Mattel figure slowdown?1

[ChuckPOORis55 Cody Gang 4 Lyfe]

Mar 18, 2024 20:16:27 GMT -5 mrh said:

Thanks for hijacking the thread and a serious question. There have only been 5 sets released over the past full year -- that is slower than average.

This is the start of Mattel's 15th year. Even if we give them the full year, the rate of release would be there are 75 Elite sets.

So this really is truly slower than average, and I was asking a real question. 

Does this take into account all the sub sets like legends, best of/vault, Top Picks, Ultimate Editions and all the other sub sets?

[kman2100]

I wouldn't go off Ringside's best sellers list since they are getting at least one, if not two of the following years sets at the end of the current year. For example Ringside had Elite 105 and maybe even 106 in stock before the beginning of 2024, however according to Mattel both of those waves are technically 2024 releases. I think Elite 99-104 were the 6 waves for 2023 according to Mattel, however Ringside might be getting like 7-8 sets per year with the overlap. So it seems like Mattel is still sticking to the 6-7 waves per year that they have been doing since 2010.

Now basic sets on the other hand seemed to have dropped off some last year. We were getting a new wave pretty much every month back in the day but that slowed in 2022 down to like 8 or 9 waves and I think in 2023 Mattel only released 6 waves of basics all year. Basic 135 was technically the first wave for 2023 according to Mattel and Basic 140 was the last. But now with the new, revamped basics it looks like Mattel might be going back to the monthly releases since we've already gotten 5 waves of basics at retail and it's only March.

So while it may seem like they have slowed down in reality they really haven't for the most part. There may be a year here and there that might get 1-2 less waves than normal, but they have done a pretty good job sticking to the same schedule for the entire time they've had the license.

[nomorexclusives]

Mar 18, 2024 20:50:57 GMT -5 LA Times said:

Mar 17, 2024 23:47:41 GMT -5 nomorexclusives said:

Oh i didnt know mattel had cancer. I get what you are saying though in some ways. I have not been collecting these from the start (2010) to know if quality is going downhill but i have heard others say similar things.

At least, compared to hasbro, mattel does not own any disney ips so if they are dying it is gonna be a slow death instead of a meldown at (pun intended) of plastic when ollies sends back (to hasbro) all the wakanda forever sherri copters they cant sell for free (ollies would never do that ofcourse, just making the point that hasbro is a dead man walking so long as they keep making marvel and star wars toys that dont sell)

Is this the vehicle you are talking about? It would look cool if it had a canopy but something like this would get the operator killed on the battlefield if it existed in real life.

Hehehe. Yeah not the best protection

If hasbro gets the line all these figures would be even more expensive most likely. Not sure we want that to happen...

I agree with the poster above. Based on the list, mattel is on pace to produce plenty this year. Could anyone keep up if they accelerated? Financially, it is already getting to be a hobby for the rich.

[Deleted]

It… it was a joke.

[secondwhiteline]

Mar 18, 2024 20:50:57 GMT -5 LA Times said:

Is this the vehicle you are talking about? It would look cool if it had a canopy but something like this would get the operator killed on the battlefield if it existed in real life.

*looks at Joes and Cobras flying around in bubbles, their legs dangling uselessly in the air*

You know something, I'm not sure this is new for Hasbro.