nywild3
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jul 31, 2016 12:23:05 GMT -5
Posts: 250
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Post by nywild3 on Sept 16, 2018 16:25:04 GMT -5
From day 1, distribution has been a huge problem for the Retro line. First issue was releasing series 1 in 2 different waives. Owens, Reigns, Lesnar and Cena came first, followed by Taker, Warrior, Lesnar, Cena. This started the trend of having over stocked Lesnars and Cenas remaining on the shelves which im sure caused some locations not to order waive 2 of series 1 timely. With all of these figures being available online, collectors will only wait so long before ordering them. Especially with this line, which has a limited, but passionate, collector base. So with Series 1 being ship out twice with uneven numbers at different times throughout the country, this lead to overstocking which caused a HUGE delay in series 2 hitting retail. Series 2 was every Hasbro collectors dream and collectors would definitely be even more impatient to get their hands on those, more so than they were for series 1. So the trend continued of people ordering series 2 online, at the time at crazy prices, as they had little confidence that their local Walmart would stock them in a timely manor. Timing and distribution was just as bad for series 3. Series 3 was available at ringside last October or November last year but didnt see stores until early 2019. Again, many collectors bought online as they had no idea when these figures would be on the shelves. By the time the stores got these, im sure 70% to 80% of the collectors who wanted series 3 already ordered them online as they ran out of patients. So, like series 1 to series 2, series 3 is sitting in Targets all over the country because they hit the shelves months and months after they were available online. Then Mattel releases 12 figures within a 2 month time period and they expect stores to order 12 of them when the last 4 arent going anywhere? Collectors again turn to the internet as when and where series 4 through 6 will show up is anyones guess. I'm very glad series 7 was pushed back. Hopefully this gives some life to series 4 through 6 in stores and i hope ringside's poor packaging gives MOC collectors desire to hit the stores this fall and purchase series 4 through 6.
I hope that starting with series 7, Mattel makes sure these figures are in stores around the same time they are available online. If not, the same trend will continue. Most Retro collectors are adults so they dont need to ask their parents for a ride to the store, or save money, in order to get these. Most Retro collectors waited 20+ years to get these type of figures again and we dont want to sit and watch others open them online while we wait, and wait, and wait for our local store to stock these. We will buy them online, which will kill in store sales and hurt, if not kill, the line.
I think its obvious the passion for this line is there. I can see it based on people's reactions when figures are released, all the youtube videos and facebook pages about the line. All the customs being made because people want wrestling figures in the Hasbro style. Wrestleshop over seas was selling out of the new series right when they got them in. Be smart Mattel. These figures are small and im sure not very expensive to make. Slowly increase the number of molds, mix and match actions and tops and bottoms, those on a different head and paint job and you got yourself an easy money maker if its played out right....dont mess this up!
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Post by LostHawk05 on Sept 16, 2018 16:42:25 GMT -5
Distribution combined with lack of flashbacks will kill this line. As stated above, I feel its safe to say the primary audience for these is the adult collectors who had the Hasbros as kids. Give us what we want, which is flashbacks that mix in with the originals or picks up where the original line left off.
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Post by Professor Sparlin on Sept 16, 2018 16:46:09 GMT -5
Just waiting for the good ol' "These are toys made for KIDS" argument.
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Deleted
Joined on: Mar 28, 2024 7:44:28 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2018 16:52:37 GMT -5
Its not distribution, its stores not ordering. Mattel will only distribute to stores that order product. Stores wont order if people dont buy it, people arent buying it which is why its being sold in discount stores and at clearance prices Now wheres a decent wall i can bang my head against...
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Medieval
Main Eventer
@mattelwwe_medieval
Joined on: Jan 22, 2015 12:46:43 GMT -5
Posts: 4,638
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Post by Medieval on Sept 16, 2018 17:05:01 GMT -5
Just give me that Diesel before the line is deceased and I will be happy.
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Post by stc13 on Sept 16, 2018 17:44:14 GMT -5
I think the price point may be a bigger issue. The initial series sold well in my area, and I think $10 is the sweet spot price for the line. Once they bumped to a higher price point, I'm not surprised brick and mortar sales have slowed. There are too many other options on the shelves for parents at similar or lower prices. And at the end of the day even if it's largely a nostalgia product they need kid and adult sales to be successful.
That said, I wouldn't be shocked if this line continues for some time. There's very little new tooling and little deco on the figures, so they should be pretty cheap to produce. As long as there's money to be made they'll keep making 'em.
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@WWERetroStars
Superstar
Joined on: Dec 8, 2013 21:34:21 GMT -5
Posts: 702
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Post by @WWERetroStars on Sept 16, 2018 17:46:28 GMT -5
The line has a VERY passionate following. Small, but passionate. If Mattel is savvy they will realize this is a “gateway line” for returning collectors. I’m a great example. I hadn’t bought a new wrestling fig since Hasbros. I bought series 1 of the Retros the second they hit the stores. As I waited out distribution issues between series 1 and 2, then series 2 and 3, I got sucked into the main lines and have bought probably 80 Elite figs in the last 2 years. If Retros aren’t introduced that NEVER happens. I’m not the only case. Look at all the people @‘ing Ryder and Hawkins podscast on Twitter. Old collectors getting back in the game.
Although I think we might see a shift in the line - maybe it goes online exclusive only - I predict 2019 is going to be a good year for Retros.
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Post by kennyw86v2 on Sept 16, 2018 17:47:18 GMT -5
And here I was thinking I had real problems in life, only to realize there are people having to buy their toys online instead of in stores.
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wormnation
Superstar
Joined on: Sept 8, 2018 9:15:31 GMT -5
Posts: 856
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Post by wormnation on Sept 16, 2018 18:07:38 GMT -5
I was really looking forward to these....until I saw the Ultimate Warrior. I bought a Stone Cold but I wont buy any of the figures that were already Hasbros. They look like knock offs or bootlegs. Maybe some wrestlers that never had a figure. Let sleeping dogs lie.
