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Mattel Pixar Diecast CARS: The State of the Retail Buying State

While the calendar year has a few more months to run (119 shopping days until you know what day) … the CARS year is just about over. In the next week or so, CASE T should ship and 2008 by the CARS Calendar will have come to a close. As part of the ancient ritual, I will chant the ancient words from my forefathers (well, technically the movie script from 2006), drive my favorite CARS (136 of them) across the nude bodies of Brazilian models*, drink vast quantities of liquids made from fermented vegetables and grains, and sacrifice a cow (by grilling and eating it in small pieces). I will then burn some Sidewall Shine promotion flyers as offering to the winds of change and the ushering in of the CARS Year 2009 - the Golden Age of CARS.

* okay, I hope to upgrade this year from photos in VOGUE to actual models but hey, can’t have everything :-)

After a brief nap, I will drive out to the plains, mountains and netherworld regions to see CARS. There might be some adult swearing, hex chanting and jumping up and down like a big baby. Or in the case of Toys R Us, all three.

In the U.S., the three big chains have about 80% of all the toy business. They are the mass market. That’s not to say you can’t have a nice business either selling or making toys without involving the big three but clearly, anything not available at the BIG THREE is a either a small(er) collectible/collector’s market or flea-market knockoffs.Together, they comprise of about 6,000 brick & mortar locations in the US.

For Wal-Mart and Target, toys are a cute sideline business to bring in traffic. Parents will want to stop by to grab something for their kids and more importantly, during big popcorn movie releases, they get to ride on the buzz wave and makes the store look livier … for some reason, the giant wall of paper towels just doesn’t excite people anymore …

Toys R Us by its very name of course has a greater need to make money from toys.

By their enormity is one reason why toy companies have to match them so companies like Mattel (with Barbie, Hot Wheels, CARS & DC figures) or Hasbro (Milton Bradley, Star Wars, etc …) can match their gamesmanship in bargaining … so ultimately, both sides need each other and can ill afford to walk away or offend any of them … for better or worse.

But of course, that also affects the portion most important to us, CARS. The retailers are only willing to commit so much money to toys & or CARS. For instance, early in the year when retailers committed a huge amount of resources to SPEED RACER or as they thought $PEED RACER was going to be the early summer kids blockbuster - they cut back on CARS spending during that period - why? Well, a new “shiny” movie release will always seem more enticing to them … ultimately, it was not too smart of a move financially but to WM or Target, there were enough sales and before Speed Racer actually came out, there was buzz and that’s good enough for Target & WM. They got to ride the wave of ‘fun buzz.’

Of course, they would prefer that the movie is a huge hit and they will sell more stuff but ultimately, if it sells for 7 months (the movie release plus the DVD release), that’s good enough. So in the case of Target and WM, sometimes when you don’t see stock, it’s not really Mattel’s fault. Honestly, because the retailers just don’t care that much. How much do they make if they sell through a case of 18 CARS? About $18 in total profit not including the cost of running the store or the salaries of their employees … so if they ordered more, Mattel would certainly make more CARS … and case assortments? If you asked the retailers, they would just stare at you blankly. If Mattel offered them a box of assorted townies or a box of the Apple car and Dale Jr., they would just ask which was cheaper and they’ll take that one - to them, it’s @$1 profit a CAR so whatever. They’ll certainly listen to suggestions but as long as they are reasonable certain the vendor (or Mattel) is continuing to supply them with something that will sell, great. But other times, they will pare back the budget for CARS because again, at best, all it is $18 return for those 3 pegs in their enormous store … nice but hardly dazzling (to them).

So unlike the days of yore, if you build it - nowadays, they might not care enough to make shelf space for it and in the case of CARS, hopefully that’s where MattyCollector.com can come in and make a difference.

Toys R Us is a special case in more ways that one. For the past several years, they have been on a slippery financial slope and it seems they have righted the ship so at least they are not about to sink. Because toy sales (and profits) can change rapidly, they have had it tougher … unlike WM or Target who has literally 20,000 other products to sell, TRU pretty much counts on you buying toys … hence the increase of Babies R Us … which is a much more stable business - diapers and baby stuff. As every parent knows, you needed to buy a $50k SUV to haul the 2 tons of stuff that goes around a tiny, gurgling 12″ by 7″ baby :-) … but TRU also has had problems because WM or Target can pretty much decided to sell whatever toy they want to at no profit or at a loss because they know you’re probably going to buy a couple dozen other things.

In the case of CARS, while it’s great that TRU is willing to devote a quarter aisle to CARS, they seem mis-guided in thinking they can make up for the “low” margin single CARS by heaping the aisle full of higher margin RC CARS, $50 CARS race tracks and anything but the 1:55 CARS. Instead, TRU should be the retailer that always has 1:55 CARS to differentiate themselves from the other two toy retailers. And of course, there’s no reason not to mix in higher margin items but they should be 1:55 CARS items such as with these two recent box sets.

While not the most exciting packs of all time, they are a great starter set for those just joining in on the fun or a nice gift for some kid - 5 CARS for $17.99.

Box sets make much more sense because they are a classy way to go - unlike the Movie Doubles.

The problem is not that they are exclusives or even that they are re-packaged CARS out already but rather the presentation … to most gift-givers, they look at it and they wonder, why would I buy my kid, friend’s kid or grandkid TWO of the SAME car? Sure, WE know it’s different and while completists might want to add it to their collection, to most people, it’s not that ‘classy’ of a choice … while if they were a box set, they would serve two markets - for gift giving and as a display item.

Or like the recent Target exclusive, Race & Chase set:

While not the greatest value, it’s still not a bad value for $14.99 AND even presuming that most collectors have the other three CARS, it still makes for a great office display versus a blister card …

So, like the old saying, it’s not that we’re against “repeats” and “exclusives,” they just have to be smart and instead of a blister - make it a box - it’s a classier way to go for a classy line.

And as far as I can tell, both the two TRU boxes & the Target Race & Chase are selling well unlike the Movie Doubles.

That brings us to another crucial point. A lot of long time collectors are focused on what they believe are re-issues of older CARS and while some are definitely pegwarmers … if you look at the overall picture. Not counting the upcoming re-scaled Fred & Axle Accelerator in CASE T, we have 62 CARS available as WOC or as part of the current ongoing WOC line (not counting Lizzie/Sarge or the Chase McQueen) … even if you discount the latest 10 releases, that’s still 52 CARS part of WOC - how many different ones do you see on your store shelves? If your store is like virtually all of them - at best, you have 10 choices on the shelf, right?

