Disney Pixar Cars - 2009 Comic-Con Mattel Exclusive Update

Mater and the Twins will be Revealed on April 11, 2009!

This is an update to tell you a few things about Mattel's 2009 Comic-Con Exclusive. I've seen it, and you are going to LOVE it! I won't be able to show you the complete images until April 11th, so mark that date on your calender. The set of Mater as a Fire Engine and Mia and Tia as Dalmations is going to come in a light-up diorama package. It will sell for $30 and as of today, the edition size is still undetermined, and the purchase limit has yet to be set. I reported back on January 18th that I heard the Edition Size was going to be 5000 for Comic-Con, and that 5000 would be available on MattyCollector.com. I've heard the purchase limit will be 1 to 4 sets per person.

As a collector and marketing expert, I'm going to give my input about these two numbers. First, the Edition size of 10,000 is far too high in my opinion. I would set it at 3000 for Comic-Con attendees and 2000 for MattyCollector.com. Here's my reasoning...The secondary market is what feeds all areas of collecting. If I purchase 10 sets, keep two for my collection and want to sell the other eight, then I want to make a decent profit when I sell them. If 10,000 exist, I'll have far too much competition on Ebay, and be lucky to make a $10 profit on each set. I won't want to waste my time, and certainly won't want to invest $300 ($30 times 10 sets) to buy ten sets. What does this transate to? Mattel will not sell out their supply!

Second, putting a limit of 1 to 4 sets per person at Comic-Con is a mistake. Do I think people should be able to buy any number? No! But, the idea of 1 to 4 is too low. Comic-Con attendees are the serious, most hard core collectors, and secondary market sellers out there. I'd set the limit to 10 Cases. The sets are going to be big. They may be packed to just two per case. Possibly four to a case. Let attendees buy a higher quantity for these reasons...They will buy more on the front end and have them presold to secondary collectors, they will buy more for friends, they will buy more for themselves. Allowing them to only purchase 1 to 4 is stupid! Doing what I suggest will certainly help to ensure Mattel will sell out at Comic-Con.

Finally, shipping these sets to buyers will run about $15 and make them more difficult to sell. They are big and will weigh a bit. So, keep the edition size low and let people buy more of them. I bought 6 Cases of Lightning Storm McQueens last year. I had to ship them home via UPS which added $3 in additional cost/unit to my total cost. Again, people like myself and others feed the secondary market and help keep the collecting going strong. Don't over produce and don't hamper the secondary market makers.

Alternator Valley will Preview Mattel's Comic-Con Exclusive April 11, 2009! Subscribe and don't miss a thing!

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Disney Pixar Cars - Mattycollector.com To Brush Off The Dust On St. Patrick's Day '09

MattyCollector.com was launched back in July at Comic-Con 2008. Lightning Storm McQueen was the first offering and sold out immediately. I was told that the next Cars item would likely be released in October of 2008. Ok, it is now the middle of November, and in four hours I'll be off to see the latest Bond film, "Quantum of Solace!" I was told at that same Comic-Con, that the newest Bond flick would be out in November and Sony delivered! So, many, many, many collectors are not pleased that MattyCollector.com has not 1.) Delivered a New Cars item for us all to plop our dough down on! 2.) Not delivered on the promised Newsletter! 3.) Has literally had nothing in the form of updates to inform us about anything! As I read somewhere, someone would like to punch Matty in his big head! The visual alone is enough to make you chuckle!

Finally, I've got some News for you all, but it is tempered by the fact that we might as well wait for the proverbial "Slow Boat From China" before MattyCollector.com will be populated with the next release. This is good stuff! And, don't let anyone ever tell you that we bloggers aren't important disseminators of News! In many cases, we make the News! So, do you want the lowdown? Say paaalease? Who's your daddy? Ok, just gotta be a tease don't I? Here's what I found out for now...

It won't be until next year before we see New Cars items appear on MattyCollector.com. On March 17, 2009 we should expect to see the first "Plussed" Lightning McQueen done in 1:24th Scale! Back in 2006 there were two 1:24th Scale releases. One of Mater, and one of Lightning, both done in die cast. I actually saw them at the World of Disney Store, but passed on them. The NEW Plussed releases will be done in a super detailed manner! Details like painted lug nuts, detailed pin strips and rubber tires will be elements you'll see! Lightning will come in a cool display case which will allow you to see the bottom of the Car as well! This first release is expected to be a Limited Edition of 10,000. Five thousand will be exclusively released on MattyCollector.com, while the remaining five thousand will be exclusive to Toys R Us! No, I don't have a price for you yet. That wasn't able to be told to me at this point. When I learn the price, you can be certain I'll let you know.

