What's in those stores....UK

[Lozzi31]

So grabbed myself the Chauncey Fares London Race Set at Smyths - finally decided to get it after seeing it on the shelves last week. I was tempted along to see this as I had a text saying this item was in stock....

http://www.smythstoys.com/cars-the-m...e-b106b435e455

No sign of this one but thought I would get the London one as we in the UK dont get alot of 1:55 box sets!

[niftynigel]

Post 164 updated 14 July 2013.

[Enzo]

I get information from a number of sources. Some of it so ludicrous, it can't possibly be true. That said, nothing in life should be a surprise, so expect the unexpected.

Now THIS I'd like to hear!

[niftynigel]

Nigel, that certainly makes for interesting reading but I do hope you have your Mattel mole's permission to post what is essentially commercial information? Hate for the shutters to come crashing down again - recall you said they got peed off with you once before for something similar.

It's great you have a channel into Mattel, it's just a shame it goes one-way and those navel-gazers still have no firm plans to release 99W/Y properly. To add insult to injury, the Deluxes are now starting to show up in Europe too, along with both these new cases.

Not all their information proves to be reliable. I'm sure they'll say that they have to react to market conditions, so they have a natural excuse!

I get information from a number of sources. Some of it so ludicrous, it can't possibly be true. That said, nothing in life should be a surprise, so expect the unexpected.

When you look at the number of stores each of the main retailers have, coupled to a bit of detective work here and there (not taking no for an answer and hassling customer service staff), you can probably work the figures out fairly accurately anyway!

Some stores, like Wilkinsons were remarkably open in the number of cases ordered and when and where they were going. They went and spoilt it by ordering 964 US case 999F last November! That's an additional 4,820 Finns unleashed on the UK populus!

I'm sure Mattel will release what they want to, so posting stuff like this makes no difference whatsoever. Sure, it could scupper advance information, but that is hit and miss at the best of times.

Much of this information is freely available in the US. Met on T5AD regularly posts this sort of information and there is no come back, so if Mattel UK objects, that reflects badly on them!

[Enzo]

Nigel, that certainly makes for interesting reading but I do hope you have your Mattel mole's permission to post what is essentially commercial information? Hate for the shutters to come crashing down again - recall you said they got peed off with you once before for something similar.

It's great you have a channel into Mattel, it's just a shame it goes one-way and those navel-gazers still have no firm plans to release 99W/Y properly. To add insult to injury, the Deluxes are now starting to show up in Europe too, along with both these new cases.

[niftynigel]

This is the approximate sales numbers for each standard singles case (W1938) in the UK since we've been collecting Cars at the beginning of 2012.

Cars 2

Jan 2012 - 996P (1,000)
Feb 2012 - 996R (2,000)
Mar 2012 - 996S (250) ~ Launched at Smyths and internet sellers and then reappeared at Disney Stores (Oct 2012)
Jun 2012 - 996T (250) ~ As case 996S and reappeared at Disney Stores (Nov 2012).
Sep 2012 - 996U (2,000) ~ First generally available case of the year, simultaneously to all retailers who wanted it. The last 'current' case Wilkinsons stocked!
Oct 2012 - 996V (250) ~ Only available on the internet and Disney Stores.
Oct 2012 - 997J (5,500) ~ Almost everywhere!! Significantly overstocked and subsequent cases 997K/L cancelled as a result.
Nov 2012 - 998G (2,000) ~ Released in the UK first (Toymaster), then Tesco and elsewhere, to catch up / release non-Chase cars that were in European 997H, 996W and 996Y **
Jan 2013 - 998H (1,000) ~ Reassortment released as clipstrips at supermarkets and still being sold into May/Jun 2013.

Total: 14,250 cases. There was a significant overstock of preceeding Cars 2 cases 996A to 996N, delaying the introduction of 996P/R and S onwards.

Cars 2013 (In case letter order)

Jun 2013 - 996Y ** (2,000) ~ The last Cars 2 regular case finally made it to the UK at supermarkets Morrisons, Sainsburys and Tesco. Still appearing in July!

Feb 2013 - 997N (Unreleased in the UK).
Apr 2013 - 997P (1,000) ~ Tesco; Morrisons only so far.
Mar 2013 - 997Q (2,000) ~ Toymaster; Sainsburys; Morrisons ...
Feb 2013 - 997R (2,000) ~ Smyths; Tesco; ASDA; ...
Mar 2013 - 997U (3,000) ~ Tesco; Sainsburys; Toymaster; ...
May 2013 - 997V (2,000) ~ Sainsburys; Morrisons; ...
Jul 2013 - 997W (250) ~ Disney Stores; ...
Jul 2013 - 997Y (250) ~ Disney Stores; ...

Note: The two cases currently at Disney Stores appear to be exclusive. They are similar, if not exactly what was expected to be in cases 997W and 997Y, so they have been noted as being 997W and 997Y for simplicity. On the side if the cases, they are individually numbered 1-500, so guess there are 250 of each case? They are also directly imported from Mattel Asia, so does this mean that Disney Stores were sort of right when they said that they had dropped the Cars line, actually meaning they weren't getting product from Mattel UK? These cases could appear at other retailers at a later date (in proper 997W/Y guise), if there is some agreement, maybe after Disney Store's exclusive period of sale is up? Lots of questions and speculation. At least cases 997P (Tesco) and 997V (Sainsburys) have had a one retailer exclusive period of sale, so the same could be happening again?