So, basically, 80% of all singles CARS sell out new or old - some immediately (Dale Jr.) and others might take a few more days (Fillmore) or a week (Wingo) but after a few weeks, what is really left on the shelf? 5 out of 62 available? 10 out of 62? How many stores have more than 15 out of 62 available? What does that tell you? That the line is healthy. That with the exception of some models that are available in other formats or simply shipped too often … good luck finding even Snot Rod or Leak Less on a WOC card … the line is healthy and for 50 to 55 of the CARS assortment, they are sold within weeks of arriving on the shelf … and for the lingerers? That is a problem …

Especially at TRU’s which seems to have some oddities that are not readily explained … how does a store end up with 60 Supercharged Boosts?

TRU closest to me in Dublin, CA.

And other than 1 Bling Bling McQ, the rest are ALL Green  & Yellow Ramones (Kansas City, MO) …

Or El Paso, Texas - again, just Green Ramones & Lightning Ramones … great for CARS to get 12 pegs but really, just a fallow situation and looks bad for Mattel & TRU.

Now, I can only really speak for the two TRU’s closest to me since I am there once a week but this peg situation looks very similiar in 20-30 TRU’s I’ve visted in the past couple years across the country. Clearly there is a disconnect somewhere.

Is this situation a result of TRU’s poor inventory & re-ordering setup? Is the inventory computer waiting for CARS to sell down to ZERO before ordering a new shipment? I can tell you that the Dublin, CA TRU has not received a new case all summer. I vaguely recall they got a couple cases in early summer and sold through all those, leaving just the Boost’s … so if the computer is waiting until the Boost’s get down to zero before allowing another shipment to come in? Or is TRU unwilling to spend the money to fill 12 pegs?

Besides a sales and display problem, this situation directly impacts the Buy 5, Get Sidewall Shine promotions because how did they decide to arrive at this solution to clear the shelves? Is it based on a general nationwide count where TRU’s 600 stores shows they have 40,000 CARS but how many TRU’s have less than 10 choices out of 62 available CARS? While the Buy 5, Get Sidewall Shine is a good resolution - can TRU pull up an inventory by UPC and what will that inventory really tell them? Is it really a fair promotions in asking people to choose from 3 or 5 total CAR choices or in my case - in Dublin, CA - ONE choice? Buy 5 Boosts, get 1 Sidewall Shine?

So, while TRU seems to making a commitment to CARS - they seem focused on the wrong areas of CARS - having 15 $50-CARS slot tracks in each store in stock but but having virtually no 1:55 mainline CARS - which is really the driving force of the line … it’s very puzzling. I know that Mattel has sales reps that service each account, from the CARS promotions memo, it seems to imply that the Mattel sales reps personally came by each store to drop off the flyers but isn’t it part of their responsibility to see that stock is varied and/or plentiful also? So, whether the fault lies in TRU’s lack of ordering for financial reasons, or by dint of a poor inventory computer or by their incorrect focus on high margin items versus actual sell-through items … or whether the problem is in that Mattel’s sales reps not monitoring TRU - there is a huge disconnect somewhere that needs to be addressed now that we are moving into Golden Age of CARS with oversized blisters, haulers, Mini’s, Storytellers and so forth … or is TRU going to continue just to stock $39 RC CARS just because the margins are higher?

BUT I think one thing that the three retailers may not realize is how much traffic the CARS line might just drive to the stores and maybe we can get some answers … I put together some questions on an Excel spreadsheet - download it and fill it and email back to us at metroxing (at) gmail.com. I will compile the results and maybe it will useful to increase the amount of CARS we’ll see on the shelf. Thanks in advance for your time - just select a nickname on the sheet so I can keep the results matched up. I will NOT reveal any of your individual answers. I will also not match your current TakeFive nickname to the one on the survey so feel free to pick any or just a number. The Excel file direct download link is HERE (FILEDROPPER). Or you can go to EDITGRID and EXPORT THE FILE there (it is READ ONLY so you’ll have to fill it out on your desktop). (EDITGRID also allows you to export it in other formats if you don’t have EXCEL or would prefer another ’spreadsheet’ format. Thanks!)

Our UPDATED What’s-In-Store Now POST is HERE.

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54 Comments »

  1. Call me crazy, but I’ve just spent ridiculous amount of $ to get ahead of the releases + other reasons.

    Some of you may notice there is an Australian seller on evil bay who has loose future releases..well i’ve just bought axle, sally cone, new fred, tumbleweed mcQ, tires mcQ, Retail Lightning Storm McQ, smell swell McQ, wedding day ramone, another ramone (cant remember the name), shiny wax pitty and chief.

    I know it wont be exciting for the next few months hunting for CARS, but I’d thought we never get anything good here (in Australia) anyway..so save on future shipping costs and hassle + petrol and bought them all out right :) im happy if you cant tell!

    There are plenty more available ie: oversized scales etc, but I can wait for those ones.

    [Reply]

    //MCL Sydney
    27 August 2008 at 11:24 pm

  2. Well said…looking forward to the results! :)

    [Reply]

    //PirateDad(Shanon)
    28 August 2008 at 12:25 am

  3. Met, So case T is the last one for 2008, does that mean that we won’t see the trailers, oversized ect. until next year too, or is this just the last of the singles for the year?
    Also I wish you luck with the sacrifice/ceremony.

    (MET: Mattel likes to start the year early so October is considered 2009).

    [Reply]

    //Mary
    28 August 2008 at 1:20 am

  4. One last thing, so far Matty is useless!!! The only thing they have for sale is a Gigantica doll (whatever that is). Do you think that they will eventually be useful to collectors or just offer an occaional impossible to obtain limited addition. Sorry still a little bitter about Stickers.

    (MET: Yea, originally November but now looking like 2009 before MattyCollector is an ongoing venture …).

    [Reply]

    //Mary
    28 August 2008 at 1:34 am

  5. Met,

    is it usefull if I fill it out as a international customer ?

    (MET: I just think the sampling size would be too small from our international readers who are probably using US eBay to supplement but maybe I’ll ask for one better - anyone overseas (including Canada) want to take some pictures and do a recap of what CARS are available in what stores in your country, I’d be glad to run them … plus, I’m sure your stores are much more interesting looking than our giant box stores :-) ).

    [Reply]

    //King of Cars (from the Netherlands)
    28 August 2008 at 5:24 am

  6. I too will perform the ceremony as the CARS well has dried up here in the desert. Maybe if more of us do it, CARS will come and hunt will be prosperous.

