Disney Pixar Cars - Selling Cars On Ebay Is A Waste Of Time

I want to address the selling of Cars die cast toys on Ebay. From the start, people have been hoarding Cars and foolishly selling them for very little profit. I'm going to show you how people selling Cars on Ebay have little to no business smarts!

I got an extra Edwin Kranks at the Kmart Collectors Day back in October. Let me show you how much of a waste of time it was for me to sell it on Ebay! The first time I listed it, I had a starting price of $9.99 with a Buy It Now price of $12.99. It did not sell. The second time I listed it, my starting price was $2.00 with a Buy It Now price of $9.99. This time someone paid the Buy It Now price of $9.99 with $2.95 Shipping and Handling.

Here's how my costs broke down and what I made...The first time I listed it, I paid an Insertion fee of $0.35, a Buy It Now fee of $0.10, for a total of $0.45 cents. The second time I listed it, I paid an Insertion fee of $0.35, a Buy It Now fee of $0.10, a Scheduled fee of $0.10, and a Final Value fee of $0.87 cents. Now, the Insertion fee of $0.35 was refunded because it sold the second time I listed it. My total Ebay fees were $1.45 and constituted a 16% piece to Ebay. The person paid by Paypal and those fees were $0.68 cents, and totalled a 5% piece to Paypal. The cost of shipping was $1.86, and the large bubble envelope cost me $0.50. The cost of the Edwin Kranks Car was $3.72. Total Fees came to $8.21. My gross amount was $12.94 and I netted $4.73 after expenses.

Now, this might seem ok on the surface, but let's look at other unrealized expenses. First, the time I spent going to Kmart and the cost of gas...I spent about two hours dealing with the event. Who knows how much gas I used. The store was about five miles from my house. Now, add to this my time spent listing Edwin for sale, the preparing of the picture, relisting it, packing it and ultimately mailing it. I'd estimate another one and a half hours. Total time spent to make a lousy $4.73...three and a half hours! That means I made $1.35/hour! That is absolutely stupid from a common sense business approach!!

The dumb thing I've heard for years from people selling like this is "I do it for fun!" When I spell it out for you, I ask you, "What is your life worth to you?!" All those hours spent to make so little. I'd really rather have spent those three and a half hours with friends, learning something, or even volunteering my time to enrich another's life. Remember, we have a finite time here. Do you want to spend it so foolishly? These points alone are enough to convince people with a brain to stop doing such fruitless selling. Additionally, think how this hoarding and greed has created shortages of supply. We've all seen those pictures people post that intimate bragging when they show a photo of two dozen of one Chase Car!

The only positive, is that you can often get the Cars you want for a good price. The majority of the Cars toys have never sold for much more than twice their cost. I looked at how many nuts bought the Mac Transporter and opened it to sell Bumper Save. Within a day, the dummies flooded the market with over eighty auctions selling the same darn car! Too many ding dongs have no clue as to what they are doing.

Will addressing this make the selling stop? Of course not! It will ONLY enlighten those with a brain. I don't care what you want to sell, it needs to be profitable and worth your time. Heck, if you really want to waste your time to track Cars down and sell them to me for three or four bucks over retail, go right ahead! You save me tons of time that I can use to sleep, watch movies, workout, and do productive things. Maybe you selling Cars on Ebay is not a waste of my time? Hmmm! ;-) I am Over and OUT!!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Feeling Like A Mouse In A Maze Chasing Cheese

I've been quite sick over the last four days, thus my lack of recent entries. Add to this fact that there hasn't been much to write about! I could rehash old news so you'd have something to read every day, but that's not my style. I write when I have something substantive to tell you.

After that ridiculous "Black Friday," I feel like we as collectors, have been running around like the proverbial mouse in a maze chasing an elusive piece of cheese! I know a large number of you are getting fed up with the baloney of wasting gas and time chasing Mattel's Cheese. It isn't fun, it isn't making anyone happy, it is simply insulting. If anyone thinks running from Walmart to Toys R Us, from Target to KB Toys, from Walgreens to Kmart, is a productive use of your time, when the result of hours of running around end in disappointment, then you need to get a life!!

Christmas is just over four weeks away. Where the heck is Night Vision McQueen and the Collector's Guide? Where are the Haulers? What about NEW Cars like Sally With Cone, Dexter Hoover, Tumble Weed McQueen, Chase Boost, Chase Snot Rod, Tank Coat Pitty and Chief RPM? What's the story with the "Oversized" Cars?

I have not seen, nor have any idea where Night Vision McQueen is being sold. No one else seems to either. The "Haulers" must be under the mismanagement of General Motors, because who knows if we'll ever see them! Sure, some of the recent New Cars have come out...if you live, sleep and do nothing but sit in the aisles of Walmart or Target 24/7!! How about the stupidity of Walmart's Black Friday circular? The ad shows three "Oversized" Cars; Mack, Marco and Lightning Storm McQueen. People all over the country arrive at 5:00 A.M. and find Walmart has NOTHING, or if they do, they don't have Mack and Marco! Are you a satisfied customer? Or do you feel like a mouse that hasn't been fed, so you'll run through a maze for a stinking piece of cheese?! I think you know how I feel.

