*IF* The 2014 Sub Fails, Are You Open To Bagged Figures & Reduced Acc/Deco OR...

[Nemisythe]

Considering that we should presumably have all the must haves by the end of 2014.... I hope that we continue to maintain and quality of what the Horsemen put out, anything less would be an insult. So no cheap.

If they reduced the output throughout the year and we still got our fine pieces of work, I won't mind going back to the way this line was running.

[Riddle of Steel]

^^^ This. And who's to say that 2014's sub sales are going to be low? They could be higher than 2013's considering how some of the figures will be very sought after bringing back resellers. And furthermore next year with character selection could bring back some international customers.

But at what cost? That's what's being discussed. I have no doubt that 2014 "could" be a great year, BUT not if there's cuts all over the place. Robbing Peter to pay Paul doesn't really get you any where.

[Bonehead]

As far as the bags goes, my answer is no. I have no interest in poly-bagged figures. I would just cancel all of my subs and move on to finishing my vintage collection.

If I absolutely had to compromise I would never vote for reduced deco. I can suffer... reduced accessories (provided they come out later in a weapons pack), but there is no way I'd vote for less on deco.

To me this makes zero sense. You'd accept less accessories as long as they come in a weapons pak later on?? That makes no sense. Either way you are going to have to pay for the accessories. Why not just pay a few dollars more for each figure and get the accessories with the figure instead of having to wait till the pak comes out months later and pay for THE SAME accessories later. Either way you are still paying. Cutting the accessories really doesn't save you any money.

[jzachery]

As far as the bags goes, my answer is no. I have no interest in poly-bagged figures. I would just cancel all of my subs and move on to finishing my vintage collection.




To me this makes zero sense. You'd accept less accessories as long as they come in a weapons pak later on?? That makes no sense. Either way you are going to have to pay for the accessories. Why not just pay a few dollars more for each figure and get the accessories with the figure instead of having to wait till the pak comes out months later and pay for THE SAME accessories later. Either way you are still paying. Cutting the accessories really doesn't save you any money.

I have no problem paying a higher premium for the figures, unfortunately that wasn't given as an option by Mattel. LOL They asked about going the other way and reducing deco. For those that want the cheaper figures, I figured they could have their cheaper figure if it came with less accessories and I could be happy as a clam shelling out a few extra bucks and getting a weapons pack that they are free to purchase or not. I see what you mean, but it look like between the fan community and Mattel, we're between a rock and a hard place. No one wants less deco, accessories, packaging, or anything yet they want to pay less. Can't happen. So either pay more, which they won't, or get less.

[adam03]

Damn pessimists! the 2014 sub will go ahead as planned

[Darkspecter]

If a time comes where not enough subscriptions sell to carry the line forward, I would be okay with poly bags and reduced deco. NOT reduced accessories though. I mean, damn, we barely get ANY accessories after that price increase was supposed to prevent that *coughNETOSSAcough*

In short, I want as many MOTU/PoP/NA/Filmation/200X characters as possible. If sacrificing some things means we will get another year or two of figures (versus NONE at all), yes, I would definitely sacrifice some things.

[shadowfall1976]

I have no problem paying a higher premium for the figures, unfortunately that wasn't given as an option by Mattel. LOL They asked about going the other way and reducing deco. For those that want the cheaper figures, I figured they could have their cheaper figure if it came with less accessories and I could be happy as a clam shelling out a few extra bucks and getting a weapons pack that they are free to purchase or not. I see what you mean, but it look like between the fan community and Mattel, we're between a rock and a hard place. No one wants less deco, accessories, packaging, or anything yet they want to pay less. Can't happen. So either pay more, which they won't, or get less.

Yeah only if you wanted $20 stripped down bare ass figures in a Ziplock, but the option was there for the line to remain as it is (premium), and that is what the majority of everyone wants. It was never a true set of options anyway, it was a bunch of BS that Scott already knew we were going to say.

[King Tamusk]

Let's pretend that the upcoming 2014 subscription fails to meet expectations sales-wise and doesn't get greenlit by management.

Would you be open to a "do-over" for a full year's worth of figures, with reduced deco and accessories and polybag packaging, OR would you rather get a figure every once in awhile with all the bells and whistles but NO guarantees of getting more than just a handful of figures spread out over time? (Awhile back, Toyguru said MOTUC would likely not disappear completely, and Mattel would try to fit in a figure here and there, like maybe as a SDCC exclusive or something.)

Just curious.

Why is this even being asked? It was pretty obvious the large majority wouldn't want anything reduced or deleted when the sub goes forward. Why would you think offering an inferior product would save a dying line??? This makes absolutely no sense at all.

"I can see people are no longer interested in buying Classics figure. How about I remove the packaging, take away all the accessories, and most of the paint. How about now...Eh? EH???"

I'm sorry. But this is a pointless question. The large majority are not willing to buy anything less than what they are receiving now. By default, this alone answers your question.

