What's in those stores....UK

[niftynigel]

wow, I'm surprised the UK didn't get Sir Harley Gassup cause he's from across the pond in the movie

Mattel and logic don't always go hand in hand! The UK only got 250 Prince Wheeliams and The Queen (Deluxe) on an international card was even rarer! Last year was an Olympic year. Mattel could've sold a shed load of The Queen and Prince Wheeliam with a bit of foresight and imagination. Prince Wheeliam finally arrived in October and The Queen around November! Mattel certainly missed the boat on that pair! Doh!!!

Every series from Race O Rama onwards has been cut short in the UK.

It's not a very well kept secret that Mattel is sitting on 1,000s of Final Lap style Lenticular cases as they were withdrawn from sale as Cars 2 was about to be launched. WH Smith was the last retailer to take a significant delivery of this series and as others have found they do have many cars, sometimes case full in their storerooms!

I bought a whole case of Lenticulars at the WHS Barnsley branch at Easter 2012. That was interesting explaining to the turnstyle staff at the football ground what I'd got in the case! 24 toy cars! And it was raining! The pie was great and West Ham won 4-0. Happy days!

[CarsDiecast08]

For those collectors outside the UK wondering why there hasn't been much from UK based collectors recently, it's quite simple, here's nothing to report!

The last new case, 994B (similar to cancelled US case 999L) was released about five weeks ago.

There were actually two cases released simultaneously, 994A (in mainland Europe) and 994B (in the UK only). Both cases are similar but Nature Drive McQueen (TBC) (3) and Ichigo (Chase) (1) were in case 994A, but were replaced by Lightning McQueen (3) and an extra Shu Todoroki in lieu of Ichigo in case 994B.

Quite why this was isn't clear. Only Mattel UK and Europe know!

From a UK viewpoint, does this mean that Nature Drive McQueen and Ichigo aren't due to be released in the UK?

Given that the UK has had 72 of the 79 singles released so far, why cut the odd car out now?

Some may point out that J. Curby Gremlin was only released in Europe and not in the UK. I can understand not releasing Super Chase in all territories due the to limited numbers of them, but regular cars, that just doesn't make sense!

The UK missed Cartney Brakin', Fabrizio, Alexander Hugo, Mary Esgocar and Sir Harley Gassup last time around, so it wouldn't be a surprise if we missed a few this time. The Kmart first to market cars, Mildred Byland and Airport Waitress (Chase) are probably good candidates if the UK is to miss any more?

Certainly, it would be a pleasant surprise if the UK got a Silver Rip Clutchgoneski, to complete the set. That would mean that Mattel UK would have to think outside the box (or case)!

wow, I'm surprised the UK didn't get Sir Harley Gassup cause he's from across the pond in the movie

[niftynigel]

For those collectors outside the UK wondering why there hasn't been much from UK based collectors recently, it's quite simple, here's nothing to report!

The last new case, 994B (similar to cancelled US case 999L) was released about five weeks ago.

There were actually two cases released simultaneously, 994A (in mainland Europe) and 994B (in the UK only). Both cases are similar but Nature Drive McQueen (TBC) (3) and Ichigo (Chase) (1) were in case 994A, but were replaced by Lightning McQueen (3) and an extra Shu Todoroki in lieu of Ichigo in case 994B.

Quite why this was isn't clear. Only Mattel UK and Europe know!

From a UK viewpoint, does this mean that Nature Drive McQueen and Ichigo aren't due to be released in the UK?

Given that the UK has had 72 of the 79 singles released so far, why cut the odd car out now?

Some may point out that J. Curby Gremlin was only released in Europe and not in the UK. I can understand not releasing Super Chase in all territories due the to limited numbers of them, but regular cars, that just doesn't make sense!

The UK missed Cartney Brakin', Fabrizio, Alexander Hugo, Mary Esgocar and Sir Harley Gassup last time around, so it wouldn't be a surprise if we missed a few this time. The Kmart first to market cars, Mildred Byland and Airport Waitress (Chase) are probably good candidates if the UK is to miss any more?

Certainly, it would be a pleasant surprise if the UK got a Silver Rip Clutchgoneski, to complete the set. That would mean that Mattel UK would have to think outside the box (or case)!

[Lozzi31]

I hope so!! Looking forward to Alex Corvill and Nature Drive!

[niftynigel]

Is this going to be the contents of the next UK/European cases (994C?)

This is the confirmed contents of US case 999M (as reported by Arbara on CTT) ...

ERIK LANELEY - 1
RACE OFFICIAL TOM - 2
EDWIN KRANKS - 1
BRAND NEW MATER - 1
NATURE DRIVE LIGHTNING McQUEEN - 2
MAURICE WHEELKS - 1
VERN - 1
LIGHTNING McQUEEN (with Racing Wheels) - 1
DARRELL CARTRIP (with Headset) - 1
FRANCESCO BERNOULLI - 1
RACE TEAM MATER- 1
PETEY PACER (with Torch) - 1
J. CURBY GREMLIN - 1
LIGHTNING McQUEEN (with Cone) - 2
ALEX CORVILL - 2
DJ (with Flames) - 1
SPUTTER STOP - 1
JONATHAN WRENCHWORTHS - 1
RIP CLUTCHGONESKI - 2


Three new cars and a welcome European reissue of J. Curby Gremlin, which would be the first UK issue of him.

