Roboto’s shoulders are on backwards

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.

Previous

Feature > The Dark Arsenal of the Space Pirate

Next

Pic of the Day

20 Comments

  1. Israel Ramirez

    Also, if the problem was THAT obvious, someone would have spotted it sooner, probably at Comic Con.

    Of course NOW it's obvious, especially with arrows, circles and diagrams pointing it out from every angle. 😉

  2. Israel Ramirez

    DR,

    I didn't say the details are insignificant. I said I personally didn't care about the shoulder issue and it wouldn't detract from my enjoyment of the figure.

    We live in an imperfect world, where HUGE problems assail us from all sides. In the broad scheme of things, this one just isn't that important TO ME.

    Again, your mileage may differ…

  3. tolb

    You know what's funny about this whole thing? Its a legit issue with the QC and yet the Matty mod (and her outspoken friend on Facebook) choose to turn a blind eye to it. There is video evidence of this issue and it ca be seen in broad daylight but they just want to drink the Kool-Aid without noticing. And its understandable because I'm sure they can delay the figure just like with the guards pack to make it right but its too close to sale day. But this and the sheath on Adam (included on Adora but missed on an SDCC exclusive) is just hard to understand how these things are botched. Matty is as incompetent as the 2008 Detroit Lions.

    And on top of that you got others who think its alright to have the figure released. You can notice it, its right there. This is like saying Barrack Obama is white. The Mattel fandom at large and th' diehards are clearly screwed in the head. Jaded toy fans my ass.

  4. Matty's Bane

    Good news everyone! Matty has decided to make things right by offering a promo code for Roboto. Enter the code VASELINE during checking out to receive some bonus special loving from Matty himself.

  5. dayraven

    @Israel Ramirez: did the lawyer just say the details are insignificant? i didn't just read that, there's no WAY a lawyer just said that the details are insignificant. i couldn't possibly live in that world, right?

    "If you really have to look hard to pick this nit, then it’s a pretty small nit."

    aside from fixing his typo, i had to reread that like five times for it to sink in… as firstly, the photos above seem pretty obvious, such that one might note that it doesn't have to take hard looking, just looking.

  6. Jesus Santillan

    See Gygor´s shoulders(Left,right)it´s the same.

    http://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_092410a.htm

  7. dean

    Sorry guys. That was the first time I tried linking and I botched it. If anyone can fix it that would be great.

    Otherwise it's just a link to Buzzy's tutorial on AFP.

    I feel as competent as Matty…sheesh.

  8. dean

    @FakeEyes22: If I buy one I may try to cut his deltoid off the shoulder ring similar to how Buzzy Fret prevents paint rub.

    Granted, I would not be removing the shoulder from Roboto's torso as I have no desire to crack his chest open.

    We'll see.

    I probably won't buy him; even though he was the figure I was most looking forward to for the rest of 2010.

    I do not wish to reward Matty's incompetence.

    I wouldn't buy a new "insert product" if I knew it was not assembled properly.

  9. Israel Ramirez

    Who cares?

    I honestly don't see what the big deal is. If you really have to look hard to pick this nit, then it's a pretty small not.

    If it makes you feel better think of it this way: It's a fricking robot. Robots are manufactured and as such are subject to manufacturing errors.

    This one got past QC at the Eternian factory.

  10. FakeEyes22

    @Mysterious Stranger

    Yup! Those are your options. The bonus/replacement figure system is in place as Mattel's insurance if something goes wrong early on in the process. Opening a bunch of shipped and packaged figures isn't going to happen of course.

    It's because of this that I think it's definitely fair to talk about the problem and point it out to Mattel without being told that it doesn't matter. It probably doesn't matter that much, but it is wrong. I'd just like them to acknoledge and learn from it. I can honestly even understand to a degree since a mothly production of a different item is different from retail waves. My understanding is diminished somewhat by several issues popping up right before what looks like a really great and ambitious year that could complicate matters more.

    I think the only solutions are to offer a discount/coupon for next time, or figure out a home-fix Apollo 13 style and post instructions.

    The discount isn't likely, but it seems like a good way to ensure a quick sellout. Otherwise, reissues will be leftovers.

    Home-fix…not likely. This is the worst figure to try to fix! Assuming a hot water-pop trick worked, his chest will be a fish tank! Crack him open and you've got gears everywhere! It'll be madness!

    Seriously, I doubt they'll do anything. You're right, it's neither unsafe or broken. I'm a bit tired of fixing these things myself, so I'm going to buy it and accept it. If I get obsessive and work out a fix, I'll spread the word.

