Mattel Wants Your Inputs on Chase Figures
Our buddy ToyGuru of Mattel is gathering fan inputs on the future of chase figures. The following message was posted this on the AFI forums:
Hey gang,
Got a question for fans around the world on the chase figures we are doing in the DCUC line. It is no secret that across the toy industry costs have gone up, manufacturing has risen and the overall cost to bring a 6 inch figure to market has skyrocketed in the the last year.
We are hitting a snag on our chase figures and want to run a possible direction by the fan base to keep the chase figures going.
The chase figures (because of the low quantity) are really making it difficult to keep the line at a low price at retail. We are charged a premium by our vendors for low run figures (which is why SDCC figures cost more to the customer).
One direction we have thought of to keep chase figures in the line is to put the chase figures up on MattyCollector.com about 2-3 months after the wave hits retail at a premium price (about 30.00 a figure).
While we would love to put every figure on MattyCollector.com, this is just not possible due to agreements we have with retail partners. BUT, if we put limited quanities of the chase figures only online at a premium price, this could potentially help cover the premium costs we pay to do chase figures in the line. We would still ship chase figures to stores, but fans would have a second chance to purchase them online a few months down the road.
And before fans suggest “just drop the chase figures and make every figure in the same amount” keep in mind while this is an option as well, if we did this there would only be 7 figures per wave. We would not be able to do all the variants in the same quantity as a standard figure and have 9-10 figures per wave. 7 figures or less per wave is how we maintain costs so unfortunately that won’t help us out either.
So any thoughts on this? Would fans be interested in seeing the chase figures in each wave offered on MattyCollector.com at a premium price down the road? Chime in and lets us know your thoughts.
This does not mean BTW that we are just dropping the chase figures from the line. We just want to poll fans to see what they think of this option before exploring other ways to keep the line at a low cost at retail.
Thanks and see you in the toy aisles!
TG
Click on this link to cast your vote:
http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12223
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Well everyone I am now officially a victim of the horrible quality of this line. I walked into local Walmart yesterday and to my surprise was the entire Metallo wave! I was ecstatic so needless to say I swooped them all up. Well I get home and start to open them starting with Eradicator. Well as soon as I removed the plastic the figure’s complete bottom half falls right off the figure! The crotch piece is in 2 pieces and the legs are broken off as well. So I did my best to crazy glue the figure back together. But considering the figure was missing the front part of the crotch I had to improvise by using the rear part of the crotch for the front. I called Mattel and they said they will send me the now infamous “voucher.” The lady on the phone tries to explain to me that “unfortunately this sometimes happens.” Well I went to educate this representative and explain that this is a huge problem and Mattel needs to rectify this problem as well as the distribution problem as well. So as I am writing this I haven’t even opened the rest of my wave and I am scared to lol. And what sucks, after I crazy glued the crotch and legs I found the front part of the crotch under my chair. Oh well. It’s for display anyways. But seriously, when the hell is Mattel going to wake up, get off their asses and fix these problems?!?!
Just recieved my Walmart wave 5, that I paid 130 $ on ebay for, only to have Amazo and Black Lightning’s fall off when I removed the from the packaging. These are the second and third figures this has happened with. I’m thinkinging about cancelling my preorders for wave 6,7, and 8.
In the first wave:
Red Tornado – Glue from the cape was in his right shoulder joint so it wouldn’t move and his left foot fell off right out of package
Batman – Right arm fell off at the elbow joint right out of package
Wave two:
Firestorm – Came with two left arms!
Luckily for all of those I was able to return them to Target or HEB and get new ones. I keep getting them because I really do like most of these toys, but I stand in the aisle analyzing every bit of the figure just to make sure there’s no more mistakes. I saw Nightwing and Robin once and only once, Robin had paint malfunctions on the torso joint and Nightwings’ hair had skin colored paint all over it. I only have Green Lantern from wave 3, have never seen wave 4, and yesterday I found all of wave 5 except for Eradicator. There is no way I’m going to order any figures online because of the many defunct toys I have received and do not want to have to deal with that anymore.
I’d rather get the Sinestro Corps version of Sinestro than the old costume, but definitely not for $30.
And man oh man does quality control need to step it up. I’m tired of having to call and get “vouchers” because Mattel does stupid packaging, and I’m tired of having to fix my own figures. Put them in regular packaging, don’t force them in stupid poses in the plastic that tears up the figures. Geesh. We pay over 10 bucks for these “toys” now, this is stupid
Bunger-That’s a great thing to do! Hopefully it’ll help someone who’s been looking for that one figure to complete their BAF set.
