Mattel has always been the #1 name in bad decisions, especially when it comes to their convention exclusives. But this year, they really seem to have reached new heights of idiocy. Or is that depths?
Here are the official instructions from the at-show pre-sale:
Pre-sale orders available only in the 48 contiguous United States. Limit 4 per item per customer. Orders made by the same customer in excess of the limit will not be honored. Discounts, offers, and promotions cannot be applied to San Diego Comic-Con items. Attendee must confirm pre-sale purchase by checking in at the Mattel booth (#2945) at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con: San Diego Convention Center, 111 Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101, July 18 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, July 19–21 from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM, or July 22 from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Attendee must show their 2018 San Diego Comic-Con badge, their ID, and order confirmation. The name on the SDCC attendee badge and ID must match the name on the order. Orders will be shipped after the event ends.
In case your eyes glazed right over that, allow us to summarise:
- Buy something on Mattel's site.
- Go to SDCC.
- Stand in line to show them your receipt.
- They mail you the toy later.
Come the hell on, Mattel! I realise we've said in the past that you've never met an idea you can't do wrong, but you weren't meant to take that as a personal challenge!
Mattel truly is awful at collector oriented lines.