What's in those stores....UK

[niftynigel]

I've just been informed that Wilkinsons have 5,784 units (number of individual cars), which equates to 241 cases in their distribution centre. They said it's up to individual stores to order. My local store have nine Finn's in store, so they won't be ordering.

It's a bit of an odd number, but maybe some cases have already filtered out to stores?

It'll be interesting to see what the cases are and where they turn up. There are 364 Wilko's across the UK, so let's hope they can make some collectors, far and wide, happy!

From my experience, Wilko's staff are very helpful in letting you know what's in stock and what's coming, even for other branches.

As ever, if you do spot something, please report it, ideally with photos.

One of the aims of a forum like these is to help other collectors, if possible.

[carscrazy]

I mentioned the other day about seeing wilko had restocked the toy department but all that was left was a jeff and max, the rest had gone so I may assume it was a good case as they never clear them out within a week. Off there again tomorrow, will update of course with any finds (or lack of)

[cac1959]

Thanks for the reports, niftynigel and carscrazy... I'm amazed how different the selection is between stores, even 2 of the same... some appear to have no clue about how to order and maintain product.

[niftynigel]

I mentioned the other day about seeing wilko had restocked the toy department but all that was left was a jeff and max, the rest had gone so I may assume it was a good case as they never clear them out within a week. Off there again tomorrow, will update of course with any finds (or lack of)

It was actually your post that inspired me to go to Wilkinsons to check out the toy section. I hadn't been there for ages. Nine Finn's aren't going to shift in a hurry!

Jeff has only been in the 994B case so far.

[niftynigel]

Thanks for the reports, niftynigel and carscrazy... I'm amazed how different the selection is between stores, even 2 of the same... some appear to have no clue about how to order and maintain product.

I've got a good example of that!

There is a Sainsbury's Local near my office. They are one of the smaller (local) branches. Unlike most Local sized stores they have a well stocked toy department. They get through one to two cases of Cars singles a week. For the size of store, that's phenomenal.

Just five miles away there is a Sainburys Superstore, one of their biggest and busiest. To put it into context, their turnover is in the region of 300 GBP (465 USD) million a year! They can go weeks without restocking Cars (and many other items)!

If one small neighbouring store restocks on a weekly basis, why can't the big store? Mattel can't be blamed for that! Any collectors descending in this area would go to the big store first. Faced with an empty Cars section, they'd give the Local store a miss and potentially miss out!

I'm sure there must be other examples of this seemingly illogical situation elsewhere?

[Lozzi31]

I had this the same with tescos local and our massive tesco superstore when the 2013 first started coming out, our local was excellent with new clip strips every week! Our massive superstore didn't see any 2013 for months. Sadly they stopped sending them to our tesco local and have been bone dry for 6 months or so....

[madbob]

That's interesting about Wilko, in Slough they are resetting toys at the moment. Wilko normally come good over Christmas as the toy areas normally get bigger due to Christmas. Its great if you can just walk into a store and ask them to order a case. I think I have done that in Sainsbury's before and a Poundland for decades Hot Wheels. Useful if they are happy to help.

[carscrazy]

Wilko was a waste of time. The shelf was bare yesterday so I went to customer service. They looked on system and said they had none but they were due some in last night and to go back today. Went back today and was full of old carded maters and max.

Went to customer service again to check if that was the new stock or old ones from laying around and so looked on system again only to say that they're due another 6 Cars merchandise ?

I can't make sense of it myself. Did they honestly just get in half a dozen maters/max ?

[madbob]

Bingo, just found new cars in Tesco Maidenhead. 4 clip strips, found Rip (at last), Alex Carvill & Nature drive McQueen. Will post photos later. Some new cars are out there guys...

[carscrazy]

Exciting stuff madbob!! Looking forward to finding Alex Carvill

[boogity]

nice one, good old tescos!

Bingo, just found new cars in Tesco Maidenhead. 4 clip strips, found Rip (at last), Alex Carvill & Nature drive McQueen. Will post photos later. Some new cars are out there guys...

[Scavenger]

Bingo, just found new cars in Tesco Maidenhead. 4 clip strips, found Rip (at last), Alex Carvill & Nature drive McQueen. Will post photos later. Some new cars are out there guys...

Congrats madbob!! If the case assortment is the same as the US case M there should be 2 Rips, 2 Alex, Maurice & ND McQueen highlighting that assortment.
Case-M1.jpg

[jestrjef]

great score madbob!

[daul_p]

Madbob was it the Tesco in the high street?

[madbob]

It was the Tesco next to Next in the shopping centre.