    Awesome write up Met. Again, your knowledge………………………. simply astounding.

    [Reply]

    //Mr. T
    28 August 2008 at 6:28 am

  7. Before I start, I would like to say that I recognise that the distribution seems to be getting better, this proven with the last case and the next two.

    However, I have a response to this paragraph from you Met -

    “So, basically, 80% of all singles CARS sell out new or old - some immediately (Dale Jr.) and others might take a few more days (Fillmore) or a week (Wingo) but after a few weeks, what is really left on the shelf? 5 out of 62 available? 10 out of 62? How many stores have more than 15 out of 62 available? What does that tell you? That the line is healthy.”

    This on the assumption that shops order the exact same quantity of each car every time they buy a case from Mattel, which we know is no the case. The collectors market is bigger than the new buyers, so a 5 year old can calculate that the newer cars are going to be in higher demand than any of the cars released as first waves and supercharged. Your statement is ignoring stores still carrying supercharged/older movie moments too?
    It is also fact that stores have stock in storage out of site, meaning the newer cases don’t start afresh as such, but add to the stock pile already.

    I am not meaning to offend you, but I am anxious that we, as consumers, let Mattel off the hook for the recent shambles, because the current situation seems to promote they are finally getting their act together. I am certain that if we do that, they will abuse and exploit us again and again, like they have done so very often in the last 18 months.

    As long as they keep distributing properly like they NOW finally seem to be doing, we should be ok, but if they resort to their crap from the last 3 months of 2007 and the first 7 months of 2008, then we will end up back at square one. I envisage the product climbing again due to recent casing changes, with choice bigger and consumers enticed more. Ebay has went down a bit with the exception of the LSM, Rans, Blu ray and of course the SOS.

    However all that said, I agree that some stores seem to carry a baffling ammount of certain Cars, Yellow Ramone being the most obvious.

    You can’t deny that the cases are the original source, but I acknowledge it could be that one local depot for say TRU, might be dumping one store with loads of the same car. It seems to happen here in the UK too, with one Sainsburys in Edinburgh being notoriously bad for lots of the same car, while the rest are pretty well stocked.

    (MET: Of course, I’m generalizing and based on the 100 or stores I visit (some repeats) out of the 6,000 or so WM’s, Target’s & TRU but based on what others are saying and photos they’ve snapped, I think what I wrote is generally true in the US - that other than when a shipment arrives - most stores get down to less than 10 CARS choices in a few weeks without a steady replenishment. For most stores, that means a handful of Bug Mouth McQueens and some Ramones and for the most part, other than TRU’s - just few stores are still stuck with SC CARS - in other words, 80-90% of everything from every case sells to zero leaving 10-20% of a case hanging around longer and if that case includes a couple more Bug mouth McQueens, that just adds to the “creep.”

    Bottom line - it means that they are not ordering enough or fast enough and that the market is generally healthy - it’s not insane, otherwise, Lightning Ramones & SC Boosts would be stripped clean but still overall, impressive for a 2-year old line … not many other lines can claim out of 62 releases for 2008, 52-55 are virtual sellouts and while most of the retail stores don’t get more than 1 or 2 boxes, some do get as many as 4 cases though clearly many TRU’s go months without ordering a case … so it is just an observation based on what I can see, the overall line is healthy … it could actually be healthier (ie: sell more) if there were more stock and for that, most of that is in the retailer’s court … Mattel could pack slightly better but no one can guess 100% what will sell or not sell and circumstances - Mattel’s only area of improvement could be to make sure the sales reps are actually going back to the stores and doing swaps … and if they swapped a Lightning Ramone for a Dale Jr or a Mater, what would the pegs look like then? And of course, this only applies to the US).

    [Reply]

    //jackdaddy2008
    28 August 2008 at 7:29 am

  8. Hi my fellow Car-a-holics!

    I haven’t posted in a while, I’ve been crazy busy. But unfortunately, not crazy busy finding NEW CARS! Here’s the question I am wondering. I live in Northern CA and my local Wal-Mart usually ALWAYS has the new cars almost as soon as they come out. However, I have been there almost every day since case R with stickers has come out, and they havent had it yet. But, there pegs are full to the brim with older cars. And they actually have a HUGE cars section, probabely 20 - 25 pegs just for the single cars. So, do you think I have a chance that maybe case R is just sitting in the back, waiting for the other cars to sell. Should I keep checking, or should I give up on it?? Just wondering everyone’s opinion.
    Thanks!

    [Reply]

    //carsrmom
    28 August 2008 at 9:03 am

  9. There may be improvements, but given the amount of “pegwarmers” sitting on many store shelves, I still think that Mattel could do a better job of selecting the cars being shipped in the newest cases. Assuming that Case T is the final single’s case being shipped for the year, 50-65% of the case is a bit redundant and hard to consider even remotely new.

    (That being said, I will likely still purchase the entire case if I have to just to get that likely-to-be elusive Chase Fred) :)

    [Reply]

    //Samuel R
    28 August 2008 at 9:09 am

  10. carsmom, my honest suggestion is to covertly sneak into the back and have look for yourself…set up your children to have a tantrum in another section of the store to create a diversion…the louder the better, tears if possible!!! Then sneak into the back room, with box cutter in hand, and have a look around…hahaha

    Seriously, I wood find a nice older gentleman or lady who works there, and have a wide eyed child with you, and ask them if there is a newer case in the back, spefically ending in R, and that you will most likely buy 1/2 of it if they wood just bring it out for you! Please, pretty please…you would be amazed at how well that will work!

    [Reply]

    //PirateDad(Shanon)
    28 August 2008 at 9:20 am

  11. I finally scored some 3 packs this morning at TRU. I got the No Stall and Leakless 3 pack (Pitty, Racer and Crew Chief), one for me and one for my Nephew. I also found a Gasprin/Tow Cap MM pack (for the Nephew) and a Dinoco Mia/Tia set for me. So that must have been Case E of the 3 Packs as there were some Blimp/Tom/Tow sets in also.

    Still have not seen a case “R” yet. Probably will not. But basically I bought 4 out of 6 packs from that case, and if there were more I would have gotten more. My 4.5 year old is getting into the cars now.. and my 2.5 year old is close behind. So that means I could potentially purchase 4 of each new car that comes out. Now that is some spending.

    This “end of the year” kinda scares me in the fact that you are talking case T and I have yet to see case “R”. That, and I have to almost fight the other 2 guys who show up at TRU on “truck day” for any new cars. Can’t wait for the “Golden Age” because I think we are in the “Medieval” age at the moment. ;-)

    Mike
    (Dayton Ohio).

