Why can’t Mattel get their crowdfunds right?

...it wasn't overpriced (except for international customers) - it was expensive. But it was always going to be expensive... these things are. And the Nitro stage failing had nothing to do with them having released the New Gen entrance way and ring... they were totally different things being offered.

But shipping something to Nebraska doesn’t cost the same as shipping something to Melbourne. The cost to ship something to New Jersey isn’t the same as shipping it to Winchester. Something of that scale and weight costs a fortune to ship internationally. Mattel woulda been the ones getting screwed if you really expected them to charge the exact same rates as they would domestically.

These gates are not nearly as bad as they are getting heat for. I understand the price point is steep but this is a premium toy and a premium offering...as was the WCW Nitro Stage. I don't really understand how it's so hard to wrap around that for some people. The days of giant hollow pieces of plastic with a built in rotator chair and launching missiles are over. Steep price or not, it is what it is. I still have my old Ghostbusters firehouse but how could someone expect something like that to be released in the modern era of toys being more detailed than ever before? See: the McFarlane Batmobile from Flash...bare bones but in person not even close to as good as a crowdfunded version would be. I'm going to get the remote control SpinMaster one instead.

As someone who has been waiting and hoping for exactly these, probably more than anything else across any toy line including wrestling, the gates look incredible and it's going to really sting for me if they don't get backed. Not only that, and it was kind of the same thing with the WCW stage to a degree, these gates are absolutely the most iconic and recognizable aspects of the brands. The only thing arguably more recognizable than the JP gates is the T-Rex itself, so I don't know why people wouldn't expect these to be suped up and turned into premium offerings. They have specialized, collector based packaging which is clearly catering to the collector market and also goes into the budget. Personally, and this is no disrespect to Mattel's talented packaging teams, but I open every single item I get, even rare things, so I could do without all that stuff but I am not the only one this is being sold for and I am very aware of that.

Don't get me wrong...I would pay for a bare bones, hollow version (probably would have for WCW stage as well) just to have the look in place but how can anyone deny the electronics and lights on pieces like this don't make them way beyond anything we ever had for toys as kids, those of us who had these types of things in the 80's and 90's? They're creating pretty awesome things here with a level of accuracy and detail that just hasn't been done up to this point.

As far as some of the items being repaints, that to me is just how it is with a line at GI Joe scale...you're going to get some reused molding. Especially with a line where the T-Rex models are essentially the same throughout all movies and most casual collectors out there dipping their toes into JP really only need one. These projects are meant to pull people into lines they don't typically collect. With that said the fact that reusing so many molds should probably lower the cost a bit is a valid criticism. It does make me wonder if it was possible to get this to $200 with all included if people would be more open to it. $50 bucks definitely makes a difference...especially after shipping and tax. But I still can't help but feel like people would be complaining.

The criticisms about these types of things being so large it's hard to fill up a room I also find valid, but that I think makes it even easier to say if you don't have the room, you don't have to get it or you can make space. Not everyone has to have everything always even when it feels like that sometimes and that's something I think sometimes a lot of people lose sight of. I get being a perfectionist and wanting things but your life won't end not getting certain pieces if you can't afford it/don't have the room.

Anyway, I'm still backing this and I was planning on backing the WCW stage to support my friends on that team. I am not a major fan of crowd-funding and the way it works in general but there are certain things that are undeniable necessities for me in regards to my collection, personally, and this is close to the top of the list. I can't stress enough this is like...a centerpiece and I can't imagine something else beyond this I would even want as much. I don't need a giant building like the visitor's center or anything like that.

I also am going to have to get this shipped to an international address believe it or not so I was bummed to find that I wasn't able to back it right away, but I want the gates and everything included bad enough that I'm going to have it forwarded. If it hits 5k I will cancel my US order and have it shipped to me directly in my country of residence.

Hasbro already confirmed the final tier won't be Airborne, as he will be a mainline release. Most predict it will be Hawk.