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Post by Deep Figure Value on May 6, 2023 12:40:41 GMT -5
I think it's a really weird mentality to look at the responses to the price or the size as "backlash" and to use those responses to paint collectors as "never happy". I know that one dude tried to cast me as the big Negative Nancy here, but the fact is that - all jokes/memes aside - I simply did not need this offering in my collection. Price wasn't an issue - I could have easily backed a few of them without really noticing the hit to the bank account - but moreover, I live within my means. I have a very small, modest home, and I keep my collection resigned to my equally small, modest home office, where I have to also work from multiple times a week, negating my ability to make it into one of those crazy figure rooms I see on Instragram and such. I'm pretty sure that I repeated multiple times that the stage was cool as hell. I'd have been all over it as a kid. Hell, I'd have probably backed it when I first registered this account and could do whatever the hell I wanted with every paycheck.
There's no single reason why this failed. I'd like to think that at least one of the takeaways here would be that WWE fans are a niche market, and that those fans that also collect action figures are a smaller niche within that niche, and that those fans that collect action figures that have the perfect storm of disposable income, space, and compulsion to own this item commemorating a show that ran for just over five years and ceased production over 20 years ago are an even smaller niche within that niche...but I know before long we'll be back to hammering Steve/Bill/etc. for not running their business like they have the reach that Star Wars does.
The preceding announcement has been paid for by the new Poor order
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RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,586
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Post by RedDevil on May 6, 2023 12:43:39 GMT -5
Lets take the obvious we can work-out from this:
The price was ultimately too high to generate 5,000 backers.
Would 5,000 have paid $400 (lets ignore the international customers; Mattel did) for a different project? Debatable, but lets work with what we know: there weren't 5,000 backers in the WWE collector base at $400.
So what to do in the future?
Would the 3,935 backers they did get (the 'hardcore'?) have paid more for a project?
Would they have paid for $500 for example? $550?
Could Mattel lower the threshold and raise the price for a future project?
In my view: I don't think the WWE collector base is right for big pieces; I think at their age they want figures rather than set pieces - figures dominate the talk about crowdfunds. When they were children then yes they wanted these pieces, but now? Most aren't playing with them, and most aren't getting them for kids at this price-point- that's what the Wrekkin line is for.
Should the WWE team offer another stage/arena/ring to the adult collector base when evidence seems to show they mostly just want figures? The number who want the stages seems too small - that's why they have to include exclusive Ultimate Edition figures with rings in order to sell them.
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Post by GreyHaze:Big Bad Booty Daddy on May 6, 2023 12:49:35 GMT -5
I think it's a really weird mentality to look at the responses to the price or the size as "backlash" and to use those responses to paint collectors as "never happy". I know that one dude tried to cast me as the big Negative Nancy here, but the fact is that - all jokes/memes aside - I simply did not need this offering in my collection. Price wasn't an issue - I could have easily backed a few of them without really noticing the hit to the bank account - but moreover, I live within my means. I have a very small, modest home, and I keep my collection resigned to my equally small, modest home office, where I have to also work from multiple times a week, negating my ability to make it into one of those crazy figure rooms I see on Instragram and such. I'm pretty sure that I repeated multiple times that the stage was cool as hell. I'd have been all over it as a kid. Hell, I'd have probably backed it when I first registered this account and could do whatever the hell I wanted with every paycheck. There's no single reason why this failed. I'd like to think that at least one of the takeaways here would be that WWE fans are a niche market, and that those fans that also collect action figures are a smaller niche within that niche, and that those fans that collect action figures that have the perfect storm of disposable income, space, and compulsion to own this item commemorating a show that ran for just over five years and ceased production over 20 years ago are an even smaller niche within that niche...but I know before long we'll be back to hammering Steve/Bill/etc. for not running their business like they have the reach that Star Wars does. The preceding announcement has been paid for by the new Poor orderYou could of just tagged me on your post. |
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ilovejcp86
Mid-Carder
Joined on: May 10, 2021 16:18:00 GMT -5
Posts: 164 
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Post by ilovejcp86 on May 6, 2023 13:10:54 GMT -5
This crowdfund was specifically for the Nitro set, and the figures were basically extra. So if we just think about that, there probably isn't a huge market for expensive and giant stage sets. New Gen was $250 but you got a whole arena (set+ring) capturing a specific company/time period plus figure, if it hit the minimum. The New Gen stage itself is also takes up way less space compared to nearly every configuration of the Nitro set. So to the above, a Smackdown set is probably gonna cost just as much as this Nitro set, it won't have a ring, and I'm honestly not sure what figures you would include in that? Maybe a biker taker + bike? heyman? But at the point it might be make more sense to get those figures out themselves in a pre-order/on-demand than have an expensive stage anchor them down. Lets take the obvious we can work-out from this: The price was ultimately too high to generate 5,000 backers. Would 5,000 have paid $400 (lets ignore the international customers; Mattel did) for a different project? Debatable, but lets work with what we know: there weren't 5,000 backers in the WWE collector base at $400. So what to do in the future? Would the 3,935 backers they did get (the 'hardcore'?) have paid more for a project? Would they have paid for $500 for example? $550? Could Mattel lower the threshold and raise the price for a future project? In my view: I don't think the WWE collector base is right for big pieces; I think at their age they want figures rather than set pieces - figures dominate the talk about crowdfunds. When they were children then yes they wanted these pieces, but now? Most aren't playing with them, and most aren't getting them for kids at this price-point- that's what the Wrekkin line is for. Should the WWE team offer another stage/arena/ring to the adult collector base when evidence seems to show they mostly just want figures? The number who want the stages seems too small - that's way they have to include exclusive Ultimate Edition figures with rings in order to sell them. I think there is a section of the collector base that would want sets that are crafted to work as display pieces rather than need to carve out a whole corner of the room to fit (and thus, this would lower the price) From the nitro set, I would have been fine if Mattel gave us the main entry piece and the WCW logos and nothing else -- no base, no ramp, no banners, etc. I have enough space to put those in my media console/bookshelf in my office. Your overall point is correct, the stages in these 2 crowd funds have become secondary to the figures.
