peepulation469
Main Eventer
189 REFS!
Joined on: Nov 23, 2007 21:33:09 GMT -5
Posts: 1,750
|
Post by peepulation469 on Oct 13, 2011 13:20:29 GMT -5
Does Vince/Trips and co. sit down and have regular meetings with the MDT? If so, does anyone at the table look across to Mattel and ask them legitimately how they could screw up such a strong brand??? I hate Jakks, but that little company chugged along for 7-8 years with the brand, and the 80-year old Mattel toy company is folding like a house of cards with it? I just don't get it. 15 years my friend. I've been a fan of the Mattel product, but this does seem crazy that perhaps the biggest toy manufacturing company is kinda dropping the ball here.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Jun 23, 2024 14:25:40 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2011 13:24:07 GMT -5
It's not just the price. Mattel have screwed up on so many levels. The choice of people to include in the Legends line. The attires. The price. The availability.
This is going to keep happening until they realise that they need to fill out each wave with popular guys and less obscure people. The fact is that guys from the 80's are not going to sell as well as later 90's and early 2000 guys, and even they will have trouble flying off the shelves. Kids have no idea who half the guys in the attitude era are, let alone who the 80's wrestlers are. Whether you like it or not, the kids are driving the sales figures, and can make or break a line.
The classics line came at a time when WWE fans were still predominantly older. Now, with the PG era, it's mostly kids who are handing over the cash, so their pockets are only as deep at their memories. Unfortunately, their memoires seem to start at the inception of the 'WWE' brand name, and the attitude and previous eras, are not even on their radars.
Trust me, it's heartbreaking to know we might not get the guys we want. I'm waiting for a classic hbk in elite, but I'm not stupid enough to believe it should be a priority. Or that me, at the age of 25, should be a priority.
|
|
Matt Hardy Collector
Superstar
Not a good guy or a bad guy
Joined on: Jun 10, 2010 12:35:15 GMT -5
Posts: 608
|
Post by Matt Hardy Collector on Oct 13, 2011 13:25:21 GMT -5
Ok so lets look at Mattel's failures.
Entrance Greats were a Basic figure with Elite accessories and a little sound stage for $19.99 I think.
WWE Legends were Elite figures and accessories at about $15.99.
Defining Moments were Elite figures and accessories for $22.99.
The Legends died because kids don't know them so it was collectors only really. Entrance Greats were nice but the price sucked for a basic figure. And the Defining Moments were awesome but they are making people shell out $7 more for an Elite. The death of the DM is simply the price they wanted too much for an Elite in special packaging.
On the plus side the WWE Flashback figures now in Elite waves will make up some of the loss of these 3 other lines, but in reality how long will the Flashback figures last. They will warm the pegs cause how many kids know who Papa Shango is?
After almost 2 years it seems Mattel is still trying new things that end up flopping yet the Rumblers are still alive for some odd reason.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Jun 23, 2024 14:25:40 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2011 13:28:00 GMT -5
Ok so lets look at Mattel's failures. Entrance Greats were a Basic figure with Elite accessories and a little sound stage for $19.99 I think. WWE Legends were Elite figures and accessories at about $15.99. Defining Moments were Elite figures and accessories for $22.99. The Legends died because kids don't know them so it was collectors only really. Entrance Greats were nice but the price sucked for a basic figure. And the Defining Moments were awesome but they are making people shell out $7 more for an Elite. The death of the DM is simply the price they wanted too much for an Elite in special packaging. On the plus side the WWE Flashback figures now in Elite waves will make up some of the loss of these 3 other lines, but in reality how long will the Flashback figures last. They will warm the pegs cause how many kids know who Papa Shango is? After almost 2 years it seems Mattel is still trying new things that end up flopping yet the Rumblers are still alive for some odd reason. Exactly. If you think the Flashbacks will last then you're kidding yourself. Shango will warm the pegs like no other figure ever has.
|
|
|
Post by Lorenzo Alcazar on Oct 13, 2011 13:30:52 GMT -5
That's bullcrap....Mattel is leaving us with essentially NO ways of getting classic/legends style figures except for the 2 flashback figures per Elite Series (and it hasn't even been confirmed that flashbacks will be in EVERY Elite series) or if you want to pay the CRAZY prices on Matty Collector. I am very disappointed at Mattel so quickly and completely abandoning it's classic wrestling fans.
