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Mattel debuts first Barbie with hearing aids

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Re: Mattel debuts first Barbie with hearing aids

#31

Post by Mo3 »

the_af wrote: post #19
Mo3 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like sales declining and not being able to think straight in the panic

Regardless of Mattel's motives, your comment seems to imply you think this decision is a mistake ("not being able to think straight"). Why?

Because honestly it just appears like trying to grab off a handful new customers by dumping countless iterations of the same sucked-dry product into a rapidly declining market. Similar to putting dozens of these crappy websites up that all sell the same crappy product no one wants.

Children don’t care about a skinnier Ken and a disabled Barbie. Not because of the special attributes of these iterations, mind you, they don’t really see these differences yet anyway. Maybe a few parents will appreciate those but that should be about it.

Re: Mattel debuts first Barbie with hearing aids

#32

Post by the_af »

Mo3 wrote: post #31
the_af wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regardless of Mattel's motives, your comment seems to imply you think this decision is a mistake ("not being able to think straight"). Why?

Because honestly it just appears like trying to grab off a handful new customers by dumping countless iterations of the same sucked-dry product into a rapidly declining market. Similar to putting dozens of these crappy websites up that all sell the same crappy product no one wants. Children don’t care about a skinnier Ken and a disabled Barbie. Not because of the special attributes of these iterations, mind you, they…

I don't see what's wrong about trying to grab new customers. Mattel is a business, after all.

Countless iterations of the same thing is what Barbie was already doing. There's a parody of that in The Simpsons' Stacy Malibu ("it has a new hat!"). This seems a bit riskier and slightly more profound than giving Barbie a new dress. I looked at the photo of the new dolls and they don't look like iterations of the same thing: each looks strikingly different to the rest.

Then again, do people look at Playmobil or Legos and complain that they are "countless iterations of the same thing"? Because they certainly are!

As for the differences: my 2 year old sees them already. And even if not, aren't toys also about teaching something?

> Maybe a few parents will appreciate those but that should be about it

How can you speak for parents and know how many will or will not appreciate this?

Re: Mattel debuts first Barbie with hearing aids

#35

Post by mcphage »

Mo3 wrote: post #31
the_af wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regardless of Mattel's motives, your comment seems to imply you think this decision is a mistake ("not being able to think straight"). Why?

Because honestly it just appears like trying to grab off a handful new customers by dumping countless iterations of the same sucked-dry product into a rapidly declining market. Similar to putting dozens of these crappy websites up that all sell the same crappy product no one wants. Children don’t care about a skinnier Ken and a disabled Barbie. Not because of the special attributes of these iterations, mind you, they…

> Because honestly it just appears like trying to grab off a handful new customers by dumping countless iterations of the same sucked-dry product into a rapidly declining market.

The way you phrased this, it sounds like you’re implying that expanding your product line to new customers when your sales are declining is a bad idea. But… I can’t imagine how you think businesses work, then. Like, what’s Plan B? Ride the ship into the ground?

Re: Mattel debuts first Barbie with hearing aids

#36

Post by vestrigi »

the_af wrote: post #16
obilgic wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

average as in not very pretty? so you have a definition of pretty and you are okay with it being the standard however just want an average faced doll? I wouldn't consider myself very knowledgable such as topics like these, so just curious about what the thinking is behind it.

I think the parent poster means Barbie dolls that look more like regular people. Classic Barbie looks like a model.

Yes. I was trying to criticize that Barbie dolls hold up an unrealistic beauty standard while trying to be inclusive about disabilities, color or gender.

Re: Mattel debuts first Barbie with hearing aids

#37

Post by jka »

Mo3 wrote: post #31
the_af wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regardless of Mattel's motives, your comment seems to imply you think this decision is a mistake ("not being able to think straight"). Why?

Because honestly it just appears like trying to grab off a handful new customers by dumping countless iterations of the same sucked-dry product into a rapidly declining market. Similar to putting dozens of these crappy websites up that all sell the same crappy product no one wants. Children don’t care about a skinnier Ken and a disabled Barbie. Not because of the special attributes of these iterations, mind you, they…

Do you have a sense of how many people in the world live with a disability and/or have a close family member who does?
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