1.) Zach asks: Over the past three years, the DCU figures have seen a 50-80% price increase, with little to no increase in quality or value. This is almost to the point of MOTUC prices, minus the shipping, and those figures arguably have better quality and more accessories. Going forward, will there be anything added to these figures, besides a little useless pin, to justify this massive increase?
At this point we are fighting to keep the figures at $14.99. Highly articulated collector figures are very expensive to make and the cost of labor and raw goods continues to rise. We will do all we can to maintain the price point without sacrificing quality, but there are no plans to plus them up further at this point.
2.) Valo487 asks: I’m glad to see the Horde getting fleshed out a bit, but it seems like the rest of the Horde as well as the Snake Men are more unique sculpts. Can you give us a rough idea of when we’ll see the next Snake Man or Horde member?
More of both factions are coming, but we are not ready to reveal when yet. Too many factors are up in the air and we don’t want to announce things that could change.
3.) Tom-Tom asks: Will the Silver Age joker figure see an improvement on the range of motion in the neck joint, compared with the “triple bar bell” problem that plagued the DCUC 10 release?
It is something we are looking into. Highly articulated collector figures are very expensive to make and the cost of labor and raw goods continues to rise. We will do all we can to maintain the price point without sacrificing quality.
4.) fishandacross asks: Can we ever expect to see a lighter blue color scheme on a Superman DCUC similar to the color scheme of his Super Powers figure? Thanks!
This is a redeco we are looking into, but no confirmed plans as of yet.
5.) KnightDamien asks: WWE Question – Can Mattel clarify why Canadian case assortments of Elite figures only include 2 figures from the wave? It’s very frustrating for Canadian customers since there are absolutely no options for the other 4 figures in each wave but to track them down online, often at highly inflated prices.
Since 2010 was our launch year, we produced an International-only version of Elite Figures that only included two of the most popular figures from each series. However we have discontinued this practice in 2011 (which begins with Series 7) so any country that carries a particular series will receive all six characters in that series.
fishandcross
I understand that prices will always increase with figures: fact o' life. But I have to agree with all of you that the QC still isn't up to par with Mattel. I'd be glad to pay $17 for ea DCUC if I knew it was always a solid figure. But even when I find more than one of a figure I like at retail, I have to inspect the heck out of each just to make sure it's not going to fall apart once out of the package or is at least painted "within the lines" better than my 4 yr old.
Kid Nicky
I enjoy reading DC,I'm a fan of the characters,and have a fair amount of figures,so when I walked into TRU the other day and saw Robin AND Joker I was super-excited,and then deflated. FIFTEEN DOLLARS?! For an action figure made of wierd waxy plastic that will come out of the box with at least one joint too loose or too tight?
Sorry Matty,there's just too many cool things competing for the dwindling amount of walking around money I have.
nerdbot
I understand that economic factors including petroleum prices and rising wages in China are driving price increases. What I don't understand is why they seem to be disproportionately affecting Mattel (and more specifically, DCUC). It seems to me that over the last few years Diamond Select prices – and those from similar companies – have gone up maybe 25%, while DCUC prices have gone up 50% or more. If I had been asked, a couple of years ago, to predict how prices would rise I would have guessed it would be the other way around.
Philip Reed
@ Valo487: Licensing no doubt plays a large role in pricing of the DCUC line vs MOTUC. Since Mattel owns MOTUC they don't pay any licensing fees.
Now comparing DCUC to wrestling is probably a fairer comparison, but if the wrestling figures are selling in numbers of 2 to 3x DCUC (space on store shelves suggests it's somewhere around this number) then the unit cost on the wrestling figures would be lower than DCUC figures.
Philip Reed
In the past few years manufacturing and shipping costs have climbed. At work we've been constantly fighting the need to increase prices by increasing our runs, making a little less per unit, and even raising some prices.
Those stupid-high gas/oil prices affect everything, even toys that are manufactured in China. And, lately, even the cost of manufacturing in China (labor, for one) has increased.
Now none of this excuses Mattel's poor quality control, but I think it's unfair to suggest they're gouging anyone at $14.99. I don't know how many of each figure they sell, but I wouldn't be shocked if these figures cost them $3 to $4/each to manufacture/deliver.
Valo487
I'd just really like to know how they think DCUC is in any way worth the cost when compared to MOTUC or even collector lines from smaller companies at the same price point. There's no argument I've ever seen that explains the cost of these compared to other lines. WWE Elites have more to offer at the same price, so how is DCUC supposed to be a value at 15-18?
Zach
Thanks for asking my question. It's really too bad that they won't consider beefing up the accessories and giving fans 'more bang for their buck' and I don't buy that the quality will ever get that much better. I don't know where they are selling these things for 14.99, but it sure is not around here. Going forward, I am going to be waaaay more selective about what I purchase, if anything, from this line.
After reading the review on OAFE, I dropped 7.99 the other day for a Snake Eyes figure, and had no trouble doing so, because the sucker was armed to the TEETH. I also passed on a 17.99 Sinestro Corp figure at the same TRU, because I knew that he came with little to nothing, had lousy paint aps, and would probably be warped straight out of the package. This is a shame, because I am a DC fan first and foremost. I will buy the occasional figure from another line if I think that it looks like a great toy, but I primarily buy DCUC and JLU. I really think that Mattel needs to step up their game if this line, and subsequent lines they produce, are going to thrive.
Bigbot
@ RageTreb:
I agree with this, especially when NECA releases stuff like the Splinter Cell figure with all that articulation and paint applications for the same price.
Mark
Matel is a crap company. In the 80's and early 90's they made some of the best toys around, but not now.
I gave up MOTUC, DCUC, DC Retro and WWE becaue of poor quality control.
I still hope they do a good job with Voltron.
George
I used to think, ("Why does Poe never ever chose DCUC based questions.") And then we get crap answers like this…and then the complain re-starts. I guess its better off asking He-man stuff, even if its useless stuff like bios or artwork.
RageTreb
I know the reality of the situation is they can barely keep DCUCs at $14.99, but I can rarely justify paying that. They still feel like $10 figures. Just my personal opinion, though.
Valo487
I was simply looking for a ballpark range, nothing specific. I didn't realize you guys asking about the price of DCUC again was more relevant. I'll save you the trouble for next month: "We think we're doing you a favor at 14.99, it won't be going down and there will be no improvements." That valid enough?
Zach
Looks like I have a doppleganger!
TripleM
The question about price was really just a thinly veiled complaint. It should have not been posed to Mattel. This isn't supposed to be a gripe session. The price is the price. Mattel will always charge as much as it thinks we will pay. Always. That's how corporations operate. The bottom line is all that matters.
Fengschwing
@ Scott:
Questions 1 and 3 seem valid and separate to me but both get 'We will do all we can to maintain the price point without sacrificing quality' which I personally find lazy.
Bigbot
Scott has a point.
Scott
What cookie-cutter? The "cookie-cutter" responses tend to have more to do with the questions than the answers. Was anyone really expecting them to tell us when the next Horde member or Snake Man was coming, or announce a light blue Supes in a Q&A? Should they have said "we're 37.5% sure that we'll be changing Joker's neck joint" when they just don't know? If people don't want "cookie-cutter" answers, they need to stop asking from Mattel's "list of things we told you 1000 times we won't tell you until we're ready".
Dead Man Walking
Copy>Paste>Oops
Fengschwing
I see the cookie cutter is back again…