|
|
|
Post by AlexWestCollects on Oct 13, 2011 13:33:14 GMT -5
Ok so lets look at Mattel's failures. Entrance Greats were a Basic figure with Elite accessories and a little sound stage for $19.99 I think. WWE Legends were Elite figures and accessories at about $15.99. Defining Moments were Elite figures and accessories for $22.99. The Legends died because kids don't know them so it was collectors only really. Entrance Greats were nice but the price sucked for a basic figure. And the Defining Moments were awesome but they are making people shell out $7 more for an Elite. The death of the DM is simply the price they wanted too much for an Elite in special packaging. On the plus side the WWE Flashback figures now in Elite waves will make up some of the loss of these 3 other lines, but in reality how long will the Flashback figures last. They will warm the pegs cause how many kids know who Papa Shango is? After almost 2 years it seems Mattel is still trying new things that end up flopping yet the Rumblers are still alive for some odd reason. Exactly. If you think the Flashbacks will last then you're kidding yourself. Shango will warm the pegs like no other figure ever has. Agreed. With the legends line going in the toliet you figure the first set of flashback figs would be really strong. Kane is a nice choice but Shango? Come on, I know who he is and I don't want him. This was really the last nail in the coffin for me. I'm getting rid of a good part of my stuff.
|
|
|
Post by Nivro™ on Oct 13, 2011 13:41:56 GMT -5
Why does everyone complain about the price of Legends on Matty Collector?? Please, do share...What is the price of them? Well? Well?? Well?? Thats right you DONT know the price, you DONT know what shipping is going to be, you DONT know anything about it but just feel the need to bitch about something. Yet I find it funny because people are happy to buy stuff early off of RSC and pay their inflated prices but people dont bitch saying "Ill never buy them, RSC doesnt care about its customers" you just fall right in line and do as they say, just as you will do for Matty collector.
|
|
|
Post by Bandalero on Oct 13, 2011 13:48:46 GMT -5
Why does everyone complain about the price of Legends on Matty Collector?? Please, do share...What is the price of them? Well? Well?? Well?? Thats right you DONT know the price, you DONT know what shipping is going to be, you DONT know anything about it but just feel the need to bitch about something. Yet I find it funny because people are happy to buy stuff early off of RSC and pay their inflated prices but people dont bitch saying "Ill never buy them, RSC doesnt care about its customers" you just fall right in line and do as they say, just as you will do for Matty collector. Do you collect MOTUC? Do you collect DCDU? Do you collect Ghostbusters? They can all be purchased on Mattycollector.com I can speak for MOTUC, figures are $20 if you're lucky to buy them in the first couple of seconds because even if they are in your cart at checkout they can still sellout thanks to Mattel's brilliant choice to stay with DigitalRiver. So if Elites are already retailing at $17-$19 and DM's at $22-$25, then it's a very fair assessment to say $20 per Legend (if we're lucky). Now add in shipping, within the States, a mere $8 but for us international folk - at least $15-$20. So on a very conservative scale, I'm looking at purchasing a single Legends figure on Mattycollector for $40. Get the math now?
|
|
JKLMD2002
Main Eventer
Joined on: Sept 15, 2004 11:36:55 GMT -5
Posts: 1,408
|
Post by JKLMD2002 on Oct 13, 2011 13:49:24 GMT -5
I liked the idea of the line, but I only had a few myself so I'm not sure I can really complain about it ending.
I quickly grabbed Macho Man as his outfit warranted the extra cost. Thought Warrior was a bit overpriced, but I got him anyway.
Rock was alright, but not great enough to make it worthwhile. Ditto Triple H. Dragon era Steamboat is on my list of if there's nothing else at the store and I just didn't care about those versions of Austin and Undertaker.
Series 5 is sadly the one I'm most interested in as both figures are very well done. Too bad as I think this format would have kept building momentum with other figures like HBK and the aforementioned Bulldog.
|
|
|
Post by LA Times on Oct 13, 2011 13:53:48 GMT -5
A $25.99 line of figures selling horribly in retail is getting cancelled? What a shock.
|
|
|
Post by bestintheworld on Oct 13, 2011 14:04:24 GMT -5
Mattel is really strange. First they stopped Entrance Greats and now they are stopping DM.
