What Matty Collector Can Learn From AMC

[Captain Atkin]

An interesting and well written article from 2013 by Howard Dekker, on what Mattel could learn from AMC's Breaking Bad.

What Matty Collector (specifically MOTUC) Can Learn From AMC (specifically Breaking Bad)

[No-Ah]

I've been making this argument since I first discovered the line. The top 12 or so figures should all always be evergreen, if not more.

[Shawn]

I sure would love a Shadow Weaver and Fisto especially! Swiftwind is getting high in price too. What are the ones that sell for the highest prices? at least release those...

[Draego-Man]

Yep, this hits the nail on the head.

[No-Ah]

There's no reason NOT to do a beginners pack, and sell 4 old characters together in a pack for new collectors. Every year, they could have a different 4 characters in the pack.

[Guest]

I agree with the article, and its a great idea. But I could already hear Neitlich's answer:

"The first and second run re-issues didnt sell well. And if we did a re-issues sub of Teela, Beastman, ect. then we would be using up SKUs, for other figures... Do you prefer re-issues for 2008 - 2010 as essentials, or that we finish the line with all the vintage figures??"

Of course he doesnt take his own advice, whenever hes wastes "SKUs" on his 30th anniversary creations, Baby Skeletor, Jumbo MOTU figures, MOTU minis, or any of his other crap that no one asked for.... He could have used the SKUs of all those crappy products, and instead to re-issue and always have "essentials" stock He-man, Teela, Skeletor, Beastman, Evil Lyn, Mer Man, Triklops, Sorceress, Fisto, etc.

But we need to remember, that Neitlich puts his own needs first.

P.s. Another thing similar to "Breaking Bad", is that the MOTUC line is collector "meth"... Those addicted to MOTUC know what Im talking about.

[No-Ah]

You're completely right. New customers are not the priority for Scott, as a fan, and so he doesn't make them. This is one of the drawbacks to having a fan in charge. He makes multiple figures OF HIMSELF and ignores the need of the brand for his own desires.

@No-Ah Yea man seriously... That guy is such an ego maniac, that he put his own likeness on a Palace Guard figure... If thats not narcissism on Neitlich's part, then the word should have a new definition... If MOTUC ever had a figure named "Douche-Bag" or "Lie-or", then Neitlich's likeness would come in handy.

[Shawn]

You think it's a coincident that the Orb of Power, the source of Grayskull's might and what he-Man channels through his sword...that thing Skeletor CRAVES is BLUE? Anyone who can get that blue orb will feel like a master of the universe.

[_RZ_]

There's no reason NOT to do a beginners pack, and sell 4 old characters together in a pack for new collectors. Every year, they could have a different 4 characters in the pack.

Right on!

They really should have He-Man, Battle Cat, MAA, Teela, Skeletor, Beast Man, Evil Lynn 24/7 on the site to help move those Castle Grayskulls. No figures like Basic Skeletor or Teela on the site means they can't properly populate their castle, so why start in the first place!

[Matthew L. Martin]

My rule of thumb was that everyone who showed up on the covers and spines of the BCI DVDs should be evergreen.

[GREP-A-TOR]

No-Ah commented Today, 11:48 AM

"You're completely right. New customers are not the priority for Scott, as a fan, and so he doesn't make them. This is one of the drawbacks to having a fan in charge. He makes multiple figures OF HIMSELF and ignores the need of the brand for his own desires."

Sorry, but he is NOT a fan. Egomaniac and real life troll, yes.

Please do not refer to him as a fan again, that is a myth. There are plenty of pics of him as a "fan" whenever he is promoting a product. Remember when he was the biggest Back To The Future fan while peddling the hoverboard?

[Captain Atkin]

Sorry, but he is NOT a fan. Egomaniac and real life troll, yes.

Please do not refer to him as a fan again, that is a myth. There are plenty of pics of him as a "fan" whenever he is promoting a product. Remember when he was the biggest Back To The Future fan while peddling the hoverboard?

