AFP Ask Matty Round-Up for 4/1/10

Please find below the bi-monthly answers to your “Ask Mattel” questions.  Scott is currently out of the office but asked us to provide answers on his behalf.  We know he is the “Toy Guru” and an expert on all things Matty Collector so to keep the same quality of answers you’re readers are used to, we consulted with an answer expert – please go ahead and post these as the official Mattel answers.  You can go ahead and forward your April 15th questions to Scott directly.

Sometimes, I don’t know why we bother with these Q&A sessions. All we ever get are these non-answers, session after session after session. And even though we are getting our answers from someone else this go around, it’s just more of the same.

1. This may be a little early, but Raven is on my mind with Collect & Connect Trigon coming soon. Is Mattel planning to do another Fan’s Choice for DC Universe Classics in conjunction with Toyfare this year? And with respect to runner-ups from the prior votes, are any of those characters on the table for the upcoming year?

Yes.

2. Have you considered extending the Fan’s Choice polls to Masters of the Universe Classics? While you have the line planned out long-term, it might be nice to allow fans to influence the timing of some characters, or even help guide Mattel’s foray into vehicles for MOTUC.

It is certain.

3. You’ve often talked about how sales on MattyCollector.com can be used to gauge the level of interest in new lines. Based on their online performance, what are the current plans for 12-inch movie masters for the DC Universe beyond General Zod? What’s the early word on Retro-Action DC Super Heroes at retail? Are they performing in-line with what was expected based on Green Arrow’s performance online?

Concentrate and ask again.

4. What’s the latest on The Dark Knight Movie Masters figures at retail? When should we expect these to hit Toys R Us?

My reply is no.

5. Judging from the toy sightings reports I’ve seen online, the DC Universe vs Masters of the Universe 2-packs are flying off the shelves. At what point will you have enough sales data to know whether to continue offering these beyond the current 2-packs? Is it a matter of days, weeks, or months – or is it some other kind of measure?

Better not tell you now.

Come on now! I don’t know who this expert is, but his answers are no better than Toy Guru’s. Wait a second, what day is it again? 😉

Here’s the other Ask Mattel Q&As from around the web (to be updated as they surface):

• ActionFigureInsider.com
• Bzzurkk
• ComicFigs.Net
• Cool Toy Review
• CriticalMess.net
• DC Hall of Justice
• Figures.com
• The Fwoosh
• He-Man.org
• ItsAllTrue.net
• JoeAcevedo.com
• Kastor’s Korner
• Pendragon’s Post
• Poe Ghostal’s Points of Articulation
• SuperHeroTimes.com
• Toy News International
• That New Toy Smell