Something tells me the new line, whatever it will be, will not last long too.
|
|
|
Post by derakp on Oct 13, 2011 14:05:29 GMT -5
I'm disappointed by this news, but I'm not really surprised. Like everyone else has said, they were too expensive for most collectors. I'm glad they saved perhaps the best set for last though.
And Mattycollector Legends will be expensive! For me to get a Ghostbuster shipped via UPS is about $29.95, and next year they are raising the prices $2! If shipping stays the same (yeah right!), I'm paying nearly $32 for a 6" figure. Excluding Andre, who would pay that much for guys deemed "not strong enough to sell at retail"?
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Jun 23, 2024 14:25:40 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2011 14:09:31 GMT -5
If flashbacks fail then I can tell you that I'm done collecting wrestling figures. I'm not butt hurt, I'm just not a fan of the current product. Realistically, this now means that people like myself - from the UK, or other countries - will now be faced with only 2 figures every 2 months. There is no way in hell I'm even going to contemplate importing the legends. It cost me $50+ for the SDCC Taker.
It's such a shame that when we finally get such amazing figures, they are failing so hard due to WWE and their terrible direction with their product.
|
|
|
Post by Bandalero on Oct 13, 2011 14:20:54 GMT -5
It's such a shame that when we finally get such amazing figures, they are failing so hard due to WWE and their terrible direction with their product. but Legends/Classics could be Mattel's cash cow like it was Jakks cash cow if not for bunghole decision making. Attires, line-ups, price points, production decisions - all things Mattel has control over. From the moment they took away the stands, it was all down hill and such a shame too because engineering-wise, these are the best wrestling figures ever built. They had product differentiators like attention to scale, but have done nothing but fold line after line... I'll still pay my $40+ for an Arn Anderson because damnit I want my 4 Horsemen I'm just baffled that they can't manage this WWE brand better. But it runs all over Mattel because ToyGuru tanked a whole bunch of other Mattel toy lines he's in charge of as brand manager.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Jun 23, 2024 14:25:41 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2011 14:21:32 GMT -5
Ok I understand the argument about "kids being the #1 target audience for wrestling figures" but I really don't think they're the #1 buyers.
I'm 23 years old and have two jobs, thus I can afford wrestling figures I could never afford when I was 12. How many HUNDREDS of collectors are on this site alone over the age of 16? I understand kids are the target audience but I don't believe they are the #1 buyers.
Also, no we don't know the prices on Mattycollector.com but I think it's safe to say that anytime you order an item online it's going to cost more with shipping that just walking into Walmart and buying it there.
Lastly, just like Hulkamania 4 Life, I got rid of most of my collection. I literally have 8 figures (waiting for Elite 12 Kane). I decided to cut down and just collect 1996-1997 era figures because I'm not interested in Orton, Cena, Mysterio, etc. I don't want them.
Meh...I'm probably starting to get off topic and I apologize. I'm not trying to sound bitter. I'm just disappointed that we are having to jump through hoops to get our hands on decent legends figures (which are the only figures I collect).
|
|
TheEdgeHead41
Main Eventer
#1 Mysterio Fan!
Joined on: Dec 2, 2009 15:20:46 GMT -5
Posts: 2,339
|
Post by TheEdgeHead41 on Oct 13, 2011 14:27:51 GMT -5
Damn! That sucks, I really liked defining Moments.