On April 15, 2009 you can feel better after paying your taxes by spending your refund on the first 1:55th Scale "Plussed" Lightning McQueen. Same great detailing will be done...Rubber tires, painted window frames, pin stripes, and the cool display case! This release will be different in that the expected Limited Edition of 10,000 will ONLY be released on MattyCollector.com. Again, I don't have a price for you at this point. What is expected to happen after these initial releases is that we should see a NEW release about every six weeks thereafter. I have more Matty news, but will wait until tomorrow so you have to come back and visit moi!!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Upcoming Items of Interest

Waiting, waiting, waiting! Not much news of late. We're all just waiting for all the New Cars releases to show up in stores...The New Race O Rama card backs with Impound McQueen, Spin Out McQueen and Ron Hover. We're waiting for the New Oversized releases including Al-Oft, Mack, Barney Stormin', Lightning Storm McQueen and Marco the Jet. We're waiting for the release of the New Race Car Haulers such as Mack, Chick Hicks and the Wal-Mart truck. So, as we wait, I thought I'd add a bit to your "To Do List!"

1. This weekend on October 18, 2008, you have the K-Mart Cars Event at 11:00 a.m. at most Kmart stores in the country. The list is too long for me to post. Call your store on the 17th and ask the know nothing managers about the event then, then they might finally know something. HA!
   
2. Darth Mater will be auctioned off at this year's Children Affected by Aids Foundation's Dream Halloween event on October 25, 2008!
3. October 26, 2008 is the start of the next Toys R Us buy 5 get 1 Free promotion for a Cars N2O Cola Car in a display case. The typical store personnel are like Schultz from Hogan's Heros saying, "I see NOTHING! I know NOTHING!"
   
4. The world premier of Disney Pixar's "Cars Toons," the New animated short series directed by John Lasseter and starring Mater, will be presented on the Disney Channel, Toon Disney, and ABC Family beginning on Monday, October 27, 2008!

So, We have a few Cars things to keep us occupied for the next couple of weeks. I've been surely driving the Toys R Us and Wal-Mart stores crazy with my calls looking for the New Oversized releases. At least it keeps me out of trouble, right?! Yeah, right!

http://CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Alternator Valley's 1st Anniversary & Giveaway!

Wow! I've been writing about Disney Pixar Cars for nearly a solid year! Have you been with me since the start? I launched Alternator Valley with my Scoop of the Rangsberg Blu Ray McQueen promotion on November 6, 2007. If you want to check out my first blog entry, just copy/paste the highlighted words in blue and put them in the search box above.

I'm thinking about doing a giveaway of a Lightning Storm Lightning McQueen to celebrate. Would you like one of these? What do you suggest I do to determine who would get it? I'm open to all sorts of suggestions. Maybe people would have to dress up like one of the various McQueens and send me a picture! It would be funny to see a person dressed as "Tumbleweed Mcqueen," or as "Cactus McQueen!"

I'll wait to see what suggestions you give me, and then announce a contest if we come up with something good.

http://CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - How Do You Collect?

A friend who also collects Cars die cast toys called me and asked me how I collect. Basically, she wanted to know if I collect EVERY variation and anything that comes out. Personally, I follow a very simple strategy. As new Cars come out, I simply add them to my collection. I am not a collector who will buy every Desert backed character, then buy every World of Cars backed variation, and now the soon to be released Race Track backed variation. Why buy the same Car three times? To get the different packaging. Nah! It is still the same Car. Others would say getting every packaging variation is cool to them. I say it gets to be impractical and too expensive. But, as the saying goes, "To each his own."

I am collecting like a large number of collectors...I am building two sets, one to keep Mint On Card, and one to eventually open and display as part of a Radiator Springs diorama. I also collect Movie Moments that have unique characters. For example Flik and Flea, Sully and Mike, or Dinoco Blue Mia and Tia. I won't get Movie Moments such as Cruisin' McQueen and Sally because they've been released individually. The same holds true for triple packs such as Al Oft, Tow and Race Official Tom. They've all been released individually. Gold Mia and Tia with Bling Bling McQueen however, have not all been released individually, so I bought that triple pack.

