Octopus Overlords

People have been predicting death of various toy companies for many many years. Here's my take on it.

Everybody knows Minecraft.

It shouldn't be surprising that Mattel has a license from Mojang to make various toys based on Minecraft, right?

So when "mini figures" arrived at my local Big Lots! checkout counter, I grabbed one. Didn't even look at the price.

Here's what it looked like (9V battery for size comparison):



The box is roughly... oh, golf ball sized? Racket ball sized? plum sized?

Guess how big is the toy inside? Why, let me open it up and find out...



Yes, that's the "cave spider" in the package. No kidding. It's not even the size of a quarter!?!?!?!

Then I noticed the price on the box: $4.00 USD.

And this is DISCOUNTED. In toy stores they are $4.99 each.

Makes me glad I don't have kids... (yet).

You sort of have it. They don't charge $4.99 because they're financially doomed. They charge $4.99 because it's $0.25 worth of plastic and cardboard and people go crazy for it because it's Minecraft.

I don't think the battery will fit inside it.

Smoove_B wrote:You sort of have it. They don't charge $4.99 because they're financially doomed. They charge $4.99 because it's $0.25 worth of plastic and cardboard and people go crazy for it because it's Minecraft.

I swear the stuff I can get from those stupid toy egg vending machines are bigger than this.

Smoove_B wrote:You sort of have it. They don't charge $4.99 because they're financially doomed. They charge $4.99 because it's $0.25 worth of plastic and cardboard and people go crazy for it because it's Minecraft.

Yep. The local toy stores that carry those are routinely sold out. They charge $4.99 because people are lining up to give them $4.99.

If it's made in China, it's worth about $0.08, as that's what similar toys go on Alibaba, INCLUDING the capsule.

How big are the LEGO Minifigs? Even those are bigger than this Minecraft... travesty!

From what I've seen of my own kids, the small size is actually a selling point. They're tiny. It activates the 'cute factor.'

There is also a line of 3"-4" Minecraft figures.

Until some silly kid swallows one. Then its all over.

Daehawk wrote:Until some silly kid swallows one. Then its all over.

I'm sure it has a "6+" or something written on it, meaning that the fault is effectively out of Mattel's hands.

EDIT: I see the 6+ in the pic.

Aren't these the randomized collectibles you also see in novelty and media stores? Usually at the checkout counter for impulse purchasing? They have them for many franchises. I don't think they're toys meant to be "played with".

Sudy Nym wrote:Aren't these the randomized collectibles you also see in novelty and media stores? Usually at the checkout counter for impulse purchasing? They have them for many franchises. I don't think they're toys meant to be "played with".

This is exactly it. It's light gambling.

If they expected you to pay $4.99 for a small plastic spider, they'd tell you what was in the box. See the question mark on the front? That's what they're selling. The mystery and the chance of a cool toy you want.

I don't know if they have rare ones or if people just like to collect. But let's say there is no rarity. Let's say there are 10 figures. They can sell 10 to collectors by telling them what's in the box or they can sell 20+ to them as they try to build a set. I wouldn't worry about Mattel, not over these anyway.

And it seems people are happy with the small size. Or the cocaine.

I don't get it. How is Mattel doomed? Other than their eternal souls for misrepresenting the sizes of their product.

How they keep shrinking toys...

Aren't they still selling those LED football games, or is that over now?

Kasey Chang wrote:How they keep shrinking toys...

When you're selling collectible toys to adults, small is good. They can buy more and not run out of space.

Not when the MacFarlane "The Walking Dead" minifigs are MUCH better... AND cheaper ($3 each pack).



Here's a video review

Kasey Chang wrote:Not when the MacFarlane "The Walking Dead" minifigs are MUCH better... AND cheaper ($3 each pack).



Here's a video review

That kind of proves my point. They're still minifigs. They're under 2".

So again, small is good for selling.

LawBeefaroni wrote:

Kasey Chang wrote:Not when the MacFarlane "The Walking Dead" minifigs are MUCH better... AND cheaper ($3 each pack).



Here's a video review

That kind of proves my point. They're still minifigs. They're under 2".

So again, small is good for selling.

My point is Mattel is selling less than 1" toys for almost TWICE the price...

Kasey Chang wrote:
My point is Mattel is selling less than 1" toys for almost TWICE the price...

Seems like a win for Mattel to me.

From Mattel's Q2 2015 earnings presentation:

Softness in licensed entertainment properties, including Disney Princess/Frozen, due to tough comps, partially offset by solid growth in Hot Wheels, Minecraft and Games

Mattel may well be doomed, but I don't think Minecraft mini figures will be the reason why.

Not when you can get the pig-to-porkchop plush!

AWS260 wrote:From Mattel's Q2 2015 earnings presentation:

Softness in licensed entertainment properties, including Disney Princess/Frozen, due to tough comps, partially offset by solid growth in Hot Wheels, Minecraft and Games

Mattel may well be doomed, but I don't think Minecraft mini figures will be the reason why.

And that's just their North American slide.

Worldwide:

Solid growth in Hot Wheels, strength in Disney Princess and Minecraft licenses, offset by softness in other
licensed entertainment properties as well as declines in Monster High and Barbie

Not yet, any way. It's when kids realize they can buy Minecraft for $10... or 2 1-inch Minecraft toys for $10.

Kasey Chang wrote:Not yet, any way. It's when kids realize they can buy Minecraft for $10... or 2 1-inch Minecraft toys for $10.

Two problems.

First, most of the time the kids aren't buying anything. Their parents are.

Second, 'when kids realize' is often never, partially because kids aren't the ones earning and buying.