    [Reply]

    //Mike
    28 August 2008 at 9:24 am

  12. Nice score Mike! You’ll have to sign a treaty with the other truck day TRU guys.

    So far, I am the only truck day Cars shopper at my TRU, probably because it never gets Cars lately. It’s funny how at 9am on Fridays there is a lne waiting to get in at TRU.

    Man I would love those new 3 packs. I have one of the Leakless on its way (thanks fiddleheads ;)), but I have been hunting for that thing around San Diego for weeks.

    [Reply]

    //Monica
    28 August 2008 at 9:48 am

  13. Finding Cars has been a disaster in western Washington State. Even using eBay’s ‘Nearest’ feature does not show an undo number of eBay scalpers operating in the hood. Wal*Mart has been a disaster. I do not think the current economic crisis is to blame for the shortage in the toy aisle because orders at the Toy Fares would have gone in many months ago. I believe Mattel is responsible for not marketing Cars as best as could be. This week I fired off a letter to Mr. Neil Friedman, President Mattel Brands, Mattel, Inc, 333 Continental Blvd, El Segundo, CA 90245-5012 complaining about Mattel’s failure to market Cars properly. I CC’d a copy to Mr. Andrew Mooney, Chairman, Disney Consumer Products, Walt Disney Company, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521. In my closing paragraph I indicated, if I were a shareholder in Walt Disney Company, I would demand the licensing rights for Cars be transferred to another toy company. I also recommended Mattel establish a bona fide retail toy site, similar to Hasbro’s, and, sell regular toys and not just unsold convention exclusives. If I get a response I let you know.

    [Reply]

    //Steve AKA: Poppa
    28 August 2008 at 9:55 am

  14. That last picture I took in TRU in El Paso, TX. I was hoping this week would be better but……nope.

    [Reply]

    //collectormom
    28 August 2008 at 10:38 am

  15. Attention all CARS lovers in METRO DETROIT…KB TOYS at GREAT LAKES CROSSING MALL in Auburn Hills has CARS ON SALE 2 for $5!!!!!! They have all the new ones too…PETROL PULANSKI, TAR, KATHY COPTER, VAN, etc. I could not believe it!!! They literally have 500 cars on there shelves! Pretty much every car!!!! Sorry I didn’t pay attention when the sale ends but WOW!!! What a deal!

    [Reply]

    //detroit_daddy2
    28 August 2008 at 11:34 am

  16. That is a great deal! Over here in Kalamazoo(MI) I found the leftovers of a case R at a WM a week or so ago and havnt seen anything since. I did get my case R from CTC today so now I have to wait for stickers fred and Axle and then take a break for a while.

    [Reply]

    //PDIDDY55
    28 August 2008 at 11:57 am

  17. MET:

    Could you elaborate on what you mean by healthy line and healthy market, because it’s got me a little confused.

    Isn’t the status of the line manipulated by ridiculous sales and promotion tactics? Not meaning to be repetitive but - cases contain 1 or 2 of a new car and the remainder is nothing but pegwarmers. They sit on the shelves for a year and then the public is bribed to purchase 5 old ones or else the new cars won’t be stocked. Why would anyone want to clean the shelves of the yellow Ramones? Anyone who is collecting whether rookie or veteran has one and you can’t make a decent profit from it. The fact it is on the shelf for this long should not just ring a bell, but crack it - no one wants this car anymore!
    As for the market, isn’t Mattel still trying to recover from the recall fiasco? I just don’t see what Mattel sees, and quite frankly, Steve AKA:Poppa’s letter hits the nail on the head - what’s in it for the shareholders of Mattel and Disney? Mattel has a highly in demand product and this is the way they go about selling it? Why do they continue to annoy the consumers who are more than willing to purchase anything Cars licensed if the supply keeps up with the demand?

    After spending a mini fortune on education to get a diploma/degree and work their way to the top, this is what the executives at Mattel learned? A 5 year old running a lemonade stand has more knowledge of supply and demand than the big-wigs at Mattel!

    (MET: First of all, your stores or your area situation might be different but in general - the question to ask is - out of 18 CARS in a box (any box), how many are around after a few days, a few days or a month? There have been @62 CARS releases as singles this year. Even saying the last 10 “new” releases are obviously in demand, how many different CARS are available in your nearby stores out of that 52 or 62? So, while some of us longtime collectors might be distainful of yet another LM or Mater or Wingo, how many are on your shelves? If they’re not there, there must be demand for them, right? And my point is that for nearly store I have seen, the stock all tends to be about 5-10 different CARS - presuming your area is about the same, where are the other 40-52 CARS? Now, I do point out that some stores are not exactly buying every case but the problem isn’t that there are 52-62 different CARS on the shelves but rather that the 60 CARS on some store pegs tends to be 5 CARS, right? Take a look at most Speed Racer displays in most toy stores - can you pretty much complete the collection of @25 cars released for that line? maybe it might take 2 stores but completing that line is not that hard … versus CARS, if you were starting out today and even if you said, you are not buying any of the 2008 CARS, just the 2007 CARS on WOC - is it possible in your area to complete a collection by driving around to the stores in a 10-20 mile radius? Maybe that’s true in your part of country but it’s certainly not true in Northern and most of Southern California … How many people can say, if I drive around in a 25 mile radius, I can complete a set of 2007 CARS on WOC cards? I’m not saying there is no place in America that you can’t do it but I think it’s pretty rare and I am asking you to tell I’m wrong - that in your area, you can drive around for a couple hours and compete or mostly this set? I can tell you in the Bay Area, If I were to drive to 6 WM, 10 Targets and 4 TRU’s in a 50-mile radius (it would take me two days with traffic :-) ), I can probably find maybe 15 of the these CARS? And maybe a smattering of 2008 CARS?