edit: should note, that I was probably one of the few that backed this mostly to just get the set.
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rsj316
Jobber
Joined on: Apr 12, 2022 0:38:37 GMT -5
Posts: 8
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Post by rsj316 on May 6, 2023 13:11:22 GMT -5
Did anyone get charged for this?
Mattel creations charged my credit card 2 days ago and it's not a pending charge it's a posted one.
Maybe they'll send me one haha.
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Post by Deep Figure Value on May 6, 2023 13:14:47 GMT -5
I think sets and such are fine, but there's definitely a size cap where you're going to alienate a segment of the potential demographic, and I think Mattel may have found it.
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on May 6, 2023 13:19:20 GMT -5
Looks like Mattel just got greedy with this one! The success of the New Generation fund made Mattel think the collectors would pay anything for these sets now.
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Warriah'
Main Eventer
Joined on: Dec 22, 2019 19:46:02 GMT -5
Posts: 3,259
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Post by Warriah' on May 6, 2023 13:20:56 GMT -5
Did anyone get charged for this? Mattel creations charged my credit card 2 days ago and it's not a pending charge it's a posted one. Maybe they'll send me one haha. This sort of crapis why some people wait to back until it becomes a guarantee to be made, too. Who wants the hassle of having to chase this up? |
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shawnscga
Superstar
Joined on: Dec 21, 2012 6:01:14 GMT -5
Posts: 615
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Post by shawnscga on May 6, 2023 13:25:00 GMT -5
So are we waiting on a official word from Steve about this or should we just take it as it’s over and won’t be extended, I kinda feel everything is up in the air here
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onlymoc21
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Joined on: Feb 20, 2021 8:27:31 GMT -5
Posts: 491
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Post by onlymoc21 on May 6, 2023 13:27:47 GMT -5
Just think. All they had to do to make this a success was charge international customers the same as the yanks. 1000 people from the rest of the world would have absolutely backed this. Will they learn from this? I have a feeling that’s a no. This died by Mattel’s greed. Nothing more to say. 100% This is entirely on Mattel's fault and I could pretty much guarantee that at least internally, they will blame us in some way. It is entirely down to their greed. A complete and utter balls up. Completely overcharging us for: 1. Currency conversion 2. Tax 3. Import duties - which they have basically no reason to make us pay up front (see New Gen ring). This should be down to the individual to pay after receipt in country. 4. Additional £9 shipping. Why do we have an additional charge for this when we're already paying for shipping into the factored £500? It comes down to them trying to make a quick buck. And it absolutely backfired. So no blame should ever be placed on anyone else. AND then you have all the other choices they've made regarding the offerings and early backer bonus..... Terrible, just utter terrible. And finally to cap it all off, the marketing was done wrong. Why do what you should have done in the first week and throughout the campaign, AT THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS LEFT? Advertising on WWE.com, on the WWE Network, promotion on tv and getting Hulk Hogan to push it on the last day? There is so much to learn from this and it is absolutely mind-boggling as to the decisions made during this campaign. All of this, they put their faith into a bunch of influencers and it did not get them anywhere. The whole thing showed that Mattel can be somewhat out of touch . They assumed this would sell based on the figure selection. I did not want my 100th Hulk, Warrior, Rey. The accountability 1000% falls on Mattel. |
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Post by Xæro #FakeCollector on May 6, 2023 13:28:43 GMT -5
Then explain the success of the coliseum collection??? If Mattel stops producing figures from the 90s and 80s then myself and over half the base of collectors are out. This didn't fund because of the price tag. Period. Over half of the collector base? Lmao, you're severely overestimating how many of us there are in the grand scheme of things. We're the minority when it comes who's buying Mattel figures. |
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Post by legendsguy on May 6, 2023 13:30:01 GMT -5
So are we waiting on a official word from Steve about this or should we just take it as it’s over and won’t be extended, I kinda feel everything is up in the air here im sure its done, but i keep saying they shouldve just given it more time frame. 1 month just seemed to short for something of this size and price. ive seen kickstarters last for months sometimes. |
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Post by coldblooded on May 6, 2023 13:36:47 GMT -5