Let me tell you something straight up...I write what I observe and what's truthful. If something warrants praise, then I write positive things and give credit where credit is due. On the obverse, if I see garbage and poor management, then I'll criticize and point out issues that need to be addressed and rectified.

My next article will focus on the stupidity of Ebay Sellers who've hoarded the die cast Cars from the start. Have a good one! I'm outta here!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Black Friday Had Many Collectors Seeing Red

If you followed me on Twitter today, you got a sense of just how frustrating and worthless going to Walmart at 5 A.M. proved to be. I went to a Walmart that caters more to tourists visiting Orlando, while one of my reporters went to a Walmart near the University of Central Florida. We both arrived about 4:30 A.M. and the stores were packed and chaotic. The store I visited had only one pallet with Mack Transporters. The toy department manager called me a few days ago and told me that he got Oversized Cars, but when I arrived he said he didn't get them. My reporter visiting the other store found two pallets, one with Mack Transporters and one with new singles such as Chief RPM, Tank Coat Pitty and Impound Boost (Chase). The toy department manager at that store called a few days ago to tell me that he got Oversized Cars, but when my reporter arrived he told her he couldn't find them. All I got was the Tank Coat Pitty and Chief RPM, as that was all my reporter was able to find. It was quite a disappointing waste of our time!

Earlier at midnight, I went to KB Toys and they had absolutely nothing! Once I left Walmart, I went to Toys R Us and again found absolutely nothing! Cars are one of the hottest toy lines in the world and where the hell is the supply?! Just a month until Christmas, and the busiest shopping day of the year is void of supply!! Whoever is to blame, Mattel or the store buyers, get your act together! You are losing millions by not meeting the high demand around the globe. You are not creating demand if the lack of supply is actually purposely calculated to "Keep People Hungry!" You are angering your customers.

I finally went home and went to bed. I woke to find a voice mail from the toy department manager of the Walmart I went to. He told me he found four cases of the Oversized and told me to come back to get them if I wanted some. I ended up with Barney Stormin', Lightning Storm McQueen, and Al-Oft the Blimp. The infuriating thing was he put out a second pallet hours after I left with the large talking Mack Transporter, Launchers, and New Single Packs. The Single Packs were picked over and I got nothing else. He told me he saw that two more Cars pallets were coming in any day now. So, who knows what they'll be and when they'll come in.

I left Walmart about 1:30 P.M. and headed to my last useless stop, a different Toys R Us location. Again, nothing new at all! Five different stores and literally nothing to buy! I was told the same happened with a friend in the Austin, Texas area. Taking a look at the collecting community, I found that the same disappointment held true across the country. I don't know what brilliant managers made the poor decisions that led to thousands of collectors coming up empty today, but they should be fired. This running around to store, after store, after store, has gotten beyond OLD! People are getting fed up! There is far more to life, than chasing around Cars toys that aren't available.

If Walmart and Mattel want to do something for their image, they should make damn sure there is plenty of supply of the Haulers and the Newest Singles available SOON! People are over the fact that Sarge hasn't been re-released, that they can't find the Oversized Cars, and that they are Cases behind the latest releases! The supply has never met the demand since the line started in June of 2006! I won't even discuss MattyCollector! Au Revoir for tonight!!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Last Minute Walmart News For Black Friday

So, are you thankful for your health? How about someone who loves you? Maybe the freedoms you enjoy by living in the United States! Don't forget what Thanksgiving is really about, and the sacrifices that have been made for over 232 years to give them to you.

I have some last minute news about Black Friday at Walmart. I got a call today from another toy department manager who's on the ball. He told me he was going to have 36 (only 6 cases) of the Oversized Cars Die Cast Toys. They will sell for $5.00 starting at 5:00 A.M. on Friday morning. He also told me he got in the new Mack Transporters with Nitro Ade, Bob Cutlass, and the Newly released Bumper Save. He said he got quite a few in, and doesn't expect them to be gone as fast as the Oversized. They will sell for $10.00, again starting at 5:00 A.M on Friday morning. He didn't see a single thing about the Haulers, he couldn't tell me anything about a pallet at his store and essentially told me that was that!

Black Friday can bring out some Monsters, so just keep your cool, have a list with you, and just take it easy. It is only stuff! Be courteous to others and all will go well!

For those of you who'd like to follow me as I arrive at Walmart and take in Black Friday, I'll use Twitter to do LIVE Updates from the insanity as I did for the Kmart Cars Event. Visit Twitter.com and sign-up for free, then you can follow me under my name of orlandogken. I'll give you real time updates on what I find, how crazy it is at Walmart, if anything unexpected is released, and advice as it makes sense. Good luck with your quest for the latest Cars die cast toys, and drive safely!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - International Collectors Will Be Happy

Thanksgiving is tomorrow in the United States. I thought I'd write for all of you International Collectors today! I've been told that your issues about getting product will be addressed next year through MattyCollector.com I can't tell you exactly what you'll supposedly be able to buy because it hasn't been totally confirmed. I'll tell you that if Mattel does what they've told me, that you'll be happy! I'd expect to see some developments later in the summer. Matty has been sitting dormant and will hopefully be awakened by then.