I think its safe to say that Toyguru is a fan of HIS version of MOTU. This is why the popular characters we loved as kids get overlooked in his mini-comics. the "Fall of Eternia" storyline seems to be a way for him to pave over the classic characters with his future characters and concepts.

Is Toyguru a "Back to the Future" fan? I have my doubts. The designer of the DeLorean time machine, Andrew Probert, is a friend of mine. We have been working on a film project together for the past 3 years. Andrew also created the USS Enterprise for Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the Enterprise-D for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Anyway, when Scott was promoting the hover board I contacted him and mentioned that Andrew Probert and I had been talking about MOTUC, and Andrew expressed in interest in possibly designing a character. Scott brushed it off, and said he could apply to Mattel to do freelance work if he was interested in toy design. Meanwhile, Mattel is selling A BTTF DeLorean, the USS Enterprise A and D, and the Cylon Raider that year as part of their Hot Wheels collection. All stuff that Andrew designed (Mattel also made toys of Andy's Cylons in the 80s). So yeah... if he is willing to just brush of the designer of the DeLorean time machine, I don't think he is that big of a fan.

[No-Ah]

Yeah, he's obviously not a BTTF fan then....

[Beastmangler]

My BS meter has been going off for a while on why we don't get more "Evergreen" figures and the only thing I can come up with is that they are saving them for a future line. I think the "All Toy Lines Must End" Campaign is meant to cause dread and panic so that we are encouraged to sub for the 2015 Line, even though they plan to go forward with it regardless. Scott has said that it doesn't mean that MOTU is dead in the water, only that Classics is coming to an end in its present state.

I'm starting to think that they are going to release a new line, either Retail or through Matty or even Mattel's own online shop, call it an Anniversary Line or Commemorative Line, and release the Basic Vintage figures in new packaging that looks like the old Red and Blue packaging that the original line had. Quite frankly, Classics should have been handled this way originally, in my opinion. Scott has specifically mentioned the change in packaging before.

That is probably why they are releasing those absurd Giant vintage figures with original packaging graphics to prime us for the new release. I'm thinking maybe when and if the movie comes out, they'll capitalize it in this manner.

I really can't see why they don't just make more Beast Man, Teela, Fisto, Horde Tropper figures when the demand is there.

Also, they are sitting on a goldmine of tooled parts, bucks, arms, etc., which are already paid for, which would bring down the cost of releasing a new line.

Then again, maybe I need to put my tin foil hat on the counter for a moment? rko:

[No-Ah]

"Wear a hat that's foil lined, in case an alien's inclined to probe your butt or read your mind!"

[Shawn]

I think there is a difference between liking something and being a fan of it. I like Weird Al Yankovic...But I'm not a fan of his just because I have a few of his songs stuck in my head. Sure, I watched The X-Files just like everybody else did in the 90's, but, when it wasn't about Muldur and Scully anymore I was butt hurt...The Truth of the matter is that Toyguru wears a mask and pretends to be something he isn't just to do his job. We all pretend to be something we are not sometimes. W all wear masks of some type for whatever reason we have...I'm sure Scott likes toys, I'm sure he likes He-Man...but He certainly doesn't act like A Fan, he just acts like an clown...Some people just go through life pretending to be something they are not. Know what I mean? There is a lot of subterfuge going on everyday in regards to everything, especially politics of any kind. ESPECIALLY social politics and corporate politics...mix that with the religious like fervor of a fan community? LOOK OUT! Some people even lie to themselves even more then they do to others. I feel sorry for those people...

Beastmangler brings up a lot of interesting points. To his points I'd add: MOTU is like a train, it's loosing steam, Some people have reached there destination, and other people want to get aboard but can't, the train missed some people's stop because the train was on the wrong track, but the conductor can course correct before the train get's derailed if he wants to. Unfortunately That conductor of a party train, exclusive membership ONLY! Nobody wants the train to end right? Only mad men want the train wrecked...

