What's in those stores....UK

[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.

[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.

[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)

[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.

[cac1959]

Please keep on topic - this thread is for UK Store finds... and as pirelliboy said on behalf of the PCD Management team... it's time for a truce.

[pirelliboy]

Time to call a truce guys.
UK stores thread only please.
Any further off topic comments will be deleted.

[lavictdoukarai]

come on guys! I've ever seen the same discussion in a french forum, without happyend!
There is no issue...

[yuffie]

at the risk of repeating myself my question was not a complaint about the distrbution it was a geniune enquiry - which two people managed to civilly reply to

it still seems to me - and a few others from posts, and pm's i've received - whatever your reasoning it was a bizarre and unwarranted rant

but there we go - i'm not going to stop using this board because of it and will watch with interest for you 'naming and shaming' any other members

[niftynigel]

do you plan at any point to answer my question?

The beginning of this section of the debate started when you and others, rightly or wrongly complained about the unequal distribution of cars. I pointed out that you weren't complaining when you were getting Prince Wheeliam's one after the other and others (like me, weren't). Luck of the draw I suppose.

When I came across 15 Prince Wheeliam's, I purchased just one! But then, I'm not greedy, I would like to give other collectors a chance.

I also pointed out that, by your own admission, you purchased all the ones you came across (in the Bath store) and then put some on eBay, which is your right to do so. I also pointed out that is not my way of doing things. Buying all the goodies is just plain greedy. You're not alone in that. Both fellow members and lurkers are not averse to doing that. If you can't take the criticism ...

[yuffie]

do you plan at any point to answer my question?

[niftynigel]

An eBay seller in the UK has been selling some cars (the four new/unreleased in the UK) cars from the touted 994C case.

Does this mean that the appearance of the 994C is imminent? Let's hope so!

[niftynigel]

Anything that involves Mattel and its case selection and distribution?

I think that's very harsh. If you consider what a difference 2013 compared to 2012, when they failed to get 25 new cars out and the UK (for example) was left five cars short to 'Collect Them All' as Mattel put it! The major retailers are part of the problem as is varying demand across different territories.

I would guess that as Cars and Cars 2 has coincided with a global downturn for the last five years or so, then it must be incredibly difficult for any of those involved in the supply chain to accurately predict demand.

I think it's quite incredible that Mattel have managed to introduce 72 different cars to market in 2013. I didn't think they would get anywhere near that to be honest.

The 994B case has been the centre of a debate on the issue of unequal distribution. If market conditions were different and say that case had gone to Tesco first and as a result got even wider distribution, Mattel may have upped the production to say 3,000. After everyone had got the cars they were looking for, there would have been complaints that this case has been around for too long, there's too many pegwarmers (some initially rare cars turn to pegwarmers, e.g. Krate-Rainson Wash), can't we have new cars, etc.

As part of Mattel's policy of rotating cases around different retailers on a first-to-market basis, Toymaster got first dabs on the 994B case. No one could possibly have predicted how quickly the entire cases were going to be sold. Some stores, like my local(ish) Toymaster group were getting through loads of cases as were places like Hamleys, who I believe have shifted 50 or 60 alone?

If it were my decision, I'd certainly produce another 1,000 994B (or better still 994A with Ichigo), but how do you make sure those sought after cars get into the hands of the collectors (e.g. on here) who have so far missed out? You don't! Sometimes, it's just more luck than judgement.

The old 996Y case threw a spanner in the works, especially for Tesco (and many Sainsburys too). I think it would've been better to distribute the 997V, 997W and 997Y cases instead of the old case.

Mattel will say that most of the contents of the 996Y case sold out in most places anyway, so they'd say it's distribution was justified. From what I've seen, I couldn't argue with them!

[madbob]

What part do you think is a joke?

Anything that involves Mattel and its case selection and distribution?

[MarknotaMack]

I never buy any multi packs here. There half the price in the US. If you buy a few it works out cheaper with shipping or just have a holiday out there and buy them while you're there

[carscrazy]

I picked up the 'three way tie' set today in Tru and took a real close look, came within an inch of parting with my cash. The reason I didn't was because I already have 9 of the 10 cars (need the Tongue LMQ with no back tyres) so I couldn't justify the expense with new singles cases *hopefully* just around the corner... It's a great set though and if it's on offer between now and Christmas I might just go for it!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]3095[/ATTACH]

I was also very tempted and like u only need three cars out the set (tongue mcqueen and mia/tia) Will buy if it goes on offer too lol