I buy all the Limited Edition or Limited Release Cars such as Blu-Ray McQueen, Lightning Storm McQueen, Chase McQueen with Bumper Stickers and Chase Fred with Bumper Stickers. I also get the Promotional Cars such as the recently released Sidewall Shine in a display case.

One area of Cars collecting I'd like to get a few of are Error Cars. Cars with the wrong wheels or missing an obvious element. Fred without his license plate comes to mind. Would Kori Turbowitz be considered an Error? She has no side view mirrors. How about Mario Andretti's rims being the wrong color? Packaging errors are fun, but not really an error in the Car itself. A lot of those have been found. A yellow Ramone in a Lightning McQueen package, or a Doc Hudson in a Mater package for example.

Finally, I've been collecting Cars that have been autographed. I have Darryl Waltrip's and Mario Andretti's signatures on their respective Cars characters. I'm bummed I'll never be able to get George Carlin's signature due to his passing. I'll keep working on the rest of the characters and see where I end up.

So, how to you collect ? Are you similar to me? Are you a crazed completest? Do you only collect one character? There's no "Right" way! There's the way that makes you happy!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Ebay Contraband!

American Intellectual Property rights have been severely infringed on in places like China. An Ebay seller from Hong Kong is selling Disney Pixar Cars characters that Mattel has not even released. I spoke to a contact at Mattel who agreed with me that the items are highly likely to be stolen. Take a look...

I'm one of the most fervent of collectors and am aware that people want to get the newest release, but why buy stolen goods?! Not just that, but people are paying ridiculous prices for items they could get for $3.47 when they are legally released to the public. Sally With Cone sold for $101.23, Dexter Hoover for $40.99, Spinout McQueen also went for $40.99! How about some racers? Shiny Wax was low at $20.50, while View Zeen was the highest racer at $44.02, and Transberry Juice sold for $39.99!

It is not as if these Cars are not going to be abundant and easy to get folks!! So, what are you willing to pay for something that is truly rare? We see the lofty prices the Motor Speedway of the South set has hit (found one that sold for $1450 today). Right now Lightning Storm McQueen is looking like a bargain as he's selling for between $34.00 to $39.00! A supremely done Limited Edition of 7000 is selling for the same as these contraband Cars! Cars that will soon be out on the market by the hundreds of thousands. Use your brain people and boycott stolen items.

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - The Arrival of Sidewall Shine

Many have started to receive their Sidewall Shine die cast cars! I got mine today. Sidewall Shine was greeted by Lightning McQueen and Luigi. His packing was very thorough and he needed help being unpacked...

Sidewall Shine in his temporary transport vehicle

Luigi gets to work on unpacking Sidewall

Lightning awaits Sidewall's unveiling

The folks at Mattel packed Sidewall very well

Sidewall says hello to Lightning

This is a very nice addition to my collection. I have to say the display case is fantastic! Mattel does this right. Both Sidewall and Lightning Storm are superbly done. Wait till you see what they come out with on MattyCollector.com!! Today was a happy day!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Meet The Man Behind The Cars Die-Cast Toys

While at Comic-Con I met Mattel Senior Manager of Product Design, Martin Arriola. From the moment I met Martin, I knew I met a live wire! He was incredibly enthusiastic about Lightning Storm McQueen, and was as proud as a kid who drew that masterpiece that hangs on a parent's refrigerator. We hit it off as we talked passionately about the Cars toys he and his team have designed. Martin has been with Mattel for 26 years, so you can imagine how much he has worked on over his career. Martin is on the left and Ben Butcher of Pixar is on the right.

Martin gave me the low down on all the upcoming releases. He mentioned how happy he was that John Lasseter approved of the Trailer designs and how they'd be die-cast. Martin told me he worked for two years to make them become a reality at a price point Mattel would finally approve. We as collectors owe him and his team our appreciation, because we'll soon be able to add these great characters to our collections!

We talked about the Chase Cars that will be released. There will be 20,000 of each Chase Car inserted in cases distributed throughout the country. We can expect to see One (1) New Chase release/month starting very soon. These are the Chase Cars we can expect as of today...Stickers McQueen, Stickers Fred, Denver Boots on Lightning, Wingo, Boost, Snot Rod and DJ. Piston Cup Trophy with Lightning, Chick and the King. And, the Wrecked King. I asked Martin if "Chase Cars" would ever be re-released as part of the "Mainline" series. I loved the answer he gave me. He said that John Lasseter coined a phrase called, "Lizzie's Law!" What Lizzie's Law says is important to collectors, "Once you go Chase, you can't go Mainline." So, once Chase Cars have been released, don't expect to see them a second time.