[No-Ah]

In a sense, I would say MOTUC is more about to run off of the tracks than out of steam. The number of SKUs keeps going up and up, they're supplementing it with giants and minis and all kinds of nonsense.

I wonder sometimes if it wouldn't be better if they just did 12 figures a year. PERIOD.

[Shawn]

I wouldn't call Jumbo and Mini 's "nonsense" the brand is just branching off. Classics needs to shrink, to slow down to accommodate that IMO. I agree 12 figures a year, or rather 3-4 figures every three months, quarterly waves in between Minis, Jumbo, and even Retro/vintage continuation is the future that needs to happen...Evolve or die.

[No-Ah]

In my opinion, they kind of are. I don't think either line will be successful.

[Guest]

The Truth of the matter is that Toyguru wears a mask and pretends to be something he isn't just to do his job. We all pretend to be something we are not sometimes. W all wear masks of some type for whatever reason we have...

You mean like this?

This one definitely sounds more like a regular day for Scotty, "at the office" and on the ORG...

He certainly doesn't act like A Fan, he just acts like an clown...

Haha sadly for him, hes not acting...

Some people just go through life pretending to be something they are not. Know what I mean?

The difference is that most of us are human beings, where as Neitlich pretends to be human...

[Shawn]

What like he's a lizard person from another planet? Far be it for me to mock people's beliefs, as I my self hold faith in a Single universal Creator that is the Source for Love and compassion in a indifferent, and even cruel universe...However I do not think that Toyguru is like this

I think he is a VERY human individual. Human's have flaws, I have some. Indeed I was speaking metaphorically, I'm super glad you interpeted that correctly as I've been known to speak hypothetical in the form of riddles, misspelled and wrapped up in enigmas... [/URL]

So it's nice when someone understands What I say when they respond to one of my posts...

Though Toyguru COULD be a sociopath, especially if he is going to be CEO one day!

[Guest]

What like he's a lizard person from another planet? Far be it for me to mock people's beliefs, as I my self hold faith in a Single universal Creator that is the Source for Love and compassion in a indifferent, and even cruel universe...However I do not think that Toyguru is like this

I think he is a VERY human individual. Human's have flaws, I have some. Indeed I was speaking metaphorically, I'm super glad you interpeted that correctly as I've been known to speak hypothetical in the form of riddles, misspelled and wrapped up in enigmas... [/URL]

So it's nice when someone understands What I say when they respond to one of my posts...

Though Toyguru COULD be a sociopath, especially if he is going to be CEO one day!

Haha thats funny, I could picture Neitlich devouring small children that way... I dont see the point of them having teeth though, since they dont seem to use them in the clip. Ive heard about the "reptilians" nuts like David Icke seem to have a hard-on for them. Hey wasnt Robert Englund in V?

Its interesting that you bring up the CEO/sociopath stuff, because they had actually touched on that in one of my Criminology classes. And I do agree with the analogy, because both sociopathic criminals and CEOs- have a cut-throat mentality. Their differences are in using pens/paper and the other using knives and every other weapon...

[Shawn]

I would imagine because it was supposed to look frightening? "eh, add more teeth" I can imagine some Ass hole producer saying Freddy Kruger? Yeah, he was, and one of the aliens, though he was a good guy! It's a great show I remember fondly. Though I don't hold any faith in reptilian overlords, I've often wondered if the idea inspired or was inspired by V and perhaps King Hiss? Though I don't know much about that truthfully. :/

After watching Dexter, and experiencing the 2008 financial collapse...I sometimes wonder if the world would be better off with less CEOs

(wow this conversation got strange...entirely my fault I suppose...I don't even know how to turn it back around LOL. Uh...I like toys! !)

[PhantomZodak]

what ever percent under 100 for 2015 should just be available on the site until they sell out "for real" & then they should re-release all the figures in the same order they were released at 10% of the original amount they sold the 1st time.