|
|
threehgame
Main Eventer
Beyond Bored By You and Your Wrestling
Joined on: Sept 22, 2008 19:09:45 GMT -5
Posts: 2,399
|
Post by threehgame on Oct 13, 2011 14:29:10 GMT -5
Does Vince/Trips and co. sit down and have regular meetings with the MDT? If so, does anyone at the table look across to Mattel and ask them legitimately how they could screw up such a strong brand??? I hate Jakks, but that little company chugged along for 7-8 years with the brand, and the 80-year old Mattel toy company is folding like a house of cards with it? I just don't get it. Mattel being so large has to produce and move more items to keep the average profit margin. Jakks being small could survive series to series with a smaller profit margin and lower production runs and costs. This is what happens when a large company takes over a license.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Jun 23, 2024 14:25:40 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2011 14:34:57 GMT -5
Ok I understand the argument about "kids being the #1 target audience for wrestling figures" but I really don't think they're the #1 buyers. I'm 23 years old and have two jobs, thus I can afford wrestling figures I could never afford when I was 12. How many HUNDREDS of collectors are on this site alone over the age of 16? I understand kids are the target audience but I don't believe they are the #1 buyers. Also, no we don't know the prices on Mattycollector.com but I think it's safe to say that anytime you order an item online it's going to cost more with shipping that just walking into Walmart and buying it there. Lastly, just like Hulkamania 4 Life, I got rid of most of my collection. I literally have 8 figures (waiting for Elite 12 Kane). I decided to cut down and just collect 1996-1997 era figures because I'm not interested in Orton, Cena, Mysterio, etc. I don't want them. Meh...I'm probably starting to get off topic and I apologize. I'm not trying to sound bitter. I'm just disappointed that we are having to jump through hoops to get our hands on decent legends figures (which are the only figures I collect). I understand your argument, but the simple fact that flex force is one of Mattel's most successful brands should tell you how much influence kids have on the line. I will admit that the Legends line failing had more to do with Mattel's choice of characters and attires, though. Someone else on here said it before: They tried to pick up where Jakks left off and it was a fatal mistake. They should never have started the line until they could guarantee the big names that Jakks had. The simple fact we've still not seen HBK, undertaker, HHH, Bret and countless other main eventers, is proof enough that the legends line was doomed from the start. I'm not trying to say I could run their business for them; that would be stupid. However, it's not rocket science that if packing guys like Orton, Cena and Mysterio into every modern line works. The same should be true for the legends line.
|
|
|
Post by Next Man’s No 503K on Oct 13, 2011 14:36:39 GMT -5
Ok I understand the argument about "kids being the #1 target audience for wrestling figures" but I really don't think they're the #1 buyers. I'm 23 years old and have two jobs, thus I can afford wrestling figures I could never afford when I was 12. How many HUNDREDS of collectors are on this site alone over the age of 16? I understand kids are the target audience but I don't believe they are the #1 buyers. Of course they are. Ten thousand kids buying one figure makes Mattel more money than a hundred adult collectors buying six figures. People really need to get some perspective here. They're mass retail figures. That means they live or die on casual sales, not just on the hardcore fans/collectors like us. We're a very small niche of the market, which is why they shouldn't have ever put Legends, Entrance Greats and Defining Moments out in such numbers at mass retail in the first place. They're just too expensive and too niche for many impulse buys. The classic figures boom is long over. When someone made a thread about this a few weeks ago, a few of us called that it was ending. It just seemed obvious to me that it was doomed when the first Randy Savage figure in a decade was warming shelves like crazy.
|
|
|
Post by Nivro™ on Oct 13, 2011 14:36:51 GMT -5
Why does everyone complain about the price of Legends on Matty Collector?? Please, do share...What is the price of them? Well? Well?? Well?? Thats right you DONT know the price, you DONT know what shipping is going to be, you DONT know anything about it but just feel the need to bitch about something. Yet I find it funny because people are happy to buy stuff early off of RSC and pay their inflated prices but people dont bitch saying "Ill never buy them, RSC doesnt care about its customers" you just fall right in line and do as they say, just as you will do for Matty collector. Do you collect MOTUC? Do you collect DCDU? Do you collect Ghostbusters? They can all be purchased on Mattycollector.com I can speak for MOTUC, figures are $20 if you're lucky to buy them in the first couple of seconds because even if they are in your cart at checkout they can still sellout thanks to Mattel's brilliant choice to stay with DigitalRiver. So if Elites are already retailing at $17-$19 and DM's at $22-$25, then it's a very fair assessment to say $20 per Legend (if we're lucky). Now add in shipping, within the States, a mere $8 but for us international folk - at least $15-$20. So on a very conservative scale, I'm looking at purchasing a single Legends figure on Mattycollector for $40. Get the math now? International customers are completely different thing. How cheap is it to purchase a legend figure on RSC with international shipping and all? Its probably not that much different. As for just the price points that people (in the states) complain about. Legends are only about $15 here. You add another $5 and just round it up to $20 on Matty, then $8 shipping and you're getting one figure for $28 dollars. If they're at retail you go to target to no avail, then Walmart and again nothing, then TRU and nothing there either and then Kmart to finally find the figure. Legends figure $15+ $10-$15 you spent in gas driving all over Gods creation= $25-$30....the same price you would get for ordering off Matty except its going to be delivered to your door.
|
|