    Also note, I’m not saying the situation is great or perfect, I’m just saying that there are trees and there are forests and please make your own jokes about the Pope and bears :-)

    Bling Bling McQueen
    Bob Cutlass
    Bug Mouth McQueen
    Crusin’ Ramone
    Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    Darrell Cartrip
    Dinoco Chick Hicks
    Ferrari F430
    Fillmore
    Hydraulic Ramone
    Mario Andretti
    RPM #64
    Snot Rod
    Tex Dinoco
    Tongue McQueen
    Yeti
    Boost
    Brand New Mater
    Chick
    Cruisin’ McQueen
    Dinoco McQueen
    Dirt Track McQueen
    DJ
    Doc Hudson
    Fabulous Hudson Hornet (RR)
    Hamm
    King
    Leak Less
    Lightning McQueen
    Lizzie
    Mater
    Nitroade
    Radiator Springs McQueen
    Ramone (Green)
    Ramone (Purple)
    Ramone (Yellow)
    Sally
    Sheriff
    Wingo    )

    [Reply]

    //heinz57baby ;)
    28 August 2008 at 12:08 pm

  18. Went on a road trip earlier this week for work in MN and SD and stopped at a few Targets, WM’s and TRU but no luck for R case cars, but today at the local WM found an R case with Stickers. My son noticed he has tar on him also and was pretty excited. Last week we found 3 packs with Leakless and No stall, so have to wait until T comes out to look for new ones. Hopefully more R cases make it out to the shelves.

    [Reply]

    //podso
    28 August 2008 at 12:42 pm

  19. Monica:
    Funny about the “treaty”. I made a comment to him about splitting what we find and all I got was the “uh.. no” line so that is when I realized it is every person for themselves. There is also a rumor that a worker at the other close TRU may be a Cars Collector which would explain the absolute lack of anything new in that store for at least 4 months. The TRU that I visited today got new stuff the first week of July when I scored a “Van”. Other than that WalMart has been the “go to” place to get some cars.

    Mike

    [Reply]

    //Mike
    28 August 2008 at 12:49 pm

  20. Hmmm, bummer Mike, well, then I guess it’s War eh?

    Well, tomorrow is truck day at my TRU, wish me luck.

    [Reply]

    //Monica
    28 August 2008 at 12:58 pm

  21. wm in wood burn area had case r no stickers though

    [Reply]

    //CARS ROCK
    28 August 2008 at 1:03 pm

  22. MET:

    Of the 39 cars you listed, 9 are available between the WM, TRU and Zellers. It took me 2 years to do get all the cars on that list.
    Starting in Dec 06, I would frequent 1 WM and 1 Zellers every Monday 8:30 am to get the new releases. This worked for about 6 months and then the buck stopped. I enlarged my circle of stores and got 1 new one evey 2-4 weeks. I did this on transit and it’s not really cheaper than car considering the amount of time involved. Since the end of May, I got 1 new one in Canada, and another one in Penn.

    I do not think what you have explained suggests the line is healthy. If an equal amount of each car was being released, I could accept that argument. But, if there are only 1 or 2 of old (and now deemed rare) cars in each different lettered case, those few cars will get scooped up by the people who did not get an opportunity to get them the first time out. It gives the impression that there is as much of a demand for those old cars as the new releases, but how can there be if only a handful are released at a time and only in a few letters of the cases? People will travel a great distance on the off chance they will find 1 they are missing because it could be months before you see it in stores, or maybe not at all.

    You can see the cars that nobody wants or needs because they are what is left on the pegs - there is an over-abundance of the ones that are in every letter case released.

    Mattel cannot even take the position that they don’t know what the status of each car is because many people have called and written to them about it and nothing has been done to correct this problem yet.

    (MET: When I’m using the phrase ‘healthy,’ it is just to note its overall sales because if were ‘frail,’ or weak, we would be able to find every CAR on the shelf everytime … but the situation in regards to, “months before you see it in stores, or maybe not at all” is not necessarily Mattel’s fault … if the retailer does NOT order 1 or 3 or 5 of that year’s assortment, they the mix is not really optimal, right? Mattel has mixed about about 62 different CARS into 13 cartons (not counting T since last November) … or if a store had ordered 1 of every case, they’d have about 234 CARS on the shelf … (just to be complete, you could claim that Mattel did not offer M to other retailers so for non-WM stores, you could call it 216) but if a store did not order a certain box or 3 or 5, that’s hardly Mattel’s fault … again, I’m not claiming things are perfect. I’m just pointing that since that stores & their ordering policy/direction or end result is not always the same as the actual direction of the line … if you want to see more stock on shelves, call or write to your RETAILER. They control what actually makes it onto their shelf. There are very few manufacturers or distributors who don’t want to sell MORE or have stores stock LESS of what they’re selling … the retailer ultimately decides how much they want or are willing to pay for).

    [Reply]

    //heinz57baby ;)
    28 August 2008 at 2:26 pm

  23. Met:

    I haven’t seen a Dale Jr on a peg in any Jacksonville store - Wal-Mart / TRU / Target / K-mart - within the last year. I haven’t seen a new releases in a store in the last four months.

    I was able to stock up on most of my missing cars around the holiday time - I found that most shoppers are shopping for others and the collectors were not snapping up the supply.

    So this begs the question… are my local stores hoarding for the holidays like last year? Will I see an abundance of R & T cases in late November through December? Is TRU / Wal-Mart / Target holding inventory in their warehouse to boost potential slow holiday sales?

    I know TRU is opening a brand new location prior to Christmas in J’ville centraly located between two existing stores about 15 miles apart. The two existing stores will be relocating / combining in to one new location - I will be curious to see what their inventory is like opening day.

    I also have not seen any 3-packs locally - I can go to 4 Targets / 3 TRU’s / 2 Wal-Mart’s / 1 K-Mart.

    (MET: It is not the policy of most stores to hold anything unless it’s part of the marketing (Ie: Harry Potter books) so other than poor warehouse controls or an annoying employee, everything that arrives without sufficent stock out front should make its way to the front in hours or a few days …).

    [Reply]

    //BrianD
    28 August 2008 at 2:29 pm

  24. (MET: Please note, this is the UK market he is discussing …)

    I think its naive to ignore this -

    Mattel have boxed up cars for the best part of two years.

    Up until last September, the Supercharged range seemed to be relatively easy to get hold of, with very few ebay purchases in comparison to now. I believe this was because supply was meeting demand and retailers were truly selling out and the peg warming phenomenon did not exist.

    Since then, Mattel have undoubtedly stocked cases with new releases with ratio to older cars 50-50, 70 - 30 and even 80 - 20.

    Remember Fred, Andretti, Dale, Cutlass etc.?

    I believe this was the birth of the problem.

    Retailers probably stopped automatic buying from them early this year, when the new cars sold out and they were left with peg warmers, therefore falsely informing them that the market had slowed and the fad had died out.

    What happened?

    Certain cases (m - r) have been ignored and simply not ordered by retailers, as retailers (the majority in my opinion) stopped buying to allow their older stock to sell out.

    If Mattel had released new cars like they have with R in February, this would not have happened as peg warmers would not have happened.