I’ll admit I’ve sold on Ebay a few extras I’ve found, but only for an extra three or four bucks just to have a little less invested in the ones I’m keeping. I’ve also sold the BAF parts cheap so at least someone can complete their BAF figure at least. Hopefully we all can help each other out until the distribution hiccups can be fixed.
Malestorm-Heh. Pretty much that’s the whole problem in a nutshell and you hit it square on. If we could find them in the stores, the odds of finding chase and variants would increase too. That’s kind of why I suggested what I did-sell the chase and variants on line at a reasonable cost and just get more figures out into the stores.
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens, but I truly hope this line doesn’t go the way of the 2002 MOTU line because of the distribution problems.
To Hell with exclusives and chase figures! FIX THE DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS!
I will say this. I live in a pretty remote area in Indiana. There is a city area about 50 miles from me, and they are getting the figures in pretty regularly. Toys R Us, Target…and now the Walmart’s are getting them too. I know that may not help some of you, but I live in the sticks and am now able to find some of the toys. I picked up all four two packs this past weekend.
What’s great…I cleaned out Toys R Us, and put them on ebay at cost. So hopefully that helps out some people. I already got a few nasty emails from some ebay sellers who sell there stuff at way marked up costs. If i see the stuff now, I’m going to pick it up and sell it for what I paid for it…try to help people out
Another question to consider is this: what is Mattel doing to increase the number of Wal Mart stores that carry the figures?
Not everyone WM carries the figures (as has been mentioned before). Is Mattel working with WM to get them into more stores, or is there a giant ‘eh, who cares?’ attitude?
With as many people wanting the figures in general, not just the variants and chases. is Mattel even TRYING to get Wal Mart more product for more stores, or is the entire problem falling on Wal Mart not trying to get them into more stores?
It’s frustrating that only two stores out of the eight within the 2 hour drive to my mom’s even carry DC figures. The rest don’t even have them as being available to order.
I must agree with most of the sentiment in this thread: we don’t need Chase figures, we need the actual figures because they are becoming incredibly scarce. No more exclusives, no more chase, just give us the figures and save the repaint chase figures for a rainy wave down the road. Charging $30 for a figure when the original figure is nowhere to be found (except on eBay) is insanity.
Do whatever you have to do, but fix the distribution problems and stop the exclusivity to brick and mortar stores. Put the figures in buyers’ hands first before you do anything with chase figures or such.
I hear ya Ben. I get my stuff online now. Got a roughed up set of action figures, mattel gave me a voucher
This set is a scam to begin with. You have near impossible figures to find at retail, they have 50/50 varients, They have Collect and Connect, and Chase! I know Marvel Legends started it all and mattel is playing catch up, but it is crazy to make someone buy every figure plus the varients, plus a chase at $30? That is well over $142 per wave! (If oyou can even find them in the first place!) I do like the idea of being able to buy the chase online as it is practicly like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow anyhow when it comes to chase figs, but for $30?
I wish I could trade spots with you Bunger…
I’m still wondering why it isn’t bugging more people that mattel jacked up prices on their website?
Also, I haven’t seen any wave 5 figures on ebay yet. At least they are hitting shelves.
I am really dissapointed in the availabilty of these action figures. Even wave 5 that is a Walmart Exclusive can not be found at any Walmarts 75 miles from me. I know that they have already hit shelves do to ebay and other DCUC fan sites.
Hi,
It seems ridiculous to me that Mattel event sugested it. We have not beem abled to find any wave since the first. And you said that the second wave was taken back due its bad paint apps. But did you improve the paint apps for those new waves? The third wave has the badest paint apps I’ve ever seem!
And why would I care for having any chase figure for $30 if I can’t find any of the other figures?
So, why the exclusives if the stores that was suposed to sell them does not have it anywhere around the globe?
I’m impressed you even suggested it.
One more thing: We do collect action figures in other countries! Don’t forget us. Brazil does not have any Toys R Us, Target and Wall-Mart does not sell any of the past DCUC/DCSH.
So. Think about it a little and I know you guys will be able to get better ideas.
Cheers!
I don’t know if this comment is one that will get approved, but this helps me dramatically
http://www.cornerstorecomics.com
I’ve been buying my stuff there, because even after shipping, it comes down to about 10 bucks a figure. Like I said, with me living 30 miles to anything, it’s cheaper for me to do it this way.
Now, Mattel is working on distribution (From everything I’ve heard) and I guess we need to be patient. But the one thing they should be taking from every post above this: MAKE THE FIGURES MORE AVAILABLE. I’ve got no problem with people buying figures and trying to sell them on ebay for more. The problem I have is that those people are the only ones who seem to get the figures. If they are available to everyone, then us people who like to play with the toys aren’t paying ungodly jacked up prices for our toys.
