Post by StrykerX2K on Aug 14, 2008 20:40:50 GMT -5
OK so I have started a movement and it is quickly gaining momentum. There is a real issue with JLU being a Target exclusive line when they treat it like a step child. You can never find any Mattel DC related items, particularly JLU and DCUC. So since I was fed up with the whole thing I made a move and posted what I did at TNI and Hall of Justice. Some of those folks have in turn posted them at other sites and we are getting some good positive feedback wiht people contacting both Mattel and Target. I don't expect taht this will fix the issues we are all seeming to have, but at least it will let them know from a consumer standpoint, that there is support if they actually put items on the shelf. Ihave made my phone calls and will now be emailing Target customer service and copying the President of Mattel on my email to their customer service. Several other folks have emailed Target and then sent it to the President, but I am copying him fromthe get go. They say it all rolls downhill, so might as well start at the top, with the email....
OK, I have now done what I said I would do and have contacted both Target customer service and Mattel customer service regarding the lack of product in the market for JLU. Target it sending my information to their regional folks to disburse to the area stores. Here are some facts that I brought up in my conversation with Target:
1 -There has been no official lauch of JLU and being a store exclusive that should have taken place. You would in no way know that JLU is exclusive to Target.
2 -There is no designation on the toy aisle that JLU is located in this spot. Star Wars has a tag, Transformers has a tag, Ben 10 has a tag, but no DC related items, much less JLU has any such thing and JLU being a store exclusive, deserves that kind of attention.
3 -The stockers are stocking the Infinite heroes pegs with JLU and mixing them in, because they look exactly the same unless you actually read the boxes or look at the figures a lay person would not know the difference.
4 -There have been no solicitations in the ads harkening the arrival of JLU and no sign of the figures on the website.
5 -There is almost no restocking of these figures. Once they are out, they sit for weeks not being restocked and that is not just JLU, but with DCUC, as well. Is this because the employees are stocking the JLU figures on the wrong pegs? Also, the 6 packs, at least around here, are sold out and nothing is on the shelf. This either means that these are wildly popular or Target is not interested in keeping this line going. Since it is the only place we can get these, this should be stocked regularly, so that Mattel knows the collectors are supporting this line and don't cancel it, just because Target won't restock items.
All of these issues I discussed witht he target rep. So basically a little lip service adn they said that they will forward all of this information on. Then I called Mattel.....
Mattel was much more interested in what I had to say (or at least they seemed to, one never knows) about trying to collect this line. I explained the entire process of sticking with the line even when it looked hopeless and then the announcement came that Target would be the exclusive retailer. Many of us rejoiced as this should make it easier to come by the figures (in theory). So I brought to their attention all of the points I made to Target and even told them I had already passed this information on to Target. Surprisingly, the rep said it sounds like Target is not wanting to fully support the exclusive relationship. I explained about my weekend spent driving 70 miles from store to store(in Houston this is easy to do) and how I found out of 8 stores, only 4 had figures and they were mixed in with Infinite Heroes. I also explained the love, we as collectors have for the line and do not want to be penalized, because they have a vendor, who does not support such a beloved liine. I also reiterated the point that on the toy aisle there is no identifying sign saying DCU JL (which apparently is how they reference it internally) I suggested signage that said DC Universe to encompass all of their offerings in every Target store. I also brought up the unbelievably enormous amount of time it takes to jsut find the figures DCUC/JLU or other DC figs in general. He said he was going to send this to the field folks and that someone would get my concerns. In the meantime he asked me specifically what I was looking gor, so I told him the Capt. Atom 3 pack and Galatea 3 packs. So he pulls up Captain Atom and low and behold he is coming out in a single pack. SO I commented again about MattyCollector, just having these available online at their site and he starts looking up this and that in the computer and comes across the Shazam 4 pack as being a TRU exclusive? He asked me if I had been checking TRU and I said religiously, but not for JLU, since it was Target exclusive...In any event, this may not amount to a hill of beans, but I felt as if I rationally expressed my opinion to both parties and jsut hope for the best.
