Disney Pixar Cars - Haulers vs. Semis

I'm sure a lot of you have been considering whether you should buy the Haulers and the Semis, or just one or the other. I've been giving this a lot of thought and have decided to simply get the Haulers. The economy has impacted my business, and the thought of purchasing what are essentially duplicates, doesn't make sense to me. If you continue the usual collector's habit of buying two...One two keep Mint in the Package, and one to open and play with, then two Haulers from Walmart will set you back about $30.00. Buy two of the Semis of the same character and that will set you back about $13.00. The way I look at it, save the money buying the Semis and have the extra money to pay for the second Hauler.

If you bought these?

Why just buy the Haulers like I've decided? Because I want the entire cool setup. And, this way I can just unhook the Semi and leave the trailer parked like in the movie. So, which way have you decided to collect these?

Then, why buy these?

If you're like me, you've probably wondered, "Why the heck are they selling the Semis in the first place?" Well, probably because they are the actual die cast part of the entire Hauler. If you are a hard core collector, you may only care about the die cast part. Additionally, if you just buy the Semi you save 50% over buying the Hauler! I found out that the expressions of the Semis mouths are different. I also found that you can't hook up the Semis to the trailers because they don't have a hole for connection. That small a variation doesn't do much for me, but this reasoning makes sense to some collectors.

So, are you a Hauler type of collector, or a Semi type of collector?

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Disney Pixar Cars - Wally the Walmart Hauler

I was supposed to have something special for you to see today, but my contact at Mattel was not able to get it to me by the end of the business day. I should have it for you tomorrow!

I want to talk about Wally the Hauler today! A friend spotted him in an Orlando Walmart yesterday, but she reported that he must have had a run in with some crazy kid. She told me his package was crushed and that he was terribly damaged. She wanted to justify buying him for me, but she said he was simply too beat up for my taste.

To date, Wally has only shown up in a very few places. Only two people have listed him on Ebay. Hopefully, we'll start seeing him appear in more stores across the country. I've recently seen the first three Haulers...Gray, Chick Hicks, and Mack starting to show up with some regularity now.

I had to laugh when I found out he was named Wally! I assumed he would just be called the Walmart Hauler. Didn't you? Me and many of my friends call Walmart, "Wally World." Now, obviously he could just be named Wally because of Wal being turned into Wally. It would be interesting to know if it was because people often refer to the store as "Wally World." Either way, he's a unique exclusive, and I 'm sure we're all looking forward to adding him to our collections!

Tomorrow, something cool! Subscribe to Alternator Valley to get the latest Cars News First!

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Disney Pixar Cars - Where is the Walmart Hauler

If you're like me, you've been searching your local Walmarts for the white Walmart Hauler. Finally, the Gray Hauler, Chick Hicks Hauler and Mack Haulers have been showing up in Orlando and around the country. The question is, "Where is the Walmart Hauler?!" Again, I am endlessly dumbfounded by the lack of product in stores.

Yesterday, a friend went into a Walmart and told me it was well stocked with Haulers and Oversized Cars. I went to that same store today, and the shelves were literally bare! This is the norm for Disney Pixar's Cars. New stock is sold in hours and is lucky to last a day. Who is making the stupid decisions that keep the store shelves empty? You have the "Hottest" toy line in the world and don't come close to meeting consumer/collector demand! I've complained about this to every entity involved with Cars for the last two years. I've told Mattel this, Disney this, Walmart this, Target this, Toys R Us this, and other collectors this.

I've been told that part of keeping the line going strong entails a strategy of keeping the product scarce. I think it is only a useful marketing strategy to a point. If people feel you are artificially keeping supply scarce to create demand, you do nothing but upset collectors, lose credibility and ultimately damage sales. The Haulers and Oversized should have been stocked in abundance during November and December. Instead, even though Walmart advertised the Oversized for $5.00 in their Black Friday circular, most stores never had them! Additionally, the Haulers never showed up until the last week or so. So, again I ask, "Where is the Walmart Hauler?"

I guess the only thing to do is "Fahgettaboudit!" Then like Presto does magic (Pixar reference for you fans), the Walmart Hauler will appear when you least expect it! Tah-Dah!!

Coming to Alternator Valley: Mater the Greater Prototypes will be Previewed this Friday! Subscribe to Alternator Valley so you'll be notified every time I publish another article!

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Disney Pixar Cars - Release Schedule of the Haulers

Today is about the Release Schedule of the Disney Pixar Cars Haulers. I haven't seen a single one yet, but we know they're out there!

• Released - Mack the Hauler
• Released - King Hauler
• Released - Chick Hicks Hauler
• Released - Walmart Hauler

• 1/1/09 - Vinyl Toupee Hauler
• 2/1/09 - Tank Coat Hauler
• 3/1/09 - Tow Cap Hauler
• 4/1/09 - Shifty Drug Hauler
• 5/1/09 - Easy Idle Hauler
• 6/1/09 - Vitoline Hauler
• 7/1/09 - Bumper Save Hauler
• 8/1/09 - Retred Hauler
• 9/1/09 - Fiber Fuel Hauler
  
• 10/1/09 - Sidewall Shine Hauler
• 11/1/09 - Mood Springs Hauler
• 12/1/09 - Juan (?) or is it Pete Valdez
  

There's plenty more to come! Can't wait to see them on the store shelves.

Coming Next: Release Dates of the "Oversized!" They'll bowl you over!

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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!

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Disney Pixar Cars Trucks - The Convoy

As I've mentioned, there are a load of Cars Trucks coming out in the future and they are going to be incredible. In fact, I've been told the plan is to eventually release EVERY single truck that hauls a racer. As was told to me, now that they've got the main mold, they can easily produce each truck.

John Lasseter wanted the "Trailers" to be big enough to carry their respective Racer. He also wanted the Trucks to be Die-Cast and of the highest quality! The ultimate thing he wants to make possible, is for any collector to be able to build the entire Motor Speedway of the South with all the Racers, Fans, Officials, Trailers and Pittys! That has certainly been what I've hoped for and envisioned.

I've also learned that exclusive groupings will be released. One of the first we should see, will be Chick Hicks, his Trailer and his Pitty. This is expected to be a Walmart exclusive.

Mattel and Disney were adamant that the trucks be produced at a reasonable price point for collectors. From what I've previewed, I can tell you that the quality and detail is well worth the $13.00 price they are expected to retail for when released!

Much more to come from Comic-Con! My next entry will be about Sarge and his expected return!

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Disney Pixar Cars Mack the Walmart Truck

First, there was a poster. Now, there will be a die-cast truck. Pixar Cars Mack will soon wear the colors of Walmart! He looks quite sharp, doesn't he? When can you get him you ask. At this point, I can't say. I can tell you he'll be a Walmart exclusive. ;-)

As Always, when I hear any info, I'll let you know the latest! Don't forget to Subscribe to Alternator Valley for the hottest News.

More on the New Disney Pixar Cars Trucks in my next entry. Still a load of News from Comic-Con to come!

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