Though I know it will cost me some traffic, I’ve decided to stop submitting questions to Mattel for the time being.
There are a few reasons for this, but the two main ones are:
1.) Too frequently, the answers are evasive or unsubstantial. (Besides, many times the same questions get asked by other sites anyway.)
2.) And yes, it’s a little bit because I was miffed by this. If that makes me seem petty, so be it. But at some point you’re done baling and you’ve reached the last straw, y’know?
That’s not to say that something could change–I’m more than willing to listen to some positive outreach from Mattel. But for now, I’m going to focus on getting more interviews with other industry players, like the upcoming pieces I have with the folks behind Battlegrip and October Toys.
If you have questions you really want to ask Mattel, there are many, many other sites that do the Q&As (and more every month).
Robzy
Good for you Poe! I'm weary of the generic and often useless answers we get anyway. Why bother having the Q&A if they're not going to actually answer the questions.
As for your recent debacle, well… you know how I feel about it. Good for you, and I (like many others) will continue to visit your site!
Bill
I, for one, would not have noticed if you stopped posting the Q&A's. On the odd occasion that I take to read them, the answers all seem to be nebulous, non-answers. Why even have a Q&A with your customers if you are not going to provide any useful information?
Kudos to you, Poe, for skipping this. Now start posting more reviews!
Poe Ghostal
They're coming! I'm making a big drive to catch up on all the MOTUC I'm behind on, then I can finally get to non-MOTUC stuff.
Wally2974
Poe, your statements about the way Mattel answers these questions each month are on-point. You echoed my comments in response to answers on thefwoosh.com in the last month's Matty Q&A's. http://thefwoosh.com/2012/01/ask-matty-11712
Poe Ghostal
Just to clarify, I\’m not really trying to make a statement here. I\’m under no delusion that Mattel cares whether or not I submit questions, or even notices. I only posted this because I figured people would wonder why I wasn\’t soliciting questions anymore.
Tribsaint
you are too modest, you are somebody, you matter, and people like you
ridureyu
You're good enough, you're smart enough, and doggone it, people like you!
Barbecue17
I see pride! I see power! I see a bad@$! toy-reviewer who don't take no crap off of nobody!
T-bone
Behind you 100%, Poe. You won't lose my traffic.
ridureyu
I think this is a good description of the situation: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/Ridureyu/fi…
The_Fun_has_been_Doubled
You gotta do what you gotta do…
Besides a Magic 8 Ball gives better answers than Mattel.
Aaron
I support your decision. I am not a fan of how the MOTUC line is being handled. I don't like the subscription idea at all. I do not want to spend hundreds of dollars on figures I do not want. I think Piratestan has the right idea. I said goodbye to Mattel a long time ago. Why put up with subscriptions, over priced figures, and broken toys? I would rather spend money on smaller operations like Onell Design. I have purchased tons of their stuff and haven't had any of their toys break yet.
muldertp
I totally back and understand your decision too. I’ve already decided to drop my subs no matter what based on the handling of Ghostbusters and the recent pr debacles. I can’t believe that Mattel as a parent company is allowing so much bad press right now. It’s personally caused myself and others to stop buying their other toys for myself and my kids.
Fengschwing
Bravo, I totally agree with your decision also. I hope your example might cause other sites to look at the responses they get and follow suit. It might send Mattel a message.
Probably not though…
ero
What's that message? That they'll have one less Q&A to type out every two weeks?
Fengschwing
Type? Cut and paste at best.
"We have nothing to reveal right now."
"It's certainly something we could look into in the future!"
Wash, rinse, repeat….
Thomas b
Hell they don’t even both to wash and rinse anymore. Ha.
Tribsaint
ERO,
Message is simple people are fed up with Mattel BS. Sure Poe opting out isn’t going to cause toy WWIII but let’s be honest Mattel feels like we should kow before them with a sacrificial blank check. I mean “do you ever take a step back and just look at your MOTUC shelf?” If you do you better thank your Mattel gods for the boner you just got. I read all the Q&A’s for a laugh. I’m really happy that DCUC is ending because it frees me from 95% of my Mattel dealing and purchases. For the record I am never thankful to any company I buy items or services from, because I’m the customer, their suppose to be kissing my a$$ cause I’m giving them MONEY.
I frequently write and call businesses for both good and bad products and services Mattel the only one that I ever felt went out of its way to have a combative snarky attitude.
Good for you Poe, I’ll still visit the sit, just not on Q&A days JK
Jack Static
Well you wont be losing me as a reader, and i honestly can’t blame you on the whole bitterness either, scott basically called you a liar, and personally if i were you, and you were goin to nytf id call em out about it in person (idk if you are or not, if u are you should). Just to let him know that its reasons like that, that hes losin subscribers.
While i personally havent really had any issues with the line and have been lucky, i can understand the frustrations that others have had, since my they have te exact opposite in luck that ive had.
Anyway im here for the reviews and odds n ends, the matty qa’s are a dime a dozen with the responses mattel gives out.
Oh and a final note, i trust reviews where the reviewer didnt get a free sample more than those “free item” reviews, i do read/watch them since they are more previews, but people seem to be more forgivin in them
Goblin
Shame – I like the questions posted here, but there are only so many times you can be taken for the ass. Good for you Poe.
BubbaShelby
Huzzah, Poe! More toy bloggers need to stand up to Mattel instead of acting like beaten-down hookers who comply with anything to get their crack fix from Pimp Matty.
John Harmon
Wow. Ironic, because I just signed up my site for the Q&A sessions earlier today, haha.
Poe Ghostal
It was you I was thinking of when I wrote "more every month." You can replace me 🙂
John Harmon
Thanks Poe. I may not get to participate in the February 15th session anyway. The site is still new, so not exactly a flow of questions coming through.
misterbigbo
Huzzah, sir. A question: do you get more traffic on days when Matty answers questions or when their fit hits the shan?
Poe Ghostal
It depends, but obviously whenever there's a big controversy it helps traffic a lot.
That said, those are some of the times I hate blogging the most…
Tribsaint
Really I love it, I don’t watch reality Tv so these little flare ups are my jersey shore and Mattel is my snookie.
PrfktTear
"Mattel is my snookie" — absolutely the funniest thing I've ever read, ever.
Nathan
I totally agree with issue #1. I stopped reading the Mattel Q&As on all sites a long time ago because they were so devoid of any useful information.
As for your issue #2, that's totally understandable. To have to jump through hoops like that just to get a replacement Wind Raider is inexcusable. And why they didn't contact you directly after they heard about the problem doesn't make sense. I would think that they would want to maintain a good relationship with their site partners.
Honestly, I doubt that not doing a Mattel Q&A will cost you any traffic. Does anybody even read them all anymore?
Poe Ghostal
Believe it or not, I do usually get a traffic spike whenever I post a new Q&A. It's maybe an extra 25% for the day.
Piratestan
You go Poe! Personally, I think the sycophantic actions of the collecting community towards this line has been nothing short of shameful. We should be giving Mattel the collective middle finger the only way they understand… by not buying their crap.
Ben
You have to stick to your guns. The first reason is sound on its own, but what you went through kind of reveals that they aren't paying nearly as much attention as they would like you to believe through them taking the time to "answer" these questions.
Nik
I have no issues with this and agree with you completely. I have given up trying to ask questions anyway.
MldMnrdReporter
I agree with this decision completely. The answers given by Mattel (on every site that participates) are lacking and sometimes infuriating.