Hero Hunt

Masters of the Universe Classics 2011 Club Eternia Subscriptions

Posted on June 17th, 2010

Last weekend at Wizard World Philly, Mattel announced details of their Masters of the Universe Classics 2011 Club Eternia subscription program. More on that in a minute, but first let’s look at the 2010 Club Eternia subscription. If you signed up for the Club Eternia 2010 subscription program, you got 13 figures, 1 figure a month plus the exclusive bonus figure. Since the club costs $20 to join, you pay $20 for every figure, plus $8 in shipping and handling, separate from anything else you buy in the store at the time the figures go on sale by the way.

So let’s add up the cost. 13 x $20 = $260. I didn’t order it, so I’m not sure, but it may be the case that the bonus figure shipped together with that month’s figure. So let’s calculate shipping on 12 figures instead of 13 just to be safe. 12 x $8 = $96. The total is $260 + $96 = $356. That’s a lot of cash to be a completist. This also doesn’t count the quarterly bonus figures plus the oversize figures or the weapons pak. And that’s only if you buy one of each, which many buy more than one, and the limit on each figure by Mattel is 10.

Also as a result of this program, every figure this year has been hard to get because the genius’ at Mattel figured everyone that wanted the figures bought a subscription, thus they didn’t produce very many figures outside what they would need to fill the subscription program.

But the bonus figures and the oversize figures have also been hard to get. And Mattel claims that collectors who signed up for the subscription program want a way to get those figures as well. So for 2011, Mattel is including all those figures in their subscription program. Not as a separate option mind you, as part of the new program.

So to recap, in 2011 to ensure that you are able to get the figures you want, the only way to get them is to get one of everything. If you thought $356 was a lot, get ready to pay a lot more. Now, they may ship the figures together every month to save on shipping, but the shipping costs will certainly not go down from $96 for the year. So let’s look at how much it will be exactly.

The subscriptions will include 12 monthly figures, the 4 “A-List” quarterly figures, beasts, army builders and oversized figures that are offered in 20011 (3 at $30 and 1 $40). There will also be a subscription only figure like Wun-Dar. This figure will be from the comics and a new map for this year.

4 bonus figures is $80. Now what Mattel means by “beasts, army builders and oversized figures” isn’t very clear, but they do give us some details, “3 at $30 and 1 $40.” So $90 + $40 = $130. So the total now is up to $566 without adding in any additional shipping cost, which there is sure to be some. Is anyone still interested in joining the 2011 Eternia Club for $566 at a minimum? Note that this still excludes SDCC exclusive figures, stands, weapons packs or re-issues.

My guess is that Mattel will sell a lot less 2011 subscriptions than for 2010, with a cost increase of at least $210 more. The good news is that Mattel will know ahead of time exactly how many subscriptions they sold, so they will have to make enough to fill those orders. Plus, by now they should know or at least be getting close to knowing how many figures they need to make every month for the figures to last for at least a day or 2. So with less subscriptions being sold, more collectors will be in the boat of having to fight on pre-order day to get the figures, but hopefully, Mattel will be able to better ensure that everyone who wants one can get one.

Of course, I could be completely wrong, and Mattel could sell more subscriptions than ever before. Or they could still underestimate sales, and people will still be pissed as hell at them that they can’t get the figures they want. Anyway you look at it, the line is a success. The only way it can fail is if the figures stop selling out month after month. I don’t think Mattel is going to let that happen at this point. A year from now, we may be telling a different story.

Related Posts:

• Masters of the Universe Release Dates and Cyber Monday SaleMasters of the Universe Classics Production NumbersThe Cost of a Masters of the Universe Classics 2011 Club Eternia SubscriptionWizard Word Philly Masters of the Universe Classics NewsMasters of the Universe Classics Club Eternia Map of Eternia Viewer