Mattel QC has done it again.
I’m still trying to decide how much I care about this, but over on He-Man.org fans have discovered that Roboto’s shoulders appear to be backwards, much like the first-release He-Man. It looks like the Horsemen sculpted them to match the vintage figure, and Mattel screwed the pooch on the assembly.
Oddly enough, this was perfectly evident way back in the SDCC pics, but apparently no one caught it.
The shoulders are reversed on the Pixel Dan review as well, so I think we can safely assume every single Roboto will have backwards shoulders. And this time we’re being forced to pay for defective products. At the very least, Mattel should allow fans to opt-out of the sub for this one figure and wait for a reissue.
What do you think? Do you care enough about this to not want the figure until it’s been corrected?
I mean, this is pretty damned bad. Yes, you can say it’s not really that noticeable–and that’s kind of how I feel–but at the same time, remember, you’re paying $30 for this thing.
I don’t want to come off like some hysterical fanboy losing my shit over this, because I’m still not sure it bothers me much (although apparently the reversed shoulders on the He-Man caused them to rub and wear away at some points of contact, and the thought of that happening does bug me a bit). But given the subscription, there’s a principle-of-the-thing aspect to this that’s really bugging me.
UPDATE: I want to point out that it’s entirely possible that the sample Pixel Dan received was an early one and that this was caught and corrected at the factory before general production started. But they said the same thing about the bleed around Orko’s ears, and it wasn’t corrected. So you’ll forgive me if I don’t hold my breath.
NotNateSinlao
Thanks for the head's up..mine will be going back.
PrfktTear
@Dead Man Walking: Aye, yup. I complain about the complainers, but I think this is something that is at least worth speaking up about.
Personally though, I don't really care.
Thrawn
I still can't tell that my first issue He-Man's shoulders are reversed. So tentatively this doesn't bother me too much.
What does bother me is that I'm paying for an error (even one I can't tell). Vehicle manufacturers have to issue recalls on their defective products. I think another coupon for free shipping would be a nice consolation by Mattel.
/I'm not holding my breath.
Too-Man-E-Faces
I really couldn't care less.
And if people wouldn't continually put their fingers on the the fact of the reversed shoulders of first issue He-Man and Skullface, it would again have slipped my mind by now.
As to Robotos shoulders: even if they have been attached the wrong way I really cannot see any harm this fact may cause the figure. The design still looks OK to me. I cannot make out any abnormal anatomic impression, apart from the figure being transluscient with some funny colourful gears being the figures vitals and the fact that until two weeks ago I couldn't tell his eyes from his mouth anyway…
As annoying as mixed up shoulders might be for some people, I really don't see why to proclaim the MOTUC apocalypse again.
busterhighman
I can't see a mass return ending the line. Mattel has the line planned out until at least 2016 with supersized figures, bonus figures, vehicles, army builders, and who knows what else. They have to be making a nice return on investment or else they wouldn't put as much effort into the line like they are. Too much to lose now by just canceling the entire line. Plus they could probably just resell the returned Robotos to non-subscribers that would want them either way.
Andrew
I can't really figure out what's wrong from the pics, and if this misassembly was evident back in comic-con and you guys are only losing your shit now, then yeah, you do sound like a bunch of whiney fanboys.
I'll probably sell my Roboto – even with this there's probably gonna be people who won't get it from mattycollector who'll still want it.
JediCreeper
*sigh* again!? now.. I don't have a sub.. but I love Roboto and was going to get him.. but waiting for a reissue that might not come or getting an effed up fig.. frankly, I'm not sure which sucks more…
Mountain-man
Man, shouldn't someone have a checklist for this shit? Pretty basic level stuff to go over a figure part by part before it goes into production.
Poe
@busterhighman:
Yes. And that's probably the right think to do. I fear, though, that a disaster likes this might cause the end of the line, as an exec hears about it and says, "Forget it, this line is way more trouble than it's worth."
On the other hand, maybe Mattel has insurance for situations like this.
Still…you'd think that after the incident with the first He-Man release, they'd pay special attention to the shoulders. You'd think…
busterhighman
@Poe: It's easy to say that Mattel will just force subscribers to accept the figures as is, but the way I see it is that they kind of have to take them back if requested by a subscriber. The figure is assembled incorrectly resulting in a manufacturer's defect. Normally Mattel would just exchange defective figures from the overrun they keep on hand, but that would not apply if all figures are defective. Therefore, it seems a return of product would be an acceptable solution. Of course, although unlikely, the other option would be to just somehow provide corrected figures in a reasonable amount of time.
Poe is right in that the amount of wasted overhead by Mattel from mass returns would go a long ways toward preventing similar problems in the future.
wilyjeff
"Correctly constructed" was part of the 200X hyper-detailed anime style. That style is now retired. What you call "reversed shoulders" is actually a modern "Classicized" update of shoddy manufacturing from the 1980s.
misterbigbo
Mattel management doesn't care how it represents this brand. They won't give subscribers a pass on this one and get stuck with thousands of defective products. The best you'll get is a coupon for some future Mattydisappointer.com purchase.
Dlia
Keep in mind these are supposedly the same factories that missassemble Apple Iphones and other electronics.
He-Man Org Subject: ROBOTO1S LEGS MISASSBLMELD
Ask Matty answer: "We are continously working to fix this problem..it'll be be fixed promise. NOW BUY SOME MORE PRODUCT, LOOKEE CASTASPELLA!"
"ooohhhh"
Poe
@busterhighman: Actually, that's probably a really good idea. If Mattel doesn't do anything about this, we should plan a mass return for refunds. The overhead from paying for all that will really force them to pay much more attention to QC issues.
Or it might kill the line. Either/or.
busterhighman
I hope Mattel allows subscribers the option to return/exchange their figures. In the case of any other manufacturer defect, an exchange or return would be expected. Maybe if enough figures were returned, Mattel would be forced to pay a little more attention to QC.
Frogster
Hopefully TG will respond to this soon!
Philip Reed
Maybe we'll get lucky and the backwards shoulders will drive some people to skip Roboto this week. Then I'll have a chance to get one; it's annoying, but as long as the backwardness doesn't harm the poseability then I can live with it.
Replicant
Glad I planned on skipping him anyway.
Leonardo T Dragon
Funny thing is that it isn't like there's no precedent for this. Remember the original MoTUC He-Man's shoulders?
Matty QC at it's finest– from the people that brought you "floppy ankles Prince Adam"!
Dead Man Walking
Definitely pissed off. People can complain about complainers all they want, but this is a manufacturer error, and customers should not be forced to pay for it to remain subscribers.