[niftynigel]

On my way home from football tonight, I took the opportunity to visit a handful of Tesco Extra stores. It would appear that it's the 'refit' season! The toy section has reduced significantly in the stores I visited. Apart from the remnants of the 996Y, 997R and 997U cases, all appeared to have had recent deliveries of silver racers.

No one else is restocking those, so let's hope that it's Tesco's interim stock until they get brand new cases?

The Sainsburys (Local) near work actually has a toy section as big as some of the Tesco Extra's that have had the refit!

Over the last couple of weeks, they took delivery of a fresh 996Y and 997Y cases. Most of the cars from those two cases had been sold. They've just got another fresh 997V case!

Fair play to Sainsburys for having three of the last four cases!

Who is going to stock the latest 994B case, when Toymaster's exclusive period of sale is up?

Tesco? ASDA? Smyths? Argos (laughs)? Wilkinsons? Morrisons? Toys R Us? Sainsburys?

Suggestions to helplineuk(at)mattel.com

[boogity]

29.99 is over the top on this, there were about 12 out on display, on the bottom shelves I may add, which means they will get damaged by little fingers etc
i,ll wait til the price comes down, which it will, as for chauncy fares, its a chauncy scale more like, reckon you could buy a taxi in the pound shop, stick eyes on it and it would just as good

There's nothing cynical about it. It's the rule of supply and demand. The US will order 15,000 of an average case and the UK will order in the region of 2,000 of an average case. Europe probably less?

The more you buy, the cheaper it gets. Mattel US, Europe and UK are all standalone companies in the same empire. Each has to pay their way, so they order independently. If the card designs were universal, it would then be down to currency fluctuations only.

I go to the Republic of Ireland on a regular basis. I see UK products at vastly inflated prices. The exchange rate has varied between 1 GBP = 1.45 Euros to almost parity, but some products are being sold at an exchange rate of 1.60 - 1.80.

The London Race box set is being sold at Smyths Ireland for 39.99 Euros. That's an exchange rate of 1.33. The current tourist rate is about 1.12. The UK and Ireland box sets would've been on the same shipments, so go figure ...

On reflection, I don't believe that £29.99 for a seven car box set is excessive. It arrived by courier in pristine condition. That was important to me.

[pirelliboy]

Tesco has put out the planes now.

They also had this r/c McQueen

[DiZz]

This is what our stores on the mainland get:



There were 4 more of these in the back.
The store received this shipment last week.

That's a lot of Franca's, Mike's etc..

They can't choose which cases they want.
Mattel just ships any case..

[niftynigel]

There's nothing cynical about it. It's the rule of supply and demand. The US will order 15,000 of an average case and the UK will order in the region of 2,000 of an average case. Europe probably less?

The more you buy, the cheaper it gets. Mattel US, Europe and UK are all standalone companies in the same empire. Each has to pay their way, so they order independently. If the card designs were universal, it would then be down to currency fluctuations only.

I go to the Republic of Ireland on a regular basis. I see UK products at vastly inflated prices. The exchange rate has varied between 1 GBP = 1.45 Euros to almost parity, but some products are being sold at an exchange rate of 1.60 - 1.80.

The London Race box set is being sold at Smyths Ireland for 39.99 Euros. That's an exchange rate of 1.33. The current tourist rate is about 1.12. The UK and Ireland box sets would've been on the same shipments, so go figure ...

On reflection, I don't believe that £29.99 for a seven car box set is excessive. It arrived by courier in pristine condition. That was important to me.

[Enzo]

It seems to me that prices for Cars in the UK are the same digits as they are in the US - but with the conversion from dollars to pounds it just makes them very expensive... and they are even more expensive in other parts of the world... it's good to have friends throughout the world who can and do help you out.

That's basically the same rip-off rule of thumb pretty much every single US retailer applies over here. Apple springs to mind but there's many others. When you complain, they usually trot out the "US sales tax" argument which I know in most states is no more than 7% or so, whereas we pay 20% VAT. When you point that out, they then revert to the old "cost of import" excuse. It's sickening when the exchange rate has never dipped below £1:$1.50 and has approached £1:$2 many times over the last decade.

[cac1959]

It seems to me that prices for Cars in the UK are the same digits as they are in the US - but with the conversion from dollars to pounds it just makes them very expensive... and they are even more expensive in other parts of the world... it's good to have friends throughout the world who can and do help you out.

[MarknotaMack]

I have seen this 7 pack in Smyths too and it's just too overpriced.
I doubt this will encourage Smyths to stock other gift sets
I buy all mine from the US via other collectors on this site or other sources
I've got this set for £22 in the US.
Cars are too overpriced here sadly and that's why only the good items disappear and all the rest stays
I can see these 7 packs being reduced very soon

[Lozzi31]

Well why have it on their website (with a only available at target sticker on!) if they aren't gonna stock it, have the right photo for the stock! Silly toy shops! The 7 box set seemed popular - my hubby said there was a few put by for people who requested through the website and none left on the shelves. Interesting!

[niftynigel]

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!

Like you, I was going to buy the 7 car set as shown in the picture on the Smyths website, so it was a pleasant surprise when others reported it was the London Race set. I don't think it'll happen, but it would be nice if Smyths stocked the Piston Cup 7 car set too if the London Race set proves popular.