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philster
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Nov 4, 2017 0:34:31 GMT -5
Posts: 57
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Post by philster on Sept 16, 2018 18:13:09 GMT -5
The line has a VERY passionate following. Small, but passionate. If Mattel is savvy they will realize this is a “gateway line” for returning collectors. I’m a great example. I hadn’t bought a new wrestling fig since Hasbros. I bought series 1 of the Retros the second they hit the stores. As I waited out distribution issues between series 1 and 2, then series 2 and 3, I got sucked into the main lines and have bought probably 80 Elite figs in the last 2 years. If Retros aren’t introduced that NEVER happens. I’m not the only case. Look at all the people @‘ing Ryder and Hawkins podscast on Twitter. Old collectors getting back in the game. Although I think we might see a shift in the line - maybe it goes online exclusive only - I predict 2019 is going to be a good year for Retros. Same here. Started with series 1 and got sucked into the main elite line while waiting on series 2. Now I don't even collect retros anymore.
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Post by mcfclee on Sept 16, 2018 18:27:34 GMT -5
Well I’m in Brisbane and I’ve seen in stores series one minus Roman and ko, series 3 and series 6.
Completely understand peoples frustration. For me buying these online pushes them up to the same price as an elite once I add shipping. I’ve bought most of them and am trying to complete the set, but it’s way harder than it should be.
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nywild3
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jul 31, 2016 12:23:05 GMT -5
Posts: 250
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Post by nywild3 on Sept 16, 2018 18:32:41 GMT -5
Its not distribution, its stores not ordering. Mattel will only distribute to stores that order product. Stores wont order if people dont buy it, people arent buying it which is why its being sold in discount stores and at clearance prices Now wheres a decent wall i can bang my head against... People arent buying, in stores, because of the distribution....They are available online months before they are in stores, as explained. If people had to choose between in stores or online, they will go into stores because its keeper and you can see what you are getting.
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Post by screech on Sept 16, 2018 18:57:02 GMT -5
I'm not going to pretend like I know what's going on but I have no faith that Mattel will ever perfect their distribution for the WWE line. It has always and will always be wonky.
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drnickriviera995
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jul 25, 2010 23:58:50 GMT -5
Posts: 1,992
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Post by drnickriviera995 on Sept 16, 2018 19:40:53 GMT -5
Great points. Poor distribution, lack of flashbacks, and price increase are killing it. Get rid of the app and stand, bring them back to ten bucks, and the biggest thing is to release guys we actually want!
Give us Diesel, USA Luger, Heel Jake, Hart Foundation, Double J, Haku, Powers of Pain, Brain Busters, and so on and so on.
Past few waves, we've got one flashback per wave. And nothing is really what's really truly desired. NWA Flair, eh. NWO Macho, ok. Wolfpac Sting, eh. Shiek? Guess they did him because they had a mold with the boots to re-hash. Angle is kinda cool, but again, late attitude era, not really anywhere close to Hasbro timeline. And modern Goldberg, why?
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Post by RybackV1 on Sept 16, 2018 19:45:28 GMT -5
Retros are lucky to be on retail shelves and not online exclusives
Be happy they are coming out in general, old school fans
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Post by SteveHulk on Sept 16, 2018 19:59:27 GMT -5
Distribution combined with lack of flashbacks will kill this line. As stated above, I feel its safe to say the primary audience for these is the adult collectors who had the Hasbros as kids. Give us what we want, which is flashbacks that mix in with the originals or picks up where the original line left off. I've said before that Mattel seem to alienating their audience for these figures by releasing mainly current-roster guys: surely the Retro figures will primarily appeal to older fans and Hasbro collectors? I mean, I can't see many kids (or parents) wanting these "funny looking" figures over the Basic and Elite ones... especially since the price-increase with the app thing. And I hope Mattel are taking note that BY FAR the most popular/sought-after figures from Series 4 and 5 have been (surprise!) the older/Flashback guys (Flair and Macho)...
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Post by jsmells on Sept 16, 2018 20:01:55 GMT -5
I've seen the first Walmart wave twice, the second NEVER and then the first "retro app" wave is clogging shelves and I've never seen anything past that IN STORE. WTF!?
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inreimwetrust
Superstar
Joined on: Jan 6, 2018 17:45:57 GMT -5
Posts: 612
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Post by inreimwetrust on Sept 16, 2018 20:29:02 GMT -5
Honestly, the price point is what's killing the line for me personally. I will only buy them if they hit clearance.
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nywild3
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jul 31, 2016 12:23:05 GMT -5
Posts: 250
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Post by nywild3 on Sept 16, 2018 20:42:58 GMT -5
Retros are lucky to be on retail shelves and not online exclusives Be happy they are coming out in general, old school fans I’d be fine with that as long as the line continues.
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Post by SteveHulk on Sept 16, 2018 20:44:46 GMT -5
Its not distribution, its stores not ordering. Mattel will only distribute to stores that order product. Stores wont order if people dont buy it, people arent buying it which is why its being sold in discount stores and at clearance prices Now wheres a decent wall i can bang my head against... Normally I would agree with that - but something really strange seems to be going on with the whole Retro distribution: exclusive/not exclusive, massive gaps in between series (mainly 3 & 4, and now 6 & 7), hardly anyone being able to find Series 4, 5 and 6... If it was just as simple as stores not ordering them/people not wanting them, I don't think we'd have had 6 series of the figures, with 2 more on the way (...remember how quickly the Legends line was cancelled...?). Also, if the line was in trouble, I doubt very much that Bill would have said recently that they have "big plans" for it...
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