Just a few days before Toy Fair 2014 and we have a new batch of answers to questions we sent off for the MattyCollector Q&A! Without further ado, here they are:
When/If the DC Signature Series figures sell out will it be possible to see more after? Also you keep saying it failed this time does that mean there will be another attempt using the Roadmap that will be used by the MOTUC series?
Definitely not. 2014 is the final bow for this line with a final “goodbye” item to be previewed at NYTF. Without the 2014 sub selling through this line will need to head into the sunset, regardless of how the quarterly or goodbye item performs. While our fans are very passionate and amazing, we simply do not have enough of them to keep the line going. Supporting the 2014 sub WAS the opportunity to keep the line going and that was not able to hit the min tier 1 levels.
Ghostbusters toys were initially only available online before some went to Big Lots. Was there any brick & mortar/mass market store interested in becoming an exclusive home to Ghostbusters at some point, like Toys R Us?
We did offer several GB items at Toys R Us including a 4 pack of 6” figs and the Retro Action line. At this time we don’t have a retail partner for the line. Perhaps when and if a new movie comes around we can revisit.
If the MOTU movie does take off, do you plan on bringing back MOTU toys to brick & mortar mass market stores, or will it remain online only?
Definitely! When a MOTU film hits you can expect a fill movie retail line as well.
Since DCUC/Club Intinite Earths is ending, can you tell us about the figures that were planned but never made it? For example, was Dick Grayson Batman ever planned?
Unfortunately no. We can not discuss any in development figures or ideas.
Remember to post your questions in our MattyCollector 2014 Q&A thread!
Post all your questions for MattyCollector here! MattyCollector normally takes questions during the 1st and 15th of every month unless Mattel is going to a con/toy show. Post away!
Ask MattyCollector Answers For January 2014 - The Toyark - News
Y'know...while I tend to think that a good segment of Matty fandom is vastly oversensitive and desperately looking for any excuse to yell at Mr. Neitlich...he REALLY needs to learn how to word his answers better.
Yes, he can come off sounding blunt sometimes, even harsh. Sadly, being blunt may be the only way to get through to some people.
At least these answers aren't vague, cryptic or doublespeak.
Time for the Bullshit Filter here
In no way are we “blaming the fans”! Our DC fans are amazing, and very passionate. We just don’t have enough of them to justify a fully tool’d figure this year. To provide some background, the way it works is we use the 12 monthly figures that have partial tooling to off set the cost of the one fully tool’d figure (the same is true for most of our collector brands like GB and MOTU). We needed the tier 2 level (higher quota) of the 12 monthly partially tool’d figure to off-set the higher cost of the fully tool’d Doomsday. Because we didn’t even get tier 1 support (the bare min quota to go into production) it prevents us from doing a full year’s worth of product which is what we need to bank the fully tool’d Doomsday figure against. So unfortunately, the answer to your question of “what fans could do” is they needed to support the 2014 sub in higher numbers, and we just didn’t get that. Nothing against our fans, they are great, but as we said, this year we just didn’t have enough of them. We know fans are looking for “what else they can do to make a Doomsday happen” but really, as we have always said, the time to support that was during sub sales in July/Aug. And unfortunately we did not get the support needed.
We had a line planned to support the new Voltron animated series that was shown at SDCC, but the line never made it to retail once the show ended.
He doesn't come off as anything more then a jerk who cannot handle a simple task. He can't answer questions without insulting people and when he gets called on it he doesn't know how to handle it. There are very few people in this world whos teeth I'd love to knock out and right now everytime he insults the DC fans Scott has made the top of that list
This is what happens when someone tries to be the face of something public. Some of you people need to seriously calm down and stop taking things so personally. Scott Neitlich is a human being, the same as any one of us. I can't believe you people would say these things about another human being over toys.
He's one person, who works for a giant company, and has many people on his team, and has to answer to many more people above him, and so on. He's not responsible for everything that happens at Mattel, he's not even responsible for everything that happens to the toy lines he manages. His job is to work out the cost of everything, and he just so happens to take time to stay connected with fans.
I remember when Hasbro tried the same thing, and stopped, because all they got was vitriol. That's why toy companies don't really do that.
I'm pretty much done caring what Mattel has to say this year. I have no reason to read their monthly Q&As because they simply have nothing to sell me anymore. If it weren't for my g/f collecting Monster High, I would not even have a penny spent on Mattel products.
At least these answers aren't vague, cryptic or doublespeak.
Which means all the sudden they will pop out 3 new figures from no where.