    As mentioned already, the shop shelf is not a true indication of what they have. This notion relies on the assumption that retailers have been buying every case released this year. I know this is not the case.

    Also, stock is held elsewhere other than the mostly imaginary back room holding bay, i.e. - depots, warehouses etc. that are owned by the retailers, not Mattel.

    Therefore, while it looks like the shelf is finally being cleared of Pegwarmers, lo and behold - the retailer restocks it with the excess pegwarming stock it has that you didn’t know about, before it has even thought about ordering one of the recent cases.

    This is why you have all struggled to get new cars, unless you yourselves have bought them on ebay or directly.

    IF - (AND IT IS A BIG IF) - MATTEL have finally decided to stop this ridiculous practice, then the market should normalise by Christmas, but what they do after that or slightly before, will determine the next year - 2009.

    I fear without a petition or pressure from Disney/Pixar, this will happen again, as it is my belief that Mattel execs are merely concerned with sweeping under the carpet to protect their jobs, rather than fix the problem.

    People trivialise this on this board, as its only a toy car, but we are talking about a multi million dollar product line with an even larger international market.

    We don’t moan needlessly, we moan because the situation stinks.

    Lets make it happen.

    [Reply]

    //jackdaddy2008
    28 August 2008 at 3:44 pm

  25. “(MET: Please note, this is the UK market he is discussing …)”

    The problem is virtually zero retail over here in the UK now, but a lot of Americans have been complaining this year about availability too!

    Coincidently - the same time casing has seen the most repeat releases in cases.

    I do recognise the significance of the new case r release though, its a good case.

    Long may it continue.

    Goodnight.

    [Reply]

    //jackdaddy2008
    28 August 2008 at 5:57 pm

  26. just to make all you guys in over the pond feel a bit better, I went into my local supermarket here in the uk to find that they had a brand new box of cars out on the shelves - And it was case H!!!!

    [Reply]

    //knightrider
    28 August 2008 at 6:11 pm

  27. One of my biggest problems is that I Have a 30 minute drive to a Walmart or a Target and an hour drive (at least with good traffic) to a Toys R Us, calling ahead works some time but only if the case has been out for a while The Walmart in Battle Creek (MI) today had pretty much nothing but McQueens, and just the Dirt/Radiator and Cruisin’. Of the 4 Targets around me, I’ve still only found the 2 pack Movie Moments/Launchers at one. Have not seen a Gasprin or Towcap to save my life and they’ve been out for how long?? I”m hoping once school starts back up I can wander around more often without the kiddos and stock up on Christmas presents, especially since my 6 year old seems to think that Santa won’t have as hard a time as Mommy at finding the new ones! I’d like someone at Mattel to come explain that to a kiddo. Ok enough ranting :)

    [Reply]

    //Shelley
    28 August 2008 at 8:14 pm

  28. Met, when I was a TRu in Sarnia, ON, they had 4 cases up above the Cars section…I used a hula hoop to get them down and checked them out. One wasa case of 3 packs, nothing new and the other 3 were 30 singles ina box not 18’s like I have purchased from CTC and eBay! That was about 2 weeks ago but I think the last letter on the boxes was H & J, if that makes sense?! I personally needed nothing in the boxes…very disspointing, not to mention exhilarating, but the point was 30 in a box not 18!

    (MET: I think Int’l cartons are 30 … the first cases from Mattel were in cases of 30 … yes, there was an H & a J case in the US - Int’l cases also have letter codes but unsure of what they are since info in not available there).

    [Reply]

    //PirateDad(Shanon)
    28 August 2008 at 9:16 pm

  29. Shelley

    I am in Kalamazoo and just got case R. I have everything in it available for trade/sale except for Stickers and Stacy. I dont really need anything except for the new 3 packs but would be willing to sell the rest. E-mail me if you’re interested.
    Patrick.Fitzgerald@Nationalcity.com

    (MET: There is a CARS trading section - see RIGHT SIDE of front page. Thanks :-) ).

    [Reply]

    //PDIDDY
    28 August 2008 at 10:12 pm

  30. Hey Podso -
    I live in Sioux Falls - just wondering where in SD you were when you said you passed through SD and MN. Not too much new stock around here lately.

    [Reply]

    //Samuel R
    28 August 2008 at 10:41 pm

  31. MLC Sydney, I assume you are in Sydney? If you get down to Melbourne then visit the Mattel Playhouse - A factory direct outlet for Mattel (it is in Smith St Collingwood). I am from Perth and my son and I were in Melboure recently and popped in. As you know we are some boxes behind everywhere else and even then not large quantities are ordered. The playhouse had all the latest when I was there both 3 packs and singles and at retail prices not ebay inflated prices.

    Personally I buy the factory sealed boxes from Childrens Toy Closet. The cost of the box and even including the postage works out cheaper (about half price) than buying in shops and certainly ebay. I give the spares to my boys, if they have already got them then I keep for presents (ie birthdays or Xmas) for their friends as it is a cheap gift. I also sell the spares to workmates with young kids for cost price which they love coz to get a good quality die cast car for $5 (AUD) is cheap (well in Oz anyway).

    If rely on TRU or target to get your cars in Oz then you won’t ever be finishing the set. In Perth we have 1 TRU and 13 Targets plus probably the same amount of Kmarts and Big W. But don’t rely on finding your full sets from here, although you can find a lot of Mike and Sulleys from the Movie Moments, very few (if any) triples and up until recently truckloads of bloody Hamm. Luck and timing is what you need to collect via retail in Oz. That is why some time ago I started buying cases from CTC, now the whole family gets excited when we know a case is coming. I love the anticipation watching the tracking and knowing. To date I have managed to collect everything including the SOS, LSMQ through buying direct and no ebay. Been hard work but enjoyable like I say to my five year old “Hard work brings great rewards”.

    Enjoy this forum and it has helped me keep up to date and make sure I can track and then collect. Thanks

    [Reply]

    //Jeaks
    29 August 2008 at 3:43 am

  32. For whatever it’s worth, both TRUs in my area are normally the most well stocked wrt Cars of any store in my area (several WM and Targets), and they’re both pretty bare this week. Maybe the Sidewall Shine promo is working…..

    By well stocked I mean 20+ pegs over-stuffed (so when I search the back ones half of them fall off) compared to 3-4 pegs (WM) or 6-8 pegs (Target).

    [Reply]

    //LTZ
    29 August 2008 at 5:09 am

  33. Ok, my one week protest is over…. Going to try WM this morning and TRU and Target tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to bring home the goods.