As I’ve posted before, cost is what is most important to me as a collector. Availability is a close 2nd. Unfortunately for me, I live in an area where I have to drive at least 30 minutes to a Walmart, and over 40 to a Target. I have to hunt furiously for figures. What I want is for the figures to be at a lower cost, so if that means eliminating chase figures, go for it. I’ve got a 2 year old that I’m furiously buying these (and the JLA line) figures for, as I know how spurts go and in 4-5 years they may not be available.
For me, I’m reduced to finding different websites and buying the whole case, and not knowing what I’m going to get. Honestly, that doesn’t bother me, but it’s just frustrating to have to get toys that way. The fact that stores don’t seem to get enough, and then you’ve got people at 8AM everyday running in, grabbing what they want and re-selling it on ebay is a huge turnoff.
So variants or no variants, please just make these figures more accessible. Do what you can to keep cost down. Because let’s face it, if what I’ve seen is correct…11.88 for a 6 inch plastic toy, and 7 bucks for the Infinite Heroes lines…is a complete joke and a sham
I’ve really enjoyed the DCU line since its inception, but the whole history of having ‘chase figures’ in a line has left a bad taste in my mouth. (Yellow Daredevil/Unmasked Wolverine from ML anyone?)
Living on the East Coast it’s very hard to find many of the DCU figures overall as a line, let alone a specific chase one. It takes forever for new figures to reach us and by the time they do many times information on who the rarest version is, or how many they are/are not packed per case is widely available and so everyone is looking for them, collectors, casual fans and re-sellers alike.
Someone mentioned Wal-Mart earlier in the list of answers. Not every WM carried DCU-in my area alone with 10 stores within a two hour drive, only two have ever carried the figures at all. I’ve only seen them with any regularity at Target and Kmart is even worse than WM on them showing up at all. And with the closest KayBee being two hours away in any direction I’m not really counting on seeing the Terry McGinnis Batman Beyond figure unless they actually get one and call me.
Until/Unless the distribution problem is resolved or they get more chains involved I would say still make the chase figures, but sell them online here at the store. That way they still get the economies of scale that comes with making them in those quantities along with the regularly painted figures, but having them online only (and perhaps limiting them to one per customer at first) so we all can have a chance to get one at a reduced cost compared to the price of $30.00 I’ve heard batted around in this thread.
They could do a mass mailing to let us know when they were going on sell so if we couldn’t be home and online at that time we could check with family/friends/etc to get us one. Then, after say a few weeks they could put them up for sale to whoever wanted another one.
Another possibility might be to do what Hasbro did with Transformers back in the 1980′s with Robot Points. A chase figure might cost (just using numbers for example here) $20.00 with say three ‘Multiverse points’ or $15.00 with five points. That way collectors who don’t want the whole wave of a figure could get just the ones they want (assuming most everyone likes around half of any given wave) and still get the variant (I’ve got the GL and Sinestro figures but have no real love for Solomon Grundy for example so Nightwing and Robin aren’t really high on my list to get the parts).
Collectors who do want the whole wave to get the BAF figure would save a little more money on a variant figure (since they wouldn’t need it for the BAF part).
Basically, the more you buy, the more you save which has been around in countless incarnations for who knows how long.
There’s probably no one ‘perfect’ answer, but I think the variants still need to be produced, but other problems like spotty distribution (or lack of chains carrying the line) need to be looked at in conjunction with the variant issue as well.
I got to put in my 2 cents. I’m so disgusted and sick and tired of walking into a Target, TRU or WalMart and finding DCUC pegs totally empty. And now Mattel wants to charge $30 for a stupid repaint and/or head sculpt?? To hell w/Mattel seriously. While this is a great collection, it’s getting to the point that it’s more aggravating than enjoyable. And I refuse to support the “scalpers cause” by purchasing these figures on eBay. So I guess I’m pretty much in the group of hoping I’m in the right place at the right time. I’m currently all caught up on the series up to the Batman Beyond series. I’m missing Captain Atom and Ares. And honestly, everytime I’ve scored one of these figures at retail stores, they were literally the last one on the peg. Seriously Mattel needs to wake the hell up and start taking better care of it’s consumers and meet the demand. I’ve heard of keeping the consumer hungry for more but this is ridiculous!
wish to buy a fisher price product your various sites make this inpossible. do you not wish to sell products you pay big money to advertise on uk tv.