  11. dean

    No, Matty will not correct the issue, even though they are "one of the world's most ethical toy companies".

    The Horsemen however, when they had a bad run of figures, tried to make it right; even though it cost them time and came out of their pocketbooks. They got quality figures made and offered the defects at a deep discount. Makes me proud to buy the 4H's personal product.

    Guess that's the difference between being a corporate entity or being a little guy. The little guys actually have honor.

    The 4H rock…Matty, not so much.

  12. Mysterious Stranger

    "It’s not like a bunch of packaged Robotos that are in North America already can be swapped out for a figure that isn’t."

    Quoted for truth. If you honestly believe Mattel is going to scrap a run of 10-15,000 figures because of a simple mis-assembly that doesn't seem to affect function/articulation or cause a safety concern you are deluded. It will be addressed in the re-release and that will be it. You can send your figure back all you want but you're only going to get either A) another figure from the same run, likely with the same "defect" or B) a refund. Sure if they get enough returns it will encourage them to look at QC more closely but that's about it. Its not like they are going to have Digital River sit there and open figures, reassemble them correctly and repackage them.

    Voice your concerns, return your figure if you feel that strongly but don't expect a widespread correction to happen right away.

  13. FakeEyes22

    The new screencaps in the He-Man.org thread show that the fit looks a little wierd aside from the circuits. I can't say if it wouldn't still with proper assembly, but there is a recessed curve in the shoulder where the tricep should be. I'm fine with the minor wire thing, but I hope it doesn't get scraped off by the tricep.

    The Mattycollector monitors seem to be telling posters to F off as they close "panic inducing" threads, despite no official answer. I'm not fond of fans being told they're being stupid just for noticing it, or just being told outright that they are wrong. There is quite a bit of discussion about this, but it's generally pretty rational. Heck, Poe's reaction is more extreme than most and he's certainly not grabbing torches and pitchforks.

    It sucks to be ToyGuru right now, he's got to be frustrated at everyone on earth. We've got a figure with an action feature and so few paint apps to slop up, and us crazy fans still discover a way to nitpick. It's a valid nitpick, but we look like crazy fans again, while Mattel looks clumsy. There's not much to be done. It's not like a bunch of packaged Robotos that are in North America already can be swapped out for a figure that isn't.

  14. Matty's Bane

    @Damien: Yes, they admitted to the GG being defective. They essentially shipped thousands of defective figures to their customers and admitted to doing so. Too bad they didn't actually do anything to fix the problem. It looks like they are about to do the same thing with Roboto!

  15. Damien

    @Frogster: Last I heard, they didn't really skate the issue of GG. They did say, however, that it wasn't the plastic but rather incorrectly assembled hip joints, or something.

    Not totally sure I buy it, but they did attempt to address it in one of the Q&As.

  16. Frogster

    @Matty's Bane- I saw that they are closing threads. I sure hope they are braced for the crapstorm headed their way if they continue burying their heads in the sand instead of addressing it. Noticed how they skated around the Goddess's QC problems as well regarding her fragility.

  17. Matty's Bane

    The mods at Matty are closing threads that have anything negative to say about Roboto's shoulders. From one mod's comments it look like Mattel is well aware of the problem. I think Matty is purposefully being silent on the issue. I think their plan is to keep as many people in the dark about this as possible.

  18. dayraven

    @The Flash III: i guess i understand kind of… but in theory, wave 14 is still coming no? and there haven't been photos popped up of production samples that are made incorrectly, right? so it's not exactly an analogous boat.

  19. Damien

    @Reilly: That's weird, man. I have a maybe-70% complete collection of TB LotR figures and the only QC issue I can recall is Elendil's cape ripping away from his rubber breastplate.

    Poor figure design, on the other hand – the line is full of that.

    @The Flash III: Some people have definitely had better luck than me. I think I may actually be the unluckiest person where DCUC QC is concerned.

    In fact, all this time later, I'm STILL trying to find someone with a spare left arm from Cyborg so I can fix mine (he was a rare 'exploding arm' variant).

  20. The Flash III

    @Damien:

    I agree there have been a lot of QC problems–mostly frozen joints in my experience, so maybe I've become numb to it. Aside from one figure's hand coming off, I haven't had any that were permanently disabled/disfigured, though. It would be nice if more of the DCUC issues were addressed, but, as you said, Mattel doesn't seem to be listening.

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén