Mattel: DC Universe Classics

[Lee in MI]

With Matty now they don't need to bow down to Wal-mart or anyone else to sell products. DCUC is the new Marvel Legends and is selling out everywhere. The line lived on for over a year without Wal-mart's support. There was no need for it. Mattel just got greedy. And we the collectors are suffering for it.

I wouldn't bet on that. The product is selling well at retail but the Matty site isn't exactly the same thing as selling products in thousands of stores around the country. Believe it or not, Walmart has the ability to reach many more customers than Matty has at the moment. Not to mention, when Walmart places an order, thats like money in the bank for Mattel. When they decide to take on an exclusive on Matty, they take on the financial risk alone. And in this economic climate, that is a daunting risk...one miscalculation in how many fans want a particular product and that would be all she wrote for DCUC.

I agree that the line is the new Marvel Legends...your preaching to the choir on that one. Now make the bean counters at Mattel understand that!

Indeed the line went for almost a year without Walmart support but Mattel had been saying all along that they were seeking more retail support for the line...it was not making very much money to justify it to the folks who green light projects at Mattel and they were trying to get WM onboard the entire time. Scott M. has stated their need for wider retail support to continue the line and hold the prices from climbing to $15 bucks a figure which killed the ML line.

I agree that WMs involvment is not a good thing for collectors (I myself bought series 5 from ebay) but it is a necessary evil at best.

I'm not sure they lied about the whole WM shipping deal. I think they overstated WMs particular interest in carrying the line. BM. I would suggest talking to Scott at SDCC fi you are going this year. He is pretty honest about what they know and what they are hoping for. When my brother and I asked him about wave 5 last year, it was clear from his answers that they were hoping WM would carry this line in all the store and possibly online as well...they were definately not sure about that and said it was totally up to WM and based on what they ordered. That's why they constantly say, "...ask your local toy depart. mgrs for the product." I think this is a corporate croc but in it, you see that they are not calling the shots when it comes to how many or what stores sell these figs.

And just like ML, these figs are not or will not ever be very easy to find. I think it will be hit or miss now until the line ends.

 

[Buttmunch]

I may have to stop by at talk to Scott then. Being a DC Mod may have some advantages If I remember right Vee Bee on the Fwoosh got 4 of the 5 Wal-mart wave figures sent to him to review and post on the site.

 

[Natrix]

All the Walmarts near me have shrunk their toy aisles to nearly nothing...doesn't make me happy about another "exclusive" wave.

 

[Buttmunch]

I'm trying to get ahold of Mattel now and see if I can get some more info for us here on SSF. Would you guys think a Q/A every month like the Fwoosh and Cool Toy Review might be something you'd like to see? Surely we could come up with 3 or so good questions for them every month right?

Its just with HT's DC licenses apparenlty slowing down/drying up, pumping up interest in the Mattel lines might help keep the DC section alive and well if HT doesn't come up with some more stuff to talk about.

 

[samueljd]

I'm trying to get ahold of Mattel now and see if I can get some more info for us here on SSF. Would you guys think a Q/A every month like the Fwoosh and Cool Toy Review might be something you'd like to see? Surely we could come up with 3 or so good questions for them every month right?

Its just with HT's DC licenses apparenlty slowing down/drying up, pumping up interest in the Mattel lines might help keep the DC section alive and well if HT doesn't come up with some more stuff to talk about.

I think that would be awesome!

 

[Buttmunch]

I think it would be too. Nothing has really happend yet, but wishful thinking. I've been contacting the Fwoosh guys and seeing where that leads, but most likel I'll have to bug them in person at SDCC to get things rolling.

 

[Lee in MI]

I'd be in for some questions too!

 

[abstractharmony]

Some pics of my collection...

Justice League :-

DC Universe & Variants

New Gods

Villans

 

[EdwardNashton1]

What figure is that Catwoman?

 

[EVILFACE]

It was funny when Marvel Legends were out people put down the DC figures of the time, but man, Mattel and DC has kicked the hell out of ML. Superior sculpts with great looking articulation.

 

[abstractharmony]

The Catwoman is the one from the DCSH line before it was changed to DCUC.

 

[EdwardNashton1]

ok thanks

 

[Lee in MI]

The Catwoman is the one from the DCSH line before it was changed to DCUC.

Hey Abstract...didn't you just post your collection pics on AFI today?

 

[Buttmunch]

It appears to be offcial that starting with Wave 11 (the one after the Wal-mart wave, and yet to be revealed) the price for these will be $15 a figure.

Frankly I think it is rediculous considering the massive amounts of reuse with the same buck bodies. Unless we are getting a giant C&C this could kill the line just like ML.

 

[karamazov80]

Well, that does it for me. $15 with shipping will ultimately cost about $16.50 here. I dig these toys, but they ain't worth that. Screw you, Mattel.

 

[samueljd]

I'll just have to pick these up as they go on sale.

 

[memecomplex]

$15 worth of rubbery PVC. Glad I got out of this line already.

 

[hbk007]

What is the best website to buy these from? I would like to get caught up and find a place to start pre-ordering the new waves.

 

[Buttmunch]

Corner Store Comics is good, but they're the ones that have been having the credit card problems lately. Enchanted Toy Chest is another great place to get them from. They even have wave 11 up for pre-order despite no information on who is in it.

They are both around the same price but CSC is on the west coast (california) and I think ETC is more mid-east. I want to say Ohio. So depending on where you are the shipping costs might be cheaper and might take less time, depending on who you order from.

 

[Lee in MI]

Mattel Says it Again! (from Poe Ghostal's site POA):

2.) He-Dan asks: Given the recent announcement in Toyfare that key figures (like Joker and Power Girl) will be part of the Wal-Mart exclusive line, what assurances can Mattel offer that the line will be available more widely and in greater quantities at Walmarts than Wave 5?

It is up to Wal-Mart (and any other retailer) to decide which toy lines to carry, not Mattel. If you are not seeing your favorite DC or other Mattel line at your local retailer, ask for it by name!