I think sets and such are fine, but there's definitely a size cap where you're going to alienate a segment of the potential demographic, and I think Mattel may have found it. The size for me was the issue, I was almost being forced to back this only to keep it in the box forever. And I backed it twice, (though canceled 1st order because Walmart exclusive shenanigans) but ultimately backed it again last night. Do I have the room for it? Debatable, do I want to re arrange my collection to fit around this piece? Absolutely not. And again why IMHO, they made it too big. It didn't need all that. The team went way too far imo. USB c charging was an awesome touch, but was it needed? Nah. I'm sure $100 could've been knocked off for a smaller scale minus a few bells and whistles. Oh I'm damn sure lol And when I look at the raw stage, I don't understand how it could be MORE than the nitro stage, since theres probably only going to be 20 LEDs compared to nitros 100. And again, the sheer size of that raw stage is way too big, the bulk of that stage is a got damn sheet. I can get a queen size flat sheet for 5 bucks at Walmart for example. REDUCE THE SIZE, to cut costs. This crowdfund at 300 would look at lot different, possibly even getting the DDP ultimate. But this ain't me complaining about the price, I was more than happy to fund it for everyone else. It just would have stayed in the box likely forever or until sold. |
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Post by PJ on May 6, 2023 13:39:02 GMT -5
Did anyone get charged for this? Mattel creations charged my credit card 2 days ago and it's not a pending charge it's a posted one. Maybe they'll send me one haha. When did you order it two days ago? That’s a hold that drops of you account after 3-5 days depending on your bank. |
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rsj316
Jobber
Joined on: Apr 12, 2022 0:38:37 GMT -5
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Post by rsj316 on May 6, 2023 13:46:57 GMT -5
Did anyone get charged for this? Mattel creations charged my credit card 2 days ago and it's not a pending charge it's a posted one. Maybe they'll send me one haha. When did you order it two days ago? That’s a hold that drops of you account after 3-5 days depending on your bank. I backed it on April 5th and it's a full charge. Originally it was pending but disappeared. 2 days ago it got posted and is dated April 5th the charge. Weird. |
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Post by PJ on May 6, 2023 13:49:12 GMT -5
When did you order it two days ago? That’s a hold that drops of you account after 3-5 days depending on your bank. I backed it on April 5th and it's a full charge. Originally it was pending but disappeared. 2 days ago it got posted and is dated April 5th the charge. Weird. WtF! You get MY stage!!! This is bull 💩!!! Seriously that’s odd. |
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rsj316
Jobber
Joined on: Apr 12, 2022 0:38:37 GMT -5
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Post by rsj316 on May 6, 2023 14:00:24 GMT -5
I backed it on April 5th and it's a full charge. Originally it was pending but disappeared. 2 days ago it got posted and is dated April 5th the charge. Weird. WtF! You get MY stage!!! This is bull 💩!!! Seriously that’s odd. I guess I'm getting the one they had for advertising lol. I'm in Canada and they charged me the full international fee. I'm sure they'll remove it next week, just thought it was odd they all of a sudden charged it. |
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Post by The Assassin on May 6, 2023 14:01:39 GMT -5
Crowdfund page has just been updated to say "Not Funded". So it's official I guess.  Would have been nice to unexpectedly see "100%" and "funded" - and find out there was actually some technical error stopping backers from showing up properly. Or even a "Deadline Extended" update if we're looking for more fantasy straws to clutch at. But seems we used up all our miracles a few days ago when it jumped 20% in one day. Man, that was a great feeling, seemed like anything was possible... |
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ddt4thee
Superstar
Joined on: Sept 24, 2020 14:12:31 GMT -5
Posts: 583
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Post by ddt4thee on May 6, 2023 14:26:15 GMT -5
Crowdfund page has just been updated to say "Not Funded". So it's official I guess. Would have been nice to unexpectedly see "100%" and "funded" - and find out there was actually some technical error stopping backers from showing up properly. Or even a "Deadline Extended" update if we're looking for more fantasy straws to clutch at. But seems we used up all our miracles a few days ago when it jumped 20% in one day. Man, that was a great feeling, seemed like anything was possible... There were plenty of errors, both technical and tactical, that prevented folks from buying it. They were just ignored, unfortunately. |
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skogen
Superstar
Joined on: Mar 4, 2021 1:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 559
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Post by skogen on May 6, 2023 14:26:26 GMT -5
At least going forward with the crowd funds - if there are any - they have a general understanding of the price limits for collectors. I didn't back this because I couldn't fit it anywhere and the value wasn't there for me without all the figures being unlocked but it's a real shame for those who were invested in it to miss out.
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I dont know good luck 