WhaT about Martian Manhunter(both outfits)?? The Green Arrow?? The new Blue Beetle?? And if theyre having production problems, how about a statement from the company stating so, and at least a tentative date for release? Seriously do they want my money or not? However, no, $30.00 for a chase or regular figure is utterly preposterous.
Clearly the Black Lightning/Atom “Wave 5″ or series 5 or whatever has not been released. I’ve spoken to WM, been on their website, searched all over and either no one knows about it or theyre not sure when its to be released. There are Three Targets in my not-so-immediate area, and they have only stocked series 4. One lone GL still remains, months from doing the search. So I dont believe its just popularity of the figures- Mattel for whatever reason isnt putting these out on the shelves. I had to go to Amazon for some and they dont have 5, Batman Beyond and can only seem to get the nasty mustard Captain Atom, not the silver original. The gold would be great if it had some kind of metallic sheen to it, but its really just dull and boring. The other complaint I have is that the selections make no sense- how do you put out commander steel before some of the more legendary established characters first?? The long hair Aquaman variant, the original Robin, a Black and grey Batman- and again what is with the lack of real red??
I think having somewhere else to buy the harder to find figures is a good idea, but definitely not $30, unless the shipping were free, regardless of geographical location.
I’ve never seen these figures in regular stores here in Canada yet, and already wave 4 is out. My biggest problem with the DCUC line is the case ratios. Since I have to buy them all online anyway, it’s almost impossible to find a seller or online-store that sells a who set (including variants). They just sell cases, with duplicate figures. Mattel, that has to stop.
I also want to see even case ratios, and produce the variants in the same numbers as the regular figures; if no figure is more rare than any other figure in the wave, then we’ll all be happy, and there would be no reason to have to consider other venues to sell them at. Hell, I don’t mind having to buy more than seven figures to complete a set, so long as I can find them!
*Bump*
I checked back in with Matty Collector and some things caught my I that I want to praise them for.
They have stands for out figures. Thank you. It has bugged me that the JLU figures never had holes in the feet so could not rest on a stand in most cases. Now Matty has stands especially for those figures. Personally I would like to have seen them included with the figure, but…. I think this is a perfect way to use Matty to help us as COLLECTORS!!!!!!!! Thank you.
Which brings me to a possible suggestion. I hear that Matty cannot make all figures available on their site without upsetting retailers, but how about this for an idea….
What if instead of making, the “unmasked” versions of figures as chase variants we did this… Make the heads where they can be screwed in and out. Sell the masked versions at retail, but offer the “unmasked” heads – just the heads, not the bodies – for sale on Matty for collectors. This would be way cool. Also they could also different versions of hands or capes. Talk about being collector friendly.
I would even venture that collectors want to seem accesories made for the figures that make sense. Like a time traveling cosmic treadmill for the Flash. Or realistic grappeling hooks for Batman. Think of it as “upgradess”. We buy the basic figure at retail, and upgrade it at Matty. I think this idea has merit. It may even be the best way to bring the larger playsets to market.
How bout it Matty??? Anyone else want to weigh in??
Hey again.
The comments on here are good and constructive.
But what I want to focus is the internet. I will accept that Matty has no control over what a store does at an individual level. But the internet sites for each store are run at a national level. Why does Matty not have more influence there. I have tried to find these figures on the sites of Wal-Mart, Target, and Toy-R-Us but to no avail. At K-Bee they listed the figures as brand new, but were already sold out.
It seems pretty easy for Matty to get the stores to make a reasonable quantity of these figures available online, for a min of two to three months each. This seems doubly so if the store is getting an exclusive. How hard is that to put in play? Anyone????
Also can Matty please keep the waves down to four figures per line. And keep any and all, repaints, variants, chase figures, etc. strictly online at the Matty site. In fact include a special C and C figure for the online exclusives. One that could be really special and tie into the DC crossover event of the year. That way it would take a while to put it together, but would be a great tie in.
These are just some thoughts guys, hopefully Matty will at least look at, and maybe respond back to some of them as why or why not they might be doable.
Hi Caesar,
Its too bad that they are hard to get where you are. I agree with you that there are other ways to get the figures, but here in states, the prices eventually become $20-$30 for a $10 figure also. At Target, TRU, and Walmart, the igures are aound $10 each. On the collector websites, the prices are double. Those sites will charge anywhere from $15-30$ for certain figures in a series, not including shipping. So it does work against us. I refuse to pay online prices for something that TRU and Target carry. It sucks that there are no Walmarts, Targets, or KB stores. I feel your pain. You did unfortunately get ripped off for that lobo figure though.
Good luck Caesar!
