October 2008 - Every couple of weeks, Mattel will answer five questions per web site about their various product lines. Here are the answers for the past few questions:
1. What is Mattel doing to address concerns about the retail distribution of the DC action figures? We solicit reader questions for each round, and every time, there are comments like these, which are real comments posted in our "Mattel Q&A" thread: "I would like to give you my money. Please explain how I can do this," and "I frequent a local Target store that has for the last 4 1/2 months had the same two Orion and Etrigan figures hanging by their lonesome in a spot meant to hold 2 cases worth of figures, with nary an indicator of a re-order request to be put through."
Answer: We have spoken directly to our larger retail partners about adjusting their ordering habits to accommodate a collector line like DCUC, IH and JLU by ordering light and often, as opposed to ordering all of their supply from Wave 1. The best thing you as a fan can do is let the manager of your local toy department or store know what you are looking for and what you want to see more of. In the end, it is up to our retail partners to place orders. Mattel can only ship what is ordered by them.
2. Why were there so many design changes on DCUC Wave 5? Specifically the lack of question marks on The Riddler's arms and the opaque visors for Eradicator and Black Lightning. Is there any chance of a transparent visor for Eradicator?
Answer: The Riddler's deco was created with input from our licensor partners. The clear visor on Eradicator and Black Lightning was done due to meet cost factors for this wave. Future figures like Blue Beetle and Booster Gold will indeed have clear eye goggles. We will try to include clear visors whenever cost factors allow.
3. When is the earliest we will see/hear anything about your WWE line?
Answer: The earliest might be SDCC 2009, but even that is not locked down yet. WWE will not be out from Mattel until 2010 so it is still a bit off.
4. Wave 7 has a good number of characters and variants in the set, but the current six-figure case size just doesn't seem to cut it. Especially following the recent release of series 4 where many in the community bought a case and are happy to have the Artemis variant easily on hand, but frustrated that it cost them the Batman Beyond figure needed to complete the Despero Collect n' Connect figure. Your competitors, both recently and in the past, had larger case sizes with breakdowns that not only completed a build-a-figure, but often ensured the purchase of a variant figure as well. Is it possible for similar measures to be replicated for the DC Universe?
Answer: The case breakdown for DCUC are designed with the needs of some of our larger retailers in mind to ensure there is always fresh product on shelf. To accommodate collectors and online/hobby shop retailers, all 2009 DCUC figures will be available "open stock", meaning these retailers can order solid case packs of any individual figure. This should help meet collectors in the middle.
5. Any chance of 2-up sized MM Joker and Two-Face, to go with the TRU exclusive Batman?
Answer: Something we are looking into for 2009.
