Mattel Disney Pixar CARS 2: Retail Situation … I Have a Theory …
Why are there no new diecasts on the pegs?
Here’s my theory. Mattel’s Q1 runs from January 15 to April 15 and clearly they did not ship many CARS or CARS 2 product last year (2011) in this time period. In fact, they shipped practically nothing – and retailers pretty much ordered nothing in anticipation of CARS 2 last year. The goal this year is to beat last year’s sales numbers which is not very hard to do when it’s practically nil – so why bother shipping the big guns? Since all it took this year to beat last’s Q1 in sales could be done laying down, that’s what they did – ship one playset, and some Quick Changers. Done, Shipped more product in 2012 than last year’s Q1 – it’s like racing a fat guy after he’s had 2 dozen gravy covered donuts – and you have a head start and … he’s blindfolded … in quicksand … dragging a boulder … should I go on? 🙂
So, they are saving EVERYTHING for Q2 – singles, oversized-deluxe, 2-packs, 3-packs and who knows what else (Micro Drifters)? So, while Q2 2012 cannot come close to Q2 2011 numbers (April 15 to August 15), at least there will be some almost-within continental shelf shouting distance numbers … otherwise, the sales of these NEW releases in Q1 is “wasted” AND it would make 2012 Q2 dropoff that much wider than the gulf it already is/will be – this way, the gap looks narrower and they chalk up the 50-60% dropoff to “launch year,” last year.
Ta-da.
Note, I’m NOT saying this is a smart or wise thing or that Q1 2011 numbers were “tanked,” so of course, Q1 2012 is an easy target to hit … but hey, as long as no one questions you about the base number you’re starting with when you say sales are up 7%! Then, hey why ship when you can take a dirt nap for three months? Humm, soft dirt …
So, by this “logic” – Toons/CARS Take Flight will be out in Q3, after August 15.
metroxing
22 March 2012
Disney Pixar, Disney Pixar CARS 3, Mattel Disney Pixar Diecast CARS 3
21 Comments
I’m hoping you are right Met.
“it’s like racing a fat guy after he’s had 2 dozen gravy covered donuts”
And that’s the quote of the day. (Or maybe the quarter!)
By the looks of it, we’ll be seeing new Cars sometime next year. I haven’t seen anything past High/Low Ramone case & Deluxe #5 (Sumo) for what looks like 6-8 months now. All I keep seeing is restocking of the same thing over and over. Such a shame really… What they need to do, and I have been saying this over and over, is recall the entire line and start from scratch because it is just horrible 🙁 Man…
I hope you are correct. Mattel seems to be throwing away a good opportunity lately. We’ve already lost enough enthusiasm due to this drought that I know we won’t be hitting the stores near as hard as we used to.
Versus new releases from Mattel, I think it would be easier to find those gravy covered donuts. (Or even the guy described below: [from above])
“…it’s like racing a fat guy after he’s had 2 dozen gravy covered donuts – and you have a head start and … he’s blindfolded … in quicksand … dragging a boulder … should I go on?”
Incidentally, the Lightning McQueen count at our local TRU was actually UP from about a week ago; now at 49, was 38 about a week ago. And there were virtually no other characters on the pegs!
For almost 8 weeks TRU distribution center has been sitting on 7800 eaches of 2 packs
and 800 eaches of the singles. All the while my TRU sits well below the shelf cap.
Very frustating!!!! Grrrrr!
Chase Airport Security #32 is on ebay UK. A bit pricy, but good to see somewhere new product is out.
also the new 2 packs are on ebay as well
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Disney-Cars-2-Acer-With-Helmet-Ka-Ciao-Mcqueen-Not-Rip-Clutchgoneski-Or-Lot-/290679732438?pt=UK_Toys_Creative_Educational_RL&hash=item43addcb8d6
title says this:
Disney Cars 2 Acer With Helmet & Ka – Ciao Mcqueen Not Rip Clutchgoneski Or Lot
and 2 new ,attel deluxe are there too
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Disney-Pixar-Cars-2-Deluxe-Funny-Car-Mater-Kimura-Kaizo-Very-Rare-New-Carded-/130659732846?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6bed4d6e
deluxe funny car mater and kimura kaizo
for some reason i cant edit my comments so i have to post like this
heres the new queen but oddly it has no name thing in the bubble
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Disney-Pixar-Cars-2-Deluxe-The-Queen-Very-Rare-Original-Die-Cast-Mega-Size-/160762618732?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item256e32e36c
not sure what this lewis hamilton is?
silver launcher?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cars-2-Pit-Stop-Launchers-Lewis-Hamilton-/350546624281?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519e34ff19
and lastly
heres a nice finn mcmissle and jeff gorvetter card error (he has 2 availble?)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Disney-Pixar-Cars-2-FINN-GORVETTE-Error-Diecast-NEW-/130508834356?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e62eec634
The silver Lewis Hamilton is a prototype photo from way-back-when.
And sometimes I cannot edit my comments either. Must be an Internet Explorer 8 thing.
i use firefox on my macbook pro
I feel like the donkey chasing the carrot he will never reach…. All excuses and/or theories are good to make us wait…. I tought in a business world the motto was ” What a wonderful day! let’s do so more money today!” Why wait tomorrow what you can do today!!!…. I am going back to sleep now… “sigh” 😉
Well stated Met. As my grandmother used to say, they, Mattel, are cutting off their nose to spite their face.
Where is Pixar in all of this, their profits are taking a hit too. I can’t see Disney Store/Lego sales making up the difference. Not to mention Mattel’s retail partners… still no sign of even the rerun Easter Cars.
Interesting theory, Met… Sacrificing long-term sales in order to make this quarter look better than it is and next quarter not as bad when compared to the previous year’s sales.
And as John in Missouri said, all retailers need to use the UPC… universal product code… I’ve had trouble at Kmart, Target, and Toys R Us stores and websites and I know I’m not the only one.
I hope they’re not going to wait until May 2012 to bring out new product as a 1 year anniversary celebration… My grandchildren have moved on from Cars and my wife would like me to as well…
Just sad … in bowling, this is called SANDBAGGING!!! Throw off early so the numbers look bad … that way when you turn it on later in the season (year) your numbers LOOK GREAT(inflated)!! Just Sad …….. scary thing is, they think this logic is sound … Damn you Mattel … grrrrrrrr …..
The main problem I have with this … um … strategy ….. (cough cough) … is that you have HUNDREDS of possible Diecast you COULD produce … why not just produce them … case pack heavy with the NEW ones … and then BOOST YOUR NUMBERS THE RIGHT WAY … by selling MASSIVE AMMOUNTS OF INCREDIBLE PRODUCT!!!!!!! My goodness, if there were new cars flooding the pegs we would buy them ALL YEAR!!!!!!!
Sorry … must step away from the podium before I blow a gask-it… my kids have lost interest in a FAIL PROOF line… because of their … um … strategy …
I hate “awaiting moderation” being attached to my first comment. Makes me feel like MATTEL is FILTERING my opinion!! lol
I noticed this reply a while ago, but your original comment just showed up. Weird!
If Mattel and retailers would EVER figure out the UPC system, customers could easily collect data on where exactly specific items are out there. For instance, Wal-Mart could tell us how many cases are in their warehouses, and Target could accurately post store-by-store inventory on its website.
Just give us new cars Mattel!!!