Mattel UK said that next waves (cases) would be available mid-July for retailers, so the next case(s) could start to appear, whatever that may be? 998J, 998K etc?

Total: 12,500 so far!

Please add other retailers where these have been found. TRU also sell them, but in low numbers.

Other parallel series

Dec 2012 - Disney Store Kmart 8 silver racers (600x12)

Oct 2012 - TRU Radiator Springs Classic case A (500x12)

Apr 2013 - TRU Radiator Springs Classic case D (500x12)

[VANDANCE]

She!! Lol!

Sorry Lozzi31, my bad - respect

[Lozzi31]

She!! Lol!

[VANDANCE]

^^^^ what he said!! Where are these fella's hiding at?! Thanks again Nigel for the top info

[Lozzi31]

Can't wait for these! I really hope I get to see some of these on the shelves! Thanks for the info Nigel !! x

[niftynigel]

Mattel's Autumn and Winter ranges are launched in mid July. This should include the remaining 11 singles that haven't been allocated to cases so far.

Cases 997W and 997Y aren't part of the Autumn and Winter range, as they have already been released (in mainland Europe), so they could turn up at any time. They could even turn up in July onwards, it all depends on what the demand is from stores.

This is a summary of the standard singles position, now that it is confirmed that the Super Chases will not (officially) come to UK/Europe.

Reissues

SUKI (996W)
J. CURBY GREMLIN (997Y)
HANK 'HALLOWEEN' MURPHY (997Y)

W1938-997W

SNOT ROD (with Flames)
FRANCESCA (CHASE)
VICTOR PAVEONE
DONNA PITTS

W1938-997Y

VERN
MAURICE
BRENT MUSTANGBURGER (with Headphones)

W1938-998J/K/L/M ~ Provisional case letters

NATURE DRIVE LIGHTNING McQUEEN
JEFF GORVETTE
BOOST (with Flames)
ICHIGO (CHASE)
RPM
MARK WHEELSEN

RACE OFFICIAL TOM
ALEX CORVILLE
AIRPORT WAITRESS (CHASE)
MILDRED BYLANE
LUIGI & GUIDO (with Shaker & Glasses)

This actually fits in with earlier information that there would be 12 cases to get all the singles out. With case 997S cancelled (and merged with 997W/997Y), there are just 11.

[pirelliboy]

I went to my local Asda yesterday, they had all the usual suspects on the shelf - including lots of the silver racers (on sale at £3). Then on the top shelf I seen a box unopened. I couldn't see the case number as it had a big red sticker on it saying in several languages do not open til June 1st. This got me excited so naturally I climbed the shelves to get to the box - I had to use my house keys to open it as it was sealed and then I was confronted by a sight I couldn't believe - it contained only LM, Mater, Finn and Francesco! Looks like I wont be seeing anything new in there for some considerable time because they will never shift those!

Sad sad times. I feel your pain brother

[Junior]

I went to my local Asda yesterday, they had all the usual suspects on the shelf - including lots of the silver racers (on sale at £3). Then on the top shelf I seen a box unopened. I couldn't see the case number as it had a big red sticker on it saying in several languages do not open til June 1st. This got me excited so naturally I climbed the shelves to get to the box - I had to use my house keys to open it as it was sealed and then I was confronted by a sight I couldn't believe - it contained only LM, Mater, Finn and Francesco! Looks like I wont be seeing anything new in there for some considerable time because they will never shift those!

[niftynigel]

stu, what you dont realise is that this stuff is mainly for little kids, not 6ft ones in their 30,s
also "my stores" and "immigrants" whats that all about?

In their 30's!? What about those of us in their 40's and ahem...(cough)?

Young people grow up fast these days, so in the spirit of equality and inclusion us 'older ones' can enjoy Cars collecting too!

(Nearly all the people I have seen buying Cars in stores have been older or parents and they have used their children as a 'cover' for their hobby)!!!!

Popular sayings...

"You want that Car don't you?" Meaning I want that Car, but to save embarrassment the kids have to say it's for them!

[niftynigel]

I think Smyths buyers have lost the plot. Not only do they have hoards of silver racers at £6 and Kaizo/FCM deluxes at £7 but the same Cars are £4 and £5 at Asda and TRU respectively.

Smyths lost the plot at the end of 2011, ordering far too many of the early Cars 2 cases. They got stuck with loads of unsaleable stock. They had sale after sale and with all those different price stickers being added and taken off, many of the cards got ripped and damaged. Unless they shipped loads out or gave them away, I'm amazed how they managed to reduce stocks.

They didn't order or receive any Cars 2 stuff until until the Cars 2013 silver racers appeared in February. It's good to have them back on board. They do at least have good stock levels of some things that compliment other retailers. We got half a dozen different Lights & Sounds there recently (at £4.99 each). That's a bigger selection than anywhere else. Being on pegs, they were in better condition than many other stores too! Their staff are also very helpful.