Martin told me about improving Barney Stormin' by making him die-cast instead of plastic. This lead into discussion about the "Oversized" line. I've told you about Elvis the RV, Al Oft the Blimp, Marco the Jet and Lightning Storm as an "Oversized" release. We talked about Mattel "Getting it Right," by creating the "Oversized" characters. This keeps things in proper scale and believe me, Martin made it clear to me that John Lasseter wanted this to be done. We can also expect to see the Security Vans at the Motor Speedway to be done as "Oversized." We can speculate that if Bessie, Lightning's Biggest Fan and even a die-cast version of the Banshee are released, that they will also be done as "Oversized" versions. Expect the long-awaited Frank the Combine to be part of the line once he's released! I firmly believe these will be some of the most highly prized Cars characters in the line.

The key thing I came away with from my time talking with Martin, was that John Lasseter is developing the Cars Die-Cast Toys line as we the fans would! You have to understand how much of a fan of these toys John Lasseter is, once you realize that John is as passionate about these toys as you and I are as collectors, it becomes very clear why he cares so much about their detail and workmanship!

My time at Comic-Con was a lot more fun and interesting because I became friends with Martin! He is not only a Senior Manager of Product Design at Mattel, but he is also an artist who creates Original Paintings in Oil, Pastel and Watercolor. These are tough mediums to work in and can be truly beautiful when mastered. Here's one of my favorites Martin did called the "Pavilion, Balboa Island." It is an Oil on Panel, and makes me want to head there today. I urge you to learn more about Martin's art at this link...MartinArriola.com

By the way, remember this incredible Display Case?! Guess who designed it? Yup! Martin did. I told him how much collectors are dying for a truly fine Display Case that can hold a large number of our Cars. We talked about it at length, and I also discussed it with the Brand Manager in detail. If we are lucky, we may see one available on MattyCollector.com in the future!

I'm not only working to bring you the best info, but working passionately to convey what collectors want to the makers of these great toys! They are listening and want to see the Disney Pixar Cars line go strong for years to come!

Still more to talk about from Comic-Con! My next entry will focus on Fan Cars.

http://CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Lightning Storm McQueen Flies at Comic-Con!

The months of buzz about Lightning Storm McQueen was certainly warranted. I was fifth in line on the evening of July 23rd for the Preview night at Comic-Con and got the amazing piece! People were buying him up at a "Kachow" pace. It was funny to see the Mattel booth all nice and clean with stocked shelves at the start of the night, and then come back later and see it bare with the staff looking like they just survived an attack by Orcs. They worked hard and Lightning Storm flew out the door.

I met Senior Product Design Manager, Martin Arriola who was psyched about the release and will be featured in an article soon. Martin's passion and love for Lightning Storm was clearly evident.

Believe me when I tell you that Lightning Storm McQueen is going to be a highly sought after collectible for years! The finish is a wonderful metallic blue. As many of you have come to know, it is a "Rangsburg" blue paint job. The detail in the car and the stand are outstanding! The way Martin and his team designed it, they created a piece that almost looks like a trophy! If you don't have one, when you see it, you'll most definitely want to obtain one. You'll covet him like Gollum and his precious!!

I met John Lasseter's right hand man Ben Butcher. Ben put me on the spot by asking me if I could only grab ONE of my Cars die cast toys while my house was on fire, which would it be?! Such a tough question. I finally told him it would probably be my Blu-Ray Rangsburg McQueen. Since turnabout is fair play, I had to put Ben on the hot seat and asked him the same question. He squirmed about as much as I did, and told me it would probably be the Lightning Storm McQueen because of the entire presentation of it. I agreed and am curios to see how he does in the future.

Now, a little tease...even if you can't get the San Diego Comic-Con Lightning Storm McQueen, there will be a store released die cast Lightning Storm McQueen done in his Dinoco Blue colors coming out. It won't be on a stand, it will have a different finish, but you will be able to get one of those. That will just be your 90th Cars die cast toy you had to get! No biggie! ;-)

http://CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com