Lord of the Rings

[Guest BCLouE1572382628]

Hi LadyPendleton,

 

Sorry we didn't get back to you sooner on this, but we were doing some research on the matter. Unfortunately, it looks like there's been some misunderstanding involved here.

 

The Lord of the Rings Giftset was introduced on our site in November and was available for sale in the Barbie Collector Shop beginning in early December. I've checked our records and can't find any indication that we ever had a March available date on any of the pages describing the giftset.

 

The giftset was very popular and was indeed sold out for a short period of time in the Barbie Collector Shop. We then received more stock which was immediately put on sale and that additional stock has now been sold through. Unfortunately, we do not anticipate receiving any more stock on this item.

 

Regarding the Catalog that you just received, due to the lead times that print requires, there is always the possibility that a product will sell out between the time that the catalog is produced and the catalog going to print. In those cases, it is impossible for us to redesign the catalog, so it is necessary for us to add the "sold out" indication. Unfortunately, this is one of those cases where the giftset sold out after the catalog had been produced, so it was necessary that we label it "sold out" when the catalog went to print.

 

We know that none of this information helps address the frustration you are feeling over not being able to add this giftset to your collection, but hope that it will help, at least, address your concerns as to how the giftset could be advertised in our catalog and sold out at this time.

 

[This message was edited by BC LizG on Fri March 05 2004 at 03:49 PM.]

[Guest LadyPendleton]

This is my second comment on this matter, but not because I am trying to be a pest. It is because of a new and even more bewildering development that has occured today.

I recieved my Spring Barbie Catolog in the mail today . The Lord of the Rings set has a "sold out" marked in red over the price. Today is March 4th. The LOTR set was advertised at Mattel's web site (for at least a month) "to be released in March", which means the soonest it could possibly have been available was March 1st. Unless you printed the catalogs on March 2nd, it was actually printed with a "sold out" prior to the dolls even being released! Now seeing that I recieved the catalog today, it doesn't seem likely or even possible that the book was just printed two days ago and made it to my mailbox in that time.

 

SO...taking that into consideration, mattel not only anticipated the instant sell out, they planned it.

 

I am not a conpiracy theorist, but I have seen far too much evidence to support that your company has intenionally made this set one of the hardest ever to obtain. How many exactly were made available to the general public? Is there a number? How does that compare to other dolls and sets put out recently?

 

You see, I came to your site at 10:00 am on March 1st and the set was already gone.

 

The only place it can now be purchased is at Ebay or collector sites for prices exceedingly higher than the original retail price.

 

I can see releasing very limited amounts of a Marie Antoinette doll, a Mackie, or the like. These are typically only going to be interesting exclusively to Barbie collectors.

 

However, the Lord of the Rings, one of the most successful movie trilogies ever, and a classic novel series with an entire genre of fans will automatically generate additional desire for the related Barbies.

There are so many fans that would have given almost anything to have those dolls, and will instead have to watch them skyrocket in price over the months and years, growing ever more unattainable.

 

It would be as if you released a Harry Potter or Hermione and made only a handful. The millions of fans would be outraged when only an elite few of aggressive collectors were able to buy them.

 

To add insult to injury, because the collectiblity of the dolls has been prioritized over the demand and interest, there are people who are not even fans of the novels or films buying three sets at a time! Just because they know how much they will be worth. Could there not have been a "one per person" quota at least?

 

I was aggravated all over again to get my catalog today and see that the only item in the entire book marked off as unavaialable was the LOTR set.

 

If you had known at the time of printing that you were sold out, or going to sell out immediately upon release, why did you put the dolls in the book?

 

Because that will only increase their collectablity.

 

I truly hope this is only a mistake, and Mattel just didn't anticipate the intense interest. If that is the case then I'm sure we can expect another release of the dolls with a wider availability in the near future..correct?

 

If that is not the case, I would have to say that Mattel has made a decision that is contradictory to the spirit and ideals of both JRR Tolkein and the message inherent in the stories you have modeled your dolls after.

 

I am really sorry to be so negative. I love your dolls, and I will continue to collect them in spite of this debacle. I just really need to make it clear how deeply disappointed I am that the LOTR set is not gracing the shelves of my home, with all of the rest of the Barbie dolls I have bought from you.

 

please comment.

[Guest BC LizG]

Hi,

 

Just to echo Lou's response, I am sorry that this was such a frustrating item for you. The popularity of the doll did exceed our expectations.

 

There may be a few pieces still available through your favorite doll dealer, Wal-Mart.com or TRU.com.

 

Best of luck.