Hello again..,
its true.., DCUC is very hard to find. But still, you guys are luckier than me. I live in Indonesia, there are very very very few TRU, and there is no Wal-Mart, Target, or KB.
Well, some retailer shops alike did sell DCUC, but what i find in here until now.., is just wave 1 (sad isn’t it ??)
And those MattyCollector’s exclusive is getting more expensive here(a hobby store in Jakarta sell Lobo for US$90)
I really want to get it (DCUC and exclusives) from Matty or those online stores, but for some reason (like distance and shipping fee to Indonesia) i just can’t.., (a $10 figures will be $20-$30 when it gets here..)
My only hope is pre-ordering from my friend, and its not bad….
I get my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th wave and some variants from him..
Wave 5 ?? maybe it will take some time, but i hope i can get it…
Ok guys.., my point is.., there is always another way to get it, the easiest way is.., buy it online or pre-order it from the web (bunch of sites offers it right?) I mean, if you live in country like UStates, there must be lots of better and fancier store and easier access to those online stores, right ??
About character selection..
i think it’ll be great if DCUC make at least one figure for every character in DCU, whether its fans favourite or not. Some people like this character.. some people don’t.., it’s relative..
And if Mattel just make fans favourite characters, those JLA, Teen Titans, or rogues gallery won’t be completed at all…..
Don’t worry, if the figure is good enough, fans will still buy it, besides they need it for the CnC figure…
But again i remind you..,
don’t make another silly variant like that Dstroke, or Booster Gold (no offense;i like it though)
If the variant is a different character or costume, it’s fine, just don’t make the same identical character too much, it’ll be repetitive….
And i think it will be better if Mattel willing to put those so-called variants on another wave. Because at least people will just worrying about how to get the regular and not worrying about how to get the variant at all….
And another thing…
please fix DCUC quality control so that those already nice sculpted figures get a damn nice paint jobs….
thank you and sorry for my poor english
Hi, I have a question, than a comment, I am wondering, why did mattel end the dc superheroes toyline? I didnt even get the chance to get the cyborg and hawkman figures or the batwing, if not for ebay, I didnt know came out. Is there any way that I can get a hold of these items other than ebay?
I have seen a lot of the postings regarding this topic. My post is the first post at the top of the page.I agree with almost all of the opinions expressed about these figures.
One of the Most common themes that people have complained about has been the availability. Supposedly, wave 4 is out right now. I still have yet to see a wave 3. Where are they. I don’t think mattel should be worrying about charging people $30 for a chase figure online when we can’t even find the regular figures.
As far as adding more figures to the each wave, wave three has 5 figures with 2 variant figures. Wave 4 has 5 figures and 2 variants. Wave 5 is only available at Walmart, and I have no idea when I will get to see those on a shelf. But then wave 6 has 6 regular figures and a superman variant figure. Why would I want a figure of Killer Moth or Dr. Impossible? Couldn’t you have picked other more interesting characters? Wave 7 has 7 figures! I don’t care if Booster Gold does or does not have a collar. The Aquaman Blue camo suit figure is horrible! You did aquaman in wave 2. If you had to do another, the Aquaman with the long hair and the harpoon-like hand is a much better deco. And kid flash is a pointless character.
I love this series of figures, but it annoys me that mattel is asking collectors what they think of charging $30 online for a figure that does not need to be made and in the meantime not making figures that should be made. Where is Doctor Strangefate? Where is Martian Manhunter? Where is Green Arrow? I think you get my point.
And,it especially annoys me that they are asking about what they can add to the line but then I can not find the line at retail anyway.
I hope that Mattel can see these polls and they can read what their collector fan base has to say. Get these figures out there!
Thank You.
I wanted to add these other thoughts to my previous post. If a chase figure is only a different head, can Mattel just include both heads in the packaging, and charge a dollar or two more. Call these delux figures. If a chase figure is just a repaint, can we either make it an online exclusive only, or perhaps save it for a later wave.
Also on the issue of retail agreements. Can Mattel ask for more when it provides a store with an “Exclusive”?? What I mean is how about requiring the store to offer the toys on the store website for a minimum of three months. As I said, Wal-Marts in this area do not carry the DCUC line at all. I will not ever see this wave. And to add insult to injury I cannot even seem to to be able to order it on the Wal-Mart web site. I mean come on, that seems ridiculous.
And about the BAF or CnCs. I love these things. I think they are great. Keep ‘em coming. But please, can we get the lines down to 5 or 6 figures per wave? I would rather have fewer figures in greater quantities than waves with more “theoretical” figures. If the waves go over 5 or 6 figures, then there are some I never see at retail. It becomes impossible to complete the set which makes my CnC a bunch or worthless crap. And after a wave or two of that, I stop trying all together and only buy a figure I really want/need.
