Ask Mattel > Answers for Mid-April

We’re back with another round of answers for Ask Mattel. (I didn’t solicit new questions for the May 1 round because I had five questions I wanted to ask myself this time.)

Let’s get to it.

1.) Fengschwing asks: Should DCUC Wave 5 prove popular and sell out, will Mattel consider releasing it yet again, as they do with popular MOTUC products?

If it sells out as fast as a MOTUC figure we could look into a re-re-release. Wave 5 is also a big test to see how well re-released DCUC product does for us. If you want to see more re-releases tell your friends to support the Wave 5 box set.

2.) Grenadier asks: Would you attribute Moss Man’s incredible sell-out time to a lower production run, the fact that he went up for sale several minutes early, or was this an example of the Digital River system working at peak efficiency?

Since fans asked for a change to Moss Man (unflocked ears) we went ahead and made a running change and therefore there were two versions. This created a much higher demand for the figure since we did not increase production but rather split the existing production between both versions (we updated the figure as soon as we could make a change during production). Yes, Digital River was also running the sale very well.

3.) mjturny23 asks: You said a while back that there wasn’t sufficient demand outside the US to have non-US distribution centers, but that you would review it later. Due to increasing purchases, is this a possibility now?

We have looked again and there is still not enough demand outside of the U.S. to justify a second distribution center. If this ever changes we would love to open one. We just need to see the demand.

4.) Considering how popular they are and the rush to get them on Mattycollector last time, will you try to avoid selling the Trap Jaw and Battle Cat reissues in the same month?

Yes, we will not offer them in the same month for the re-release.

5.) While Skeletor’s Havoc Staff was given something of an origin in the Millennium comics, it’s still one of the more mysterious aspects of the MOTU mythos. Are there any plans to touch on its history in the MOTUC bios?

Yes, you will learn the full story in time.

Ask Mattel Roundup:

1.) Fengschwing asks: Should DCUC Wave 5 prove popular and sell out, will Mattel consider releasing it yet again, as they do with popular MOTUC products?

If it sells out as fast as a MOTUC figure we could look into a re-re-release. Wave 5 is also a big test to see how well re-released DCUC product does for us. If you want to see more re-releases tell your friends to support the Wave 5 box set.

2.) Grenadier asks: Would you attribute Moss Man’s incredible sell-out time to a lower production run, the fact that he went up for sale several minutes early, or was this an example of the Digital River system working at peak efficiency?

Since fans asked for a change to Moss Man (unflocked ears) we went ahead and made a running change and therefore there were two versions. This created a much higher demand for the figure since we did not increase production but rather split the existing production between both versions (we updated the figure as soon as we could make a change during production). Yes, Digital River was also running the sale very well.

3.) mjturny23 asks: You said a while back that there wasn’t sufficient demand outside the US to have non-US distribution centers, but that you would review it later. Due to increasing purchases, is this a possibility now?

We have looked again and there is still not enough demand outside of the U.S. to justify a second distribution center. If this ever changes we would love to open one. We just need to see the demand.

4.) Considering how popular they are and the rush to get them on Mattycollector last time, will you try to avoid selling the Trap Jaw and Battle Cat reissues in the same month?

Yes, we will not offer them in the same month for the re-release.

5.) While Skeletor’s Havoc Staff was given something of an origin in the Millennium comics, it’s still one of the more mysterious aspects of the MOTU mythos. Are there any plans to touch on its history in the MOTUC bios?

Yes, you will learn the full story in time.

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12 Comments

  1. Anyone know the sell out time for the Adam Stranger/Starfire 2 pack? Or the Giganta JLU pack? I'm not sure what sold the slowest that killed the 2 pack s and JLU exclusives.

  2. mjturny23

    Thanks Poe! Shame about the extra distribution centre, shipping is almost a third of the cost for me. Plus I often get hit for customs charges… urgh!

  3. Gmamon

    So I don't know where to post this so I'll post it here, There has been people asking about the Dark Knight figures at TRU, well according to Sentry (from youtube)he works at TRU and they shipped the new Movie Masters. Contrary to what Matty Collector has been saying, they are shipping these out and you don't have to be hustled by Matty. Monopolistic whores.

  4. I♥Animeskeles

    @Lay Ze-Man: Yet the beasts are A-OK to add to the sub (with only ONE beast sold and a hyper popular one to boot). Which I don't understand… If the Bonus figures were "a failure" how are they adding these untested beasts…

    BTW the answer for #1 sucks big time (and I'm not a DCUC fan).

  5. Lay Ze-Man

    @Poe: True, but instead of cool, more "fringe" characters like GG and Zodak, it seems like the scope of the Bonus Figures is now limited to A-list variants, ie. BA He-Man and Keldor.

    Both of which are cool figures, don't get me wrong. But I was hoping the Bonus Figure program would be a better avenue for the kind of interesting releases that Mattel might be reticent to "force" on people via the subscription.

    That GG and Zodak were "poor" sellers is still hysterical IMO.

  6. Poe

    @dayraven: We're still getting four bonus figures a year, so "failure" or not, I'm not sure the Goddess's sales affected Mattel's plan one iota.

  7. dayraven

    well, remember the goddess lasted what, 12 days, and was a "failure" so that gives us some indication of what mattel is expecting on DCU wave 5.

  8. Grenadier

    I got my question answered!

    On the other hand, the answer to No. 1 is annoying. I just hope they're not too strict on what "sells out as fast as a MOTU figure means."

    Mattel: AH! Sorry! The last Wave 5 case sold in 5 minutes and FIFTY-TWO SECONDS! No more re-releases for you!

  9. I'm sure Wave 5 will sell out, but compared to Matty's usual standards even a few hours might be too long for them to consider it worthwhile to release more DCUC sets.

  10. Nicholai

    I think wave 5 will sell out very fast, but I'm not sure what other DCUC re-releases they think might work online since they've already complained about the sales of the box sets for waves 11 and 12.

  11. Fengschwing

    Thanks for asking Poe!

    Wish me luck on the 17th!

  12. The Flash III

    I'm pretty sure wave 5 will sell out–to scalpers. I'm going to try to get one in hopes of getting a Metallo without hips like a five-dollar whore.

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