Did Mattel outsmart themselves with Legends

I think it was a smart move for MATTEL, because they had to bring out other attires than Jakks already did. With those attires they catched the old school Fans and collectors that are hunting for different attires. I don't think that the line would have worked if they've tried to sell the same attires (in the first place) that collectors already have from Jakks.

Maybe we'll see those attires down the line, but for collectors I think it's also ways better to shorten the line to 4 per series, than the way Jakks did it with bringing 8, 9 or 10 figures per series.

I think essentially, this comes down to the collector vs the consumer. The majority of the people on here have tunnel vision because collectively we are all collectors and we interact with collectors. I think it is safe to say that Mattel has really taken into account the collector and pushed to get us all on board with what they are doing. This hasn't just been in the Legends line either because I think we have seen the changes to HBKs beard in Basic 4, and realized Mattel wants us on board through-and-through with what they are doing.

Even with all of that being said, we are still just a fraction of their target demographic. Other, more regular, consumers have to have a reason to pick up these figures. The best way to do that is put guys people remember on the shelf. Steamboat and Macho Man were brilliant imo because with Steamboat working the program against Jericho, going into the HOF, and then being attacked not so long ago he was still fresh. To top it off, collectors had been dying for a Steamboat. Same goes for Savage with the collectors, and WWE just did the dvd set so he was relatively fresh in terms of marketing.

Obviously, you are not going to have that with every guy, but going from 6 to 4 guys is going to make life easier for Mattel. The more obscure guys are going to get pushed aside more than likely but then those figures were probably going to warm the pegs anyway. The average consumer may not be in love with a short haired Rick Rude but I was. At the same time I am not crazy about having the lines limited to 4 figures per set. It is give and take so that Mattel can optimize their ability to make money while giving us the best product possible.

IMO, Mattel has a far superior product than Jakks so giving me guys in attires Jakks already did isn't a big deal. I want an iconic WMX Bret Hart, I want a WMXIV Shawn Michaels, and I want WM3 Ricky Steamboat. However, I also want HBK in his IYH Bad Blood attire from 97, a Diesel in WMXII attire, and a Mr. Perfect from SummerSlam 93. So I really want some of the less familiar attires but at the same time I understand if I never see those.

quit complaining there will be a bret hart fig. i bet it be a legend two pack with anvil or definning moments from either wrestlemania 13 or montreal screwjob

It wasn't always smooth sailing for Jakks classic line either. I didn't start collecting wrestling figures again until the Bruiser Brody wave (wave 8?). But I was still able to get most of the older figures at retail.
If I remember correctly Jakks took the opposite strategy of Mattel. Jakks increased a wave from 5 or 6 figures to 9 figures per and started shipping one figure per case and sometimes one every other case.

I love how a lot of you are experts on Mattel's sales. Have you seen documents stating Legend sales are down and not meeting their expectations, NO! What grounds or knowledge of this subject do you have, some Legends not selling in your area? That means you are an expert huh? I come to these boards everyday and about 6% of the people on here know what they are talking about. Just because these boards gives you a forum to express your opinions doesn't make you knowledgeable of legends figure sales. More than have of you were not born when these Legends were wrestling and wearing certain attires but you gotta put your two cents in. Gotta make sure you get 1,999,999,999 posts in so you can have 18 stars under your little name so you will think your opinion matters. Well it doesn't! Epically to collectors of wrestling figures who were around when wrestling toys were first made. I was at Wrestlemania 3 in 1987 where were you? Oh yeah born.

Yes and no. If Snuka and Slaughter would have been in more "traditional" attire, I would have bought them. However, I love the short haired Rude, Jake the Snake and pre-WWF Road Warriors. While the Road Warriors may be better known for the Red and Black, they were never used as well in the WWF as they were pre-WWF.

well said....WE (the collector's) make up less than 10% of the overall sales of a line....but the problem with Legends is that it's basically a collector's-oriented line selling in mass-retail outlets....CS was a collector's line as well,obviously,but sold well because not everywhere would have them...around here,the only consistent place to find them was TRU.... every now and then,maybe 2 time a year,K-Mart or Wal-Mart would put a case out on the pegs....

so,i don't necessarily think they "outsmarted" themselves,as much as they overestimated demand,as most kids and general consumers seem to be passing on these,and once the collector's in an area are done with their needs,they tend to sit awhile....

I myself skipped guys like Hillbilly Jim purely coz I have a Jakks version of it. But ones that have a vastly different look I bought.

Personally, I don't buy them because I don't care for the price. When I started buying figures, they were $3.00 for bend-ems, and $4.99 for BCAs. I know a lot has changed, but I think anything over 9 or 10 bucks is too much.