Again, I love these figures, but I would much rather see Mattel focus more attention on the issues of poor distribution and the shoddy paint jobs, as opposed to chase/variant figures which I cannot get in the first place. I know you guys are trying to run a business, but can we please balance out the intrests of collectors a little more??
Thank you.
I echo the thoughts that the whole line seems to be a chase figure. Here in Arkansas, I went to 3 Targets and TrU. The only figures I can find are Wave 1 Penguin and Demon. And here you guys are talking about wave 5!!! Wal-Mart’s in this area do not even carry the figures.
I would make the following suggestions. A couple of months after the figures are available at retail, put the entire line up on MattyCollector. I would be willing to pay in the $15 to $20 range for these figures. To make the retailers happy do the figures in different packaging. Make this the place where you get two in a box or something. Also, please eliminate the on purpose variant at the retail level. Make the varaints only available on Matty. However with the variants please eliminate the CnC figure. Instead give us more accesories that make sense with the character.
Finally I really like the CnC figures, but could we bring the waves down to five or so at a time? That way more of each figure could be offered, and I could actually buy each one.
I really hate towy scalpers, but the way distribution is being handeled that seems to be the only way to acquire a complete set of fugures. That will make me give up on this line.
I think that these are some of the best DC figures ever. Please do not let this line falter due poor quality and paint apps, and please improve distribution, either through retail channels or through Matty.
I like the idea of having the varients available on MC, but $30? That’s right out of my ball park. Another thing I’d just like to mention is varients like the Deathstroke. Why not just make one figure with both heads in the same package. I want the masked version, but the ONE time I’ve seen him was the unmasked one. I can totally understand the Capt. Atom type varient, though why not do like the Aquaman and just make him availabel as a regular part of another wave a couple years down the line(as stated above). Besides, as hard as these are to find aren’t they all varients! Anyway, just my two cents
I think $25 would be a better price, but I definitely think that putting them up on mattycollector.com is a great idea. I also liked John D’s idea of putting them in a 2-pack. Although the 2-pack would probably run closer to $40.
One thing you guys should know about Walmart, Toysrus, or Target not having enough stock, is that this is not typically Mattel’s fault. From my experience in working at a retail head office, the buyers control that side of the distribution. If the Walmart buyer decides that they think only one case will sell thru per store, then that is all they will order from Mattel. Nothing Mattel can do about it. This is why I would like to see the whole line show up on mattycollector.com, but those darn retail agreements. How about a re-packaging instead, that way it is not the same thing that the retail stores are getting. Instead of putting the chase figures up along, re-package each line into one complete box set per wave. This way every figure makes it onto mattycollector.com but keeps your retail partners happy.
just want to change my previous posts..,
MLgends still has variants !!!!
but my conclusions is just the same
sorry for the double posts
Chase figures does make hunting more challenging, especially for completist like me…
So.., i really don’t mind paying 30 bucks for those variants as long as its worth it, not just different head sculpt on the same body (if its just a different head or hand sculpt, maybe Mattel can use it as an accessories like DC Direct did and do)…
But then i realize.., when i have a figures with their variant, that means i have double on the CnC parts, and i don’t think i like that…
How about releasing chase figures without CnC part but instead put bunch of authentic accessories in it, i think thats really worth to hunt….
But then.. for a greater good..
just get rid those chase figs.. or put it on another wave (especially if its a different character like WW and Artemis).
To be sure, i guess Mattel should see Hasbro’s latest Marvel Legends (i think they’ve made some improvement now) and make them an example (no offense). Those new line of MLegends have about 6 to 8 figures still with a BAF and NO VARIANT !!!! And its definitely fun to collect them all….
My conclusion:
I don’t mind Mattel release each wave with 8 (or maybe 10) figures per wave (but please NO VARIANT!!) coz at least i can have them all by pre-order without worrying about the variants…
But please don’t release same characters too much (Batman and Superman on DCSH)
And how about adding some stand-base for each character ??
I have no interest in chase figures at all. These is no way I would spend $30 on a chase figure (+ shipping). Right now at my local comic store there are 4 Captain Atom variants sitting on the pegs for $25 and no one has touched them. Just pick one version of the figure and make it. The regular figures are already pricey at $20 a pop.
I also think 5 figures per line plus one or two chase figures is enough. That will satisfy those collectors who want the chase figures and those who have no interest in them (like me). Putting 7 figures in each line will get too expensive for collectors. I love this line, but will have to cut back if prices keep escalating.
Please don’t get rid of the BAF’s.
