Mattel has posted an update on the 2012 Masters of the Universe schedule (text after the jump). The main takeaways are:
- the only item in January is now the Star Sisters.
- The Sorceress, Fisto, Shadow Weaver, and Fearless Photog have all been pushed to February.
- April will have Draego-Man and Thunder Punch He-Man but no Club Eternia figure.
- May will have both Stinkor and Slush Head.
He-Fans and She-Ravers,
First, Demo-Man™ has arrived in our warehouse and should start shipping out in the next few days. We will post a confirmation when he starts to ship. But just when we thought we made it through the Demo-Man delay with clear skies ahead, it looks like our carefully planned release schedule has hit some turbulence.
When we lay out the line each year, we very consciously try to plan it so there are not too many items in one month to help spread out the purchase price over the year. When it comes to shipping items according to plan, MOTUC has had relatively clear skies for a few years. Unfortunately, logistical issues we could not avoid (yes, I know how you feel about that word!) have knocked our schedule around. We will still ship all of the figures we announced, they just may not be in the same month as originally intended.
We’ve looked at the full year and it looks like we will be back on track with figures starting in July. But between now and then, here is the revised shipping schedule for MOTUC and the 30th Anniversary Series:
January
Star Sisters™ – Club Eternia® multipack
February
Sorceress® – Club Eternia® figure
Fisto™ – Club Eternia® figure
Fearless Photog™ – MOTU 30th Anniversary Series figure
Shadow Weaver & Preternia™ Map* – shipping automatically to sub holders, not for sale
March
Kobra Kahn™ – Club Eternia® Figure
April
Thunder Punch™ He-Man® – Club Eternia® variant with mini-comic issue 1!
Draego-Man™ – MOTU 30th Anniversary Series figure
May
Stinkor® – Club Eternia® figure
Slush Head™ – Club Eternia® figure
Snake Mountain™ Stands – non-subscription item
June
Horde Prime – Club Eternia® figure
Snake Man-at-Arms® – Club Eternia® variant figure with mini-comic issue 2!
The Mighty Spector™ – MOTU 30th Anniversary Series figure
July
Griffin – Club Eternia® beast
Monthly Club Eternia® Figure – to be revealed at NYTF!
MOTU 30th Anniversary Series Figure – to be revealed at NYTF!
Why a complete revamp of the schedule? We didn’t want to get into another situation like with Demo-Man™ and sell a figure before the full quotas arrived. While a few figures are shipping in different months then originally intended, this new release schedule should ensure there are fewer shipping delays like we had in December.
Please keep in mind this new schedule is subject to change, just like the first one. MOTUC products are handmade and hand-painted overseas, so schedule changes are bound to happen. But don’t worry, because at the end of the year, you’ll ideally have all the figures we promised for 2012.
We do appreciate your patience and understanding. Our goal is to deliver the best figures and the best buying experience. Improvements will continue to be made and we will do our best to update everyone if any further changes are needed. There are a ton more surprises in store for the MOTU 30th Anniversary, with a reveal of two of the most fan-demanded figures ever at New York Toy Fair on February 12th! I can’t wait for our big collector night!
Toy Guru
*We are open to moving the Club Eternia® exclusive Shadow Weaver figure to March to help international customers with shipping. Please let us know if this is preferred!
@RobotsPJs
I have to buy Star Sisters for someone. I'm guessing I'll be able to get some big savings if I just wait for them to hit eBay instead of buying them on Matty Collector…
Jonathan
I wouldn't count on that. Ebay sellers don't put things up for less than what they paid for them. At best you might be able to get what it would cost through Mattel. But if I were you I'd just buy them through matty. Most $20 MOTUC figures go up on ebay for somewhere between $30 – $35, regardless of the demand for them or lack there of. I wouldn't imagine anyone selling the Star Sisters for less than $75 before shipping.
dean
I wouldn't count on it either, but I have talked to a couple of collectors thinking about selling their Star Sisters at a small loss just to off-set the sub cost a little (sorry, no inquiries please. If they do sell them, It's up to them). Believe it or not, there are a few people out there who have no desire for that pack whatsoever. 🙂
Jack Static
I am also a fan of the new schedule. For me it works out better cost wise than previously.
One thing i gotta say, thats been mentioned on other boards. The cost of demo-man cant really be held against mattel. I mean dont get me wrong, the $54 for that order i spent weeks ago, but the truth is we all should have kept the proper amount in our accounts once we got charged the authorization amount. Its not like mattels raising the prices, and any mis managent of money in this situation would be a direct result of our own actions. Also, since im a subber and i also got the 30th sub, not counting demo and bgel, im only spending $10 more this month as photog would have shipped seperately anyway, so. Its not that big of a deal to me personally.
Heli
My favorite part is:
"But don’t worry, because at the end of the year, you’ll ideally have all the figures we promised for 2012."
If that doesn't get you excited about the future, nothing will.
Jonathan
my issue with all of this is the billing. Now instead of January being a bill of $25 plus shipping (for the Sorceress) it has turned into a bill of $110 plus shipping (Demo-man, BG Evil-Lyn and the Star Sisters) … I love these figures and hate to gripe about cost, but I'm not sitting on a pile of gold or nothing. I don't mind the change in the schedule aside from that.
XeQUae
The new schedule should save me some money since I can combine shipping more often. Of course when it slips again that may not be the case.
toyman
This doesn't bother me actually. It seems more wallet friendly per month than the original plan. Maybe it's just my imagination though.
chuymemo
2012 the apocalypse!!!.
Goblin
… and for my 10 euros they can leave Shadow Weaver just where she is…
Ridureyu
Part of me wonders if they'll keep delaying Shadow Weaver, because she's so desirable that keeping her on the docket would possibly keep more customers in.
Henry
While the Star Sisters are probably on schedule because of the new price point and the extra attention that brings, it is mildly amusing that they are the only figures to arrive on time.
The question is, how many non-sub fans will completely skip January now?
misterbigbo
Here’s one.
The_Fun_has_been_Doubled
I'm skipping them because of cost… Not cause I wanted to… Stupid Demo-Man throwing a wrench in my MOTUC Purchases…
Lemonjuice McGee
So January's only sale item is the expensive box-set that nobody really wants? Genius.
Goblin
The Star Sisters to start the year. Happy £%$&*£@ New Year everyone!
Valo487
Schedule subject to change.
*sigh*
Barbecue17
This isn't too bad. At least there is something each month. Having Snake Head MAA and Mighty Spector in the same month, however, is just horrible.
Poe Ghostal
Yeah, there's going to be a LOT of unhappy customers that month. The question is, how many people will complain when DR bungles their Spector/MAA orders?
Barbecue17
"No sir, don't go to any trouble finding my package. A refund will be fine." 😉