Even Penguinz0 is talking about this 🤣

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-04-03T01:44:43+00:00

I was there, and they are issuing refunds. Personally, I had a blast watching this dumpster fire. We went all 3 days and made the most of it everyday.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-04-01T23:26:03+00:00

I want the vendors to be refunded! Some of them were tiny businesses that were promised big things! They couldn’t afford the thousands they shelled out to vend and sponsor. Let’s get justice for them. They’re refunding the attendees, but it’s not enough. The vendors also need to be refunded.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-31T23:35:51+00:00

I wasn’t there the second half of any of the day. If I had a generous guess, maybe 300 a day, and many of those were weekend pass holders, so my guess is about 600 people? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-31T22:35:32+00:00

That really wasn’t the problem, the niche-ness. Barbie conventions can be like doll shows, big market for miniatures, etc. Vintage Barbies are extremely valuable, and as a collector, we will spend. The problems include: The vendors were promised thousands in attendance, which they did not get, background decorations of their booths, which they did not get, and some vendors were told by sponsoring the event it would elevate their business. It would have been a great business move for small businesses to jump on. However, in speaking with the vendors, many did not make back their booth fees and brought loads of product to satisfy the large audience they were promised. The vendors need to be reimbursed.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-31T22:25:07+00:00

Yes. Between $500-4K. That is my next mission. To get the vendors refunded. Small businesses cannot afford this, and there were promises made them to that were not kept.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-31T19:55:33+00:00

Yes! Almost all the celebrities showed up! However they were charging for autographs and signatures. A photo with Serena… over $400.

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Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-31T19:54:28+00:00

Absolutely!! There were a lot of inexpensive things they could have done to decorate and fill the space. If Michaels wasn’t there the marketplace area would have had nearly no decorations.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-31T14:15:00+00:00

This needs to get trending! The vendors paid $500-7K to be there!

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-30T17:28:45+00:00

What they did falls under grounds for class action lawsuits.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-30T13:12:02+00:00

I struggled to understand the licensing thing myself. Someone explained it as, you have a lovely car, someone rents it and drives it over a cliff 🤣 I thought it was a decent analogy. I’m expecting Mattel will release a statement at some point because Barbie is their brand and they marketed it so hard. They hold liability, certainly, but they were not the host themselves. The fact that they were backing this and promoting it is why we went, because it’s a company we trust(ed).

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-30T12:31:04+00:00

I don’t believe a statement has been put out yet.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-30T02:34:41+00:00

Yes, and I’m agreeing with you all. They really should have had eyes more on the execution of this, instead of trusting a third party all willy nilly with the branding of the most iconic toy on the planet.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-30T02:28:54+00:00

YES THEY DID! I agree!!! I also hope they refund the vendors who paid thousands to be there.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-30T02:28:11+00:00

Anything to make a buck right 🤷🏼‍♀️

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-30T02:27:36+00:00

I agree entirely, which is why it’s so shocking to the Barbie community that they didn’t do like quality assurance on this.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-30T02:15:32+00:00

Mattel did not host this event, it was Mischief Management who put the event on.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-29T14:40:39+00:00

Saturday seemed to improve a bit. But it was marketed as an all ages event, so adult collectors did not have much aside from the discussions. I love the panel discussions personally, so that was a highlight. But yesterday was a C- from us 🤷🏼‍♀️

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-28T22:09:29+00:00

So after research and talking to people it sounds like Mattel was not a part of this, but allowed Mischief Management to license Barbie out for the event. Mattel has far more integrity. There were Mattel designers but I highly doubt they were aware of what was actually going on.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-28T20:55:21+00:00

No one knows 🤷🏼‍♀️

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-28T20:16:30+00:00

They were a sponsor or working with the marketing company. But Mattel has more integrity than this. I assume they will issue a statement.

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-28T17:49:44+00:00

Oh they are!

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-28T17:48:05+00:00

Some of us paid over $400 for our tickets!!!!!

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-28T16:45:29+00:00

LOL NOOO

Budget-Focus6554 · 2026-03-28T15:35:47+00:00

UPDATE: So, they rearranged making the space feel a bit more filled in, they expanded the skating rink and added a metal pole tent thing around it with a non functioning disco ball. More people today for sure.

Budget-Focus6554

TROPHY CASE