I really can’t see you charging $30 bucks for a figure at all. But if they came with something special, say extra weapons or something like that, its doable. I say keep the chase figs as is but get the entire wave to retail. I think putting them on MattyC is a good ideal but not for…let’s say a repainted Captain Atom…not a Artemis or a sinestro Corps sinestro. I could see Lobo or a CNC for that price. Put em on MC for $20 bucks and I’d be all over it.
Chase figures are fun, but not a necessity. However, if you want to offer them online, here’s how I suggest you do it:
You usually have 2 variants/chases per wave. Why not offer the two variants in a double pack at $30? This way, we can still keep the collect & connect figures.
I have to echo much of what has been said before. I have seen nothing except Wave 1 figures, and they continue to restock the pegs with these figures. Wave 2, 3, 4, 5? Do they actually exist? It does not appear that Mattel’s strategy is truly retail. Most likely it is online collector sites, which almost always appear to have all of the waves in stock. Is Mattel able to sell to these sites at a premium?
The other comment I would like to make is character selection. How many Superman and Batman variants does anyone need? How about 3 Aquaman variants? There are a tremendous # of characters to choose from in the DC universe, do we really need this many duplicates? Given that the target market for this line is collectors, rather than children, there shouldn’t be a need to continue to repeat the Superman/Batman figures.
I expect that this line is going to be gone by 2010, with the horrible distribution, apparent poor quality, and the increase in pricing. Interest in this line is going to disappear. Mine is almost gone at this point.
Chase figures at $30. Who cares?
See you in the toy aisles, TG! Unfortunately I’ll still only be seeing Orion.
As a toy collector, I have to say that Mattel is not doing a great job here. In fact my latest Toy Hunting Blog – I sub titled it “Why do you hate me Mattel?”
Get the toys out there first. There has got to be some reason that I was the only person of all the people on our message board http://www.thegreenlanterncorps.com to find all of Wave 3 at retail. What is going on and why would you want to charge 30 dollars a figure? Scrap the Chase figures if it’s going to take that much to gain a profit. If you make a Classic Red Tornado now nothing is stoping you from making a Modern Reddy 5 Waves from now. What Mattel needs to worry about is Distribution and Paint Apps. My Sinestro Corps Sinestro has the poorest Apps I have ever seen. How about Mattel stops using China and puts some Americans to work on the production.
10/04/2008
I just got wave 4 at Target, but they restock the pegs with line three again. The quantities are too small, everytime I have the luck to see them at Target I buy all the figures of the line (not repited figures) and to see them on the pegs again you have to be very lucky. They just fly off the shelves. I think Mattel should offer the entire line a few months after the release of the next wave. It is very frustrating to have to chase even the regular figures.
JMA
Dear Mattel:
The amount of time (and gasoline) that I have wasted chasing down every one of these figures is really staggering. What are you doing to your loyal fans?
Not to mention the disappointment.
And now this outrageous poll! Are you nuts?
Let’s work on the question of distribution before we tackle the notion of taking further advantage of us. Is this what our loyalty has earned us?
Bring back the days when collectors sent away for a FREE exclusive with proof of purchase.
It’s high time you thought about rewarding your loyal customers!
Consensus is $30.00 is ridiculous and I agree. Its hard enough to find the regular figures; they dont seem to arrive on time or in any kinds of numbers. What marketing imbecile decided to make exclusive figures to Wal-mart?? They still arent out and side note, why arent they using red? Superman’s cape, Robin’s outfit, etc is like a brick colour.
Make EXCLUSIVES not chases. The entire line are ALL chase figures. The regular figs. are hard to find as it is!
As for the Exclusives…don’t produce TOO many exclusive figures because that would deplete your customers savings for your regular retail figures….especially at $30 a figure.
Hey guys…
Lining the walls of my office are hundreds and hundreds of action figures. Most of them are Mavel Legends or Diamond Select figures and more. I was waiting for Mattel to put out figures as good or better than Marvel Legends and I think you’ve done that admirably. Thank you.
So far, I have a complete set of DCUC waves 1-3 and all variants. What I do not have is Lobo. I could have had him, but the cost is simply not something I’m willing to consider. Target’s jump on Marvel Legends from $10 to $15 made me and others I know choke. That’s an amount that will make anyone with any sense of financial responsibility really reconsider just how completist we will be. I would have had a much better time of it with a $1-$2 dollar jump, but 50% is ridiculous. You’re talking about a 200% jump. Absolutely out of the question.
I’m a collector and an absolute fan, but there are limits. I would rather you do what Hasbro is doing and eliminate the BAF. Make the BAF a normal character in the line and sell it separately. Then, chase figures could still exist at a reasonable price, available at retail, and I could still have a complete set without having to get robbed in the process.
