You are correct they are not hard to buy, but to have Faker sell out in what I'm assuming was a little over 4 hours, and Stratos only lasting like 3 days is ridiculous. Mattel has to do another run of these figures for those that did not get them. I have them all so far, but for those who still want them they should be able to get them without paying a scalpers price. I don't care if the "value" is lowered or not. I'm not collecting toys for a monetary investment. Also some people want to collect 1 of each figure. So if they miss out on one figure they may decide to stop collecting. So that means less sales down the line. I'm sure that if Mattel did another 5K run on He-Man and Skeletor, and say 2.5K on Stratos and Beast-Man that those would sell too. I understand it's good to have hype around a line, but when demand outstrips supply for something like this, it is time to produce more figures. Also lowering the order limit to 3 would help out a little. I understand the group buys for overseas people though...
Mattel sold most of it's Fakers at NYCC, and only a handful were left for MattyCollector.com. Mattel also lowered the limit from 10 per order to 4 per order. Faker still sold out faster than the previous figures from the line, only because there were only a few hundred or so left after NYCC. Mattel made a smaller amount of Stratos because they didn't think he would be as popular of a seller as he actually turned out to be. It has been stated that the figures WILL be re-released again in near future, probably starting with King Grayskull. KG will have different paint applications and will not come in the 2008 SDCC box. He will be packaged the same way the other regular figures are. As for the other re-releases, they will be either released again in new packaging, or with different paint colors in order to keep the first run unique. You will most likely get the same exact He-Man, for example, but he will have less red around his eyes and come in a different kind of package (what the difference is, is unknown as of yet. It doesn't sound like Mattel will be doing any radical changes, though. Just enough to tell the first run from the second. Since they are re-releasing King Grayskull in different paint apps, I am sure they will re-release a slightly altered Faker as well. I think the timeframe is 8-10 months. This means that sometimes there will be 2 figures offered a month. 1 brand new one, and one re-release or repaint. The first we will see of this is either in June or July of this year.
Great summary! Stratos was 3 days, Faker was 2 hours, Mer-Man will be like 3 minutes! Here's another thread to keep everybody updated on the MOTU Classic line: MOTU Classics - Hope I get my order in! - Page 4
^Good luck! I think one was won at the convention, and the other was won by some contest. Check "He-Man.org" for a better answer as I haven't really paid much attention to this variant. Those guys know EVERYTHING MotU related. Great site. There be Transformers fans in the General Discussion forum there as well. I'm known as "Orko's Hat" over there. Not to be mistaken by "Orko's Magic Hat", that's someone else. One thing to note on the King Grayskull figures is that they break! The new stuff does not, but the KG's are famous for ankle breakage, as well as wrist breakage. Mine can from the box with a broken ankle. Had in fixed by a genius on that board, thankfully. Hopefully, the re-release KG's won't have that problem. Edit: Recent threads pertaining to Spirit of Grayskull http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/showthread.php?t=161633&highlight=Spirit+King+Grayskull http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/showthread.php?t=164286&highlight=Spirit+King+Grayskull http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/showthread.php?t=166134&highlight=Spirit+King+Grayskull
Translation: If we announce it early enough, lack of supply is not a limiting factor to availability. Afterall, when have numbers had any bearing on accounting or the silly concept of time affected schedules? Extrapolation: If Mattel can patent this black art, organ donors are out of business. 100 sick kids and 50 hearts? No problem, just have a press conference yesterday and everyone can have one or two or ten!
I missed out on Faker, dammit. 4 hours? Why can't they offer a damned subscription service? I knew somehow this Internet exclusive line would eventually piss me off. I was working while this sold out and didn't have a chance to get to order it.
I don't understand how people are mad at Mattel. If they made tons, they'd have a constant hanging surplus and future figures would be in doubt. Especially during this economic climate. Plus, I doubt Stratos and Faker would've been seen as hot items to grab if He-Man, Beastman, and Skeletor were still readily available on mattycollector.com for $20 each. Half the fervor is fandom, the other half is the hard-to-get aspect. Lets face it, alot of people here would still be passing them up if they were still accessible on their site for twenty a pop. No urgency, no chase, no interest. They're doing a great job. The line isn't causing any problems to Mattel's bottom line with this method and that results in a long lasting toy line for us. If you missed it and you love the chase, go to eBay, but enough with the
Mattel DID announce well in advance what time AND date they would go on sale (there is a set schedule for their collectors releases). They also mentioned that Fakor was a NYCC exclusive and that a limited number would be set aside for mattycollector. They made it very clear that the number availible on the site was not going to be the normal amount. Sorry to say this but if you wanted one and missed out, tough. As far for future releases Mattel already said the they are going to increase production, and are planning for re-releases. The MOTUC line is geared for adult collectors, and the line is driven soley by adult collectors. Mattel will, without a doubt, make sure these collectors are satisfied.
Way to demonstrate a complete lack of reading comprehension. Mattel doesn't do preorders, so whether they announce 7 days or 7 years in advance makes no difference. It's wonderful that the four hour window pleased those at home on the dole and anyone who has a job should just get bent. I don't even want most of these figures but that doesn't mean Mattel isn't being stupid by doing such small production runs and blaming fans who are being turned away for the lack of supply and the eventual fate of the line.
Alright Troll, I'll bite. Mattel underestimated how well this line would do so their production runs were kept small so it wouldnt hurt their bottom line. Fakor was a convention exclusive, what was left over would be put on the site. I havent read/heard anything from Matell blaming fans for anything. Fans are what makes this line what it is. My "four hour window" was at lunch Noon on the east coast. And I'm not "home-on-welfare", Ass. But if you need to know what I do, here it is: 11 year Active Duty Air Force member, War Veteran (multiple times over), all around nice guy. Thats not meant to make you feel like an ass, you've done a good job of that already. If you're really that worked up about not getting Fakor, and you're going to work yourself into a heart attack or a hissy fit, let me know... I'll let you have mine.
I was meh on Faker, so I'm not sad I missed him. (Still kind of cheesed about Stratos, though.) At any rate, I DEFINITELY want Mer-Man, so I'll be johnny-on-the-spot for that one. Pretty stoked for Man-at-Arms and Tri-Klops, too.
Honestly, I think most people who really want the figures would figure out a way to get them. - Get a friend that you trust to hook you up on their order, you save on shipping that way as well. - Take the day off if you have extra hours to spare. - Order it through your cell phone internet access if you have it. (I bought Faker through this method while working. ) - Have a family member order it for you. Those are just the basics. Remember kids, knowing is half the battle..G.I......oh wait, wrong toyline.
Thanks for the 411 bro! I knew that there was one raffled off & one auctioned off. My problem is trying to locate one. I need to become a member of He-Man.org. I'll check out the links you gave me. I only collect MISB toys, so I don't have to worry about breakage due to handling. I have a Bronze statue version, a regular version & one that's still MISB .
Well it was bound to happen. I got bored and opened one of these. Stratos was the first. Man this guy has loose joints, and the head is just barely tight enough to not be a bobble head. Also the way the loin cloth blocks the knee height is kind of disappointing.
I did manage to get a Faker through "other means," but for a price I'm not happy about. I really do hope they re-release some of these figures down the line without the slight alterations, as Mattel has suggested. If people have to work while the figures go live online at noon, then they shouldn't have to miss out. I know this: I've got it marked on my calendar at work to be there when Mer-man goes on sale. I'm not missing that one.