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - The Walmart Pallets

I got a call today from one of my Walmart toy department managers, and was told he saw three Cars pallets coming. He couldn't tell me anything more about the contents or expected date they'd be in. He and I discussed things about Black Friday and surmise they may be for the big sale. We discussed what time I should arrive and what to expect. He promised to call me and fill me in as soon as he knows anything further. Therefore, all I can do for now, is to promise I'll fill you in as soon as I know anything of importance. Until then, keep thinking of that delicious turkey, stuffing, gravy and pie that you'll eat on Thursday!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Tokyo Drift May Be A Lead In To Cars 2 The Global Race

I told you I heard how incredible Mater's Tall Tales "Tokyo Drift" turned out! It may be the last interstitial, and a very important one. It may give us a clue as to a bridge between Cars and Cars 2! I heard it was a much longer Cars Toons episode at approximately five to six minutes long. This is twice as long as the first three. I was told it is the best of "Mater's Tall Tales!" I also heard it has dialogue that may indicate John Lasseter is using this as the bridge to "The Global Race" by taking us to Japan!

With this intriguing info, let me tell you a bit more...the die cast toys from "Rescue Squad Mater," "Mater The Greater," "El Materdor," and "Tokyo Drift" are expected to be part of the "MAINLINE." They are expected to start showing up in the summer next year. I've also heard we MAY see a NEW Collector Guide with Dragon Lightning McQueen (He's in Tokyo Drift), similar to the recently released Collector Guide with Night Vision Lightning McQueen! Yes, I wish I had pics of Tokyo Drift! For now, enjoy the news. Once I can post pictures, you can be sure I'll happily share them!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - BLACK FRIDAY is THE DAY OF THE SHOPPING ZOMBIES!

People have been going nuts for weeks looking for some rumored pallet at Walmart, new Race O Rama cases that have been misglued, Oversized Cars that have been hardly seen, and they are frustrated to say the least! Well, here's what I advise you to do...Spend a peaceful, happy Thanksgiving with friends, family or whoever matters in your life. Sleep in, catch some of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, eat delicious home cooked food, watch the Lions game, go out and play some tag football to work off all that chow, come back in and eat some more, watch a great DVD like Wall•E, then hit the sack early. Tommorrow you have to get up at 4:00 A.M. and head off to Walmart for "BLACK FRIDAY!"

At 5:00 A.M. the shopping will begin!! The shopping Zombies will attack the stores by the millions! You have to be ready to deal with them. As many of you probably know, Walmart is advertising the Oversized die cast toys. I'll speculate that you'll find many of the single Cars you've been looking for lately, and maybe you'll be lucky and find some of the Haulers! I wouldn't sweat things for the next week, because frankly, I don't think you'll find anything until Black Friday anyway. I'd just relax for the next week and see what happens on the 28th. That's my plan!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - The Pixar Story by Leslie Iwerks

I just watched Wall•E's Disc 2 feature, "The Pixar Story" by Leslie Iwerks, and it is SUPREMELY INSPIRING! It compelled me to write this article to tell you that this one story alone, makes purchasing the Wall•E 3-DISC Special Edition a MUST!! If you've been a fan of Pixar, John Lasseter, and Steve Jobs, you'll be highly inspired by their passion and triumph in building the animation power house that produced Cars!

The piece documents everything from John's time at CalArts, to his being fired because he was ahead of his time in seeing the potential of computer animation. It endears you to Ed Catmul, who is now head of Disney/Pixar Animation. It takes you on his journey from a being a fan of animation, to working with George Lucas, to being the head of Pixar, and culminating with his position at Disney today! It shows how critical Steve Jobs was in making key entrepreneurial decisions that would move the fledgling company along, and allow the team to do what it had to in order to succeed! You see Joe Ranft and Pete Doctor, Andrew Stanton and Brad Bird, and learn more about them! You are taken through time from the shorts to Cars. It is a superb story by Leslie Iwerks that I bet you'll watch over and over again!

I've been fortunate to meet and talk to John Lasseter and Joe Ranft. I asked Pete Doctor about UP at a press conference at Comic-Con this year! I hope someday soon I'll meet Ed Catmul and Steve Jobs! Maybe get a chance to sit down and chat with Andrew Stanton and Brad Bird some time! I share a passion for what they do, and how they do it! If you want to be inspired, buy Wall•E's 3-DISC Special Edition, pop in Disc 2, and watch "The Pixar Story!!" All I could do was smile, cheer, and shed a tear of happiness for their progress and triumphant success! I hope it touches you in the same way!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com