Because the truth is, if you sell a wave of 5-7, with no BAF and with variant/chase figures, I will buy every single one. If you try and sell chase figures separately for $30, I will have to be selective, and if I have to do that, I won’t even buy every one of the normal characters like I am now. There would be no point as my set would be incomplete anyway.
Also, please don’t do any more 2 packs with figures you’ve already released. We don’t need two of any character.
Bah. Ditch chase figures. They’ve only ever been a gift to the lucky stockboy that opens the cases anyways.
So I think the answer to the question is, leave it alone, but put more of these figures out. How can you possibly expect people to pay $30 for a figure? The fact that people can’t find the chases is Mattel’s fault in the first place, so we should be punished and have to pay nearly $20 more? I think not. You folks need to get your priorities stright. Get us the regular figures first and than, LATER, ask us about chase figures.
Well, I have to say that I really enjoy the chase figures. And I have to buy them online anyway (via ebay or some retailer) because I live in Brazil. So, I think for the importers like me, it will be a good chance to have them offered online later…
Now, I also must say that usually, the normal DCUC figures are not difficult to find in the toy stores of my country, but even so I still import most of them because they take too long to get to the stores, and by ordering them online, they arrive sooner to me (at the door of my house) and for the same price the Brazillian stores charge for them, can you believe that?
Now, I’d like to enjoy this opportunity to talk about the Infinite Heroes line. Everyone that is involved in the creation and production of this line, knows that it has an amazing potential. But, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, make some changes now while there is still time. The sculpt is very good in general, but the hands are RIDICULOUS and the lack of articulation is aggravating. All of you should really pay attention to what Hasbro has been doing with their new GI Joes and now with their new Marvel 3 3/4″ line. These should be the template figures for you to really achieve something amazing with a DC line. It will only do you good if you follow those steps. Everyone will buy a lot more Infinite Heroes, if they are the same size and have the same amount of articulation as the Hasbro figures. Think about that. I’m saying this because I’d do it and so would most of my Brazilian fellow collectors.
Change the line and make it better NOW. The sales will just increase and the line will become a legend among collectors as the GI Joes became.
Please listen to me…
So let me get this straight, Mattel itself is marking the figures up from the $11 or so that they would cost in Target up to $30 for… what reason now? Would I be paying all that extra money (plus shipping, don’t forget that!) for “the convenience” of being able to order them online a couple of months after they hit retail shelves (again… at retail you might luck out and find them for normal price… or if you choose to order an entire case through online vendors, you’re still paying a normal price if you end up getting a chase figure in your case).
I have to call BS on this and say that Mattel is scalping here. $30 is ridiculous for a single figure with a different head or paint scheme when Mattycollector is putting out DCUC two-packs for only $20. They’re flat-out taking advantage of fans who are completists.
And I will echo what others have said- DCUC figures the past year are chase figures themselves. What Target have you walked into lately that has had a healthy stock of figures to choose from? What Wal-Mart has carried these? Can you walk into TRU and find all the figures from any wave?
No. But I can do this with Star Wars, Ben 10, GI JOE, Marvel Legends… heck, even the lousy Dark Knight aimed at the kiddies toyline has duplicates of every figure on the shelves at all times!
But when it comes to DCUC, I find that I’ve been better off ordering through online retailers such as Cornerstore Comics.
Even JLU, which is now exclusive to Target, has been frustrating to collect because all I’m finding are single carded figures from the days when JLU wasn’t a Target exclusive.
My comment to this is that there are more important things to me than the chase figures.
I will not spend $30 on a chase figure. The most important thing to me is that these figures make it to the retail stores in enough of a quantity that they can be found. I have yet to see a new DC Universe Classics figure in a toy store since wave 2.
I have not been able to find wave 3 in either toys r us, target, or walmart. I have only seen wave 3 in one store in NYC where they mark the figures up to $19.99 each.
I just saw wave 4 in the same store last week again for $19.99. Where is wave 3? What happened to wave 3? My frustrations with this series that I want to buy them, but I will not pay an online inflated price plus shipping for them when I can get them ion a major retail store. The problem is that I can’t find them in a major retail store.
Also, I think 5 figures per line plus chase figures is plenty. putting 7 figures out per line is too much and from this collectors point of view, I will cut back and not purchase as many. I have been buying one set to collect the build-a-figure characters for wave one and two. I don’t think I will be buying 7 figures to collect a build-a-figure.
Sincerely,
A disappointed collector who wants a Green Lantern figure.