comparison to MOTUC. It's an online exclusive line with heavy parts reuse. They are going to charge $20-25 plus shipping for each 3 3/4" action figure. How does that compare to MOTUC?

I don't know much about the GI Joe subscription service (so I looked it up), but their site says this:

We are currently working on the billing system for the twelve figure subscription and have not announced price or sign-up period/deadline. All Club Members will receive the official email notification as soon as the system is ready!

It's a 6 month subscription, 2 figures shipped per month (saves on shipping) and the last month will ship 3 (the extra figure is the free, bonus carded, mystery figure).

To even sign up for the sub, you have to pay to be an "Officer Level" member. I can't find out how much that is, but it compares to how we pay $20 for a sub, which pays for the sub exclusive figure.

So, it does sound very similar to MOTUC, but I can't find any info on prices. Each figure comes with at least 2 accessories + stand (we have to purchase MOTUC stands separately). Some figures have 6 or 8 weapons, but most have around 4-5 (MOTUC tends to stay with 2, but some only get 1 this year). Nearly all of them have removable helmets or masks for alternate display looks (like MOTUC's multiple heads, but a LOT of MOTUC figures don't have those).

Since I'm not really familiar with the newer G.I. Joe figures, I do not know how much tooling is new for these figures. I think I remember reading that 3/12 were nearly just repainted though.

Where did you hear about $20 or $25 per figure? I think that was floating around in the .org thread in the Other Discussion Forum, but the official site has no price.

[musclor]

The Joe club stated on their Facebook page that their price would be 20-25 per figure.

Honestly, if it means more accessories and better paint, I'm up for a price hike, personally.