[he-man121]

I have already stated in this thread that plastic bags are not reduced packaging they are the least amount of packaging,and if you take reduced deco or one or none accessories for the princely sum of $20 plus $9-$14 shipping then the line is already dead.
What if we could do away with the white mailer boxes as per 2008-09,there would be no printing costs and no costs for 2 cardboard boxes,maybe just wrap the figure in bubble wrap in the shipping box.
Maybe as fans we should be patient on what we want from this line,not everyone wants all the factions but we would get there eventually if we just be patient,same with the weapons packs and figure stands and the calls for obscure figures,ie FFM and Star Sisters,high end items,ie,Granymyr, and maybe just have the latter as con exclusives and do away with weapons packs and stands as they are all pushing up the costs unfortunately.

If it means i can receive a monthly figure with full packaging and deco and all accessories then i for one would gladly give up the weapons packs and stands and the white mailer boxes,the first twelve or so of my collection don't have mailers anyhow.

[Heidi]

"Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon."

I'd rather see this line end than be deco'd down to budget bootleg-look-a-like versions of MOTUC-figures.

[Romadon]

And if you look closely at TG statement, he said that reduced deco, no weapons and no packaging would bring the price Closer to $20 not bring it to
20$. I'm guessing that means back down to 22$ and not 20$. So we're ditching everything for 3$!!! I'd rather keep everything as is. I don't mind paying 25$.

And if the 2014 sub fails, which I don't think it will. People are not gonna jump back in for 22$ figures with no packaging, weapons and reduced deco, especially when u got SW figures coming out right around Aug at 20$ with packaging and weapons. I know we can't compare the two, but it would like awfully silly for Mattel at SDCC to have to announce these reduced figures while Hasbro is showing off its black series.

Mattel needs to make sure they hit a grand slam with those first few months and sub exclusive.

[Tallstar]

Why is this even being asked? It was pretty obvious the large majority wouldn't want anything reduced or deleted when the sub goes forward. Why would you think offering an inferior product would save a dying line??? This makes absolutely no sense at all.

"I can see people are no longer interested in buying Classics figure. How about I remove the packaging, take away all the accessories, and most of the paint. How about now...Eh? EH???"

I'm sorry. But this is a pointless question. The large majority are not willing to buy anything less than what they are receiving now. By default, this alone answers your question.

The purpose of this thread is to determine how (or if) the majority of fans would like to see Classics continue in the event that management isn't pleased with the 2014 subscription numbers, and pass along our collective thoughts to Mattel so they can create a backup plan to present to management sooner rather than later.

Should the 2014 line-up fail, I would imagine that many folks would get desperate because there are still tons of characters that are missing from their collections that they want. If the figures are back to $20, that price reduction would still be a major draw for a lot of folks despite fewer accessories, etc. So we have to look at what our potential options are. It may come down to us having to pick between:

A) A full year of cost-reduced figures that, while many of them would have fewer "paint hits" and accessories, would allow us the option to still get some of the more unique, heavily-tooled characters.

OR

B) A handful of figures spread out over time that have the packaging and a decent amount of deco, but are conservative so far as the amount of tooling that went into them.

Toyguru said that it would be extremely difficult to get heavily-tooled characters in a 4-6 figure yearly plan, because the P&L doesn't crunch with all the tooling and only a few figures to amortize it over. I believe he said they need a full year's worth of figures for something like that to be possible.

Anyhow, I'm not in a panic about 2014 or anything at the moment, but I just think it's better to be prepared so Mattel knows where we all stand.

[ksensor]

Let's pretend that the upcoming 2014 subscription fails to meet expectations sales-wise and doesn't get greenlit by management.

Would you be open to a "do-over" for a full year's worth of figures, with reduced deco and accessories and polybag packaging, OR would you rather get a figure every once in awhile with all the bells and whistles but NO guarantees of getting more than just a handful of figures spread out over time? (Awhile back, Toyguru said MOTUC would likely not disappear completely, and Mattel would try to fit in a figure here and there, like maybe as a SDCC exclusive or something.)

Just curious.

If it was the only way to ever get another MOTUC figure? Sure.

But the fans shouldn't let it come to that when the 2014 sub is offered this summer. Grayskull's coming in December... If you subbed in 2013, why wouldn't you sub in 2014 for the remaining core characters?

[Heidi]

Toyguru said that it would be extremely difficult to get heavily-tooled characters in a 4-6 figure yearly plan, because the P&L doesn't crunch with all the tooling and only a few figures to amortize it over. I believe he said they need a full year's worth of figures for something like that to be possible.

Anyhow, I'm not in a panic about 2014 or anything at the moment, but I just think it's better to be prepared so Mattel knows where we all stand.