    If not, you can find me back out in the desert and sacrificing another few Ramones to the CARS gods in hopes of stopping this die-cast drought.

    [Reply]

    //Mr. T
    29 August 2008 at 6:44 am

  34. Met-
    Based on my background of retail sales (worked for an large electronics company) and had the Walmart account, I put much of the blame on Mattel. The way Walmart works is that they have a system called Retail Link. They put all of the ordering and replenishment duties on the company (i.e. Mattel). They can run reports all the way down to the store level to get in stock levels and so forth. Once you get that information you then place orders at the DC (distribution center) level. I know we got hammered if we were not above 98% in stock levels. So what drives me nuts is when they do not have any new product for a couple of weeks, which has been the case with the WMTs in a 25 mile radius of my house. I know target works very similiarly but they do the ordering. I hope this makes sense but there are 6 pegs empty at the WMT closest to the house and have been that way for 2 weeks.

    I called TRU yesterday and they said they did not get any cars again which makes it 4 weeks in a row. I guess they are holding out until this promo is done.

    Great article by the way!

    [Reply]

    //Matt B
    29 August 2008 at 9:44 am

  35. Things have been very dry around the western suburbs of Chicago. Once I week I take the kids “on the route” as we call it. TRU, 2 Targets & 2 Wal-Marts. I think our last score was a Chuki six weeks ago.

    I have got a couple of new ones including Kathy Copter & Stickers Chase McQueen only by paying outrageously on evilbay. It was very satisfying to get the Lightning Storm McQueen, but the quest is getting tiring and with gas at $4+ in Chicago, it is getting very wasteful.

    It seems to me that Mattel and the retailers are starting to wind down on the Cars thing. It is also the signal to me to start winding down. We have adhered to the “One to open - One to keep” on this, but my boy is almost 7 and has moved on to Star Wars & soccer. My 4 year old girl is into Polly Pockets. The quest is now in my hands to keep alive and I have more stuff to do than drive around the 630 area code only to come up empty.

    Dear Mattel: Entice me to stay motivated in Cars Cars.

    JPK

    [Reply]

    //JPK
    29 August 2008 at 10:07 am

  36. JPK-

    I’m also in Chicago, area code 847, I’m looking for Luke, Chase, Leroy and Leakless/ No Stall 3-packs. Let me know what you’re looking for and maybe we can help each other out. Two sets of eyes might help?

    [Reply]

    //Brad
    29 August 2008 at 10:24 am

  37. I have to speak my opinion. I can just say I hope retail continues with tehre old practices, keep ordering the same way, that means business will be good for me for some time to come.

    This is for everyone: It is not the assortment that mattel puts out, rather it is the fact that the retail buyers for these major supermarkets don’t either know how to order, or they are just looking for whomever will give them the best price.

    It could be a combination of the two. I don’t think that many of the buyers for this particular department understands the line.

    So, if you are angry, frustrated, or you want to give up on the line, either check out the website, or better yet, give me a call.

    Traver

    734-536-9991

    http://www.childrenstoycloset.com

    [Reply]

    //childrenstoycloset
    29 August 2008 at 9:46 pm

  38. Keep up the good work Traver.

    I have a private arrangement in regards to buying cars from the US now, but if that hadn’t happened I was gonna talk to you about insured shipping.

    I don’t grudge people like you making a wee profit, you clearly put work in and provide a much needed alternative to ebay and retail.

    Long may you have a niche market.

    I think you will, as there will always be collectors based in remote locations or who need to buy online occasionally.

    [Reply]

    //jackdaddy2008
    30 August 2008 at 4:29 am

  39. Jeaks..thanks for the heads up, I ;ll definitely pay a visit everytime Im in Melbourne which is 2-3 months!

    [Reply]

    //MCL Sydney
    30 August 2008 at 6:08 am

  40. I had a thought I was wondering if I could get any feedback on. Does anyone think that mattel might do something like the speedway of the south set again? I was just looking at the website for the hot wheels red line club and was thinking if it would be worth my time to try and get a membership in january when its open again because it just seems like in order to play in this cars craziness game we have to accept the fact that a lot of things are just not going to be fair like only a small percentage of us go a speedway of the south set and only a smallish number will have a LSM unless your willing or able to pay a lot for it on evil bay. I hate to sound so pessimistic I just havent really had much luck lately finding ones I need and I dont have but a few duplicates I would be able to trade

    (MET: Caitlin … whatever happens, you do NOT need to sign up for the RL Club unless you want to buy Hot Wheels. They are glad to be rid of us CARS-A-HOLICS. The new collectors online home for CARS is MattyCollector … um, not much in stock but no membership fee … not sure when they will actually start offering collector CARS … but it’s now definitely NOT 2008 :-( … so good things might come for those of us that waits … well, as long as your money holding thinger is nice and cushiony …).

    [Reply]

    //Caitlin L
    30 August 2008 at 12:26 pm

  41. I suspect they might sell a similar display case for us to fill ourselves?

    They are legally bound to honor their claims that the SOS was 1000 only.

    (MET: Yes, we will never see the Motor Speedway of the South in its exact form in a Mattel box code named L4721-9993 in an acrylic track holder measuring about 3′ and 1′ with words MOTOR SPEEDWAY OF THE SOUTH in that typeface and offered by the Red Line Club in a month of May during the year 2008 …).

    [Reply]

    //jackdaddy2008
    30 August 2008 at 12:28 pm

  42. Yesterday I had a good score at TRU; Chase LMQ and the new gift packs for No Stall & Leak Less. I was there at exactly 0957 so just before they opened. Today I found myself there again (darn Sports Authority right next door; had to get shin guards for my son). I think we got to TRU today around 1100. Yesterday they had gotten 1 case R; the only Car I got out of it was the Chase Car. That left 17 from the case. Today the only thing still there was Hamm and 2 Cactus LMQ. If you look at the last picture of this post you will see some mostly empty pegs; I took that picture last week at this store. They took one Car from the case and hung it on each peg so the whole case was displayed right in front (some pegs are not in the picture).

    All the times we’ve been to any store looking for Cars we’ve never seen another Car buyer; I guess this tells me they’re here.

    BTW the Target by me just took down the BTS section and will set up Halloween; I think that’s where the Target Mini Adventures will be going so maybe we’ll be seeing them soon!

    [Reply]

    //collectormom
    30 August 2008 at 2:20 pm

  43. I’ve never understood why pegwarmers aren’t priced lower than new releases. Retailers could therefore make maybe $25-$30 per case by offering all Ramone & older Lightning McQueen variations as loss-leaders, but making $2 to $3 off each Stickers McQueen or Leroy Traffik.