Dollar for donuts they are Flashpoint Plasticman, Black Costume Supergirl, and Steel these were tooled back 2 years ago. It also wouldn't suprise me if the Superpowers Bizarro, Superman, and Wonder Woman weren't ready to go just held off.
It's the 15th so if you guys have questions for me to send off, post them here.
If people aren't going to post actual questions we can send in (hence the entire purpose of this), then please refrain from posting in this thread all together. If you want to insult and call names, Mattel has provided plenty of outlets for that (such as their Facebook page and their own forums). We shouldn't have to remove people from a thread like this, so please don't give us a reason to.
If you have an actual question that we could send in for the QnA, then please post it.
I'll try a different question...
When/If the DC Signature Series figures sell out will it be possible to see more after?
Also you keep saying it failed this time does that mean there will be another attempt using the Roadmap that will be used by the MOTUC series?
Finally is there a plan if/when the Total Heroes line fails? (odds are it will fail due to past proof)
(Joe you can't voice a dissenting opinion at Mattels board they have people set to attack you if so much as say you like the DCUC lines. If you defend yourself they ban you. I use Facebook to go after Neitlich usually)
Are there any DC figures that if you could you would go back and cancel? (either they did sell as well as you hoped or you just don't think it was a good choice)
Why was the Fan choice character done away with in the DC sub? It seems as if the Fans had almost no say in how their money was spent
I am curious about how the DC team decides what is a good idea, and what is not.
For example, I see oodles of the new 5-6" DC figures [Batman, Supeerman, Aquaman, ect] but obviously with the design they are aimed at children. But with the 14.99 price tag I can't see many parents buying them any of those.
So all in all, why has the DC Mattel team made such bad decisions?
Any chance for a third wave of Multiverse figures?
For example, I see oodles of the new 5-6" DC figures [Batman, Supeerman, Aquaman, ect] but obviously with the design they are aimed at children. But with the 14.99 price tag I can't see many parents buying them any of those.
So all in all, why has the DC Mattel team made such bad decisions?
And I'm assuming $14.99 is Canadian dollars, right? Because from what I've read, the US retail is $9.99. Either way, that's not a half-bad price for a 6" figure these days. Seems like a great deal compared to a 3.75" figure for the same amount of money, at least from the POV of a parent who doesn't collect toys.
I guess neither of the questions I had a few posts ago need to be asked. I guess Mattel just doesn't want the collectors money any longer. And theres no point in asking DC questions about the 6 inch line(s) until Mattel loses the rights
MattyCollector 2014 Q&A Answers - Early February - The Toyark - News
I just want to say kudos to Shin for taking what he could from this thread and making it work. It's also a great example for Arkers on the proper way to word questions if you actually want or expect an answer of any kind.
OT, I kind of wonder why they aren't doing Ric Flair. Maybe there's a likeness rights issue or something. Or maybe they're just not doing one for MattyCollector and it will be at regular retail instead.
It’s been a few years since the MOTUC line was launched. If you and the 4H could go back in time, what changes would you make to the likes of He-Man and Skeletor? For example would you give them double jointed knees/elbows, hinged wrists, et al?
It would be great to give He-Man improved articulation and this is something we could look into for 2016 and beyond once the vintage roadmap is complete.
I liked this question, but of course the BS answer shows just how clueless they are and out out of touch.
They were not asked double jointed hips etc could be added or considered, they were asked---
looking back and if they could, what kind of changes would you make to the existing line such as design, sculpting, articulation, etc.
And they wonder why so many fans have dropped them.
so, basically this Q&A is solely for MattyCollect properties now? They used to answer retail questions too.
That said, the wording is weird, they don't do any WWE items on Matty anymore, so why even bother answering it?
Not in the least. The DC 6″ scale is alive and well with the Total Heroes line. Basic figures are available at retail and Ultra figures in 6″ scale with additional piece count will be offered quarterly on Mattycollector.com!
I think I actually get the WWE thing... With DC, MOTU, Ghostbusters, Barbie, Monster/Everafter High you are not dealing with an Actual persons likeness (except movie masters side) so there is fewer people involved. But WWE and Movie Masters are sculpted to look like a person (who is typically alive) you need to get there OK as well or their estate if the person has passed on. I know WWE does not own the Likeness of most (if not all) of it's performers they do have control of most names as long as it is not the persons birth name (i.e. Kevin Nash, Scott Stiner, Ken Anderson,) the exception would be Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan (though the Hulksters name is Terry Borilla)
Keep reading: Ask MattyCollector 2014 Q&A Thread - Page 2
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