Rather than paying app.$20 for low-budget figures, I'd like to see the remaining heavy-tooled figure made well at a higher prize point. I do hope though that we will see them in this line without any prize-hikes. With all the shared tooling the figures have I hope Mattel has made enough profit to make the ones that need more tooling aswell. But if not, I'd happily buy the figures that need more tooling at a higher prize point (say $40 a piece?) if needed. I'd also subscribe to buy 4-6 originally sculpted and tooled figures at that prize point for 2014. Assuming that they are all atleast 80% originally tooled (give or take).

[bigassbuzz]

No.
(This is in response to the thread title. I didn't bother to read any of the context...)

[BoShek]

I don't care about packaging, weapons, multipacks, comics. Just don't mess with the paint deco!

[Ben Solstice-Moon]

If I absolutely had to compromise I would never vote for reduced deco. I can suffer with a poly bag and reduced accessories (provided they come out later in a weapons pack), but there is no way I'd vote for less on deco.

Yes, this is definitely the way I'd like to see it go, should it come to this. Keep the decos the same, and slip it into a baggie with one weapon and ship it off to me. I have absolutely no issues with this as I am a loose collector.

I want to see a dozen figures a year, not a couple that are SDCC or NYTF exclusives that will be next to impossible to get a hold of without remortgaging your home. THOSE are the Mattel maneuvers that irritate the hell out of me.

[chuc98]

Damn pessimists! the 2014 sub will go ahead as planned

Here, here!!!!

[Swanmarsh]

I've just been looking at my loose collection to help collect my thoughts in responding to this thread.

I cannot for the life of me work out why fans think we will not get the 2014 subscription up. Even the DC subscription has limped along for the past two years despite effectively offering figures that have mostly been recently released via DC Direct - or in the case of Rocket Red and Lead are out of scale.

On the other hand, wiht MOTUC we are getting figures we haven't seen for 10 or 30 years - and brand new figures to boot! Procrustus, Mosquitor, Granamyr, Shadow Weaver, Swift Wind, Shadow Beast ... this collection is amazing!

We need to talk up the line if we are to finish the collection of vintage POP and MOTU figures and keep it alive for a good number of Filmation and other media figures.

As long as Matty produces MOTUC, I will buy. If the above option came to pass in either 2014, 2015 or 2016 I would still collect, and would still kep buying 2 of each (1 loose, 1 spare) but I wouldn't like the loss of package or deco.

[Blaster]

Only to get Glimmer, Madame Razz and Scorpia. I definately wouldn't sub if this were the scenario.

You know what's funny, now that we have Ram-Man, you just add Angella, and Mantenna to that short list I could really care less about 2014 being greenlit or not. Now of course there's others I'd rather have too, but my collection will feel incomplete without those figures.

[A C Enforcer]

Rather than paying app.$20 for low-budget figures, I'd like to see the remaining heavy-tooled figure made well at a higher prize point. I do hope though that we will see them in this line without any prize-hikes. With all the shared tooling the figures have I hope Mattel has made enough profit to make the ones that need more tooling aswell. But if not, I'd happily buy the figures that need more tooling at a higher prize point (say $40 a piece?) if needed. I'd also subscribe to buy 4-6 originally sculpted and tooled figures at that prize point for 2014. Assuming that they are all at least 80% originally tooled (give or take).

100% with you Heidi. All in for a 2014 sub!! The detail work the 4HM did on the NECA statues is simply awesome. Go for gold plating!!! An increase in price for increased deco (or as is - yes - had no issues with quality!) is fully supported by me. In the end, we are many, but in the absence of a movie, or new animation, we are in economic terms few... with DC making more comics... can you sense the rise of support? Lets give Mattel no reason to not license and support the MOTU (classics or not!) line!

[Faker78]

I want absolutely everything as it is, no cutting deco or weapons blister. We are now nearly finished, and I personally want to see realized all that remained of the vintage classic.
I hope in 2014 great year!

[shadowfall1976]

I'm not buying stripped figures in a bag (nor am I buying any figures in a bag after 4+ years of packaging), I don't care how many they make after. I'm not buying Weapons packs every year or few months to compensate, and you can't compensate for stripped details unless you plan on learning how to do so neatly or are a customizer.

I will not buy a years worth of figures for $20 a piece and get nothing for me but the damn figure....in a bag. I want packaging, deco & accessories, or I want nothing at all. I don't care if it's selfish, but that's the way I want and expect the line to be, it has been since 2008, and unless it stays that way, I'm out, plain and simple.

They never offered Ghostbusters in bags to save that line. They offer Watchmen in huge ass highly decorated with unique art to each character, clam shell book style packaging, and then ask us if we want to compromise on MOTUC? I'm not compromising, nor am I buying what I will perceive as knock offs in a bag.

Sorry, but hell no.

[Kobra Khan]

I would sub anyway, I want to complete at least the vintage characters.

[Firefly]

With all the quality control issues, I couldn't imagine what type of horrible shape a figure would come in if it shipped in a polybag. Polybags are a bad idea.