    I remember my Wal-Mart having 22 Supercharged Buzz & Woody’s and no other Movie Moments. I asked the toy manager if she could sell some to me at a discount, and she said that corporate had to approve a markdown like that. They finally wound up in the Clearance aisle months later.

    On another note, when will Lizzie ever make an appearance on WoC cards?

    (MET: CASE T might be the last of the WOC’s design & motif … so right now, it’s looking unlikely that Lizzie or Sarge will join the WOC card party …).

    [Reply]

    //John in Missouri
    30 August 2008 at 5:13 pm

  44. So it was kind of funny actually I was making my rounds on friday and I was sorting through the pegwarmers because I realized it might be worth my time to see if there were any with errors on the pegs and just like monica I was being a bit OCD and arranging them neatly I had a LMQ in my hand and I was about to put it on the hook when I looked at it and realized it was a Tar MQ I was very surprised and excited because I didnt have one yet and I didnt see any more on the pegs.
    Im pretty sure I was at Toys R US at this point. I know its not that exciting but I almost completely missed it. I got a PT flik and flea on evil bay about 2 weeks ago and you know it is actually more exciting when I find one in a retail store that is really hard to find like when I came across a Dale Jr way back when, Bob cutlass was also pretty cool to find.
    I was wondering about the cases though, everyone is always mentioning the cars that come in certain cases, how do yall know this stuff? and when I am at a store like walmart and I am looking at the toy pallets I usually am looking for boxes that say mattel first and then I see if they say hotwheels or some cars reference. I guess my whole point is that I actually just feel lucky if I have found any box let alone what case letter it is

    [Reply]

    //Caitlin L
    31 August 2008 at 12:22 pm

  45. Caitlin, do you ever feel like Charlie getting the Golden Ticket? That is me whenever I find something exciting!

    [Reply]

    //John in Missouri
    31 August 2008 at 6:55 pm

  46. Caitlin, you need a happy dance that you do every time you find a good score…it makes the Pixar gods smile!!! Plus it confuses all the other shoppers in TRU….esp if you are 6′2″, 320 lbs like I am!!!!

    [Reply]

    //PirateDad(Shanon)
    31 August 2008 at 7:07 pm

  47. LOL yall crack me up I havent perfected my happy dance but I would have LOVED to catch my double take on video so I could have seen it later. Well I would have flipped out if i had found a stickers leroy traffik or roman dunes, there might have even been a squeal involved but the tar was very cool and if anyone had been watching, my double take was pretty funny I am sure

    [Reply]

    //Caitlin L
    1 September 2008 at 12:35 pm

  48. Hello to all!
    I am a newbie to posting on the site, but after reading the above comments I had to share with you all a few stories, both elating and tragic. First of all, my son and I have been collecting diecast Ford Mustangs for about 3 years and have amassed well over 500 of them ranging in all scales. Then about a year ago the CARS bug bit and bit HARD! Being huge car guys we naturally saw the movie when it was released and then casually bought a few of the cars (on desert card 1st release), then we decided to start collecting. Of course, this was after my son had already opened and ‘lovingly’ played with our original purchases! Slowly, but surely, over the last 13 months or so, we have gathered quite a collection (I will post a pic sometime). At our home in Virginia we had the ‘route’ as many of you have called it; 2 TRU, 3 WM, 2 TGT, 4 K-marts, and an occasional KB. Every once in a while we would score a sweet find at one of the big guys, but honestly, where we found most of the ‘tough ones’ was at a few local Walgreens! Now, granted they didn’t have the same flow of inventory as the big guys but it was kind of like our ace-in-the-hole. I can’t tell you how many times I have been scowled at by the WM stockers for going through the pallets of toys looking for CARS. On one trip, I explained to the polite (yet clearly annoyed) girl that I would be happy to stock the CARS for her if she would just let me open the boxes. She proceeded to tell me that they are not allowed to put out only a portion of the case, nor is the case permitted back into the stockroom once it is opened. This brought us to a bit of a draw. I sympathize with them at times. However, I know they are not ignorant to the fact that some of these cars bring top dollar on Ebay; i.e. I have NEVER seen a Barney Stormin’ in WM, EVER!

    We now live in San Diego and have yet to establish our ‘route’ and learn the lay of the land, as it were. But, we will, and then couragously continue the hunt. I do have one piece of advice for those of you out there with military connections….check the exchanges.

    I’ve gone on long enough. Good luck to all of you and here’s to another year of collecting CARS!!

    ps. I am REALLY looking for a Flea and Flik and Rusty and Dusty supercharged movie moments. I know they were not US releases and I am having a hard time finding them.

    (MET: Congrats on joining the CARS bunch … it is an imperative that CARS left hanging on pegs must immediately be brought into homes populated by people … and yea, now pretty hard to find …).

    [Reply]

    //Glenn H.
    2 September 2008 at 1:34 am

  49. welcome glenn nice to have you here! I am a HUGE fan of San Diego as my brother lives there and its just a generally fabulous place to live. I was going to ask you about the Supercharged rusty and dusty rusteze movie moments but then I checked mine and its actually WOC so I guess your right my PT flea and flik is also WOC so anyways welcome from texas.

    [Reply]

    //Caitlin L
    2 September 2008 at 5:43 am

  50. Looking forward to new releases hitting the stores…. not looking forward to dumping tons of money on evil bay just to find them in the store a few weeks later.

    Great site, good info… keep up the good work!

    [Reply]

    //Josh
    2 September 2008 at 5:23 pm

  51. Hey Glenn, I am in San Diego too! Happy hunting.

    [Reply]

    //Monica
    3 September 2008 at 12:00 am

  52. Got my P and R case from CTC today!! Stickers was there!

    If someone could help me out with some instructions for posting some photos I would appreciate it, also where an appropriate area to post pics of our collection. Thanks!

    [Reply]

    //Glenn H.
    3 September 2008 at 12:40 am

  53. Caitlin and Monica…thanks for the warm welcome!

    [Reply]

    //Glenn H.
    3 September 2008 at 12:42 am

  54. Hello everyone,

    I’m urging everyone to fill out Met’s survey, and after you do, please take time to go to the new online petition regarding Cars availibility - please sign it and tell everyone!
    http://www.gopetition.com/online/21895.html
    Thanks to all for your suggestions and comments!

    [Reply]

    //heinz57baby ;)
    15 September 2008 at 11:55 am

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