If you truly love this line, it would be a good idea to make a call to Targets customer service 1800-440-0680. Use the options to discuss Merchandise at a Target store. Then when you are done with them, call Mattel 1-877-466-2889. If you don't speak up, this could all be over with before it starts. If they know you care and get enough feedback they may change the way they approach the line. That's all any of us can do!
sorry for the long read!
OK, I have now done what I said I would do and have contacted both Target customer service and Mattel customer service regarding the lack of product in the market for JLU. Target it sending my information to their regional folks to disburse to the area stores. Here are some facts that I brought up in my conversation with Target:
1 -There has been no official lauch of JLU and being a store exclusive that should have taken place. You would in no way know that JLU is exclusive to Target.
2 -There is no designation on the toy aisle that JLU is located in this spot. Star Wars has a tag, Transformers has a tag, Ben 10 has a tag, but no DC related items, much less JLU has any such thing and JLU being a store exclusive, deserves that kind of attention.
3 -The stockers are stocking the Infinite heroes pegs with JLU and mixing them in, because they look exactly the same unless you actually read the boxes or look at the figures a lay person would not know the difference.
4 -There have been no solicitations in the ads harkening the arrival of JLU and no sign of the figures on the website.
5 -There is almost no restocking of these figures. Once they are out, they sit for weeks not being restocked and that is not just JLU, but with DCUC, as well. Is this because the employees are stocking the JLU figures on the wrong pegs? Also, the 6 packs, at least around here, are sold out and nothing is on the shelf. This either means that these are wildly popular or Target is not interested in keeping this line going. Since it is the only place we can get these, this should be stocked regularly, so that Mattel knows the collectors are supporting this line and don't cancel it, just because Target won't restock items.
All of these issues I discussed witht he target rep. So basically a little lip service adn they said that they will forward all of this information on. Then I called Mattel.....
Mattel was much more interested in what I had to say (or at least they seemed to, one never knows) about trying to collect this line. I explained the entire process of sticking with the line even when it looked hopeless and then the announcement came that Target would be the exclusive retailer. Many of us rejoiced as this should make it easier to come by the figures (in theory). So I brought to their attention all of the points I made to Target and even told them I had already passed this information on to Target. Surprisingly, the rep said it sounds like Target is not wanting to fully support the exclusive relationship. I explained about my weekend spent driving 70 miles from store to store(in Houston this is easy to do) and how I found out of 8 stores, only 4 had figures and they were mixed in with Infinite Heroes. I also explained the love, we as collectors have for the line and do not want to be penalized, because they have a vendor, who does not support such a beloved liine. I also reiterated the point that on the toy aisle there is no identifying sign saying DCU JL (which apparently is how they reference it internally) I suggested signage that said DC Universe to encompass all of their offerings in every Target store. I also brought up the unbelievably enormous amount of time it takes to jsut find the figures DCUC/JLU or other DC figs in general. He said he was going to send this to the field folks and that someone would get my concerns. In the meantime he asked me specifically what I was looking gor, so I told him the Capt. Atom 3 pack and Galatea 3 packs. So he pulls up Captain Atom and low and behold he is coming out in a single pack. SO I commented again about MattyCollector, just having these available online at their site and he starts looking up this and that in the computer and comes across the Shazam 4 pack as being a TRU exclusive? He asked me if I had been checking TRU and I said religiously, but not for JLU, since it was Target exclusive...In any event, this may not amount to a hill of beans, but I felt as if I rationally expressed my opinion to both parties and jsut hope for the best.
If you truly love this line, it would be a good idea to make a call to Targets customer service 1800-440-0680. Use the options to discuss Merchandise at a Target store. Then when you are done with them, call Mattel 1-877-466-2889. If you don't speak up, this could all be over with before it starts. If they know you care and get enough feedback they may change the way they approach the line. That's all any of us can do!
sorry for the long read!